<p>AIMTo identify submicroscopic interstitial deletions in azoospermia factor (AZF) loci in idiopathic and non-idiopathic cases of male infertility in Indians.p><p>METHODSOne hundred and twenty two infertile males with oligozoospermia or azoospermia were included in this study. Semen analysis was done to determine the sperm density, i.e., normospermia (>20 million/mL), oligozoospermia (<20 million/mL) or azoospermia. They were subjected to detailed clinical examination and endocrinological and cytogenetic study. Thirty G-banded metaphases were analyzed in the 122 cases and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) microdeletion analysis was done in 70 cytogenetically normal subjects. For this genomic DNA was extracted using peripheral blood. The STS primers tested in each case were sY84, sY86 (AZFa); sY127, sY134 (AZFb); sY254, sY255 (AZFc). PCR amplifications found to be negative were repeated at least 3 times to confirm the deletion of a given marker. The PCR products were analyzed on a 1.8 % agarose gel.p><p>RESULTSEight of the 70 cases (11.4 %) showed deletion of at least one of the STS markers. Deletions were detected in cases with known and unknown aetiology with bilateral severe testiculopathy and also in cryptorchid and varicocele subjects.p><p>CONCLUSIONAZF microdeletions were seen in both idiopathic and non-idiopathic cases with cryptorchidism and varicocele. The finding of a genetic aetiology in infertile men with varicocele and cryptorchidism suggests the need for molecular screening in non-idiopathic cases.p>
Adult ; Biopsy, Needle ; Chromosome Banding ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; Cryptorchidism ; genetics ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Gene Deletion ; Genetic Loci ; Humans ; Male ; Metaphase ; Oligospermia ; etiology ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reference Values ; Semen ; chemistry ; Seminal Plasma Proteins ; genetics ; Sperm Count ; Testis ; pathology ; Varicocele ; genetics

Purpose: Carotid artery stenting (CAS) has evolved as a first-line therapeutic option for carotid revascularization in indicated patients for stroke prevention, but there is still a lack of data on its effect on cognitive function (CF), especially among Indian patients. To determine the effect of CAS on CF and to study the immediate and delayed complications of CAS in Indian patients. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective, observational, single-center study. CF was assessed using Addenbrooke’s cognitive examination version III (ACE) before and 3 months after stenting. The demographic and clinical parameters were also assessed. A follow-up evaluation after 3 months was done to compare CF and to observe the occurrence of any complications. Results: Out of 31 patients, 3 were lost to follow up. There were no immediate or delayed procedure-related complications. There was a statistically significant improvement in overall ACE score and memory before and after stenting. On subgroup analysis of those with and without strokes, there was a significant improvement in visuospatial function and mean ACE score. Those with left CAS had significant improvement in memory, visuospatial, language, and ACE scores than right CAS. Conclusion CAS was associated with significant improvement in CF in patients.

Dengue is an emerging disease in Nepal and was first observed as an outbreak in nine lowland districts in 2006. In 2010, however, a large epidemic of dengue occurred with 4,529 suspected and 917 serologically-confirmed cases and five deaths reported in government hospitals in Nepal. The collection of demographic information was performed along with an entomological survey and clinical evaluation of the patients. A total of 280 serum samples were collected from suspected dengue patients. These samples were subjected to routine laboratory investigations and IgM-capture ELISA for dengue serological identification, and 160 acute serum samples were used for virus isolation, RT-PCR, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The results showed that affected patients were predominately adults, and that 10% of the cases were classified as dengue haemorrhagic fever/ dengue shock syndrome. The genetic characterization of dengue viruses isolated from patients in four major outbreak areas of Nepal suggests that the DENV-1 strain was responsible for the 2010 epidemic. Entomological studies identified Aedes aegypti in all epidemic areas. All viruses belonged to a monophyletic single clade which is phylogenetically close to Indian viruses. The dengue epidemic started in the lowlands and expanded to the highland areas. To our knowledge, this is the first dengue isolation and genetic characterization reported from Nepal.

