Tumor like swellings arising from Hoffa's fat pad: A report of three patients

We report three rare cases of tumor-like conditions arising from Hoffa''s fat pad (HFP). Patients were having persistent knee pain, the cause of which was not diagnosed by the general physician, and then were referred to us for knee pain. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed the lesions to be arising from HFP (ganglion cysts and hemangioma), as was suggested by clinical findings. Anatomy, pathology, and radiological features of the Hoffa''s disease are described here to increase awareness in orthopedic community of this rare but interesting disease which is often misdiagnosed as meniscal pathology. These cases illustrate that increased cognizance can facilitate timely intervention which will prevent morbidity of the patient.     

The Art and Craft of Making a Draft: Writing a Good-Quality Scientific Paper!

Writing a good-quality scientific paper is an art. The art and craft of making a draft of a good scientific paper are not simple! The research conducted must be original and should help clinicians to improvise the way they practice. Work should have relevance to women’s health and should be significant enough to create an impact on health care. Will, skill, and drill are the three components of art of quality scientific writing. These are built on the sound foundations of science and integrity of the researcher. The key to master this art is to keep on doing good work and writing consistently good quality articles. This editorial will give some insights into how to write a good quality scientific paper.     

Effect of changes in plasma levels of free fatty acids on plasma glucagon,insulin, and growth hormone in man

A regulatory role of acute changes in plasma concentration of free fatty acids on glucagon secretion has been suggested. We have studied the effect of such changes on plasma levels of glucagon, insulin, and growth hormone in man. Basal plasma levels of immunoreactive glucagon (IRG) were only slightly raised in 11 healthy subjects when the mean concentration of free fatty acids (FFA) was depressed to levels as low as 0.315 ± 0.043 (SEM) mM by infusion of nicotinic acid. Basal levels were increased modestly when the mean FFA level was elevated to 3.027 ± 0.184 mM by infusion of a triglyceride emulsion (Intralipid) with heparin. The plasma IRG response to intravenous arginine was unaffected by high or low levels of plasma FFA. These findings contrasted with the effects upon plasma levels of immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and growth hormone (IGH). During elevation of FFA levels, the mean basal level of plasma IRI increased by 100%, and the IRI response to arginine increased by 50%. Concomitantly, basal IGH levels and the plasma IGH response to arginine were suppressed markedly by elevation of FFA levels. The results of these studies do not offer support for a significant role of variation in plasma level of FFA as a regulator of acute changes in plasma IRG in man. An influence of changing levels of FFA on insulin secretion was found, and an effect on levels of growth hormone was confirmed.     

Redo mitral valve surgery using the port-access system

Redo mitral valve surgery is hazardous, hence we explored an alternative approach using a port-access system that avoids reentry. Between October 1997 and December 2000, 32 patients underwent mitral reoperation using the system. All patients had previous cardiac operations. This procedure consisted of a right anterolateral minithoracotomy and femorofemoral cannulation using special port-access instruments and endoaortic clamping in 24 patients or direct transthoracic sliding-rod aortic clamping in 8. The valve disease was of rheumatic etiology in 28 patients and degenerative in 4. The valve was replaced in 31 cases and a paravalvular leak after mitral valve replacement was closed in 1. In 2 cases, the tricuspid valve was repaired along with mitral valve replacement. Mean total operating time was 4.5 +/- 1.2 hours, cardiopulmonary bypass time 162 +/- 72 minutes, and aortic crossclamp time 62 +/- 21 minutes. There was no mortality, and mean stay in the intensive care unit was 22 +/- 7 hours and hospital stay 6.4 +/- 1.2 days. Postoperative blood transfusion was required in 12 patients. In view of the favorable results, we recommend using the port-access system as a standard approach for mitral reoperation.     

Comparison of sotalol versus amiodarone in maintaining stability of sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation (Sotalol-Amiodarone Fibrillation Efficacy Trial [Safe-T])

The Sotalol-Amiodarone Fibrillation Efficacy Trial (SAFE-T) is a randomized, double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled trial in which the effects of sotalol and amiodarone in maintaining stability of sinus rhythm are being examined in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation at 20 Veterans Affairs medical centers. The time to the occurrence of atrial fibrillation or flutter in patients with atrial fibrillation converted to sinus rhythm is the primary outcome measure, with a number of parameters as secondary end points. SAFE-T had randomized 665 patients when enrollment terminated on October 31, 2001. Follow-up of patients continued until October 31, 2002, for a maximum period of 54 months and a minimum period of 12 months for all patients.     

Glycemic parameters with multiple daily injections using insulin glargine versus insulin pump

This study compared external insulin pump treatment using insulin lispro or insulin aspart with multiple daily injections (MDI; four or more injections per day) using insulin glargine and insulin lispro or insulin aspart. An electronic database was used to retrieve various parameters of glycemic control for 515 adult patients with type 1 diabetes. An insulin pump was used by 216 patients, and 299 patients were taking insulin glargine for at least 6 months. The mean age (approximately 33 years), duration of diabetes (approximately 16 years), and duration of treatment (approximately 12 months) were similar for both the pump and insulin glargine groups. The mean (+/-SEM) A1C values were significantly reduced in both groups from the baseline to the end of the study (7.7 +/- 0.1% to 7.5 +/- 0.1% for the pump group and 8.0 +/- 0.1% to 7.7 +/- 0.1% for the insulin glargine group, P< 0.001) with similar weight gain (P> 0.05) in both groups. The insulin glargine group significantly reduced basal insulin intake at follow-up. The premeal boluses were similar throughout the study for both groups. The subjects reporting severe hypoglycemic episodes were similar in the two groups; however, there were 12 cases of diabetic ketoacidosis reported in the pump group and none in the insulin glargine group. Patients with type 1 diabetes can achieve similar glycemic control using insulin glargine with premeal insulin lispro or by using an external infusion pump with insulin lispro or insulin aspart. However, costs and episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis are significantly higher for insulin pump users.