Use of local perforator flaps for post burn reconstruction.

Background: Mainstay of post-burn reconstruction is release and split skin grafting. Pedicle flaps are cumbersome to the patient, require multiple procedures and hospitalization. Free flaps are technically demanding and facilities are not universally available.

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis.

A 50-year-old male presented with fever, joint pain and skin lesions since eight months. Examination showed multiple papules and nodules with periarticular predisposition. Swelling of knees and elbows with flexion deformity of distal interphalangeal joints was present.

Evaluation of high performance liquid chromatography purified leptospiral antigen for the diagnosis of leptospirosis.

Leptospirosis is a re-emerging infection, and often occurs in outbreaks. Early diagnosis is important for appropriate control measures and treatment. The sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic test depends on the antigen, which is used for the detection of antibodies.

Characterization of leptospires using V3 region of 16S rDNA by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis: a case study.

Serological and molecular characterization of Leptospiral isolates helps us to identify serovar, which is useful, for epidemiological study. Serological characterization is tedious and requires a panel of monoclonal antibodies and expertise to read the results. This study is a preliminary work to evaluate the usefulness of Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) to identify serovars of leptospira.

Benign gastric teratoma--a case report.

A rare case of benign gastric teratoma occuring in a 9-month child is reported with a brief review of literature.

Feasibility of voluntary counselling and testing services for HIV among pregnant women presenting in labour in Pune, India.

Factors affecting the eligibility and acceptability of voluntary counselling and rapid HIV testing (VCT) were examined among pregnant women presenting in labour in Pune, India. Of the 6702 total women appearing at the delivery room from April 2001 to March 2002, 4638 (69%) were admitted for normal delivery. The remaining women presented with obstetrical complications, delivered immediately or were detected to be in false labour.

Awareness of HIV/AIDS and household environment of pregnant women in Pune, India.

Our objective was to determine the level of HIV/AIDS knowledge of pregnant women in India. In a sub-sample of these women, we documented the extent to which they experienced adverse social and physical difficulties within their home. The study was performed at an urban antenatal hospital clinic in Maharastra, India.

Sensitivity and specificity of rapid HIV testing of pregnant women in India.

Objective: Efforts to prevent HIV transmission from mother to infants in settings like India may benefit from the availability of reliable methods for rapid and simple HIV screening. Data from India on the reliability of rapid HIV test kits are limited and there are no data on the use of rapid HIV tests for screening of pregnant women.

Methods: Pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic and delivery room in Pune agreed to participate in an evaluation of five rapid HIV tests, including (a) a saliva brush test (Oraquick HIV-1/2, Orasure Technologies Inc.

Correlation of microproteinuria and histopathological changes in kidney in diabetes mellitus.

Single attempt kidney biopsy was successful in 60 cases of diabetes mellitus out of 83. Histopathological evidence of nephropathy was found in 30 (50%) out of 60 (4 of IDDM and 56 of NIDDM). Microproteinuria was a sensitive indicator of histopathological evidence of nephropathy (by biopsy) and should be used as a non invasive method of evidence of kidney involvement in diabetes mellitus regardless of duration of the disease.