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Small perforations are often managed with cyanoacrylate glue - bandage contact lens (BCL). An additional layer with substances like sterile drape often enhances the strength of the glue. Herein, we describe a novel method of using anterior lens capsule as biological drape to secure perforation. The anterior capsule was secured from femtosecond laser–assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) and placed over the perforation after folding it twice. The area was dried and a small aliquot of cyanoacrylate glue was applied over it. The BCL was applied over it after the glue was dry. In our series of five patients, none of them needed repeat surgery and all cases healed by three months without vascularization. It is a unique technique to secure small corneal perforations.
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Objective?The word “telemedicine” literally translates to “healing at a distance.” In the current scenario of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and shut outpatient department, the patients are facing difficulty in consultation. This article evaluated the use of telemedicine in the management of pediatric surgical patients. Materials and Methods?In this observational cohort study, from April 2020 to August 2020, all patients who took advice on phone/WhatsApp were assessed for addressing their complaints. The data was collected and analyzed. Result?A total of 307 patients were provided consultation via telecommunication. The male to female ratio was 2.3:1. Fifty-six (18.2%) patients called on an emergency basis, while the remaining 251 (81.8%) patients called for nonemergency or routine problems. Of these, attendants of 25 (8.14%) patients were not able to state the situation adequately. They were called to the department. Of these, 11 (3.5% of total) patients were admitted. One-hundred and eighty-three (59.6%) patients were in the department's follow-up, while the remaining 124 (40.4%) were new patients. The attendants of 296 (96.4%) patients were satisfied by using this modality of consultation. Conclusion?In the current scenario, telecommunication may help us to avoid unnecessary travel to the hospital. It may be helpful to deal with minor clinical complaints and evaluating for an emergency.
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ESI scheme is one of the measures of social security and health insurance in this country it applies to a special class of society those who works in private institutions and factories. It provides not only medical benefits but also other benefits like maternity, sickness, disablement, funeral, dependent benefits which is not provided under any other health insurance schemes. So, it becomes essential to assess the awareness and knowledge about ESI scheme and its benefits among beneficiary employees in Chhattisgarh. It was a cross sectional study done in ESI dispensaries of Chhattisgarh. 420 beneficiary employees were selected by Multi-stage Random Sampling Method. Predesigned, Pre-tested, semi structured questionnaire was used to assess the awareness and knowledge about ESI scheme and its benefits. It was found 100% insured persons were aware about medical benefit, 77.14% were aware about Sickness benefit, 9.52% were aware about Maternity benefit, 66.90% were aware about Disablement benefit, and only 1.19% were aware about Dependent and Funeral benefit. Main source of awareness (68.80%) of ESI benefits for them were Co-workers/Friends & Family, (97.85%) were not aware about continuation of availing medical benefits after retirement, (65.24) of beneficiary employees were aware about amount of wages deducted from salary for ESI Scheme, (64.76) of beneficiary employees were not aware about formalities for claiming various benefits provided by ESI scheme.
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Purpose: The Castroviejo caliper is routinely used for measuring the corneal diameter in patients with primary congenital glaucoma, but needs an examination under anesthesia (EUA) or sedation. A simple U?shaped tool was devised to aid in the estimation of the corneal diameters of patients in settings where an ophthalmic caliper is not available or EUA is not feasible. Methods: Infants presenting to the congenital glaucoma clinic posted for EUA were recruited. The demographic details of the patients such as age, sex, and diagnosis were noted. A simple U?shaped tool was devised using three Schirmer strips or a printable ruler. Before the patient underwent a EUA, the corneal diameters were measured using the U?tool. During EUA, corneal diameters were measured using the Castroviejo caliper. Results: The mean age of infants was 6.7 ± 3.39 months (R = 1–12). The mean corneal diameter measured using the U?tool was 13.29 ± 1.33 mm and with Castroviejo caliper was 13.18 ± 1.39 mm. The difference between the corneal diameters measured using the two techniques was ?0.114 mm with the Bland–Altman plot 95% Limits of agreement (LoA) from ?0.965 to 0.737 mm. Corneal diameters measured with both instruments had a good correlation (Pearson’s correlation coefficient = 0.95, P < 0.001). Conclusion: U?tool can be used for screening congenital glaucoma by first?contact physicians or optometrists. It can also be used by ophthalmologists when EUA is delayed
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INTRODUCTION@#Large-volume paracentesis (LVP) is the first-line treatment for decompensated cirrhosis with refractory ascites. While ascitic drain removal (ADR) within 72 hours of the procedure was once considered safe, it was uncertain whether ADR within 24 hours could further reduce the risk of ascitic drain-related bacterial peritonitis (AdBP). This study aimed to investigate the association between the timing of ADR and the presence of AdBP.@*METHODS@#All patients with cirrhosis with refractory ascites who underwent LVP in our institution from 2014 to 2017 were studied. AdBP was diagnosed based on an ascitic fluid neutrophil count ≥ 250 cells/mm@*RESULTS@#A total of 131 patients who underwent LVP were followed up for 1,806 patient-months. Their mean age was 68.3 ± 11.6 years, and 65.6% were male. Their mean Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score was 15.2. The overall incidence of AdBP was 5.3%. ADR beyond 24 hours was significantly associated with a longer median length of stay (five days vs. three days, p < 0.001), higher risk of AdBP (0% vs. 8.9%, p = 0.042) and acute kidney injury (AKI) following LVP (odds ratio 20.0, 95% confidence interval 2.4-164.2, p = 0.021). The overall survival was similar in patients who underwent ADR within and beyond 24 hours of LVP.@*CONCLUSION@#ADR within 24 hours of LVP is associated with a reduced risk of AdBP and AKI. As AdBP is associated with resistant organisms and AKI, we recommend prompt ADR within 24 hours, especially in patients who have Child-Pugh class C alcoholic cirrhosis.
