Role of Circulating Tumor Cells in Determining Prognosis in Metastatic Breast Cancer.

Dinesh Chandra Doval  Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the peripheral blood may play a major role in the metastatic spread of breast cancer. This study was conducted to assess the role of CTCs to determine the prognosis in terms of survival in metastatic breast cancer patients.  This prospective study of 36 patients was conducted at the Hospital from April 2016 to May 2018.

Sleep disturbances in patients of liver cirrhosis with minimal hepatic encephalopathy before and after lactulose therapy.

Sleep disturbances are common in patients of cirrhosis with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) and affect health related quality of life (HRQOL). No study has evaluated effect of lactulose on sleep disturbances and correlation with HRQOL in patients with MHE. We assessed sleep disturbances in cirrhosis with MHE and effect of lactulose on sleep disturbances and HRQOL.

Randomized controlled trial comparing lactulose plus albumin versus lactulose alone for treatment of hepatic encephalopathy.

Background: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is associated with poor prognosis and treatment of HE is primarily directed at the reduction of the blood ammonia levels. The study evaluated the efficacy and safety of albumin plus lactulose versus lactulose alone for treatment of overt HE.

Methods: In prospective randomized controlled trial, 120 patients with overt HE were randomized in two groups: group A lactulose plus albumin (n = 60) and group B lactulose alone (n = 60).

Celiac disease and Helicobacter pylori infection in children: Is there any Association?

Background And Aim: Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection can influence the inflammatory and immune responses in the gut and may therefore play a role in the development of gluten-related enteropathy in genetically susceptible individuals. Our objective was to assess the relationship between celiac disease and HP infection in children.

Methods: Children (1-18 years) diagnosed as celiac disease (CD) (n = 324) with submission of gastric and duodenal biopsies and duodenal histology having Marsh grade III features were eligible for the study.

Rectal tuberculosis after infliximab therapy despite negative screening for latent tuberculosis in a patient with ulcerative colitis.

Tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors are now considered as standard therapy for patients with severe inflammatory bowel disease who do not respond to corticosteroids, but they carry a definite risk of reactivation of tuberculosis. We present a case in which a patient with inflammatory bowel disease developed a de novo tuberculosis infection after the start of anti-tumor necrosis factor-α treatment despite showing negative results in tuberculosis screening. Although there are many case reports of pleural, lymph nodal and disseminated tuberculosis following infliximab therapy, we present the first case report of rectal tuberculosis following infliximab therapy.

Probiotics in management of hepatic encephalopathy.

Gut microflora leads to production of ammonia and endotoxins which play important role in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). There is relationship between HE and absorption of nitrogenous substances from the intestines. Probiotics play a role in treatment of HE by causing alterations in gut flora by decreasing the counts of pathogen bacteria, intestinal mucosal acidification, decrease in production and absorption of ammonia, alterations in permeability of gut, decreased endotoxin levels and changes in production of short chain fatty acids.

Spectral electroencephalogram in liver cirrhosis with minimal hepatic encephalopathy before and after lactulose therapy.

Background And Aim: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) represents the mildest form of hepatic encephalopathy. Spectral electroencephalogram (sEEG) analysis improves the recognition of MHE by decreasing inter-operator variability and providing quantitative parameters of brain dysfunction. We compared sEEG in patients with cirrhosis with and without MHE and the effects of lactulose on sEEG in patients with MHE.

Enhancement of Solubility of Lamotrigine by Solid Dispersion and Development of Orally Disintegrating Tablets Using 3(2) Full Factorial Design.

Present investigation deals with the preparation and evaluation of orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) of lamotrigine using β-cyclodextrin and PVP-K30 as polymers for the preparation of solid dispersion which help in enhancement of aqueous solubility of this BCS CLASS-II drug and sodium starch glycolate (SSG) and crospovidone as a superdisintegrating agent, to reduce disintegration time. The ODTs were prepared by direct compression method. Nine formulations were developed with different ratios of superdisintegrating agents.

Tuberous sclerosis--a multi system disease.

Tuberous sclerosis is a genetic disease with autosomal dominant inheritance, associated with hamartomas in several organs and various skin findings. A case of a ten year old boy is presented here to highlight the multisystem involvement in tuberous sclerosis. The child had seizures, facial papular naevi and peri-ungual fibromas.