Care Centre In Southern India Research Articles

Glanzmann Thrombasthenia in Children: Experience From a Tertiary Care Center in Southern India.

Glanzmann thrombasthenia (GT) is a globally rare inherited disorder of hemostasis. To describe the clinical profile of GT in a tertiary care center in Southern India. A retrospective chart review of all children with GT was performed between January 2005 and August 2017 in the Department of Paediatrics. A total of 48 patients (representing 43 families) were included. Median age at diagnosis was 2.75 years (interquartile range: 1.5 to 6.75). Two thirds had an onset of bleeding within the first 2 years of life. Sixty-seven percent were born out of consanguineous marriage. The common symptoms were epistaxis, gingival bleeding, and ecchymoses. Neonatal onset of bleeding manifested as purpura, epistaxis, and intracranial hemorrhage. Postsurgical bleeding and menorrhagia were unique presentations in adolescence. About 25% had life-threatening hemorrhage while 50% had growth retardation due to chronic anemia. GT is relatively more common in areas of Southern India due to the higher prevalence of consanguinity. Chronic anemia can contribute to growth stunting in these patients.

Assessment of Normative Range and Deriving Cut-Off Values for Lupus Anticoagulant Testing: An Experience from a Tertiary Care Center in Southern India.

Lupus anticoagulant (LA) testing is a demanding laboratory test. The most common among recommended tests for LA are dilute Russell viper venom time (dRVVT) and LA sensitive activated partial thromboplastin time (LA-aPTT). Although integrated test systems come with manufacturer assigned cut-off, but according toguidelines cut-off should be locally-derived. This study was carried out to find normative range of LA using LA-aPTT and dRV VT tests in south Indian population (n = 100) and using locally derived cut-off values to interpret patient samples (n = 152) in a one-year study period. Cut-off (mean+2.3 SD) for aPTT, LA-aPTT, dRVVT screen and dRVVT confirm assays were 37.5, 45.7, 45.5 and 41.3s and for normalized ratio and percentage correction of ratio were 1.16 and 15.8% respectively. Among patients, 25 (16.4%) were positive of whom 14 were positive by normalized ratio, seven by LA-aPTT and four were positive by both. Four additional patients could be identified using local cut-off. While the specificity of all screening tests was high, sensitivity of only dRVVT screen was high. All testing laboratories should attempt to derive normative range and locally-derived cut-off. While dRVVT is a good screening test with high sensitivity, however combining LA-aPTT offers advantage of picking up cases negative by dRVVT.

Breast Fine needle Aspiration Biopsy Cytology Reporting using International Academy of Cytology Yokohama System-Two Year Retrospective Study in Tertiary Care Centre in Southern India

Breast Fine needle Aspiration Biopsy Cytology Reporting using International Academy of Cytology Yokohama System-Two Year Retrospective Study in Tertiary Care Centre in Southern India

Seroprevalence of Anti-Brucella Antibodies IgG and IgM in Acute Polyarthritis in a Tertiary Care Center in Southern India

Seroprevalence of Anti-Brucella Antibodies IgG and IgM in Acute Polyarthritis in a Tertiary Care Center in Southern India

The relationship between US7 ultrasound joint scoring system and disease activity score DAS28 in rheumatoid arthritis: A study in Indian population

Introduction: US7 (7 joint ultrasound score) is an emerging ultrasound (US) joint scoring system for the assessment of disease activity in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Methods and Material: The study was conducted at a tertiary care center in Southern India. Sixty-two patients of RA were recruited for this cross-sectional observational study. Patients' clinical & laboratory parameters were used to calculate the disease activity score DAS28. Grayscale and Power Doppler Ultrasound (GSUS & PDUS) were performed to calculate US7 score.Statistical analysis used: Spearman's rank-order correlation, Pearson interclass correlation and ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve analysis were performed. Results: Median DAS28 value was 4.04 with one patient in clinical remission. There was a statistically significant positive correlation (r=0.262) between synovitis by GSUS score & DAS 28 (p-value = 0.040) and synovitis by PDUS score and DAS 28 (r=0.340, p-value = 0.004). No significant correlation was found between DAS28 and tenosynovitis or erosions score. ROC curve analysis yielded the p values of 0.04 and 0.004 for synovitis by GSUS and synovitis by PDUS respectively in differentiating between the patients with low (DAS groups 1 & 2) and high disease activity (3 & 4). Conclusions: There is good correlation of the synovitis component of US7 score with DAS28. However, relationship of tenosynovitis and erosions with disease activity is questionable according to our results. An 'abbreviated US7' score with detection of only synovitis may be more suitable. This requires further validation.

