A Single Staged Reconstruction of Upper Eyelid and Eyelashes.

The upper eyelid is a complex structural part of the face that plays an important role in protecting the cornea from drying and damage to preserve vision. The eyelashes are an essential part of the upper eyelid and help in protecting the eyes from dust, foreign bodies, and sweat. Being a part of the face, which is the most noticeable part of the body, both structures hold an important role in reconstructive procedures. Reconstruction of both structures simultaneously is tricky but helps reduce the number of procedures required in achieving an aesthetically acceptable eye. Our techniques describe the use of the paramedian forehead flap with an anterior hairline to reconstruct the upper eyelid and eyelashes in a single stage in a posttraumatic near-total upper eyelid defect with a favorable outcome. Depending on the parting of the patient's hair, the anterior hairline of one side can be included in the distal edge of the flap while raising, which can be inset so that the direction and orientation of the eyelashes perfectly match. Our technique refurbishes an established technique for eyelid reconstruction to include eyelash reconstruction at the same time, thus saving time and resources without any inconvenience to the patient.

Restoring Quality of Life: Assessing the Impact of Free Flap Reconstruction in Coronavirus Disease 2019-Associated Rhino-Orbital Mucormycosis Patients.

Background In India, between May 5 and July 2021, 41,512 cases and 3,554 deaths due to mucormycosis were reported in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-infected patients or COVID-19-recovered patients. COVID-19-associated rhino-orbital mucormycosis (CAROM) has been associated with adverse effects that can affect oral health, vision, and physical as well as emotional functioning. After the radical debridement of CAROM and antifungal therapy, reconstructive surgery should be employed to restore function and aesthetics; however, limited clinical data exist on its potential effect on the quality of life (QOL) of these patients. Objective Our objective was to assess the QOL among CAROM patients reconstructed with free flap surgery. Materials and Methods This analysis studied 19 patients of CAROM who had maxillectomy and/or orbital exenteration defects reconstructed with free flaps at a tertiary care center. All these patients were free from any residual disease, as confirmed by tissue biopsy taken from the affected area. The QoL of these patients was assessed 1 week preoperatively and 4 to 6 months postoperatively using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Head and Neck Module (EORTC QLQ-HN43) questionnaire module. Results There was a statistically significant improvement in 10 out of the total 19 parameters ( p < 0.05) which include pain in the mouth, problems opening mouth, speech, swallowing, weight loss, dry mouth and sticky saliva, body image, fear of progression, social contact, and social eating. Conclusion The EORTC QLQ-HN43 questionnaire module presented a statistically significant improvement in the functional as well as psychological status of the CAROM patients undergoing reconstruction by free flap surgery.

Reduction of CO2 Emission from Off-Gases of Steel Industry by Dry Reforming of Methane.

In a novel process, CO2 and CH4 from the off-gases of the coke oven and blast furnace are used in homogeneous reforming of those greenhouse gases to valuable syngas, a mixture of H2 and CO. Synthetic mixtures of the off-gases from those large apparatuses of steel industry are fed to a high-temperature, high-pressure flow reactor at varying temperature, pressure, residence time, and mixing ratio of coke oven gas (COG) to blast furnace gas (BFG). In this study, a maximal reduction of 78.5 % CO2 and a CH4 conversion of 95 % could be achieved at 1350 °C, 5.5 bar, and a COG/BFG ratio of 0.6. Significant carbonaceous deposits were formed but did not block the reactor tube in the operational time window allowing cyclic operation of the process. These measurements were based on prior thermodynamic analysis and kinetic predictions using an elementary-step reaction mechanism.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Complicated by Pseudochylothorax Without Pleural Thickening: A Diagnostic Challenge for Clinicians.

A 60-year-old female who was known to have rheumatoid arthritis for the preceding two-and-half years presented with difficulty in breathing associated with chest pain over the right hemithorax of two months duration. She was found to have a right-sided mild to moderate pleural effusion; there was no evidence of pleural thickening. The pleural fluid was pale yellow in appearance and diagnostic work-up confirmed it to be a pseudochylous pleural effusion. The present case highlights the rare occurrence of pseudochylothorax without pleural thickening as a complication of rheumatoid arthritis.

A Randomised Control Trial Comparing the Outcomes of Anterior with Posterior Approach for Transfer of Spinal Accessory Nerve to Suprascapular Nerve in Brachial Plexus Injuries.

Background: In brachial plexus surgery, a key focus is restoring shoulder abduction through spinal accessory nerve (SAN) to suprascapular nerve (SSN) transfer using either the anterior or posterior approach. However, no published randomised control trials have directly compared their outcomes to date. Therefore, our study aims to assess motor outcomes for both approaches. Methods: This study comprises two groups of patients. Group A: anterior approach (29 patients), Group B: Posterior approach (29 patients). Patients were allocated to both groups using selective randomisation with the sealed envelope technique. Functional outcome was assessed by grading the muscle power of shoulder abductors using the British Medical Research Council (MRC) scale. Results: Five patients who were operated on by posterior approach had ossified superior transverse suprascapular ligament. In these cases, the approach was changed from posterior to anterior to avoid injury to SSN. Due to this reason, the treatment analysis was done considering the distribution as: Group A: 34, Group B: 24. The mean duration of appearance of first clinical sign of shoulder abduction was 8.16 months in Group A, whereas in Group B, it was 6.85 months, which was significantly earlier (p < 0.05). At the 18-month follow-up, both intention-to-treat analysis and as-treated analysis were performed, and there was no statistical difference in the outcome of shoulder abduction between the approaches for SAN to SSN nerve transfer. Conclusions: Our study found no significant difference in the restoration of shoulder abduction power between both approaches; therefore, either approach can be used for patients presenting early for surgery. Since the appearance of first clinical sign of recovery is earlier in posterior approach, therefore, it can be preferred for cases presenting at a later stage. Also, the choice of approach is guided on a case to case basis depending on clavicular fractures and surgeon preference to the approach. Level of Evidence: Level II (Therapeutic).

