Neonatal Plasmodium vivax malaria: an overlooked entity

Although malaria is endemic in India, neonatal disease is considered rare. We report a case of neonatal malaria in a 26-day-old neonate with fever and splenomegaly who was diagnosed after a long and unsuccessful battery of tests for splenomegaly. Routine screening for malaria is essential for all neonates with fever in endemic areas. Early diagnosis and treatment of malaria could effectively prevent infant mortality.     

Lipidized glioblastoma: A rare differentiation pattern

We report a rare case of lipidized glioblastoma arising in the tempo‐parietal lobe of a 65 year‐old woman. The tumor was composed of diffuse sheets of lipidized cells with abundant xanthomatous cytoplasm comprising 60% of the tumor mass. These cells revealed immunopositivity with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and the accumulation of lipid was confirmed ultrastructurally. This report highlights the extremely rare lipidized differentiation pattern occurring in glioblastoma and adds observational data to the existing literature on lipid accumulation occurring in glioblastomas.     

Capsule wrinkling during capsulorhexis in patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma and cataract

Purpose  

To evaluate the frequency of capsule wrinkling and associated factors during capsulorhexis in patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) undergoing cataract surgery.     

The Slippery Slope of Child Feeding Practices in India

National Family Health Survey 4 (NFHS-4) data shows a ten percentage point decline in timely complementary feeding rates in the backdrop of increases in breastfeeding indicators. There is large-scale decline in this indicator across all regions and states. An understanding of social determinants is critical for generating transformative ideas to address these challenges.     

An open-label study of lamotrigine adjunct or monotherapy for the treatment of adolescents with bipolar depression

OBJECTIVE: The treatment of pediatric bipolar depression has not been well studied. The authors wished to prospectively study the efficacy of lamotrigine as adjunctive or monotherapy in adolescents with bipolar disorder who were experiencing a depressive episode. METHOD: This was an 8-week open-label trial of lamotrigine with 20 adolescents ages 12-17 years (mean age 15.8; 7 boys, 13 girls) with diagnoses of bipolar disorder I, II, or not otherwise specified, who were experiencing a depressive episode. Lamotrigine was begun at 12.5 to 25 mg/day. Primary response criteria was a 1 or a 2 on the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement at week 8. A secondary criterion was at least a 50% decrease in Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised scores. RESULTS: Nineteen subjects completed the trial. The mean final dose was 131.6 mg/day. Seven subjects were taking other psychotropic medications. Sixteen subjects (84%) responded by primary criteria, and 12 (63%) responded to our secondary criteria. Eleven subjects (58%) were considered in remission at week 8. Young Mania Rating Scale and Overt Aggression Scale-Modified scores also decreased significantly during the trial. There was no significant weight change, rash, or other adverse effects during the trial. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with bipolar depression appeared to respond to lamotrigine treatment, whether as adjunctive therapy or monotherapy, with decreases in depression, mania, and aggression. Larger, placebo-controlled studies of lamotrigine are needed in this population.     

A study of autologous melanocyte transfer in treatment of stable vitiligo

BACKGROUND: Replenishing melanocytes selectively in vitiliginous macules by autologous melanocytes is a promising treatment. With expertise in culturing melanocytes, it has now become possible to treat larger recipient areas with smaller skin samples. AIM: To study the extent of repigmentation after autologous melanocyte transplantation in patients with stable vitiligo. METHODS: The melanocytes were harvested as an autologous melanocyte rich cell suspension from a donor split thickness graft. Melanocyte culture was performed in selected cases where the melanocyte cell count was insufficient to meet the requirement of the recipient area. These cells were then transplanted to the recipient area that had been superficially dermabraded. RESULTS: An excellent response was seen in 52.17% cases with the autologous melanocyte rich cell suspension (AMRCS) technique and in 50% with the melanocyte culture (MC) technique. CONCLUSION: Autologous melanocyte transplantation can be an effective form of surgical treatment in stable but recalcitrant lesions of vitiligo.     

Extralobar sequestration associated with congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM), type I: an autopsy report

We report an autopsy case of congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) type I occurring within an extralobar sequestrated segment in a neonate with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.     

Development and characterization of phyto-vesicles of β-sitosterol for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia

Alopecia is a psychologically distressing phenomenon. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common form of alopecia, which affects millions of men and women worldwide, and is an androgen driven disorder. To study the effect of β-sitosterol phyto-vesicles on AGA, the testosterone-induced alopecia model was used. For the study, the albino rats were used and the period of study was 21 days. β-Sitosterol is a phytosterol which is chemically similar to cholesterol. This compound was found suitable for the preparation of phyto-vesicles by the process involving its complexation with phosphatidyl choline. Pharmacokinetic studies of β-sitosterol reveal its poor absorption through the intestine. The objective of the present study is to enhance the bioavailability of β-sitosterol by its complexation with phosphatidyl choline and then to formulate it as phyto-vesicles for the treatment of alopecia. The complex of β-sitosterol was prepared with phosphatidyl choline and characterized on the basis of solubility, melting point, TLC, UV, IR and NMR spectroscopy. This complex was then formulated as phyto-vesicles and then characterized. The results revealed that effect on alopecia is better in case of phyto-vesicles as compared to the complex, physical mixture and the β-sitosterol itself. Enhanced bioavailability of the β-sitosterol complex may be due to the amphiphilic nature of the complex, which greatly enhance the water and lipid solubility of the compound. The present study clearly indicates the superiority of phyto-vesicles over the complex and β-sitosterol, in terms of better absorption and improved activity for the treatment of alopecia.     

Early re-operations after gynecological and obstetrical surgery -a five years

Objective(s)

To study the incidence, indications and outcome of reoperations done within 7 days of primary gynecological and obstetrical surgery in a teaching institution in last five years.

Method(s)

Aretrospective analysis of early reoperations after primary gynecological and obstetrical surgery in last five years was done.

Result(s)

Total incidence of reoperations was 0.603%. Most common complications requiring reoperation were intraperitoneal hemorrhage(48.93%) followed by rectus sheath hematoma(21.28%), sepsis(12.76%), intestinal complications(6.39%), burst abdomen(6.39%) and post partum hemorrhage(4.25%). Women who underwent primary surgeries for gynecological and obstetrical conditions required reoperations in 0.77% & 0.45% cases respectively and mortality was in 10.71% & 15.78% cases respectively.

Conculstion(s)

Early reoperations were required in six cases per 1000 primary surgeries. Though more women required reoperations after gynecological surgeries, mortality was more in reoperations done after primary obstetrical surgeries. Pregnancy associated or related complications, adequate attention during primary surgery and multidisciplinary approach are the important factors which may influence the outcome of primary surgeries.