Mesenteric panniculitis does not confer an increased risk for cancers: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Mesenteric panniculitis (MP) is a non-specific, localized inflammation at the mesentery of small intestines which often gets detected on computed tomography. An association with malignant neoplasms remains unclear. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the association of malignancy with MP. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were searched for articles published from inception to 2020 that evaluated the association of malignant neoplasms with MP in comparison with control groups. Using random-effects method, a summary odds ratio (OR) estimate with 95% confidence intervals for malignant neoplasms in MP was estimated. RESULTS: Four case-control studies reporting data on 415 MP patients against 1132 matched-controls met inclusion criteria and were analyzed. The pooled OR for finding a malignant neoplasm in patients with MP was 0.907 (95% CI: 0.688-1.196; P = .489). The heterogeneity was mild and non-significant. Also, there was no heightened risk of any specific type of malignancy with MP. Three more case-series with unmatched-control groups (MP: 282, unmatched-controls: 17,691) were included in a separate analysis where the pooled OR of finding a malignant neoplasm was 2.963 (95% CI: 1.434-6.121; P = .003). There was substantial heterogeneity in this group. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis of matched controlled studies proves absence of any significant association of malignant neoplasms with MP. Our study also demonstrates that the putative association of malignancy with MP is mainly driven by uncontrolled studies or case-series.

Endogenous endophthalmitis in Klebsiella pneumoniae pyogenic liver abscess: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Endogenous endophthalmitis (EE) is a devastating complication that develops as a metastatic infection in patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae pyogenic liver abscess (KPPLA). The existing data are heterogeneous and the actual disease burden and risk factors for the development of EE among patients with KPPLA have not been systematically examined. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the incidence of EE, temporal trend of EE, and risk factors for EE in patients with KPPLA. METHODOLOGY: The MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for articles published from inception to 2020 that evaluated the incidence of EE among patients with KPPLA. By a random-effects method, a pooled estimate of its incidence with 95% confidence intervals was estimated along with examination of its temporal and geographic variations. Pooled odds ratios were calculated for risk factors. RESULTS: Fifteen retrospective studies reporting data on 11889 patients with KPPLA met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. With 217 patients developing EE, the pooled incidence of EE was 4.5% (95% confidence interval 2.4% to 8.2%). The heterogeneity was considerable and significant (Cochran's Q 243.5, p < 0.001, I2 = 94.2%). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis estimates the actual incidence of EE among patients with KPPLA, where EE is reported in about 1 of 22 patients with KPPLA. Infection caused by K1 capsular serotype was an independent risk factor.

Incidence and pattern of dry eye after cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: The objectives of the study were to identify the incidence and pattern of dry eye after phacoemulsification and manual small incision cataract surgeries. METHODS: The study consisted of two groups of patients - Group 1 underwent manual small incision cataract surgery (SICS) and Group 2 underwent phacoemulsification. The dry eye-related data was collected preoperatively and at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months postoperatively. Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire, tear break-up time (TBUT) and Schirmer test - 1 were used to record the type of dry eye. RESULTS: One hundred eyes of 96 patients, including 35 (36.5%) men and 61 (63.5%) women with the mean age of 63.1 (±8.3) years were studied. Dry eyes were found in 42% eyes (p < 0.001) of patients at 1 week follow-up. Fifteen percent and 9% of the eyes were dry at 1 month and 3 months after surgery, respectively. There were 34 (53.1%) and 8 (22.2%) dry eyes in SICS and phacoemulsification groups, respectively at one week postoperative follow-up which was a statistically significant difference.Majority of eyes (27/42, 64.3%) had mild dryness. There were significant differences in TBUT at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months postoperatively. At 1 week review, the SICS group had mean TUBT of 10.0 (±0.55) sec as compared to 13.9 (±0.70) sec in phacoemulsification group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Incidence of dry eye is higher in SICS than phacoemulsification due to tear film instability. The clinicians should be conscious about dry eye symptoms and signs in an otherwise healthy eye after cataract surgery.

Role of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology as a Diagnostic Tool in Orbital and Adnexal Lesions.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of fine needle aspiration (FNAC) as a diagnostic tool in cases of orbital and ocular adnexal masses. Cytological findings were correlated with histopathological diagnosis wherever possible. METHODS: FNAC was performed in 29 patients of different age groups presenting with orbital and ocular adnexal masses. Patients were evaluated clinically and investigated by non-invasive techniques before fine needle aspiration of the masses. Smears were analyzed by a cytologist in all cases. Further, results of cytology were compared with the histopathological diagnosis. RESULTS: The age of patients ranged from 1 to 68 years (mean: 29.79±19.29). There were 14 males and 15 females with a male to female ratio of 0.93:1. Out of 29 cases, 26 aspirates were cellular. Cellularity was insufficient in three (10.34%) aspirates. Out of 26 cellular aspirates, 11 were non-neoplastic while 15 were neoplastic on cytology. Subsequent histopathologic examination was done in 21/26 cases. Concordance rate of FNAC in orbital and ocular adnexal mass lesions with respect to the precise histologic diagnosis was 90%. CONCLUSION: When properly used in well-indicated patients (in cases where a diagnosis cannot be made by clinical and imaging findings alone), FNAC of orbital and periorbital lesions is an invaluable and suitable adjunct diagnostic technique that necessitates close cooperation between the ophthalmologist and cytologist. However, nondiagnostic aspirates may sometimes be obtained, and an inconclusive FNAC should not always be ignored.

Purtscher-like retinopathy in acute alcoholic pancreatitis.

A 23-year-old man with a history of alcoholism presented with vomiting, fever, and sharp epigastric pain radiating to the back and flanks. He was diagnosed as a case of acute alcoholic pancreatitis on the basis of clinical findings and investigations. On the next day of presentation, he developed sudden bilateral visual loss. His best-corrected visual acuity was finger counting at one-foot distance in both eyes. He had diffuse whitening in the circumpapillary area, haloes around the retinal vessels (Purtscher flecken) and intra-retinal hemorrhages on ophthalmoscopic examination. Optical coherence tomography revealed bilateral macular edema. These findings were characteristic of Purtscher-like retinopathy. The patient showed systemic and visual improvement at 8 weeks follow-up after receiving the conventional treatment for acute alcoholic pancreatitis. This case emphasizes the importance of fundus examination by an ophthalmologist in the diagnosis of this rare under-diagnosed entity.