Background: Opioids administered as bolus doses or continuous infusions are widely used by anesthesiologists worldwide for major and day care surgeries. Opioid-free anesthesia is a multimodal anesthesia and analgesia technique that does not use opioid drugs, thereby benefitting patients from opioid-related adverse effects. In this study, we compared the postoperative analgesic requirements of patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under opioid-free and opioid-based anesthesia. Methods: This study included 88 patients aged 18–60 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1 and 2 who underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Participants were randomly divided into two groups with forty-four participants in each group. The opioid-free anesthesia group was administered an intravenous bolus of ketamine and dexmedetomidine, whereas the opioid-based group was administered fentanyl with conventional general anesthesia. The primary outcome was to compare the total amount of fentanyl consumed by both groups during the 6 h postoperative period following extubation. Episodes of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and vital signs were noted throughout the postoperative period to analyze the secondary outcomes. Results: Both the groups had similar demographic characteristics. The opioid-free group required less postoperative analgesia within the first 2 h (61.4 ± 17.4 vs. 79.0 ± 19.4 of fentanyl, P < 0.001), which was statistically significant. However, fentanyl consumption was comparable between the groups at the sixth postoperative hour (opioid-free group 152 ± 28.2 vs. opioid group 164 ± 33.4, P = 0.061). Compared with 4.5% of the participants in the opioid-free group, 34% of those in the opioid-based group developed moderate PONV. Conclusions The opioid-free anesthesia technique in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy reduced the requirement of analgesia in the first two hours of the postoperative period and was associated with decreased PONV.

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection with an institution-based physical therapy (PT) program for adhesive capsulitis (AC) of the shoulder in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: A total of seventy diabetic patients with AC of the shoulder for <6 months were assigned to two groups: PRP group and PT group. In the PRP group, 35 patients were administered a single shot of PRP (4 mL) into the glenohumeral joint. In the PT group, 35 patients were given institution-based PT that included 10 30-minute sessions of planned PT over a 2-week period. After the interventions, all patients were prospectively followed for 12 weeks. Intensity of shoulder pain, function, and range of motion were assessed at baseline and then at 3, 6, and 12 weeks. Results: Thirty-three patients in the PRP group and 32 in the PT group completed the 12-week study. At 12 weeks, patients who received PRP injections showed greater improvement in shoulder pain (p<0.001) than those recruited to the PT group. In the range of motion and shoulder function activities, patients in the PRP group showed significant improvement compared with the institution-based PT group (p<0.001). No significant complications were reported from any groups. Conclusions: In a diabetic population, PRP injections significantly improved shoulder pain and function compared with an institution-based PT program for shoulder AC. Additionally, it is a safe and well-tolerated method for AC management for diabetic patients.

PURPOSE: To avoid potential problems of double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), various modifications have been reported. This study analyzed a novel technique of modified double-bundle (MDB) ACLR without implant on tibial side in comparison to single-bundle (SB) ACLR. METHODS: Eighty cases of isolated anterior cruciate ligament tear (40 each in SB group or MDB group) were included. SB ACLR was performed by outside in technique with quadrupled hamstring graft fixed with interference screws. In MDB group, ACLR harvested tendons were looped over each other at the center and free ends whipstitched. Femoral tunnel was created by outside in technique. Anteromedial tibial tunnel was created with tibial guide at 55°. The anatomic posterolateral aiming guide (Smith-Nephew) was used to create posterolateral tunnel. With the help of shuttle sutures, the free end of gracillis was passed through posterolateral tunnel to femoral tunnel followed by semitendinosus graft through anteromedial tunnel to femoral tunnel. On tibial side the graft was looped over bone-bridge between external apertures of anteromedial and posterolateral tunnel. Graft was fixed with interference screw on femoral side in 10° knee flexion. International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Tegner score, Pivot shift and knee laxity test (KLT, Karl-Storz) were recorded pre- and post-surgery. At one year magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was done. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS software. RESULTS: Mean preoperative KLT reading of (10.00 ± 1.17) mm in MDB group improved to (4.10 ± 0.56) mm and in SB group it improved from (10.00 ± 0.91) mm to (4.80 ± 0.46) mm. The mean preoperative IKDC score in MDB group improved from (49.49 ± 8.00) to (92.5 ± 1.5) at one year and that in SB group improved from (52.5 ± 6.9) to (88.4 ± 2.6). At one-year 92.5% cases in MDB group achieved their preinjury Tegner activity level as compared to 60% in SB group. The improvement in IKDC, KLT and Tegner scale of MDB group was superior to SB group. MRI confirmed graft integrity at one year and clinically at 2 years. CONCLUSION MDB ACLR has shown better outcome than SB ACLR. It is a simple technique that does not require fixation on tibial side and resultant graft is close to native ACL.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament/surgery* ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction/methods* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Tibia/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

PURPOSEBoth cannulated cancellous screw (CCS) and sliding hip screw (SHS) are used in femoral neck fracture fixations, but which is superior is yet to be determined. This study was aimed to compare the clinicoradiological outcome of femoral neck fracture treated with SHS or CCS in young adults.

