Genomic characterization of velogenic avian orthoavulavirus 1 isolates from poultry workers: Implications to emergence and its zoonotic potential towards public health

Objective: To carry out the genetic characterization and evolutionary analysis of three avian orthoavulavirus 1 (AOAV-1) isolates from poultry workers with respiratory symptoms. Methods: Using Illumina MiSeq, whole-genome sequencing was carried out to assess the evolutionary dynamics of three AOAV-1 isolates. A phylogenetic and comparative analysis of all coding genes was done using bioinformatics tools. Results: Phylogenetic analysis and genetic distance estimation suggested a close relationship among human- and avian-originated velogenic strains of genotype XIII, sub-genotype XIII.2.1. Several substitutions in the significant structural and biological motifs were exclusively identified in the human-originated strains. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report of a velogenic AOAV-1 isolate from natural infection of the human upper respiratory tract. Our findings highlight the evolution and zoonotic potential of velogenic AOAV-1 in a disease endemic setting.

Pseudoaneurysm of Splenic Artery - A Severe Vascular Complication of Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is one of the common abdominal pathologies having an incidence of 10 to 100 cases per 100,000 population worldwide with varying type of presentation ranging from self-limiting abdominal pain to high mortality and morbidity due to organ failure. The major risk factors leading to pancreatitis include gall stones and alcohol consumption, others being trauma, drugs, and infections.1,2 The revised Atlanta classification (2012) has classified acute pancreatitis on the basis of local, systemic complications and organ failure as mild, moderately severe and severe type of pancreatitis. One of the dreaded local complications of pancreatitis are the vascular complications occurring with a frequency of 1.2 - 14 %, with a greater incidence seen in chronic pancreatitis (7 - 10 %) than acute pancreatitis (1 - 6 %). The two main types of vascular complications being splenic vein thrombosis (more common) and pseudo aneurysm of (in order of decreasing frequency) the splenic, gastro duodenal, and pancreaticoduodenal arteries.3,4 The common symptoms of pseudoaneurysm of splenic artery are abdominal pain, hematemesis, melena, flank pain, and chest pain. Haemorrhage from pseudo aneurysm can be found in the pseudo cyst, stomach, pancreatic duct, peritoneal cavity, or retro peritoneum making the patient highly haemodynamically unstable at presentation having high rates of morbidity and mortality.5 The mortality rate due to haemorrhages directly related to the pancreas is up to 50 %.2 Clinical diagnosis in these patients is highly difficult due to varied range of symptoms and hence ultrasound coupled with contrast enhanced CT imaging helps in accurate diagnosing of such an entity.Pancreatitis is one of the common abdominal pathologies having variable type of presentation. Vascular complications are rare, but severe in nature having high mortality and morbidity rates. Ultrasound coupled with computer tomography helps in fast and accurate diagnosis of these vascular complications like pseudo aneurysms, aneurysms and thrombosis of peri pancreatic arteries. We are presenting a case report of pseudoaneurysm of splenic artery.

Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease with Liver and Pancreatic Involvement.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (adult polycystic kidney disease, Potter Type III disease) is the fourth-most common cause of end-stage renal disease.(1) Polycystic Liver Disease, the most common extrarenal manifestations of Polycystic Kidney Disease is seen in 75-90% of cases, characterized by multiple biliary cystic lesions localized in over 50% of the hepatic parenchyma. In Polycystic kidney disease, hepatic cysts develop later than the renal cysts.(2) It is associated with hypertension in about 70% of cases, cyst in pancreas in 9%, saccular berry aneurysm of cerebral arteries in 3-13%, and mitral valve prolapse.

Ultrasound Evaluation of Uterine Leiomyoma in Perimenopausal Females with Histopathological Correlation.