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Background/Aims@#Despite the disproportionally high prevalence rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) amongst the incarcerated population, eradication remains challenging due to logistic and financial barriers. Although treatment prioritization based on disease severity is commonly practiced, the efficacy of such approach remained uncertain. We aimed to compare the impact of unrestricted access to direct-acting antiviral (DAA) among incarcerated HCV-infected patients in Singapore. @*Methods@#In this retrospective study, we reviewed all incarcerated HCV-infected patients treated in our hospital during the restricted DAA era (2013–2018) and unrestricted DAA access era (2019). Study outcomes included the rate of sustained virological response (SVR), treatment completion and treatment default. Subgroup analysis was performed based on the presence of liver cirrhosis, HCV genotype and HCV treatment types. @*Results@#A total of 1,001 HCV patients was followed-up for 1,489 person-year. They were predominantly male (93%) with genotype-3 HCV infection (71%), and 38% were cirrhotic. The overall SVR during the restricted DAA access era and unrestricted DAA access era were 92.1% and 99.1%, respectively. Unrestricted access to DAA exponentially improved the treatment access among HCV-infected patients by 460%, resulting in a higher SVR rate (99% vs. 92%, P=0.003), higher treatment completion rate (99% vs. 93%, P<0.001) and lower treatment default rate (1% vs. 9%, P<0.001). @*Conclusion@#In this large cohort of incarcerated HCV-infected patients, we demonstrated that unrestricted access to DAA is an impactful strategy to allow rapid treatment up-scale in HCV micro-elimination.
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Background/Aims@#Despite the disproportionally high prevalence rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) amongst the incarcerated population, eradication remains challenging due to logistic and financial barriers. Although treatment prioritization based on disease severity is commonly practiced, the efficacy of such approach remained uncertain. We aimed to compare the impact of unrestricted access to direct-acting antiviral (DAA) among incarcerated HCV-infected patients in Singapore. @*Methods@#In this retrospective study, we reviewed all incarcerated HCV-infected patients treated in our hospital during the restricted DAA era (2013–2018) and unrestricted DAA access era (2019). Study outcomes included the rate of sustained virological response (SVR), treatment completion and treatment default. Subgroup analysis was performed based on the presence of liver cirrhosis, HCV genotype and HCV treatment types. @*Results@#A total of 1,001 HCV patients was followed-up for 1,489 person-year. They were predominantly male (93%) with genotype-3 HCV infection (71%), and 38% were cirrhotic. The overall SVR during the restricted DAA access era and unrestricted DAA access era were 92.1% and 99.1%, respectively. Unrestricted access to DAA exponentially improved the treatment access among HCV-infected patients by 460%, resulting in a higher SVR rate (99% vs. 92%, P=0.003), higher treatment completion rate (99% vs. 93%, P<0.001) and lower treatment default rate (1% vs. 9%, P<0.001). @*Conclusion@#In this large cohort of incarcerated HCV-infected patients, we demonstrated that unrestricted access to DAA is an impactful strategy to allow rapid treatment up-scale in HCV micro-elimination.
