Noninvasive management of Indian visceral leishmaniasis: clinical application of diagnosis by K39 antigen strip testing at a kala-azar referral unit.

Firm diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) requires organ aspiration and microscopic examination of tissue specimens. To determine the usefulness of noninvasive diagnosis by strip test detection of anti-K39 immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibody in blood specimens obtained by fingerstick, 143 Indian patients with suspected kala-azar (fever, splenomegaly, anemia) were studied. Of 120 strip test-positive subjects (subjects with presumed kala-azar [group A]), amphotericin B treatment induced clinical cure in 119.

Immunochromatographic strip-test detection of anti-K39 antibody in Indian visceral leishmaniasis.

Stored sera from 429 Indian subjects were assayed to extend the analysis of the accuracy of immunochromatographic strip-test detection of anti-K39 antibody in the non-invasive diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). All 225 samples from patients with proven Leishmania infection tested positive [estimated sensitivity = 100%; 95% confidence interval (CI)=98%-100%]. Sera from 99 of the 100 symptomatic patients with other diseases were non-reactive (estimated specificity = 99%; CI = 94%-100%).

Hormonal effects on skin aging.

With aging, there is a decrease in the level of hormones, such as estrogen, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and growth hormone. The effect of this decrease on the skin has been poorly documented, although more data are available for estrogen than for other hormones. This article reviews the effect of decreasing hormone levels on the skin and the possible cutaneous benefits of hormone replacement therapy.

Serous fluid leakage following modified Blalock-Taussig operation using PTFE grafts.

Background: Serous fluid leakage is an unusual but often devastating complication following the placement of a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt using a polytetrafluoroethylene graft.

Method And Results: Between September 1994 and September 1999, out of 268 patients undergoing a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt using polytetrafluoroethylene grafts, 10 developed massive pleural effusion or seroma due to a leak from the surface of the shunt. The age of the patients ranged from 9 days to 7 years.

Femoral artery pressures are more reliable than radial artery pressures on initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass.

Objective: To compare radial and femoral artery perfusion pressure during initiation and various stages of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: The cardiac center of a tertiary referral teaching institute.

Role of Aragvadhadi Sutra in the Management of Fistula -in-Ano.

Traditional Medicine has its own importance for the treatment of various medical and surgical diseases irrespective of tremendous development of modern medicine. There are number of diseases were after repeated surgery. Fistula-in ano is one such condition which is prone to recurrence even after repeated surgery and can be effectively treated by Ayurvedic medicines.

Concept of cancer in ayurveda.

The knowledge and management of the disease, cancer was not unknown to the ancient surgeons of India. Though the Sanskrit equivalent for this word is not found in Ayurvedic literature, diseases having the signs and symptoms similar to those of Cancer are discussed in various contexts. The present paper expounds those diseases with possible interpretations in modern system of medicine.