Primary cutaneous adenoid cystic carcinoma – An onerous task for clinicians and pathologists

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is an uncommon malignant neoplasm usually confined to the salivary glands, lungs, and breasts. Primary cutaneous adenoid cystic carcinoma (PCACC) is an extremely rare entity with solitary cases reported at sites away from the scalp and chest. Hence, one must follow the multidisciplinary approach to exclude any primary ACC elsewhere in the body. We report a rare case of PCACC arising from the skin of the left lower limb in a 55-year-old woman with a history of recurrent swelling, clinically diagnosed as a metastatic tumor.

A Study of Knowledge and Attitude about Leprosy among the Physiotherapy Students and Practitioners: A Cross-Sectional Study

Physiotherapy adds quality to the life of people. It provides support to people with disability. Leprosy is such a debilitating condition in which people suffer concerning their functionality and emotional parameters even after bacteriological cure. Leprosy is having several types of social stigmas attached to it which could be the reason for the discrimination among this population. Boosting the knowledge and building up a strong and positive attitude among physiotherapy students and practitioners against leprosy will be of help in overcoming the various multiple taboos associated with this condition. This research work aims at evaluating the knowledge and attitude towards leprosy among physiotherapy students and professionals in India. This study involves 300 voluntary participants from the physiotherapy field (students and professionals) above the age of 18 years from any gender from India, with a good hold on the English language. The response of all the participants was descriptively analyzed. Among study participants the mean score for the knowledge was estimated to be 65.47±14.69. Out of 300 participants, only 72 participants have shown a high level of knowledge with a mean score value of 84.54±5.23, and 228 participants showed a low level with a mean score value of 59.44±11.14. The mean score for the attitude related questions was 54.7±26.21. 189 respondents presented a favorable response with a mean of 71.16±16.56 whereas 111 respondents presented an unfavorable attitude with a mean value of 26.67±11.86. The findings of this research work gave us an insight into the “low-level knowledge” and a relatively “favorable behavior” towards the patient affected by leprosy among the physiotherapy students and practitioners in India. However, still, there is a need to enhance the knowledge and improve attitude among the Physiotherapy students and professionals by educating them and including leprosy in sufficient details in physiotherapy curriculum. Properly designed research cum intervention studies are necessary to understand the gaps in knowledge and attitudinal problems and take remedial measures.

Histopathological Changes in Stomach Wall at Sites Other than the Ulcer Site in Peptic Ulcer Disease and its Association with Helicobacter pylori

Introduction: A peptic ulcer (PU) is a break in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, extending through to the muscular layer(muscularis mucosae) of the bowel wall. It is an endoscopic diagnosis. While they may technically appear anywhere in thegastrointestinal tract, they are most often located on the lesser curvature of the proximal stomach or the first part of the duodenum.Aim: This study aims to study the changes in stomach wall at sites other than the ulcer site in PU disease and to correlate theassociation of stomach wall changes with Helicobacter pylori infection.Materials and Methods: In this study, patients with duodenal ulcers diagnosed in endoscopy were included in the study. Duringan endoscopy, the stomach wall is examined and any changes in the stomach wall are noted. Endoscopically and biopsy fromtwo areas in the stomach are taken from antrum and body and sent to histopathological examination. Rapid urease test toconfirm the presence of H. pylori was done.Results: Sixty patients were included, 67% of patients were male, 82% of patients were positive in rapid urease test, 84%antrum was affected, and 50% in the body of the stomach was affected. The overall incidence of chronic atrophic gastritis isnearly 84.1% when compared to other types of lesions.Conclusion: Gastric antrum was the most common site for H. pylori than the body of the stomach. The presence of H. pyloriin the stomach wall is associated with active on chronic gastritis.

