β-T594M epithelial sodium channel gene polymorphism and essential hypertension in individuals of Indo-Aryan ancestry in Northern India.

Background: The T594M variant of the β-subunit of the sodium epithelial channel (ENaC) gene may contribute to hypertension in individuals of Indo-Aryan origin.

Methods: Present study was performed to assess the role of the ENaC gene variant as an independent risk factor for hypertension in subjects of Indo-Aryan ancestry. A total of 150 patients of recently detected essential hypertension and 150 matched controls were genotyped for the T594M polymorphism of the ENaC gene by PCR-RFLP method.

Hoover's sign: Clinical relevance in Neurology.

Hoover's sign was described by Dr. Charles Franklin Hoover more than 100 years back to differentiate between the organic and functional weakness of pyramidal origin. This test is usually performed in the lower limbs and is valuable when on bedside one is not sure about the nature of hemiparesis.

Aortic rupture during aortoplasty in Takayasu arteritis--a rare complication: case report and review of literature.

Balloon angioplasty of the stenosed aorta is usually a relatively simple, yet potentially a catastrophic procedure. Aortic rupture during aortoplasty, though uncommon, carries a high mortality. We report case of a 39-year-old female with aortoarteritis with multiple arterial stenoses whose infra-renal abdominal aorta ruptured during balloon dilatation of the stent deployed in that segment.

Relook at lipoprotein (A): independent risk factor of coronary artery disease in north Indian population.

Aims: Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] levels have shown wide ethnic variations. Sparse data on mean Lp(a) levels, its link with clinical variables and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in North Indian population needed further studies.

Methods: 150 patients, each of single vessel disease (SVD), double vessel disease (DVD) and triple vessel disease (TVD) with 150 healthy controls were drawn for the study.

Lipid profile and correlation to cardiac risk factors and cardiovascular function in type 1 adolescent diabetics from a developing country.

Objective. The adverse role of dyslipidemia in predicting cardiovascular outcomes has not been elucidated extensively among type 1 diabetics in the literature. Methods.

Rapid guiding catheter swapping for management of rupture during percutaneous venoplasty for idiopathic occlusion of superior vena cava.

Treatment for superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) by percutaneous interventions has become established as a definitive therapy. However, there is a significant risk of rupture during SVC intervention. We describe an uncommon case that developed SVC rupture during percutaneous intervention for idiopathic SVCS.

USG guided FNAC of ovarian mass lesions: A cyto-histopathological correlation, with emphasis on its role in pre-operative management guidelines.

Objective: Ultrasonography (USG)-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of ovarian masses is an efficient diagnostic modality for accurately diagnosing ovarian tumours prior to surgery. The main aim of this study was to assess the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of FNAC in diagnosing ovarian masses.

Material And Methods: Eighty-three patients with ovarian masses were recruited and correlation of USG-guided FNAC was made with histopathology in all but 6 cases, where surgery was not indicated.

Changing patterns and widening of antibiotic resistance in Shigella spp. over a decade (2000-2011), Andaman Islands, India.

This study is a part of the surveillance study on childhood diarrhoea in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands; here we report the drug resistance pattern of recent isolates of Shigella spp. (2006-2011) obtained as part of that study and compare it with that of Shigella isolates obtained earlier during 2000-2005. During 2006-2011, stool samples from paediatric diarrhoea patients were collected and processed for isolation and identification of Shigella spp.

Healed perivalvular abscess: Incidental finding on transesophageal echocardiography [corrected].

A 36-year-old male patient presented with the complaints of palpitations and breathlessness. Preoperative transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed a bicuspid aortic valve; severe aortic regurgitation with dilated left ventricle (LV) and mild LV systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction 50%). He was scheduled to undergo aortic valve replacement.

Griscelli syndrome type 2: a novel mutation in RAB27A gene with different clinical features in 2 siblings: a diagnostic conundrum.

