Amphotericin B induced hypokalemia in a diabetic patient with rhino-orbitocerebral mucormycosis

Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis is an aggressive and potentially lethal invasive fungal infection. Surgical debridement and amphotericin B remain the mainstay of treatment, however, associated side effects of amphotericin B like nephrotoxicity, hypokalemia, hypertension and arrhythmias need to be addressed. We discuss the anesthetic management of a 47 year old male with uncontrolled diabetes diagnosed with left sinoorbital mucormycosis posted for surgical debridement. The patient received amphotericin B and insulin preoperatively. Nephrotoxicity due to amphotericin B led to hypokalemia in this patient. We also discuss the role of liposomal formulation in preventing hypokalemia and other side effects associated with use of amphotericin

review on Medicinal Potentialities of Aegle marmelos [L.] Correa

Aegle marmelos, native to India, is an indispensable medicinally useful tree. The plant is reputed for its activities like abortifacient, amoebicide, antiallergic, cardiodepressant etc. Almost all parts of plant are used in medicine. Many Ayurvedic formulations are in market having it as their main constituent.

Studies on Microbiological Contamination of Commercial Sample of Herbal Drugs

In present study five drug samples viz. Boerhaavia diffusa, Withania somnifera, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Centella asiatica and Ocimum sanctum were analysed for microbial load [total bacterial count and total yeast and mold count] and for specific pathogenic bacteria [E. coli, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa] as per WHO norms [Anonymous, 1998]. Total bacterial load is higher in three samples of herbal drugs [Boerhaavia diffusa, Glycyrrhiza glabra and Ocimum sanctum]. The total yeast and mold count in all five samples are beyond the range of WHO norms while specific pathogenic bacteria are absent in all five samples of herbal drugs.

Mucin-secreting gastric adenocarcinoma with rhabdoid areas

Rhabdoid tumor, first described in kidneys of infants and children, is an aggressive tumor that has been reported in several extrarenal locations. In this report, we describe the case of a 40-year-old patient with gastric adenocarcinoma composed of histologically well-differentiated glandular areas and focal rhabdoid zones. The rhabdoid component showed typical features such as abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, eccentric nuclei, prominent nucleoli and intense focal positive immunohistochemical cytoplasmic reaction for vimentin. Recognition of the rhabdoid phenotype in gastrointestinal tract neoplasms is important because this feature is associated with poor prognosis and unresponsiveness to conventional therapy

Corrosive-Induced Gastric Outlet Obstruction

Ten patients with gastric scarring and an outlet obstruction secondary to ingestion of corrosive substances were referred to our department for surgical management, between May 1999 and April 2003. Hydrochloric acid was the most common corrosive ingested (4 cases), although many were not aware of the nature of the ingested substance. An associated esophageal stricture was present in 5 cases (50%). All the patients initially underwent feeding jejunostomy, with definitive surgery performed at a later date. A partial gastrectomy was found to be the most satisfactory procedure, and was performed in 90% of the cases (9 patients).