Arterial haemorrhage is a potentially life threatening complication in severe pelvic ring injuries such as “open book” fractures. These injuries mostly implicate the posterior branches of the internal iliac artery. However, we report an unusual case wherein the source of bleeding was identified to be the internal pudendal artery and its branches. Patient was a 27-year-old male who presented to the emergency following an alleged history of road traffic accident and was diagnosed as a case of pelvic fracture (Young and Burgess Antero-Posterior Compression II) with sacral fracture (Denis type 2) with suspected urethral injury. Computerised Tomography (CT) angiogram revealed contrast extravasation from the right internal pudendal artery. However, digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was normal indicating spontaneous closure of the arterial bleeder. Surgical stabilisation of the fracture was carried out and subsequently, patient was discharged. This report serves to highlight that although uncommon, internal pudendal artery can be injured in hemodynamically unstable “open book” pelvic fractures and hence, must be always ruled out.

The optimal management of patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACS) is the subject of extensive debate. According to the 2017 European Society for Vascular Surgery guidelines, carotid endarterectomy should (Class IIa; Level of Evidence: B) or carotid artery stenting may be considered (Class IIb; Level of Evidence: B) in the presence of one or more clinical/imaging characteristics that may be associated with an increased risk of late ipsilateral stroke (e.g., silent embolic infarcts on brain computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging, progression in the severity of ACS, a history of contralateral transient ischemic attack/stroke, microemboli detection on transcranial Doppler, etc.), provided documented perioperative stroke/death rates are <3% and the patient’s life expectancy is >5 years. Besides these clinical/imaging characteristics, there are additional individual, ethnic/racial or social factors that should probably be evaluated in the decision process regarding the optimal management of these patients, such as individual patient needs/patient choice, patient compliance with best medical treatment, patient sex, culture, race/ethnicity, age and comorbidities, as well as improvements in imaging/operative techniques/outcomes. The present multispecialty position paper will present the rationale why the management of patients with ACS may need to be individualized.

The optimal management of patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACS) is the subject of extensive debate. According to the 2017 European Society for Vascular Surgery guidelines, carotid endarterectomy should (Class IIa; Level of Evidence: B) or carotid artery stenting may be considered (Class IIb; Level of Evidence: B) in the presence of one or more clinical/imaging characteristics that may be associated with an increased risk of late ipsilateral stroke (e.g., silent embolic infarcts on brain computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging, progression in the severity of ACS, a history of contralateral transient ischemic attack/stroke, microemboli detection on transcranial Doppler, etc.), provided documented perioperative stroke/death rates are <3% and the patient’s life expectancy is >5 years. Besides these clinical/imaging characteristics, there are additional individual, ethnic/racial or social factors that should probably be evaluated in the decision process regarding the optimal management of these patients, such as individual patient needs/patient choice, patient compliance with best medical treatment, patient sex, culture, race/ethnicity, age and comorbidities, as well as improvements in imaging/operative techniques/outcomes. The present multispecialty position paper will present the rationale why the management of patients with ACS may need to be individualized.

Introduction: An increased tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove (TTTG) distance is used for deciding a treatment plan in patello-femoral instability (PFI). The centre of the patellar tendon and the chondral trochlear groove can be directly visualised on MRI, and measured, giving the patellar tendontrochlear groove (PTTG) distance. A study was designed to compare the inter-rater and the test-retest reliabilities of PTTG and TTTG measurements in MRI of patients without PFI and in a group with PFI. Materials and Methods:This cross-sectional reliability study was done on archival MRI films of 50 patients without patellar instability and 20 patients with patellar instability. TTTG and PTTG distances were independently measured by two orthopaedic surgeons and two radiologists. A hybrid PTTG measurement with bony landmarks on the femoral side and the patellar tendon landmark on the tibial side, was used to estimate the influence of the differences in the femoral and tibial landmarks on the difference in reliabilities. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated for all four raters, as well as separately for each rater. Results: The PTTG distance had a higher inter-rater reliability (ICC=0.86, 95% CI=0.79-0.92) compared to the TTTG distance (ICC=0.70, 95% CI=0.59-0.80) in patients without PFI. Similar trends were seen in patients with PFI (0.83 vs 0.66). The inter-rater reliability for the hybrid PTTG distance was found to lie in between the TTTG and PTTG. Conclusions:The MRI-based PTTG distance had better inter-rater reliability compared with the MRI-based TTTG distance.