Climate Change Impacts on Water Quality of Water Bodies-A Review

The impacts of climate change on water quality of water bodies are associated with the climatic extreme events (heavy rainfall and flood, heat, drought, wildfires, cyclones, hurricane, super storms) as the major drivers that require knowledge of understanding. Most research studies present the role of climate change in threatening water quality, risks on drinking water and contributions of catchment in water pollution, but less attention has directed to specific sensitive water quality parameters, appropriate methodologies, risks on ecosystem and managerial practice to reduce the impacts. This review highlight the of effect climate change on surface water bodies based on recent literatures on the impacts of climate change on water quality and promote practical opportunity for better management of these impacts. We conclude that consideration of climate change preparedness plan in catchments is the best option to adopt for minimization of climate change impacts on water quality of water bodies.

H1N1 Deaths Reported at SMS Hospital.

Background: The influenza virus has unique ability to cause recurrent epidemics and global pandemics. Very few information is available regarding death pattern and associated factors till now so this study was conducted with the objective to evaluate the profile of H1N1 deaths reported at SMS hospital, Jaipur and it’s associated factors. Methods: The present study was conducted at SMS hospital, Jaipur during 22nd August 2009 to 13th January 2010. The secondary data related to case reports of death due to H1N1 2009 was collected. Data on following variables were collected age, sex, urban / rural, presenting clinical symptoms, associated illness if any, investigation done, time lag between admission and death, time lag of sample taken and reporting. The data so collected were analyzed with appropriate statistical procedures. Observation: There were total 34 deaths reported due to H1N1 related cause. Almost one fourth (8 /34) of deaths occurred in the age group of 21 to 25 years. Majority of the patients reported with high grade fever (88.2%), cough and breathlessness (79.4%) each, sore throat was present in 23.5%, 11.7% had some associating complications when admitted to the hospital. In 71.8% deaths were due to problems related to respiratory system. There were five H1N1 positive pregnant women who were admitted at SMS hospital and all five died.

Body mass index and per capita income influence duodenal ulcer healing and H. pylori eradication whilst dietary factors play no part.

BACKGROUND: The role of dietary and sociodemographic factors in the healing of duodenal ulcer following H. pylori eradication remains undefined. AIM: To assess the role of diet, sociodemography and body mass index in the healing of duodenal ulcer and eradication of H. pylori. METHODS: A cross-sectional study consisting of 67 consecutive duodenal ulcer patients was undertaken. Sociodemographic factors studied included age, sex, occupation, educational status, religion, type of family, number of family members, per capita income and residence (urban vs. rural). Personal habits studied included alcohol consumption and smoking. Regular dietary intake over a two-month period was assessed using the food frequency questionnaire. All patients had documented H. pylori infection at the time of inclusion and received standard triple eradication therapy. Follow-up endoscopy and testing for H. pylori were done 4 weeks after completion of eradication therapy. RESULTS: The mean age of the 67 patients (60 male, 7 female) was 39.9+/-13.6 years. Healing of duodenal ulcer was documented in 51 patients. H. pylori infection was successfully eradicated in 31 patients but not in the other 36. There was no difference between the groups (Group A1: H. pylori eradicated, Group B1: H. pylori not eradicated) with regard to dietary and socio-demographic variables, except for BMI, which was significantly higher in patients in whom H. pylori had been eradicated. Per capita income was significantly higher in Group A2 (healed duodenal ulcer) as compared to Group B2 (duodenal ulcer not healed) while there was no difference in dietary and socio-demographic variables in these two groups. CONCLUSION: We found that higher body mass index and higher per capita income were associated with successful H. pylori eradication and duodenal ulcer healing, respectively, and that diet had no role to play in either. Further epidemiological studies from different parts of India and studies that control for Helicobacter pylori are required to establish predictive factors.

Liver abscess in children.

Liver abscesses are frequently observed in pediatric clinical practice in tropics and subtropics especially in developing countries. Children have unique set of predisposing factors which have been highlighted. Expected microbiology and setting for unusual organisms are mentioned. Clinical presentations', including importance of location and number of abscesses has been discussed. Role of each modality of treatment clarified. Importance and limitations of investigations and imaging explained and complications and mortality discussed.