METHODSAdults (16e60 years) with femoral neck fracture were divided into Group 1 fixed with SHS and Group 2 fixed with three CCS after closed reduction. Pain relief, functional recovery and postoperative radiographs at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and then yearly for upto 4 years were analyzed.

RESULTSGroup 1 (n=40) achieved radiological union at mean of 7.6 months, with the union rate of 87.5% (n=35), avascular necrosis (AVN) rate of 7.5% (n=3) and mean Harris Hip Score (HHS) of 86.15 at the end of 4 years. In Group 2 (n=45) these parameters were union at 7.1 months, union rate of 82.22% (n=37), AVN rate of 6.67% (n=3) and HHS of 88.65. Comparative results were statistically insignificant.

CONCLUSIONThere is no significant difference in clinicoradiological outcome between the two implants.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteonecrosis ; epidemiology ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Prospective Studies ; Recovery of Function ; Young Adult

Although the Contingent Negative Variation (CNV) paradigm has been useful in schizophrenia, limited research involving such paradigm in subjects with Bipolar Disorder (BD) has produced contradictory findings. To the best of our knowledge, no study has investigated CNV in Paediatric Bipolar Disorder (PBD) subjects. Thirty remitted PBD patients and thirty matched healthy control group subjects participated in the study. No significant between group main effect could be found for either CNV latency or amplitude. We propose that CNV is unlikely to be a true endophenotype of BD. However, absence of CNV finding during euthymic phase in BD may help us in advancing our understanding of BD and such finding may, in fact, have some specificity with regard to differentiating BD from schizophrenia.
Bipolar Disorder ; Contingent Negative Variation ; Endophenotypes ; Humans ; Schizophrenia ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: Estrogen, through its binding to nuclear estrogen receptor (ER), has been implicated in the development of human breast cancer. The presence or absence of ER in breast lesions has been used to classify breast cancer into ER+ or ER- type. Maspin, an anti-breast cancer protein produced in normal mammary cells, has also been reported to control the condition. Studies have been conducted to determine the role of ER+ and ER- status in neutrophils in the synthesis of maspin in human breast cancer. METHODS: Maspin presence was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, while nitric oxide (NO) level was determined using the methemoglobin method. RESULTS: Scatchard plots of the equilibrium binding of estrogen demonstrated the presence of 4.18x10(7) receptors per normal neutrophil and 2.46x10(7) receptors per ER+ neutrophil with a similar dissociation constant (0.926 nM). The ER- type showed nonspecific estrogen binding only. At 0.6 nM estrogen, NO synthesis was maximally increased to 1.829 and 0.887 microM NO/10(9) cells at 4 hours in normal and ER+ neutrophils respectively, with synthesis of 2.383 and 1.422 nM maspin in normal and ER+ neutrophils respectively. Estrogen failed to produce these effects in ER- neutrophils. CONCLUSION: ER status in neutrophils determined maspin synthesis in breast cancer through the stimulation of NO synthesis. Neutrophils with ER- status which do not produce any maspin when treated with estrogen, might imply a worse prognostic outcome in ER- breast cancer due to the lack of anti-breast cancer protein synthesis.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Dissociative Disorders ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Estrogens ; Humans ; Methemoglobin ; Neutrophils ; Nitric Oxide ; Receptors, Estrogen ; Serpins

