What do Key Stakeholders Think About HIV Self-Testing in Canada? Results from a Cross-Sectional Survey.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) self-testing presents an empowering alternative to facility-based testing for reaching undiagnosed HIV infected individuals, but is not currently available in Canada. We surveyed stakeholders (clinical providers, public health professionals, researchers) engaged in HIV testing initiatives nationwide to identify the concerns, opportunities and challenges to implementing HIV self-testing in Canada. An online cross-sectional survey was disseminated by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Centre for REACH 2.0 National HIV & sexually transmitted and blood borne infections working group to stakeholders nationwide, with a target sample size of 200. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using a mixed-methods, respondent-informed approach, to inform subsequent HIV self-testing in a country where self-testing is not yet accessible. A total of 183 responses were received. A majority (70.7%) (128/181) felt that self-testing was a necessary investment to reach the undiagnosed. 64.6% (117/181) felt that self-tests should be made available to their clients and 71.5% (128/179) of respondents agreed that self-test instructions required improvements. However, 50% (90/180) felt that self-testing will pose an economic challenge to current HIV testing models. Regardless, 21% urged for timely action and availability of HIV self-tests. Thematic analyses reflected the following concerns: (a) need for affordable self-tests, (b) need for expedited, customized, and accessible linkages to counselling, (c) concern for patients to cope with positive self-test results, (d) accuracy of self-tests to detect acute HIV and (e) liability in the context of non-disclosure. Stakeholders agreed to the provision of an option of HIV self-testing to reach the undiagnosed individuals. Concerns regarding costs and accuracy of self-tests, expedited linkages to counselling, and integration of self-test within prevailing HIV testing models, will need to be addressed before their widespread implementation.

Matched cohort study evaluating the hemostatic efficacy of fibrin sealant versus conventional approaches following dental surgery in patients with hemophilia.

Patients with hemophilia frequently require supplementary interventions, either invasive (suturing, gel foam, or cauterization) or non-invasive (fibrin sealant/glue), to attain hemostasis post dental procedures. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of fibrin sealant against traditional methods for achieving hemostasis post dental surgery. The medical records of patients with factor VIII or IX deficiency, or von Willebrand disease, who underwent dental procedures in the Department of Dentistry, Seth GSMC and KEM Hospital, were evaluated for inclusion in this retrospective matched cohort study. Cohort-1 included those treated with a fibrin sealant (Tisseel Lyo) with/without traditional hemostatic measures post-procedure, while cohort-2 (controls) included those in whom no fibrin sealant was used. A total of 128 patients, 64 in each group, were evaluated. There was no statistically significant difference in demographics, disease-related variables, dental complaints, or preoperative treatment given between the groups. However, there was a significant reduction (P < 0.001) in the requirement for secondary procedures for hemostasis (suturing, gel foam application, and/or cauterization) and postoperative requirement for factor replacement (P = 0.003) in the fibrin glue group as compared to the controls. In this study, fibrin sealant demonstrated superior efficacy in mitigating the necessity for active hemostasis control.

Augmentation of clozapine with another pharmacological agent: treatment for refractory schizophrenia in the 'real world'.

OBJECTIVE: Refractory schizophrenia (SZ) affects approximately 30% of people with SZ. Clozapine (CLZ) is the gold standard treatment; however, there are still patients who are non-responsive or partially responsive to treatment. Although a lack of evidence exists in reality, these patients are treated with a combination of agents in addition to CLZ. Therefore, this article reviews the prevalence of the augmentation of CLZ with additional agents. METHOD: This study was cross-sectional; physicians in a region of Australia in May 2011 were contacted to provide details of their patients on CLZ and any additional agents. The data set consists of 84 patients. RESULTS: The majority of the patients 84.5% were taking at least one additional agent. Of those taking additional agents, they derived from the following classes' antipsychotics (72%), antidepressants (30%), mood stabilisers (17%), antimetabolic agents (13%), benzodiazepines (7%), anticholinergics (4%) and miscellaneous agents (12.5%). CONCLUSION: It is apparent that CLZ is routinely augmented with other agents despite the lack of an evidence base. However, concerning was the lack of augmentation with antimetabolic agents despite the paucity of literature reporting the detrimental impact of antipsychotic treatment upon patients metabolic indices. The findings are discussed in the context of the current recommendations and empirical literature.

