Plasmapheresis in Sepsis-induced Thrombotic Microangiopathy: A Case Series.

Introduction: Cytokines and granulocyte elastase produced in sepsis cleave a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type I motif 13 (ADAMTS13) and deplete its levels. By this mechanism, sepsis results in microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) with thrombocytopenia. Hence, the hypothesis is that plasmapheresis may help in sepsis-induced thrombotic microangiopathy (sTMA), by removing the factors responsible for low levels of ADAMTS13.

Does Azithromycin and Cetirizine Combination Given for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections has any Significant Effect on QTc?

Introduction: Azithromycin usage in patients with baseline cardiovascular risk is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular mortality, following which Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a black box warning regarding safety of azithromycin in patients with cardiovascular morbidity particularly with prolonged QTc. Cetirizine is a second generation anti histaminic and is found to be commonly used for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URIs) along with azithromycin on outpatient basis. Whether, usage of these two drugs in combination confers a similar risk, is unknown.

The carotid intima media thickness: a predictor of the clincal coronary events.

Background: The Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT) is a simple and an inexpensive tool which can be used to assess the cumulative effect of atherosclerotic risk factors and it is also an independent predictor of the future cardiovascular risk. Nevertheless, criticism has been raised throughout the scientific community, based on the observations which indicated a weak correlation between CIMT and coronary atherosclerosis. It has been suggested by the International Atherosclerosis Project, that the atherosclerotic process occurs at the same time in the carotid, cerebral and the coronary arteries.

Comparison of central corneal thickness of primary open angle glaucoma patients with normal controls in South India.

Background: Studies mainly in the western population have compared central corneal thickness in primary open angle glaucoma and normal individuals have found variable results. We did this study to compare the central corneal thickness of primary open angle glaucoma patients with normal controls in a south Indian population.

Materials And Methods: This was a masked, cross-sectional study undertaken in a tertiary care center in South India.

Fahr's Syndrome- An Interesting Case Presentation.

Fahr's syndrome refers to a rare syndrome which is characterized by symmetrical and bilateral intracranial calcification. We are presenting a 63 year old male, who complained of progressive dysarthria of 6 months, which was associated with slowness of movements. His neurological examination revealed Parkinsonian features.

Timing of nephrology referral: influence on mortality and morbidity in chronic kidney disease.

Background: Few studies in India as well as in most developing countries have compared the mortality and morbidity rates between chronic kidney disease patients who were referred early to nephrologists and those who were referred late.

Objectives: To study the mortality and morbidity patterns and to compare the various clinical parameters between the abovementioned early and late referrals.

Patients And Methods: Fifty consecutive chronic kidney disease patients were followed up for one year.

Pattern of glomerular diseases in a tertiary care center in South India: a prospective study.

This prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the distribution and pattern of glomerular diseases from a clinico-pathological perspective in our hospital, which is a tertiary care center in Southern India. Seventy-five consecutive patients who underwent renal biopsy and were diagnosed to have glomerular disease over a two-year period were studied and followed-up for one year. Primary glomerular disorders were more common than secondary glomerular disorders.