Comparative performance of Cerebral Perfusion Ratio as compared to MCA PI and UA PI in prediction of adverse perinatal outcomes in intra uterine growth restricted fetuses

Background: Intra uterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a common clinical sign seen due to chronic foetal hypoxemia and is considered a major contributor of perinatal morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study was to determine and compare the sensitivity and specificity of umbilical artery pulsatility index (UA PI), middle cerebral artery (MCA) PI and cerebral perfusion ratio (CPR) in predicting adverse and poor perinatal outcomes in fetuses with IUGR.Methods: The study included 100 pregnant women with post 24 weeks of gestation with clinical history of IUGR.  Doppler examination parameters, including waveforms and measurements, of the umbilical artery, middle cerebral artery were recorded. The Cerebral Perfusion Ratio (CPR) was calculated from MCA PI and UA PI and a final comparison of accuracy of Doppler indices was done with perinatal outcome.Results: The sensitivity of the UA PI was higher (49.3%) than that of the MCA PI (43.6%) and the CPR (37.7%). The specificity of the CPR was higher (87.1%) than that of the MCA PI (83.9%) and the UA PI (74.2%).Conclusions: From the findings of the study, it can be concluded that UA PI is the most sensitive and CPR is the most specific parameter in predicting adverse perinatal outcomes in IUGR fetuses. Thus, in addition to pulsatility indices, CPR should be used as a tool for surveillance and included in the routine reporting formats of obstetric Doppler studies.

Ludwig’s angina by Salmonella Typhi: A clinical dilemma.

Salmonella Typhi has rarely been associated with focal abscesses; and in literature, there is no evidence of its association with abscesses in the neck spaces. Ability of Salmonella Typhi to invade and localise in the neck spaces not only poses a diagnostic challenge but also underscores the necessity to understand the mechanisms that facilitate Salmonella Typhi to establish infections at sites completely non-traditional to the organism.

The effect of three mouthwashes on radiation-induced oral mucositis in patients with head and neck malignancies: a randomized control trial.

AIMS: The present study was done to assess the effect of three alcohol-free mouthwashes on radiation-induced oral mucositis in patients with head and neck malignancies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty patients with head and neck malignancies, scheduled to undergo curative radiotherapy, were randomly assigned to receive one of the three alcohol-free test mouthwashes (0.12% chlorhexidine, 1% povidone-iodine, or salt/soda) or a control. The patients were instructed to rinse with 10 ml of the mouthwash, twice a day, for a period of 6 weeks. Mucositis was assessed at baseline and at weekly intervals during radiation therapy, using the World Health Organization criteria for grading of mucositis. The baseline demography of the four groups was matched for age, sex, stage of cancer, and whether the patient had cancer of oral or extraoral regions. A post hoc test for repeated measures was used to find the difference of mean mucositis scores between the groups at various week intervals. RESULTS: Among the 76 patients who completed the study, patients in the povidone-iodine group had significantly lower mucositis scores when compared to the control group from the first week of radiotherapy. Their scores were also significantly lower when compared to the salt/soda and chlorhexidine groups from the fourth and fifth week, respectively, after radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that use of alcohol-free povidone-iodine mouthwash can reduce the severity and delay the onset of oral mucositis due to antineoplastic radiotherapy.