Ocular doppler imaging: opening a new window in decoding glaucoma

Background: In the aetiopathogenesis of multifactorial glaucoma autoregulation of ocular blood flow plays an important role as failure of autoregulation may lead to progression of disease. Aim of this study to understand this better this study was designed to investigate the quantum of these abnormalities and their likely role in pathogenesis and prognosis of primary open angle glaucoma(POAG).Methods: This is a case control study design which involved 67 POAG patients and 67 matched controls. The parameters assessed includes peak systolic velocity(PSV), end diastolic velocity(EDV) and resistive index(RI) of ophthalmic artery(OA) and central retinal artery(CRA) of patients having POAG with age and sex matched healthy subjects. The data obtained was statistically analysed using IBM SPSS 21.Results: The study showed decreased PSV of 31.7 cm/s vs 42.7 cm/s(p=0.0001) and EDV11.7 cm/s vs 19.8 cm/s(p=0.002) with increased RI 0.63 vs 0.53(p=0.000) in  OA and PSV of 15.2 cm/s vs 21.4 cm/s(p=0.001) and EDV4.7 cm/s vs 11.7 cm/s(p=0.003) with increased RI 0.69 vs 0.45(p=0.000) in CRA in both eyes in POAG patients as compared to healthy controls.Conclusion: The study has shown the promising application of ocular Doppler in evaluating POAG patients. However, more such studies are needed with larger study sample and on follow up basis for better understanding glaucoma hemodynamics and applicability of ocular Doppler in management of glaucoma.

Etiological factors, clinical profile and outcome of meconium aspiration syndrome babies

Background: Meconium staining of amniotic fluid has for long been considered to be a bad predictor of the fetal outcome because of its direct correlation of fetal distress, and increased the likelihood of inhalation of meconium, resultant deleterious effects on the neonatal lung. To evaluate etiological factors and severity of MAS in the study group.Methods: This study was done in the Neonatal intensive care unit of the Department of Paediatrics, Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital Salem, Tamil Nadu, India in the year 2018. Complete maternal and neonatal details were recorded in to the proforma. Delivery details, resuscitation did were also recorded.Results: In present study, fetal distress was found to be the most common (42.5%) factor associated with MAS followed by PIH (21.6%) and PROM (17%). 22 (9.1%) cases were associated with Postdatism, 18 (7.5%) cases were associated with placental insufficiency. 88 babies had fetal distress (36.6%) prior to delivery. 138 babies had no fetal distress (57.5%).Conclusions: MAS is known to cause severe respiratory distress and Downe's score ranging between 4-8, usually a few hours after the onset of respiratory distress. Nearly 73.3% of the cases with MAS had birth asphyxia, out of which 30% had severe birth asphyxia. This indicates that passage of meconium can occur in utero, often considered a feature of the stressed fetus. Undoubtedly aspiration had occurred before delivery in these babies.

Etiological factors and clinical profile of acute respiratory distress in children age group 2 months to 2 years and prevalence of respiratory syncytial virus in the study population

Background: Acute lower respiratory tract infections are a common cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Respiratory infections in infants and small children are of great importance because of small airways. Infection may cause a further narrowing and may lead to respiratory distress. To evaluate the etiological factors, clinical profile and outcome of acute respiratory distress in the age group 2 months to 2 years.Methods: This study was conducted in the Paediatric department of Government Mohan Kumarmangalam medical college hospital, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India in the year September 2017-March 2018. Totally 183 cases of acute respiratory distress children were included in the study. A thorough clinical examination was done at the time of admission and management details were recorded into the proforma. Respiratory distress is defined as per WHO protocol as respiratory rate more than 50/minute in infants from 2 months to 12 months of age, and more than 40/minute in children from 13 months to 24 months of age.Results: Of the 72 cases of bronchiolitis, 32 cases (44%) tested positive for IgM at the time of admission and no cases in the control population tested positive for IgM. Of the 72 cases of bronchiolitis in the study population, 52 cases (72%) tested positive for ELISA IgG at the time of admission and 2 cases among the controls tested positive for ELISA IgG.Conclusions: Pneumonia was the most common cause of respiratory illness in the study population. Overcrowding was the major risk factor contributing to acute respiratory illness. Incidence of acute respiratory distress was high among undernourished children.