Abnormal uterine bleeding remains an important health issue in perimenopausal females, often a cause of high morbidity and mortality. Uterine leiomyoma is the major cause of abnormal or irregular bleeding. We wanted to evaluate the role of ultrasound in assessing uterine leiomyomas and determine its sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy in comparison to histopathological studies.METHODSThis is a cross sectional, observational and analytical study conducted in the Department of Radiodiagnosis at AVBRH, (Sawangi Meghe), a rural tertiary care hospital in central India. The study was carried out over a period of 6 months from January 2019 to June 2019. 50 patients in perimenopausal age group of 40-50 years were selected on the basis of predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. All included patients were counselled and asked for informed consent before entry into the study. Statistical analysis was done using descriptive and inferential statistics using sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy.RESULTSMost of the uterine leiomyomas were intramural in location and hypoechoic in echotexture. Intramural fibroid was the most common fibroid detected constituting 88%. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value [PPV], negative predictive value [NPV], and diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound in correlation to histopathology was found to be 93.75%, 91.67%, 97.83%, 78.57% and 93.33% respectively.CONCLUSIONSUltrasound has high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing the uterine leiomyomas. It should be used as primary investigative modality for work up of abnormal uterine bleeding in perimenopausal age group

A case of febrile ulceronecrotic Mucha-Habermann disease with comorbidities

Febrile ulceronecrotic Mucha-Habermann disease is a very rare and severe variant of pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta. Adult cases are difficult to diagnose as in the early course they can mimic erythema multiforme or lymphomatoid papulosis. We report a case of a 38-year-old woman who presented with 90% body surface area involvement, fever, diarrhea, malaise and associated comorbidities. She was treated with systemic steroids and methotrexate but suffered a fatal outcome. So far, a total of 65 cases are reported in the literature.

Safety and Tolerability of Nonspecific Antidiarrheals in Children with Acute Diarrhea

Introduction: In clinical practice, nonspecific antidiarrhealsare most commonly used by clinicians along with routinetreatment to hasten the recovery. This study was conductedto to study the safety and tolerability of these nonspecificantidiarrheals in children with acute diarrhea.Material and Methods: This was a prospective, observationalstudy done in clinical settings for a period of 3 years at twopediatric clinics and at a tertiary care hospital. Children weredivided into 5 treatment groups (viz, control, racecadotril,Mebarid, Diarex and loperamide) at the discretion of thepediatrician. One questionnaire was provided to parents torecord the details about the course of diarrhea and parentswere sensitized to report any adverse event.Results: Overall occurrence of adverse events wassignificantly higher in racecadotril group (34.86%) comparedto other groups (C:23.16%, M:21.14%, D:17.95%, L:17.65%).Conclusion: These agents may be safe, effective andinexpensive addition to the routine treatment of acute diarrhea.

Evaluation of activity of hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis in postmenopausal women suffering from severe acute illness.

Background & objectives: Postmenopausal women constitute an ideal model for studying the extent of hypothalamo-pituitary gonadal (HPG) axis suppression in critical illness as the gonadotropins are normally high and non-cyclical in them. The objective was to assess the impact of acute severe illness in postmenopausal women on the HPG axis and the activities of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA), the hypothalamo- pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axes; and levels of serum prolactin, by comparison between critically ill postmenopausal women and otherwise healthy postmenopausal women. Methods: Thirty five consecutive postmenopausal women older than 60 yr admitted to medical intensive care with a Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II) more than 30 were included. On day five of their in-hospital stay, blood samples were collected for oestradiol, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), cortisol, androstenedione, prolactin and thyroid profile. Thirty five apparently healthy postmenopausal women were selected as controls. Results: Levels of LH, FSH, thyrotropin, free thyroxin (fT4) and free tri-iodothyronine (fT3) were lower while oestradiol, cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone were higher among patients in comparison to healthy controls. Prolactin levels were similar in patients and controls. Among sick patients both FSH and fT4 showed a negative correlation (P<0.05) with the SAPS II score. Interpretation & conclusions: In critically ill postmenopausal women, paradoxically elevated oestrogen levels despite gonadotropin suppression suggests a non-ovarian origin. Prolactin remained unaltered in patients despite their illness, possibly reflecting atrophy of lactotrophs in menopause.

