Colorectal Variceal Bleeding Managed by Endoscopic Therapy in Patients with Cirrhosis.

Ectopic varices are an unusual cause of gastrointestinal bleeding accounting for upto 5% of all variceal bleeds. Colorectal variceal bleeding is even rare. As the bleed is massive and has a poor prognosis, one must be aware of this condition in a patient of portal hypertension with life-threatening lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Two cases of colorectal variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients treated successfully by endoscopic therapy are reported here.

Application of RP-HPLC method in dissolution testing and statistical evaluation by NASSAM for simultaneous estimation of tertiary combined dosages forms / 药物分析学报

A dissolution method with robust high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis for im-mediate release tablet formulation was developed and validated to meet the requirement as per Inter-national Conference on Harmonization (ICH) and United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) guidelines. The method involved the use of Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse XDB C18 column, and temperature was maintained at 30 °C. After optimization, the mobile phase was selected as phosphate buffer (KH2PO4, 30 mM):ACN (60:40, v/v) with pH 3.0, and retention time Rt was found as 3.24, 4.16, and 2.55 min for paracetamol (PCM), chlorpheniramine maleate (CPM) and phenylephrine hydrochloride (PH) respec-tively at 265 nm and at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The relative standard deviation (%RSD) for 6 replicate measurements was found to be less than 2%. Furthermore net analyte signal standard addition method (NASSAM) with spectrophotometer was performed for standard and liquid oral suspension. On the basis of selectivity, sensitivity and accuracy analysis, it was confirmed that this novel method could be useful for simultaneous estimation of the given drug combinations. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied for evaluating the statistical difference between the assay results obtained via both NASSAM and RP-HPLC methods and ultimately no significant difference was found between both the methods. All the methods and results were acceptable and confirmed that the method was suitable for intended use.

Relationship between BDNF expression in major striatal afferents, striatum morphology and motor behavior in the R6/2 mouse model of Huntington's disease.

Patients with Huntington's disease (HD) and transgenic mouse models of HD show neuronal loss in the striatum as a major feature, which contributes to cognitive and motor manifestations. Reduced expression of the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in striatal afferents may play a role in neuronal loss. How progressive loss of BDNF expression in different cortical or subcortical afferents contributes to striatal atrophy and behavioral dysfunction in HD is not known, and may best be determined in animal models. We compared age-dependent alterations of BDNF mRNA expression in major striatal afferents from the cerebral cortex, thalamus and midbrain in the R6/2 transgenic mouse model of HD. Corresponding changes in striatal morphology were quantified using unbiased stereology. Changes in motor behavior were measured using an open field, grip strength monitor, limb clasping and a rotarod apparatus. BDNF expression in cortical limbic and midbrain striatal afferents is reduced by age 4 weeks, prior to onset of motor abnormalities. BDNF expression in motor cortex and thalamic afferents is reduced by 6 weeks, coinciding with early motor dysfunction and reduced striatum volume. BDNF loss in afferents progresses until death at 13-15 weeks, correlating with progressive striatal neuronal loss and motor abnormalities. Mutant huntingtin protein expression in R6/2 mice results in progressive loss of BDNF in both cortical and subcortical striatal afferents. BDNF loss in limbic and dopaminergic striatal inputs may contribute to cognitive/psychiatric dysfunction in HD. Subsequent BDNF loss in cortical motor and thalamic afferents may accelerate striatal degeneration, resulting in progressive involuntary movements.

Clinical and endoscopic features of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Osler-Weber-Rendu disease) in India.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasis (HHT) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by recurrent epistaxis and telangiectasia of the skin and mucous membranes. Most reports of HHT are from Europe and N. America. In this report of 7 patients from India we postulate that increased skin pigmentation in Asians and Negroids masks the cutaneous manifestations of the disease but without any discernible effect on mucosal lesions. The median hemoglobin value in these patients was 4 g/dl. Endoscopic lesions in the stomach or duodenum were detected in six patients. Most patients in our report (5/7) presented with a chronic iron deficiency anaemia. The treatment of HHT is mainly supportive although our preliminary data shows that low dose ethinyl estradiol therapy decreases transfusion requirement in these patients.

Endoscopic management of large bile duct stones by mechanical lithotripsy.

OBJECTIVE: Our experience in treating large common bile duct stones using Olympus basket mechanical lithotripter (BML 2Q) and Soehendra lithotripter is reported. METHODS: Between July 1990 and December 1993, twenty two patients with common bile duct stones too large to be extracted by Dormia basket or balloon were treated with BML lithotripter or Soehendra lithotripter. RESULTS: The stone diameters ranged from 1.5 to 2.8 cm. Fourteen patients required one session of lithotripsy, four patients two sessions each, and two patients three sessions each. BML lithotripter was used in 14 patients. In the remaining eight patients the stones were fragmented with Soehendra lithotripter when the basket got impacted while attempting extraction. Mechanical lithotripsy was successful in 20 patients (91%). Indwelling stent was used in one patient; one patient underwent surgery. CONCLUSION: Mechanical lithotripsy is safe for the treatment of large common bile duct stones, with a success rate above ninety percent.

