Recurrent acute disseminated encephalomyelitis

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an inflammatory demyelinating condition, which is usually monophasic. Recurrent ADEM is a much less characterized entity and its differentiation from multiple sclerosis (MS) poses a diagnostic challenge. We report a seven year old girl with recurrence of ADEM after 19 months and discuss the diagnostic issues involved.     

Central pontine myelinolysis: sequele of hyponatremia during transcervical resection of endometrium

Transcervical resection of endometrium is an alternative to hysterectomy for women with menorrhagia. The procedure involves the use of cutting loop diathermy to resect the endometrium while the uterine cavity is irrigated with 1.5% glycine which can absorb consequent fluid and electrolyte shifts. Severe hyponatremia leading to central pontine myelinolysis is an extremely rare complication of this procedure. We report a case of a young female undergoing transcervical resection of endometrium for menorrhagia, who developed central pontine myelinolysis but made a complete recovery after three months.     

Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia for renal transplantation

INTRODUCTION: A patient undergoing renal transplantation presents unique problems to the anesthetist, as almost every body system is affected. The combined spinal-epidural technique has become popular in lower abdominal surgeries because it offers the advantages of both spinal and epidural techniques. We review our experience of combined spinal-epidural technique in patients undergoing renal transplantation with respect to demographics, intraoperative anesthesia, hemodynamics, postoperative analgesia, and untoward adverse events. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Fifty consecutive patients scheduled for elective renal transplantation over a period of 4 months who consented for combined spinal-epidural anesthesia were enrolled in the study. Combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia was performed using a double-space technique in the right lateral position. Intraoperative monitoring included electrocardiography, pulse oximetry, noninvasive blood pressure, central venous pressure, and urinary output after clamp release. Intravenous fluids, colloids, and blood products were infused so as to keep the central venous pressure between 12 and 15 mm Hg. Postoperative analgesia was provided with buprenorphine via an epidural catheter. We noted intraoperative and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Neuraxial blockade was satisfactory in all but four patients who required supplementation with general anesthesia for unduly prolonged surgery. There were no significant intraoperative hemodynamic changes. The total intravenous fluid used during surgery was 64.24 +/- 12.3 mL/kg. During the postoperative period, all patients had good postoperative pain relief with no incidence of epidural hematoma. CONCLUSION: Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia proved to be a useful regional anesthetic technique, combining the reliability of spinal block and versatility of epidural block for renal transplantation.     

High sensitive C-reactive protein-Effective tool in determining postoperative recovery in lumbar disc disease

Background:

It is common in medical practice to see patients having persistent pain and radiculopathy even after undergoing discectomy surgery. Inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukins are produced at the site of disc herniation and are now considered responsible for the pain perceived by the patient. This study has used high sensitive C-reactive protein (HSCRP) assay for predicting inflammation around the nerve roots on very same principle, which has used HSCRP for predicting coronary artery diseases in current clinical practice. Thus, purpose of this study is to test whether HSCRP can stand as an objective tool to predict postoperative recovery in patients undergoing lumbar discectomy. That is, to study association between preoperative HSCRP blood level and postoperative recovery with the help of modified Oswestry Back Disability Score.

Materials and Methods:

A study group consisting of 50 cases of established lumbar disc disease and control group of 50 normal subjects, matched with the study group. Both the study and control groups were subjected to detailed evaluation with the help of modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Scale both pre and postoperatively at 3 months, 6 months and 1-year. The preoperative blood samples were analyzed to assess the HSCRP concentration. All the cases underwent surgery over a period of 1-year by the same surgeon.

Results:

The level of HSCRP in the study group was between 0.050– and 0.710 mg/dL and in the control group, 0.005-0.020 mg/dL. There was highly significant positive correlation between preoperative HSCRP level and postoperative score at P < 0.005. Cases with HSCRP level in the range of 0.1820 ± 0.079 mg/dL, showed better recovery (score improved > 10 points), while those with HSCRP level in the range of 0.470 ± 0.163 mg/dL, showed poor recovery (score improved < 10 points).

Conclusion:

HSCRP will serve as a good supplementary prognostic marker for operative decision making in borderline and troublesome cases of lumbar disc disease.     

Solitary synovial osteochondroma of the knee

A very rare case of solitary osteochondroma of the knee is reported. The patient presented with a slowly growing retropatellar bony tumour of 4 years duration following a minor trauma. An excisional biopsy with a total patellectomy was performed as the patellar articular surface was unsalvageable. A 20 month follow up revealed no recurrence and a functional knee. A brief review of literature is also presented.     

