Background: Retinopathy of prematurity is a preventable cause of childhood blindness. Proper understanding of the classification, risk factors and treatment methods is a must in tackling this disease. The aim of this study was to know the incidence of ROP in preterm infants in a tertiary care centre and to improvise the selection criteria in future in Indian babies.Methods: A retrospective study of all infants admitted to the NICU from 2016 to 2018 who met the criteria for ROP screening were included in the study. Examination of the eyes was done by a trained technician using a Ret Cam digital imaging in collaboration with KIDROP, Narayana Nethralaya and later interpreted by trained ophthalmologists using the concept of teleopthalmology. Babies were followed up and screened accordingly. Qualified infants were treated with argon laser photocoagulation within 48h of diagnosis. They were followed until the disease was successfully treated.Results: In current study, incidence of ROP was found to be 10.2%. The gestational age ranged from 28-36 weeks with a mean of 30.5±1.5 weeks. In current study, the most prevalent prenatal risk factor was multiple gestation and postnatal risk factors was anemia, low birth weight ,low gestational age and the use of oxygen therapy.Conclusions: Screening for ROP, in India, should be performed in all preterm neonates who are born <34 weeks gestation and/or <1800 grams birth weight; as well as in babies 34-36 weeks gestation or 1800-2000 grams birth weight if they have risk factors for ROP.

Background: Blood component therapy is a rational replacement therapy of proven clinical value and efficacy, but it is a double-edged sword as it is associated with many hazards of transfusion reaction. Because of ease of availability and gap in the knowledge of medical professional’s blood products are being used very liberally leading to huge mismatch in the demand and supply of life saving blood product.Methods: Prospective cross-sectional observational study was done over a period of 1 year in a tertiary hospital, in western part of India. 225 events of blood component therapy were studied in neonates (<1month) and pediatric (1month-16years) age groups. Indications and reactions to blood components therapy were studied in both the groups. Each component therapy was considered as one event and its indication was compared with standard guidelines for terming it as appropriate or inappropriate.Results: Out of total 225 events of transfusions, most commonly used was PRBC (48.9%) followed by FFP (24.9%), platelet (16.0%), IVIG (9.8%) and whole blood (0.4%).  Authors found that overall 17.3% of the component therapy  were inappropriate( neonates 10.2%  and 7.1% in the rest). Most commonly misused blood product was FFP (37.5%) followed by IVIG (22.7%), platelets (16.7%) and PRBC (6.4%).Conclusions: Regular audit of blood and its component usage is essential to assess the blood utilization pattern and set ideal policies in all the medical specialties to make it appropriate, ensure availability and save patients from its hazards.

Background: The metabolic syndrome is appearing with increasing frequency in children and adolescents and is characterized by the clustering of abdominal obesity, impaired fasting blood glucose (FBS), hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL cholesterol and hypertension. Objective of this study was to screen for components of metabolic syndrome in children aged 10-18 years with parental history of premature coronary artery disease (CAD) and to compare them with children without parental history of premature coronary artery disease.Methods: A total of 90 children each between the ages of 10-18 years were selected as the study group and comparison group. These children were screened for components of metabolic syndrome like fasting blood sugar, hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia. Diet and hours of physical activity were assessed. Statistical analysis was carried out through SPSS for windows (version 17.0).Results: The most common component of metabolic syndrome in the study group was abnormal FBS followed by elevated triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, obesity and hypertension. The mean values of FBS, Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol, triglycerides were found to be significantly higher in the study group. Children in the study group had a higher mean body mass index (BMI) and a history of excessive oily food intake with a sedentary lifestyle.Conclusions: Children with parental history of premature coronary artery disease have higher incidence of dyslipidemia and abnormal FBS. Children in the study group had a sedentary lifestyle with unhealthy diet practices.