ABSTRACT
Background: Patients of CKD are highly exposed to HBV and HCV because of multiple blood transfusions and exposure to contaminated equipments. Infections by HBV and HCV are significant cause of morbidity in CKD patients by causing liver damage and membranoproliferative GN. Present study was done to observe the prevalence of HBV and HCV in patients of CKD and to compare the prevalence of these infections in patients who were on maintenance haemodialysis and who were not on maintenance hemodialysis.Methods: This study had been conducted on 140 patients. Patients were diagnosed as having CKD on basis of Cockcroft-gault equation as per KDOQI guidelines. Stage 3, 4 or 5 patients were included for the study whereas patients with stage 1 or 2 were excluded. These 140 cases were divided into 2 groups, Group I included 70 cases who were on maintenance hemodialysis and Group II included 70 patients who were not on maintenance hemodialysis. The prevalence of HBV and HCV in the two groups was observed. Diagnosis of HBV was made by detection of HBsAg (one step immunoassay) and diagnosis of HCV was made by detection of antibodies to Hepatitis C(enzyme linked immunoassay). Prevalence data of NCDC was used for comparison with general population.Results: In Group I, 15 (21%) patients were positive for HCV and 9 (12.9%) were positive for HBV which is significantly higher compared to Group II patients in which 6 (8.6%) and 2 (2.9%) were positive respectively. Overall out of 140 patients,21(15%) were positive for HCV and 11(7.9%) were positive for HBV, which is significantly higher compared to data of NCDC for general population in which prevalence of HCV and HBV is 1% and 4% respectivelyConclusions: Prevalence of HBV and HCV was significantly higher in patients of CKD than the general population, which was further higher in patients who were on maintenance hemodialysis and have received multiple blood transfusions, emphasizing the need to implement the methods to limit the spread of HBV and HCV.
ABSTRACT
Background: Helicobacter pylori colonization is a risk factor for Adenocarcinomas of the distal (noncardia) stomach. The presence of Helicobacter pylori is strongly associated with primary gastric lymphoma. The urea breath test, the stool antigen test, and biopsy-based tests can all be used to assess the success of treatment. Helicobacter pylori is susceptible to a wide range of antibiotics in vitro, monotherapy is not usually successful, probably because of inadequate antibiotic delivery to the colonization niche. Current regimens consist of a PPI or H2 blocker, bismuth citrate and two or three antimicrobial agents given for 7-14 days. Research on optimizing drug combinations to increase efficacy continues. Efficacy of Sequential Therapy versus Standard Triple Therapy versus Quinolone-based Triple Therapy for eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection is done in this study.Methods: This study had been conducted on 150 patients divided into three groups randomly 50 Patients each and were treated with Sequential, Standard and Quinolone based triple therapy respectively. Patients were followed up no sooner than four weeks of completing therapy by rapid urease test to confirm eradication.Results: There was no significant difference with regards to presence of GERD, Gastric Ulcers, Duodenal Ulcers (p value>0.05) except for presence of erosive gastritis which was significantly higher in patients in quinolone group (p value<0.05). The eradication rate was 90%, 86%, 82% in Sequential therapy group, Triple therapy group and Fluroquinolone group respectively. However, there was no statistically significant difference in eradication rates in these groups (p value>0.05).Conclusions: Sequential therapy group had better eradication rates (90%) as compared to standard triple therapy group (86%) and fluroquinolone therapy group (82%) but results were not statistically significant when all three groups were compared together.
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Background: One of the most effective options available for treating psoriatic fingernails is intramatricial injection of triamcinolone acetonide. Efficacies of intramatricial methotrexate and cyclosporine have not been comparatively evaluated to date. Methods: Ninety fingernails in 17 patients were assigned to three groups of thirty nails each, and treated with intramatricial injections of triamcinolone acetonide (10 mg/ml), methotrexate (25 mg/ml) and cyclosporine (50 mg/ml) respectively. Each nail was given two injections with a 6-week interval, and graded at 24 weeks using the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index. Results: In both triamcinolone acetonide and methotrexate groups, 15 (50%) nails out of 30 showed >75% improvement. In the cyclosporine group, only ten (33%) nails showed >75% improvement. Side effects were most in the nails treated with cyclosporine. Limitations: The limited follow-up period of 24 weeks may have been insufficient for detecting delayed remissions. The number of patients was small and there was no randomization or blinding. The lack of a placebo/ no- treatment arm can be considered a limitation. Conclusions: Amongst the three drugs studied, intramatricial methotrexate injection yielded the most improvement with minimum side effects, results being comparable to intramatricial triamcinolone acetonide injection. Cyclosporine was the least effective drug, with the most side effects. Intramatricial injection therapy is a safe, economical, simple and effective therapeutic modality in the management of nail psoriasis.
ABSTRACT
Background: One of the most effective options available for treating psoriatic fingernails is intramatricial injection of triamcinolone acetonide. Efficacies of intramatricial methotrexate and cyclosporine have not been comparatively evaluated to date. Methods: Ninety fingernails in 17 patients were assigned to three groups of thirty nails each, and treated with intramatricial injections of triamcinolone acetonide (10 mg/ml), methotrexate (25 mg/ml) and cyclosporine (50 mg/ml) respectively. Each nail was given two injections with a 6-week interval, and graded at 24 weeks using the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index. Results: In both triamcinolone acetonide and methotrexate groups, 15 (50%) nails out of 30 showed >75% improvement. In the cyclosporine group, only ten (33%) nails showed >75% improvement. Side effects were most in the nails treated with cyclosporine. Limitations: The limited follow-up period of 24 weeks may have been insufficient for detecting delayed remissions. The number of patients was small and there was no randomization or blinding. The lack of a placebo/ no- treatment arm can be considered a limitation. Conclusions: Amongst the three drugs studied, intramatricial methotrexate injection yielded the most improvement with minimum side effects, results being comparable to intramatricial triamcinolone acetonide injection. Cyclosporine was the least effective drug, with the most side effects. Intramatricial injection therapy is a safe, economical, simple and effective therapeutic modality in the management of nail psoriasis.
ABSTRACT
The Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a rare ciliopathic human autosomal-recessive disorder, affecting multiple organ systems. Less than 15 cases have been reported from India. The authors present a classical case of BBS presenting to dermatology outpatient with hypogonadism and features such as marked central obesity, retinal dystrophy, polydactyly, structural renal abnormalities and mental retardation, along with a brief review of the literature. This case exemplifies the need for multidisciplinary management in such cases.