Dyslipidemia and Thyroid Dysfunction Associated with Psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a T-cell mediated inflammatory skin disorder which causes considerable psychosocial disability resulting in major impact on patient's quality of life. The dominant response of Th1 cells and the high expression of related inflammatory factors appears in both psoriasis and thyroid dysfunction. Psoriasis can lead to increased risk of incidence of cardiovascular events for which dyslipidemia is an important risk factor. This study aims to evaluate thyroid function and lipid profile and its association in patients with psoriasis. METHODS: This was a prospective case-control study conducted at the Department of Biochemistry, Nobel Medical College Teaching Hospital from November 2021 to October 2022. Seventy six clinically diagnosed psoriatic patients were taken as case and eighty non-psoriatic patients coming for other skin lesions were included in the study as control. Thyroid function test (serum free T3, T4, TSH) and lipid profile (total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein and triglyceride) were done. RESULTS: Hypothyroidism was most common thyroid abnormalities in our study population which was 13.15% (n=10). The lipid profile parameters were significantly higher in the psoriatic patients than in the controls (p<0.001). The odds of psoriatic patient having thyroid dysfunction was 2.8 times higher compared to other non-psoriatic patients and the odds of psoriatic patient having dyslipidemia was 8.7 times higher compared to other non-psoriatic patients. CONCLUSIONS: It is thus useful to assess thyroid function test and lipid profile in patients with psoriasis considering their role in etiopathogenesis and co-morbidity of psoriasis.

Clinical and Histopathological Findings in a Patient of Darier-White Disease with Acrokertasosis Verruciformis of Hopf.

Darier disease (DD) is a rare genodermatoses characterized by greasy hyperkeratotic papules in seborrheic regions and nail and oral changes. Histologically, it presents as suprabasal clefts with acantholytic and dyskeratotic cells. Acrokertasosis verruciformis of Hopf (AKVH) is considered an allelic variant with clinical overlap where Church spires are seen histologically without dyskeratoses. Patients are susceptible to various viral and bacterial skin infections requiring prevention and treatment of infection. Nonspecific treatment includes patient counseling on exacerbating factors. Although there are no curative treatments for DD, topical corticosteroids and systemic retinoids may be used to control inflammation and hyperkeratosis. We are reporting a rare case with clinical and histological findings of DD with AKVH in a 17-year-old boy with keratotic papules, presented on the hands and feet, nose, and ears without mucosal involvement.

Dyslipidemia in Patients with Xanthelasma Palpebrarum Visiting the Department of Dermatology of a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Xanthelasma palpebrarum refers to lipid deposition that occurs on eyelids and inner canthi. It is an important cutaneous manifestation of hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. Few studies have been done in Nepal regarding lipid abnormality in xanthelasma patients. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of dyslipidemia among patients with xanthelasma palpebrarum visiting the Department of Dermatology of a tertiary care centre. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among 80 patients from January, 2021 to February, 2022 in the Department of Dermatology of a tertiary care centre. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 60512021). Convenience sampling was used. Lipid profile analysis was done among patients with clinical diagnosis of xanthelasma palpabrarum. Data was collected using Microsoft Excel for Mac version 16.16.27 and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 22.0. Point estimate at 90% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data. Results: Out of 80 patients with xanthelasma palpebrarum, the prevalence of dyslipidemia was 64 (80.00%) (74-86 at 90% Confidence Interval). Among them, 29 (45.31%) were males and 35 (54.69%) were females. Conclusions: In our study, the prevalence of dyslipidemia among patients with xanthelasma palpebrarum was found to be higher than in similar studies conducted in similar settings. Keywords: dyslipidemia; gender; lipid.

Warts among Patients Visiting the Outpatient Department of Dermatology in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Warts are benign epithelial proliferations caused by a double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid virus called human papillomavirus. They may cause significant concern and frustration on the part of the patient affecting social activities as lesions can be uncomfortable, and treatment is often painful and frustratingly ineffective. The study aimed to find out the prevalence of warts among patients visiting the outpatient Department of Dermatology in a tertiary care centre. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care centre from 20 January 2021 to 21 February 2022. The ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: IRC-NMCTH 588/2021). A convenience sampling technique was used. A detailed history including distribution, size, morphology, progression and duration of the lesions was taken. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated. RESULTS: Out of 4802 outpatients, 140 (2.92%) (2.44-3.40, 95% Confidence Interval) had warts. Genital wart was found in 24 (17.14%) and non-genital warts in 116 (82.85%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of warts among outpatients was similar when compared to other studies from similar settings.

