Comparative evaluation of the efficacy and tolerability of itopride hydrochloride and domperidone in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia.

BACKGROUND: Prokinetic drugs are widely used for treatment of non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD). AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of a new prokinetic agent, itopride hydrochloride in patients of NUD and compare it with domperidone. METHODS: Fifty-six patients who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. Patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to rule out organic pathology as a cause for their symptoms. The patient's symptoms were graded on a 4-point scale (0 to 3) at the beginning of treatment and at the end of Week-one and Week-two Patients were randomly allocated to receive either one tablet of itopride hydrochloride 50mg three times daily or one tablet of domperidone 10mg three times daily for two weeks. Pre-treatment and post-treatment hemogram, liver function and renal function tests, prolactin level and ECG were done in all patients. The response to therapy was evaluated by assessing the relief of symptoms at the end of two weeks on a 5-point scale. Statistical analysis was done using two-tailed paired t-test; Wilcoxon matched pairs ranks sum test, Mann-Whitney-U test and chi-square test as applicable. RESULTS: Of the fifty-five patients enrolled in the study (age range of 18-60 yrs, median age of 35yrs), 26 were males and twenty nine were females. They had a median duration of symptoms for 4 weeks. Twenty-seven patients received itopride and 28 received domperidone. One patient did not follow up in the domperidone group, thus 54 patients were evaluable for analysis. Moderate to complete symptomatic relief was observed in 22 (81%) patients in the itopride group and 19 patients (70%) in the domperidone group (p > 0.05, NS). Both the drugs were well tolerated and neither caused prolongation of QT interval nor any abnormality in any serum biochemistry values. CONCLUSION: Therapy with itopride resulted in good symptomatic relief, was safe, well tolerated and comparable in efficacy to domperidone in relieving the symptoms of NUD. By virtue of its efficacy and tolerability, it could be an ideal choice for providing symptomatic relief to patients suffering from non-ulcer dyspepsia.

Gastric lipoma presenting with dyspepsia.

Gastric lipoma is one of the rare benign gastric tumors. Its preoperative diagnosis obviates the need of an extended gastrectomy. We report a case of gastric lipoma who presented with symptoms of dyspepsia and was treated by surgical gastrectomy and tumour enucleation.

Efficacy of low dose intradermal hepatitis B vaccine: results of a randomized trial among health care workers.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an occupational health hazard among the healthcare workers. Vaccination against HBV has been established to be the most effective preventive strategy. The present study was designed to assess the efficacy of low dose intradermal HBV vaccine among the nursing staff in a tertiary care hospital setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Staff nurses working in our hospital were included in the study as vaccine recipients. Each staff nurse was tested for HBsAg and anti-HBs (commercial ELISA). Those who tested negative for both the above markers were randomized to receive either three doses of intramuscular (i.m.) HBV vaccine (20 micrograms m each dose) at 0, 1 and 6 month interval or three doses of intradermal HBV vaccine (2 micrograms m each dose) at similar intervals. Each vaccine recipient was tested for the presence of anti HBs (commercial ELISA) at the end of 1 month and 1 year after the last dose of the vaccine. The anti-HBs titres were also estimated simultaneously in them. RESULTS: Out of 153 staff nurses screened, 19 were either positive for HBsAg (n = 1) or anti HBs (n = 18). 96(72%) of the remaining 134 nurses agreed to receive HBV vaccine (i.m.--48, intradermal--48). At the end of 1 month after last dose of the vaccine, all vaccinees in both the group tested positive for anti-HBs. However the anti-HBs titres at 1 month were significantly higher among intramuscular vaccinees than the nurses receiving the vaccine through intra-dermal route (253 +/- 127.7 mIU/ml vs 151.3 +/- 92.8 mIU/ml, P < 0.001). Eighty four (85.5%) of these 96 vaccine recipient were available for evaluation of anti-HBs titre at the end of 1 year after the last dose of vaccine (1M group = 40, Intradermal group = 44). All the nurses continued to be positive for anti-HBs at the end of 1 year but the anti HBs-titre among i.m. vaccine recipient continued to remain at a significantly higher level than the similar titre among the intradermal vaccine recipients (256.4 +/- 124.7 mIU/ml vs 121.6 +/- 122.4 mIU/ml p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Intradermal route for HBV vaccine had similar immunogenic efficacy as the conventional intramuscular route, but the dose required in the former route is one tenth of the intramuscular route. Therefore intradermal route may reduce the cost of HBV vaccine markedly.

