Association of CETP and LIPC Gene Polymorphisms with HDL and LDL Sub-fraction Levels in a Group of Indian Subjects: A Cross-Sectional Study.

There is an increasing interest to understand the molecular basis of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) subfractions and their association with coronary artery disease (CAD). The formation of these subfractions is greatly influenced by hepatic lipase (HL) and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) enzymes. To identify genetic markers influencing LDL and HDL subfractions and their role in CAD we performed a case-control genetic association study on 117 healthy controls and 119 angiographically verified CAD patients.

Revisional surgery after heller myotomy for treatment of achalasia: a comparative analysis focusing on operative approach.

Surgical myotomy is the gold standard in therapy for achalasia, but treatment failures occur and require revisional surgery. A MEDLINE search of peer-reviewed articles published in English from 1970 to December 2008 was performed using the following terms: esophageal achalasia, Heller myotomy, and revisional surgery. Thirty-three articles satisfied our inclusion criteria.

Clostridium difficile as a cause of acute diarrhea: a prospective study in a tertiary care center.

Introduction: Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) is an increasing problem. Recent reports suggest presence of community acquired CDAD (CA CDAD). Studies in India have shown varied results.

Inborn errors of metabolism and their status in India.

Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) have a characteristic clinical presentation overlapping with infection and intoxication. Diagnostic modalities for IEM vary from biochemical to molecular methods including next-generation sequencing. Therapeutic options including substrate restriction, enzyme replacement, chaperone administration, and organ transplant are promising for management of patients with IEM.

Cardiovascular disease in India.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading cause of mortality in India. It is estimated that 23.6 million CVD cases will be reported in subjects younger than 40 years of age by 2015, suggesting that young Indians are at higher cardiac risk.

Tuberculosis: laboratory diagnosis.

Delay in laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) is a major obstacle in TB control programs. There is an imperative need for scale-up of peripheral health care laboratories with conventional and molecular technologies for rapid and reliable diagnosis of TB. A cost-effective diagnostic algorithm for rapid diagnosis of TB should be implemented and followed, thereby reducing cost burden on patients.

Primary benign brachial plexus tumors: an experience of 115 operated cases.

Primary benign brachial plexus tumors are rare. They pose a great challenge to the neurosurgeon, because the majority of patients present with minimal or no neurological deficits. Radical to complete excision of the tumor with preservation of neurological function of the involved nerve is an ideal surgical treatment option with benign primary brachial plexus tumor surgery.

Prevalence and clinical course of Clostridium difficile infection in a tertiary-care hospital: a retrospective analysis.

The spectrum of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) is changing. Apart from antibiotic use, other risk factors such as use of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) and immunosuppressive agents, intensive care unit (ICU) stay and inflammatory bowel disease are being recognized. We retrospectively analyzed data on patients whose stool samples were tested for C.

Effect of gene polymorphisms on the levels of calcineurin inhibitors in Indian renal transplant recipients.

The outcome of renal transplantation is improved by cyclosporine and tacrolimus. However, its success is limited by drug-induced nephrotoxicity. Therefore, monitoring their levels is important.

Choledochal cysts with chronic pancreatitis in adults: report of two cases with a review of the literature.

Context: Choledochal cysts, rarely present with chronic calcific pancreatitis. We report two patients with choledochal cysts who had concomitant chronic pancreatitis. CASE REPORT #1: A 27-year-old female with a history of recurrent abdominal pain, fever and jaundice presented with a type I choledochal cyst with calcifications in the uncinate process of the pancreas on CT scan.

High-dose intensity-modulated radiotherapy as primary therapy for prostate cancer: report on dosimetry aspects and acute toxicity in the Indian scenario.

Background And Purpose: Dose escalation improves local control in prostate cancer. In this study we assess the feasibility of dose escalation to prostate and / or seminal vesicles to 76 Gy with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT); report data on dosimetry and acute toxicity in 40 patients at P. D.