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Context: Better locoregional control and increased overall survival by continuous hyper fractionated accelerated radiotherapy have been shown in unresectable nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Dose escalation and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) along with continuous hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy week end-less (CHARTWEL) were also tried for improved survival. In this present study, we compared the results of NACT followed by CHARTWEL against NACT followed by conventional concurrent chemo-radiation therapy. Aims: The aim of this study is to compare the locoregional control and toxicities in NSCLC Stage IIIA and B in both arms. Settings and Design: Randomized, prospective single-institutional study with a study population comprising all locally advanced unresectable NSCLC patients enrolled in 2014 at our institute. Subjects and Methods: All enrolled patients were randomized into two arms-CHARTWEL and concomitant chemo-radiotherapy (CCRT), after three weeks of the fourth cycle of NACT. In CHARTWEL arm 30 patients received two-dimensional radiotherapy (RT) 58.5 Gy/39 fr/2.5 weeks while in CCRT arm 30 received 66 Gy/33 fr/6.5 weeks. Disease response was evaluated at 6 months and toxicity assessment during and after treatment completion. Data were analyzed using tools such as percentage, mean, Chi-square test and P value. Chi-square and P value was calculated by statistical online software (http://quantpsy.org). Results: 28% of patients in study arm and 20% in control arm had complete response at 6 months after RT. Locoregional disease control was observed in 44% in study arm and 32% in control arm of patients. There was no statistical difference in grades of toxicities or overall survival (OS)/disease-free survival except persistent esophagitis Grade III seen in two patients of study arm. Conclusions: Study suggests that CHARTWEL in combination with NACT is an effective strategy to treat patients with locally advanced lung cancer with the advantage of a smaller dose and shorter duration. Although large multivariate studies still needed
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Background/Aims@#Non-alcoholic liver disease and alcoholic liver disease begin as simple steatosis that may progress to steatohepatitis and ensuing liver-related complications such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We explored differences in characteristics between non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and alcoholic steatohepatitisrelated (ASH) HCC. @*Methods@#NASH and ASH patients were identified from our department’s prospective HCC database. A total of 54 and 45 patients met predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria for the NASH-HCC and ASH-HCC groups, respectively. Clinical, biochemical and tumor characteristics were studied. @*Results@#NASH-HCC patients were older compared to ASH-HCC patients (72±9 vs. 66±9 years, P<0.001) and less male predominant (65% vs. 98%, P<0.001). Prevalence of diabetes mellitus (78% vs. 36%, P<0.001) and hypertension (80% vs. 58%, P<0.001) were significantly higher in the NASH-HCC group. Liver function tests and Child-Pugh scores were similar. There were no differences in alpha-fetoprotein level, lesions found at diagnosis (unifocal/multifocal) or prevalence of portal vein invasion. In both groups, almost half of the patients were in TNM stage 4 at the time of diagnosis and more than 50% of patients were not suitable for any therapy. Median survival in the NASH-HCC and ASH-HCC groups were 13 and 7 months respectively (P=0.113). @*Conclusions@#Despite significant differences in demography of the NASH-HCC and ASH-HCC groups, liver and tumor characteristics were comparable. Most patients were diagnosed late and were not amenable to curative or locoregional therapies. Better characterization of patients with NASH and ASH at risk of HCC is necessary to optimize screening, surveillance, and management strategies.
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INTRODUCTION@#Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is the commonest complication of liver cirrhosis. Timely and appropriate treatment of SBP is crucial, particularly with the rising worldwide prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). We aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes of SBP in Singapore.@*METHODS@#All cirrhotic patients with SBP diagnosed between January 2014 and December 2017 were included. Nosocomial SBP (N-SBP) was defined as SBP diagnosed more than 48 hours after hospitalisation. Clinical outcomes were analysed as categorical outcomes using univariate and multivariate analysis.@*RESULTS@#There were 33 patients with 39 episodes of SBP. Their mean age was 64.5 years and 69.7% were male. The commonest aetiology of cirrhosis was hepatitis B (27.3%). The Median Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was 17; 33.3% had acute-on-chronic liver failure and 60.6% had septic shock at presentation. N-SBP occurred in 25.6% of SBP cases. N-SBP was more commonly associated with MDROs, previous antibiotic use in the past three months (p = 0.014) and longer length of stay (p = 0.011). The 30-day and 90-day mortality among SBP patients was 30.8% and 51.3%, respectively. MELD score > 20 was a predictor for 30-day mortality. N-SBP and MELD score > 20 were predictors for 90-day mortality.@*CONCLUSION@#N-SBP was significantly associated with recent antibiotic use, longer hospitalisation, more resistant organisms and poorer survival among patients with SBP. N-SBP and MELD score predict higher mortality in SBP. Judicious use of antibiotics may reduce N-SBP and improve survival among cirrhotic patients.
