Temporal Trends and Burden of Rheumatic Heart Disease in South Asia: A Comprehensive Analysis of Three Decades from Global Burden of Disease Study.

Background: The objective of this study is to conduct a temporal analysis of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) disease burden trends over a 30-year period (1991 to 2021), focusing on prevalence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in the South Asia (SA). Methods: In this ecological study, we analyzed data regarding burden of RHD from the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) study spanning the years 1991 to 2021 for the SA Region. Estimates of the number RHD-related prevalence, deaths, and DALYs along with age-standardized rates (ASR) per 100,000 population and 95% uncertainty intervals (UI) were evaluated. Results: The overall prevalent cases of RHD in the 2021 were 54785.1 × 103 (43328.4 × 103 to 67605.5 × 103), out of which 14378.8 × 103 (11206.9 × 103 to 18056.9 × 103) were from SA. The ASR of point prevalence showed upward trend between 1991 and 2021, at global level and for SA with an average annual percentage change (AAPC) of 0.40 (0.39 to 0.40) and 0.12 (0.11 to 0.13), respectively. The overall number of RHD-related deaths in the 2021 were 373.3 × 103 (324.1 × 103 to 444.8 × 103), out of which 215 × 103 (176.9 × 103 to 287.8 × 103) were from SA, representing 57.6% of the global deaths. The ASR of deaths also showed downward trend between 1991 and 2021, at global level and for SA with an AAPC of -2.66 (-2.70 to -2.63) and -2.07 (-2.14 to -2.00), respectively. The ASR of DALYs showed downward trend between 1990 and 2019, at global level and for South Asian region with an AAPC of -2.47 (-2.49 to -2.44) and -2.22 (-2.27 to -2.17), respectively. Conclusion: The rising age-standardized prevalence of RHD remains a global concern, especially in South Asia which contribute to over 50% of global RHD-related deaths. Encouragingly, declining trends in RHD-related deaths and DALYs hint at progress in RHD management and treatment on both a global and regional scale.

Osteoblastic and osteoclastic metastases in a single vertebra-a rare presentation.

Malignancies may produce bony metastases which may be osteoclastic or osteoblastic. Vertebrae are a common site for bony metastases. Prostatic adenocarcinoma is an important source of vertebral metastases that are mainly osteoblastic in nature. As the osteoblastic metastases are developing there is an ongoing osteoclastic activity which is going on at the microscopic level. Presence of gross osteoblastic and osteoclastic lesions, in the same vertebra, have not been reported at the time of presentation. Here a rare case of vertebral metastases is being presented which shows osteoblastic and osteoclastic gross lesions in the same vertebra.

Recurrent severe anaemia: a rare presentation of parvovirus b19 infection.

Secondary pure red cell aplasia is usually seen in immunocompromised hosts or patients who have chronic haemolytic anaemia, which is caused by blood transfusion related transmission. The present patient, a 30-year-old immunocompetent female, presented several times with recurrent severe anaemia, over a period of one and half years. Her history, clinical examination and investigations did not reveal any indigenous drug intake, previous blood transfusions, haemolytic disorders, myeloproliferative disorders, pregnancies, autoimmune diseases or thymoma. She was found to have a thalassaemia minor trait, on the basis of which severity and recurrence of anaemia could not be explained, and on further evaluation, she was diagnosed to have acute aplastic crisis caused by Parvovirus B19 induced, acquired pure red cell aplasia. The co- existence of these two haematological disorders in an immunocompetent, non-transfusion dependent individual is rare, which makes our case report unique.