Bipolar vessel sealing system versus silk ligation of lymphatic vessels in renal transplant recipient lymphatic complications: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to compare lymphatic complications of bipolar vessel sealing system with silk ligation of lymphatic vessels among renal transplant recipients. METHODS: This was a prospective randomized controlled trial done among 68 patients undergoing renal transplantation in Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. They were randomly assigned to either silk ligation or Enseal bipolar vessel sealing lymphatic dissection. Postoperative drain volume and duration of drain placement were measured in all patients. Ultrasound was used to find lymphocele formation in six and 12 weeks. RESULTS: Total of 30 patients in silk ligation group and 28 patients in bipolar vessel sealing group were analyzed. The baseline characteristics of the patients in each group were similar. Overall, lymphatic complications (either lymphorrhea or lymphocele formation) were in 16 cases (27.58%), 7 (25%) in the bipolar group, and 9 (30%) in the silk ligation group (p = 0.67). A total of 13 patients (22.41%) had lymphorrhea, 6 (21.4%) patients in the bipolar group, and 7 (23.3%) patients in the silk ligation group. Median drain volume was 415 ml (Q1 275 ml, Q3 675 ml) in the bipolar group and 542 ml (Q1 290, Q3 775) in silk group (p = 0.72). Median drain removal day was 5 in each bipolar and silk group with Q1 and Q3 being 5 days in each arm (p = 0.95). A total of five patients (8.62%) developed symptomatic lymphocele, two (7.1%) in the bipolar group, and three (10%) in the silk ligation group, but the difference was not statistically significant. In univariate analysis, double renal arteries in the donor's kidney (p = 0.03) and graft rejection (p = 0.04) were risk factors for the development of lymphatic complications. However, in multivariable analysis, these factors were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: This study did not find any significant differences in lymphatic complications between bipolar vessel sealing system and silk ligation. However, large sample multi-centric studies should be done to add evidences on lymphatic complications differences between these two techniques. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: UMIN000039354, Date of registration-2020, Feb 01.

Clinicopathological patterns of bladder carcinoma over 1 year: experience from University Hospital of Nepal.

PURPOSE: To define the clinical and pathological patterns of urinary bladder carcinoma from the University Hospital of Nepal. METHODS: This is a retrospective analytical study. Patients with bladder mass who underwent surgery over 1 year and who had data record were included in the study. Demographic profile, type of surgery, findings on clinical examination, cystoscopy findings, histopathological report, tumor stage, and post-surgery adjuvant therapy were analyzed. RESULTS: Out of 86 patients who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor, 77 patients had biopsy-proven malignant bladder tumor. Urothelial cancer was present in 96.1%. Male were 78.6%. The mean age of diagnosis was 65.5 ± 11.8 years. Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) was 3.7 times more common than muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). High-grade tumors (58.6%) were more common than low grade (41.4%). The detrusor muscle was present inthe biopsy specimen of 48 patients (64%). Re-TURBT within 2-6 weeks was considered based on histopathology reports for about half of the patients (45.3%). Upstaging and upgrading of the tumor was present in 5.8 and 5.8% of the patients, respectively. Residual tumor without upstaging and upgrading was present in 23.5%. One patient (1.3%) had Clavien-Dindo grade 1, three (4%) patients had grade 2 and two patients (2.7%) had grade 3b. CONCLUSION: In the present study, patients with bladder cancer are younger than reported in other studies. Smokers are strongly predisposed. The histological pattern is similar to the Western and Asian populations. NMIBC and MIBC occur in proportion to that described as in other studies. We had a lower rate of recurrence, upstaging and upgrading. We had a lesser rate of acceptance for radical cystectomy in our patients.

