Studies lack data regarding incidence, risk factors, optimal treatment and outcome of postpartum eclampsia (PPE), convulsions within 7 days (mostly convulsions occur within 24 - 48 h) after delivery of fetus placenta. However, convulsions can occur late, up to 4 weeks. After 48 h, it is late PPE. Late postpartum eclampsia without preceding pre-eclampsia is rare and poses a diagnostic challenge. An observational study was carried out to find the frequency of PPE, late PPE and clinical profile for prediction/prevention of mortality. PPE cases were analysed from retrospective records and prospective cases. Of 39,050 births, 386 were eclampsia (0.98%); PPE 101 (26.1% eclampsia, 0.26% births); 14.85% were late PPE. Of PPE, 52 (51.48%) were diagnosed hypertensive disorders pre-delivery and 49 (48.51%) were de novo. Prior to convulsions, 56 (55.5%) had headaches, six (5.9%) visual disturbances; nine (8.9) dizziness; four (4.0%) epigastric pain; 18 (17.8%) had no complaints. Research needs to continue and quality care is essential.

Vulvar cancer is an uncommon malignancy of the female genital tract in developing countries, accounting for 3% of gynaecological cancers. Here, cervical cancer is an everyday problem; ovarian cancer is the second commonest gynaecological cancer; endometrial is less common and vulvar cancer is rare. It is advanced at admission, though is a visible cancer. Records of women who had histopathologically proven vulvar cancer over 24 years were analysed for epidemiological status and preventive possibilities. During the analysis period, 9,419 total cancer cases were diagnosed; 4,726 (50.17%) were in women. A total of 39.52% (1,868 of 4,726) were gynaecological; 18 cases were vulvar (0.38% of the 4,726 women with cancer) and 0.96% of the 1,868 gynaecological cancer cases. Decreasing trends were 2.25% between 1984 and 1988, down to 0.33% between 2004 and 2008. Leading presenting complaints were: dyspareunia, 88.88% (16 of 18 patients); pruritus 13; ulcers 14; vulvar swelling 12 and urinary problems 13. Dystrophy was present in 8 of 18 cases. Overall, four had stage I, one stage II, three stage III and four stage IV disease at admission; all at labia majora or minora, some too advanced to know origin. Four women with metastasis in the lungs, liver and bones could only be given palliation. While vulvar cancer is uncommon, advanced disease at admission is a concern. Awareness is essential. Research is needed as to why cervical cancer is common and vulvar uncommon, as HPV plays a major aetiological role, so that cervical cancer can be prevented, with early diagnosis, management of vulvar cancer should also be available.

Worldwide, cervical cancer is considered to be the second commonest cancer as far as mortality and incidence is concerned and India contributes to about 20–30% of the global burden. This paper is based on analysis of records of persons suffering from various cancers over 25 years. Cervical cancer constituted 14.4% of all cancers of men and women put together, 28.8% of the cancers in women and 73.3% of all gynaecological cancer. The cases studied were divided into five Blocks: Block A 1983–1987; Block B 1988–1992; Block C 1993–1997; Block D 1998–2002 and Block E 2003–2007. A 2.34 times increase in cancer cases from Block A to Block E was seen; in women, overall cancer increased by 3.21 times; gynaecological cancer by 3.08 times; cervical cancer 2.91 and ovarian cancer 7.1 times. Cervical cancer in outpatients increased from 0.55% among all gynaecological cases in 1983, to 3.5% in 2007. Cervical cancer comprised of 1.05% of the newly registered outpatients and 70.09% of gynaecological cancer cases. Inpatient gynaecological cancer increased from 2.81% in 1983 to 9.81% in 2007. Out of all cervical cancer in women, cervical cancer was 34.7% in Block A (1983–1987) and 28.6 % in Block E (2003–2007). Of the cervical cancer cases, 43.8% belonged to the age group 30–49 years and 37.6% at 50–64 years. Cervical cancer in women with less than three births increased from 13.1% in Block A to 33.1% in Block E. The proportion of illiterate women or those with primary education was seven times more compared with those with secondary education. Our study revealed that cervical cancer still continues to rank first. Also the overall number of cancer cases has been increasing.

A cross-sectional study of 250 cases of type 2 diabetes management was conducted in a governmental tertiary care hospital of urban south India to determine the comparative prevalence of type 2 diabetes and its comorbidity with cardiovascular diseases in diabetic population, core drug use indicators and drug utilization pattern in the management of diabetics entirely and with cardiovascular diseases. Highest prevalent age group for type 2 diabetes/cardiovascular diseases (greater incidence in female than male) was 51-60 years. The 62.8% prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in the diabetic population ascertained in the study could provide an evidence-based rationale for the World Health Organization guidelines for the management of hypertension in type 2 diabetics. Incidence of polypharmacy (6.06, the mean number of total drug products prescribed); 59.26% of encounters prescribed antibiotics; 17.6 and 18.5 min of average consultation and dispensing time, respectively; 100% of drugs actually dispensed and adequately labeled; 81.26% of patients having knowledge of correct dosage and average drug cost of Indian Rupees 145.54 per prescription were the core drug use indicators found mainly. Moreover, drugs prescribed from the Essential Drug List were more than 90% and thereby indicated the drug use in this set-up quite rational. Around 71.09% of cardiovascular agents prescribed by generic name revealed the cost effective medical care. Among the agents in type 2 diabetes management, Actrapid® (35.43%) was the highest. Among the cardiovascular agents prescribed, lasix (19.37%) was the highest. Cardiovascular agents prescribed orally by 76.48% signified the good prescription habit indicating the improved patients’ adherence to the treatment. The present study emphasizes the need of early detection of hypertension as a preliminary diagnostic parameter of cardiovascular diseases in diabetics and appropriate management through concomitant therapy of cardiovascular drugs to minimize the risks of death.

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are lymphoid malignant neoplasms and the prognosis depends on the staging and response to therapy. Stress is an independent factor which can affect the prognosis of the disease. The purpose of the current case study was to evaluate the impact of Yoga and Ayurveda as complementary therapy on the prognosis of the disease and the effect of the same on perceived stress level. A 36 year patient diagnosed with relapsed Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) after receiving 3 rounds of chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant visited Union Yoga Ayurveda Clinic in Singapore for therapy. Perceived stress, complete blood count and hemoglobin were assessed pre and post intervention. A 6 month follow up was also done with similar evaluations. The patient was given holistic Yoga therapy and Ayurveda herbal treatment including patrapindasweda (herbal compress) and pichu(herbal soaked gauze pieces). The patient reported improvement in day to day energy levels and immunity with increase in WBC count. The perceived stress scores also showed distinct improvement post intervention. The current case study suggests that the integrative yoga and Ayurveda therapy was feasible and showed improvement in stress and complete blood count in patients with Non-Hodgkin lymphomas.