Detection of Entamoeba histolytica using polymerase chain reaction in pus samples from amebic liver abscess.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Direct demonstration of Entamoeba histolytica by conventional microscopy and in vitro culture in pus obtained from amebic liver abscess (ALA) is often unsuccessful. We evaluated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of E. histolytica DNA in such pus. METHODS: Species-specific primers were used for the amplification of E. histolytica DNA from liver pus obtained from 30 patients with ALA. Patients with pyogenic liver abscess and sterile (autoclaved) pus spiked with Entamoeba dispar and bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp. and Bacteroides spp.) were used as negative controls. RESULTS: PCR was positive in 83% of pus specimens from patients with ALA, and was negative in all 25 pus specimens obtained from pyogenic abscess and autoclaved pus spiked with known bacteria. Sensitivity and specificity of PCR were 83% and 100%, respectively. The overall positivity of PCR was higher compared to serological tests. CONCLUSION: PCR may be a more reliable and better alternative diagnostic modality for ALA.

Abdominal tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis can involve any part of the gastrointestinal tract and is the sixth most frequent site of extrapulmonary involvement. Both the incidence and severity of abdominal tuberculosis are expected to increase with increasing incidence of HIV infection. Tuberculosis bacteria reach the gastrointestinal tract via haematogenous spread, ingestion of infected sputum, or direct spread from infected contiguous lymph nodes and fallopian tubes. The gross pathology is characterized by transverse ulcers, fibrosis, thickening and stricturing of the bowel wall, enlarged and matted mesenteric lymph nodes, omental thickening, and peritoneal tubercles. Peritoneal tuberculosis occurs in three forms : wet type with ascitis, dry type with adhesions, and fibrotic type with omental thickening and loculated ascites. The most common site of involvement of the gastrointestinal tuberculosis is the ileocaecal region. Ileocaecal and small bowel tuberculosis presents with a palpable mass in the right lower quadrant and/or complications of obstruction, perforation or malabsorption especially in the presence of stricture. Rare clinical presentations include dysphagia, odynophagia and a mid oesophageal ulcer due to oesophageal tuberculosis, dyspepsia and gastric outlet obstruction due to gastroduodenal tuberculosis, lower abdominal pain and haematochezia due to colonic tuberculosis, and annular rectal stricture and multiple perianal fistulae due to rectal and anal involvement. Chest X-rays show evidence of concomitant pulmonary lesions in less than 25 per cent of cases. Useful modalities for investigating a suspected case include small bowel barium meal, barium enema, ultrasonography, computed tomographic scan and colonoscopy. Ascitic fluid examination reveals straw coloured fluid with high protein, serum ascitis albumin gradient less than 1.1 g/dl, predominantly lymphocytic cells, and adenosine deaminase levels above 36 U/l. Laparoscopy is a very useful investigation in doubtful cases. Management is with conventional antitubercular therapy for at least 6 months. The recommended surgical procedures today are conservative and a period of preoperative drug therapy is controversial.

A randomized trial of oral refeeding compared with jejunal tube refeeding in acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Relapse of pain during refeeding in acute pancreatitis may have a relation to the route of refeeding. AIM: To compare the efficacy of oral refeeding with jejunal tube refeeding in patients with acute pancreatitis, and determine the frequency of refeeding pain and factors associated with it. METHODS: Consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis, severe enough to stop oral feeding for 48 hours, were randomized to receive either oral or jejunal tube refeeding. The feeds were similar in calorie, lipid and protein content (400 Kcal on day 1, 1000 Kcal on day 2, 1400 Kcal on day 3, 1500 Kcal on day 4, and 1700 Kcal on day 5). Clinical and biological factors (serum amylase, lipase, C-reactive protein) and Balthazar CT severity index were recorded. Frequency of pain relapse and factors associated with it were analyzed. RESULTS: 28 patients with acute pancreatitis (biliary 14, alcohol 9, idiopathic 3, post-ERCP 2) were included. Fifteen patients received oral and 13 received enteral tube refeeding. Four patients in the oral group and none in the enteral tube group had relapse of pain (p=0.06). The factors associated with refeeding pain were longer duration of initial pain (p<0.02) and higher CT severity index (p<0.02). Pain relapse increased the total hospital stay (p<0.004) and hospital stay after the first attempt at feeding (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Jejunal tube refeeding may reduce the frequency of pain relapse as compared to oral refeeding although the difference was not significant in this study. Longer duration of pain and higher CT severity index score were associated with occurrence of refeeding pain.

Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication; results of a prospective pilot study.

