A Primary Mediastinal Monophasic Spindle-Cell Synovial Sarcoma with Superior Venacaval Obstruction.

Primary mediastinal sarcoma is a rare tumour that usually presents with nonspecific symptoms such as hoarseness, dyspnoea, and chest pain. Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome is an extremely uncommon complication that is caused by the compression, invasion, and thrombosis of the SVC or brachiocephalic veins. SVC syndrome can present as asymptomatic cases or as rare life-threatening emergencies with upper airway obstruction and increased intracranial pressure.

Profile of Secondary Bacterial and Fungal Infections in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in a Tertiary Care Centre.

Introduction: SARS CoV-2, a novel corona virus, has emerged in December 2019. The COVID-19 associated mortality is documented in elderly with co morbidities. To have better insight on this issue, the secondary bacterial infections with multi-drug-resistant bacteria in COVID-19 patients need to be studied to evaluate the impact of these infections on the outcome.

Early diagnostic markers in predicting the severity of dengue disease.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether the serum ferritin, the biomarker of an acute phase reactant and the gall bladder wall edema, an early indicator of capillary leakage can predict the severity of dengue fever. This study included 131 patients, who were between the age group of 18-80 years. The patients presented to our department with an acute illness, within the first four days of high temperature.

Primary adrenal plasmablastic lymphoma presenting as lymphomatous meningitis - A diagnostic perplexity.

A rare presentation of primary plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) of the adrenal gland, as lymphomatous meningitis in a patient living with HIV.

Association between Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) index and neurocognitive function among people living with HIV-a cross sectional study in coastal South India.

Background: HIV is an infectious disease affecting 36.7 million people worldwide. In recent times, Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) has become accessible to the majority of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and this has transformed the course of infection to one that is chronic, characterized by fewer diseases pathognomonic of AIDS.

Profile of Secondary Bacterial Respiratory Infections in H1N1 Patients Admitted in a Tertiary Care Centre - A Four-year Retrospective Study.

Background: H1N1 is known to cause periodic seasonal flu in the Indian subcontinent since 2009. The clinical course and the underlying immunity of the host contribute to the development of secondary bacterial infections in the infected patients.

Objectives: This study aims to analyze the secondary bacterial infections in confirmed H1N1 cases admitted in our hospital (from 2015 to 2018) with respect to the comorbidities, complications, associated bacteria with its antibiotic susceptibility pattern, and the outcome of such episodes.

Comparative assessment of clinic-laboratory profile of different species of severe malaria in a tertiary care institute in southern India.

Background & Objectives: Majority of the studies on severe malaria in India have concentrated on falciparum and have been done in northern part. The objective of the study was to compare the clinical spectrum and laboratory profile among severe Plasmodium vivax, P. falciparum and mixed malaria patients admitted at a tertiary care center in southern India.

Synergistic role of susceptibility-weighted imaging with diffusion-weighted imaging and magnetic resonance angiography in the evaluation of acute arterial stroke.

Objective: This study was performed to investigate whether diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) are more effective than conventional imaging modalities for evaluation of stroke and selection of candidates for thrombolytic therapy.

Methods: Eighty patients who presented within 12 hours of onset of symptoms of brain ischemia underwent 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging.

A "Handy" tool for hypertension prediction: Dermatoglyphics.

Background: Fingerprints studied by dermatoglyphics are unique for a given individual. It depends on the genetic makeup of an individual. Hypertension, a harbinger of many complications, is determined by genetic and environmental factors.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: Does Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Influence Ear Nose Throat Manifestations?

To study the change in trend of ear, nose and throat (ENT) manifestations in patients who were on treatment, before and after availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). To find out the prevalence of ENT manifestations in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected people who were on treatment, in the year of 2004 (before the availability of HAART) and in 2014 (after the availability of HAART). A combination of a retrospective and prospective study.

Correlates of Late Presentation to HIV care in a South Indian Cohort.

Late presentation to healthcare by HIV infected patients' is common in India despite access to free combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). We assessed risk factors for late presentation among patients with a recent HIV diagnosis in an academic university-based antiretroviral treatment center. This retrospective study included 474 recently diagnosed HIV-infected patients registered for cART between 2012 and 2013.

