Ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration cytology: a sensitive diagnostic tool for diagnosis of intra-abdominal lesions.

Ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration cytology is widely accepted as a safe diagnostic procedure in various neoplastic and non-plastic disorders. This study was conducted to determine the usefulness and diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of intraabdominal lesions. This cross sectional study was conducted in the Department of Radiology and Imaging, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, Sylhet, Bangladesh during the period of June 2007 to June 2009. A total 78 patients with intra abdominal lesions were included in this study. Fifty nine (75.6%) were males and 19 (24.4%) were females. Out of total aspirates 29 (37.2%) were categorized as benign, 41 (52.6%) were malignant and 8 (10.3%) were non-representative, as it contained only blood. Most of the benign lesions were liver abscess 19 (24.4%). A diagnosis of primary malignancy was established in 26 (33.3%) and that of secondary in 15 (19.2%). The results showed a sensitivity of 89.7%. Ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration cytology is a sensitive diagnostic tool in a wide spectrum of intra-abdominal neoplastic and non-neoplastic disorders. It is a simple, safe, rapidand inexpensive technique.

Factors responsible for increased percent recirculation in arterio-venous fistula among the haemodialysis patients.

Recirculation is an important issue in haemodialysis (HD) patients as increased percent recirculation causes decreased dialysis delivery of the patients. The purpose of the study was to determine the amount and factors of recirculation in those patients. The study was a cross sectional one carried in the Department of Nephrology, Dhaka Medical College and Hospital during October 2010 to September 2011. A total of 118 end stage renal disease patients with arterio-venous fistula who were on HD for more than 3 months were purposively selected. The degree of recirculation was measured with urea based two needle technique method. For each patient distances between arterial and venous and distances of needles from fistula and its directions were recorded. Echocardiography and A-V fistula Colour Doppler Ultrasound were also performed. The mean A-V fistula recirculation was 8.1 +/- 5.5% with a range 0-66%. The most common factors were close proximity and improper arterial and venous needles placement. No difference was observed between diabetic and non diabetic also between hypertensive and normotensive. A-V fistula recirculation is common occurrence in HD patients and the most common factors of recirculation are misplacement and close proximity of needles therefore emphasis should be given on education and training of HD staffs.

Community acquired pneumonia in diabetic and non-diabetic hospitalized patients: presentation, causative pathogens and outcome.

Both community acquired pneumonia (CAP) and diabetes mellitus are common in Bangladesh. Though hospitalization of diabetic patients with CAP is increasing, data regarding their clinical presentation, microbial characteristics, antimicrobial susceptibility and outcome are lacking. This study was aimed at finding any difference in clinical presentation, bacterial causes, antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of isolated bacteria and outcome in diabetic and non-diabetic hospitalized patients with CAP. In this study total 47 diabetic and 43 non-diabetic adult hospitalized patients with CAP were enrolled. Clinical presentation of CAP differed in diabetics and non-diabetics. Frequency of atypical presentation and CURB-65 score were significantly higher in diabetics. Pleural effusion with multilobar infiltration was also common feature for CAP in diabetic patients. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most frequent causative pathogen for CAP in diabetic patients, whereas Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most frequent causative agent for non-diabetic patients. Bacteria isolated from sputum sample of diabetic patients with CAP were resistant to almost all recommended antibiotics used for CAP but 100% of isolates were sensitive to Carbapenems. Pulmonary complications were relatively more in diabetics than in non-diabetics. Hospitalized diabetics with CAP required referral to intensive care unit more than that of non-diabetics. So, diabetic patients with CAP need extra attention.