Reason for clozapine cessation.

OBJECTIVE: Approximately 30% of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia suffer from treatment-resistant or refractory schizophrenia. The gold standard for treatment of refractory schizophrenia is clozapine. However, a significant number of patients cease clozapine therapy; therefore this study explores patient's motives for cessation. METHOD: The motives for cessation and duration of clozapine treatment from a retrospective database of 151 patients with schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder who had ceased clozapine once or more were reviewed, with the motives for cessation coded. The general motives for cessation were non-compliance, own decision, medical, poor response and other. In addition, the medical reasons for cessation were further codified: cardiac complications, neutropenia, fevers, other side effects and pregnancy. RESULTS: The majority of patients ceased clozapine owing to non-compliance with medical protocols or citing their own decision. Approximately half ceased after a period of 6 months or less. Seventeen per cent of patients ceased owing to medical reasons, with the largest proportions discontinuing treatment because of other side effects or neutropenia. CONCLUSION: Future research should seek to further investigate why patients decide to be non-compliant and formulate their own decision to cease treatment, as this will facilitate strategies to promote adherence amongst these two groups that are potentially the most amenable to change.

Probiotic supplementation in the first 6 months of life in at risk Asian infants--effects on eczema and atopic sensitization at the age of 1 year.

BACKGROUND: The role of probiotics in allergy prevention remains uncertain but has been shown in some studies to have a possible protective effect on eczema. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the effect of probiotic supplementation in the first 6 months of life on eczema and allergic sensitization at 1 year of age in Asian infants at risk of allergic disease. METHODS: A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial involving 253 infants with a family history of allergic disease was carried out. Infants received at least 60 mL of commercially available cow's milk formula with or without probiotic supplementation [Bifidobacterium longum (BL999) 1 x 10(7) colony forming unit (CFU)/g and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LPR) 2 x 10(7) CFU/g] daily for the first 6 months. Clinical evaluation was performed at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of age, with serum total IgE measurement and skin prick tests conducted at the 12-month visit. The primary and secondary end-points were eczema and allergen sensitization, respectively. RESULTS: The incidence of eczema in the probiotic (22%) group was similar to that in the placebo group (25%) (P=0.53). The median Scoring Atopic Dermatitis score at 12 months was 17.10 (9.74) in the probiotic group and 11.60 (8.40) in the placebo group (P=0.17). The prevalence of allergen sensitization showed no difference (probiotic=24% vs. placebo=19%, P=0.26). The total IgE geometric mean (95% confidence interval) was 18.76 (12.54-24.98) kU/L in the probiotic group and 23.13 (16.01-30.24) kU/L in the placebo group (P=0.15). Atopic eczema (with sensitization) in the probiotic (7.3%) group was comparable to the placebo group (5.8%) (P=0.86). CONCLUSION: Early life administration of a cow's milk formula supplemented with probiotics showed no effect on prevention of eczema or allergen sensitization in the first year of life in Asian infants at risk of allergic disease. Further work is needed to determine whether timing of supplementation, dose and probiotic strain are important considerations.

Comparative uptake of fluoride ion into enamel from various topical fluorides in vitro.

BACKGROUND: There are many forms of topical fluoride available today, making the decision as to which is most effective to manage the immediate caries risk problem at hand, very difficult. The objective of this project was to determine the concentration and pattern of fluoride ion uptake into enamel from a variety of categories of topical fluoride recently available in Australia. METHODS: Extracted, intact molar teeth were sectioned to provide six plates of smooth surface enamel. Windows of enamel 2 x 6 mm were exposed to a variety of topical fluorides for periods simulating those used in vivo. Following drying, the slates of enamel were exposed to 2 ml of 0.1 M HCl as a chemical biopsy agent for incremental periods of time. The concentrations of fluoride ion in the biopsy solutions for both test and background (control) slates of enamel were determined directly using a fluoride combination selective electrode in conjunction with a high impedance pH meter. Cumulative amounts of fluoride were determined for each topical fluoride agent. RESULTS: The concentrations of fluoride ion taken up into enamel were generally proportional to those present in each agent. However, those from APF gel greatly exceeded the amounts taken up from NaF gel. Also, the concentrations taken up from some of the highly concentrated metal fluorides were surprisingly low. Prior etching of enamel increased uptake and prolonged application of APF gel provided no extra benefit. CONCLUSIONS: Some topical fluorides, e.g., APF gel, provided a greatly increased uptake and to a greater depth than other self-application products. However, the frequency of its use should be considered with caution where patients have glass-based restorations.

