Covid-19 presenting as isolated severe thrombocytopenia in an HIV-lymphoma survivor

Coronavirus disease has myriad manifestations and can present with predominantly extrapulmonary manifestations. We describe a 50-year-old man, a person living with HIV (PLHA), a non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivor, who presented with isolated severe thrombocytopenia. He was found to have immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, and showed excellent response to intravenous immunoglobulins.

A study of serum vascular endothelial growth factor in infantile hemangiomas

Background: Though infantile hemangiomas are the most common benign tumor of infancy, their etiopathogenesis is not fully understood. Some studies report a diagnostic role for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), but such studies are lacking from India. Aims: To study the clinicoepidemiological profile of infantile hemangiomas, to estimate and compare the serum levels of VEGF in infantile hemangiomas and controls, and to determine correlations between serum levels of VEGF and growth characteristics of infantile hemangiomas. Methods: A hospital-based, cross-sectional study was carried out on 30 clinically diagnosed cases of infantile hemangioma and 30 controls presenting with other disorders. VEGF levels were recorded for both cases and controls by the sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Results were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0, and their significance determined using appropriate tests. Results: Mean serum VEGF level in the cases was 216.8 ± 49.2 pg/ml while in the control group it was 115.1 ± 43.1 pg/ml (P < 0.0001). There were no statistically significant correlations between serum VEGF levels and sex or size, phase of growth, morphological variants or ulceration of lesions. Limitations: Our sample was not large enough to draw clinically applicable conclusions. An adequate sample size could not be achieved because of low incidence of the disease, and resource and time constraints. Conclusions: The mean value of serum VEGF in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group, suggesting that serum VEGF can serve as a diagnostic marker of infantile hemangiomas. Mean serum VEGF was higher in proliferative lesions than in involuting lesions, indicating that it may also be useful as a prognostic serological marker in cases of infantile hemangioma.

Ultrasonographic study of correlation between development of gallstones with morphology of gallbladder and common bile duct in North Indian Population.

Background & objectives- Gallbladder diseases are very common in Indian population. Ultrasonography (USG) is the commonest mode of investigation in such conditions .In view of above mentioned points we have conducted the present study on ultrasonographic findings of gallstone (GS) patients . Present study aims at determining the comparative prevalence of single and multiple gallstones and size of gallbladder(GB) and common bile duct (CBD) in patients . In present study we have also tried to find relationship of development of gallstones with age and sex of the patient . Methods- For the purpose of study we have divided patients into seven groups(groups A-G) according to age . In each group we have calculated mean gallbladder size and mean common bile duct diameter with the help of ultrasonographs . Then we will calculate percentage of patients ,patients with multiple stones, patients with single stones , mean gallbladder size and mean gallbladder diameter in each age group. Results- Gallstones patients are more of 25-50 years of age and females are more susceptible according to present study . There were more cases of multiple stones . Mean gallbladder length in all age groups is found to be less than normal. Interpretation & conclusion- Present study suggests increased incidence of gallstones in young population and it underlines the importance of ultrasound in screening gallbladder diseases.

Mucocutaneous manifestations in children with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Skin is one of the most frequently involved organs in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and mucocutaneous manifestations may be one of the earliest markers of AIDS. The prevalence of cutaneous abnormalities in HIV approaches nearly 90%. Mucocutaneous manifestations may also act as a prognostic marker of HIV infection. Children are increasingly being affected by HIV infection and it is important to realize the presence of the infection early in the disease process as their immune status is not mature enough to handle the stress of various infections. Skin manifestations can serve as early markers and prognostic indicators of HIV infection. This review highlights the epidemiology, transmission, pathogenesis, and the mucocutaneous manifestations of HIV infection in children.

Ocular manifestations in bidi industry workers: possible consequences of occupational exposure to tobacco dust.

Tobacco consumption is the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and premature death but little is known about its deleterious effect on the ocular health of workers handling tobacco. The goal of this study was to identify probable effects of occupational tobacco exposure among south Indian bidi-industry workers. This study included 310 females (mean age, 34.8 +/- 10.9 years) actively involved in bidi-rolling presenting with eye symptoms to a tertiary eye care hospital. Results suggested that a wide spectrum of ocular complications exist among these workers. Common ocular symptoms were defective vision, dull-aching headache and eye irritation. The main ocular findings were papillary conjunctival hyperplasia, hyperpigmentation of ocular surface, punctate epithelial erosion or superficial punctate keratitis, cataract or pseudophakia and segmental optic atrophy. Abstaining from work, supplementation of Vitamin B complex rich in B 12 and appropriate surgical or medical management reversed visual loss due to corneal disease or cataract but was not effective in optic neuropathy.

Retinal nerve fibre layer thickness measurements in normal Indian population by optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE: To obtain retinal nerve fibre layer thickness measurements by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in normal Indian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total of 118 randomly selected eyes of 118 normal Indian subjects of both sex and various age groups underwent retinal nerve fiber layer thickness analysis by Stratus OCT 3000 V 4.0.1. The results were evaluated and compared to determine the normal retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurements and its variations with sex and age. RESULTS: Mean +/- standard deviation retinal nerve fiber layer thickness for various quadrants of superior, inferior, nasal, temporal and along the entire circumference around the optic nerve head were 138.2 +/- 21.74, 129.1 +/- 25.67, 85.71 +/- 21, 66.38 +/- 17.37 and 104.8 +/- 38.81 microm, respectively. There was no significant difference in the measurements between males and females and no significant correlation with respect to age. CONCLUSION: Our results provide the normal retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurements and its variations with age and sex in Indian population.