Determinants of Acclimatisation in High Altitude.

Background: A total of 31 cases of effects of high altitude were admitted to a field hospital from a particular sector during the year 2008. This study was hence undertaken to see the efficacy of acclimatisation as well as outline the determinants of acclimatisation.

Methods: The study monitored the transients in the acclimatisation period as well as laid down the guidelines to certify their fitness after the acclimatisation period.

Correlation between Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index, C3, C4 and Anti-dsDNA Antibodies.

Background: Therapeutic decisions in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are based on the disease activity and nature of organ involvement. There are various clinical and laboratory methods to assess the lupus flares.

Methods: Fifty one SLE patients with active disease (lupus flare) were studied.

Bullet and Blast ENT Injuries in Counter-Insurgency Area.

Background: Many ENT injuries are not recognized easily, but they have the potential of increasing the morbidity.

Methods: ENT injuries managed in two tertiary care Level-IV hospitals between 2006 and 2007 were studied with a view to formulate strategy in efficient management of these cases.

Result: Emergency bags did not carry readymade packs to control nasal bleeds.

Sedation Guidelines for Gastro Intestinal Endoscopy.

Effective sedation is usually a vital precursor to any successful endoscopic procedure. With advanced techniques and medications available today this component of the procedure can be dealt with safely and in an efficient manner.

Organ Donation : Intensive Care Issues in Managing Brain Dead.

Organ donation and transplantation is one of the most powerful and dramatic practices in modern medicine. It is the pinnacle of centuries of dreams, massive amounts of accrued knowledge and impressive technical developments. One organ donor has the potential of saving more than five lives and impacting the quality of life of many others via tissue donation.

Diabetes Mellitus in India: The Modern Scourge.

India has a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus and the numbers are increasing at an alarming rate. In India alone, diabetes is expected to increase from 40.6 million in 2006 to 79.

Antibody to Hepatitis B Surface Antigen in Vaccinated Health Care Workers.

Background: Health care workers (HCWs) in Armed Forces are immunised against Hepatitis B virus (HBV), however they are not subjected to anti-HBs (antibody to Hepatitis B surface antigen) assessment after primary vaccination. The present study was undertaken to determine the protection offered by HBV vaccine in HCW.

Methods: Cross-sectional study was carried out at tertiary care hospital.

Identification of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1 Subtypes by Heteroduplex Mobility Assay.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) has developed marked genomic sequence differences over the course of an epidemic because of an error prone reverse transcriptase (RT), which rapidly incorporates mutations resulting in genomic diversity, altered cell tropism, immune escape and variable resistance to antiretroviral drugs. The best preventive strategy for HIV control is development of an efficacious prophylactic vaccine using the most appropriate (antigenically related) subtypes. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis, HIV strains can be separated into major group "M" consisting of genetic subtypes A-K, "N", the new group and "O", the outlier group.

Immunophenotypic Characterization of Benign and Malignant Prostatic Lesions.

Background: Biopsy diagnosis is the gold standard for differentiating benign and malignant prostatic enlargements. This study was aimed at supplementing biopsy diagnosis with immunophenotypic characters of prostatic lesions.

Methods: Twenty five cases each of nodular hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma prostate were compared for their morphologic appearances and immunophenotyping, by studying antibodies to prostate specific antigen (PSA), transglutaminase, chromogranin and high molecular weight keratin, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, cell death (apoptosis) and neovascularisation (CD 34).

Hepatitis G Virus Infection in Healthy Individuals, Acute Viral Hepatitis and Persons at Risk for Parenteral Transmission.

Background: Hepatitis G virus (HGV), transmitted mostly by parenteral route, has been under investigation for its role as an agent for viral hepatitis. This study was carried out to find out the prevalence of HGV in healthy individuals, multi-transfused patients with acute viral hepatitis and those under going dialysis.

Method: The study included 200 healthy individuals and 180 patients, comprising acute viral hepatitis (100 cases), multi-transfused patients (50 cases) and patients undergoing dialysis (30 cases).

Simultaneous occurrence of multiple meningiomas in different neuraxial compartments.

The simultaneous occurrence of multiple meningiomas in different neuraxial compartments is rare. A 35-year-old female patient had multiple meningiomas involving both the supratentorial compartments and in the upper dorsal spine. The patient underwent excision of 2 cranial and 2 spinal meningiomas, and has remained asymptomatic over a follow-up period of 18 months.

Retained intracranial splinters : a follow up study in survivors of low intensity military conflicts.

With improvements in the ballistic physics, patient evacuation, imaging, neurosurgical management and intensive care facilities, there has been overall improvement in the survival of patients with missile injuries of the brain. Patients with retained intracranial fragments have been followed up and the sequelae of such fragments were analysed. We present our observations in 43 such patients who had survived low velocity missile injuries of the brain during military conflicts and had retained intracranial fragments.

SPHINCTER INVOLVEMENT IN LUMBAR DISC HERNIATION.

A retrospective analysis of 30 operated cases of prolapsed lumbar disc with cauda equina syndrome was carried out. 27 were male and 3 were female. Age varied from 27 to 60 years.