Duodenal Biopsy in the Evaluation of Chronic Diarrhoea in Immunosuppressed Patients from a Tertiary Care Center in Southern India

Duodenal Biopsy in the Evaluation of Chronic Diarrhoea in Immunosuppressed Patients from a Tertiary Care Center in Southern India

Microbiologic profile and clinical practices in urinary tract infections in a tertiary care center in Southern India.

Context:Studies reported differences in clinical profiles of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Studies on the impact of the pattern of antibiotic resistance of organisms causing UTI on actual clinical practice are lacking.Objectives:1. To study the clinical and microbiologic profiles of UTIs. 2. To compare treatment given with the prevailing antimicrobial sensitivity.Settings and Design:This is a cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary care hospital.Methods and Materials:Retrospective chart review of inpatients with UTI (N = 200, 100 each of patients with and without T2DM), aged >18 years with a positive urine culture.Statistical Analysis:We used the statistical package SPSS version 17. The categorical variables were analyzed by the Chi-square test. Data were considered significant if P value was less than 0.05.Results:Similar to previous Indian studies, T2DM patients with UTI had significantly more asymptomatic bacteriuria, asymptomatic bacteriuria (32% vs. 6%), previous history of UTI (25% vs. 2%), and prior catheterization (16% vs. 1%). Escherichia coli (E. coli) was the most common organism isolated and showed sensitivity pattern of meropenem > netilmicin > amikacin > nitrofurantoin. Ceftriaxone was the most common empirical therapy given in spite the prevailing low sensitivity of E. coli to it. All ASB cases were treated unlike recommendations.Conclusions:Ceftriaxone is the most common empirical therapy given in spite the prevailing low sensitivity of E. coli to it. Cases of ASB were treated unlike recommendations.

Thoracic myelopathy secondary to ossified ligamentum flavum and dural ossification – A series of 19 cases and review of literature

Objective: Thoracic myelopathy has gradually risen to be a prominent diagnosis in patients with persistent upper back pain, bladder symptoms and spastic paraparesis. Often encountered, these conditions pose a serious dilemma to neurosurgeons with respect to surgical planning, timing of surgery, prognosis and possible complications and outcome assessment. In view of these queries and to clarify the indications of when to intervene the following study has been undertaken. To analyze the clinical presentation, radiological features, clinical implications and surgical nuances and outcomes in patients with single and multiple level dorsal canal ossified ligamentum flavum (D-OLF) and associated dural ossification (DO). Patients and methods: Nineteen patients with the diagnosis of thoracic myelopathy (TM) were identified between January 2012 and March 2017. All patients were treated surgically, with decompressive laminectomies, in a single tertiary care center in Southern India. mJOA was calculated preoperatively and assessed postoperatively and a mean mJOA was calculated to assess the significance in neurological improvement. The data was collected from the medical records department and various factors were analyzed, using SPSS software, for correlation.Results: Mean age of our group was 50.84 years with a range of 29 to 71 years. It comprised of 11 males and 8 females. All patients had features of myelopathy. Surgery did have a positive effect on neurological improvement (p = 0.001) in all patients except one. Dural ossification had correlation with pre op and post op urinary disturbances with p value of 0.02. (Mann Whitney Test for 2 independent variables used). A total of ten patients had urinary symptoms pre operatively, out of which six patients showed postoperative improvement at the end of one year. Four of these patients continued to have symptoms, two patients were on Clean Intermittent Catheterisation (CIC), and one patient had features of hesitancy and frequency. Preoperative bladder dysfunction was a strong predictor for continued bladder dysfunction at the end of 1 year (p < 0.004). Conclusions: All patients with D-OLF and or DO presented with myelopathic features. MRI with concurrent CT spine helps to delineate dural ossification from D-OLF and helped to rule out other differentials. The classical “tram track” and “comma sign” is well noted in CT spine and helps to plan surgical approach and anticipate probable complications. Patients with concurrent D-OLF and DO and long segment pathology had increased risk of intraoperative dural tears and postoperative CSF leaks. These subset of patients had a peaked incidence of bladder involvement or non-improvement of existing bladder dysfunction, postoperatively. Patients with D-OLF and DO seemed to do better after surgical decompression. Surgery should be offered once diagnosis is confirmed on imaging, as all patients in out study, except one, showed postoperative neurological improvement.Our study concluded that patients with prolonged preoperative symptoms persisted to have them even after surgery. Patients with concurrent D-OLF and DO showed more significant improvement, postoperatively, in terms of mJOA – postop with a p = 0.002 as compared to patients with D-OLF alone.We recommend that each case be treated individually and treatment should be planned appropriately, based on the radiology and levels involved, keeping in mind the preoperative symptoms and their duration.

