No abstract available.

Reports of combined candidal and herpetic esophagitis in immunocompetent states are rare and sporadic. A 44-year-old previously healthy lady presented with a one week history of progressive dysphagia, odynophagia and fever. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) showed extensive desquamation of the entire esophagus except for distal 4 cm. Histopathological examination revealed ulcerated and inflamed squamous epithelium with the margin of ulcer showing a few overhanging squamous cells with dense eosinophilic cytoplasm, multinucleated and faceted nuclei with glassy chromatin, and an occasional Cowdry type A intranuclear inclusion bodies. Few candidal spores were seen in the underlying stroma. Intravenous acyclovir, fluconazole and pantoprazole were initiated. Oral analgesics were given for pain relief. She was treated for a total of 14 days. She showed significant improvement and was tolerating oral intake after discharge. The patient was asymptomatic with no evidence of recurrence at a 2-month follow-up.
Adult ; Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Candidiasis ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Esophagitis ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; virology ; Esophagus ; microbiology ; pathology ; virology ; Female ; Herpes Simplex ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Inclusion Bodies, Viral ; Spores, Fungal ; Treatment Outcome

The reconstructive surgeries utilize pes anserinus (PA) tendons, because of their lesser post-operative clinical deficits and donor site morbidity. These surgeries require anatomical knowledge about the extent of PA formation. The goal of this study was to determine the length and width of the PA formation. The objectives were to measure the distance of its upper limit, lower limit, and vertical distance from the tibial tuberosity (TT). The present descriptive cross sectional study included 53 embalmed cadaveric lower extremities. The upper and lower limits of PA were exposed with the careful dissection. Measurements of the dimensions were performed with the help of a digital vernier caliper (Mitutoyo Co., Kanagawa, Japan). The PA length, width, distance of its upper limit, lower limit, and vertical distance of it from the TT were 47.4±13.3 mm, 37.3±7.2 mm, 47.6±12.5 mm, 54.6±10.4 mm, and 39.1±14.2 mm, respectively over the right extremity. The same measurements were 46.3±14.7 mm, 39.1±9.4 mm, 39.1±5.9 mm, 49.5±8.2 mm, and 36.4±12.1 mm, respectively for the left extremity. The extent of PA was observed to be extremely variable. The preoperative knowledge about the dimensions of PA will help the plastic and orthopedic surgeon put the accurate skin incision, decreasing the donor site morbidity and biomechanical instability of the PA grafts. We suggest that, preoperative ultrasound measurement of the PA may help the operating surgeon to prevent the complications like injury to the infrapatellar branch of saphenous nerve.

The reconstructive surgeries utilize pes anserinus (PA) tendons, because of their lesser post-operative clinical deficits and donor site morbidity. These surgeries require anatomical knowledge about the extent of PA formation. The goal of this study was to determine the length and width of the PA formation. The objectives were to measure the distance of its upper limit, lower limit, and vertical distance from the tibial tuberosity (TT). The present descriptive cross sectional study included 53 embalmed cadaveric lower extremities. The upper and lower limits of PA were exposed with the careful dissection. Measurements of the dimensions were performed with the help of a digital vernier caliper (Mitutoyo Co., Kanagawa, Japan). The PA length, width, distance of its upper limit, lower limit, and vertical distance of it from the TT were 47.4±13.3 mm, 37.3±7.2 mm, 47.6±12.5 mm, 54.6±10.4 mm, and 39.1±14.2 mm, respectively over the right extremity. The same measurements were 46.3±14.7 mm, 39.1±9.4 mm, 39.1±5.9 mm, 49.5±8.2 mm, and 36.4±12.1 mm, respectively for the left extremity. The extent of PA was observed to be extremely variable. The preoperative knowledge about the dimensions of PA will help the plastic and orthopedic surgeon put the accurate skin incision, decreasing the donor site morbidity and biomechanical instability of the PA grafts. We suggest that, preoperative ultrasound measurement of the PA may help the operating surgeon to prevent the complications like injury to the infrapatellar branch of saphenous nerve.

Background/Aims: The national registry for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was designed to study epidemiology and prescribing pattern of treatment of IBD in India. Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional, prospective registry was established across four geographical zones of India. Adult patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn’s disease (CD) were enrolled between January 2014 and December 2015. Information related to demographics; disease features; complications; and treatment history were collected and analyzed. Results: A total of 3,863 patients (mean age, 36.7 ± 13.6 years; 3,232 UC [83.7%] and 631 CD [16.3%]) were enrolled. The majority of patients with UC (n = 1,870, 57.9%) were from north, CD was more common in south (n = 348, 55.5%). The UC:CD ratio was 5.1:1. There was a male predominance (male:female = 1.6:1). The commonest presentation of UC was moderately severe (n = 1,939, 60%) and E2 disease (n = 1,895, 58.6%). Patients with CD most commonly presented with ileocolonic (n = 229, 36.3%) inflammatory (n = 504, 79.9%) disease. Extraintestinal manifestations were recorded among 13% and 20% of patients in UC and CD respectively. Less than 1% patients from both cohorts developed colon cancer (n = 26, 0.7%). The commonly used drugs were 5-aminosalicylates (99%) in both UC and CD followed by azathioprine (34.4%). Biologics were used in only 1.5% of patients; more commonly for UC in north and CD in south. Conclusions The national IBD registry brings out diversities in the 4 geographical zones of India. This will help in aiding research on IBD and improving quality of patient care.

