Practice Patterns and Survival in Patients with Resected Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinomas (PDAC) - Results from the Multicentre Indian Pancreatic & Periampullary Adenocarcinoma Project (MIPPAP) Study.

BACKGROUND: There is limited data from India with regard to presentation, practice patterns and survivals in resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs). METHODS: The Multicentre Indian Pancreatic & Periampullary Adenocarcinoma Project (MIPPAP) included data from 8 major academic institutions across India and presents the outcomes in upfront resected PDACs from January 2015 to June 2019. RESULTS: Of 288 patients, R0 resection was achieved in 81% and adjuvant therapy was administered in 75% of patients. With a median follow-up of 42 months (95% CI: 39-45), median DFS for the entire cohort was 39 months (95% CI: 25.4-52.5), and median overall survival (OS) was 45 months (95% CI: 32.3-57.7). A separate analysis was done in which patients were divided into 3 groups: (a) those with stage I and absent PNI (SI&PNI-), (b) those with either stage II/III OR presence of PNI (SII/III/PNI+), and (c) those with stage II/III AND presence of PNI (SII/III&PNI+). The DFS was significantly lesser in patients with SII/III&PNI+ (median 25, 95% CI: 14.1-35.9 months), compared to SII/III/PNI + (median 40, 95% CI: 24-55 months) and SI&PNI- (median, not reached) (p = 0.036)). CONCLUSIONS: The MIPPAP study shows that resectable PDACs in India have survivals at par with previously published data. Adjuvant therapy was administered in 75% patients. Adjuvant radiotherapy does not seem to add to survival after R0 resection.

Comparison of nutrition screening tools and calf circumference in estimating the preoperative prevalence of malnutrition among patients with aerodigestive tract cancers-a prospective observational cohort study.

PURPOSE: There is paucity of data on the prevalence of malnutrition among cancer patients in India and a brief tool to identify the same would be an asset. Our aim was to evaluate two nutrition screening tools and calf circumference (CC) with the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) consensus guidelines for malnutrition among patients with head and neck (H&N) and gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. METHODS: Nutritional evaluation was performed preoperatively using Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), Short Form of Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA-SF), and calf circumference (CC) in 206 patients. The diagnostic accuracy of these tools was compared with the ESPEN criteria for malnutrition. Patients evaluated were grouped as normal or malnourished. The incidence of infection, antibiotic days, antibiotic escalation, and length of stay was compared among the groups. Clavien-Dindo score at discharge, 30-day readmission, and mortality were also examined. RESULTS: A total of 28.6% were malnourished as per ESPEN criteria and 25.2% had CC less than the cut-off. With respect to ESPEN criteria, MUST and MNA-SF had 100% sensitivity and negative predictive value. CC had the highest specificity and positive predictive value for the total population (91.16%, 75% respectively). The agreement between the tools was acceptable except in MNA-SF (MNA-SF-ESPEN κ = 0.228, MUST-ESPEN κ = 0.565, CC-ESPEN κ = 0.594). There was no difference in postoperative outcomes between the malnourished and normal. CONCLUSION: Thus, more than a quarter of patients with H&N and GI cancers are malnourished preoperatively. As the best agreement between the screening tools was for MUST-ESPEN and CC-ESPEN, either of them can be used to identify malnutrition at admission.

Multiple adenoid basal cell carcinoma: An uncommon presentation.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignant skin tumor which occurs more frequently over the sun exposed parts of body. Its adenoid variant is a rare histological subtype. We report a case of multiple adenoid basal cell carcinomas at unusual sites in a middle-aged male patient.

Antibiotic prophylaxis in the prevention of rebleeding in acute variceal hemorrhage: A randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of antibiotic prophylaxis in the prevention of rebleeding in acute variceal hemorrhage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 patients who underwent endoscopic therapy for bleeding esophageal varices were randomized into the prophylaxis group and the on-demand group. Patients in the prophylaxis group received antibiotic prophylaxis using intravenous ofloxacin till the patient resumed oral fluids, followed by oral ofloxacin tablet for a total of 7 days. In the on-demand group, antibiotics were used only when infection was evident. Patients were monitored for rebleeding and infection during the hospital stay. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients in the prophylaxis group and 26 patients in the on-demand group were analyzed. The clinical characteristics in both the groups were similar. The Child-Pugh score was around 7 in both the groups. The incidence of infection was 5/30 (16.7%) in the prophylaxis group and 7/26 (26.9%) in the on-demand group (P = 0.52). The incidence of early rebleeding in the prophylaxis vs. the on-demand group was 3 vs. 5 (P = 0.69), and the incidence of late rebleeding was 6 vs. 8 (P = 0.48). The differences were not significant. CONCLUSION: The present study shows a trend toward lower rate of early and late rebleeding, infection rate and mortality in the prophylaxis group; hence, routine use of antibiotics in all such patients may not be necessary. Further studies with a larger sample size and a longer follow-up period are required to validate the usefulness of antibiotics in these patients.

Atrial fibrillation induced and converted by domestic supply electric shock.

We present a case of persistent atrial fibrillation induced by a low-voltage electric shock reverting back to sinus rhythm after a similar repeat shock.

An unusual atrial tachycardia in a patient with Friedreich ataxia.

We present the unusual association of an atrial tachycardia with Friedreich ataxia. The arrhythmia was initially suspected to be focal in origin; however, use of a three-dimensional mapping system demonstrated that the tachycardia was macro-reentrant. This was subsequently treated successfully by linear ablation.

Survival analysis of patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in Oman.

OBJECTIVE: To study the 10-year survival of adults with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) in Oman. METHODS: Ninety-seven patients aged >13 years with IDC attending the Cardiology Unit, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman from 1992-1995 were prospectively studied, in order to identify the outcome and factors contributing to death. RESULTS: Among 97 patients, 2 died from acute heart failure at presentation. The remaining 95 patients were followed up for periods ranging from 1-10 years (median 7 years). Twenty-four out of 95 patients exhibited clinical deterioration with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), by 5-11%, and 17 of them expired due to resistant heart failure. The remaining 71 patients remained stable and did not show deterioration in LVEF; however, 7 of them died suddenly at home possibly from ventricular arrhythmia. The survival rates were 94% at one year (95% confidence interval [CI] 88% to 99%), 86% at 3 years (95% CI 79% to 93%), and 64% at 10 years (95% CI 51% to 78%). Mean survival was 6.5 years (95% CI 6 to 7 years). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that factors related to death were LVEF <30% (p<0.001) and presence of severe mitral regurgitation (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Outcome of dilated cardiomyopathy has improved due to greater understanding of this condition leading to better therapeutic approach. Resistant heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias remain the main causes of mortality. Poor outcome was related to low LVEF and presence of severe mitral regurgitation.

Dizziness during pregnancy due to cardiac myxoma.

A woman in the second trimester of pregnancy with recurrent episodes of dizziness is presented. She had a large left atrial myxoma that interfered with left ventricular filling, compromising cardiac output accounting for the symptoms. Surgical excision of the tumor was performed successfully during pregnancy.