Unifocal, subconjunctival twin cysticercosis cysts.

We report a case of multiple, unifocal, subconjunctival cysticercosis in an 8-year-old boy. Two cysts, each with a scolex, were in the subconjunctival space. They were removed surgically, and histopathologically proven to be Cysticercus cellulosae. This is only the second report of twin cysticercus in the literature, to the best of our knowledge.

High versus low dose statin therapy in Indian patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing thrombolysis.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to compare high dose versus low dose statin therapy in Indian patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing thrombolysis. BACKGROUND: Randomized trials have demonstrated that statin treatment reduced major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in patients with stable angina pectoris and acute coronary syndrome. However, randomized studies of statin therapy in Indian patients with STEMI are scarce. METHODS: Of 1859 patients with acute STEMI, 1027 eligible patients were randomized to 80-mg (n=512) or 10-mg (n=515) atorvastatin. Primary end point was 30-day incidence of MACE (death from any cause, myocardial infarction, NSTE-ACS requiring readmission, ischemia driven revascularization, and stroke). Secondary end points included individual components of primary end point and ST-segment resolution at 90min after thrombolysis. RESULTS: Two groups did not differ in primary endpoints of MACEs (8.79% in high dose vs 9.32% in low dose atorvastatin group, OR=0.938, 95% CI=0.612-1.436, P=0.764). With 80mg atorvastatin, there was insignificant reduction in rate of reinfarction, revascularization and death. Stroke and readmission for NSTE-ACS increased in 80mg atrovastatin group, but was not statistically significant. ST-segment resolution was significantly higher in 80-mg atorvastatin arm (45.90% vs. 37.67%; p=0.008). Myalgia was more in 80mg statin group (18.06% vs 7.57%, p=0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: High-dose atorvastatin did not show significant difference of MACEs in STEMI patients undergoing thrombolysis but showed significant improvement in immediate coronary flow depicted by ST-segment resolution. This benefit of high dose statin is to be weighed against greater myalgia, drug discontinuation and cost in Indian patients.

Study the association of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with early endothelial dysfunction and its impact on cardiovascular system by estimating urinary albumin creatinine ratio.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) attribute to systemic inflammation which is responsible for microalbuminuria reflecting endothelial dysfunction, could be a significant surrogate marker of potential cardiovascular morbidity. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to find out the possible association of COPD with early cardiovascular changes in the form of renal endothelial dysfunction. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Case-control, multi-group, cross-sectional hospital-based study was designed and conducted in the Department of Respiratory Medicine of BPS Government Medical College for Women, Khanpur Kalan, Sonipat, Haryana. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study included 150 subjects, comprising of three groups with each having 50 subjects: Group 1 - acute exacerbation of COPD, Group 2 - stable COPD patients, Group 3 - asymptomatic smokers. Pulmonary function test, urine albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) and brachio-ankle pulse wave velocity were measured in all the subjects. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data were analyzed using SPSS ver 20 (IBM, USA) software. Continuous variables were compared by unpaired Student's t-test while correlation was measured by Pearson correlation test, P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The mean urine albumin creatinine ratio UACR value in acute exacerbation of COPD (283.30 mg/g; standard deviation [SD] ±871.98) was found significantly higher compare to control subjects (24.17 mg/g; SD ± 32.105;) P = 0.038. Besides this COPD patients with Type 2 respiratory failure having robust positive correlation in between UACR and arterial blood pH (r = 0.559; P = 0.030) while it was inverse and moderate with partial pressure of arterial oxygen (r = -0.470; P = 0.077). CONCLUSIONS: Acute state of COPD with or without Type 2 respiratory failure is having a significant impact on cardiovascular system in the form of early microvascular changes.

Tubercular sialadenitis of parotid gland - An extremely rare case series.

Tuberculosis is a potentially fatal infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. It most commonly involves the lungs (Pulmonary Tuberculosis), although it can involve any organ system in the body. However even in a country like India which has high burden of this disease, the tubercular invasion of parotid gland is extremely rare. Here we describe two such cases. Both patients were immune competent and presented with fever and swelling in the parotid region. They were diagnosed as tuberculosis of parotid gland by ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration and confirmed bacteriologically.

An extremely unusual presentation of isolated extrathoracic sarcoidosis of submandibular lymph node in a child.

A 12-year-old male child presented with left submandibular lymphadenopathy; excision biopsy revealed noncaseating granuloma with numerous Schaumann bodies in histopathology, suggestive of isolated extrathoracic sarcoidosis, which is an extremely rare entity in the pediatric age group.

Accidental isoniazid poisoning--a report.

Eight patients who had taken accidental overdose of Isoniazid were followed in relation to its clinical manifestations, EEG changes and management. All cases survived without any residual effect.