Efficacy of conservative treatment modalities used in epistaxis

Objective  To assess the efficacy of conservative modalities in the management of epistaxis. Study design  Prospective case studies. Setting  Rural medical college hospital. Patients  Indoor and outdoor patients with epistaxis. lntervention  Conservative(non surgical) management techniques in epistaxis. Results  Chemical cauterization was successful in 72.07% cases, anterior nasal packing in 84.5% and posterior nasal packing in 95.6% cases. Conclusion  Out of 300 cases of epistaxis included in the study (except for one case that required internal maxillary artery ligation). all cases were treated successfully with conservative treatment alongwith treating the underlying pathology causing epistaxis.     

Melorheostosis: report of two cases affecting the jaw.

Melorheostosis is a rare sclerosing bone dysplasia that is characterized by a localized, diffuse thickening of the cortical bone. This condition usually affects the appendicular skeleton and associated soft tissue and rarely affects the craniofacial complex. The etiology of this condition is obscure. Diagnosis of melorheostosis relies on clinical, radiographic, and histological correlation. Only 8 cases of melorheostosis involving the craniofacial complex have been reported. We report 2 new cases of isolated melorheostosis involving the maxilla and mandible, together with differential diagnostic considerations. To our knowledge, involvement of the maxilla only has not been previously reported.     

Neurilemmoma of tongue

Neurilemmoma is usually soimry, benign tumour derived from schwan cells of the Sheaths of peripheral cranial or autonomie nerves. In thehead and neck region it occurs most commonly in association with acoustic nerve within the skuil and is rely fottnd in the oral cavity (1,2). We report here two cases of the iongue diagnosed on histopathohgy.     

Transmission of dengue virus-induced helper signal to B cell via macrophages.

The helper T cells (TH) generated in dengue type 2 virus (DV) infection of mice produce a soluble helper cytokine (HF) which enhances the clonal expansion of DV-specific IgM antibody plaque forming cells (PFC). The present study was undertaken to investigate the mechanism of transmission of the helper signal from TH and HF to B cells. It was observed that TH could transmit the helper signal to B cells by direct cell to cell contact, but HF could not do so without the presence of live macrophages (M phi). HF was adsorbed by both heat killed and live M phi but the former could not transmit it to B cells. Both the polypeptide chains of HF bind to M phi. HF remains on the surface of M phi and can be retrieved completely by contact with B cells for 40 min. The helper signal from TH or HF-adsorbed M phi could not be transmitted to B cells when they were separated from each other by a cell impermeable membrane. The enhancement of PFC count is greater when the signal is transmitted by HF-adsorbed M phi as compared to that by TH alone. Thus, even with lower frequency of TH a significant number of B cells may be triggered with the help of HF and M phi. The findings thus show that the DV-specific helper signal could be transmitted only by a close physical contact of the plasma membranes of the signal presenting cells (TH or HF-adsorbed M phi) and B cells.     

Anti-leprosy vaccines: current status and future prospects.

Different types of leprosy vaccines are currently used in field trials in India. The rationale behind their use, the parameters for determining their efficacy, their merits and demerits are discussed and the future prospects are highlighted.     

Peritonsillar abscess — Do we need anaerobic cover?

Objective To find out the usability and advantage with regard to the advent of new and more costly antibiotics. In the treatment of Peritonsillar abscess the demonstration of, both aerobic and anaerobic organisms has raised the question of possible need to treat with antibiotics effective against anaerobes. It was in this very context that this study was planned to find out if we still have an economically and easily available antibiotic to treat Peritonsillar abscess. Conclusions Injectable penicillin is the drug of choice in PTA as GABHS and staphylococcus aureus coagulase positive are the most common organism associated with this condition. Even where penicillin resistant organism is present, effective management of the abscess is possible if it is drained well and weak hydrogen peroxide gargles are used along with injectable penicillin.