The role of finasteride on perioperative bleeding in patients undergoing TURP: A randomized controlled study

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the commonest urological condition affecting men over 50 years of age. Medical therapy is usually the first line management of BPH. Finasteride is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor (5ARI), which blocks the conversion of testosterone into the more potent dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Materials and methods: We prospectively enrolled 54 BPH patients with prostate size ranging from 30-60 gm based on ultrasound, who were undergoing elective TURP at Gandhi Hospital for a period of 2 years from January 2013 to Jan 2015. BPH patients with hematuria, bothersome symptoms and refractory retention were included in the study. Results: Totally 54 BPH patients were enrolled in our study, 30 were randomized to finasteride group and 24 to controlled group. There was significantly less (p value <0.01) mean blood loss in irrigation fluid in the finasteride group compared to the control group (54.27 gm in finasteride group Vs 82.45gms in the control group; p value < 0,01) for each transurethral resection of prostate. Conclusion: Finasteride give daily for 2 weeks before transurethral prostate resection decreased bleeding preoperatively, thereby decreasing the requirement of blood transfusions, post operative episodes of hematuria and clot retention.

Substitution urethroplasty: Buccal mucosal graft Vs local flaps – A prospective randomized study

Introduction: Urethral stricture is a common condition with varying etiology and management, determined by cause, site and length of stricture. Materials and methods: We presented here a randomized prospective trial comparing dorsal onlay buccal mucosa graft and penile skin flap urethroplasty at our institute over 3 years period. Results: Total 22 patients underwent substitution urethroplasty during this period. The mean age and follow up was 31.31 years and 9 months respectively. The most common cause of stricture urethra was post inflammatory (40.90%) followed by traumatic (36.36%) and balanitis xerotica obliterence (22.72%). Majority had combined penobulbar stricture (45.45%), followed by penile (31.81%) and bulbar (22.7%). The average size of the urethral stricture was 6.81 cm. The most common symptom of presentation of stricture urethra was thin stream (100%) followed by dysuria (80%), frequency (71.42%) and dribbling (30%). Most of the patients underwent surgical procedure prior to presentation; urethral dilatation done in 13 (59.05%) patients followed by visual internal urethrotomy 7 (31.81%) patients and suprapubic cystostomy in 4 (18.18%) patients. Of 22 patients, 10 (45.45%) underwent local flap and 12 (54.54%) patients buccal mucosal graft. Out of 10 local flap technique, 8 (36.36%) patients underwent ventral longitudinal flap and 2 (9.09%) underwent Quartey flap. Out of 12 buccal mucosal graft technique, 5 (22.72%) patients underwent ventral onlay graft, 5 (22.72%) dorsal onlay and 2 (9.09%) tube circumferential graft. Total success rate was 72.72%. Success rate was higher with buccal mucosal graft (83.33%) compared to local flap technique (60%). Among local G. Mallikarjuna, N. Ramamurthy, G. Ravichander, Ravi Jahagirdar, Jagadeeshwar. Substitution urethroplasty: Buccal mucosal graft Vs local flaps - A prospective randomized study. IAIM, 2016; 3(10): 162-173. Page 163 flap technique, ventral longitudinal flap (62.5%) had better results than quartey flap (50%). Among buccal mucosal graft dorsal onlay graft had best (100%) results followed by ventral onlay (80%) and then tube circumferencial graft (50%). Patients with smaller stricture length (2.5-7.5 cm) had better (75%) results. Patients with combined penobulbar (90%) and BXO as etiology (80%) also had better results. Conclusion: The success rate of buccal mucosal free graft substitution urethroplasty is better than local penile skin flaps in patients with anterior urethral strictures.

Fourier transform-infrared analysis of vegetative parts of weed plant Parthenium hysterophorus Linn.

Infrared spectra of vegetative parts (leaf, stem and flower) of the weed plant Parthenium hysterophorus Linn. was recorded. The observed frequencies in the region 4000-400 cm(-1) have been recorded along with vibrational assignments and intensities. Probable assignments of the bands were made with respect to the components present in the samples.

Determination of trace elements in dairy milk collected from the environment of coal-fired power plant.

In the present study the environmental effects on herbivores mammals in and around Coal-fired power plant were studied by collecting the various milk samples of Cow and Buffalo in clean polyethylene bottles. Milk samples collected at five different locations along the banks of the Paravanaru river in and around Neyveli area. These samples were prepared for trace metal determination. The concentration of trace metals (Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, Cr, Mn, Co and Hg) were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) and Cold Vapour Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (CVAAS). It is observed that the samples contain greater amounts of trace metals than that in the unexposed areas. Obviously the milk samples are contaminated with these metals due to fly ash released in such environment.

Age for measles immunization seroconversion after measles vaccination at 6-8 months of age--a randomized controlled trial.

The objective of the study was to compare the effectiveness of measles vaccine by seroconversion in vaccinated children with non-vaccinated children of 6 to 8 months age group in a city slum community so as to study the feasibility of advancing the age of immunization. Live attenuated lyophilized Schwartz strain of measles vaccine was used. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody was estimated. Seroconversion was defined as either the conversion of negative to positive or a two fold rise in titre. One hundred and thirty two children completed the study. There was no difference in the age, sex and nutritional status between vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups (p greater than 0.7). The seroconversion rate in the vaccinated group was 65% and in the non-vaccinated group was 26%. The age, sex and nutritional status did not significantly affect the seroconversion. Our data suggest that immunization with measles vaccine may be effective as early as 6 months of age. Immunization at 6 months may be needed at least for children in densely populated areas like cities and towns.