Leprosy Presenting as Distal Acquired Demyelinating Symmetric Variant of Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy: An Atypical Manifestation of Hansan's Disease.

Leprosy, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, is known to primarily affect the skin and peripheral nerves. We present a rare case of leprosy initially manifesting as demyelinating polyneuropathy. A 46-year-old female presented with progressive weakness, tingling, and numbness in her extremities. Nerve conduction studies revealed evidence of demyelination, prompting further investigations. Skin slit-skin smears confirmed the diagnosis of leprosy, with the presence of acid-fast bacilli. The patient was subsequently started on multidrug therapy, leading to significant clinical improvement. This case highlights the importance of considering leprosy as a differential diagnosis in patients presenting with demyelinating polyneuropathy, especially in endemic regions.

Urodynamic assessment of detrusor function in the very acute phase of traumatic spinal cord injury: A prospective cohort study.

Introduction: The bladder is believed to be acontractile due to the phase of spinal shock and there is a lack of data on the detrusor function within the first few days after spinal cord injury (SCI). This study intended to assess the detrusor function with invasive urodynamics (UDS) during the first 15 days of SCI. Methods: This prospective observational study was carried out from January 2020 to June 2021 and consecutive stable patients older than 18 years of age who had a history of traumatic SCI within the past 15 days were screened for inclusion. For each patient, the International Standards for Neurological Classification of SCI Worksheet was filled. All patients underwent bedside invasive UDS within 15 days of injury. Results: There were a total of 41 patients with a mean age of 35 years. The thoracic cord was most commonly involved (46.3%) with Type A AISA grade being the most common (68.2%). The mean duration of injury at the time of UDS was 6 days. Abnormality in the filling phase could be identified in six patients. Three patients had neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO), with one having a high-pressure phasic NDO and one having a sustained NDO. Two patients had poor compliance and one had borderline poor compliance. None of the patients generated any detrusor pressure during voiding cystometry. Conclusions: In patients with SCI, 14.5% of the patients had abnormal findings during the filling phase on the UDS performed within 15 days of the injury. These findings are in stark contrast to the traditional understanding that the detrusor is acontractile during the early phase of the SCI and merit further evaluation.

Occult globe perforation during posterior sub-tenon injection diagnosed by ultrasound biomicroscopy.

Inadvertent globe perforation during posterior sub-tenon (PST) injection is rare, and the use of ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in the diagnosis of occult globe perforation is not reported yet in the literature. We hereby intend to discuss the case of a 42-year-old male who presented with left eye loss of vision following PST triamcinolone acetate (TA) injection. On examination, right eye vision was 20/20 and it was 20/120 for the left eye. Fundus examination of the left eye showed a whitish fluffy mass like preretinal lesion over the macula with vitreous haze. The patient was thoroughly investigated for intermediate and posterior uveitis. However, all reports turned out to be within the normal limits. The 360° UBM scan of the left eye showed well-defined hypoechoic scleral tract suggestive of globe perforation at 2 o'clock position. The, whitish preretinal mass in the left eye was suspected to be intravitreal TA deposit following an inadvertent globe perforation during the posterior sub-tenon TA injection. UBM can be considered important diagnostic aid in ruling out possibility of occult globe perforation in certain circumstances.

Surgical performance and the positivity rate for novel coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) in an ophthalmic setup during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

AIM: To describe, the impact of ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on ophthalmic surgeries at a tertiary eye care center of East India during and after the lockdown, and the positivity rate for novel coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2]). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of all ophthalmic surgeries performed during and after lockdown from April 1, 2020 to August 31, 2020, with comparison to the corresponding period in the previous year (2019) was done. Eligible patients were tested for novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) preoperatively as per the institutional protocols. RESULTS: A total of 569 surgeries were performed during the study period compared to 3458 performed in 2019, (P = 0.00001). The maximum number of surgeries were performed in June (191, 33.57%) and July (189, 33.22%) and in the subspecialty of vitreo-retina (337, 59.23%) followed by cataract (101, 17.75%). The most common vitreoretinal procedures were intravitreal injections (223, 66.17%) and retinal detachment surgery (56, 16.62%). Emergency surgeries performed were 30 (5.275%) compared to 76 (2.20%) during the same duration in the previous year (P = 0.00004). Ninety-four (16.52%) cases were screened for COVID-19. A total of 10 (10.64%) cases tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Only one of these cases was symptomatic. CONCLUSION: There was a drastic decline in the number of both elective and emergency surgeries during and after the lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic when compared to the corresponding previous year duration. The maximum number of surgeries was performed in the vitreoretinal subspecialty. The positivity rate for SARS CoV-2 amongst the patients tested was 10.64% and most of these patients were asymptomatic.

