Background: India has 2.1 million of people living with HIV, and places in third-largest population of people infected with the HIV after South Africa and Nigeria. It is thus important for health care providers including medical, nursing and paramedical students to have adequate knowledge on PEP for HIV to protect themselves prior to starting their life long career.Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 medical, nursing and paramedical students in Tirunelveli medical college from December 2016 to February 2017. A pre-designed questionnaire was used to collect data. Results were summarized in percentages and presented in tables.Results: A total of 96 (48%) males and 104 (52%) females responded in the study. Though many (87%) had heard about PEP, just 31 (15.5%) had received formal training on PEP for HIV. Only 81 (40.5%) knew the ideal PEP regimen and 88 (44%) knew the correct drug regimen. The majority 196 (98%) considered PEP was important and significant 178 (89%) considered themselves to be at risk of acquiring HIV at work, with 46 (23%) having experienced an exposure in the past. Of those exposed, only 21 (45.7%) received PEP.Conclusions: This study shows that knowledge, attitude and practice towards PEP for HIV is inadequate. A formal PEP training centre with proper guidelines is recommended for medical, nursing and paramedical students.

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INTRODUCTIONDiabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous metabolic disorder characterized by the common feature of chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbance of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. 1 The increasing prevalence of diabetes over the world has become an important public health problem. As population is increasing, getting older, more obese and sedentary, the number of individuals with diabetes is also steeply rising.As of 2010, there were approximately 285 million people diagnosed with diabetes mellitus compared to around 30 million in 1985.2,3 Developing countries like India and China contribute much to the diabetic load of the world. 4Of the two types, Type-II diabetes is more common (90-95% of all cases) than type 1 and has increased markedly since 1960 in parallel with obesity.4 Type-II Diabetes Mellitus is a non-autoimmune, polygenic disease condition in which there is impaired insulin effectiveness (insulin resistance) and abnormal glucose homeostasis.This form generally manifests in mid-life or beyond with a mean age of about 45 years.1 Risk factors include age over 45 years, a positive family history, physical inactivity, low fibre diet, people with impaired glucose ABSTRACT Background: To evaluate the impact of type-II diabetes mellitus on cognitive function and to assess the factors associated with impaired function. Methods: This prospective study compared 100 type-II diabetic people attending the diabetic clinic of Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital with another 100 membered control group. The study group was selected randomly between the age group of 45-65 years. A neuro-cognitive assessment was done using Standardized Mini Mental State Examination (SMMSE), which is a simple and reliable screening test. This scale has 12 questions with time limits to assess orientation, memory, calculation, language, attention and construction. Magnitude and severity of cognitive decrement were analysed along with the possible factors affecting it. Results: Mean age of the study population was 54.6±7.24 years. Cognitive impairment was noted among 62 of cases and 48 of the control group, which means a 14% higher prevalence of cognitive impairment among the type 2 diabetics. The association of development of cognitive impairment and duration of diabetes mellitus was significant statistically (p value = 0.025443; p<0.05). Other demographic variables like gender, education and domicile were also seen to affect the results. Conclusions: Mild to moderate cognitive impairment was found significantly higher among the type-II diabetics than the non-diabetics. The cognitive impairment was found to be associated with the duration of diabetes. Hence the routine screening of cognition by SMMSE should be done in all type-II diabetic patients.