Clinical Profile of Surgical Diseases with Emergence of New Problems in HIV+ Individuals.

North Karnataka is one of the regions with the high prevalence of HIV+ individuals. Bijapur is a district in North Karnataka with high prevalence as per fact sheets of NACO of March 2012. Better awareness, access to health care, and antiretroviral therapy have improved survival and increase in number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA). Improved survival has increased their attendance to hospitals with variety of surgical problems, some known and some less known. The percentage of HIV+ individuals was 1.64 % among all admissions. Of these individuals, 13.65 % (272) had surgical problems. Abscesses were the commonest. Abscesses at uncommon sites also were encountered. Anorectal pathologies, tuberculosis, lymphadenopathy, appendicitis, etc. commonly seen in HIV+ individuals were seen. Drug-induced pancreatitis due to anti retroviral therapy was one of the common problems encountered. Uncommon conditions like ureteric calculi, external iliac artery thrombosis, diaphragmatic eventration, and few more were observed. Even though literature on AIDS/HIV is abundant, there is less information on surgical conditions encountered more so from this part of the subcontinent. Hence, it was decided to report the profile of the conditions encountered.

Groundwater fluoride contamination and its possible health implications in Indi taluk of Vijayapura District (Karnataka State), India.

Groundwater fluoride concentration and fluoride-related health problems were studied in twenty-two villages of Indi taluk of Vijayapura district, Karnataka, India. Present study (2015) was also used to compare groundwater fluoride concentration in same 22 villages with previous government report (2000). Groundwater fluoride concentrations of 62 bore wells of 22 villages were analyzed by using an ion-sensitive electrode. A total of 660 adults and 600 children were screened for fluorosis symptoms and signs. Sixty clinically suspected fluorosis patients' urine samples were further analyzed for fluoride. The mean value (1.22 ± 0.75 mg/L) of fluoride concentration of 62 bore wells and 54.83 % bore wells with ≥1.0 mg/L of fluoride concentrations in Indi taluk indicates higher than the permissible limit of drinking water fluoride concentration recommended for India. Clinical symptoms like arthritis, joint pains, gastrointestinal discomfort and lower limb deformities with high urinary fluoride concentrations in some subjects suggest fluorosis. Results also showed an increase in groundwater fluoride concentration of the same 22 villages between previous and present study. Preliminary arthritis symptom of the villagers could be due to drinking fluoride-contaminated water. Increase in fluoride concentration with time to the bore wells definitely indicates future danger.

Rational Hyperoxia in the Perioperative Period: a Safe and Effective Tool in the Reduction of SSI.

Oxygen supplemented at a concentration higher than 40-50 % for at least 2 h perioperatively is expected to reduce surgical site infections (SSI). Although supplementation of 80 % of oxygen perioperatively has shown to reduce SSI in various studies, this concentration is known to be associated with airway complications. This study was taken up to assess the efficacy of 60 %, i.e. <80 and >50 %, inspired oxygen supplemented perioperatively in reducing SSI. One hundred and eighty-eight patients who underwent elective class I and II surgeries were studied. Patients were divided equally into two groups and subgroups and matched for age, sex, type of surgeries, etc. The control group received 30 % and the study group received 60 % oxygen supplementation perioperatively for 2 h. Wounds were observed for the development of SSI. 8/94 patients in the study group and 13/94 patients in the control group developed SSI (p < 0.01). The results indicate a relative risk of 1.62, risk difference of 0.0531 and attributable risk of 38.42 %. Hence, it may be concluded that perioperative oxygen supplementation at 60 % concentration reduces SSI.

Conflict of interest - serious issue on publication ethics for Indian medical journals.

INTRODUCTION: There are several vested interest lies on research publication hence the editorial policy is the sole important factor to control and regulate ethical publications in medical sciences especially on 'conflict of interest' issue. The study was aimed to assess on awareness of 'conflict of interest' issue in medical research and publication among the editorial staff, peer reviewers and authors of Indian medical journals. METHODS: Total 61 authors who have published research articles recently in Indian medical journals from 2008-2012, 56 peer reviewers who reviewed the manuscripts during same period and 35 editorial board members of various Indian medical journals were assessed by questionnaire and telephone interview regarding their understanding and knowledge on 'conflict of interest' issue for ethical publication. RESULTS: Only seven (12%) of the authors knew about the 'conflict of interest' issue and 11 (19%) of the medical authors have just heard about it. Out of 12% of authors who knew 'conflict of interest' issue only 15% provided that statement to the journals. Among the peer reviewers only 17 (30%) knew about 'conflict of interest' of which 51 (91.5%) stated that they do not bother about this issue while reviewing the manuscripts. But interestingly 42 (75%) of the peer reviewers confessed that they had a bias on the topics written by their friends or students. Among the editorial board members of Indian medical journals only 14 (25%) have any idea on 'conflict of interest issue'. CONCLUSIONS: Results clearly shows poor understanding of 'conflict of interest' like important ethical issue among Indian medical scientists or journals.

Desmoid infilterating ileum, a rare complication.

The desmoid tumor is an uncommon neoplasm that occurs sporadically or as a part of inherited syndrome. Desmoid tumors are benign, but may infiltrate adjacent structures. Rarely severe and fatal, clinical problems are seen if mesenteric vessels or abdominal organs are involved. Ileum is one of the rare sites and literature search regarding this yielded scant results. Hence, we decided to report this case of aggressive desmoid tumors of the abdominal wall infiltrating ileum.