A coastal Ramsar site on transition to hypoxia and tracking pollution sources: a case study of south-west coast of India.

Coastal lakes and estuaries are considered economic drivers for coastal communities by delivering invaluable economic and ecosystem services. The coastal ecosystems are facing recurrent hypoxia events (dissolved oxygen; DO < 2.0 mg L-1) and are emerging as a major threat to ecosystem structure and functioning. The Ashtamudi Lake, (area = 56 km2), is one of the Ramsar sites in the State of Kerala and located on the SW coast of India. The waterways are extensively used for backwater tourism and for fishery activities. This paper discusses the spatio-temporal variation of water quality attributes with emphasis on hypoxia during non-monsoon and monsoon seasons. The extent of hypoxia on fishery diversity was discussed. The Southern Zone, adjacent to the urban area, shows the hypoxic condition with higher concentration of BOD, NO3-N, and NH4-N. The hypoxic condition is largely limited to the Southern Zone in both seasons. The occurrence of low DO in the lake is highly related to salinity and organic load in the lake system. The tracking of pollution sources in the lake system was also done through identification of pollution potential zones and found that catchments adjacent to Southern and Western Zones (urban regions) are the major source of pollution. The study suggests that hypoxia is chiefly attributed to anthropogenic interventions in the form of discharge of wastes into the lake causing overloading of nutrients and organic effluents, decrease in the freshwater supply, the absence of proper freshwater mixing or dilution, and effluent discharge from nearby urban centers.

Iatrogenic stenosis of anterior nares: a case report.

Stenosis of anterior nares may be congenital or acquired. Acquired stenosis may be caused by the diseases which cause destruction of skin or normal cartilage. The various causes of acquired stenosis of anterior nares are burns, trauma, infections, etc. Iatrogenic stenosis of anterior nares is a rare condition. Doing simple excision of fibrosed tissue, with septoplasty and endoscopic adenoidectomy in a 5-year child, improved nasal breathing. Use of Mitomycin-C topical solution prevents recurrence of fibrosis, with good outcome.

Clinico-bacteriological study of chronic dacryocystitis cases in northern karnataka, India.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify the organisms responsible and to determine the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the bacterial isolates from conjunctiva and nasal mucosa in cases of chronic dacryocystitis and comparing with lacrimal sac specimen. DESIGN: Prospective longitudinal study. METHODS: A prospective analysis of 44 lacrimal sac contents of patients with chronic dacryocystitis conducted during the period from April 2012 to March 2013. Material was obtained directly from the lacrimal sac while making sac flap during external dacryocystorhinostomy for chronic dacryocystitis. Samples were also collected from ipsilateral conjunctiva and inferior meatus of nose. The specimens were cultured and results analyzed. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The results were analyzed by using Chi-square (χ(2)) test. RESULTS: All the patients were in age group of 30 and above. Gram positive bacteria i.e., Coagulase negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus were the most common isolates (71% and 14% respectively). Vancomycin, amikacin, 3(rd) generation cephalosporins and amoxyclav were most sensitive antibiotics (100%, 89%, 83%, and 78% respectively). Comparison between lacrimal and nasal/conjunctival isolates showed high degree of identicalness between the isolates of two sites (p< 0.05). CONCLUSION: Majority of the chronic dacryocystitis cases are caused by Coagulase negative Staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus. Amoxyclav and 3(rd) generation cephalosporins can be used to treat chronic dacryocystitis. Commensal flora of nose and conjunctiva have a direct role in pathogenesis of chronic dacryocystitis.

An interesting case of relapsing polychondritis in a young girl.

Relapsing polychondritis is an acute, recurrent and progressive inflammation and degeneration of cartilage and connective tissue including that within the tracheobronchial tree affecting men and women equally and usually in the middle age. Serious airway manifestations occur in at least half of these patients. We present to you an interesting case report of a 20-year-old female who presented with exertional breathlessness. Imaging revealed diffuse calcification of pinna and tracheobronchial tree. Based on the characteristic clinical features and imaging studies a diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis was attained.