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Background: Dental erosion is a complex pathology of multifactorial etiology in which chemical, biological and behavioural factors influence the erosive process. The etiology has been related to the regular use of products with low endogenous pH and high acidity including liquid medicaments. Aim: To investigate the endogenous erosive potential of commonly used pediatric liquid medicaments. Methods: Endogenous pH and titratable acidity of eight commonly used pediatric liquid medicaments were measured using a digital pHmeter. 54 exfoliated or extracted primary and permanent teeth without any carious lesion, maintained in pediatric liquid medicaments were observed under SEM after 1 minute and 10 minutes of time intervals. Results: Most of the medicaments showed etched prism pattern on primary teeth and crater formation whereas etched prism pattern was seen on all permanent enamel surfaces. Conclusion: Evidence of dental erosion was observed on both primary and permanent enamel.
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Background: Otitis Media or infection of Middle Ear is a broadterm that encompasses all the inflammation of the middle earwithout any specific etiology or pathogenesis. The presentstudy was conducted with the aim to determine the incidenceof dental caries amongst the subjects with middle ear infection.Materials and Methods: Controls were subjects who didn’thad dental caries of ear infection. Children with any othermedical condition were excluded from the study. Children withinfection of middle ear were categorized according to age andgender. Group I subjects were having middle ear infection andGroup II were controls. Centrifugation was done for 10 minsand the deposits obtained were used for culturing. All the datathus obtained was arranged in a tabulated form and analyzedusing SPSS software. Probability value of less than 0.05 wasconsidered as significant.Results: The mean age of the subjects was 10.67+/-3.62years. The mean colony forming units in Group I was 5.7+/-9.65 and in Group II was 1.6+/-2.78. There were 5 children inGroup I and 30 children in Group II with very good health ofteeth. Good oral health was seen amongst 5 subjects in GroupI and 20 subjects in Group II. Majority of subjects in Group I(40) had average oral health. There was a significant differencein the Groups amongst oral health amongst the groups.Conclusion: There was an increased risk of early childhoodcaries amongst children with middle ear infection.
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BACKGROUND: Brennan’s rodent paw incision model has been extensively used for understanding mechanisms underlying postoperative pain in humans. However, alterations of physiological parameters like blood pressure and heart rate, or even feeding and drinking patterns after the incision have not been documented as yet. Moreover, though eicosanoids like prostaglandins and leukotrienes contribute to inflammation, tissue levels of these inflammatory mediators have never been studied. This work further investigates the antinociceptive effect of protein C after intra-wound administration. METHODS: Separate groups of Sprague–Dawley rats were used for quantitation of cyclooxygenase (COX) activity and leukotriene B4 level by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, as well as estimation of cardiovascular parameters and feeding and drinking behavior after paw incision. In the next part, rats were subjected to incision and 10 μg of protein C was locally administered by a micropipette. Both evoked and non-evoked pain parameters were then estimated. RESULTS: COX, particularly COX-2 activity and leukotriene B4 levels increased after incision. Hemodynamic parameters were normal. Feeding and drinking were affected on days 1 and 3, and on day 1, respectively. Protein C attenuated non-evoked pain behavior alone up to day 2. CONCLUSIONS: Based upon current observations, Brennan’s rodent paw incision model appears to exhibit a prolonged period of nociception similar to that after surgery, with minimal interference of physiological parameters. Protein C, which is likely converted to activated protein C in the wound, attenuated the guarding score, which probably represents pain at rest after surgery in humans.
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Animals , Humans , Rats , Blood Pressure , Drinking , Drinking Behavior , Eicosanoids , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Heart Rate , Hemodynamics , Inflammation , Leukotriene B4 , Leukotrienes , Nociception , Pain, Postoperative , Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases , Prostaglandins , Protein C , Rodentia , Wounds and InjuriesABSTRACT
Liver fibrosis is a slow, insidious process involving accumulation of extracellular matrix protein in the liver. The stage of liver fibrosis in chronic liver disease (CLD) determines overall morbidity and mortality; the higher the stage, the worse the prognosis. Noninvasive composite scores can be used to determine whether patients with CLD have significant or advanced fibrosis. Patients with low composite scores can be safely followed up in primary care with periodic reassessment. Those with higher scores should be referred to a specialist. As the epidemic of diabetes mellitus, obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases is rising, CLD is becoming more prevalent. Easy-to-use fibrosis assessment composite scores can identify patients with minimal or advanced fibrosis, and should be an integral part of decision-making. Patients with cirrhosis, high composite scores, chronic hepatitis B with elevated alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, or deranged liver panel of uncertain aetiology should be referred to a specialist.