Laparoscopic fundoplication is rapidly becoming the surgical procedure of choice in western countries for the management of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Experience with this technique is limited in India. Most operations continue to be performed through the traditional open technique, thus denying the advantage of a minimal invasive approach to patients. This study was done to evaluate the feasibility and short term results of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. Between June 2000 and March 2002, a total of 10 patients with GERD refractory to medical therapy or requiring daily treatment underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. Preoperative evaluation included scoring of symptoms, oesophagogastroduodenoscopy, barium swallow and nuclear scan. The intraoperative and post-operative course of the patients was recorded. At 3 months post-surgery, patients were re-evaluated using pre-operative symptom scores and investigations to assess the benefit of and complications associated with surgery. Laparoscopic nissen fundoplication was successfully completed in all the patients. Follow up ranged from 3 to 18 months with a mean of 5.9 months. The mean symptom score decreased from 10.1 pre-operatively to 1.7 (p value < 0.001). Eight out of 9 patients (88%) had endoscopic resolution of oesophagitis. Seven patients (70%) were off medication following surgery while the remaining 3 (30%) were taking medication intermittently. Overall, 80% of the patients were satisfied with the surgery. One patient required re-exploration due to bleeding from a short gastric vessel. The most frequent post-operative complication was temporary dysphagia in 60% of patients, which improved with conservative management over 2 to 3 weeks. We concluded that laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is a safe and effective procedure to treat patients with GERD.

Pre and post eradication gastric inflammation in Helicobacter pylori-associated duodenal ulcer.

BACKGROUND: Distribution and nature of gastritis are major determinants of clinical outcome of H. pylori infection. The gastric inflammatory changes associated with this infection in developing countries have not been systematically studied. AIMS: To evaluate the inflammatory changes in gastric antrum and corpus in patients with duodenal ulcer and H. pylori infection, before and after H. pylori eradication therapy. METHODS: Histology and H. pylori density were studied in gastric biopsies obtained from 53 consecutive patients with active duodenal ulcer and H. pylori infection. Biopsies were obtained before and 4 weeks after H. pylori eradication therapy, from the anterior and posterior walls of the antrum and corpus, and were evaluated according to the Sydney system. RESULTS: In the pre-H. py/ori eradication antral biopsies, chronic gastritis, active gastritis, atrophy, intestinal metaplasia (IM) and lymphoid follicles / aggregates were seen in 53 (100%), 49 (92%), 11 (21%), 7 (13%) and 28 (53%) patients, respectively. In the corresponding biopsies from gastric corpus, these changes were seen in 49 (92%), 23 (43%), 2 (4%), 2 (4%) and 8 (15%), respectively. All changes except IM were significantly more frequent and of higher grade in the antrum. The grade of chronic gastritis was significantly higher in antrum than corpus; the frequency of gastritis in the antrum and corpus was similar (100% vs. 92%). H. pylori density was also higher in the antrum and correlated well with the grades of chronic gastritis and activity at both sites. Eradication of H. pylori was achieved in 39 patients (74%), and led to significant decrease in gastritis; no change was seen in patients who did not eradicate the organism. CONCLUSIONS: Antral-predominant chronic gastritis and activity are present in more than 90% of patients with H. pylori infection associated with duodenal ulcer, and the grade of gastritis correlates with the density of the organism. Eradication therapy results in improvement of both chronic gastritis and activity.

Symptom score does not correlate with gastritis grade and Helicobacter pylori infection in non ulcer dyspepsia.

BACKGROUND: Non ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) is being postulated as one of the gastroduodenal manifestations of H. pylori infection. H. pylori infection may result in clinical symptoms as well as histological changes in NUD. AIM: To compare clinical symptom score and histological changes in H. pylori (Hp) positive and negative untreated NUD patients. METHODS: Forty six patients with dyspeptic symptoms and normal upper GI endoscopic examinations were included in this study. During endoscopy 2 biopsies each were taken from the antrum and body of the stomach. These biopsies were used for rapid urease test (RUT) and histological examination. Patients were diagnosed to have Hp infection if either of two tests were positive. There were two groups of patients: Hp positive and Hp negative NUD patients. Clinical scoring using Glasgow dyspepsia score (Max. 20) and histological analysis, using Sydney system (Max score 11) was done and compared for both the groups of patients. Clinical scoring, RUT and histological scoring were blinded to each other. RESULTS: H. pylori was present in 29(63%) of the 46 patients. Mean clinical score for H. pylori positive patient was 10.9 while for Hp negative patient was 11.4. Total histological score for Hp positive and Hp negative patients was 3.37 Vs 1.76 (antrum) and 3.68 Vs 1.29(body) (p < .001), respectively. The only histological change found to be statistically significant between Hp positive and Hp negative patients was presence of lymphoid follicles (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Clinical scoring does not correlate with the presence of H pylori or histological severity. In NUD patients positive for H. pylori, there is a significant increase in the severity of gastritis both in the antrum and the body.