Griscelli syndrome type 2 (GS2) is a rare autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the RAB27A gene. It is characterized by cutaneous hypopigmentation, immunodeficiency, and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. We describe 2 brothers who had GS2 with clinically diverse manifestations.

Pharmacotherapy of smoking cessation.

Nicotine in tobacco smoke causes not only pathophysiological changes in the smoker's body, but also develops tolerance to its own action with repeated use. Repeated exposure to nicotine develops neuroadaptation of the receptors, resulting in tolerance to many of the effects of nicotine. Pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation should reduce withdrawal symptoms and block the reinforcing effects of nicotine without causing excessive adverse effects.

NPHS2 R229Q polymorphism in steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome: is it responsive to immunosuppressive therapy?

Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) patients with NPHS2 gene mutations have been reported as non-responsive to immunosuppressive therapy. Inter-ethnic differences can have influence over the frequency of mutations. The present study was undertaken to find out the incidence and treatment response.

A comparative evaluation of prasugrel and clopidogrel in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objective: Primary objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of Prasugrel vs. Clopidogrel in the patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) by measuring inhibition of platelet aggregation after loading and maintenance dose of both the drugs. The patients were also assessed for safety of the drugs.

Dothiepin-induced transient hypomania and extrapyramidal syndrome.

A case has been reported here, who developed transient hypomanic symptoms as well as extrapyramidal symptoms after being switched from sertraline to dothiepin therapy. The possible mechanisms and clinical implications of the same are discussed.

Pseudoaneurysm of the internal maxillary artery: a rare complication of condylar fracture.

Pseudoaneurysms are among very rare complications of maxillofacial trauma. When encountered, they have the potential to cause life-threatening hemorrhage. A wise surgeon should consider the possibility of underlying aneurysm even if the classic sign of pulsatile mass is not present.

Balantidium coli in urine sediment: report of a rare case presenting with hematuria.

Balantidium coli (B. coli) is the only trophic ciliate of low virulence causing dysentery in human. However, may be due to their active motility and invasive nature, they have been rarely described to cause infection in extraintestinal sites also.

Ascariasis presenting as acute abdomen-a case report.

Infection with Ascaris lumbricoides is common in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Prevalence of ascariasis is related to poverty, poor hygiene and poor fecal sanitation. This helminth usually lives harmlessly in small intestine but can also cause intestinal obstruction or perforation peritonitis which is common in childhood.

A randomized study comparing outcomes of stapled and hand-sutured anastomoses in patients undergoing open gastrointestinal surgery.

Although stapling is an alternative to hand-suturing in gastrointestinal surgery, recent trials specifically designed to evaluate differences between the two in surgery time, anastomosis time, and return to bowel activity are lacking. This trial compared the outcomes of the two in subjects undergoing open gastrointestinal surgery. Adult subjects undergoing emergency or elective surgery requiring a single gastric, small, or large bowel anastomosis were enrolled into this open-label, prospective, randomized, interventional, parallel, multicenter, controlled trial.

Armoured brain of unknown etiology.

Armoured brain is a rare condition where dense calcification occurs over the brain. It can result in mass effect and raised intracranial pressure. Most often, it happens due to trauma, subdural effusion, infection, or after VP shunt.

Large primary intraorbital hydatid cyst in elderly.

We report a case of solitary, primary intraorbital hydatid cyst in a elderly female aged 80 years who presented with nontender, nonpulsatile proptosis of left eye with diminution of vision. MRI scan of the head and the orbits, revealed a retro-bulbar cyst. Surgical excision was performed by employing a lateral orbitotomy approach.

Sepsis Associated Encephalopathy.

Sepsis associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a common but poorly understood neurological complication of sepsis. It is characterized by diffuse brain dysfunction secondary to infection elsewhere in the body without overt CNS infection. The pathophysiology of SAE is complex and multifactorial including a number of intertwined mechanisms such as vascular damage, endothelial activation, breakdown of the blood brain barrier, altered brain signaling, brain inflammation, and apoptosis.