A new technique for adhesive strapping for umbilical hernia in infants

Summary A new technique for adhesive strapping for infantile umbilical hernia has been described. The results of application of this technique in 32 babies up to I year of age have been outlined and the advantages and complications of this technique have been discussed. From the Departments of Surgery and Paediatrics, K.G.'s Medical College, Lucknow.     

The 2002 introduction of West Nile virus into Harris County, Texas, an area historically endemic for St. Louis encephalitis

Harris County, Texas, is an endemic area of St. Louis encephalitis (SLE); and an active surveillance program that monitors SLE virus activity in mosquitoes, birds, and humans has been in place there for the past 28 years. In June of 2002, West Nile (WN) virus appeared in Houston and quickly spread throughout the region. This report describes the results of 12 years of SLE surveillance in Harris County and the contrasting pattern of WN virus activity, when it arrived in 2002. Our data indicate that both SLE and WN viruses can coexist, despite their ecologic, antigenic, and genetic similarities, and that both viruses will probably persist in this geographic region.     

Immunogenicity and safety of two schedules of Hepatitis B vaccination during pregnancy

AIM: To test the immunogenicity and safety of HepatitisB (HB) vaccination during pregnancy and passive transfer of antibodies to the newborn. METHODS: Ninety-nine HBsAg-negative pregnant women were divided randomly in two groups; group I was given two, and group II was given three doses of recombinant Hepatitis B vaccine and followed up until 4 months after delivery. RESULTS: The vaccination was safe. The maternal anti-HB antibody levels at delivery were significantly higher in three dose schedule as compared to two dose schedule. Similarly, the antibody levels in the newborns were higher in the three dose schedule. The maternal antibody levels were higher at 2 and 4 months post-delivery in group II but were observed to be declining in the newborns. CONCLUSION: Hepatitis B vaccination during pregnancy is safe and highly immunogenic, and there is passive transfer of antibodies to the newborns.     

Periosteo-Temporofascial flap for cavity obliteration - first Indian study

Healing of the mastoid cavtiycompletely is the desired result after a mastoid surgery. Even after the Sade’s principles’ of the complete disease clearance, adequate lowering of the facial ridge, good meatoplasty and closure of the perforation of the tympanic membrane are fallowed, the complete healing of tike mastoid cavity is sometimes net the end result. According to various surgeons, the incidence of discharging mastoid cavity after a open cavity mastoid surgery is between /0-60%-H The usual techniques of obliteration of the mastoid cavity to decrease the size of the mastoid cavity, unusually has good healing results due to good vascularity. The failure ta the early detectmn 0/disease recurrence and risk of sudden appearance of intra-cranial complications are the most important disadvantages of the technique. We undertook a study in SO randomly chosen patients of Unsafe CSOM. Twenty five underwent obliteration of the mastoid cavity with Periosteo-Temporofascial flap, which is based on branches of posterior auricular artery and rest twenty five underwent non-obliteration of the mastoid cavity. Tfie results between the two groups were compared in terms of healing of the mastoid cavity and hearing gain after operation. Very good results in terms of healing of the cavity were seen after obliteration surgery. The rate of healing of the cavity was much faster after obliteration. The additional advantage with the flap is the see-through character of the cavity lining, which would lead to early detection of the disease recurrence. No significant increase in the hearing was seen in the obliterated patients as compared to non-obliterated cases.     

Effect of pre-operative oral ranitidine on gastric pH and volume in children

Fifty healthy children between the age group of 8 months to 11 years were divided into two groups of 25 each. Group A acted as control, while in group B oral ranitidine 2 mg/ kg was given one hour prior to induction of anaesthesia. The incidence of gastric pH more than 2.5 was significantly higher in ranitidine group as compared to control patients (p<0.001). The mean volume of gastric aspirate in patients treated with ranitidine was 2.76±0.76 ml which was significantly lower than control group (p<0.001). It is concluded that oral ranitidine given prior to induction of anaesthesia ensures an increase in gastric pH above 2.5 and significantly reduces gastric volume in children.