Structured treatment interruptions (STI) in chronic unsuppressed HIV infection in adults.

BACKGROUND: Structured treatment interruptions (STI) of antiretroviral therapy (ART) have been investigated as part of novel treatment strategies, with different aims and objectives depending on the populations involved. These populations include: 1) patients who initiate ART during acute HIV infection; 2) patients with chronic HIV infection, on ART, with successfully suppressed viremia; and 3) patients with chronic HIV infection and treatment failure, with persistent viremia due to multi-drug resistant HIV (Hirschel 2001; Deeks 2002; Miller 2003). In an earlier Cochrane review (Pai 2005), we had summarized the evidence about the effects of STI in chronic suppressed HIV infection. In this review, we summarize the evidence on STI in patients with chronic unsuppressed HIV infection due to drug-resistant HIV. Unsuppressed HIV infection describes those patients who cannot suppress viremia, due to the presence of multi-drug-resistant virus. It is also referred to as treatment failure. Drug resistance is identified by the presence of resistant mutations at baseline.STI as a treatment strategy in HIV-infected patients with chronic unsuppressed viremia involves interrupting ART in controlled clinical settings, for a pre-specified duration of time. These interruptions have various aims, including the following: 1) to allow wild virus to re-emerge and replace the resistant mutant virus, with the hope of improving the efficacy of a subsequent ART regimen; 2) to halt development of drug resistance and to preserve subsequent treatment options; 3) to alleviate treatment fatigue and reduce drug-related adverse effects; and 4) to improve quality of life (Miller 2003; Montaner 2001; Vella 2000;). OBJECTIVES: The objective of our systematic review was to synthesize the evidence on the effect of structured treatment interruptions in adult patients with chronic unsuppressed HIV infection. SEARCH STRATEGY: We included all available intervention studies (randomized controlled trials and non-randomized trials) conducted in HIV-infected patients worldwide. We searched nine databases, covering the period from January 1996 to February 2006. We also scanned bibliographies of relevant studies and contacted experts in the field to identify unpublished research, abstracts and ongoing trials. In the first screen, a total of 3186 potentially eligible citations from nine databases and sources were identified, of which 2047 duplicate citations were excluded. The remaining 1139 citations were examined in detail, and we further excluded 951 citations that were modeling studies, animal studies, case reports, and opinion pieces. As shown in Figure 01, 188 citations were identified in the second screen as relevant for full-text screening. Of these, 60 basic science studies, editorials and abstracts were excluded and 128 full-text articles were retrieved. In the third screen, all full-text articles were examined for eligibility in our review. These were subclassified into three categories: 1) chronic suppressed HIV infection; 2) chronic unsuppressed HIV infection; and 3) acute HIV infection. Studies were further excluded if their abstracts did not contain enough information for inclusion in our reviews. A total of 62 studies were finally classified into chronic suppressed, acute, and chronic unsuppressed categories. Of these, 17 trials met the eligibility criteria for this review. SELECTION CRITERIA: Inclusion criteriaAll available randomized or non-randomized controlled trials investigating planned treatment interruptions among patients with chronic unsuppressed HIV infection. Early pilot non-randomized prospective studies on treatment interruptions of fixed and variable durations were also included. Relevant abstracts on randomized controlled trials were also included if they contained sufficient information. Exclusion criteriaEditorials, reviews, modeling studies, and basic science studies were excluded. Studies on STI among patients with chronic suppressed HIV infection were summarized in a separate review. Studies on STI in primary HIV infection were beyond the scope of this review. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently extracted data, evaluated study eligibility and quality. Disagreements were resolved in consultation with a third reviewer.A total of seventeen studies on STI were included in our review. However, due to significant heterogeneity across studies (i.e. in study design, populations, baseline characteristics, and reported outcomes; and in reporting of measures of effect, hazard ratios, and risk ratios), we considered it inappropriate to perform a meta-analysis. MAIN RESULTS: In early pilot non-randomized trials, a pattern was evident across studies. During treatment interruption, a decline in CD4 cell counts, increase in viral load, and a shift in the level of genotypic drug resistance towards more of a wild-type HIV virus was reported. This suggests that STI may be used to increase drug susceptibility to an optimized salvage regimen upon treatment re-initiation. These studies generated useful data and hypotheses that were later tested in randomized controlled trials. Randomized controlled trials rated high on quality. Of the eight randomized controlled trials reviewed, seven had been completed while one was ongoing and remains blinded. Of the seven completed randomized controlled trials, six have reported consistent virologic and immunologic patterns, and found no significant benefit in virologic response to subsequent ART in the STI arm, compared to the control arm. In addition, the largest completed randomized trial reported greater numbers of clinical disease progression events and evidence of prolonged negative impact on CD4 cell counts in the STI arm (Beatty 2005; Benson 2004; Deeks 2001; Lawrence 2003; Walmsley 2005; Ruiz 2003). The single RCT with divergent findings from the others (GigHAART), reporting a significant virologic and immunologic benefit due to STI, was different in prescribing a shorter STI duration and a salvage ART regimen of 8-9 drugs. There were also differences in the patient population characteristics with this study, targeting those with very advanced HIV disease (Katlama 2004). Although we await the unblinded results of the eighth RCT (OPTIMA), the evidence so far does not support STI in the setting of chronic unsuppressed HIV infection with antiretroviral treatment failure (Brown 2004; Holodniy 2004; Kyriakides 2002; Singer 2006). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The current available evidence primarily supports a lack of benefit of STI before switching therapy in patients with unsuppressed HIV viremia despite ART. There is evidence of harm in attempting STI in patients with relatively advanced HIV disease, due to the associated CD4 cell decline and the increased risk of clinical disease progression. At this time, there is no evidence to recommend the use of STI in this clinical category of patients with treatment failure.

