Rhodotorula glutinis meningitis: a case report and review of literature.

Rhodotorula is ubiquitous saprophytic yeast belonging to phylum Basidiomycota. These encapsulated basidiomycetes are being increasingly recognised as important emerging human pathogens. There are scanty reports of meningitis caused by Rhodurorula spp in HIV infected patients.

The use of the temporoparietal fascia flap in various clinical scenarios: A review of 71 cases.

Objective: This report details our experience with the use of the temporoparietal fascia flap in different scenarios of reconstruction and to discuss our technique of harvest, clinical applications, and review of literature of this versatile flap.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study of 82 cases of temporoparietal fascia flap in 71 patients, operated over a period of 10 years was conducted. Patients were grouped based on various clinical indications.

Osteomas of the craniofacial region: A case series and review of literature.

Objective: To discuss the clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of osteomas involving the craniomaxillofacial region.

Materials And Methods: This study was conducted from June 2004 to March 2012 at our institute. A total of 12 cases between the ages of 10 and 50 years were managed with surgical excision and reconstruction.

Effects of hypertension on hearing.

To determine the likely association between hypertension and hearing loss. 150 cases and 124 controls, both genders, aged 45-64, included in the research after sample estimation. Hypertension was verified through blood pressure readings and was classified as grade 1, grade 2 and grade 3 hypertension or no hypertension according to the blood pressure readings.

Immunization coverage: role of sociodemographic variables.

Children are considered fully immunized if they receive one dose of BCG, three doses of DPT and polio vaccine each, and one measles vaccine. In India, only 44% of children aged 12-23 months are fully vaccinated and about 5% have not received any vaccination at all. Even if national immunization coverage levels are sufficiently high to block disease transmission, pockets of susceptibility may act as potential reservoirs of infection.

Role of ultrasound-guided continuous brachial plexus block in the management of neonatal ischemia in upper limb.

Neonatal upper limb ischemia due to accidental arterial damage remains a major concern, which can lead to devastating complications if untreated. The primary objective of this case report is to emphasize the role of continuous infraclavicular brachial plexus block, the issues related with block performance in an ischemic hand, and the importance of ultrasound guidance in this particular case scenario. A 1.

Drug resistance profiles of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates to first line anti-tuberculous drugs: A five years study.

Background: Drug resistance is a major problem in the treatment of tuberculosis (TB). An estimate of drug resistance is extremely important in the epidemiology and control of TB. However, an assessment of the magnitude of drug resistance in TB is not very well described globally and data remains scantier for India.

Tuberculous brain abscesses: Case series and review of literature.

Introduction: Tuberculous brain abscess (TBA) is a rare but serious condition. It resembles a pyogenic brain abscess clinically and radiologically and poses a problem in diagnosis and treatment. A final diagnosis is established by smear or culture demonstration of acid fast bacilli (AFB) within the abscess.

The spectrum of clinical and pathological manifestations of AIDS in a consecutive series of 236 autopsied cases in mumbai, India.

The HIV epidemic in the Asian subcontinent has a significant impact on India. The AIDS associated pathology has not been well evaluated in a representative study hence very little is known about the spectrum of HIV/AIDS associated diseases in Indian subcontinent. To determine the important postmortem findings in HIV infected individuals in Mumbai, autopsy study was carried out.

Central venous catheter-related blood stream infection rate in critical care units in a tertiary care, teaching hospital in Mumbai.

Blood stream infections related to central venous catheterization are one of the major device-associated infections reported. Patients admitted in critical care units requiring central venous catheterization and presenting with signs of septicemia during catheterization period were investigated for catheter-related blood stream infections (CRBSI). The CRBSI rate was 9.

Pictorial essay: Ultrasonography in 'tennis leg'.

Tennis leg is caused by a rupture of the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle, usually at its distal musculotendinous junction region. However, tears in this muscle and its tendon are also included under the term 'tennis leg'. It is seen regularly in practice and is an important cause of a painful calf.

Cutaneous histoplasmosis in AIDS.

A patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection presented with multiple cutaneous lesions on upper extremities, trunk, face and with ulcers involving oral mucosa. Histoplasma capsulatum was isolated in culture from scrapings from both cutaneous as well as oral mucosal lesions. The patient responded well initially to the treatment with Amphotericin B followed by itraconazole; however, lesions recurred after three months with the further deterioration of immune status of the patient indicated by decline in CD4 counts.

Utility of in vitro proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in aetiological characterisation of brain abscesses.

Purpose: Brain abscesses often present an aetiological dilemma. Microscopy is insensitive and culture techniques are time consuming. Hence, a new rapid technique in vitro Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1HMRS) was evaluated for its usefulness in the identification of aetiology of brain abscesses.

Biliary atresia associated with choledochal cyst.

Choledochal cyst and biliary atresia are rare but important causes of neonatal jaundice. Both present with jaundice and acholic stool in neonatal period. Treatment and prognosis of both entities are very different.

Current epidemiology of intracranial abscesses: a prospective 5 year study.

Intracranial abscesses remain a significant health-care problem in developing countries. In view of this, we undertook a comprehensive study to determine the demographics and bacteriological spectrum of brain abscesses in our hospital. Bacteriological profiles and antibiograms were studied by conventional microbiological methods.

Kaposi's sarcoma in a patient with AIDS.

We report a case of a 40 year old HIV infected male, citizen of Somalia who presented with multiple painful, livid reddish brown plaques, papules and nodules on both lower limbs and purplish red nodules on the hard palate. The cutaneous nodular lesions on biopsy showed characteristic features of Kaposi's sarcoma. This case is reported due to paucity of Kaposi's sarcoma in Indian literature.

Surgical training in India.

Background: The quality of surgical training and competence defines the quality of patient care. The developed world evolved its surgical training over a long progressive period, whereas countries in the developing world, of which India is a reasonable example, were jettisoned into the waters, to hurriedly create their own training.

Method: Surgical training is but part of the picture of any countries medical education.

Rapid identification of non-sporing anaerobes using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and an identification strategy.

Purpose: The non-sporing anaerobes cause a wide spectrum of infections. They are difficult to culture and their identification is tedious and time-consuming. Rapid identification of anaerobes is highly desirable.

Video assisted thoracic surgery in children.

Thoracoscopic surgery, i.e., video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has been in use in children for last 98 years.

Navigating laparoscopic surgery into the next decade in developing countries - a personal perspective.

Introduction: Over 500 years ago, Vasco de Gama navigated from west to east, from Lisbon in Portugal to Calicut in India, in an epic voyage that lasted over 1 year (Fig. 1). This voyage was perhaps the greatest historic and, certainly, the greatest navigational achievement of the last millennium.

Evaluation of various prosthetic materials and newer meshes for hernia repairs.

The use of prosthesis has become essential for repair of all hernias since the recurrence rates are consistently lower when they are used. To fulfill this requirement, a variety of newer meshes have been engineered. An ideal prosthesis should be strong, pliable, non-allergenic, inert, non-biodegradable, non-carcinogenic and should stimulate adequate fibroblastic activity for optimum incorporation into the tissues.

Are titanium clips for control of the renal hilar vessels as unsafe as generally presumed?

Controlled ligation and division of renal vessels is a critical step during any nephrectomy procedure. It is generally been presumed that titanium clip ligation of renal vessels is risky and insecure. We report our experience over 5 years with ligaclips 10-mm titanium clips for secure ligation of renal hilum during laparoscopic nephrectomy.