Association of micro and macrovascular complications with fatty liver in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background:Fatty liver is a fairly common entity seen in the diabetic population. Studies showed that liver adiposity is independently associated with Insulin Resistance and can substantially increase the risk of various micro and macrovascular complications of diabetes mellitus. Aims: Identifying various micro and macrovascular complications and finding their association with fatty liver disease in type 2 diabetes patients. Material and methods: 141 diabetic patients admitted in a tertiary care center over a two year period were screened for fatty liver by ultrasonography of the abdomen and were classified into FL (fatty Liver) group and NFL (non fatty liver) group. All patients were investigated for complications like nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, cardiac and peripheral vascular disease. Statistical analysis was done to find the association of complications with fatty liver. Results: out of 141 patients, 49 (35%) had fatty liver. Leading complication was neuropathy (31.2%), followed by nephropathy (11.3 %), retinopathy (10.6 %), cardiac disease (9.2%) and peripheral vascular disease (3.55). Between FL and NFL groups, Diabetic neuropathy (40.8% vs 23.9%) and cardiac disease (16.3% vs 5.4%) showed statical significance (p<0.05), while other complications were more or less equally prevalent in the two groups. Conclusions: Fatty liver is seen in one third of diabetic patients. vascular complications like neuropathy and cardiac disease are more commonly seen in diabetic patients with fatty liver than those without fatty liver.

The pharmacological impact of ATP-binding cassette drug transporters on vemurafenib-based therapy

Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer and one of the most common cancers in the world. Advanced melanoma is often resistant to conventional therapies and has high potential for metastasis and low survival rates. Vemurafenib is a small molecule inhibitor of the BRAF serine-threonine kinase recently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration to treat patients with metastatic and unresectable melanomas that carry an activating BRAF (V600E) mutation. Many clinical trials evaluating other therapeutic uses of vemurafenib are still ongoing. The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are membrane proteins with important physiological and pharmacological roles. Collectively, they transport and regulate levels of physiological substrates such as lipids, porphyrins and sterols. Some of them also remove xenobiotics and limit the oral bioavailability and distribution of many chemotherapeutics. The overexpression of three major ABC drug transporters is the most common mechanism for acquired resistance to anticancer drugs. In this review, we highlight some of the recent findings related to the effect of ABC drug transporters such as ABCB1 and ABCG2 on the oral bioavailability of vemurafenib, problems associated with treating melanoma brain metastases and the development of acquired resistance to vemurafenib in cancers harboring the BRAF (V600E) mutation.

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis following falciparum malaria.

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a demyelinating disease of the brain and spinal cord which is preceded by many viral and bacterial infections. We present a rare case of ADEM following falciparum malaria infection. Early identification of ADEM is highly required as it responds to treatment very well and delay in diagnosis may lead to permanent neurological sequelae.

Bone disease in thyrotoxicosis.

Thyrotoxicosis, a clinical syndrome characterized by manifestations of excess thyroid hormone, is one of the commonly-recognised conditions of the thyroid gland. Thyrotoxicosis causes acceleration of bone remodelling and though it is one of the known risk factors for osteoporosis, the metabolic effects of thyroxine on bone are not well discussed. Studies show that thyroid hormones have effects on bone, both in vitro and in vivo. Treatment of thyrotoxicosis leads to reversal of bone loss and metabolic alterations, and decreases the fracture risk. There are limited studies in India as to whether these changes are fully reversible. In this review we discuss about the effects of thyrotoxicosis (endogenous and exogenous) on bone and mineral metabolism, effects of subclinical thyrotoxicosis on bone and mineral metabolism and effects of various forms of treatment in improving the bone mineral density in thyrotoxicosis.

Streptomyces septicaemia in a neonate.

