Evaluation of effectiveness of integrated intervention in autistic children.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of integrated therapy over the past 3 y on the recipient autistic children and its correlation with the following variables - age at admission, duration of therapy given and initial severity of symptoms.

Methods: The index study was a retrospective study with 18 autistic children as subjects; the maximum duration of intervention was 3 y. The integrated approach consisted of special education using principles of applied behavior analysis, occupational and speech therapy.

Cytological diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis with cutaneous involvement.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease affecting predominantly children. The course of the disease varies, from spontaneous resolution to a progressive multisystem disorder with organ dysfunction and potential life-threatening complications. Diagnosis of LCH is often difficult and may be delayed because of its rarity and especially so if it occurs with unusual presentation.

Comparison of self-esteem and maternal attitude between children with learning disability and unaffected siblings.

Objectives: To compare self-esteem and maternal attitude between children with learning disability and their unaffected siblings.

Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in an urban setting. It comprised of 31 pairs of children with a learning disability, their unaffected siblings and input from their mothers.

A study of relation between body mass index and simple reaction time in healthy young females.

Reaction time is an indirect index of processing capabilities of the central nervous system. The present study was carried out to determine if there is any influence of body mass index on "simple reaction time in healthy young females. In this study, 60 young female participants were allotted to one of the three anthropometric groups based on their body mass index (BMI).

A study of auditory reaction time in different phases of the normal menstrual cycle.

Reaction time is an indirect index of processing capabilities of the central nervous system. The present study was carried out to determine if there is any alteration of simple auditory reaction time across the normal menstrual cycle. In this study, reaction time of 100 female medical and paramedical students was recorded in different phases of their menstrual cycle namely premenstrual, menstrual, middle of proliferative, middle of secretory phase and on the expected day of ovulation.

Eosinophillic myocarditis and coronary arteritis in a fatal case of asthma.

Mortality is very unusual in the case of asthma. We recently came across a fatal case of asthma which showed a rare combination of unusual complications like eosinophilic myocarditis, coronary arteritis, biventricular cardiac hypertrophy, eosinophilic pneumonitis and pulmonary hypertension.

Choledocholithiasis: endotherapy versus surgery.

When multiple treatment options are available, debate invariably persists regarding the optimal option. Confusion and controversy must then be resolved based on scientific evidence, but one needs to be practical because options depend on the available expertise. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of endotherapy vis-à-vis surgery in patients with choledocholithiasis.

Vitreous humor: biochemical constituents in estimation of postmortem interval.

Analysis of biochemical constituents of the vitreous humor can be useful in determining the postmortem interval as there is proportionate postmortem rise of potassium and fall in sodium concentration. We studied 120 autopsy cases to determine the utility of potassium, sodium, calcium, and chloride levels, and sodium/potassium ratio in estimating the postmortem interval. There was a linear relationship between vitreous potassium concentration and postmortem interval, whereas an inverse relationship between vitreous sodium/potassium ratio and postmortem interval was noted.

Hepatic changes in fatal malaria: an emerging problem.

Over the last few years there has been a rise in the incidence of fatal malaria in urban areas of India, and this worrying trend is a major cause of concern for the national health authorities. The spectrum of histopathological changes that occur in the livers of Indian subjects with fatal malaria has recently been investigated, in a retrospective autopsy-based study. This investigation involved the 151 fatal cases of malaria seen at a tertiary-care hospital in Mumbai between January 2001 and December 2007.

Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas.

Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas is considered to be a rare pancreatic tumor. These tumors are typically present in women in their third decade of life. The tumors have a low malignant potential.

Canal wall down tympanomastoidectomy: the 'on-disease' approach for retraction pockets and cholesteatoma.

It is well known that cholesteatoma is three-dimensional; hence, we feel that its surgical management requires a three-dimensional approach in order to achieve the best curative and functional results. Retraction pockets are undeniably caused by chronic and recurrent eustachian tube obstruction. However, we found that the presence of a large mastoid antrum was an important, additional aetiological factor in the formation of a retraction pocket and its progression to cholesteatoma formation, with bone destruction and subsequent complications.

Scimitar syndrome.

Scimitar syndrome, a rare anomaly of partial pulmonary venous drainage into the hepatic portion of the inferior vena cava, detected in a ten-day-old neonate who presented clinically with respiratory distress and diagnosed on ultrasound of the thorax is being reported here.