ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study discusses incidence and clinical profile of pulmonary involvement in leptospirosis in South Gujarat. It also tries to evaluate the effect of high dose glucocorticoid pulse therapy (GPT) on it. METHOD: A study was carried out on hundred and two patients of suspected leptospirosis, referred to Government Medical College, New Civil Hospital, Surat between June 99 to September 99. The incidence, clinical profile, and specific investigations were studied in patients having pulmonary involvement. Some of the patients were given high dose glucocorticoid pulse therapy. Their outcomes were compared with those who had not been given glucocorticoid pulse therapy. RESULTS: Out of seventy seven seropositive patients 13 (16.8%) developed pulmonary involvement. Mortality was two out of eight patients in the group that received GPT and four out of five patients in the group that did not receive GPT. Two patients who died in the steroid treated group received the drug after 12 hours of onset of dyspnea. CONCLUSIONS: High dose GPT should be given as early as possible after the onset of dyspnea to all the patients with pulmonary involvement in leptospirosis. Further studies are required to establish the GPT as a standard regimen in treatment of pulmonary involvement in leptospirosis.
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Glucocorticoids/administration & dosage , Humans , India , Infusions, Intravenous , Leptospirosis/diagnosis , Male , Middle Aged , Pneumonia, Bacterial/drug therapy , Probability , Prospective Studies , Pulse Therapy, Drug , Reference Values , Risk Assessment , Severity of Illness Index , Survival Rate , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Ondansetron was used as an antiemetic along with dexamethasone during 16 cycles of highly or moderately ematogenic chemotherapy. There was major control in two cycles and complete control in the remaining 14. Side effects were minor and did not require discontinuation of the drug. This combination, therefore, appears to be safe and effective in preventing chemotherapy induced emesis.
Subject(s)
Adult , Antiemetics/adverse effects , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects , Dexamethasone/adverse effects , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Drug Therapy, Combination , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Ondansetron/adverse effects , Receptors, Serotonin/drug effects , Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3 , Serotonin Antagonists/adverse effects , Vomiting/prevention & controlABSTRACT
Total 193 diabetic patients were investigated to assess the prevalence of microalbuminuria. Urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) on 3 hours urine samples. The prevalence of microalbuminuria (UAER) > 15 micrograms/min was 41%. Microalbuminuria was commonly observed in patients having diabetes for more than 5 years. A significant correlation was found between duration of diabetes and microalbuminuria (p < 0.01). Glycemic control (fasting and postprandial blood sugar) did not show any correlation with UAER, whereas blood urea (r.39, p < 0.01), creatinine (r.26, p < 0.05) and chloride (r.24, p < 0.05) were positively correlated. A significant correlation was found between raised blood pressure and UAER (p < 0.01).