Self-reported treatment adherence in inflammatory bowel disease in Indian patients.

Introduction: Non-adherence to medical therapy is emerging as an important determinant of relapse in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Aim: To find the prevalence of and reasons for nonadherence to medical therapy in Indian patients with IBD and its correlation with disease outcome.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we checked for adherence to treatment in 127 patients with IBD (117 ulcerative colitis and 10 Crohn's disease) using a questionnaire that inquired into frequency of missed doses, causes for missed doses, and its relation to relapse of disease.

Prospective comparison of eubacterial PCR and measurement of procalcitonin levels with blood culture for diagnosing septicemia in intensive care unit patients.

Rapid identification of infection has a major impact on the clinical course, management, and outcome of critically ill intensive care unit (ICU) patients. We compared the results of PCR and procalcitonin with blood culture for ICU patients suspected of having septicemia. Ninety patients (60 patients meeting the criteria for sepsis and 30 patients not meeting the criteria for sepsis) were evaluated.

Rapid detection of rifampicin resistance in M. tuberculosis by phage assay.

Increase in multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has become a great cause of concern and rifampicin resistance is considered to be a good predictor of MDR-TB in many parts of the world. Its rapid detection will allow alteration in treatment regimens in time to reduce the spread of the disease.

Detection of -lactamases in nosocomial gram negative clinical isolates.

-lactamases represent the most common mechanism of -lactam resistance. Extended spectrum -lactamases (ESBLs) represent a major group of -lactamases currently being identified worldwide in large numbers along with inducible AmpC -lactamases and derepressed mutants. The present study was done to detect -lactamase production in clinical isolates by rearranging routine discs used in reporting susceptibility to specifically assess ESBLs, AmpC -lactamases (both inducible and hyperproducers i.

Review article: biological activity markers in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Traditionally, inflammatory bowel disease activity is assessed by clinical activity indices that measure clinical symptoms and endoscopic indices that measure endoscopic inflammation. Biological markers are a non-invasive way of objectively measuring inflammation and can play an adjunctive or primary role in the assessment of disease activity.

Aim: To review the data on biological markers for assessment of disease activity and prediction of relapse in inflammatory bowel disease.

Broad-range bacterial and fungal DNA amplification on vitreous humor from suspected endophthalmitis patients.

Background: Prompt and accurate diagnosis of infectious endophthalmitis is crucial for rapid and effective treatment. By identifying whether the causative pathogen is bacterial or fungal, a rational approach for the use of antibacterials or corticosteroids, respectively, can be followed.

Aim: To assess the clinical utility of broad-range bacterial and fungal DNA amplification in the detection of endophthalmitis (postoperative, posttraumatic, and endogenous).

Primary malignant melanoma of right colon.

We report a 62-year-old lady who presented with abdominal lump and neurological deficit. Investigations showed ascending colon mass, subcutaneous nodule and right parietal lobe lesion. Histology and immunohistochemistry were suggestive of malignant melanoma.

Thrombophilic conditions in non-cirrhotic portal vein thrombosis.

Objective: To study the prevalence of thrombophilic conditions in patients with acute and chronic portal vein thrombosis (PVT) and to compare it with those in patients suffering from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after lower limb arthroplasty and in healthy subjects.

Methods: Twenty-six patients with spontaneous PVT (20 chronic, 6 acute) with normal liver function and not receiving anticoagulants were evaluated for thrombophilic conditions. Levels of protein C, protein S and antithrombin were compared with those in 50 healthy controls.

Laparoscopic drainage of a peripancreatic tuberculous abscess.

A 28-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain, anorexia, low-grade pyrexia, and a palpable abdominal lump. An abdominal CT scan revealed a mass in the region of the pancreatic head comprised of enlarged lymph nodes interspersed with loculi of pus. Because a fine-needle aspiration failed to establish a diagnosis, the abscess was drained laparoscopically and biopsy specimens were obtained; the specimens confirmed lymph nodal tuberculosis.