Renal Metastasis of Osteosarcoma with IVC Thrombus.

Renal metastasis from osteosarcoma is a rare entity, and tumour thrombus is even rarer. To date, only 15 cases of osteosarcoma with tumour thrombus have been reported in the literature. We present a case of an 18-year-old female diagnosed as having right distal femur osteosarcoma, later presenting with renal osteosarcoma with IVC thrombus.

Isolated renal hydatid cyst: A rare case report.

Hydatid disease in developing countries like Nepal is not uncommon but isolated renal involvement without liver and lung hydatid is rarely described in literature. It may create diagnostic dilemma at times. We describe a 22-year-old female with isolated renal hydatid disease managed with nephron sparing surgery (NSS).

Intra-abdominal mass with empty scrotum in adult male.

Cryptorchidism is one of the most common congenital anomaly affecting new born males. Early identification and management at 6-12 months is recommended. Occasionally adult male can present for the first time with intra-abdominal mass with empty ipsilateral scrotum. These tumors may present at advanced stage and management may be challenging at times.

Alopecia Universalis Associated with Hyperthyroidism Treated with Azathioprine and Hydroxychloroquine: A Case Report.

Alopecia universalis is an uncommon form of alopecia areata involving hair loss over the entire scalp and body. This condition is difficult to treat and sustain the growth of hair for longer duration. We report a case of alopecia universalis associated with severe hyperthyroidism. A lady in her fourth decade presented to us with gradual onset of alopecia universalis, who later found to have hyperthyroidism which was refractory to multiple treatment modalities. She was treated successfully with azathioprine and hydroxychloroquine. Alopecia universalis with less response to oral steroid therapy was successfully managed with azathioprine with hydroxychloroquine.

Efficacy of Tamsulosin plus Tadalafil versus Tamsulosin as Medical Expulsive Therapy for Lower Ureteric Stones: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Urolithiasis is one of the common disorder with which about 1/5th is found in the ureter, of which 2/3rd is seen in the lower ureter. Medical expulsive therapy is one of the routine modalities of treatment which uses various drugs acting on the ureter smooth muscle by different mechanism. We aim to compare the efficacy of combination vs. single drug. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial was done in 176 consecutive patients over a period of six months (March 2019 to August 2019) in Department of Urology and Kidney Transplant Surgery, Tribhuvan University Teaching. Participants were divided into two groups (Group A, tamsulosin plus tadalafil, and Group B, tamsulosin) from computer-generated random numbers. Therapy was continued for a maximum of 3 weeks. Stone expulsion rate, time to stone expulsion, analgesic use, number of colic and emergency room visits for pain, early intervention, and adverse effects of drugs were recorded. RESULTS: Among 176 patients who were enrolled in study, 7 were lost to follow-up, and 5 people required immediate intervention. There was a significant higher stone passage rate in group A than group B (64 vs. 50; P=0.025) and shorter expulsion time (1.66 vs. 2.32 weeks P=0.001) and less number of emergency room visits and colic episodes. No significant side effects were noted during study. CONCLUSION: Tamsulosin plus Tadalafil is more effective than tamsulosin with early passage of stone and decreased number of colic episodes and emergency visits without significant side effects for lower ureteric calculi of 5 mm to 10 mm.

Segmental renal artery and popliteal artery embolism in an adult patient with rheumatic heart disease and atrial fibrillation: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Renal artery embolism is uncommon cause of flank or back pain. Of all embolic episodes in patients with atrial fibrillation, 2-4% are renal artery embolism. Early thrombolysis within 90 min has favorable renal outcome. Long term anticoagulation can prevent recurrent embolic episodes. Two different embolic phenomenon within short span in same patient is not described in literature. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We describe fifty-year-old female with rheumatic heart disease with atrial fibrillation presented as renal segmental artery emboli with popliteal artery emboli within seven-day interval. DISCUSSION: Embolic phenomenon is well known in atrial fibrillation. High index of suspicion in patient with risk factors of thromboembolism with appropriate use of contrast enhanced computed tomography can help early diagnosis. Renal artery embolism is managed with anticoagulation or thrombolysis based on duration of presentation. Peripheral artery embolism can be diagnosed with Doppler ultrasonography. Thrombus can be removed with endovascular procedure or open surgical technique. Holistic patient management includes cardiac workup and treatment of factors predisposing to embolization. CONCLUSION: Early identification and urgent treatment is key to the management of embolic episode in patient with atrial fibrillation. Long term prophylaxis can prevent further episodes.