Acute flaccid myelitis-Clustering of polio-like illness in the tertiary care centre in Southern India.

Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is characterized by limb weakness with spinal cord grey matter lesion on imaging or electrodiagnostic evidence of spinal cord motor neuron injury. This Poliomyelitis-like illness is rare in children, and its natural course is not yet well defined. The purpose of the study was to report the clinical presentation, laboratory findings, management and outcome of children with AFM. This is a prospective case series study. Nine children met the case definition given by CDC. All cases presented with prodromal symptoms followed by acute onset asymmetrical limb weakness. Maximum weakness is reached within 4 days from the day of onset. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis shows that pleocytosis with viral markers for arboviruses and enteroviruses was negative. Electrophysiological study revealed decreased muscle action potential in all. MRI of the spinal cord showed predominantly grey matter involvement. AFM should be one of the differential diagnoses in any child presenting with acute flaccid paralysis.

Laparoscopic versus open pyeloplasty: an experience at a tertiary care centre

Background: Ureteropelvic junction obstruction can lead to symptoms such as hydronephrosis and progressive renal damage. Authors explain present primary experiences about laparoscopic pyeloplasty and open pyeloplasty in the treatment of UPJO.Methods: A bidirectional non-randomized study from March 2012 to April 2015 was conducted at a tertiary care centre in southern India. A Total 37 cases, 18 patients in laparoscopic pyeloplasty group and 19 patients in open pyeloplasty group were included.Results: A total of 37 patients were included in the study. 18 patients underwent laparoscopic Anderson-Hyne's pyeloplasty, 19 patients underwent open Anderson-Hyne's pyeloplasty patients. Outcomes were measured in terms of pain, surgery duration, postoperative pain, complications which were significant.Conclusions: Laparoscopic pyeloplasty was found to be better in terms of postoperative pain, hospital stay and complications.

Mortality profile of neonatal deaths and deaths due to neonatal sepsis in a tertiary care center in southern India: a retrospective study

Background: The Neonatal mortality rate is an important indicator for newborn care and directly reflects prenatal, intranatal, and postnatal care. Objective: Primary objective was to analyse the neonatal mortality profile, incidence of neonatal sepsis among neonatal deaths and the pattern of antimicrobial resistance.Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study done in a tertiary care regional center. All neonatal deaths from January 2017 to December 2017 were reviewed and primary causes of deaths, incidence of sepsis among neonatal deaths and pattern of antimicrobial resistance were analyzed.Results: Common causes of neonatal deaths were respiratory distress syndrome (27.4%), asphyxia (23.3%), sepsis (20.1%), congenital malformations, extreme preterm, meconium aspiration syndrome. Case fatality rate was high in extreme preterm neonates (96.8%), followed by respiratory distress syndrome (35.9%), asphyxia (33%), meconium aspiration syndrome (29.4%), congenital malformations (28.8%), and sepsis (22.6%). In present study incidence of neonatal sepsis among total neonatal deaths was about 20.1%. Coagulase negative staphylococcus(CONS) (38.6%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (32.7%) were the predominant organisms isolated. Highest case fatality rate was associated with Pseudomonas sepsis (80%), K. pneumoniae sepsis (64.8%), followed by Escherichia coli sepsis (57%) and non fermenting Gram negative bacilli (55.6%).Conclusions: Sepsis still remains one of the leading cause of death in developing countries. Coagulase negative staphylococcus (CONS) and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most common organism. 15 % enterococci and 9.7 % of CONS were resistant to vancomycin. 24 % of K. pneumoniae and 16.6% non fermenting Gram negative bacilli were resistant to amikacin. Multidrug resistance is an emerging problem.

