Use of ECT in patients with organic catatonia.

BACKGROUND: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is considered to be a treatment of choice in patients with catatonia, who do not respond to lorazepam, irrespective of the underlying aetiology. Although, significant data is available for successful use of ECT in patients with catatonia secondary to affective and psychotic disorders, little information is available for use of ECT in organic catatonia. AIM: To assess demographic and clinical profile of patients with organic catatonia receiving ECT. METHODOLOGY: Using a retrospective study design, ECT register of the department was reviewed for the period of 2019-2023 to identify the patients with organic catatonia, who received ECT. The treatment records of these patients were reviewed to extract the demographic and clinical profile. RESULTS: During the study period, out of the 926 patients who received ECT, 12 (1.3 %) patients diagnosed with organic catatonia received ECT. The mean age of study sample was 41.67 (SD- 20.68) years and mean number of ECTs given in a course of ECT were 8 (SD- 4.3). In majority of the patients, ECT was considered after the failure of lorazepam challenge test. Majority (75 %) of the patients showed good response to ECT and only 16.67 % of the patients experienced complications during the course of ECT. CONCLUSION: ECT is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for organic catatonia.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Brain Findings in Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV) Infection with Neurological Complication during Epidemic Outbreak.

Background and Objective: The Chikungunya virus is an alphavirus RNA of the family Togaviridae transmitted by the Aedes mosquito. We aim to report magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain findings for neurological complications at our institute during epidemic outbreak. Materials and Methods: A total of 43 seropositive cases of Chikungunya infection underwent MRI brain. Results: Out of 43 patients, 27 (63%) had discrete and confluent supra-tentorial T2-weighted (T2W) and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) hyper-intense white matter foci. A total of 14 patients (33%) showed multiple foci/areas of diffusion restriction, and four of these patients had infra-tentorial T2 & FLAIR hyper-intense foci with restricted diffusion. In three pediatric age group patients including two neonates, the pattern of involvement was diffuse white matter changes with restricted diffusion. In 30% cases, MRI was normal. Conclusions: Detection of focal or confluent white matter hyper-intense foci with restricted diffusion on MRI in patients presenting with fever and neurological symptoms has potential to conclude the diagnosis of Chikungunya encephalitis, especially in epidemic settings.

Sphenoid sinus anatomical variants and pathologies: pictorial essay.

The sphenoid sinus (SS) is one of the four paired paranasal sinuses (PNSs) within the sphenoid bone body. Isolated pathologies of sphenoid sinus are uncommon. The patient may have various presentations like headache, nasal discharge, post nasal drip, or non-specific symptoms. Although rare, potential complications of sphenoidal sinusitis can range from mucocele to skull base or cavernous sinus involvement, or cranial neuropathy. Primary tumors are rare and adjoining tumors secondarily invading the sphenoid sinus is seen. Multidetector computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the primary imaging modalities used to diagnose various forms of sphenoid sinus lesions and complications. We have compiled anatomic variants and various pathologies affecting sphenoid sinus lesions in this article.

Modeling and simulation of atrazine biodegradation in bacteria and its effect in other living systems.

Atrazine is the most commonly used herbicide worldwide in the agricultural system. The increased environmental concentration of the atrazine showed the toxic effects on the non-target living species. Biodegradation of the atrazine is possible with the bacterial systems. The present study investigated biodegradation potential of atrazine degrading bacteria and the impact of atrazine on environmental systems. Model of atrazine fate in ecological systems constructed using the cell designer. The used model further analyzed and simulated to know the biochemistry and physiology of the atrazine in different cellular networks. Topological analysis of the atrazine degradation confirmed the 289 nodes and 300 edges. Our results showed that the overall biomagnification of the atrazine in the different environmental systems. Atrazine is showing toxic effects on humans and plants, whereas degraded by the bacterial systems. To date, no one has analyzed the complete degradation and poisonous effects of the atrazine in the environment. Therefore, this study is useful for overall system biology based modeling and simulation analysis of atrazine in living systems.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Unusual association between corrected transposition of great arteries and supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection: a rare combination never reported before.

We describe the case of a 52-day-old child who was diagnosed with a rare combination of corrected transposition of great vessels - hypoplastic right ventricle with supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection.

Sarcoidosis presenting as isolated gingival enlargement: a rare case entity.

Sarcoidosis is a non-caseating granulomatous disease . It is a multiorgan inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology. Conditions affecting skin or other organs frequently involve oral cavity and rarely manifest as gingival disease. Here we are reporting a rare case in which gingival hyperplasia was the initial symptom which finally led to the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Oral mucous membrane needs to be examined carefully as it may constitute in presenting first sign of systemic sarcoidosis.

Oral rhabdomyosarcoma: A review.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a rare malignant soft tissue neoplasm comprised of cells derived from the primitive mesen¬chyme. About 35% of RMS arises in the head and neck, are are classified as parameningeal and non-parameningeal forms. These are the most common soft tissue sarcoma of the children, adolescents and young adults. Their etiopathogenesis and its molecular relevance have been emphasized. The first line of treatment is radical excision and this is usually supplemented by radiotherapy. It is believed that adjunct combination chemotherapy may greatly improve the prognosis. Inadequately treated tumours grow in an infiltrative manner and recur in a high percentage of cases. Bone does not constitute an effective barrier to the growth of the tumour and bone invasion is a frequent finding in head and neck rhabdomyosarcomas. Key words:Rhabdomyosarcomas, botryoid, spindle, alveolar, sarcomas, undifferentiated.

Intra-arterial thrombolysis in basilar artery occlusions combination of intra-arterial thrombolytics and Gp IIb/IIIa inhibitors in basilar artery thrombosis.

Basilar artery thrombosis has high morbidity and mortality. Though intra-arterial thrombolytics have proven efficacy in the treatment of acute basilar artery occlusion, the elevation of procoagulant factors in the blood after intra-arterial thrombolysis could result in subsequent thrombus formation and clinical deterioration. Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors have been shown to reduce this elevation in procoagulants. We present a pilot study of three cases of acute basilar artery occlusion treated with a combination of intra-arterial thrombolytics and Gp IIb/IIIa inhibitor with remarkable clinical recovery seen in all the patients.

Cervicomedullary compression secondary to massive calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposition in the atlantoaxial joint with intradural extension and vertebral artery encasement.

BACKGROUND: Deposition of CPPD crystals occurs in the fibrous and hyaline cartilage of the joints and intervertebral disks of the spine. Half of patients known to have chondrocalcinosis had asymptomatic calcification in the odontoid region. The cases of 12 patients with a spinal cord syndrome secondary to CPPD deposition in the odontoid region were published in the literature. In all those cases, the mass lesion was extradural in location with good outcome after surgical decompression via the transoral route. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report on a rare case of large periodontoid CPPD deposition causing cervicomedullary compression, erosion of the overlying bone, and underlying dura with intradural extension and vertebral artery encasement. CONCLUSIONS: Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate is a rare cause of cervicomedullary compression. Intradural extension of periodontoid CPPD has not been reported on.