Isolation of Streptobacillus moniliformis from the blood of a child with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

This is an unusual report of isolation of Streptobacillus moniliformis from the blood of a male child with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. No history of rat bite was there, but rats were present in the house. The possible source of infection may be food or water contaminated with rat excreta.

Pseudomonas diarrhea in a child suffering from acute lymphatic leukemia.

A female child admitted to hospital, diagnosed with acute lymphatic leukemia - CALLA positive, developed loose motions. Her stool culture and blood culture grew Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Although the diarrhea subsided after five days, the stool culture repeatedly grewP.

The effects of a daily facial lotion containing vitamins B3 and E and provitamin B5 on the facial skin of Indian women: a randomized, double-blind trial.

Background: The B vitamins niacinamide and panthenol have been shown to reduce many signs of skin aging, including hyperpigmentation and redness.

Aims: To measure the facial skin effects in Indian women of the daily use of a lotion containing niacinamide, panthenol, and tocopherol acetate using quantitative image analysis.

Methods: Adult women 30-60 years of age with epidermal hyperpigmentation were recruited in Mumbai and randomly assigned to apply a test or control lotion to the face daily for 10 weeks.

Indian research on sleep disorders.

Literature on sleep disorders from our country, India, can mainly be found in the Indian journal of Sleep medicine, Indian Journal of psychiatry, The Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology and certain other journals and books. The article highlights the contribution of various Indian doctors in the field of sleep disorders, which includes review articles, prevalence studies, studies on etiology and treatment options, case reports and a couple of case control studies. Also included are studies on various sleep related syndromes as well as studies about awareness and knowledge of sleep disorders amongst the medical fraternity.

Chryseomonas luteola from Bile Culture in an Adult Male with Severe Jaundice.

A 60-year-old male was admitted in this hospital with severe jaundice, who had open cholecystectomy done 2 months ago. ERCP was performed and bile was sent for culture. It grew Chryseomonas luteola in pure culture.

Leptospirosis outbreak in 2005: L.T.M.G. hospital experience.

Nine hundred and forty two serum samples from clinically suspected cases of leptospirosis admitted in Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, Mumbai during July-September 2005 were tested by LeptoTek Dri-dot/Leptocheck. One hundred and sixty five positive sera by these tests were sent to I.R.

Microbiological assessment of cadaver skin grafts received in a Skin Bank.

Purpose: Study on the microbiological assessment of cadaver skin grafts was undertaken in the Skin Bank at the Department of Surgery in L.T.M.

Utility of optic nerve ultrasonography in head injury.

Background: CT has evolved as the gold standard for evaluation of head injury, but early CT is not always possible. Bedside ultrasonography is available in most trauma units and optic nerve ultrasound (ONUS) examination should be feasible.

Objective: To evaluate the role of ONUS for people with head injury.

Early prediction of outcome in very severe closed head injury.

Background: People with severe head injury and admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score < or =5 have a poor outcome and greatly strain limited resources.

Aim: To identify patients with the best chances of survival, using routine clinical measures.

Methods: People attending the trauma intensive care unit, who had isolated blunt head injury and GCS< or =5 and who had survived > or =4h, were included in the study, resuscitated and clinically assessed.

Evaluation of salt split technique of immunofluorescence in bullous pemphigoid.

Recent studies suggest that salt split skin is a more sensitive substrate than intact skin for immunofluorescence diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid. We undertook this study to define the role of salt split technique of immunofluorescence findings in 32 clinical and histopathology confirmed cases of bullous pemphigoid. Both direct and indirect immunofluorescences were performed using normal and split skin.

Congenital paraesophageal hernia presenting with severe gastroesophageal reflux.

Paraesophageal hernia in children is relatively rare entity. These children usually present with recurrent respiratory tract infection or vague GI symptoms. An 11 year female presented with episodic vomiting, heartburn and features of hypocalcemic tetany.

Antioxidant status in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Free radicals play an important role in the pathogenesis of tissue damage in many clinical disorders, including atherosclerosis. Antioxidants protect the body from damage caused by free radicals. In this study we investigated oxidative stress, antioxidants and inflammatory molecules in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Diagnostic role of stool culture & toxin detection in antibiotic associated diarrhoea due to Clostridium difficile in children.

Background & Objective: Mere diagnosis of Clostridium difficile by culture does not help in the diagnosis of antibiotic associated diarrhoeae (AAD) due to C. difficile. Detection of toxins A and B form the mainstay in the diagnosis of AAD due to C.

Congenital segmental dilatation of colon with colonic atresia.

Congenital segmental dilatation of the colon belongs to a group of Hirschsprung's-like diseases with normal ganglion cells. The presentation is with chronic constipation affecting older children. We report a neonate with congenital segmental dilatation of the colon associated with sigmoid atresia.

Unusual features of gall bladder duplication cyst with review of the literature.

A 1-month-old female infant presented with a lump in the right hypochondrium extending into the right iliac fossa. Ultrasonography and computed tomography suggested an intestinal duplication cyst or a gall bladder cyst. Exploratory laparotomy revealed it to be a congenital gall bladder duplication cyst without associated complications.

Repeat CT scan in closed head injury.

Background: Cranial CT scans are often repeated to observe the progress of an intracranial injury. This prospective observational study analyses the effect of repeat CT scans with the aim of formulating a guideline for their use.

Methods: One hundred and seventy-five patients with blunt head injury presenting to the trauma unit and undergoing CT scan were included.

Multiple tubular and cystic intestinal duplications.

Duodenal and colonic duplication presenting as mass in a neonate is rare. We report a 52-cm-long tubular, total colonic and 5-cm-long cystic duodenal duplication in a two-day-old neonate. Both the duplications could be excised without resection of the normal bowel.

Study of usage pattern of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) among different practice categories in Indian clinical setting.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the usage pattern of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in diverse clinical practice settings in India.

Methods: The study was conducted in Mumbai city and its suburbs, involving 1,916 doctors from among general practice to specialist practice. The data were collected with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and were analysed statistically to bring out differences in NSAID usage among different groups of prescribers.

Disseminated spina ventosa.

Spina Ventosa is a rare condition. A rare case of disseminated tuberculosis of bones and skin without primary foci is presented. Gross sclerosis of the short bones of hand and leg were noted.

Coffin-Lowry syndrome.

The Coffin-Lowry syndrome is an established syndrome of severe mental and growth retardation, characteristic dysmorphic features and skeletal anomalies. The authors report a one and half year old boy with classical features of this syndrome. Early recognition of this condition is important for genetic counseling and prevention of progressive skeletal deformities.

Intravenous vaiproate therapy.

Four cases of acute manic episode (bipolar-l disorder), not responding to oral valproate or other mood stabilizer and neuroleptics were given injection valproate intravenously. Three out of 4 patients showed good response and tolerance to intravenous valporate.