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Background: Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) is a multisystem disease of unknown etiology which affects only human beings. It poses several problems to both mother and child. Complications in newborns like intrauterine death (IUD), intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), perinatal asphyxia, neonatal sepsis and bleeding disorders are associated with toxaemia of pregnancy. To decrease the perinatal morbidity and mortality, babies of hypertensive mothers should be carefully monitored and managed. Aim of this study was to establish the changes in total platelet count, reticulocyte count and absolute neutrophil count of umbilical cord blood in pregnancy induced hypertension as compared to normotensive mothers.Methods: This case-control study was conducted among 60 subjects including 30 case (diagnosed cases of pregnancy induced hypertension) and 30 control (normotensive pregnant women). The case group was again categorized into three subgroups – gestational hypertension (06), pre-eclampsia (16) and eclampsia (08). In all the subjects, 2 ml of umbilical cord blood anticoagulated with EDTA was collected and haematological tests for reticulocyte count, total platelet count (TPC) and absolute neutrophil count was done.Results: There was significant decrease in TPC (p<0.01) and absolute neutrophil count (p<0.01), but significant rise in reticulocyte count (p<0.05) in umbilical cord blood of babies born to hypertensive mothers compared to normotensive mothersConclusions: From this study, it can be concluded that newborns of hypertensive mothers carry risks for infection and bleeding complications. So, these simple haematological tests can be done at early stage in neonates to reduce possible perinatal morbidities and mortality.

Radiation-induced acute toxicity, socioeconomic status and distance plays minimal role as a cause of patients who stop taking EBRT. There is no particular relation between age, disease site, treatment received before radiotherapy, intent of treatment, and concurrent chemoradiation-induced acute reactions with defaults among patients. Loss of income and work in the poor population during the treatment may be an important possible cause of defaults.

Background: Empyema thoracis (ET) is a life-threatening disease often encountered in pediatric patients. In spite of all modern sophistication of medical sciences, this disease is chargeable for a high proportion of hospital admission and continues to require an important tool against them. Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the age-sex profile, predisposing factors, etiology, seasonal variation, and clinical manifestations of ET in children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the department of pediatrics in Western Odisha. A total of 80 children, aged 0–14 years and diagnosed as ET, were enrolled in the study. After inclusion, a detailed history including demographical data, clinical examinations, and thorough investigations (hematological, biochemical, and radiological) was done as per pro forma prepared for the study. Pleural fluid was collected by thoracocentesis and examined for cultural sensitivity. Results: Most of the cases belonged to the age group of 0–5 years (60%), and male-female ratio was 3:2. Of 80, 50 (72.5%) patients were malnourished. The most common symptoms in all patients were fever (100%) and cough (90%). Intercostal tenderness (100%) was the most common clinical sign. Staphylococcus aureus (60%) was the predominant causative organism. Conclusions: The prognosis of childhood empyema depends on the age, nutritional status of the child, and bacterial agent causing empyema. Earlier diagnosis and adequate treatment of potential predisposing factors favor the good prognosis.