Background/Aims: The national registry for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was designed to study epidemiology and prescribing pattern of treatment of IBD in India. Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional, prospective registry was established across four geographical zones of India. Adult patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn’s disease (CD) were enrolled between January 2014 and December 2015. Information related to demographics; disease features; complications; and treatment history were collected and analyzed. Results: A total of 3,863 patients (mean age, 36.7 ± 13.6 years; 3,232 UC [83.7%] and 631 CD [16.3%]) were enrolled. The majority of patients with UC (n = 1,870, 57.9%) were from north, CD was more common in south (n = 348, 55.5%). The UC:CD ratio was 5.1:1. There was a male predominance (male:female = 1.6:1). The commonest presentation of UC was moderately severe (n = 1,939, 60%) and E2 disease (n = 1,895, 58.6%). Patients with CD most commonly presented with ileocolonic (n = 229, 36.3%) inflammatory (n = 504, 79.9%) disease. Extraintestinal manifestations were recorded among 13% and 20% of patients in UC and CD respectively. Less than 1% patients from both cohorts developed colon cancer (n = 26, 0.7%). The commonly used drugs were 5-aminosalicylates (99%) in both UC and CD followed by azathioprine (34.4%). Biologics were used in only 1.5% of patients; more commonly for UC in north and CD in south. Conclusions The national IBD registry brings out diversities in the 4 geographical zones of India. This will help in aiding research on IBD and improving quality of patient care.

Despite several recent advances in therapy in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) therapy has retained its place especially in ulcerative colitis. This consensus on 5-ASA is obtained through a modified Delphi process, and includes guiding statements and recommendations based on literature evidence (randomized trials, and observational studies), clinical practice, and expert opinion on use of 5-ASA in IBD by Indian gastroenterologists. The aim is to aid practitioners in selecting appropriate treatment strategies and facilitate optimal use of 5-ASA in patients with IBD.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), once considered a disease of the Western hemisphere, has emerged as a global disease. As the disease prevalence is on a steady rise, management of IBD has come under the spotlight. 5-Aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents and biologics are the backbone of treatment of IBD. With the advent of biologics and small molecules, the need for surgery and hospitalization has decreased. However, economic viability and acceptability is an important determinant of local prescription patterns. Nearly one-third of the patients in West receive biologics as the first/initial therapy. The scenario is different in developing countries where biologics are used only in a small proportion of patients with IBD. Increased risk of reactivation of tuberculosis and high cost of the therapy are limitations to their use. Thiopurines hence become critical for optimal management of patients with IBD in these regions. However, approximately one-third of patients are intolerant or develop adverse effects with their use. This has led to suboptimal use of thiopurines in clinical practice. This review article discusses the clinical aspects of thiopurine use in patients with IBD with the aim of optimizing their use to full therapeutic potential.

Introduction: The cognitive and psychomotor abilities needed by physicians are widely addressed in the undergraduate medical curriculum; however, the attitude (affective domain) is rarely addressed. Soft skills refer to a person’s ability to communicate efficiently, collaborate, and have various personality traits that define people’s interactions. This study aimed to determine the perception of undergraduate medical students on soft skills. Methods: A total of twenty-four undergraduate medical students from our institution participated in this study. The students attended a one-hour lecture session about soft skills conducted by a clinician. Within a week of the lecture, we held four focus group discussions (FGDs). Each focus group consisted of six students. This qualitative study’s sample selection process was by the convenience sampling technique until participant numbers reached data saturation. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the transcripts of the FGDs. Results: Thirteen (54.1%) students had prior knowledge limited to some attributes of soft skills during high school and via community service. Introduction to soft skills specifically occurred to 18 (75.0%) students after joining the medical college. Ten (41.6%) students opined that empathy is the most essential, whereas nine (37.5%), four (16.6%), one (4.1%) mentioned that communication skills, teamwork, and time management, respectively, are essential soft skills for physicians. Conclusion: All undergraduate medical students (100%) enrolled in this study mentioned that soft skills are essential for physicians. Therefore, soft skills training must become an integral part of the undergraduate medical curriculum rather than merely a component of the hidden curriculum.