Conducting controlled human infection model studies in India is an ethical obligation.

Weighing competing obligations and achieving the "greatest balance" of right over wrong guides an individual, an agency or a country in determining what ought to be done in an ethically challenging situation. Conducting controlled human infection model (CHIM) studies in India is one such situation. The ethical challenge in conducting a CHIM study lies in completing the difficult task of introducing standardised, attenuated strains of micro-organisms into normal healthy volunteers, at the same time ensuring the safety of these healthy individuals from potential and completely informed risks in a fashion that is transparent and accountable. The bar is further raised against the background of already fragile public confidence in biomedical research in India; especially when "deliberate" introduction of microbial agents into healthy individuals is involved, with the larger altruistic objective of gain to society as a whole. This paper discusses the uses of CHIM studies with respect to the larger scientific Indian research enterprise of the 21st century. It further explores etic and emic perspectives in conducting such trials in India and seeks to generate an ethical coherence to the justification for conducting CHIM studies in India. The paper deliberates on ethical issues arising out of conducting CHIM studies and reflects on how developing the capacity for CHIM studies in India is likely to strengthen the health research and development sector in the country.

'Munchausen syndrome': a forgotten diagnosis in the spine.

PURPOSE: To present the case of a patient with Munchausen's syndrome who underwent multiple surgeries in the spine before the diagnosis was made and, therefore, to highlight the importance of this obscure condition that can result in unnecessary surgical treatment. METHODS: A 44-year-old businesswoman presented with multiple episodes of low back pain and weakness in both lower limbs over past 11 years. Past history consisted of multiple hospitalizations, and three surgeries on her lumbar spine at different hospitals, with dramatic improvement in symptoms being reported each time after surgery. Clinical examination showed inconsistent and nonspecific neurological findings. Imaging studies like X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging, and all neurophysiological studies were within normal limits. RESULTS: Multi-disciplinary evaluation by a team of orthopedicians, neurologist and psychiatrist and rehabilitation specialists diagnosed it as 'Munchausen syndrome'. Only one report of this fictitious disease in spine was found in review of literature (Association AP, Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-IV-TR(®), 2003). CONCLUSIONS: A history of multiple surgical interventions at multiple hospitals, often followed by dramatic improvement and then relapse, should trigger a suspicion of Munchausen syndrome, particularly in the scenario of normal imaging studies. Diagnosing this rare condition in spine is key to avoid unnecessary surgery.

Neurosis Meets Psychosis: Case Series from a Tertiary Care Center in South India.

The utility of the terms psychosis and neurosis in psychiatry have maintained their dichotomous stance since ages. Clinical observations and etiological hypothesis of psychiatric disorders have kept this polarity intact since the times of Freud and Jung. This case series attempts to revisit this perennial psychiatric controversy.

A case of mixed type of paroxysmal dyskinesia: is there an overlap between two clinical categories of paroxysmal dyskinesia?

We report a sporadic case of paroxysmal dyskinesia of predominantly choreic and ballistic movements of 10 years duration in a 22-year-old male. The movement starts after exercise for certain period. However, for the next 5-15 min, the movements are triggered by sudden voluntary activity. These dyskinesias persist for about 10-30 s after sudden voluntary activity. Patient has to be immobile once symptoms start after the exercise to prevent the kinesigenic involuntary movements. Involuntary movements could be induced in the lower limbs, upper limbs, facial and jaw muscle by local exercise. Overtime symptoms occurred with minimal exercise. Secondary dyskinesia was ruled out by investigations. Patient responded well to Carbamazepine, relapsed when stopped taking it.

Hemicrania continua-like headache with leprosy: casual or causal association?

Hemicrania continua is a strictly unilateral, moderate to severe, continuous, indomethacin-responsive primary headache disorder with ipsilateral autonomic cranial symptoms at the time of exacerbations. We describe a 30-year-old woman with a 4-month history of indomethacin-responsive hemicrania continua-like headache and one-month history of mononeuritis multiplex due to leprosy. Indomethacin was successfully weaned off after completion of antileprotic therapy.