Streptomyces species has been commonly reported as a cause of mycetoma. Invasive streptomyces infections are rare. We report a case of late onset neonatal septicemia caused by Streptomyces annulatus in a home delivered baby, which was identified based on morphology and biochemical characteristics. Invasive streptomyces infections may be more common than these isolated case reports.

Chandipura virus encephalitis outbreak among children in Nagpur division, Maharashtra, 2007.

Background & objectives: An outbreak of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) among children from Nagpur division, Maharashtra was investigated to confirm the aetiology and to describe clinico-epidemiological features. Methods: AES cases among children <15 yr, from Nagpur division, hospitalized between June-September 2007, were investigated. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were tested for IgM antibodies against Chandipura virus (CHPV) and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and for CHPV RNA by RT-PCR. Partial N gene sequences were used for phylogenetic analysis. Virus isolations were attempted in rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cell line. Sandflies were collected, pooled and tested for CHPV RNA by RT-PCR. Results: A total of 78 AES cases were recorded in children <15 yr of age. Case fatality ratio was 43.6 per cent. Male to female ratio was 1:1.2. Chandipura (CHP) was confirmed in 39 cases. CHPV RNA was detected in both CSF and serum specimens of 2 cases and in serum of 22 cases. Phylogenetic analysis showed 99.98 – 100 per cent nucleotide identity in the sequences studied. Anti-CHPV IgM antibodies were detected in CSF of 2 cases and in serum of 8 cases. Seroconversion to anti-CHPV IgM antibodies was observed in 5 cases. Clinical manifestations of CHP cases (n=38) were fever (100%), convulsion (76.3%), altered sensorium (34.2%), headache (23.7%), vomiting (44.7%) and diarrhoea (23.7%). CHPV RNA was detected in one of two pools of sandflies from affected locality. Interpretation & conclusions: Chandipura virus was confirmed as the aetiological agent of this acute encephalitis outbreak with high case-fatality among children.

Impact of left ventricular function on early outcomes after arterial switch for D-transposition of great arteries with intact ventricular septum.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the utility of tissue Doppler echocardiography in evaluating the pre-operative left ventricular systolic function and in turn its impact on early post-operative outcomes following arterial switch operation for transposition of great arteries with intact ventricular septum. BACKGROUND: Pre-operative left ventricular function is an important determinant of outcomes following arterial switch. METHODS: We studied 19 patients with transposition and intact septum who had undergone one stage arterial switch operation. All had a pre-operative echocardiogram. RESULTS: The left ventricle was adequate in 15 infants as per the dimensions and shape for age. The early outcomes of surgery were assessed on the basis of their pre operative tissue Doppler. There were 7 (40%) patients with reduced S wave velocities (2.62 +/- 0.84 cm/sec) and lower isovolumetric myocardial acceleration (1.2 +/- 0.5 m/sec(2)) reflecting systolic dysfunction. Those patients with reduced S wave velocities and isovolumetric acceleration correlated with poor early surgical outcomes in terms of longer duration of ventilation ( p< 0.001), longer duration of inotropes ( p< 0.00001) and higher mortality ( p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The tissue Doppler echocardiography is a more sensitive modality to evaluate ventricular performance than the 2D-echo. It can be used as a sensitive predictor of outcomes following arterial switch.