Comparing Surgical Site Infection and Scar Cosmesis Between Conventional Linear Skin Closure Versus Purse-string Skin Closure in Stoma Reversal - A Randomized Controlled Trial.

IntroductionStoma closure is one of the most frequently performed surgeries. The common complications are surgical site infection (SSI) and poor scar cosmesis. Purse-string sutures are expected to have less incidence of SSI due to the free drainage of secretions from the wound and possibly the early detection of a wound infection. Compared to the conventional linear closure, the purse-string closure technique is expected to have less wound infection, improved scar cosmesis, and good patient satisfaction because of a smaller size scar. Hence, a well-structured study is required to substantiate the advantage of this technique.MethodologyThis randomized control trial was carried out for two years in a tertiary care centre in Southern India. Patients with various stoma reversals, including colostomy, as well as ileostomy reversal, were included in the study. Patients were divided into Group I - conventional linear skin suturing (n = 40) and Group II - purse-string closure (n = 40). After the closure of rectus muscle, the skin is closed using the purse-string method (subcuticular) in the experimental group.ResultsBoth the groups were comparable with respect to age, gender, body mass index (BMI), the presence of co-morbidities, and indication for surgery. Stomal procedures were done (26.3%) for malignant cases. The difference in mean hospital days for both groups were statistically insignificant (11.95 vs. 9.9; p = 0.927). The incidence of SSI between the groups were statistically significant (17 vs. 3; p = 0.003). The mean Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scoring (POSAS) scores between the groups (65.30 vs. 83.40; p = 0.012) were statistically significant. This proved significant improvement in scar cosmesis in purse-string skin closure. At one month postoperative, the purse-string group had better patient satisfaction (3.08 vs. 4.48; p = 0.001), which was evidenced by a mean Likert 3 scale score. The mean visual analogue scale (VAS) score did not show any significant difference in pain between the groups.ConclusionPurse-string skin closure for stoma reversal had significantly less incidence of SSI. The duration of antibiotic therapy was also less in purse-string skin closure patients as compared to linear skin closure patients. Purse-string skin closures significantly improved the scar outcome and patient satisfaction.

Prostate Specific Antigen Values of Geriatric Individuals Visiting a Tertiary Care Hospital in Southern India for Comprehensive Check Up

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) has become the most commonly used tumour marker for prostate cancer. Studies have suggested that age specific cutoff values for PSA screening are better than the currently used standard cutoff of 4.0ng/ml and different races have their own reference ranges. The objective of this study was to measure the PSA values of elderly individuals attending a tertiary care centre in southern India and postulate the possible normal values of PSA in different age groups of elderly. A total of 1038 males over the age of 60 years presenting to the Elderly Comprehensive Health clinic at the Department of Geriatrics of a tertiary hospital in Southern India between March 2009 and February 2011were studied. 4ml blood was collected and PSA was estimated by Chemiluminiscent Micro-particle Immunoassay. PSA values were analyzed in terms of mean, standard deviation and 5th and 95th percentiles. Results showed that 5th and 95th percentile values were 0.27 and 3.82 among those who were 60-69 years, 0.28 and 3.43 among those who were 70-79 years and 0.26 and 3.95 among those who were more than 80 years. 10 % of the elderly population in all age subsets had PSA values over the normal. This study showed that the PSA values from South India are similar to the expected. The age specific Indians being ethnically distinct, need to have separate PSA reference ranges which need to be established with large community-based multicentre Indian studies.

EBUS- TBNA-Initial Experience from a Tertiary Care Center in Southern India

EBUS- TBNA-Initial Experience from a Tertiary Care Center in Southern India

Changing Trend of Clinical and Epidemiological Profile of Lung Cancer – Experience from a Tertiary Care Centre in Southern India

Changing Trend of Clinical and Epidemiological Profile of Lung Cancer – Experience from a Tertiary Care Centre in Southern India

Clinical Profile, Neuroimaging Features and Aetiology of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis in a Tertiary Care Centre in Southern India

Clinical Profile, Neuroimaging Features and Aetiology of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis in a Tertiary Care Centre in Southern India

Antibodies to Zika virus, Campylobacter jejuni and gangliosides in Guillain-Barre syndrome: A prospective single-center study from southern India.

