Background: Hypertension prevalence is related to dietary sodium chloride intake. People are consuming much more sodium than is physiologically necessary. The consumption of processed food in urban India has led to a prevalence of 24%–30% of hypertension. The people have a special liking of such type of foods. This study aimed at assessing consumption of sodium among the study subjects to compare habitual additional consumption of sodium among hypertensive and normotensive patients and to find its associate factors impacting hypertension. Materials and Methods: The hospital based, cross-sectional study was conducted on patients attending the outpatient department of general medicine. The sample size was 520 patients. Habitual additional intake of each patient was assessed by a food frequency table. Results: As the age advances, the proportion of hypertensive patients increases ( P < 0.05). Among hypertensive patients, 38.65% were not doing exercise ( P < 0.05). The body mass index >25 was found among 11.92% normotensives and among 25.38% hypertensives ( P < 0.05). There were 23% of hypertensive patients who could not receive dietary advice ( P < 0.05). Habitual additional sodium consumption is more among 15–25 years age group ( P < 0.05). Habitual additional sodium intake mean for those who were taking a pinch of salt is higher ( P < 0.05). Habitual additional sodium intake is found to be significantly impacted by younger age, diagnosis, and lack of dietary advice ( P < 0.05, P < 0.05, and P < 0.05). Conclusion: Most of the age groups are consuming more than 2 g habitual additional sodium which is more than the World Health Organization-recommended maximum levels. The dietary advice was given to hypertensives that had a positive impact on habitual additional sodium intake.

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INTRODUCTION:A comparison of precision of intraocular implant power calculation by computing keratometry values by two different methods, namely, the automated and manual keratometry (MK), was done. For checking this accuracy, the parameter taken into consideration was the absolute refractive error which was ascertained postoperatively.SUBJECTS AND METHODS:This study was conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences and PG Institute, Indore. At a tertiary eye care centre in Central India (Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore). Duration of the study was 18 months. Sample size was 66 individuals who were with cataract (nuclear sclerosis I to III). Although keratometry was done by both methods and implant power derived separately by computing both readings, decision of which power to be implanted in an eye would depend on the group, in which patient would fall. Group A were prospective candidates who would be implanted intraocular lens (IOL) of that power as assessed by computing MK value, whereas Group B were participants who would be implanted IOL of that power as assessed by computing value obtained by automated keratometry (AK). First patient fell in Group A and second in Group B, third again in Group A till 33 patients had been operated in each group.RESULTS:Bland–Altman plot thus obtained showed that the two keratometers are comparable. The postoperative refractive errors for the two Groups (A and B), showed that if an error of ±0.50 D or less is considered, then in Group A 81% of patients achieved this and 87% of patients required this as spectacle aid in Group B.CONCLUSIONS:In this study, we compared the accuracy of AK with that of MK for calculation of implant power. It was concluded from this study that AK is a simple keratometric technique that appeared to be more accurate than MK.

BACKGROUND Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory dermatosis characterized by erythematous, scaly lesions covering extensive areas of the skin with prevalence of 2-3% in the general population. Psoriasis do not affect survival often, but has major negative effects on quality of life of patients. Aims-Assessment of the quality of life and psychological distress in patients diagnosed with psoriasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS 100 consecutive consenting patients with psoriasis of age more than 16 years and of both sexes were assessed. The study subjects attended dermatology outpatient department of a tertiary care centre. Clinical severity of disease was measured using psoriasis area severity index (PASI) and psoriasis disability index (PDI). Psychological distress was measured by hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square analysis and Pearson's correlation coefficients. RESULTS 44% of the patients were diagnosed with anxiety and 21% with depression. Significant correlation was noted between the PASI score, PDI and HADS. Among the two groups of patients based on their PASI scores; group I (PASI < 18); group II (PASI > 18) the mean of the PDI and its subdivisions in each of the clinical severity groups were compared. Results revealed that the total PDI and all its subdivisions (except questions relating to leisure and treatment) were significantly higher in group II (PASI > 18). CONCLUSION This study suggests that severely affected psoriasis patients require a holistic approach for treatment where both medical and psychological measures should be taken into consideration.

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