Primary gastrointestinal mucormycosis in an immunocompetent person.

In the past decade, mucormycosis has emerged as an important lethal infection in diabetics and other immunocompromised hosts. Rhinosinusitis, pansinusitis, rhino-orbital and rhinocerebral are the common classical manifestations of mucormycosis. However, primary gastrointestinal (GI) mucormycosis is an uncommon disease associated with a high mortality rate. Stomach is the most common site involved in GI mucormycosis. Reported cases of GI mucormycosis in an immunocompetent host are very few in the literature. Here we present a case of a young male with fungal sepsis secondary to GI mucormycosis in an immunocompetent person.

Hyperleukocytosis associated pulmonary leukostasis in acute leukaemia.

Leukostasis is a fatal complication in granulocytic leukaemia. Brain and lung are most commonly involved organs in leukostasis. In the lung, the clinical presentation simulates infections and haemorrhagic complications of acute leukaemia. Being a medical emergency, early recognition of leukostasis and initiation of therapy prevents mortality.

Re-expansion pulmonary edema and hypotension.

A case with diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and superior vena cava obstruction on chemotherapy, presented with respiratory distress and massive pleural effusion of right hemithorax. On removal of 3.5 litres of fluid, he developed pulmonary edema of the same side and hypotension.

Recurrent pneumothorax.

A young man with spontaneous pneumothorax who suffered from fourth recurrence, is being reported. He was treated by surgical pleural abrasion.

Massive pleural effusion, pseudocysts and pancreatico-pleural fistula with asymptomatic pancreatic disease.

A case of chronic pancreatitis with multiple pseudocysts of the pancreas and a pancreatico-pleural fistula causing massive left sided pleural effusion is reported, being a rare and an unusual cause of pleural effusion. This case illustrates the importance of pleural fluid amylase estimation in the diagnosis and the role of endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography to elucidate the pathogenesis of such an effusion. The role of medical management is also emphasized.

Biochemical lesions in liver and kidney after caecal amoebiasis in rats by Entamoeba histolytica and their reversal by antiamoebic drugs.

Levels of lipid peroxides in rat caecum, blood, liver and kidney and the capacity of tissue homogenates to form lipid peroxides in vitro was enhanced after caecal amoebiasis in rats produced by Entamoeba histolytica (IB-1). The activity of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes in post-mitochondrial fraction and the cytochrome P 450 contents in microsomal fraction decreased significantly, while lysosomal enzymes such as acid phosphatase, acid ribonuclease and cathepsin Β showed an increase in the liver homogenates of infected animals. These changes were reversed following treatment with the antiamoebic drug, metronidazole.