Thoracic disc herniation in acromegaly

Herniation of a thoracic disc in an acromegalic giant is reported. Degenerative changes in the spine in association with dorsal kyphosis, and the additional strain, resulted in the disc prolapse.     

Are ADDH and ADHD the same or different?

To assess the relationship between the DSM-III criteria for attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADDH) and the DSM-III-R criteria for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), children from an inner city parochial school were evaluated using a 30-item teacher questionnaire consisting of the DMS-III and DSM-III-R criteria for these disorders, the revised Conners Parent and Teacher Questionnaires, and a continuous performance test. Diagnostic groups were established based on teacher ratings of the DSM items and evaluated in relation to the rating scale data and continuous performance test. While children who were identified by teachers as having ADDH almost always satisfied the criteria for ADHD, a new group of children who were hyperactive and impulsive but less clearly inattentive also met the criteria for ADHD. Implications of the change in diagnostic criteria are discussed.     

Impact of mass media on knowledge about tuberculosis control among homemakers in Delhi.

SETTING: Homes in Delhi, India. OBJECTIVE: To study the reach of mass media campaigns and their impact on awareness about tuberculosis (TB) control among homemakers/housewives. DESIGN: A community-based cross-sectional survey among homemakers residing in Delhi for more than 6 months. RESULTS: Of a total of 920 women interviewed, about 74.2% had seen specific TB-related health messages in one or more of the mass media. The maximum number of subjects could recall having seen billboards or television campaigns. The percentage of respondents who had correct information about various aspects of the disease was higher among those who had seen TB campaigns on any of the mass media. The effectiveness of radio and newsprint in communicating TB messages was found to be more limited than that of television and billboards. CONCLUSION: The mass media can be effective in getting messages about TB across to the community of women who are homemakers, especially in developing countries. In view of our findings, it may be recommended that television and billboards be used as tools for reaching out to them with specific campaigns regarding TB control, and that the use of these media should be strengthened further.     

Thrombotic occlusion of the common carotid artery (CCA) in acute ischemic stroke treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (TPA)

Although common carotid artery (CCA) occlusions are rare, acute clinical presentations vary from mild to devastating strokes primarily due to tandem occlusions in the intracranial arteries. Three patients with acute CCA occlusions were treated with systemic tissue plasminogen activator (TPA). Blood pressures were kept at the upper limits allowed with TPA therapy with fluid balance and the 'head-down' position. Recanalization occurred in intracranial vessels only. Marked early neurological improvement occurred in two of three patients. CCA occlusions should not be considered contra-indication to systemic thrombolysis.     

Gun shot wound neck

All penetrating neck wounds are potentially very dangerous and require emergency treatment. The choice of treatment for the stable patient remains controversial, a number of studies encouraging mandatory surgical exploration and a similar number encourage selective surgical exploration. Knowledge of the physical properties of the penetrating object or weapon can help to determine a treatment plan and predict the risk of injury- All tracheal and esophageal injuries with structural damage should be repaired primarily. A case of Gun Shot Wound Neck was air evacuated to Army Hospital R & R Delhi Cantt in a tracheostomised state. Patient was evaluated in detail, he had trachea esophageal fistula. The management of this case is discussed along with principles of management of war injuries.     

Distortion and size calibration of the scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) laser-beam raster.

PURPOSE: The Rodenstock scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) is useful for mapping retinal function and for developing and evaluating visual rehabilitation methods. It is essential to know the visual angle subtended by stimuli in the SLO laser-beam raster and to accurately measure angular distances between objects in the final SLO image. To accomplish this, the angular extent of the SLO laser-beam raster must be calibrated. METHODS: We developed a simple method and apparatus for calibrating the raster and used it for repeated calibrations during a 3-month period. RESULTS: The laser-beam raster is quite stable in shape and size, but it is trapezoidally distorted in the vertical direction. Consequently, SLO images are distorted. CONCLUSIONS: Trapezoidal distortion of the SLO laser-beam raster can cause stimulus size to change as much as 10% from the top to the bottom of the raster. Measurements of fixed horizontal retinal landmark distances in SLO images can also vary as much as 10%. We developed a straightforward mathematical method for correcting distortion in SLO image measurements.