Echocardiographic evaluation of the morphology and function of the right ventricle in Eisenmenger's syndrome and idiopathic pulmonary hypertension.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the reasons for better prognosis in adults with Eisenmenger's syndrome than those suffering from idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. Our hypothesis was that right ventricular function is better preserved in the former case than in the latter. METHODS: We used two-dimensional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging to compare right ventricular morphology and function in 24 subjects with Eisenmenger's syndrome and 23 age- and sex-matched subjects with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. RESULTS: The mean age was 27.4+/-12.2 years for both groups. There were more patients from the idiopathic pulmonary hypertension group in the New York Heart Association Class III than those from the Eisenmenger's syndrome group (48.4% vs 36.3%; p<0.01). Measurements of the right and left ventricular free wall thickness, as well as the internal diameter of the right ventricle were taken, and tissue Doppler imaging was used to assess the function of both ventricles. In the Eisenmenger's group, the mean right ventricular and left ventricular free wall thickness was 10.4+/-2.78 mm and 9.7+/-1.98 mm, respectively. The mean right ventricular internal diameter in diastole and in systole were 20+/-8.64 mm and 18.1+/-9.24 mm, respectively. The mean right ventricular S1 was 10.4+/-3.4 cm/sec and S2, 10.3+/-2.6 cm/sec, while the left ventricular S1 was 7.4+/-1.87 cm/s and S2, 7.5+/-1.05 cm/sec, with a normal biventricular function. In the idiopathic pulmonary hypertension group, the mean right ventricular and left ventricular free wall thickness was 11.3+/-3.24 mm and 9.8+/-1.94 mm, respectively. The mean right ventricular internal diameter in diastole and systole was 36+/-8.9 mm and 30.1+/-9.8 mm, respectively. The mean right ventricular S1 was 6.9+/-3.4 cm/sec and S2, 6.8+/-2.8 cm/sec, while the left ventricular S1 was 7.4+/-1.8 cm/sec and S2, 7.5+/-1.05 cm/sec, reflecting right ventricular systolic dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Right ventricular function was better preserved among subjects with Eisenmenger's syndrome than those with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension in a study in which the two groups were matched for age and sex.

Pseudo-hypo aldosteronism Type II.

A 50-day-old infant diagnosed as meningitis had persistently elevated serum potassium, low serum bicarbonate and normal serum sodium. She had metabolic acidosis with low TTKG, low serum renin and low normal serum aldosterone with no renal failure or extra renal causes of hyperkalemia. Hence a diagnosis of Type II pseudo-hypoaldosteronism was made. She was started on oral thiazide following which her serum electrolytes normalized.

Evaluation of extended spectrum beta lactamase in urinary isolates.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Urinary tract infection (UTI) remain the common infections diagnosed in outpatients as well as in hospitalized patients. Current knowledge on antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of uropathogens is mandatory for appropriate therapy. Extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBL) hydrolyse expanded spectrum cephalosporins like ceftazidime, cephotaxime which are used in the treatment of UTI. ESBL producing bacteria may not be detectable by routine disk diffusion susceptibility test, leading to inappropriate use of antibiotics and treatment failure. Not much information on ESBL producing organisms causing UTI is available from India. An effort was therefore made to study the ESBL producing uropathogens and also the susceptibility patterns of ESBL and nonESBL producers. METHODS: Urinary isolates from symptomatic UTI cases attending or admitted to the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur were identified by conventional methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done by Kirbey Bauer's disc diffusion method. Isolates resistant to cephotaxime were tested for ESBL production by double disc synergy test method. RESULTS: Of the 217 isolates, 87 were cephotaxime resistant Gram-negative bacilli. Of these, 42 (48.3%) were found to be ESBL producers. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pnuemoniae and Acinetobacter were ESBL producing species. Multidrug resistance was found to be significantly (P<0.05) more in ESBL producing isolates (90.5%) than non ESBL producers (68.9%). INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: In the present study a large number of uropathogens were found to be ESBL producers. Most of the ESBL producing isolates were multidrug resistant. Monitoring of ESBL production and antimicrobial susceptibility testing are necessary to avoid treatment failure in patients with UTI.

Pulmonary mucormycosis presenting with recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy.

Pulmonary mucormycosis is an uncommon infection and its endobronchial form is rare. Fever, cough, dyspnoea and hemoptysis are the usual presenting symptoms. Hoarseness of voice, a rare manifestation of endobronchial mucormycosis, has been reported earlier but its exact anatomical basis was unclear. We report an instance of polypoid endobronchial mucormycosis and vocal cord paralysis in a patient with type I diabetes and diabetic ketoacidosis.