Neurological safety and efficacy of darifenacin and mirabegron for the treatment of overactive bladder in patients with history of cerebrovascular accident: A prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the neurological safety and clinical efficacy of darifenacin and mirabegron in patients with a history of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) who had overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms. METHODS: This prospective randomized study, approved by the institute's ethics committee, was carried out at a tertiary care center from December 2018 to June 2020. Treatment naïve adult patients with a past history of CVA with stable neurological status for atleast past 3 months with symptoms of OAB for 3 or more months were included. Eligible patients received either darifenacin or mirabegron for a period of 3 months and various parameters on the 3-day International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ) bladder diary, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic score (MoCA-B), and the adverse events at 3 months posttreatment were compared to that at the baseline. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were included, 30 in each arm. After 3 months of treatment with darifenacin or mirabegron, the majority of the ICIQ bladder diary parameters improved and there was no deterioration in the cognitive function as noted on the MoCA-B score in either of the arms. On intergroup comparison, the mean change in bladder diary parameters and the MoCA-B scores was similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Darifenacin and mirabegron, in the short term, do not adversely affect the cognitive function in patients with a history of CVA with OAB symptoms. Both are safe and effective treatment options in patients with OAB post-CVA.

HIV TB coinfection - perspectives from India.

Introduction: HIV and tuberculosis (TB) are two of the most challenging infections faced by humanity and place immense burden on health care systems worldwide. Both HIV and TB impact one another's progression.Areas covered: HIV is the most important risk factor for progression of latent TB to active disease. TB is the most common cause of death among People Living with HIV (PLHIV). Timely detection of TB among PLHIV and screening for HIV among TB patients, early initiation of ART and ATT among coinfected persons, provision of CPT and TB Preventive therapy along with control of air-borne infection are some of the key activities to reduce morbidity and mortality among coinfected persons. Despite many challenges, the collaboration between two programs has yielded good results and globally more than 7.3 million lives of PLHIV have been saved globally through scale-up of collaborative TB/HIV activities since 2005. The review looked into key features of both programs that are the collaboration strategies and challenges that still need to be addressed.Expert opinion: The overarching principle for effective implementation of collaborative activities is integration of the TB and HIV national programs right from policy making to service delivery and monitoring.

Cladosporium Endogenous Endophthalmitis Mimicking Toxoplasma Retinochoroiditis.

Background: Endogenous fungal endophthalmitis is a sight-threatening condition with potentially devastating outcome. Hematogenous spread of the infective seedings is the route of infection. Infected individuals have usually a compromised immune status. The clinical picture of mycotic endogenous endophthalmitis is commonly seen as chorioretinitis. Candida is the most common fungus. Cladosporium causing endogenous endophthalmitis is a rare occurrence, with only a few cases published.Methods: The report includes study and management of a diabetic patient with endogenous cladosporium endophthalmitis mimicking toxoplasma retinochoroiditis.Results: Diagnosis was confirmed as Cladosporium Cladosporioides in vitreous and aqueous aspirate by polymerase chain reaction-based DNA sequencing. Patient was successfully managed with intravitreal and systemic voriconazole.Conclusion: Cladosporium can cause endogenous endophthalmitis and mimic toxoplasma retinochoroiditis. Vitreous biopsy can help in diagnosis in the absence of positive blood culture. Intravitreal voriconazole along with systemic voriconazole shows a good response.

Standardization of Nomenclature for Ocular Tuberculosis - Results of Collaborative Ocular Tuberculosis Study (COTS) Workshop.

