Degenerative Sacrolisthesis of S1-S2: A Case Report.

Introduction: Degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) is usually seen at L4-L5 level and less frequently at L5-S1 level. This is a rare case report of spondylolisthesis of S1 over S2 with lumbarization of S1. Lumbarization of S1 is seen in just 1-2% of the population and to have spondylolisthesis in this segment is even rarer.

Pulse Therapy in Pemphigus: Ready Reckoner.

Pulse therapy for the treatment of pemphigus has been in vogue for several years and is administered by many dermatologists across the world. However, even though there is enough evidence about its efficacy and methodology, there continue to be doubts and questions regarding the rationale of use of high dose intravenous steroids and steroid-sparing immunosuppressants. This article has aimed to provide clarity to young dermatology residents on the administration of pulse therapy, and the various controversies and modifications that have been mentioned in literature over the past couple of years.

Efficacy and safety of canagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus from India.

Background: This post hoc analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of canagliflozin, a sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) from India.

Methods: Changes from baseline in HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), body weight, and blood pressure (BP) with canagliflozin 100 and 300 mg were evaluated in a subgroup of patients from India (n = 124) from 4 randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled, Phase 3 studies (N = 2313; Population 1). Safety was assessed based on adverse event (AE) reports in these patients and in a broader subgroup of patients from India (n = 1038) from 8 randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled, Phase 3 studies (N = 9439; Population 2).

High expression of integrin β6 in association with the Rho-Rac pathway identifies a poor prognostic subgroup within HER2 amplified breast cancers.

Integrin αvβ6 is involved in the transition from ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast. In addition, integrin β6 (ITGB6) is of prognostic value in invasive breast cancers, particularly in HER2+ subtype. However, pathways mediating the activity of integrin αvβ6 in clinical progression of invasive breast cancers need further elucidation.

Posttraumatic Growth in Women Survivors of Breast Cancer.

Aim: The aim of the study was to understand the phenomenon of posttraumatic growth (PTG) in women survivors of breast cancer from an Indian perspective.

Settings And Design: It was a mixed method, cross-sectional, and exploratory design wherein in-depth qualitative data covering a broader area of experiences were gathered from a sub-section of the larger quantitative sample (n = 50). The qualitative sample consisted of 15 Indian women from urban communities of Southern and Eastern India.

Identification of BRCA1 Deficiency Using Multi-Analyte Estimation of BRCA1 and Its Repressors in FFPE Tumor Samples from Patients with Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

Purpose: Apart from germ-line BRCA1-mutated breast cancers, a significant proportion of women with sporadic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) sub-type are known to harbour varying levels of BRCA1-dysfuction. There is currently no established diagnostic method to identify these patients.

Methods: The analysis was performed on 183 primary breast cancer tumor specimens from our longitudinal case-series archived as formalin-fixed-paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks comprising 71 TNBCs and 112 Hormone receptor positive HER2 negative (HR+HER2-) tumors.

Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia as a presenting feature of Neuromyelitis Optica: "A rare combination of two uncommon disorders".

Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) can have atypical presentations like hiccups, vomiting, etc. which is classically described as the area postrema syndrome. Here we report a case of a 39 year old male patient who presented with features of Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgia (TAC).

Effects of irrigation fluid in shoulder arthroscopy.

Background And Aims: Extravasation of irrigation fluid used in shoulder arthroscopy can lead to life-threatening airway and systemic complications. This study was conducted to assess the effect of irrigation fluid absorption on measurable anthropometric parameters and to identify whether these parameters predict airway/respiratory compromise.

Methods: Thirty six American Society of Anaesthesiologists physical status one or two patients aged 15-60 years undergoing shoulder arthroscopy under general anaesthesia were recruited.

Assessment of Self-Reported Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties Among Pre-University College Students in Bangalore, India.

Background: The understanding of youth mental health needs and development of service delivery models is a national public health challenge.

Objectives: The rates and predictors of emotional and behavioral problems among 1087 youth were assessed in a pre-university college in Bangalore, India. Variations in rates of disturbance, identified by using different cut-off points, were also examined.

Norms for developmental milestones using VABS-II and association with anthropometric measures among apparently healthy urban Indian preschool children.

Assessment of developmental milestones based on locally developed norms is critical for accurate estimate of overall development of a child's cognitive, behavioral, social, and emotional development. A cross-sectional study was done to develop age specific norms for developmental milestones using Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS-II) (Sparrow, Cicchetti, & Balla, 2005) for apparently healthy children from 2 to 5 years from urban Bangalore, India, and to examine its association with anthropometric measures. Mothers (or caregivers) of 412 children participated in the study.

Prescription Pattern of Analgesic Drugs for Patients Receiving Palliative Care in a Teaching Hospital in India.

Background: Drugs used in the palliative care unit for managing symptoms are major contributors toward the expenditure occurring in palliative care. This study was conducted to understand the prescription pattern of analgesic drugs in the patients who are receiving palliative care in a teaching hospital in India by a retrospective study of case records.

Methods: Case record based, retrospective, descriptive study was conducted at the Pain and Palliative Care Department of St.