Structured treatment interruptions (STI) in chronic suppressed HIV infection in adults.

BACKGROUND: Although antiretroviral treatment (ART) has led to a decline in morbidity and mortality of HIV-infected patients in developed countries, it has also presented challenges. These challenges include increases in pill burden; adherence to treatment; development of resistance and treatment failure; development of drug toxicities; and increase in cost of HIV treatment and care. These issues stimulated interest in investigating the short-term and long-term consequences of discontinuing ART, thus providing support for research in structured treatment interruptions (STI). Structured treatment interruptions of antiretroviral treatment involve taking supervised breaks from ART. STI are defined as one or more planned, timing pre-specified, cyclical interruptions in ART. STI are attempted in monitored clinical settings in eligible participants. STI have generated hopes of reducing drug toxicities, decreasing costs and total time on treatment in HIV-positive patients. The first STI was attempted in the case of a patient in Germany, who later permanently discontinued treatment. This successful anecdotal case report led to several trials on STI worldwide. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this systematic review was to assess the effects of structured treatment interruptions (STI) of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the management of chronic suppressed HIV infection, using all available high-quality studies. SEARCH STRATEGY: Nine databases covering the time period from January 1996 to March 2005 were searched. Bibliographies were scanned and experts contacted in the field to identify unpublished research and ongoing trials. Two reviewers independently extracted data, and evaluated study eligibility and quality. Disagreements were resolved in consultation with a third reviewer. Data from 33 studies were included in the review. SELECTION CRITERIA: STI is a planned, timing pre-specified experimental intervention. In our review, we decided to include all available intervention trials in HIV-infected patients, with or without control groups. We reviewed evidence from 18 randomized and non-randomized controlled trials, and 15 single arm trials. Single arm trials were included because these pilot studies made significant contribution to the early development and refutation of hypotheses in STI. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Trials included in this review varied in study participants, methodology and reported inconsistent measures of effect. Due to this heterogeneity, we did not attempt to meta-analyse them. Results were tabulated and a qualitative systematic review was done MAIN RESULTS: For the purpose of this review, STI strategies were classified either as a timed-cycle STI strategy or a CD4-guided STI strategy. In timed-cycle STI strategy, a predetermined period of fixed duration (e.g. one week, one month) off ART was attempted followed by resumption of ART, while closely monitoring changes in CD4 levels and viral load levels. Predetermined criteria for interruption and resumption were laid out in this strategy. Timed-cycle STI fell out of favor due to reports of development of resistance in many studies. Moreover, there were no significant immunological and virological benefits, and no reduction in toxicities, reported in these studies. In CD4-guided STI strategy, ART was interrupted for variable durations guided by CD4 levels. Participants with high nadir CD4 levels qualified for this approach. A reduction in costs of ART, a reduction in mutation, and a better tolerability of this CD4-guided STI strategy was reported. However, concerns about long-term safety of this strategy on immunological, virological, and clinical outcomes were also raised. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Timed-cycle STI have not been proven to be safe in the short term. Although CD4-guided STI strategy has reported favorable outcomes in the short term, the long-term safety, efficacy and tolerability of this strategy has not been fully investigated. Based on the studies we reviewed, the evidence to support the use of timed-cycle STI and CD4-guided STI cycles as a standard of care in the management of chronic suppressed HIV infection is inconclusive.