Purpose: To standardize a nomenclature system for defining clinical phenotypes, and outcome measures for reporting clinical and research data in patients with ocular tuberculosis (OTB).Methods: Uveitis experts initially administered and further deliberated the survey in an open meeting to determine and propose the preferred nomenclature for terms related to the OTB, terms describing the clinical phenotypes and treatment and reporting outcomes.Results: The group of experts reached a consensus on terming uveitis attributable to tuberculosis (TB) as tubercular uveitis. The working group introduced a SUN-compatible nomenclature that also defines disease "remission" and "cure", both of which are relevant for reporting treatment outcomes.Conclusion: A consensus nomenclature system has been adopted by a large group of international uveitis experts for OTB. The working group recommends the use of standardized nomenclature to prevent ambiguity in communication and to achieve the goal of spreading awareness of this blinding uveitis entity.

Clinical Profile of HLA B-27-Associated Uveitis Patients in a Tertiary Care Eye Hospital in Eastern India.

Purpose: To analyse clinical profile of the patients with HLA B 27- associated uveitis in a tertiary care eye hospital in Eastern India Method: Retrospective analysis of 61 eyes of 43 patients with HLA B27- associated uveitis between 2015 and 2016. Result: We observed a male predominance (67%), and more unilateral involvement (58%) in our patients. The mean age of presentation was 44.7 ±11.7 years. Significant vitritis and macular edema were noted in 14 and 7 eyes respectively. In addition to topical therapy, oral steroid was required in 49% patients and 58% patients were treated with methotrexate. Five patients (12%) required biologicals. There was improvement in BCVA at final follow-up (p<0.001). Conclusion: Compared to the existing literature, the current study observed relatively high age of presentation and frequent posterior segment involvement with less systemic association.

Clinical profile of patients with posterior scleritis: A report from Eastern India.

Purpose: This study aimed to report the clinical profile of patients with posterior scleritis at a tertiary eye center in Eastern India. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective case series of patients who were diagnosed as posterior scleritis between January 2010 and December 2014, with a follow-up period of at least 6 months. Results: The study included 18 patients of posterior scleritis with a mean age of 41.2 ± 10.6 years (range: 26-63 years). With female preponderance (55.6%), majority of the posterior scleritis cases were unilateral (88.9%). Sixteen patients reported with diminution of vision, eleven patients (61.1%) had ocular pain on presentation, and five patients complained of headache. Concurrent anterior scleritis was found in three eyes (15%) with posterior scleritis. Choroidal folds and subretinal fluid at the posterior pole were the most common fundus findings and were seen in seven eyes (35%) each. No systemic association was detected in any patient even after extensive laboratory workup and multidisciplinary consultation. All patients received oral steroid, and 11 (61.1%) of them required intravenous pulse steroid therapy. Immunosuppressive was used in 6 (33.3%) patients, and oral azathioprine was the most common immunosuppressive used in the study. Recurrence was noted in eight eyes (40%). The mean best-corrected visual acuity improved to logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) 0.06 ± 0.051 at the final follow-up from 0.47 ± 0.45 logMAR at presentation (P = 0.00608). Conclusion: Posterior scleritis is relatively rare but can occur without systemic involvement. Aggressive immunomodulatory therapy is required to treat vision-threatening condition.

Sternomental distance and sternomental displacement as predictors of difficult laryngoscopy and intubation in adult patients.