Two- and three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography in the assessment of aortic arch vasum vasi to pulmonary artery fistula.

We report an elderly patient presenting with a stroke and also hemolytic anemia secondary to mitral and tricuspid valve repair 3 years earlier, in whom two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (2DTEE) suspected a fistula into the pulmonary artery (APAF) from the posterior wall of the aortic arch. For further assessment, two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2DTTE) and live/real time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (3DTTE) were performed. 2DTTE showed findings similar to 2DTEE. Color Doppler guided continuous-wave Doppler showed continuous flow throughout the cardiac cycle with systolic preponderance across the fistula with a small peak pressure gradient of 22 mmHg. Sequential systematic cropping of the 3D datasets obtained from 3DTTE confirmed that the flow signals originated from the posterior wall of the aortic arch and not the lumen. Thus, 3DTTE served to increase the confidence level that the fistula most likely originated from a vasum vasi in the wall of the aortic arch. To our knowledge, this type of fistula has not been reported previously. Fistulas from the aortic lumen to the pulmonary artery are also rare and so far only 24 cases have been reported in the literature. These are also reviewed by us.

Two- and three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography: clinical applications and future directions.

Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D STE) is a novel technique of cardiac imaging for quantifying complex cardiac motion based on frame-to-frame tracking of ultrasonic speckles in gray scale 2D images. Two-dimensional STE is a relatively angle independent technology that can measure global and regional strain, strain rate, displacement, and velocity in longitudinal, radial, and circumferential directions. It can also quantify rotational movements such as rotation, twist, and torsion of the myocardium. Two-dimensional STE has been validated against hemodynamics, tissue Doppler, tagged magnetic resonance imaging, and sonomicrometry studies. Two-dimensional STE has been found clinically useful in the assessment of cardiac systolic and diastolic function as well as providing new insights in deciphering cardiac physiology and mechanics in cardiomyopathies, and identifying early subclinical changes in various pathologies. A large number of studies have evaluated the role of 2D STE in predicting response to cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with severe heart failure. However, the clinical utility of 2D STE in the above mentioned conditions remains controversial because of conflicting reports from different studies. Emerging areas of application include prediction of rejection in heart transplant patients, early detection of cardiotoxicity in patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer, and effect of intracoronary injection of bone marrow stem cells on left ventricular function in patients with acute myocardial infarction. The emerging technique of three-dimensional STE may further extend its clinical usefulness.

Live/Real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the ability of live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) in measuring (1) atrial septal defect (ASD) maximum dimension, area, and adjacent rim size, (2) ASD occluder left and right atrial disk size, (3) length of contact between the left atrial (LA) disk and the aorta, and in (4) assessing device related complications such as residual shunt, device embolization, and device encroachment upon adjacent cardiac structures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 3DTEE images acquired during percutaneous ASD closure by the Amplatzer Septal Occluder in 15 adult patients were retrospectively analyzed. Offline analysis was done using both the Philips 5500 ultrasound system and Philips QLAB software. 3D color flow Doppler images were used to assess residual ASD shunting. RESULTS: The Philips 5500 and Philips QLAB measurements correlated well for ASD maximum dimension and area measurements. The Philips QLAB 3DTEE disk size measurements also correlated well with the manufacturer obtained sizes. The aortic rim was deficient in 7 of the 15 patients, and the mean ASD occluder device size was 4 mm greater than the mean ASD maximum dimension. The LA occluder disk was in contact with the aorta throughout the cardiac cycle in 12 of the 15 patients, and the LA occluder disk size correlated significantly with the contact length with the aorta. CONCLUSION: Most of the patients demonstrated contact between the LA occluder disk and the aorta throughout the cardiac cycle. 3DTEE may be useful in identifying patients at greater risk for aortic erosion.