Chronic liver disease in diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: The association of diabetes with liver disease is well known. AIM: To study the spectrum of liver disease in patients of chronic liver disease (CLD) with diabetics and compare it with age and sex matched patients of CLD without diabetes. METHODS: We studied the patients of chronic liver disease presenting over a period of one year and their diagnosis were established by biochemical studies, imaging, endoscopic examination and liver biopsy when required. They were evaluated for the aetiological causes of liver diseases. RESULTS: A total of 53 patients of CLD with diabetes, M:F 43:8, with an age range of 35-70 years, median age of 51 years were taken as study group. Demographic picture of control group was n = 115, with M:F = 100: 15, age range of 37-68 years, with a median age of 52 years. Spectrum of liver disease in diabetic group were as follows: 56.6% cirrhosis, 15.1% chronic hepatitis, 22.6% fatty liver, 5.7% cirrhosis + hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The spectrum in control group was as follows, cirrhosis 46.1%, chronic hepatitis 36.5%, fatty liver 14.8%, cirrhosis and HCC 2.6%. Aetiology of chronic liver disease in diabetic group was as follows: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with cirrhosis 11.3%, NASH 18.9%, cryptogenic cirrhosis 22.6%, hepatitis B virus (HBV) 17%, hepatitis C virus (HCV) 13.2%, alcohol 17%. Aetiology of chronic liver disease in nondiabetic group was as follows: NASH with cirrhosis 1.7%, NASH 13.0%, cryptogenic cirrhosis 7.8%, HBV 30.43%, HCV 13%, alcohol 29.6% and autoimmune in 4.3%. Incidence of NASH with cirrhosis and cryptogenic cirrhosis were found to be statistically significantly high in diabetic group. Incidence of diabetes in cryptogenic cirrhosis was found to be 57% versus 30% in noncryptogenic cirrhosis. CONCLUSION: NASH, NASH with cirrhosis and cryptogenic cirrhosis are the major causes of chronic liver disease in patients with diabetes mellitus. Alcohol and viral causes are found to be important aetiologies in nondiabetic control group. Diabetes mellitus is an important risk factor for chronic liver disease and progression of NASH to cirrhosis, which may present as cryptogenic cirrhosis.

Role of destructive operations in modern day obstetrics.

One hundred and forty-one cases of obstructed labour was referred to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in the last one year. Out of 12,034 total hospital deliveries, incidence of obstructed labour was 1.17% whereas 36 cases (0.29%) accounted for intra-uterine foetal death (IUD). Of the IUD with obstructed labour, 69.4% were delivered by destructive operation and 30.6% by lower segment caesarean section (LSCS). Craniotomy was performed in 44.4% cases and evisceration in 25% of cases. About 68% of the patients were in the young age group belonging to 20-30 years and 36% of cases were primigravida. It ws found that cephalopelvic disproportion was the commonest cause of obstruction for which craniotomy was performed. Traumatic rupture uterus was encountered in one case. There was no maternal death following destructive operation.

Colonic tuberculosis: colonoscopic appearance and clinico-pathologic analysis.

BACKGROUND: There has been a resurgence of interest in intestinal tuberculosis because of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic sweeping our country. Role of colonoscopy and colonoscopy directed histology for diagnosing the disease have been emphasised since last few years. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To know the colonoscopic features in patients with intestinal tuberculosis and to study the clinicopathological findings in the same. METHODS: We studied twenty-one patients with intestinal tuberculosis referred to us between 1993-1997. Colonoscopy was done in all patients and biopsy specimens were collected from the site of lesion during the procedure. RESULTS: Ileocaecal disease was found in 9 patients, ileocaecal with contiguous ascending colon involvement in eight and segmental colonic tuberculosis in four cases. The colonoscopic findings included nodules in seven patients, nodules with ulcerations in three, ulcerations alone in seven, nodules with strictures in three and polypoidal mass in one patient. Eight cases revealed granuloma on histopathology. CONCLUSIONS: Though bacteriological and histological assessment of tissue is essential to differentiate tuberculosis from other disorders, we stress the importance of colonoscopic appearances in diagnosing tuberculosis. We also recommend antituberculous chemotherapy in patients with high clinical suspicion of tuberculosis on the basis of colonoscopic appearance alone after ruling other causes on histopathological examination.

Foreign bodies in gut.

BACKGROUND: Foreign body ingestion is common and a frightening experience to the patients and relatives. We report our experience with 102 patients, (78 children and 24 adults), with foreign body ingestion. METHODS: After locating foreign bodies radiologically, 34 (43.6%) foreign bodies in children and 13 (54.2%) foreign bodies in adults were removed endoscopically. General anesthesia was used in 32 children and overtube was used for all sharp foreign bodies. RESULTS: In our study, 78 (76%) patients were below 12 years of age. Coins (79.5%) were commonest foreign bodies in children while dentures (25%) were commonest in adults. Foreign bodies were most commonly sited in stomach (25.6%) in children and esophagus (58.3%) in adults. In 41 (52.6%) children and in three (12.5%) adults, i.e. total 44 out of 102 (43.1%) patients passed foreign bodies spontaneously. The largest foreign body that passed spontaneously was 4-cm long nail in a child. In 34 (43.6%) children and in 13 (54.2%) adults foreign bodies were removed endoscopically. Only 3.8% children and 33.3% adults required surgery. CONCLUSIONS: There was no mortality in our series. Majority of foreign bodies do not require any intervention. Sharp foreign bodies are commonest indication for surgery. However, endoscopic removal is safe, effective and is the method of choice for most patients.