Anaerobes in cardiac infections: A decade experience from the tertiary care center

Purpose: Anaerobic infections are common yet life-threatening. They are being recovered from all sites of the body, including the cardiovascular system. This study was aimed to determine the retrospective analysis on the isolation of anaerobes in cardiovascular samples received for a decade-long duration. It helps in knowing the frequency of isolation of anaerobic causes of cardiovascular infection. Methods: All cardiovascular samples from the department of Cardio-thoracic vascular surgery from January 2010 to December 2020 were studied. Results: Of 601 samples received, predominant samples were vegetations and valvular tissues of 258, followed by 98 samples of pericardial tissues, 92 samples of embolus, 90 samples of blood and post-operative collections, and 63 excised aneurysms and vascular grafts. Of the total, 15 samples grew anaerobes where Clostridium species were the predominant isolates. Clostridioides difficile was isolated in 2 samples. Conclusions: Anaerobes in cardiovascular samples are uncommon yet form a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Most infections are from the contiguous spread, penetrating trauma, and hematogenous causing endocarditis or valvular infections. These conditions and samples form the seat of infectious focus and clinical suspicion towards the anaerobic cause of these conditions, especially in conventional routine culture-negative samples. Timely diagnosis of anaerobic infections plays a vital role in the good prognostic outcome of patients undergoing cardiothoracic and vascular surgery.

Severe anemia due to parvovirus B19 in a silver haired boy.

Griscelli syndrome (GS) is a rare autosomal recessive immunodeficiency disorder in which the affected children present with characteristic silvery‑white hairs. The hair microscopy of these children is characteristic and is helpful in differentiating GS from Chediak–Higashi syndrome which also presents with immunodeficiency and silver hairs. We report a 17‑month‑old boy with GS type 2 who presented with severe anemia. Bone marrow examination of the child suggested parvovirus B19 as the cause of severe anemia, which was later confirmed by DNA polymerase chain reaction

Phytochemistry, pharmacology and traditional uses of Leptadenia pyrotechnica- An important medicinal plant.

Traditional Systems of medicines always played important role in the global health. In the traditional health medicinal plants providing a new areas of drug research. The demand for plant based medicines, food supplement, health products, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics are increasing in both developing and developed countries due to the growing recognition that the natural products are non toxic, have less side effects and easily available. Leptadenia pyrotechnica (Forsk.) commonly known as Kheep belonging to family Asclepiadaceae. Leptadenia pyrotechnica leafless much branched shrub. All parts of Leptadenia pyrotechnica are used in traditional medicines. The present article gives an account of updated information on its phytochemistry pharmacological properties. Ethnomedical uses say to possess significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anthelmentic, antilipoxygenase, cytotoxic, antitumour, hypolipidemic and anti atherosclerotic activity. The present review contains wide number of isolated chemical constituents and various ethnomedical and traditional uses of Leptadenia pyrotechnica. It include information about historical background, conceptual basis, different disciplines studied in the systems, research and development aspects, drug manufacturing aspects and impact of globalization.

Recent Advances in Management of Bronchiolitis.

Background: Bronchiolitis is one of the major causes for hospital admissions in infants. Managing bronchiolitis, both in the outpatient and inpatient setting remains a challenge to the treating pediatrician. The effectiveness of various interventions used for infants with bronchiolitis remains unclear. Need and purpose: To evaluate the evidence supporting the use of currently available treatment and preventive strategies for infants with bronchiolitis and to provide practical guidelines to the practitioners managing children with bronchiolitis. Methods: A search of articles published on bronchiolitis was performed using PubMed. The areas of focus were diagnosis, treatment and prevention of bronchiolitis in children. Relevant information was extracted from English language studies published over the last 20 years. In addition, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews was searched. Results and Conclusions: Supportive care, comprising of taking care of oxygenation and hydration, remains the corner-stone of therapy in bronchiolitis. Pulse oximetry helps in guiding the need for oxygen administration. Several recent evidence-based reviews have suggested that bronchodilators or corticosteroids lack efficacy in bronchiolitis and should not be routinely used. A number of other novel therapies (such as nebulized hypertonic saline, heliox, CPAP, montelukast, surfactant, and inhaled furosemide) have been evaluated in clinical trials, and although most of them did not show any beneficial results, some like hypertonic saline, surfactant, CPAP have shown promising results.

Primary meningococcal polyarthritis in a young man.

We report a rare occurrence of primary meningococcal polyarthritis in a 19-year-old man. The fluid in the elbow joint showed Gram-negative diplococci but the culture was sterile. The diagnosis was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction targeting crgA gene of Neisseria meningitidis.