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia in India. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is used in diabetic patients as an index of glycemic control reflecting glucose levels of the previous 3 months. Like blood sugar levels, HbA1c levels are also affected by the presence of variant hemoglobins, hemolytic anemias, nutritional anemias, uremia, pregnancy, and acute blood loss. However, reports on the effects of iron deficiency anemia on HbA1c levels are inconsistent. We conducted a study to analyze the effects of iron deficiency anemia on HbA1c levels and to assess whether treatment of iron deficiency anemia affects HbA1c levels. METHODS: Fifty patients confirmed to have iron deficiency anemia were enrolled in this study. HbA1c and absolute HbA1c levels were measured both at baseline and at 2 months after treatment, and these values were compared with those in the control population. RESULTS: The mean baseline HbA1c level in anemic patients (4.6%) was significantly lower than that in the control group (5.5%, p<0.05). A significant increase was observed in the patients' absolute HbA1c levels at 2 months after treatment (0.29 g/dL vs. 0.73 g/dL, p<0.01). There was a significant difference between the baseline values of patients and controls (0.29 g/dL vs. 0.74 g/dL, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the observations of previous studies, ours showed that HbA1c levels and absolute HbA1c levels increased with treatment of iron deficiency anemia. This could be attributable to nutritional deficiency and/or certain unknown variables. Further studies are warranted.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency/*blood/drug therapy ; Child ; Female ; Ferritins/blood ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated/*analysis ; Hemoglobins/analysis ; Humans ; Iron/therapeutic use ; Male ; Time Factors

Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) is used commonly as a non-invasive test for assessment of degree of atherosclerosis. The present study, in a tertiary care centre of Eastern India was aimed to determine the relation between CIMT and the known and novel risk factors of ischemic stroke. Of the 62 patients studied, 82% were hypertensive and 61% were smokers, 95% were above 50 years of age. Seventy one percent of our patients had high CIMT. CIMT was signifi cantly related to high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), fi brinogen, LDL levels and age of the patient. By logistic regression analysis, hsCRP, fi brinogen and age were signifi cantly associated with high CIMT. When the patients have elevation of both hsCRP and fi brinogen, the risk of high CIMT were even higher. Our study highlights the needs for better screening in high risk patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The bilateral choanal atresia is a medical emergency for which surgery is the only and definite treatment. We performed an atretic bone perforation using Hagers dilators. The purpose of this study, then, is to evaluate the efficacy of this simple technique of perforation, dilation and stenting. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied five patients who underwent surgery for a complete bilateral bony atresia from 1994 to 2004. All the patients were newborn: two males and three females babies. The male female ratio was 1 : 1.5. Their age varied from 1 day to 4 days. The surgery was performed with Hagers dilators using the puncture and dilation technique. Stenting was carried out in all cases using a non cuffed endotracheal tube. RESULTS: The reestablishment of the nasal passage through a perforating atretic plate was considered a successful criteria of surgery. All the neonates had good nasal air passage after the perforation, dilation and stenting. Two of the patients who were with the CHARGE association died within 7 days due to causes unrelated to surgery. The other three patients had successful removal of stent after six weeks. There was no follow-up afterwards. CONCLUSION: The puncture, dilation and stenting technique by Hagers dilator is safe, quick and simple. It involves minimum blood loss and is without any complications. Stenting, therefore, is essential for preventing restenosis.
CHARGE Syndrome ; Choanal Atresia* ; Emergencies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Punctures* ; Stents*

BACKGROUND: Nasal myiasis is very distressing condition of the nose that occurs among patients with atrophic rhinitis. This condition is frequently found among those belonging to the lower socioeconomic status suffering from bad nasal hygienic conditions. A retrospective study was done of 58 cases of patients admitted for nasal myiasis. All the patients belonged to the lower socio- economic class and suffered from poor hygienic condition. The majority of the patients were over the age of 60 years and male female ratio was 1 : 1.5 .The primary complaints of this condition were epistaxis, foul smelling nasal discharge, passage of worms from the nose and pain. The majority of the patients were suffering from primary atrophic rhinitis and a few from the secondary atrophic rhinitis due to syphilis and leprosy. TREATMENT: As a first step of treatment, the maggots were removed manually and endoscopically. All the patients became maggot free in 2-3 days time. Alkaline nasal douching was then started along with 25% glucose in glycerine nasal drop. Complications such as septal perforation, saddling nose, palatal perforation were observed in a few cases. The incomplete closure of nose (modified Young's operation) was performed in a few cases. CONCLUSION: Manual and endoscopic removal should be done repeatedly. Antimeningitis prophylaxis should be started at once. And, to prevent recurrence, mosquito net should be used while sleeping, and incomplete closure of both the nasal cavity (modified Young's operation) should be carried out.
Epistaxis ; Female ; Glucose ; Glycerol ; Humans ; Larva ; Leprosy ; Male ; Mosquito Nets ; Myiasis* ; Nasal Cavity ; Nose ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhinitis, Atrophic ; Smell ; Social Class ; Syphilis ; Therapeutic Irrigation