Expert opinion on diagnosis and management of Severe Asthma in low and middle income countries (LMIC) with focus on India.

Objective: In this document, 9 Indian experts have evaluated the factors specific to LMICs when it came to Severe Asthma (SA) diagnosis, evaluation, biologic selection, non-biologic treatment options, and follow-up.

Data Sources: A search was performed using 50 keywords, focusing on the Indian/LMICs perspective, in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. The key areas of the search were focused on diagnosis, phenoendotyping, non-biological therapies, selecting a biologic, assessment of treatment response, and management of exacerbation.

Development of a question prompt list for Indian cancer patients receiving radiation therapy treatment and their primary family caregivers.

Aim: We aimed to develop two question prompt lists (QPLs), one for Indian cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy and the second for their primary family caregivers.

Methods: The study comprised three phases: (1) qualitative interviews with patients (n = 65) and PFCs (n = 39) to identify their information needs, queries and concerns regarding RT; (2) development of draft QPLs using conventional content analysis and translation into Hindi and Marathi using European Organisation Research and Treatment of Cancer guidelines; and, (3) A readability analysis, and acceptability study with patients (n = 22), PFCs (n = 26) and Radiation Oncology (RO) staff (n = 20) exploring barriers to QPL implementation.

Results And Discussion: Analysis in Phase I identified questions patients and PFCs asked or wanted to ask their physician.

Diagnostic potential of serum HSP90 beta for HNSCC and its therapeutic prognosis after local hyperthermia therapy.

The present pilot study aims to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic efficacy of serum HSP90 beta in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) patients subjected to localized hyperthermia therapy (HT). Serum levels of HSP90 beta were measured by ELISA and its diagnostic and prognostic efficacy was determined by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis. HNSCC patients showed significantly (P<0.

Treatment-related communication experiences and expectations among Indian cancer patients receiving radiation therapy and their family members: A qualitative study.

Objective: To explore Indian cancer patients' and their primary family caregivers' (PFC) experiences and expectations of treatment-related communication with their physician while undergoing radiation therapy.

Methods: Participants, comprising patient-PFC dyads (n = 32), patients only (n = 33) and PFC only (n = 7), were recruited from one hospital in Mumbai, India. Semi-structured interviews explored participants' perceived role in cancer-related decision-making, diagnosis and prognosis communication experiences with the physician, communication expectations of their treating physician, and information needs.

Multiple Cranial Nerve Involvement as a Presentation of Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma: A Case-Based Review.

Central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma is of two types: primary and secondary (more common). Primary CNS lymphoma usually presents as parenchymal lesions having characteristic imaging findings and may be associated with leptomeningeal involvement. Involvement of multiple cranial nerves as the initial manifestation of primary CNS lymphoma with the development of typical parenchymal lesions on follow-up is a rare entity.

TIPIC-A Newly Recognized Syndrome: Multimodality Imaging of a Rare Clinicoradiological Entity.

Carotidynia is a controversial clinicopathological entity vastly described in Western literature as neck pain in the region of carotid bifurcation secondary to an underlying inflammatory etiology. Radiologically, this appears as perivascular inflammation and has recently been designated as transient perivascular inflammation of the carotid artery (TIPIC) syndrome. The authors of this report discuss the multimodality imaging features of a rare case of this disease in our country to familiarize radiologists with the imaging findings and to encourage the inclusion of TIPIC syndrome as a differential diagnosis for focal neck pain.

Primary Lymphoma of Internal Acoustic Meatus Mimicking Vestibular Schwannoma-A Rare Diagnostic Dilemma.

 A subject presenting with a unilateral sensorineural hearing loss and with vertigo/imbalance and a lesion of internal acoustic meatus (IAM) most often represents a vestibular schwannoma. Several alternative pathologies involving the region, with clinical and neuroradiological similarities, could lead to an error in judgement and management. Rare tumors of the IAM pose unique diagnostic difficulty.

Glutamic acid-coated FeO nanoparticles for tumor-targeted imaging and therapeutics.

We have developed surface functionalised FeO magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) based system that can be used for tumor-targeted multimodal therapies and MR imaging. Biocompatible, non-essential amino acid (glutamic acid) was introduced onto the surface of FeO MNPs to provide functional sites for binding of chemotherapeutic drugs. These glutamic acid-coated FeO MNPs (GAMNPs) exhibit good water-dispersibility, magnetic responsivity and pH dependent charge conversal feature.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy (PRES) in a Child with Severe Dengue.