Randomized trial of a quadruple-drug regimen and a triple-drug regimen for eradication of Helicobacter pylori: long-term follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: In developing countries, H. pylori eradication rates are suboptimal. A quadruple-drug regimen may improve on the eradication rate achieved with triple-drug regimen. METHODS: 64 consecutive patients with active duodenal ulcer associated with H. pylori infection were randomized to receive either a one-week triple-drug regimen (lansoprazole, clarithromycin, secnidazole) or a one-week quadruple-drug regimen (lansoprazole, amoxycillin, colloidal bismuth subcitrate, secnidazole). H. pylori eradication and ulcer healing were assessed 4 weeks after completion of therapy. Patients were followed up at 24 weeks and 52 weeks for H. pylori recurrence. RESULTS: Both the regimens eradicated H. pylori in 75% (95% CI 0.6-0.9) of patients. The ulcer-healing rate with the triple-drug regimen was 97% (95% CI 0.91-1.0) and 91% (95% CI 0.91-1.0) with the quadruple-drug regimen. No ulcer or H. pylori recurrence occurred in patients eradicated with the triple-drug regimen, whereas 8.3% of patients eradicated with the quadruple-drug regimen had ulcer as well as H. pylori recurrence during the 52-week follow up. CONCLUSION: Triple-drug regimen achieves similar eradication rates as quadruple-drug regimen in H. pylori infection.

14C urea breath test does not predict density of Helicobacter pylori in duodenal ulcer disease.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: The density of Helicobacter pylori in the gastric mucosa has prognostic significance, higher densities being associated with greater chances of development of duodenal ulcer and chronic atrophic gastritis as well as poor eradication by drug therapy. The aim of this study was to assess if 14C-urea breath test counts reflect bacterial density. METHODS: Sixty patients with endoscopically proven active duodenal ulcer and H. pylori positivity as determined by rapid urease test and gastric histology were studied. Gastric antral and corpus biopsies were graded for chronic gastritis, activity (presence of polymorphonuclear cells) and bacterial density (at surface and in pits) based on the Sydney system on a scale of four grades ranging from 0 to 3 (absent, mild, moderate and severe). 14C urea breath test was performed in all the patients. RESULTS: Chronic gastritis as well as activity was more prevalent as well as severe in the antrum as compared to the corpus. H. pylori density was also significantly more in the antrum as compared to the corpus both at the surface as well as in the pits. H. pylori density correlated with the grade of chronic gastritis and activity both in the antrum and in the corpus. Urea breath test counts ranged from 331.3 cpm (counts per minute) to 8770.5 cpm and these did not correlate with histological H. pylori density at any of the sites. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: 14C urea breath test does not reflect H. pylori density on histology in patients of duodenal ulcer disease.

Management of amebic and pyogenic liver abscess.

The management of pyogenic liver abscess differs radically from that of amebic liver abscess. Medical management is the cornerstone of therapy in amebic liver abscess while early intervention in the form of surgical therapy or catheter drainage and parenteral antibiotics is the rule in pyogenic liver abscess. The prognosis of amebic abscess is much better than that of pyogenic abscess and usually a quick response to therapy is seen in amebic abscess.

Granulocytic sarcoma of humerus, an unusual association of acute myeloblastic leukemia--a case report.

Ganulocytic sarcoma (Chloroma) is a tumour of rare variety usually in assocoiation with granulocytic leukemia. It is related to soft tissue with extramedullay infiltration. We present a case of granulocytic sarcoma of humerus which preceded the initial clinical manifestation of acute myeloid leukemia in a young patient which ultimately proved to be FABM2 variety. Though many tissues are affected by this tumour but the most favoured site is the bone.

Ultrasonographic assessment of gall bladder kinetics in the elderly.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of gallstones increases with age but the factors that influence gallstone formation in the elderly are poorly understood. Proposed factors include changes in bile composition and hypomotility of the gall bladder. Studies on gall bladder motility in the elderly have provided conflicting results, and none has been reported from India. AIM: To determine gall bladder contractility in healthy elderly subjects and compare it with that in young healthy volunteers. METHODS: Thirty healthy elderly (above the age of 60 years) and 30 young volunteers with no abdominal complaints were studied. Using real-time ultrasonography and the ellipsoid method, gall bladder volume was measured after overnight fast and at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 minutes after a standard fatty meal. Residual volume, delta volume and ejection fraction were calculated. RESULTS: Mean fasting gall bladder volume in elderly subjects was higher than that in young subjects (13.5 [5.8] mL vs 10.9 [3.6] mL; p < 0.05). However, there was no difference in the 60-min postprandial residual gall bladder volumes in the two groups. Change in gall bladder volume and ejection fraction were also similar in the two groups. CONCLUSION: There was no difference in gall bladder emptying between elderly and young subjects though the fasting gall bladder volume was higher in the elderly.