Pattern of retinal diseases in hilly terrain of Himachal Pradesh, India / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AlM: To study the pattern/distribution of retinal vascular diseases in the hilly terrain of Himachal Pradesh (altitude ranging from 500-4500m above sea level). METHODS: lt is a retro/prospective study of patients with retinal diseases attending the general ophthalmology clinic of a tertiary care facility at Shimla from August 2008 to April 2013. Out of 5600 subjects, 4323 were taken as a sample. The data were taken from the hospital records and thereafter analyzed to determine their age, sex distribution and diagnosis. All patients underwent visual acuity, refraction, slit lamp examination and fundus evaluation. The diagnosis was confirmed from fundus clinic records and evaluation of fundus photographic records retro/prospectively. The photographs were taken on the fundus camera (Kowa Fundus Camera VX-10) and fundus fluorescein angiography done where ever indicated. RESULTS:Out of the 4323 patients, there were more males 2563 ( 59. 29%) than females 1760 ( 40. 71%) with retinal diseases. Out of the 525 ( 12. 14%) diabetic retinopathy ( DR) subjects, mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy was present in 133 (3. 08%), moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in 156 (3. 60%), severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in 120 (2. 78%) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy in 116 (2. 68%) subjects. Amongst the 393 (9. 10%) subjects of hypertensive retinopathy, hypertensive retinopathy-grade 1 ( was present in 130 ( 3. 01%) , hypertensive retinopathy - grade 2 in 111 (2. 57%), hypertensive retinopathy-grade 3 in 131 (3. 03%) and hypertensive retinopathy - grade 4 in 21 ( 0. 49%) subjects. Of all the 660 (15. 27%) subjects of other retinal vascular disorders, branch retinal vein occlusion ( BRVO) was present in 229 (5. 30%), central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) in 55 (1. 27%), hemi central vein occlusion in 8 (0. 19%), central retinal artery occlusion ( CRAO) in 20 (0. 46%), branch retinal artery occlusion in 4 (0. 09%), ocular ischaemic syndrome in 1 (0. 02%), retinopathy of prematurity in 9 (0. 21%), retinal artery macroaneurysm in 5 (0. 12%), juxtafoveal telangiectasia in 6 (0. 14%), anaemic retinopathy in 16 (0. 37%), leukemic retinopathy in 10 (0. 23%), preretinal haemorrhage in 52 (1. 20%), Coats disease in 8 (0. 19%), cilioretinal artery occlusion in 1 (0. 02%), Eales disease in 10 (0. 23%), vasculitis in 17 (0. 39%) and clinically significant macular edema in 209 (4. 83%) subjects. CONCLUSlON: DR was the most common retinal vascular disorder. Retinal disorders appear to be a major public health problem in lndia. The present study shall help us in planning the management of such disorders in the hilly state of Himachal Pradesh to reduce the visual morbidity arising out of such disorders.

Peripheral arterial disease and digital gangrene: a rare presentation of diabetic hand syndrome.

Digital gangrene in upper limbs may be due to systemic sclerosis, trauma, connective tissue disorders, vasculitic disorders and various myeloproliferative disorders or as a part of tropical diabetes hand syndrome which follows trauma. Peripheral arterial disease in diabetics commonly involves lower limbs. The present case, 45-year-old diabetic, presented with dry gangrene in fingertips of both hands for last two weeks without any history of trauma or lower limb gangrene. On examination and workup of the patient was found to have bilateral upper limb arterio-occlusive disease involving ulnar vessels as a macrovascular complication of diabetes mellitus. This presentation of diabetic hand syndrome is very, very rare, hence being reported.

The comparative study of submucosal resection of nasal septum under local and general anaesthesia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcome of submucosal resection of nasal septum under local and general anaesthesia. METHODS: The retrospective study was conducted at the Sindh Government Hospital, Korangi, Karachi, from November 2008 to June 2010. A total of 100 patients (50 male and 50 females) having unilateral or bilateral nasal obstruction with moderate deviation of the nasal septum and unilateral or bilateral inferior turbinate hypertrophy, undergoing surgical treatment were inducted. They were divided into two groups: 50 patients of either gender operated under local anaesthesia; and the rest who were operated under general anaesthesia. All these patient came for post-operative follow up in July and August 2010, and both groups were compared. SPSS 18 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of the 100 patients, there were 19 complications: 1 (5.26%) among those who had undergone local anaesthesia, and 18 (94.73%) among those who had been given general anaesthesia. Besides, in Group I, the cost of the drugs averaged Rs500 per patient, the average time consumed was 20 minutes, and bleeding at time of surgery was mild (10 to 15 ml). In Group II, the average cost of drug Rs1500 per patient, the average time consumed was 40 minutes, and bleeding at time of surgery was moderate (15 to 100ml). No mortality was seen in either group. CONCLUSION: Local anaesthesia was found to be a far more safe, effective and economical option for submucosal resection of nasal septum.