Application of HPLC for the simultaneous determination of aceclofenac, paracetamol and tramadol hydrochloride in pharmaceutical dosage form

A simple, precise and accurate reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the simultaneous estimation of aceclofenac (ACF), paracetamol (PCM) and tramadol hydrochloride (TRM) in pharmaceutical dosage form. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a HiQ-Sil™ HS C18 column (250×4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm particle size), kromatek analytical column at ambient temperature. The mobile phase consisted of 40: 60 (v/v); phosphate buffer (pH 6.0): methanol. The flow rate was set to 1.0 mL min⁻¹ and UV detection was carried out at 270 nm. The retention time (t_R) for ACF, PCM and TRM were found to be 14.567 ± 0.02, 3.133 ± 0.01 and 7.858 ± 0.02 min, respectively. The validation of the proposed method was carried out for linearity, precision, robustness, limit of detection, limit of quantitation, speci city, accuracy and system suitability. The linear dynamic ranges were from 40–160 μg mL⁻¹ for ACF, 130–520 μg mL⁻¹ for PCM and 15–60 μg mL⁻¹ for TRM. The developed method can be used for routine quality control analysis of titled drugs in pharmaceutical dosage form.     

Declining HIV infection rates among recently married primigravid women in Pune, India

BACKGROUND: A single recent study has suggested a decrease in HIV risk for women attending antenatal clinics (ANCs) in southern India. Yet, some have questioned the validity of the Indian national surveillance data and analyses. Previous studies suggest that the only major HIV risk factor for married Indian women is the risk behavior of their husbands. Therefore, to address concerns about potential selection bias in the analysis of sentinel surveillance data from multiple sites, we estimated the trajectory of HIV transmission rates among recently married, monogamous, primigravid women attending a single large ANC in Pune, India. METHODS: Participants were self-referred, young, primigravid women from 18 to 27 years of age consenting to HIV screening. Time trends in HIV prevalence over 3.5 years were evaluated by logistic regression adjusted for age. HIV incidence was estimated by dividing the number of HIV-infected mothers by an estimate of exposure person-time, which was an estimate of the average age-specific duration of marriage. RESULTS: Between August 16, 2002 and February 28, 2006, 30,085 (79.5%) of 37,858 pregnant women consented to HIV screening; 10,982 (36.5%) were primigravid and their age range was from 18 to 27 years. HIV infection risk declined over 3.5 years among primigravid women. An estimated 19,739 person-years (PYs) of exposure yielded an overall HIV incidence rate 1.25/100 PYs (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.10 to 1.42). Estimated HIV incidence decreased from 2.2/100 PYs (95% CI: 1.6 to 3.0) in 2002 to 2003 to 0.73/100 PYs (95% CI: 0.5 to 1.0) in 2006. DISCUSSION: HIV infection risk among young primigravid women in Pune seems to have decreased over the past 3.5 years. A decreasing HIV risk among pregnant women in Pune would also decrease the number of HIV-exposed infants. We hypothesize that decreased high-risk sexual behavior among young recently married men is most likely contributing to a decreasing risk to their wives and children in Pune.     

Correction: Dipyrrolyl-bis-sulfonamide chromophore based probe for anion recognition

Correction for ‘Dipyrrolyl-bis-sulfonamide chromophore based probe for anion recognition’ by Namdev V. Ghule et al., RSC Adv., 2014, 4, 27112–27115, DOI: 10.1039/C4RA04000G.

The authors regret that an incorrect version of Fig. 1 was included in the original article. The correct version of Fig. 1 is presented below.Open in a separate windowFig. 1Color changes of receptor DPBS in chloroform upon addition of 5 equiv. of F⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, H₂PO₄⁻, HSO₄⁻, ClO₄⁻ and AcO⁻ (tetrabutylammonium salts).The Royal Society of Chemistry apologises for these errors and any consequent inconvenience to authors and readers.     

Imaging of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: State of the art

Significant advances in imaging technology have changed the management of pancreatic cancer. In computed tomography (CT), this has included development of multidetector row, rapid, thin-section imaging that has also facilitated the advent of advanced reconstructions, which in turn has offered new perspectives from which to evaluate this disease. In magnetic resonance imaging, advances including higher field strengths, thin-section volumetric acquisitions, diffusion weighted imaging, and liver specific contrast agents have also resulted in new tools for diagnosis and staging. Endoscopic ultrasound has resulted in the ability to provide high-resolution imaging rivaling intraoperative ultrasound, along with the ability to biopsy via real time imaging suspected pancreatic lesions. Positron emission tomography with CT, while still evolving in its role, provides whole body staging as well as the unique imaging characteristic of metabolic activity to aid disease management. This article will review these modalities in the diagnosis and staging of pancreatic cancer.