College Kolkata Research Articles

Diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis in cases of abnormal vaginal discharge: comparison of clinical and microbiological criteria

Bacterial vaginosis is a polymicrobial syndrome involving replacement of normal vaginal hydrogen peroxide producing lactobacilli by a variety of mycoplasmas and Gram-negative rods. Bacterial vaginosis has been conventionally diagnosed using Amsel criteria (a clinical method) or Nugent's score (a laboratory method with higher reproducibility). This study was undertaken to compare the diagnostic ability of the Amsel criteria with that of Nugent's score among patients presenting with abnormal vaginal discharge. The study was conducted at the Medical College in Kolkata, India to determine the prevalence of patients with bacterial vaginosis and their demographic profile. Subjects attending the outpatient department presenting with abnormal vaginal discharge were evaluated for the presence of bacterial vaginosis by Amsel criteria and Nugent's score. Prevalence of bacterial vaginosis was 24% by Nugent's score. In comparison, Amsel criteria had sensitivity of 66.67%, specificity of 94.74%, positive predictive value of 80% and negative predictive value of 90%. There was no perfect inter-rater agreement between the Amsel criteria and Nugent's score (Kappa = 0.58). Presence of clue cells correlated best with a positive diagnosis by Nugent's score while the amine test (whiff test) had the lowest correlation. Although the Amsel criteria method is a convenient and inexpensive means of diagnosing bacterial vaginosis, it is not always reliable. Alternative reliable and inexpensive diagnostic methods that unify clinical and microbiological parameters, thus increasing sensitivity while retaining specificity, are needed.

Epidemic of hand, foot and mouth disease in West Bengal, India in August, 2007: A multicentric study

Background:Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is caused mostly by Coxsackievirus A16 (CA16) and enterovirus 71 (EV71). Epidemic of HFMD has occurred in India only once in Kerala in 2003. We report here a recent outbreak of HFMD in three districts of West Bengal, India.Materials and Methods:A case detection system developed with 1) three private clinics in three districts; two at Howrah and one at Hooghly, 2) Pediatrics Department of two medical colleges in Kolkata, 3) 12 practioners of these three districts with 4) a central referral center at Department of Dermatology, NRS Medical College, Kolkata where all cases from this system were confirmed by a single observer. Pediatric Dermatology unit of the Institute of Child Health, Kolkata was another independent unit.Results:A total of 38 cases of HFMD were reported till 08.10.07. Age group ranged from 12 months to 12 years (mean 40.76 months, SD 29.49). Males were slightly higher than females (M:F - 21:17). Disease was distributed mostly over buttocks, knees, hands, feet - both dorsum and palmar or the plantar surface and the oral mucosa. Highest severity noted over the buttocks and the knee. Healing time for skin lesions was 6-13 days (mean 9.13 days, SD 1.93). Oral lesions were found in 33 (86.8%) cases.Conclusion:This outbreak far away from the initial one confirmed regular outsourcing of the virus with possibilities of future epidemics. Also the fact that EV71 induced epidemic is on rise in this part of globe is alarming for India. We hope this early report will be of help for strategic planning for a better management of the disease and prevention of dreaded neurological complications in India.

Clinicopathologic study of pelvic lesions managed by surgeons in a medical college in Kolkata in the last 2 years

The pelvic cavity is a basin-like space in the lowermost part of the abdomen where various neoplastic and non neoplastic lesions can occur involving its contents. When the nature of lesions are not clearly gynecological, patients are managed by surgeons. Our study aims to asses the clinicopathologic analysis of neoplastic lesions of the pelvic cavity managed by surgeons particularly over a period of 2 years. Out of 162 total lesions, 102 cases were non neoplastic, such as appendicular lump, Tubo-ovarian (TO) mass, hematoma and 60 cases were neoplastic. Among the 60 cases of neoplastic lesions, 40 cases were benign comprised of twisted ovarian cyst, broad-ligament fibroid, and neurofibroma and 20 cases were malignant comprised of colorectal carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, liposarcoma, Primitive nurectodermal tumor (PNET), seminoma, and lymphnode metastasis. The lesions in such closed, difficult to approach areas throws clinicians into a diagnostic dilemma during both the preoperative and intraoperative period. Even pathologists cannot ascertain some diagnosis without the help of immunohistochemistry. So, to adopt early and concise management protocol, there should be more such studies in different institutions that are currently lacking in world literature.