Prevalence Of Colonic Diverticulosis In Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder.Patients may suffer from abdominal discomfort, bloating or pain associated with disturbed defecation.The etiology has not been clear.Colonic diverticula are mucosal outpouchings through the large bowel. Recent study demonstrated more prevalence of diverticulosis in IBS.

Increased trunk fat along with decreased peripheral fat as an important predictor of hypertriglyceridaemia & hypercholesterolaemia in Indians with HIV infection

Background & objectives: Dyslipidaemia is a major contributor to cardiovascular morbidity, which is increased in HIV. Data on dyslipidaemia in Indians with HIV are scant. This study was undertaken to determine the predictors of dyslipidaemia and lipoatrophy in Indians with HIV infection and their relation with body composition parameters. Methods: A total of 382 consecutive patients with HIV infection were screened, of whom 257 clinically stable patients, without any acute comorbidity, having at least one year follow up underwent biochemical and DEXA analysis. Results: The most common dyslipidaemia was hypertriglyceridaemia (47.08%), followed by hypercholesterolaemia [total cholesterol (TC)] (38.91%) and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (38.52%), in patients having median age 37 (32-42) yr and HIV duration 57 (33-101) months. Patients with at least one dyslipidaemia (78.99%) had significantly higher insulin resistance (IR), per cent body fat, per cent trunk fat (PTF) and trunk limb fat ratio (TLFR). Baseline CD4 count and delta CD4 count (change in CD4 count 6-12 months following ART) had significant inverse correlation with triglycerides and TC. Patients with highest triglycerides and cholesterol quartiles had significantly higher immune reconstitution, metabolic syndrome, IR, trunk fat mass (FM), PTF and TLFR, with comparable total FM. Logistic regression revealed that body mass index, HIV duration and PTF were independent predictors of hypertriglyceridaemia, with only PTF being significant predictor of hypercholesterolaemia. Every unit increase in PTF was associated with 13 and 4.1 per cent increased hypertriglyceridaemia and hypercholesterolaemia. Lipoatrophy was present in 8.57 per cent patients and was a poor predictor of dyslipidaemia. Interpretation & conclusions: High occurrence of dyslipidaemia was observed in patients with HIV on anti retroviral therapy. Central adiposity (TFM) was the most important predictor of dyslipidaemia in these patients.

Occurrence & predictors of osteoporosis & impact of body composition alterations on bone mineral health in asymptomatic pre-menopausal women with HIV infection

Background & objectives: Data on bone mineral density (BMD) and sarcopenia are scant from young females with HIV. This study was conducted to determine occurrence, predictors and impact of body composition alterations on osteoporosis in pre-menopausal women with HIV. Methods: A total of 214 females with serologically documented HIV infection were screened, of whom 103 pre-menopausal women, 25-45 yr age, clinically stable, having at least one year follow up data, underwent hormonal and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry analysis for BMD and body composition. Seventy five matched controls were also evaluated. Results: Females with HIV had significantly lower BMD and Z-score at lumbar spine (LS), total femur, neck of femur (NOF), and radius ultra-distal (UD) compared to controls. Osteoporosis at least at one site was observed in 34.95 per cent patients, compared to eight per cent in controls (P<0.001). Most common site of osteoporosis in females with HIV was radius UD (24.27%), followed by radius 33 per cent (17.48%), radius total (15.53%) and greater trochanter, NOF and LS (6.80% each). HIV patients had significantly lower bone mineral content, lean mass (LM), fat per cent, android (A) fat, gynoid (G) fat, and A/G ratio. LM and fat mass (FM) were ?15.65 and ?11.54 per cent lower in HIV patients, respectively. Osteoporosis patients had significantly higher use of antiretroviral therapy and lower LM, FM and fat per cent. On logistic regression, LM followed by A/G ratio and BMI were the best predictors of osteoporosis. Sarcopenia was observed in 17.5 per cent patients. Interpretation & conclusions: Our results showed that osteoporosis and sarcopenia were significant problems in young women with HIV. HIV was associated with greater LM loss, which was critical for bone health. Sarcopenia may predict low BMD in HIV.

