Noncirrhotic portal fibrosis/idiopathic portal hypertension: APASL recommendations for diagnosis and treatment

The Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) Working Party on Portal Hypertension has developed consensus guidelines on the disease profile, diagnosis, and management of noncirrhotic portal fibrosis and idiopathic portal hypertension. The consensus statements, prepared and deliberated at length by the experts in this field, were presented at the annual meeting of the APASL at Kyoto in March 2007. This article includes the statements approved by the APASL along with brief backgrounds of various aspects of the disease.     

Serum HBsAg quantification in treatment-naïve Indian patients with chronic hepatitis B

Background and Aims

There is paucity of Indian data regarding serum HBsAg levels (qHBsAg) in treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This study was done to determine correlation of qHBsAg with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels and its ability to independently categorize subgroups of CHB.

Methods

We studied 131 treatment-naive CHB patients and initially classified them based on HBeAg status. The HBeAg-positive group was further classified into immune tolerance (IT) and immune clearance (IC) phases based on serum alanine aminotransferase. HBeAg-negative patients were classified into low replicators (LR) and HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis (ENH) based on DNA levels. HBsAg quantification was performed using the Architect chemiluminescence system.

Results

HBeAg-positive patients had higher DNA (7.89 vs. 2.69 log₁₀?IU/mL) and higher qHBsAg (4.60 vs. 3.85 log₁₀?IU/mL) compared to the HBeAg-negative group. Good correlation between qHBsAg and DNA was seen in HBeAg-positive (ρ?=?0.6, p?<?0.001) but not in HBeAg-negative CHB (ρ?=?0.2). A qHBsAg level greater than 4.39 log₁₀?IU/mL predicted HBeAg-positive state with 81 % sensitivity and 85 % specificity. However, among HBeAg-negative CHB, qHBsAg failed to discriminate between LR and ENH.

Conclusions

A single point estimation of qHBsAg in treatment-naïve patients could predict replicative HBeAg-positive CHB, but was not helpful in defining replicative status in the HBeAg-negative CHB.     

RSSDI-ESI Clinical Practice Recommendations for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus 2020

International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries -     

Aneurysmal Bone Cyst of the Jaws: Clinicopathological Study

Aim

The aim of the present study was to analyze clinical, radiological and histopathological features of aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) of jaws.

Materials and Methods

Archival data from 2009 to 2012 present in the Oral Pathology Department was retrieved and clinicopathological features of all the cases which had been previously diagnosed as ABC were analyzed in detail.

Results

Seven cases ranging in age from 10 to 50 years were included, in which maximum (5/7) cases were below 20 years. Ratio of presentation of lesion in male to female and in maxilla to mandible was 3:6 and 1:6 respectively. Swelling and pain were the most common presenting features. Variable presentation of the lesion was observed radiographically; although multilocular, well defined, bone expansion and perforation were the most common observations. Histopathological analysis revealed association of one case with ossifying fibroma and two cases with trabecular variety of juvenile ossifying fibroma. Predominance of solid variety was noted and other features like stroma, giant cells, nature of blood vessels, bone destruction and perforation and presence of any osteoid or calcified material was also accounted for. The current study showed association of two cases with trabecular variety of juvenile ossifying fibroma, which is a rare finding.

Conclusion

ABCs of jaws, thus have varying patterns of presentation which are diagnostically challenging. A thorough examination of the incisional/excisional tissue is thus required to confirm the association with any other lesion which will affect the treatment plan for the patient.     

Selfie fundus imaging for diabetic retinopathy screening

BackgroundRegular screening for retinopathy and timely intervention reduces blindness from diabetes by 90%. Screening is currently dependent on the interpretation of images captured by trained technicians. Inherent barriers of accessibility and affordability with this approach impede widespread success of retinopathy screening programs. Herein, we report our observations on the potential of a novel approach, Selfie Fundus Imaging (SFI), to enhance diabetic retinopathy screening.MethodsThe study was undertaken over a two-month period during COVID 19 lockdown. 60 diabetic patients participated in the study. Retinal images were captured using three different approaches, handheld smartphone-based photographs captured by patients themselves after a short video-assisted training session (SFI group), and smartphone-based photographs captured by a trained technician and photographs taken on desktop conventional digital fundus camera (Gold standard). Sensitivity and kappa statistics was determined for retinopathy and macular oedema grading.FindingsMean age of the study participants was 52.4 years ± 9.8 years and 78% were men. Of 120 images captured using SFI, 90% were centred-gradable, 8% were decentred-gradable and 2% were ungradable. 82% patients captured the image within a minute (majority by 31–45 s). The sensitivity of SFI to detect diabetic retinopathy was 88.39%. Agreement between SFI grading and standard fundus photograph grading was 85.86% with substantial kappa (0.77). For the detection of diabetic macular oedema, the agreement between SFI images and standard images was 93.67, with almost perfect kappa (0.91).ConclusionFundus images were captured by patients using SFI without major difficulty and were comparable to images taken by trained specialist. With greater penetrance, advances, and availability of mobile photographic technology, we believe that SFI would positively impact the success of diabetic retinopathy screening programs by breaking the barriers of availability, accessibility, and affordability. SFI could ensure continuation of screening schedules for diabetic retinopathy, even in the face a highly contagious pandemic.Subject terms: Outcomes research, Retinal diseases, Physical examination     

Change Ideas for First Quality Improvement Project

Indian Journal of Pediatrics -