Professor H.D. Sankalia

This obituary of H.D. Sankalia was originally written in Marathi. As the English translation underlines, it captures unknown facets of the archaeologist as a researcher and a teacher, as also a slice of the history of the Deccan College where he spent most of his working life.

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis: Are we barking up the wrong tree? A 4 year naturalistic follow up study

Background: Aim of the study was to determine if extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is a communicable disease as commonly perceived or a disease of host immune dysfunction.Methods: Patients with clinical suspicion of EPTB, in general surgery and orthopaedic department of twin hospitals of Deccan College of Medical Sciences, between the period of January 2015 and December 2017, were investigated appropriately and those found to have confirmed TB were enrolled in the study and followed up for 1 year.Simultaneously patient’s details registered under RNTCP in the two local community health centres were collected and compared with the hospital based study.Results: Of 319 patients with clinical features, 267 were confirmed with EPTB- maximum number with lymph nodal disease (127) followed by extremity bone and joint (63), spine (38), skin and soft tissues (25) and abdominal tb (19). Method of confirmation differed for each site. Detection by AFB being the least sensitive followed by AFB culture. The best method of diagnosis being histopathological examination.Conclusions: Immunity plays a major role in site of reactivation of TB and healing of disease irrespective of duration of anti-tuberculous chemotherapy or surgical intervention.

A longitudinal study of immunization status and reasons for non-vaccination of children in OPD and pediatric ward of a teaching hospital

Background: The present study was to find out the immunization status of children in the age group of 0-7 years from OPD and those admitted in hospital attached to Deccan College of Medical Sciences with respect to primary immunization (BCG,OPV/DPT 1, 2, 3, measles), 1st booster dosage of OPV, DPT and also primary doses of Hepatits-B vaccine and coverage of vitamin A with measles vaccine. The objectives of this research work were to study factors which influence the immunization status and to know reasons for partial and non-immunization and their follow up over 2 years. Also, to know proportion of vaccine preventable diseases in children under study group.Methods: An oral questionaire method was adopted for parent of children in the age group 0-7 years to assess their immunization status and social factors influencing immunization coverage. Systemic random sampling method was applied to select 200 chlildren i.e. every 5th child admitted in the age group of 0-7 years was taken for analysis.Results: The study showed that out of 200 children 115 were fully immunized, 78 were partially immunized and 7 were non- immunized, 66 children among male and 49 among females were fully immunized, & the study shows that males had better immunization than females.Conclusions: Out of total 200 cases 57.6% were fully immunized, 38 % were partially immunized while 3.5% were unimmunized. Immunization coverage was better in urban children than rural children.

Lost Collection from a Lost River: Interpreting Sir Aurel Stein’s “Sarasvatī Tour” in the History of South Asian Archaeology

of PhD thesis submitted in 2018 to the Atelier Doctoral Programme, Doctoral School of History, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, under the supervision of Gábor Sonkoly, in co-operation with Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute, Pune, India, under the supervision of Vasant Shinde.

A study of predictors of occult bacteremia in febrile children 3 months to 36 months of age groups

Background: The objective of the present study was to find out predictors of occult bacteremia in children, 3 months to 36 months of age group, with fever without focus and to find out most common bacteria causing occult bacteremia in the same group of children.Methods: A cross sectional study was done between January 2017 to January 2018 on hundered children between 3 months and 36 months of age group in Deccan College of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad Telangana State in all eligible children admitted in pediatric ward. A detailed history and physical examination completed as per Performa. Various blood samples were obtained for TLC, DLC including band form%, CRP, Micro –ESR and culture by standard methods. Urine sample taken in all cases for urine culture. LP and CSF analysis done in all cases.Results: Total 100 children enrolled in the study and 9 children excluded from the study. Out of 100 children included in study 25 (26%) found bacteremia positive. The study population included 60 male (60%) and 40 female (40%) children their mean and +SD age was 1997 +1.99 months. There were 20 male and 5 female and their children in bacteremia positive group compared to 40 male and 20 females in bacteremia negative group.Conclusions: The study evaluated both clinical and laboratory predictors for the detection of occult bacteremia Total 8 laboratory parameters evaluated for their significance to detect occult bacteremia.

Profile of congenital malformations in a tertiary care level neonatal intensive care unit

Background: Congenital malformations are important causes of infant and childhood deaths, chronic illness and disability.Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted over a period of one year in Princess Esra Hospital, a tertiary level neonatal intensive care unit, Deccan College of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. All new-borns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit over a period of 1 year from June 2014 to June 2015 were included in the study.Results: The incidence of congenital malformations (CMF) in the present study is 3%. Among the major congenital malformations, the central nervous system (CNS) and gastrointestinal (GI) malformations were more frequent than others contributing to 28.9% each. The male neonates were more frequently involved than females. Association of low birth and prematurity with increased risk of congenital malformations is also documented.Conclusions: Early prenatal diagnosis and management of common anomalies is strongly recommended.

A Simylla do Périplo do Mar Eritreu: escavação arqueológica do antigo sítio portuário de Chaul na costa oeste de Mahàràùñra – Índia

O artigo apresenta os resultados da pesquisa arqueológica realizada pela equipe do Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute no sítio portuário de Chaul, mencionado nas fontes textuais da antiguidade como um dos maiores centros comerciais da costa oeste da Índia. As evidências arqueológicas recuperadas nas explorações e escavações comprovaram sua existência desde os períodos Maurya e Sàtavàhana. Fragmentos de ânforas romanas também foram encontrados. Três conjuntos de grutas budistas associados ao período Sàtavàhana foram explorados junto ao sítio de Chaul. A ocupação continuada de Chaul foi atestada por mais de 2000 anos, até o século XVII, época em que o porto perdeu sua importância econômica para Mumbai.