Oral dirofilariasis.

Dirofilaria is parasitic nematodes of domestic and wild animals that can infect humans accidentally via vectors. Its occurrence in the oral cavity is extremely rare. The most frequent presentation of human dirofilariasis is a single submucosal nodule without signs of inflammation. We hereby, report a case of human dirofilariasis affecting the buccal mucosa in a 32-year-old farmer caused by D. repens.

Synthesis and in vitro activity of long-chain 5'-O-[(alkoxycarbonyl)phosphinyl]-3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidines against wild-type and AZT- and foscarnet-resistant strains of HIV-1.

Lipophilic esters of 3'-azido-3'-deoxy-5'-O-(carboxyphosphinyl)thymidine (PFA-AZT) were synthesized and tested for antiretroviral activity in CD4+ HT4-6C cells infected with either wild-type HIV-1LAI, a PFA-resistant strain encoding a single-point mutation in reverse transcriptase (E89K), or an AZT-resistant clinical isolate (A018-post). Arbuzov condensation of 1-octadecyl, 1-eicosanyl, and 1-docosanyl chloroformate with trimethyl phosphite yielded the corresponding dimethyl long-chain alkyl triesters of PFA. Selective removal of one methyl group from the triesters with sodium iodide yielded monosodium salts, whereas treatment with bromotrimethylsilane cleaved both methyl groups while leaving the long-chain alkyl group intact. Neutralization of the resulting [(alkyloxy)carbonyl]phosphonic acids with 2 equiv of sodium methoxide afforded disodium salts of the phosphonic acid moiety. Similar chemistry was used to obtain the mono- and disodium salts of the cholesterol ester of PFA. Reaction of the triesters with phosphorous pentachloride, followed by coupling with AZT and O-demethylation with sodium iodide, afforded 3'-azido-3'-deoxy-5'-O-[[(1-octadecyloxy)carbonyl]phosphinyl ]thymidine (9a), 3'-azido-3'-deoxy-5'-O-[[(1-eicosanyloxy)carbonyl]phosphinyl ]thymidine (9b), 3'-azido-3'-deoxy-5'-O-[[(1-docosanyloxy)carbonyl]phosphinyl ]thymidine (9c), and 3'-azido-3'-deoxy-5'-O-[[(3 beta-cholest-5-enyloxy)carbonyl]phosphinyl]thymidine (9d). Concentrations of 9a-d found to inhibit replication of wild-type HIV-1LAI by 50% (EC50 values) as measured in a plaque reduction assay were in the 0.1-0.3 microM range as compared with 0.013 microM for AZT and 133 microM for PFA. The concentration at which toxicity was observed in 50% of the host cells (TC50 values) as measured by a visual grading scale of cellular morphology was 10 microM for 9a and 9d, 32 microM for 9b, and 320 microM for 9c. Thus, the TC50/EC50 ratio or selectivity index (SI) was 100 for 9a, 230 for 9b, and 1000 for 9c but only 33 for 9d, suggesting that the straight-chained fatty alcohol esters were more therapeutically selective. Similar TC50 and SI values were obtained for rapidly dividing CEM lymphoblasts as for HT4-6C cells. In assays against E89K, 9a-c had mean EC50 values of 0.13, 0.009, and 0.17 microM, whereas the EC50 of PFA was > 1000 microM and that of AZT was 0.009 microM; thus, E89K was highly resistant to PFA but not cross-resistant to either AZT or the lipophilic PFA-AZT conjugates. In viral replication assays against the A018C-post isolate, the mean EC50 values of 9a-c were 0.30, 0.53, and 0.77 microM as compared with 2.9 microM for AZT and 65 microM for PFA; thus, the virus recovered from a patient pretreated with AZT was not cross-resistant to either PFA or 9a-c. A notable feature of these results was that, in addition to being > 1000-fold more potent than PFA against the PFA-resistant mutant, the lipophilic PFA-AZT conjugates were more potent than PFA, as well as AZT, against AZT-resistant HIV-1.