Presence, patterns & predictors of hypocortisolism in patients with HIV infection in India

Background & objectives: Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is rarely diagnosed in patients with HIV infection, in spite of autopsy studies showing very high rates of adrenal involvement. This study was aimed to determine the presence, patterns and predictors of AI in patients with HIV infection. Methods: Consecutive HIV patients, 18-70 yr age, without any severe co-morbid state, having at least one-year follow up at the antiretroviral therapy clinic, underwent clinical assessment and hormone assays. Results: From initially screened 527 patients, 359 patients having good immune function were analyzed. Basal morning cortisol <6 ?g/dl (<165 nmol/l; Group 1), 6-11 ?g/dl (165-300 nmol/l; Group 2), 11-18 ?g/dl (300-500 nmol/l; Group 3) and ?18 ?g/dl (500 nmol/l; Group 4) were observed in 13, 71, 199 and 76 patients, respectively. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test revealed 87 patients (24.23%) to have AI. AI in groups 1-4 was 100, 56.34, 17.09 and 0 per cent, respectively. AI patients were more likely to be females (P<0.05), having longer disease duration (P<0.05), immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, hyperkalaemia (P<0.01), lower fasting glucose (P<0.01), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and vitamin D. Regression analysis revealed morning cortisol and DHEAS to be best predictors of AI (P=0.004 and 0.028, respectively). Interpretation & conclusions: AI is a significant problem in HIV-infected individuals, observed in nearly a quarter of patients. Diagnosis warrants high index of suspicion and low threshold for screening, especially in those having low DHEAS and hyperkalaemia. Morning cortisol is a reasonable screening test, with ACTH stimulation warranted to confirm diagnosis, especially in patients with morning cortisol <11 ?g/dl (300 nmol/l).

Comparative Efficacy of Ondansetron Versus Granisetron to Prevent Perioperative Nausea and Vomiting in Patients undergoing Gynaecological Surgery under Spinal Anaesthesia

Posotoprative nausea and vomiting remains a persistent and distressing problem inspite of many advances on perioperative care and anti-emetic drugs. A newer antiemetic drug Granisetron has not been studied in patients undergoing gynaecological surgery under spinal anaesthesia

Palliative weekly chemotherapy along with cetuximab in recurrent and metastatic head and neck cancers: A retrospective analysis.

Background: This study was undertaken to report the results of weekly combination chemotherapy with cetuximab in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M SCCHN). Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis of 35 R/M SCCHN patients who received cetuximab with weekly paclitaxel and platin (cisplatin/carboplatin) from SCCHN August 2006 to October 2008 at our Institute was performed. Results: Thirty-five patients (33 [94.3%] males and 2 [5.7%] females) received the planned weekly chemotherapy protocol. Median age of these patients was 52 years. Of the SCCHN 32 evaluable patients, 25 patients showed symptomatic improvement and 7 showed no improvement. Radiological responses using RECIST criteria reported CR in 1 patient (3.1%), PR in 17 patients (53.1%), and SD in 6 patients (18.8%). The remaining six patients demonstrated disease progression while two could not be assessed. Median overall survival (OS) was 8.016 months (95% CI; 6.572--9.461) and median PFS was 5.782 months (95% CI; 4.521--7.044). The major chemotherapy-related grades 2 and 3 toxicity recorded was cetuximab-induced rash reported in 24 patients. No treatment-related death within 30 days was observed. Conclusion: Cetuximab with weekly combination chemotherapy (Paclitaxel + Platinum compound) has shown promise, demonstrating comparable response and outcomes with acceptable toxicity in R/M SCCHN patients.

