Correlation of HRCT Scoring System with PFT Parameters in Interstitial Lung Disease Associated with Systemic Sclerosis Patients

Objectives. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) with features of pulmonary fibrosis and honey-combing is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is the established non-invasive gold standard technique for the diagnosis of SSc related ILD. The present study was designed to characterise HRCT features of ILD in SSc and to correlate pulmonary function test (PFT) parameters with HRCT semi-quantitative scores. Methods. This is an observational, cross-sectional study including 36 patients of SSc who underwent HRCT chest. All the patients were females. Severity and extent were assessed using four HRCT features: ground-glass opacity (GGO), mixed GGO and reticular opacity, reticular fibrosis and honey-combing. Thirty-three patients were able to perform PFT. Total HRCT score, inflammatory index and fibrosis index were correlated with PFT parameters. Results. Interstitial lung disease was found in 33 patients (91.6%), 24 patients (66.6%) had mixed GGO along with reticular inter-lobular septal thickening. Majority of the patients (64%) had non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) pattern. Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern was seen in 25% of the cases. One patient had overlapping features of both UIP and organising pneumonia. There was predominant lower lobe involvement. Among the 33 patients who were able to perform PFT, 85% had abnormal results (predicted forced vital capacity [FVC]<80%). Total HRCT score showed significant negative correlation with PFT parameters 枛 FVC (r=�48, P=0.004) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (r=�28, P=0.1), respectively. The ratio of FEV1 and FVC had significant positive correlation with total HRCT score (r=0.5, P=0.002). Inflammatory index and fibrosis index had significant negative correlation with predicted FVC% (P<0.05). Conclusions. Mixed pattern (GGO and reticular opacity) was the most common HRCT finding. HRCT semi-quantitative scoring system is sensitive in assessing the severity and extent of ILD qualitatively and quantitatively in SSc patients.

Studies of VA-Mycorrhizal fungi associated with some weed plants in sugar mill effluent soils.

This study is to isolate the effluent strain of VAM fungi from polluted soils of sugar mill effluents. Analysis showed that pH and EC was more but the organic matter is less when compared to non-polluted soils. Even though there was low P content that enhances the mycorrhizal infection, the percent of root colonization was less than 75% in polluted study site. The number of VAM propagules and its distribution were also greatly affected due to various factors. Nine different VAM species were isolated and identified from the polluted study site. Using Allium cepa L. as the host plant the efficiency of the native effluent tolerant strains of VAM fungi isolated from the polluted study site was determined. Highest growth rate, high dry weight of gram per plant and increased growth was observed in the order of Glomus intraradices followed by Gigaspora margarita and Glomus fasciculatum. Consequence of the study clearly showed that Glomus intraradices was the efficient strain in sugar mill effluent polluted areas.

The role of immunological & virological techniques in the diagnosis of herpes simplex encephalitis.

The efficacy of immunological and virological methods in the diagnosis of herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) was studied in 22 patients diagnosed as HSE by clinical, radiological EEG parameters. CSF cell counts were elevated in 14 of 18 patients with a lymphocytic predominance in 13. Virus specific IgG antibody detection by ELISA in paired CSF samples was possible in 8 of 17 patients. HSV antigen could be detected by immunohistochemical methods in the cells of the CSF and/or brain tissue in 7 of 9 patients. In four of them antemortem diagnosis was possible facilitating prompt specific antiviral therapy. Virus isolation was possible in 2 of 8 patients, one from brain biopsy tissue and the other from brain tissue obtained at autopsy. Using all the three methods, the diagnosis of HSE could be confirmed in 14 of 22 (63.6%) patients.