Association of acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie's syndrome) with herpes zoster.

Ogilvie's syndrome, or acute pseudo-obstruction of the colon is characterized by massive distension of the colon in the absence of organic distal obstruction. The syndrome is associated with various unrelated and, most often, extra-abdominal causes. An association between Ogilvie's syndrome and herpes zoster has been reported only once, by Ceccese et al. in 1985. We present a second such case. This patient did not show evidence of any active illness other than the involvement of the T10 dermatome by herpes zoster. The patient's symptoms of colonic obstruction subsided with resolution of the zosteriform rash.

Sodium nitroprusside/nitric oxide causes apoptosis in spiral ganglion cells.

OBJECTIVE: In the cochlea, excitatory amino acid receptor overstimulation induces toxicity in spiral ganglion neurons by an unknown mechanism. In the central nervous system, excitatory amino acid-induced toxicity is mediated by nitric oxide, which induces apoptosis in neurons. This study tested the hypothesis that cochlear nitric oxide-mediated toxicity is the result of induction of apoptosis in spiral ganglion neurons. METHODS: The cochleas of 15 gerbils randomly assigned to different groups were perfused for 30 minutes with a test solution of 1 mmol/L sodium nitroprusside, a nitric oxide donor, or a control solution of artificial perilymph. Animals were killed at varying times, including 2, 3, 4, 8, and 18 hours after perfusion. DNA fragmentation or in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end-labeling analysis was done on cochleas for detection of apoptosis. RESULTS: Analysis by both techniques demonstrated marked apoptotic cell changes in spiral ganglion neurons of sodium nitroprusside-treated cochleas evident 4 to 8 hours after perfusion, as compared with minimal to no evidence of apoptosis in spiral ganglion neurons of control specimens. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to high levels of nitric oxide induces apoptosis in spiral ganglion neurons. Because apoptosis is a delayed, potentially reversible cell death pathway, this may present an opportunity for intervention to prevent or attenuate hearing damage induced by excitotoxic stimuli.

Sediment cytology in bone biopsies.

The cytologic examination of smears prepared from the sediment of biopsy specimen fixatives ("sediment cytology") was used to study 70 bone lesions biopsied with a suspicion of malignancy. The smears were adequately cellular in most cases and showed good morphologic preservation; some contained fragments of tissue. Cytology was able to identify the smears from the 47 malignant lesions as malignant, but was not always able to identify the histologic type. While the osteoclastomas, Ewing's sarcomas and metastatic carcinomas were accurately diagnosed, the osteogenic sarcomas could only be identified as sarcomas and the scanty smears from chondrosarcomas only permitted a diagnosis of malignancy. The latter was also true for soft tissue lesions and lymphoma involving the bones. The 12 benign lesions yielded less cellular specimens and were more difficult to cytologically diagnose. The 11 inflammatory lesions were identified as nonmalignant. While this simple technique of sediment cytology can provide an early diagnosis for bone lesions, the final diagnosis requires the histopathologic study of the actual biopsy specimen.

Syncytial variant of nodular sclerosing Hodgkin lymphoma.

We report the case history of a 31-year old woman with a rare morphologic form of nodular sclerosing Hodgkin disease (NSHD) termed "syncytial variant." Its histologic features mimic metastatic carcinoma, thymoma, melanoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and germ-cell tumor. Antigens expressed on Reed-Sternberg cells, the hallmark of Hodgkin disease, and other neoplastic cells were screened to determine the correct diagnosis. This patient demonstrates the importance of using specific immunohistochemical techniques to clarify the diagnosis of NSHD of the "syncytial variant" subtype.