BACKGROUND: Several morphometric airway measurements have been used to predict difficult laryngoscopy (DL). This study evaluated sternomental distance (SMD) and sternomental displacement (SMDD, difference between SMD measured in neutral and extended head position), as predictors of DL and difficult intubation (DI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 610 adult patients scheduled to receive general anesthesia with tracheal intubation. SMD, SMDD, physical, and airway characteristics were measured. DL (Cormack-Lehane grade 3/4) and DI (assessed by Intubation Difficulty Scale) were evaluated. The optimal cut-off points for SMD and SMDD were identified by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to predict DL and ROC curve was used to assess accuracy on developed regression model. RESULTS: The incidence of DL and DI was 15.4% and 8.3%, respectively. The cut-off values for SMD and SMDD were ≤14.75 cm (sensitivity 66%, specificity 60%) and ≤5.25 cm (sensitivity 70%, specificity 53%), respectively, for predicting DL. The area under the curve (AUC) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for SMD was 0.66 (0.60-0.72) and that for SMDD was 0.687 (0.63-0.74). Multivariate analysis with logistic regression identified inter-incisor distance, neck movement <80°, SMD, SMDD, short neck and history of snoring as predictors and the predictive model so obtained exhibited a higher diagnostic accuracy (AUC: 0.82; 95% CI 0.77-0.86). SMDD, but not SMD, correlated with DI. CONCLUSIONS: Both SMD and SMDD provide a rapid, simple, objective test that may help identifying patients at risk of DL. Their predictive value improves considerably when combined with the other predictors identified by logistic regression.

Inflammatory choroidal neovascularization in Indian eyes: Etiology, clinical features, and outcomes to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim was to study the clinical profile of inflammatory choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and its treatment response to intravitreal bevacizumab or ranibizumab on pro re nata (PRN) basis in Indian eyes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective case series of consecutive patients with inflammatory CNV treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) in a tertiary eye care center in Eastern India between 2009 and 2014. The data about clinical features, investigations, treatment, and outcomes were obtained from the medical records. We included patients with active inflammatory CNV but with no evidence of inflammation and were treated with anti-VEGF alone, with a minimum follow-up of 6 months. Main outcome measures were a clinical and etiological profile of inflammatory CNV in Indian eyes and their response to treatment. RESULTS: Thirty eyes of 28 patients were included in the study. The mean follow-up was 17.93 ± 14.28 months (range 6-53 months). In our cohort, seven (23.33%) eyes had inflammatory CNV secondary to idiopathic choroiditis, four (13.33%) eyes had toxoplasmosis, idiopathic panuveitis, and Vogt Koyanaki Harada's disease each. Three (10%) eyes had geographic helicoid peripapillary choroidopathy and tubercular choroiditis each. Remaining two (6.66%) eyes had punctate inner choroidopathy, while multifocal choroiditis with panuveitis, resolved endogenous endophthalmitis and Hansen's diseases were the etiology in one (3.33%) case of inflammatory CNV each. The mean number of injections were 2.76 (range 1-5). Among thirty eyes of inflammatory CNV, 16 (53.3%) eyes showed improvement, eight (26.6%) maintained the same vision, whereas six (20%) eyes showed deterioration of vision. Interpretations and Conclusion: Idiopathic choroiditis was the most common cause of inflammatory CNV and PRN intravitreal anti-VEGF (ranibizumab or bevacizumab) appears to have effective treatment response.

Profile of serpiginous choroiditis in a tertiary eye care centre in eastern India.

PURPOSE: To study the clinical profile of serpiginous choroiditis in eastern India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-one eyes of 54 patients with serpiginous choroiditis presenting to a tertiary care centre in eastern India between January 2006 and December 2010 were included in the study. Clinical presentation, treatment given, and visual outcome of the eyes were studied. RESULTS: Thirty-five (64.8%) patients were male and 19 (35.2%) were female in the age group of 13-62 years (mean age: 34.1 µ 18.7 years). Blurring of vision (71; 78%) and floaters (36; 39.5%) were commonest symptoms. In 75 (82.4%) eyes, choroiditis started from optic nerve head and spreading centrifugally. Overall, 38 (41.75%) eyes had macular involvement at first visit. Mantoux test reading was 10 mm or more (Group A) in 12 (22.22%) patients and less than 10 mm (Group B) in 42 (77.77%) patients. Difference between Groups A and B in macular involvement at first visit (10; 50% vs. 28; 39.4%) and rate of recurrence (3; 15% vs. 14; 19.7%) was not statistically significant (P = 0.37 and 0.68). Oral steroid (51; 94.4%) was the commonest mode of treatment. Fifty-one (56%) eyes had two lines or more improvement in vision. CONCLUSIONS: The present study details the clinical presentation, treatment, and visual outcome of serpiginous choroiditis. Mantoux test reading does not affect the clinical presentation or the treatment outcome in these eyes.