Rhodotorula minuta: an unusual fungal infection in hip-joint prosthesis

Fungal infections of total joint arthroplasty are uncommon complications, and most cases have been associated with Candida species. In this article, we present a case in which a total hip arthroplasty was infected with Rhodotorula minuta. Intraoperative gram stain showed yeast formsand led to early detection and immediate treatment with amphotericin B and bacitracin. Successful reimplantation was performed 12 months later. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of arthroplasty infection caused by R minuta.     

Psychosocial aspects of epilepsy

Social attitudes towards epilepsy cause more distress to the patient and his/her near and dear ones, than the disease itself. The major psychosocial issues related to epilepsy are: Quality of medical management, overprotection, education, employment, marriage and pregnancy. Inadequate treatment is the major reason involved in psychosocial issues. Constant overprotection and pampering leads to behavioural pattern which makes epileptic patient dependent for ever. Education is hampered in epileptic persons. Teachers and students should have proper information regarding seizures. If seizures are well controlled, job opportunities increase. Employers and employees need to be educated about epilepsy. Self-employment is the best in epileptic patients. Regarding marriage, each patient is to be judged on individual merits and type of epilepsy. Society needs to be educated about the facts and consequences of epilepsy. Risk of anti-epileptic drug's usage is very insignificant compared to risk of seizures in pregnancy. So girls are advised to seek medical advice before pregnancy and during follow-up. With more and more support from the society, persons with epilepsy will have the courage and confidence to speak about themselves and their illness. It is only then that we will realise that persons with epilepsy are 'normal' or 'near-normal' and this will break the vicious cycle of stigma.     

海南省人体重要寄生虫病现状调查

目的了解和分析海南省人体寄生虫感染的现状和流行特征，评估十多年来的防治效果，为制定全省人体重要寄生虫病防治策略提供科学依据。方法根据《全国人体重要寄生虫病现状调查实施细则》进行。结果整群随机抽样全省5个市、县15个点7924人，调查发现人群肠道蠕虫感染率为59，40％，其中土源性线虫感染率为56．22％，查见肠道蠕虫16种，其中线虫11种，绦虫2种，吸虫3种，感染率较高的虫种是钩虫、鞭虫和蛔虫，其感染率分别为33．18％、31．35％和14．29％；多虫感染较严重，感染度以轻度感染为主，感染年龄以5—9岁和10—14岁两组为高；汉、黎、苗、回各民族感染率分率别为48．27％、64．14％、76．36％、58．96％；女性和农村居民感染率明显高于男性和城镇居民。结论海南省人群土源性线虫感染率和感染度总体呈下降趋势，但儿童蛲虫感染率略有所上升，中部地区钩虫感染率仍然居高不下，是今后防治工作的重点。     

Perceptions of Pakistani medical students about drugs and alcohol: a questionnaire-based survey

Background  

Drug abuse is hazardous and known to be prevalent among young adults, warranting efforts to increase awareness about harmful effects and to change attitudes. This study was conducted to assess the perceptions of a group of medical students from Pakistan, a predominantly Muslim country, regarding four drugs namely heroin, charas, benzodiazepines and alcohol.     

Pigmented villonodular synovitis: magnetic resonance features of an unusual case of bilateral hip joint involvement

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is usually a mono-articular disorder. Bilateral symmetrical affection of this disease process is exceptional. A case is reported of a patient with PVNS with bilateral, symmetrical hip joint involvement.     

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus among Bhutanese refugees residing in Nepal

The carrier rate of HBsAg is about 6% in Bhutan and 1% in Nepal. Since outbreaks of viral hepatitis are also known, its high prevalence in a migrated community, if any, maybe a potential threat to the local people. The present study was conducted in Beldangi 2 Extension Camp, a Bhutanese refugee camp located in eastern Nepal to know the HBsAg carrier rate among the refugees. With the help of semi-structured questionnaires, 500 volunteers enrolled were interviewed for the risk factors for HBV transmission. Blood samples of 467 subjects were tested for HBsAg by an immunoassay based on immunochromatographic sandwich principle. Out of 467 samples 4 were positive for HBsAg a prevalence rate of 0.9%. HBsAg carrier rate was found to be low in Bhutanese refugees. From the questionnaires it was also found that they were not engaged in any practice that could increase the chances of HBV transmission. The study shows that the Bhutanese refugees in Nepal in this geographical area are not a threat to the local people as far as HBV transmission is concerned.     

Surgical removal of peripapillary choroidal neovascularization associated with age-related macular degeneration.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To describe the results of surgical treatment of peripapillary choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration as an option to both laser photocoagulation and photodynamic therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of patients with peripapillary choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration who were not eligible for or refused laser photocoagulation. Patients without the diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration and those who had extension of their neovascularization subfoveally were excluded from the review. RESULTS: Eleven patients total were identified who met the specified inclusion criteria. The male to female ratio was 4:7, with an age range of 63 to 94 years (mean = 78 years). The mean area of involved retina temporal to the optic disc was 5 clock hours, with the distance of the temporal edge of the lesion from the fovea ranging from 100 to 2,000 microm. The mean duration of follow-up was 23 months, with 27% (3 of 11) experiencing recurrent choroidal neovascularization. The preoperative and postoperative visual acuity ranges were both 20/25 to counting fingers. Sixty-four percent (7 of 11) of patients had stable or improved visual acuity postoperatively, with a mean visual acuity change of 1 line visual improvement. CONCLUSION: In cases where photodynamic therapy and laser photocoagulation are not indicated, the surgical treatment of peripapillary choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration may prove beneficial.