Among neurological complications associated with dengue, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) has not been reported in pediatric population. We report a 10-year-old girl with severe dengue who developed PRES. The patient presented with hemorrhagic shock that required fluid resuscitation and inotropic support.

Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Infection with Direct Acting Antivirals in Adolescents with Thalassemia Major.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir based generic Direct Acting Antivirals (DAAs) in treatment of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in adolescents with thalassemia major (TM).

Methods: In this prospective single-arm study, 18 TM adolescents with Chronic Hepatitis C received sofosbuvir based generic DAAs. Patients with genotype 1 and genotype 3 received ledipasvir and daclatasvir respectively.

For neonatal ECG screening there is no reason to relinquish old Bazett's correction.

Aims: There is an almost endless controversy regarding the choice of the QT correction formula to be used in electrocardiograms (ECG) in neonates for screening for long QT syndrome (LQTS). We compared the performance of four commonly used formulae and a new formula derived from neonates.

Methods And Results: From a cohort of 44 596 healthy neonates prospectively studied in Italy between 2001 and 2006, 5000 ECGs including 17 with LQTS-causing mutation identified by genotyping were studied using four QT correction formulae [Bazett's (QTcB), Fridericia's (QTcF), Framingham (QTcL), and Hodges (QTcH)].

Combined prednisolone and pirfenidone in bleomycin-induced lung disease.

Bleomycin is a cytostatic drug commonly employed in the treatment of Hodgkin's disease, seminomas, and choriocarcinoma. Bleomycin may induce a chronic pulmonary inflammation that may progress to fibrosis. So far, only corticosteroids have been used in the treatment of bleomycin-induced lung disease with variable results.

A retrospective analysis of patients with head and neck cancer treated with radiation, hyperthermia, and cetuximab: A brief report of outcome.

Purpose: Advanced head and neck cancer continues to have a dismal outcome. Chemoradiation remains the current standard of care. Chemoradiation has not achieved the desired increase in survival in locally advanced head and neck cancer.

Time to shift from contemporary to high-sensitivity cardiac troponin in diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes.

Early rule-in and rule-out of non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is a challenge. In patients with inconclusive findings on ECG, cardiac biomarkers play a crucial role in the diagnosis. The introduction of the new high-sensitive cardiac troponin test (hs-TnI assay) has changed the landscape of NSTEMI diagnosis.

Study on the measurement of photo-neutron for15 MV photon beam from medical linear accelerator under different irradiation geometries using passive detectors.

Aim Of Study: The photo-neutron dose equivalents of 15 MV Elekta precise accelerators were measured for different depths in phantom, for various field sizes, at different distances from the isocenter in the patient plane and for various wedged fields.

Materials And Methods: Fast and thermal neutrons are measured using passive detectors such as Columbia Resin-39 and pair of thermoluminescent dosimetry (TLD) 600 and TLD 700 detector from Elekta medical linear accelerator.

Results: It is found that fast photo-neutron dose rate decreases as the depth increases, with a maximum of 0.

Ultrasound Examination of Pediatric Musculoskeletal Diseases and Neonatal Spine.

Ultrasound (US) is a simple, non-invasive imaging modality which allows high-resolution imaging of the musculoskeletal (MSK) system. Its increasing popularity in pediatrics is due to the fact that it does not involve radiation, has an ability to visualize non-ossified cartilaginous and vascular structures, allows dynamic imaging and quick contralateral comparison. US is the primary imaging modality in some pediatric MSK conditions like infant hip in developmental dysplasia (DDH), hip joint effusion, epiphyseal trauma and evaluation of the neonatal spine.

Hybrid closure of atrial septal defect: A modified approach.

A 3.5-year-old girl underwent transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus in early infancy during which time her secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) was left alone. When she came for elective closure of ASD, she was found to have bilaterally blocked femoral veins.

The cognitive and technical skills impact of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons simulation curriculum on neurosurgical trainees at the 2013 Neurological Society of India meeting.

Objective: To assess the impact of a simulation-based educational curriculum of 4 modules on neurosurgical trainees at the Neurological Societies of India annual meeting, which was held in Mumbai, India, in December 2013.

Methods: We developed a microanastomosis, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), posterior cervical fusion (PCF), and durotomy repair and their corresponding objective assessment scales. Each module was divided into 3 components: 1) a before didactic cognitive knowledge and technical skills testing, 2) a didactic lecture, and 3) an after didactic cognitive knowledge and technical skills testing.