Clinical response of newly diagnosed HIV seropositive & seronegative pulmonary tuberculosis patients with the RNTCP Short Course regimen in Pune, India.

Background & objectives In the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) in India prior to 2005, TB patients were offered standard DOTS regimens without knowledge of HIV status. Consequently such patients did not receive anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and the influence of concomitant HIV infection on the outcome of anti-tuberculosis treatment remained undetermined. This study was conducted to determine the results of treatment of HIV seropositive pulmonary tuberculosis patients with the RNTCP (DOTS) regimens under the programme in comparison with HIV negative patients prior to the availability of free ART in India. Methods Between September 2000 and July 2006, 283 newly diagnosed pulmonary TB patients were enrolled in the study at the TB Outpatient Department at the Talera Hospital in the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation area at Pune (Maharashtra): they included 121 HIV seropositive and 162 HIV seronegative patients. They were treated for tuberculosis as per the RNTCP in India. This study was predominantly conducted in the period before the free ART become available in Pune. Results At the end of 6 months of anti-TB treatment, 62 per cent of the HIV seropositive and 92 per cent of the HIV negative smear negative patients completed treatment and were asymptomatic; among smear positive patients, 70 per cent of the HIV-seropositive and 81 per cent of HIV seronegative pulmonary TB patients were cured. Considering the results in the smear positive and smear negative cases together, treatment success rates were substantially lower in HIV positive patients than in HIV negative patients, (66% vs 85%). Further, 29 per cent of HIV seropositive and 1 per cent of the HIV seronegative patients expired during treatment. During the entire period of 30 months, including 6 months of treatment and 24 months of follow up, 61 (51%) of 121 HIV positive patients died; correspondingly there were 6 (4%) deaths among HIV negative patients. Interpretation & conclusions The HIV seropositive TB patients responded poorly to the RNTCP regimens as evidenced by lower success rates with chemotherapy and high mortality rates during treatment and follow up. There is a need to streamline the identification and management of HIV associated TB patients in the programme with provision of ART to achieve high cure rates for TB, reducing mortality rates and ensuring a better quality of life.

Massive retinal gliosis: An unusual case with immunohistochemical study.

Massive retinal gliosis (MRG) is a rare, benign intraocular condition that results from the proliferation of well-differentiated glial cells. Immunohistochemically, these cells show positivity for glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP), neuron specific enolase (NSE), and S-100 protein. We encountered a case of a 45-year-old female with loss of vision in the left eye. She had a history of trauma to that eye two years ago. Enucleation was carried out, because malignancy was suspected due to retinal calcification. On the basis of light microscopy and immunohistochemistry (IHC) performed on the enucleated eye, it was diagnosed as massive retinal gliosis.

In vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activity cycloart-23-ene-3β,-25-diol (B2) isolated from Pongamia pinnata (L. Pierre)

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the in-vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of cycloart-23-ene-3β, 25-diol (called as B2) isolated from stem bark of Pongamia pinnata.@*METHODS@#In vitro antioxidant activity of B2 was determined by methods for determination of DPPH radical scavenging, reducing power, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, metal chelating and nitric oxide radical scavenging at the doses of 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 μg/mL, respectively. β-tocopherol with same concentration was used as a standard antioxidant. In vitro antimicrobial activity of B2 was determined by cup plate method in different concentration range of 10-100 μg/mL.@*RESULTS@#The results indicated that dose dependent % reduction against DPPH radical, reducing power, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, metal chelating, hydrogen peroxide scavenging and nitric oxide radical scavenging by B2 and β-tocopherol.@*CONCLUSIONS@#It is concluded that cycloart 23-ene-3β, 25 diol (B2) showed dose dependent antioxidant activity. B2 showed more DPPH radical scavenging, reducing power, superoxide scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, metal chelating scavenging, hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging and nitric oxide radical scavenging activity than β-tocopherol and in case of antimicrobial activity B2 exhibited broad-spectrum activity against bacteria and strong activity against yeast type of fungi.