HIV-Related Knowledge among PLWHA Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital at Coastal South India-A Facility-Based Study.

Background: Adequate knowledge about HIV/AIDS among people living with HIV (PLHIV) is essential for the prevention of HIV transmission.

Methods: A cross-sectional study consisting of 409 PLHIV aged ≥18 years were interviewed regarding their HIV-related knowledge, from April 2014 to April 2015. HIV-related knowledge was assessed using the HIV knowledge questionnaire 18 .

Clinicoepidemiological Profile of Elderly PLHIV Attending a Tertiary Care Center in South India.

Background: Physicians are coming across a considerable number of HIV-positive patients belonging to older age-group, in practice. They pose a challenge as they might present with advanced forms and comorbid conditions. We aimed to describe the clinicoepidemiological profile of elderly people living with HIV.

In-Patient Mortality among PLHIV: A 7-Year Hospital-Based Retrospective Study in Coastal South India.

Background: With the wide usage of highly active antiretroviral therapy, the morbidity and mortality due to HIV have declined gradually. The aim of our study was to determine the cause of mortality among HIV-infected patients and the factors causing early death.

Methods: Using medical records of 73 inpatients who are dead, data were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 19 (IBM SPSS Statistics).

Cutaneous Melioidosis.

Melioidosis is an emerging infection in India. It usually presents as pneumonia. Melioidosis presenting as cutaneous lesions is uncommon.

Mastication Frequency and Postprandial Blood Sugar Levels in Normoglycaemic and Dysglycaemic Individuals: A Cross- Sectional Comparative Study.

Introduction: Mastication has potential to affect postprandial blood glucose levels by affecting cephalic phase of insulin release. However, limited number of studies done in this regard has yielded conflicting results.

Aim: To evaluate effects of mastication on postprandial blood glucose levels.

Neurological melioidosis presenting as intracranial abscess.

Melioidosis is an emerging disease in our country caused by the bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei. Melioidosis can virtually affect any organ. It has varying clinical presentations ranging from pneumonia to fatal sepsis.

Fertility Desires and Intentions among People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Southern India.

Introduction: The desire of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) to have children can have significant public health implications. Combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART) has increased the life expectancy of PLWHA as a result of which they may consider child bearing. There are hardly any studies from India addressing the fertility desires among PLWHA.

Caregiver Burden among Adults Caring for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Southern India.

Introduction: In India, family caregivers provide bulk of care to People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Caregiver burden refers to the physical, emotional and financial hardships associated with providing care to a diseased individual. Attending to the needs of PLWHA can place a significant burden on family members.

Level of Satisfaction Among People Living with HIV (PLHIV) Attending the HIV Clinic of Tertiary Care Center in Southern India.

Introduction: Patient satisfaction is an important issue for the health care sector. Hospitals routinely collect patient satisfaction data so that they can improve the quality of their services. There is a dearth of research in the field of satisfaction among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in India.

Problem-Based Learning as an Effective Learning Tool in Community Medicine: Initiative in a Private Medical College of a Developing Country.

Background: Knowledge of community medicine is essential for health care professionals to function as efficient primary health care physicians. Medical students learning Community Medicine as a subject are expected to be competent in critical thinking and generic skills so as to analyze community health problems better. However, current teaching by didactic lectures fails to develop these essential skills.

Multiple intracerebral lesions in a young male.

Background: As the incidence of HIV infection has increased its neurological complications are being encountered in our clinical practice. Toxoplasmosis is a common cerebral opportunistic infection seen in HIV-infected patients, even though the incidence has declined with the use of antiretroviral therapy. Establishing a definitive diagnosis of cerebral toxoplasmosis is difficult in resource limited settings.

HIV Status Disclosure Among People Living with HIV in the Era of Combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART).

Introduction: As patients with HIV live longer due to Combination Anti-Retroviral Therapy (cART) serostatus disclosure becomes an important issue. Disclosure can have both positive and negative outcomes. Disclosure of HIV status has been associated with better adherence to medication and reduction in levels of psychological distress.