EARLY CARCINOMA TONGUE – SURGICAL OPTIONS

A retrospective analysis of 127 surgically treated cases of T-1, T-2 carcinoma of oral tongue during the period 1987-1990 was undertaken. 68.5 per cent (87) underwent hemiglossectomy and 31.5 per cent (40) underwent wide excision. There were loco-regional recurrences in 22 per cent (27). In the hemiglossectomy group 9 per cent (8 of 87) had local recurrences compared to 25 per cent (10 of 40) of wide excision group, (P = 0.01). Mean disease free survival was 40 months and 33 months for hemiglossectomy group and wide excision group respectively, (P = 0.006). It is seen that local recurrences are significantly less for the hemiglossectomy group compared to the wide excision group.KEY WORDS: Disease free survival, Early cancer, Recurrence, Surgery, Tongue     

放射抑制冠状动脉支架术后增殖试验亚型分析

大量的动物实验和许多早期临床试验显示放射在冠状动脉再狭窄治疗中的价值。为了建立有效的放射实施技术及合适的病例选择标准,作者进行了这项研究。ＳＣＲＩＰＰＳ试验是一项小样本的双盲法随机研究,病例入组标准是患者冠状动脉再狭窄已置支架或准备置支架;先前病灶处介入间隔>4周;参照血管直径在3～5ｍｍ之间,病灶长度≤30ｍｍ。将病例随机分成两组:一组后装管内用192Ｉｒ源,而另一组为假源。192Ｉｒ源的放置取决于病灶的长短。较短的病灶用一长19ｍｍ的带状物,该带状物含有5个长3ｍｍ的192Ｉｒ源,每个源间隔1ｍｍ,较长的病灶用含9个192Ｉ…     

Immune responses to Aspergillus antigen in IL‐4‐/‐ mice and the effect of eosinophil ablation

BACKGROUND: Exposure to Aspergillus fumigatus allergens results in enhanced total serum IgE and peripheral blood eosinophils in mice. The associated pulmonary inflammation and immunologic responses are comparable to those detected in human allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. Allergen-induced cytokines are thought to regulate the inflammatory and immune responses in these animals. METHODS: In the present study, we exposed C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice to A. fumigatus antigen. Both wild-type and IL-4 knockout phenotypes of animals of both strains were used. Some animals were also treated with anti-IL-5 or anti-IFN-gamma. Total serum IgE, Aspergillus species IgG subclass, peripheral blood eosinophils, and lung histology were studied. RESULTS: The results demonstrate similar lung inflammation in all wild-type and IL-4-/- animals exposed to A. fumigatus antigen. Similarly, in spite of the diverse immune response produced by the anticytokine treatment, no major differences were detected among any of the animal groups studied. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that A. fumigatus exposure in an immunologically unaltered host is predominantly of a Th2 type, and that depletion of the Th2 cytokine leads to a similar lung inflammation but with a characteristic Th1 response, suggesting that the pathogenesis of allergic aspergillosis is the result of multiple induction pathways.     

Once-daily therapy for streptococcal pharyngitis with amoxicillin

OBJECTIVE: An orally administered antimicrobial regimen for the treatment of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) pharyngitis given once rather than multiple times each day would be more convenient and might result in improved patient compliance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of once-daily amoxicillin in the treatment of GABHS pharyngitis. PATIENTS: Children presenting to a private pediatric office with GABHS pharyngitis. DESIGN: Patients were randomly assigned to receive orally either amoxicillin (750 mg once daily) or penicillin V (250 mg three times a day) for 10 days. Compliance was monitored by urine antimicrobial activity. OUTCOMES: Outcomes were measured by impact on the clinical course, eradication of GABHS within 18 to 24 hours, and bacteriologic treatment failure rate as determined by follow-up throat cultures 4 to 6 and 14 to 21 days after completing therapy. GABHS isolates were serotyped to distinguish bacteriologic treatment failures (same serotype as initial throat culture) from new acquisitions (different serotypes). RESULTS: During the 16 months of this study, 152 children between 4 and 18 years of age (mean, 9.9 years) were enrolled; 79 children were randomly assigned to receive once-daily amoxicillin and 73 were assigned to receive penicillin V three times a day. The children in the two treatment groups were comparable with respect to age, duration of illness before initiation of therapy, compliance, and signs and symptoms at presentation. There was no significant difference in the clinical or bacteriologic responses of the patients in the two treatment groups at the 18- to 24-hour follow-up visit. Bacteriologic treatment failures occurred in 4 (5%) of the 79 patients in the amoxicillin group and in 8 (11%) of the 73 patients in the penicillin V group. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that once-daily amoxicillin therapy is as effective as penicillin V therapy given three times a day for the treatment of GABHS pharyngitis, and if confirmed by additional investigations, once-daily amoxicillin therapy could become an alternative regimen for the treatment of this disease.     

INITIAL EXPERIENCE WITH SHOCK WAVE LITHOTRIPSY AT ARMY HOSPITAL (R & R) DELHI CANTT

Army Hospital (R & R) has acquired an Electrohydraulic Lithotripter (DIREX NOVA), the first of its kind in the Armed Forces for the treatment of stone diseases. The first 200 patients who underwent Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) have been analysed in this study. This being a pilot study would serve as a beginning of an ongoing experience with this non-invasive procedure and its benefits for the stone population in the Armed Forces.KEY WORDS: ESWL, Lithotripsy     

TRANSFUSION REACTIONS: AFMC EXPERIENCE

Transfusions of blood and its components are useful and lifesaving. Adverse effects occur during or after transfusion, called hazards or complications of blood transfusion. Complications/hazards of various types which occurred in the patients following transfusion of blood/blood components in Armed Forces Hospitals of Pune-Kirkee complex were analysed with relevant investigations. Out of a total number of 13,039 transfusions of blood and blood components from 01 June 1995 to 31 July 1997, there were 104 (0.8%) adverse reactions. Non haemolytic febrile transfusion reaction was the commonest seen in 73 (70.2%) transfusions, followed by allergic reactions in 19 (18.3%) cases. Nonspecific reactions were seen in 11 (10.6%). One haemolytic transfusion reaction occurred due to wrong labelling of blood sample received from the ward for compatibility testing. There were no fatalities.KEY WORDS: Blood transfusion, Complication, Febrile reaction     

EARLY DIAGNOSIS IN POST RENAL TRANSPLANT OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS: A FRESH LOOK

A total of 86 renal transplant patients who were transplanted with live related donor (LRD) and live unrelated donor (LURD) kidneys were studied for opportunistic infections. Immune diagnosis of Toxoplasma, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Herpes-simplex virus type II (HSV-2), Aspergillosis and Tuberculosis was carried out in these patients along with sputum examination, CSF studies and biopsy of lymphnode and other tissues in few cases. A high degree of Toxoplasma, CMV & HSV-2 positivity was seen in transplanted patients. However sensitivity of serological diagnosis of tuberculos was found to be low with standard criteria, which increased significantly when modified criteria were used. It is concluded that regular immunological monitoring should be carried out in transplanted patients so as to reach an early diagnosis and management of opportunistic infections.KEY WORDS: Immune diagnosis, Opportunistic infections, Transplantation