Pattern of leukemias: a ten-year incidence study of 242 cases

This paper presents an analysis of data collected from 242 cases of acute and chronic leukemia observed during a 10-year period. The incidence of childhood leukemia was 26.45%. In the present series, it was 35.95% for ALL, 21.9% AML, 38.4% CML and 2.89% CLL. The incidences of ALL and CML were found comparable to other series from Bombay. The geographical variations in the pattern of leukemias as observed in India are discussed.     

Is serum gentamicin level a good predictor of graft injury in intestinal transplantation?

INTRODUCTION: Following intestinal transplant (SBT), the early diagnosis and treatment of rejection is a major management aim. The diagnosis of rejection is based on histology of stomal biopsies. Oral gentamycin (2.5 mg/kg) was used for selective decontamination of the digestive system. Our hypothesis was that gentamycin might be absorbed in the presence of graft dysfunction. AIM: Our goal was to assess the correlation between serum gentamycin level and the health of the intestinal graft. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Among 33 SBT performed from 1993 to 2005, serum gentamycin levels were performed once weekly or more often when there was a suspicion of rejection. All data were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Adequate trough levels were achieved for only 23 patients, six of whom had histologically proven rejection and only one did not have a raised gentamycin content. Five patients with raised levels but no rejection included two with severe intestinal ischemia and three with bowel obstruction/ileus. Four of the five patients required laparotomies. CONCLUSION: We concluded that in our study raised serum gentamycin levels were a good predictor of rejection or significant injury to the graft.