Surgical and audiological outcome of canal wall down mastoidectomy in Sub Himalayan region: our experience

Background: Pre-operative and post-operative hearing status and status of mastoid cavity were compared in patients undergoing canal wall down mastoidectomy (CWDM) with tympanoplasty.Methods: Forty-three patients who underwent surgery and completed their follow up post-surgery were included in the study. Nineteen patients underwent CWDM with type III tympanoplasty with PORP, 7 patients underwent CWDM with type III tympanoplasty without PORP and 17 patients underwent CWDM with type IV tympanoplasty with TORP.Results: Among enrolled patients, 21 patients were females and 22 patients were male. Right ear (29) was commonly involved than left ear (14). Hearing loss was predominant symptom followed by recurrent ear discharge and other symptoms. Patients underwent three types of surgeries, type III tympanoplasty with PORP (19/43), type III tympanoplasty without PORP (7/43) and type IV tympanoplasty with TORP (17/43) by using Teflon prosthesis.Conclusions: Thirty seven percent (16/43) of patients had hearing threshold 60dB hearing threshold, all belonging to group C. Anatomical results were assessed by examining the mastoid cavity showing 95%, 72%, 70% patients in group A, B and C had well epithelialized cavity

Comparative evaluation of FESS and septoplasty with FESS in cases of DNS with chronic maxillary sinusitis

Background: Present study compares basic FESS and septoplasty with FESS alone in DNS with maxillary sinusitis.Methods: Sixty patients of DNS with chronic maxillary sinusitis were divided into two groups alternatively. After pre-operative symptoms score and computerized tomography (CT scan), twenty patients underwent FESS with septoplasty (group A) and other 20 underwent FESS alone (group B) under local anaesthesia and topical 4% lignocaine with 1:1000 adrenaline. At 6 weeks, post-operative symptom score and CT scan findings were documented and compared statistically by using unpaired student t-test.Results: Ninety six percent of patients in group A and 87.6% in group B have shown complete improvement in facial pain/pressure. Ninety three percent of patients in group A and 83.3% in group B have shown complete improvement in headache. Ninety percent patients in group A and 63.3% in group B has shown complete improvement in nasal obstruction. Seventy six percent of patients in group A and 63.3% of patients in group B have shown complete improvement in nasal discharge. Eighty six percent and 63.3% of patients in group A and group B respectively were satisfied from the surgery. Ninety three percent of patients in group A and 70% in group B were found to have normal maxillary sinus mucosa on HRCT nose and PNS after 6 weeks following surgical treatment. Hundred percent patients in group A and 96.7% of patients in group B were found to have normal OMC on HRCT nose and PNS 6 weeks after surgery.Conclusions: It was observed that FESS with septoplasty is effective for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with deviated nasal septum on VAS as well as radiologically (the Lund and Mackay staging system: radiologic staging) than FESS alone

Anomalous Thermoelectric power of over-doped Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 superconductor

Temperature dependence of thermoelectric power S(T) of three differently processed Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 (Bi2212) samples, viz. as-processed melt quenched (Bi2212-MQ), 6000C N2-annealed (Bi2212-N2) and 6000C O2-annealed (Bi2212-O2) is reported here. All the samples possess single-phase character and their superconducting transition temperatures (TcR=0) are 85 K, 90 K and 72 K respectively for Bi2212-MQ, Bi2212-N2 and Bi2212-O2. While Bi2212-MQ and Bi2212-N2 samples are in near optimum doping regime, Bi2212-O2 is an over-doped sample. TcS=0 values obtained through S(T) data are also in line with those deduced from the temperature dependence of resistance and DC magnetization. Interestingly, S(T) behaviour of the optimally-doped Bi2212-MQ and Bi2212-N2 samples is seen to be positive in whole temperature range, it is found negative for the over-doped Bi2212-O2 sample above TcS=0. These results have been seen in the light of the recent band structure calculations and the ensuing split Fermi surface as determined by angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES).Comment: 11 Pages Text + Figs: comments welcome ([email protected]

A prospective comparative study of high resolution ultrasound and MRI in the diagnosis of rotator cuff tears in a tertiary hospital of North India

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the accuracy of high resolution ultrasound (USG) and MRI in the diagnosis of rotator cuff tears (RCT) and to determine if high resolution USG compares favorably in sensitivity and specificity to MRI in the diagnosis of rotator cuff injury. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this prospective comparative study, 40 patients with clinically suspected rotator cuff tears underwent both ultrasound and MRI of the shoulder. Out of these 40 patients, 31 patients who had positive findings for rotator cuff tears on ultrasound and/or MRI were finally included in the study while the remaining 9 patients with negative or unrelated findings were excluded. The USG and MRI were interpreted by two radiologists experienced in musculoskeletal radiology and blinded to findings of each other. Comparison was done using MRI as a standard reference. RESULTS: The agreement between USG and MRI for diagnosis of RCTs was statistically excellent; USG showed a sensitivity of 86.7% and a specificity of 100% for full-thickness tears, and a sensitivity of 89.7% and a specificity of 98.8% for partial-thickness tears; observed accuracy for full thickness tears was 98.4% and 95.9% for partial thickness tears. The Kappa coefficient of association was 0.91 for full thickness tears and 0.90 for partial thickness tears. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the comparable diagnostic accuracy of USG and MRI, the former modality can be used as a first-line investigation for diagnosis of RCT. MRI should be used secondarily as a problem-solving tool either following an equivocal shoulder USG or for delineation of anatomy in cases where surgical correction is needed

Breast Feeding Practices In Rural And Urban Communities In A Hilly District Of North India

Research question: What are the breast feeding practices in urban and rural communities of a hilly district? Objectives: 1. To study breast feeding practices. 2. To find out the influence of motherâ€s education on these practices. Study Design: Cross-sectional Setting: Urban and Rural Participants: Mothers of under 3 years children Sample size: 994 subjects(489 from urban and 505 from rural areas) Study variables: Prelacteal feed, initiation of breast feeding, complimentary feed introduction, continued breast feeding, material literacy, urban and rural subjects. Statistical analysis: Proportions and chi-square test. Results: A high exclusive breast feeding rate was observed which was 0.74 in urban and 0.72 in rural children less than 4 months of age. Timely complementary feeding rate was 0.84 and 0.70 in urban and rural areas respectively. Continued breast feeding rates at 1 and 2 years were 0.44 to 0.65 and 0.15 to 0.36 in urban and rural areas respectively

A classic case of tuberous sclerosis with multisystem involvement including giant bilateral renal angiomyolipomas presenting as massive hematuria

BACKGROUND: Tuberous Sclerosis (TSC) also known as Bourneville disease is a neurocutaneous syndrome having an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern, though the condition has a high rate of spontaneous mutation. It is the second most common neurocutaneous syndrome after neurofibromatosis. This disease demonstrates a widespread potential for hamartomatous growths in multiple organ systems. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a 36-year-old female with TSC presenting as massive hematuria with underlying giant bilateral renal angiomyolipomas (AML) with estimated total tumor burden of more than 8 kg which is to the best of our knowledge the highest ever reported. The patient also had lymphangioleiomyomatosis and lesions in the brain, skin, teeth and bones. CONCLUSIONS: TSC has a wide variety of clinical and radiologic manifestations. It should be suspected when some of the common radiological manifestations are found, including CNS involvement, renal and hepatic AMLs and LAM, even if clinical signs are not obvious. Renal AMLs in setting of TSC may reach giant proportions and may present with massive hematuria