Subject(s)
Humans , Alanine Transaminase , Blood , Aspartate Aminotransferases , Blood , Decision Making , End Stage Liver Disease , Diagnosis , Therapeutics , Hepatitis B , Liver , Pathology , Liver Cirrhosis , Diagnosis , Therapeutics , Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease , Diagnosis , Therapeutics , Prognosis , Referral and Consultation , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Abstract The development of left atrial myxoma after coronary artery bypass graft surgery is a rare entity. A 60-year-old man with previous off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting four years ago with patent coronary grafts was diagnosed with left atrial mass. The patient underwent successful resection of the same through minimally invasive right anterolateral thoracotomy. Histopathology of the atrial mass confirmed the diagnosis of atrial myxoma.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Coronary Artery Bypass/adverse effects , Heart Neoplasms/etiology , Heart Neoplasms/pathology , Myxoma/etiology , Myxoma/pathology , Reoperation , Time Factors , Cardiopulmonary Bypass/methods , Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed , Treatment Outcome , Sternotomy/methods , Heart Atria/pathology , Heart Neoplasms/surgery , Myxoma/surgeryABSTRACT
Objective: The incidence of Candida has been on rise worldwide. Clinicians face dilemma in differentiating colonization from true candiduria. The species identification of Candida is important, as non albicans Candida species are increasing in number and more resistant to antifungal drugs. Material and methods: The present study was conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital of North India with an aim of investigating prevalence of NAC spp. among Candida isolates from urinary tract specimens. Results: A total of 7627 urine samples were analysed in a tertiary care hospital. The Candida isolates (180) were further speciated by Gram stain, culture on sabouraud’s dextrose agar, germ tube test, sugar fermentation test. A total of 180 (2.36%) Candida species were isolated from 7627 urine samples. Among them non albicans Candida species were predominant (66.7%), compared to Candida albicans(33.3%).The rate of isolates of Candida species were more in females, 101 (56.1%) than in males 79 (43.9%). The highest isolation rates of Candida among uropathogens were found in age group above 60 years.The emergence of non-albicans Candida similar to the trends in the western countries should be a cause of concern in our country. Conclusions: NAC spp. have emerged as an important cause of urinary tract infections. Its isolation from clinical specimens can no longer be ignored as nonpathogenic isolate nor can it be dismissed as a contaminant. Proper surveillance of these fungal pathogens is important to improve quality of care in tertiary care setting.
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BACKGROUND: Aberrant myeloid antigen (MA) co-expression and high expression of CD34 antigen on the blasts of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients are independently reported to have a role in pathogenesis and prognosis. This study was conducted to determine whether these two parameters are related. METHODS: A total of 204 cases of ALL were included in an analysis of blast immunophenotypic data. CD34 expression was categorized as low when less than 50% of blasts were CD34-positive (CD34low) and as high when 50% or more were CD34-positive (CD34high). RESULTS: Of 204 cases of ALL, 163 and 41 were of B-cell origin (B-ALL) and T-cell origin (T-ALL), respectively. Of all cases, 132 (64.7%) showed co-expression of MA and among these, 101 (76.51%) were CD34high, while the remaining 31 (23.48%) were CD34low. Of 72 cases without MA co-expression, 25 (34.72%) were CD34high and 47 (67.25%) were CD34low. Furthermore, of 163 cases of B-ALL, 111 showed co-expression of MA and 84 of these were CD34high. Of 52 cases of B-ALL without MA expression, 22 were CD34high. Among 41 cases of T-ALL, 21 co-expressed MA, 17 of which were CD34high. Moreover, all 20 cases of T-ALL without co-expression of MA were CD34low. These differences were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: We observed a strong correlation between aberrant MA expression and CD34high expression on the blasts of ALL. We hypothesize that these different patient subsets may represent unique prognostic characteristics.
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Humans , Antigens, CD34 , B-Lymphocytes , Flow Cytometry , Immunophenotyping , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma , Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma , Prognosis , T-Lymphocytes , Tertiary Care CentersABSTRACT
Dentigerous cysts are the most common developmental cysts of the jaws, most frequently associated with impacted mandibular third molar teeth. Dentigerous cysts around supernumerary teeth, however, account for 5% of all dentigerous cysts, with most developing around a mesiodens in the anterior maxilla. This report describes two cases of a dentigerous cyst associated with an impacted mesiodens. Both of the patients complained of swelling in the maxillary anterior region. Radiographic examination revealed an impacted mesiodens surrounded by a large corticated radiolucency in both cases. A provisional diagnosis of infected odontogenic cyst was made. The cysts were enucleated with the removal of the mesiodens in the two cases. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of infected dentigerous cyst associated with an impacted mesiodens in both cases. The patients remained asymptomatic, and no complications were noted.