Course of severe ulcerative colitis in northern India.

Thirty patients with severe ulcerative colitis were studied prospectively. Sixty percent (18/30) of severe ulcerative colitis were in remission after mean duration of 9.2 days (range 2-20 days) of intensive intravenous therapy without major side effects of steroids. Factors predicting poor response to medical therapy on admission are: stool frequency > or = 9 per day, pulse rate > or = 120/minute, temperature > or = 38 degrees C, Albumin < or = 2 gm, mucosal tags on plain x-ray abdomen and pancolitis.

Spectrum of gastrointestinal malignancy over a period of 10 years at a tertiary referal center of India.

We studied the frequency of different gastro intestinal malignancies (GIM) diagnosed in a given year, among patients attending gastroenterology department, and changing pattern of their occurrence over a period of 10 years (1984-1993). The records of all patients with histologically confirmed GIM were screened. Out of 83380 outdoor patients registered in the department over 10 years, there were a total of 1751 (2.1%) patients with GIM. The relative distribution of malignancy according to site was esophagus 36.0%, stomach 19.9%, liver secondaries 13.9%, colon 9.8%, periampullary 5.6%, gall pladder 4.5%, duodenum 3.0%, malignant ascites 2.6%, HCC 2.3% and pancreas 1.1%. Mean age for cancer of esophagus was 53.5 +/- 11.4 year, stomach 51.8 +/- 12.9, colon 49.1 +/- 16.7, duodenum 45.3 +/- 11.4, malignant ascites 51.8 +/- 13.1, pancreas 46.9 +/- 15.3 and HCC 52.5 +/- 12 years with an overall mean age of all GIM being 49.7 +/- 13.4 years. All malignancies were common in males except for cancer of gall bladder. The annual distribution of GIM did not confirm to a rising or declining trend with reference to the frequency of occurrence or age and sex distribution over the last decade.

Incidence and spread of Haemophilus influenzae on an Antarctic base determined using the polymerase chain reaction.

A PCR-based method of detecting Haemophilus influenzae in cultures inoculated from throat swabs was evaluated using samples from groups of laboratory staff and medical students and then applied to samples originating from the closed human community of an Antarctic research station. Suitable PCR primers to an H. influenzae gene (ompP2) were used to amplify the gene from DNA preparations made from mixed growth on chocolate agar with added vancomycin. PCR product was reamplified and subjected to restriction endonuclease digestion to allow temporal and spatial mapping of strains over an 8-month period. Eleven different strains of H. influenzae were detected. One particular strain was detected in a third of the base members.

Tuberculosis in ulcerative colitis: bird in the bush.

Records of one hundred and two patients with idiopathic ulcerative colitis were retrospectively studied to estimate the prevalence of associated tuberculosis. There were 49 males and 53 females with a mean age of 33 +/- 13 years. Seven patients (3 pulmonary and 4 intestinal) had associated tuberculosis. All patients with intestinal tuberculosis were females and had small bowel involvement. Patients with co-existing tuberculosis were on steroids at the time of presentation and responded well to anti tubercular treatment with gradual weight gain and remission of diarrhoea and fever. We conclude that in India, the prevalence of tuberculosis is high in patients with idiopathic ulcerative colitis on steroids and a high degree of suspicion is required to detect these cases.

Visual and somatosensory evoked potentials in vitamin E deficiency with cystic fibrosis.

Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and pancreatic malabsorption frequently have vitamin E deficiency. Affected patients may develop spinocerebellar degeneration with dysarthria, ataxia, proximal weakness, proprioceptive loss and areflexia. Of a highly selected group of 10 patients with vitamin E levels below 5 micrograms/ml (normal 5-20 micrograms/ml), 7 had abnormal neurological examinations, predominantly affecting vibration and joint position perception with some severely affected patients manifesting diminished visual acuity, tremor, ataxia and diffuse weakness. Evoked potential studies showed marked abnormalities in 3 patients, demonstrating deficits in the optic pathways and in the cervical cord dorsal column pathways. Evoked potential studies may supplement careful neurological examination in patients with CF before and after supplementation with vitamin E to evaluate their progression and response to treatment.

Status epilepticus.

Status epilepticus represents a true medical emergency that can affect all age groups. Failure to adequately treat this problem can lead to potentially serious systemic and neurologic complications. Management strategies should include stabilization of the cardiovascular and respiratory status of the patient, use of anticonvulsants intravenously and in proper doses, search for a cause, and maintenance therapy.