Involvement of prostaglandins in chilli-induced early gastric vascular damage in adult Wistar rat.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of prostaglandins in protecting against chilli-induced early gastric vascular damage. METHODS: Early gastric vascular damage was induced in rats by oral administration of 8 mg/Kg chilli extract. The damage was assessed by estimating spectrophotometrically the amount of Evan's blue leaking into gastric tissue and luminal contents 10 min after exposure to chilli. Further groups of rats were pretreated with misoprostol (10, 25 or 50 micrograms/Kg) or dazmegrel (1, 5 or 25 mg) to evaluate their protective effects. RESULTS: Both misoprostol and dazmegrel were able to reduce gastric vascular damage induced by chilli in a dose-dependent fashion. CONCLUSION: Prostaglandins may play a role in protecting against chilli-induced early gastric vascular damage.

Painless pancreatitis: a rare manifestation of leptospirosis.

A rare case of painless pancreatitis caused by Leptospira is reported. The patient presented clinically with features of paralytic ileus and renal failure. Hyperamylasemia was persistent inspite of recovery of renal function. The patient recovered on treatment with penicillin and serum amylase returned to normal in three months.

Effectiveness of antenatal care on weight of infants attending underfive clinic.

Holistic approach for healthy growth of infants is considered in this study by measuring weight as an important variable. There were significant increase in the average gain monthly weight throughout infancy (P < 0.01) and preponement of age at which weaning started (P < 0.001) in infants born to mothers who registered themselves early during same gestation for antenatal care programme, the same infants being followed in an under-five clinic till one year of age. Though there was hardly any difference in average birth weights of infants of the study and control groups (P > 0.05), antenatal care programme was definitely helpful in promoting their babies for early registration for an under-five clinic (P < 0.001).

PIP: Birth weight reflects mother's health and nutritional status, and predicts the future growth and development of the child. Antenatal care visits are important to the timely detection of risks and subsequent treatment. While an infant grows 300,000-fold inside of the womb, he or she grows by a factor of only 20 from infancy to adulthood. The authors report their findings from a study conducted to assess the effects of antenatal care given to pregnant women upon infant birth weight and average monthly weight gain during the first year of life. Findings are based upon 210 singleton babies born in maternity homes and registered latest by 5 months of age for under-5 clinic at Shivajinagar Urban Health Center (UHC), Deonar. Deonar is a lower socioeconomic status, periurban area of Bombay. Significant increases were observed in the average monthly weight gain throughout infancy and preponement of age at which weaning started in infants born to mothers who registered themselves early during gestation for antenatal care programs. Although there was hardly any difference in average birthweights of infants in the study and control groups, the antenatal care program helped to promote babies for early registration at the under-5 clinic.

Prevalence of VDRL sero-positivity in women in reproductive age group in an urban slum community in Bombay.

A cross sectional survey was carried in an Urban Slum Community in Bombay having a population of 60,000. A total of 393 women in reproductive age group were screened for VDRL reactivity. The highest prevalence was in 15 to 29 years of age group. The sero-positivity rate at 1:8 dilution and above was 0.50%. The seropositivity rate can be further brought down by properly planned and implemented STD (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) Control activities at a community level.

Mobile health to improve tuberculosis care and control: a call worth making.

The use of mobile phones has substantially increased throughout the world over the last decade. This has opened up opportunities for the integration of mobile phones as health intervention tools in many aspects of health care, including prevention, diagnosis, data collection, treatment and adherence monitoring and surveillance. Several applications have been explored in human immunodeficiency virus care. The field of tuberculosis (TB) has not exploited the potential of mobile health (m-health) to the same extent, although the opportunities have been recognized. A number of proof-of-concept and pilot studies have been published on m-health in TB care, and an even larger number of studies are available in the grey literature. This article summarizes publications and recent developments at the intersection of TB care and m-health. We show that more rigorous studies evaluating different applications and implementation strategies are needed to establish an evidence base that serves to inform policy and decision making. We outline further areas of research that should be addressed and potential challenges that lie ahead if m-health applications are to enhance the accessibility and quality of TB care.