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Background:Whilst the COVID-19 predominantly affects the respiratory tract, it is also observed to cause a wide range of cardiac complications. Accordingly, the ECHO findings range from specific regional wall motion abnormalities to different degrees of global cardiac dysfunction. Thus, there is a need to better understand the interactions between COVID-19 and the cardiac functions.Methods: In this retrospective observational study, 86 subjects admitted with severe COVID-19 pneumonia were considered. Those with pre-existing heart-diseases were excluded. The ECHO parameters were assessed as right heart or left heart abnormalities; they were correlated with Inflammatory markers.Results: Right heart abnormality was the most common finding (51.1%). 23% had combined right and left heart abnormalities, 4.6% had left heart abnormality, rest 21% had a normal 2D-ECHO findings. 55.8% had evidence of pulmonary hypertension. RV dilatation and dysfunction is associated with a pro-thrombotic, inflammatory state reflected by elevation of CRP and D-dimer levels; however, these ECHO findings did not correlate with increase in marker levels (p=0.227, >0.05). Conclusions:RV dysfunction is more common than LV dysfunction among COVID-19 patients. 2D-ECHO findings may serve as a useful guide in optimization and modification of treatment strategies in critically ill COVID-19 patients, but are not independent predictors of mortality (p=0.09, >0.05).
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Background: Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. Breast carcinoma is currently managed by assessing clinicopathological features. Elucidation of molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis of breast carcinoma may lead to the development of new targeted therapies, particularly in triple negative cancers. Literature shows a few studies on the expression of calretinin in breast carcinoma particularly in basal like type and its prognostic significance. In this study, authors are trying to assess the expression of a new marker calretinin in different molecular subtypes of invasive carcinoma breast.Methods: This study was done in 107 cases of invasive carcinoma breast specimens received in Department of Pathology, Government Medical college, Kottayam from December 2017 to May 2019.Results: Among the molecular subtypes, Basal like tumours showed 68.4% of cases with high level and 31.6% of cases with low level calretinin expression which is comparable with the study by Farrag et al. All the other molecular subgroups showed predominantly low level of calretinin expression.Conclusions: Different molecular subtypes of invasive carcinoma breast showed varied calretinin expression. High level calretinin expression was significantly associated with grade 3 (p value = 0.002), ER negativity (p = 0.004), PR negativity (p = 0.018) and Basal like molecular subtype (p : <0.001). This suggests that calretinin might play a role in pathogenesis of basal like breast carcinomas.
ABSTRACT
Type 2 Diabetes mellitus is one of the major diseases affecting the population world wide. India is no exception with its 69. 1 million people affected as per current statistics. So in the current scenario, search for effective anti diabetic drugs are on the rise. The management of diabetes with modern system of medicine, inspite of many advances still remains unsatisfactory. This led to the search of safe, effective and cheaper herbal remedies. Such remedies can be explored from the huge wealth of Ayurveda which has been practice in India since centuries. One such effective anti diabetic Ayurvedic formulation that has been in use in Kerala by traditional vaidyas since long ago is Nisakatakadi kwatha. It is mentioned in one of the traditional Malayalam text, Sahasrayoga. It is a formulation consisting of 8 drugs viz. Nisa, Kataka, Amalaki, Paranthi, Lodhra, Bhadrika, Saptachakra and Ushira. In this review an attempt has been made to analyse the anti diabetic (pramehahara) action of this formulation by reviewing the pharmacological properties and the recent research updates on each of these 8 drugs by reviewing textbooks of Ayurveda and journal articles. This review also aims to familiarize this effective formulation to the Ayurvedic fraternity and to the general public.
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Background: Maternal mortality can be due to various reasons. Maternal mortality following thromboembolism is a cause for concern. Venous thromboembolism is a very serious condition following caesarean section. Thromboprophylaxis should be given to the mothers with high risk for thromboembolism, who deliver by caesarean section. The objective of this study was to do to assess the risk status for thromboembolism among women delivered by caesarean section.Methods: A hospital based cross- sectional study was conducted among four hundred mothers who delivered by caesarean section. The study was conducted for a period of eight months from January to August 2017. The risks for thromboembolism was assessed and as per the guideline and hospital policy, thromboprophylaxis was given.Results: Out of four hundred patients, medical comorbidities were present for three patients. Patients who were overweight were 122. Two had systemic infection. The number of patients with high, intermediate and low risk of venous thromboembolism were 4,65 and 331.Conclusions: The study suggests that thromboprophylaxis is to be given for all the patients with any risk for thromboembolism, after caesarean section.
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Background: The incidence of cancer is increasing day by day. Ovarian cancer ranks as the fifth leading cause of cancer related death among women worldwide. The cure rate of early stage disease is high. The accepted view is that ovarian cancer arises from ovarian surface epithelium. Recent evidence suggested that around sixty percentage of women without a genetic predisposition who developed sporadic ovarian cancer also have early tubal lesion and cancer. The present study aims to find out the histopathology of fallopian tube in neoplastic surface epithelial ovarian tumour.Methods: A descriptive study was conducted among hundred women who had undergone surgery for malignant and benign surface epithelial ovarian tumor from Govt. Medical College, Kottayam for one year from January-December 2017.Results: Fifty percent of the patients had malignant surface epithelial ovarian tumors.Conclusions: The risk factors of malignant surface epithelial ovarian tumors include age above fifty years and post-menopausal women. Whereas oral contraceptive pill use is a protective factor against malignant surface epithelial ovarian tumors. The fimbrial end of fallopian tube is the site of origin of malignancy in high grade ovarian epithelial carcinoma. So, prophylactic bilateral salpingectomy should be encouraged in all patients who have completed family and undergoing hysterectomy. This will reduce the morbidity and mortality due to ovarian carcinoma.