The objective of this article was to study the presence of antibodies against Zika virus (ZIKV), Campylobacter jejuni, and gangliosides in patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). Ninety consecutive patients (age more than 12 years) with GBS admitted to a tertiary care center in southern India were included in this study. Data on clinical manifestations, nerve conduction studies, and response to therapy were collected. The following tests were done in stored serum samples - anti-ZIKV (IgM) antibodies, anti-C. jejuni (IgG) antibodies, and anti-ganglioside antibodies (IgG). Those samples which were positive to anti-Zika antibodies were tested for conventional polymerase chain reaction for ZIKV and IgM antibodies against dengue, and Japanese encephalitis virus. Of the 90 patients, 3 died and 8 had persistent weakness. Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy was the most common type of GBS (56.7%). Anti-ganglioside antibodies were present in 62.2% patients with GT1b being the most common. Anti-C. jejuni antibodies were present in 46.6%. Anti-Zika antibodies (IgM) were present in 14 patients (15.5%). Four of these patients also had anti-dengue antibody (IgM) positivity. This is one of the largest studies on GBS from India and the first one to report on the presence of Zika virus antibodies from this geographical area. Our study had a high prevalence of anti-C. jejuni and anti-ganglioside antibodies. Evidence of recent ZIKV infection, as evidenced by anti-IgM antibodies, was present in 14 patients, with 4 of them being tested positive for anti-dengue IgM antibody. Whether this represents cross-reaction with dengue or prior/co-infection with dengue virus could not be addressed in this study.

Revisiting acid-fast bacilli microscopy of concentrated sputum smears as an efficient tool for the diagnosis of tuberculosis: A study from a tertiary care centre in Southern India

Revisiting acid-fast bacilli microscopy of concentrated sputum smears as an efficient tool for the diagnosis of tuberculosis: A study from a tertiary care centre in Southern India

Frequency, distribution, and immunomorphologic characteristics of peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified in a tertiary care center in Southern India.

In world literature, Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) constituted about 12% of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) of which PTCL not otherwise specified (NOS) was the most common subtype. This study was undertaken to ascertain the frequency and to assess the morphologic and immunophenotypic characteristics of PTCL, NOS over a period of 5 years in a tertiary care referral center in Southern India. Slides and blocks of all PTCL, NOS were retrieved, and a detailed morphologic and immunophenotypic study using a wide panel of antibodies was done. During this study, NHL constitutes 77.61% of all lymphomas. PTCL formed about 12.55% (251 cases) of all NHL. PTCL NOS was the most common subtype (30.68%). The most common site of involvement was lymph nodes (75%) followed by extranodal sites such as soft tissue (8.33%), gastrointestinal tract including oral cavity (6.67%), nasal cavity (5%), central nervous system (1.67%), lung (1.67%), and spleen (1.67%). PTCL, NOS showed a broad morphologic spectrum and had varied morphologic patterns with some mimicking reactive hyperplasia and some mimicking known type of T-cell lymphomas, B-cell lymphomas, and Hodgkin's lymphoma. PTCL, NOS constituted about 30.68% of all PTCLs in our institution during a 5-year period and was the second most common type of PTCL. Immunophenotyping using a wide panel of T-cell antibodies is necessary to distinguish PTCL, NOS from other lymphomas which they mimic, as they are known to carry a worse prognosis.

Factors affecting the effective management of acute stroke: A prospective observational study

Background:Stroke, characterized by sudden loss of cerebral function, is among one of the leading cause of death and disability world over. The newer treatment modalities have changed the landscape of stroke treatment but are very much time bound.Aim:To characterize pre-hospital and in-hospital factors affecting acute stroke management thus defining lacunae in stroke management.Subjects and Methods:A prospective observational study, conducted at the emergency department of a tertiary care center in southern India from August 2015 to July 2016. All stroke patients presenting within first 24 hours of onset were included. A pre -defined Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP) questionnaire was used.Results:Total of 133 patients were eligible out of which 28 were excluded for various reasons. Majority were >60 years age and male (61%). About 60% arrived within window. Distance from the hospital was one of the major factors for arrival within the window period. When compared by KAP questionnaire, bystanders of those arriving within window period had better awareness of stroke symptoms.Conclusions:Improving awareness of stroke symptoms and increasing availability of EMS is likely increase chances of stroke patients receiving appropriate acute management.