Management of Refractory Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Review.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common condition with an estimated prevalence of 12% in adults over the age of 30 years worldwide. COPD is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, with a substantial economic and social burden. There are an estimated 3 million deaths annually due to COPD.

Factors Influencing Social and Community Participation of People with Spinal Cord Injury in Karnataka, India.

Background: Social and community participation are major indicators to assess the adequacy of treatment and rehabilitation in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). This study examined the relationship between functional independence, level of disability, and social and community participation among people with SCI in India.

Materials And Method: In this cross sectional study, 110 persons with SCI, aged 18 years and above participated in a community setting, in Karnataka, India.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Evaluation and Management for Physicians: Joint Gastroenterology Research Society and Association of Physicians of India Guidelines.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common cause of, and accounts for almost 90% of all liver cancers. Data from India is limited especially due to cancer not being a reportable disease and in view of wide variation in diagnostic modalities. This document is a result of a consensus meeting comprising Hepatologists, Interventional Radiologists, Hepatobiliary surgeons, medical and surgical Oncologists nominated by the Association of Physicians of India and Gastroenterology Research Society of Mumbai.

Role of therapeutic plasma exchange in acute liver failure due to yellow phosphorus poisoning.

Background: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) has been utilized in various liver disorders. There is limited data on the efficacy of TPE in patients with acute liver failure (ALF).

Methods: Study group consisted of patients who underwent TPE for ALF due to yellow phosphorous poisoning (YPP) between 2015 and 2019.

Effect of Sudarshan Kriya Pranayama on periodontal status and human salivary beta-defensin-2: An interventional study.

Background: Yogic stretching (asana) has been proven to have an effect on salivary human beta-defensin-2 (HBD-2) concentration, which is an antimicrobial peptide and is an inflammatory marker in periodontal disease. Sudarshan Kriya Pranayama (SKP) is a part of yoga which involves rhythmic breathing. Hence, we aim to evaluate the periodontal parameters and to estimate the salivary HBD-2 level before and after SKP program in periodontitis individuals.

Efficacy of corrective exercise strategy in subjects with hyperkyphosis.

Background: Age-related hyperkyphosis causes deleterious effects on health, physical function, and quality of life. Recently, health care providers recognized it as a major health concern.

Objective: To identify the effect of corrective exercise strategy on hyperkyphosis and compare it with that of conventional exercise.

Unilateral Pulmonary Artery Agenesis in an Elderly Female.

Unilateral pulmonary artery agenesis (UPAA) is a rare congenital anomaly due to a malformation of the sixth aortic arch of the affected side during embryogenesis. It can occur in isolation or may be associated with other congenital cardiovascular malformations. The diagnosis is usually set at adolescence, however it can remain asymptomatic and late diagnosis is possible.

Lipemia Retinalis due to Secondary Hyperlipidemia in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

Lipemia retinalis is a rare and asymptomatic condition which occurs when high levels of triglycerides and chylomicrons are present in blood. We report a rare case of secondary hyperlipoproteinemia in a 27 year old type 1 diabetes patient who presented with diabetic ketoacidosis and this peculiar ocular manifestation. The fundoscopic abnormality and creamy white serum cleared as the level of chylomicrons in the plasma dropped with intensive insulin therapy.

Wilson's Disease with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Case reports of Wilson's disease occurring in combination with SLE are rarely reported in literature. Drug induced lupus have been observed in patients taking D-penicillamine for Wilson's disease. Here we report a case from Coimbatore Medical College hospital, who presented with fever and neuropsychiatric symptoms as the initial manifestation and found to have both SLE and Wilson's disease on subsequent evaluation.

Effect of vitamin A supplementation at different gaseous environments on in vitro development of pre-implantation sheep embryos to the blastocyst stage.

Vitamin A (all-trans retinol) is an important antioxidant whose role in embryo development in vitro and in vivo is well established. Oxidative stress is a major cause of defective embryo development. This study evaluated the effects of all-trans retinol supplementation to maturation and embryo culture media under different gaseous environments on the development of ovine oocytes and embryos in vitro.

Effect of α-tocopherol supplementation on in vitro maturation of sheep oocytes and in vitro development of preimplantation sheep embryos to the blastocyst stage.

Purpose: To determine the effects of α-tocopherol supplementation to oocyte maturation media and embryo culture media on the yield of ovine embryos.

Methods: α-tocopherol, at concentrations of 0, 50, 100, 200, 400 and 500 µM was supplemented to ovine oocyte or embryo culture media and cultured at 5% or 20% O(2) levels. Percentages of cleavage, morula and blastocyst, total cell count and comet assay were taken as indicators of developmental competence of embryos.

Proteinase and phospholipase activity as virulence factors in Candida species isolated from blood.

The number of nosocomial blood stream infections due to Candida species has increased over the past few decades. In order to establish an infection, opportunistic pathogens have to evade the immune system, survive, divide in the host environment, and spread to other tissues. Proteinase and phospholipase secretion has been implicated as potential virulence factors for some Candida species responsible for catheter related candidemia in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with indwelling devices.