Ultrasonographic assessment of paediatric ocular emergencies: A tertiary eye hospital based observation / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to assess the utility of ocular ultrasound B scan in the emergency at the first point of care for detecting posterior segment and orbital pathologies in cases of paediatric ocular emergencies. METHODS: A prospective observational study involving 122 paediatric patients presenting to eye emergency over a period of ninety days were assessed with ultrasonography for the posterior segment as well as orbital pathology whenever indicated. The ocular ultrasound was performed gently over closed eyelids. RESULTS: Posttraumatic globe injuries were the most common indication for posterior segment evaluation, which constituted 80 (65.57％) eyes. Among these 52 patients had an anechoic posterior segment and 28 patients had variable findings such as vitreous haemorrhage (8.19％), retinal detachment (6.55％), choroidal detachment (4.91％), posteriorly dislocated clear lens (0.81％) and retained intraocular foreign body (5.73％). Non-traumatic cases constituted around 42 (34.42％) eyes, which included corneal ulcer (7.37％), retinoblastoma (6.55％), endophthalmitis (4.91％), extraocular muscle cysticercosis (4.91％), orbital cellulitis (4.09％), periocular haemorrhage (2.45％), proptosis(1.63％), paediatric cataract (1.63％) and cryptophthalmos (0.81％). No adverse events of performing the ultrasound was noted. CONCLUSION: First point ultrasonography in paediatric ocular emergencies is a cheap, portable and an effective tool in the assertion of significant posterior segment and orbital diseases.

Prevailing breast feeding practices of infants attending paediatric out-patient department.

Background: Objectives of current study were to know the prevailing infant feeding practices in infants and to identify the problems affecting infant and young child feeding practices and to analyze the environmental factors influence the mothers, families and caregivers in infant feeding. Methods: The present study is a hospital based observation study. A total of 501 mothers and their infants attending new born paediatric OPD, immunization clinic of department of paediatrics for various reasons of health care were recruited for the study after their informed consent and institutional ethical clearance. Information about the first feed after birth, time of initiation of breastfeeding, duration of exclusive breast feeding, time of introduction of complementary feeding, knowledge of feeding skills, mother’s concept of adequacy of breast milk were collected in the structured, pre tested proforma by personal one to one interview with the mothers. All the mothers of infants from 0 to 1 year were included. Statistical analysis: The data obtained by the interview were analyzed with regarding to mothers education level, religion and other related parameters pertaining to feeding practices. Percentages of parameters were calculated and analyzed. Results: Majority of the mothers belong to the age group of 18 to 30 years (96.01%), prelacteal feeds were given by a good number of mothers (42.32%), 60.66% mothers were given the sugar water as the prelacteal feed and 71.56% mothers have used cup and spoon to give prelacteal feeds. 75.25% of the mothers have practiced giving colostrum, 72.26% of mothers were breastfeeding their baby for 5 to 10 minutes during each feed at an interval of 0.5 hours to 3.5 hours. Majority of mothers (34.73%) had the knowledge of starting of weaning at six months and 46.88% of mothers were giving weaning food twice daily. Conclusion: Significant number of mothers had discarded colostrum and most of the mothers intended to give only breast milk upto four months and they did not have correct knowledge regarding exclusive breastfeeding upto six months.

A Rare Case of Undescended Caecum Accompanied by Looped Retroperitoneal Appendix

Intestinal malrotations are associated with various anatomical anomalies. We report a unique case wherein the caecum was located in the right lumbar region instead of the right iliac fossa. The ileo-caecal junction was also placed higher up. The appendix was ‘uncinate’ shaped, highly coiled and retroperitoneal with the absence of mesoappendix. Both, the caecum and appendix were supplied by ascending branch of the ileocolic artery instead of the descending branch. Further, we also observed that the ascending colon was very short and sub-hepatic in position. Such type of variations is of clinical and surgical importance in diagnosis and treatment of appendicitis.

Glycolytic inhibitor, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, does not enhance radiation-induced apoptosis in mouse thymocytes and splenocytes in vitro.

Earlier studies have shown that 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), a glucose analogue and inhibitor of glycolytic ATP production selectively enhances radiation-induced damage in cancer cells by inhibiting the energy (ATP) dependent postirradiation DNA and cellular repair processes. A reduction in radiation induced cytogenetic damage has been reported in normal cells viz., peripheral blood lymphocytes and bone marrow cells. Since induction of apoptosis plays a major role in determining the radiosensitivity of some most sensitive normal cells including splenocytes and thymocytes, we investigated the effects of 2-DG on radiation induced apo tosis in these cells in vitro. Thymocytes and splenocytes isolated from normal Swiss albino mouse were irradiated with Co60 gamma-rays and analyzed for apoptosis at various post-irradiation times. 2-DG added at the time of irradiation was present till the termination of cultures. A time dependent, spontaneous apoptosis was evident in both the cell systems, with nearly 40% of the cells undergoing apoptosis at 12 hr of incubation. The dose response of radiation-induced apoptosis was essentially similar in both the cell systems and was dependent on the incubation time. More than 70% of the splenocytes and 60% of the thymocytes were apoptotic by 12 hr following an absorbed dose of 2 Gy. Presence of 2-DG marginally reduced the fraction of splenocytes undergoing apoptosis at all absorbed doses, while no change was observed in thymocytes. Presence of 2-DG did not significantly alter either the level or the rate of induction of spontaneous apoptosis in both these cell systems. These results are consistent with the earlier findings on radiation-induced cytogenetic damage in human PBL in vitro and mouse bone marrow cells and lend further support to the proposition that 2-DG does not enhance radiation damage in normal cells, while radiosensitizing the tumors and hence is an ideal adjuvant in the radiotherapy of tumors.

Bhişaksudhărnavam--an unexplored precious Andhrasampradăya Ayurvĕda Grantha.

In India many Ayurvĕdic books were written in regional languages like Telugu, Bengali, Orissa, Gujarati etc. Though some of them are very useful, due to lack of maintenance and improper protection many of them became extinct and some of them are on the verge of extinction. Bhişaksudhărnavam is one among such books, which is on the verge of extinction, details of which are presented here.

A literary review of Arśas (haemorrhoids).

The disease Arśas (hemorrhoids), an ano-rectal disorder is as old as mankind. Suśrta farther of surgery described the Arśas under heading of 'Mahagadas' (eight major diseases). Due to inconsistency of human diet and social obligations, a large proportion of the population is suffering from hemorrhoids. As per Ayurveda, the etiological factors are broadly classified as Sămănya (Non-specific) and Viśĕsa (Specific). Viśĕsa again sub divided in to Sahaja and Janmottara. Suśrta classified this disease on the basis of clinical manifestations in to six types, where as Caraka and Văgbhata classified in to two according to discharging nature and causative factors respectively.