Metastasis in differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Seventy patients of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) irrespective of age and sex were selected in ENT Department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Rangpur Medical College Hospital who were admitted from March 2003 to March 2005. Female were more commonly affected (2.6:1) Papillary carcinoma was more common in 31-50 years of age and follicular carcinoma (ca) common in 41-50 years of age. Among the differentiated thyroid carcinoma papillary carcinoma found 77.15% and follicular ca. found 22.85%. Lymph node metastasis was more common in papillary (35%) than follicular carcinoma (12.5%). But distant metastasis was more common in follicular (12.5%) than papillary carcinoma (3.70). Maximum lymph node metastasis was found in level 3(55%), level 2(45%).     

Byssinosis and tuberculosis amongst “home-based” powerloom workers in Madhya Pradesh State,India

BackgroundByssinosis is an occupational lung disease observed among workers exposed to cotton, flax, and hemp dust. The severity and extent of Byssinosis are well recognised in the high-income countries and control measures have been implemented to prevent the disease. In India, there are conflicting evidence on burden estimation of the disease, followed by inadequate prevention and control of Byssinosis.Design/methodsWe did a cross-sectional study to assess the prevalence of Byssinosis in “home-based” power-loom workers in Mominpura, an administrative ward of Burhanpur Municipality with 2800 population in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. 290 adults working from “home-based” power loom units were randomly selected, profiled and screened for Byssinosis like symptoms with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and simple hand-held peak expiratory flow monitor. For epidemiological purposes the symptoms were classified based on Schilling's classification. Chest x-rays were done for selected subjects. Sputum smear microscopy for detecting TB was done for those who had Byssinosis like symptoms.ResultsPrevalence of Byssinosis among “home based” powerloom workers was found to be 98% [n = 283, 95 CI (95.65–98.96)]. Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was reduced in 44% (n = 124), of which 81 (29%) had more than 50% PEFR reduction, and of these, 69 (29%) were in early stage of Byssinosis (Grade 0.5). 11% of study participants who had Byssinosis like symptoms, also had TB.ConclusionsByssinosis is highly prevalent in “home-based” power loom units in Madhya Pradesh. Adequate advocacy on awareness and prevention; prompt diagnosis and linkages to treatment services in “home-based” power loom units are urgently required to address Byssinosis at an early disease stage.     

Variation of Origin of Obturator Artery in Eastern Indian Population - A Study

Obturator artery is a medium-calibre parietal branch of internal iliac artery having wide variations in its origin. Since there was no previous investigation of variations of origin of obturator artery in a large series of eastern Indian subjects, it was decided to undertake this study. 56 pelvic halves from formaldehyde preserved cadavers were dissected in Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata and B.S. Medical College, Bankura over a period of 3 years. Obturator artery originated in maximum number (44.6%) of cases from the anterior division of the internal iliac artery, the next common site (23.2%) being the inferior epigastric artery. Relatively late appearance of the obturator artery amongst the branches of internal iliac artery is most likely to be the cause of such a wide variation.     

Leydig cell tumor: a report of two cases with unusual presentation

Leydig cell tumors (LCTs) are rare testicular tumors. They constitute 1-3% of all testicular tumors. We report two cases of LCT, one benign and the other one malignant, representing both ends of the spectrum. The case of benign LCT presented with infertility and was found to have azoospermia, and subsequently underwent orchidectomy. Histopathologic examination revealed the presence of a benign LCT. Postoperative recovery was uneventful. The sperm count improved subsequently, and a year later, he fathered a child. The case of malignant LCT was seen in another 47 year old male who presented with cough. On examination, a testicular swelling was found, and after orchidectomy, he was diagnosed to have malignant LCT on histopathologic examination.     

Invasive aspergillosis localised to the colon presenting as toxic megacolon

Primary gut involvement by Aspergillus is an exceedingly rare and often a fatal complication of intensive chemotherapy in patients with acute leukaemia. We report a 46-yr-old patient with granulocytic sarcoma of the testis. He received acute myeloid leukaemia type treatment with ADE chemotherapy (Cytosine Arabinoside, Daunorubicin and Etoposide). While neutropenic he presented with pyrexia, abdominal pain and massive abdominal distention. He was treated with intravenous antibiotics and antifungals according to our usual institutional protocol without any response. He was found to have toxic megacolon on plain X-ray and subsequently underwent total colectomy and ileostomy. The colon histology showed Aspergillus fungal hyphae infiltrating the bowel wall. There was no any evidence of pulmonary, hepatic, splenic or renal lesions on the computerised tomography scan. Following colectomy, he was treated with 2 wk of antifungal treatment. He recovered well and was discharged home. The increased awareness, high degree of clinical suspicion of unusual presentation and early surgical intervention with aggressive antifungal treatment, has a key role in the management of these rare and often fatal cases.     

Chitosan inserts for periodontitis: influence of drug loading, plasticizer and crosslinking on in vitro metronidazole release

Chitosan based metronidazole (MZ) inserts were fabricated by the casting method and characterized with respect to mass and thickness uniformity, metronidazole loading and in vitro metronidazole release kinetics. The fabricated inserts exhibited satisfactory physical characteristics. The mass of inserts was in the range of 5.63 +/- 0.42 to 6.04 +/- 0.89 mg. The thickness ranged from 0.46 +/- 0.06 to 0.49 +/- 0.08 mm. Metronidazole loading was in the range of 0.98 +/- 0.09 to 1.07 +/- 0.07 mg except for batch CM3 with MZ loading of 2.01 +/- 0.08 mg. The inserts exhibited an initial burst release at the end of 24 h, irrespective of the drug to polymer ratio, plasticizer content or cross-linking. However, further drug release was sustained over the next 6 days. Cross-linking with 10% (m/m) of glutaraldehyde inhibited the burst release by approximately 30% and increased the mean dissolution time (MDT) from 0.67 to 8.59 days. The decrease in drug release was a result of reduced permeability of chitosan due to cross-linking.     

Comparison of bioactive glass coated and hydroxyapatite coated titanium dental implants in the human jaw bone

Background: Current trends in clinical dental implant therapy include modification of titanium surfaces for the purpose of improving osseointegration by different additive (bioactive coatings) and subtractive processes (acid etching, grit‐blasting). The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the behaviour of hydroxyapatite and the newly developed bioactive glass coated implants (62 implants) in osseous tissue following implantation in 31 patients. Methods: Bioactive glass and hydroxyapatite was suitably coated on titanium alloy. Hydroxyapatite coating was applied on the implant surface by air microplasma spray technique and bioactive glass coating was applied by vitreous enamelling technique. The outcome was assessed up to 12 months after prosthetic loading using different clinical and radiological parameters. Results: Hydroxyapatite and bioactive glass coating materials were non‐toxic and biocompatible. Overall results showed that bioactive glass coated implants were as equally successful as hydroxyapatite in achieving osseointegration and supporting final restorations. Conclusions: The newly developed bioactive glass is a good alternative coating material for dental implants.