Theoretical and practical issues related to the management of severe and refractory psychotic illness complicated by pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially fatal condition. We describe the educative case of a young adult male, with a longstanding history of schizophrenia, who was receiving anticoagulant treatment because of repeated episodes of PE in the past. He presented with severe exacerbation of psychosis and did not respond to oral and parenteral antipsychotic medication during inpatient treatment.

An evaluation of factors affecting adherence to antiepileptic drugs in patients with epilepsy: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Adherence to antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy is important for controlling seizures in patients with epilepsy (PWE). It is vital to identify the factors influencing adherence to AED therapy using validated tools. This study aimed to evaluate the pattern and extent of AED adherence among PWE and to identify the factors that influence adherence.

Analysis of direct clinical consequences of MLC positional errors in volumetric-modulated arc therapy using 3D dosimetry system.

In advanced, intensity-modulated external radiotherapy facility, the multileaf collimator has a decisive role in the beam modulation by creating multiple segments or dynamically varying field shapes to deliver a uniform dose distribution to the target with maximum sparing of normal tissues. The position of each MLC leaf has become more critical for intensity-modulated delivery (step-and-shoot IMRT, dynamic IMRT, and VMAT) compared to 3D CRT, where it defines only field boundaries. We analyzed the impact of the MLC positional errors on the dose distribution for volumetric-modulated arc therapy, using a 3D dosimetry system.

A Pilot Study: Nailing Indian Elections with the Indelible Ink Mark.

Context: The indelible ink that's used in our elections was developed by National Physical Laboratories (NPL), Delhi in 1962, and has been used ever since. Though formulated by NPL, it is manufactured by Mysore Paints and Varnish Ltd. owned by the Karnataka Government.

Mass spectrometry based characterization of Hb Beckman variant in a falsely elevated HbA(1c) sample.

Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is a 'gold standard' biomarker for assessing the glycemic index of an individual. HbA1c is formed due to nonenzymatic glycosylation at N-terminal valine residue of the β-globin chain. Cation exchange based high performance liquid chromatography (CE-HPLC) is mostly used to quantify HbA1c in blood sample.

Retaining the refluxing lower ureteral stump of a non-functioning kidney to preserve contralateral renal function.

Background: It is crucial to preserve the renal parenchyma in a solitary renoureteric system, especially when associated with VUR and/or elevated bladder pressures.

Aim: The present study examined the effect of retaining the refluxing lower ureteral stump of a non-functioning renal unit (during nephrectomy) as a stoma to preserve contralateral renal function.

Study Design: Twelve children with various uropathologies (six with PUV, three with primary VUR, and three with neurogenic bladder) and a solitary functioning kidney were retrospectively analysed.

Evaluation of serum vitamin B12 levels and its correlation with anti-thyroperoxidase antibody in patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders.

Vitamin B12 deficiency has been reported in patients with Autoimmune thyroid disorders. However there is limited data on exact prevalence of low B12 and its correlation with anti-thyroperoxidase antibody (anti-TPO) levels in these patients. The aim of our study was to estimate serum vitamin B12 levels in autoimmune thyroid disorders and to correlate B12 levels with anti-TPO.

Comparison of neostigmine induced reversal of vecuronium in normal weight, overweight and obese female patients.

Background And Aims: Obese patients are more vulnerable to residual neuromuscular block (NMB) and its associated complications in the post-operative period. This study was carried out to compare neostigmine induced reversal of vecuronium in normal weight, overweight and obese female patients, objectively using neuromuscular (NM) monitoring.

Methods: Twenty female patients each belonging to normal weight, overweight and obese, based on body mass index, requiring general anaesthesia were recruited for this prospective cross sectional study.

Effects of yoga on utero-fetal-placental circulation in high-risk pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction. Impaired placentation and inadequate trophoblast invasion have been associated with the etiology of many pregnancy complications and have been correlated with the first trimester uterine artery resistance. Previous studies have shown the benefits of yoga in improving pregnancy outcomes and those of yogic visualization in revitalizing the human tissues.

Improvised double-embedding technique of minute biopsies: a mega boon to histopathology laboratory.

Introduction: Optimal orientation of minute mucosal biopsies is essential for a definite diagnosis in gastrointestinal pathology or to visualize neural plexuses in Hirschsprung disease. The problem of minute size of the biopsy and its orientation gets compounded when they are from neonates and mandates exhaustive strip cuts, thus delaying reporting.

Aim: A modified agar-paraffin technique is aimed to make tissue embedding efficient and user-friendly by inking mapping biopsies (one or more) either fresh or fixed with surgical coloring inks followed by embedding first in agar after orientation and followed thereafter by processing, re-embedding in paraffin wax, sectioning and staining.

Comparison of bacillary index on slit skin smear with bacillary index of granuloma in leprosy and its relevance to present therapeutic regimens.

Background: As the world moves toward elimination of leprosy, persistence of infective cases in endemic pockets remains a significant problem. The use of clinical criteria to decide the paucibacillary (PB) versus multibacillary (MB) regimens has greatly simplified therapy at the field setting. However, a small but significant risk of under-treatment of so-called "PB" cases which actually have significant bacillary load exists.