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Introduction: Renal transplantation provides the best result as a long-term renal replacement therapy. Lymphorrhea is considered a common surgical complication of renal transplantation. Although nonsurgical factors are also associated, it is primarily due to damage and improper ligation of lymphatic vessels draining donor kidney and perivascular lymphatics of iliac vessels. Lymphorrhea is associated with prolongation of hospital stay and increased chances of infection and it may lead to lymphocele formation. Hence, to localize the origin of postoperative lymphorrhea in transplant recipients in wake for its definitive management, the enzymatic activity of the two enzymes, namely, creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the drain fluid was evaluated. Materials and Methods: A total of 68 renal transplant recipients (including live and deceased-donor [DD] transplantation) were evaluated for2 years. The enzymatic value of CPK and LDH was calculated in perigraft drain fluid. It was compared with the values of CPK and LDH in postradical cystectomy pelvic drain fluid and simple renal cortical cyst fluid. The average value of CPK in pelvic drain fluid and LDH in renal cortical cyst fluid was considered as their baseline value in lymphatics draining lower limb and renal lymphatics, respectively. Results: The source for postoperative lymphorrhea in DD and live-related donor was iliac lymphatics, whereas in live unrelated donor, it was iliac and graft kidney lymphatics. Conclusion: Drain fluid assessment for CPK and LDH activity can localize the origin of lymphatic leak in renal transplant recipients.

Context: Dengue, a mosquito-borne viral infection in the tropical regions of the world, has recently become a major public health concern. In West Bengal, several outbreaks of dengue fever occurred in the past few years. In the present study, serological analysis, molecular detection, and serotyping of dengue virus were done to identify the serotype/s presently circulating in the region. Methods: The present study was conducted for a period of 1 year from November 2017 to October 2018 in the Department of Microbiology, ID and BG Hospital, Kolkata. 5240 blood samples collected from clinically suspected dengue fever cases were screened for dengue specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody by MAC-ELISA and NS1 antigen by NS1 ELISA according to the duration of fever as per the National Vector Borne Disease Control Program guidelines. Molecular detection and serotyping were done in 70 NS1 positive samples by nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results: Total 5240 samples were tested for dengue. About 30.48% (1597) were serologically reactive for dengue infection (either IgM or NS1). Among these, 80.52% (1286) were NS1 reactive and 19.47% (311) were IgM reactive. Male predominance (66.37%) was observed throughout the study period. A post monsoon season peak was also noted in our study. DEN2 was found as most prevalent serotype presently circulating in the region. Conclusions: Laboratory-based active surveillance system is required which can forecast dengue epidemics by detecting increasing number of dengue cases or changing pattern in the prevalent serotype as a specific serotype (viz.DEN2) is associated with higher incidence of complications. This will help alert the public and physicians to diagnose properly and treat cautiously the complicated dengue cases.

Context: Malaria is one of the major public health problems worldwide with increased morbidity and mortality. India has the fourth highest malaria burden in the world. Malaria parasite affects multiple organs of the body including liver, spleen, brain, kidney, blood vessels etc. Organ dysfunction predominantly seen in Plasmodium falciparum malaria, is not in Plasmodium vivax infections. Aims: The present study investigated the abnormalities of liver function test in acute cases of Plasmodium Falciparum infection. Settings and Design: A hospital-based case–control study conducted in a tertiary care center in West Bengal, India, for a duration of 7 months and included 53 acute falciparum malaria cases attending the outpatient department (OPD) and 47 age and sex matched patients, with complaints unrelated to the present study, as controls. Materials and Methods: Serum levels of bilirubin, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase, total protein and albumin were assayed using autoanalyzer (Konelab 60i autoanalyser). Statistical analysis used: SPSS software version 20 (IBM, New York, USA). Results: In this study serum bilirubin (total, conjugated and unconjugated ) SGOT, SGPT, alkaline phosphatase levels were highly significantly raised in cases with respect to controls. Levels of total protein, albumin and globulin in cases was not significantly different from the corresponding levels in controls. Conclusions: Hepatic function impairment in malaria is an important and potentially dangerous complication. Data from the present study can be useful for future research and also help in determining the prognosis and treatment.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common childhood dermatosis and a distressing cause of morbidity. The pathogenesis of AD is known to be associated with disorders of immune response and defect in antioxidant defense, genetic predisposition, environmental triggers, psychosomatic factors, and other mechanisms. Retinol has immunomodulatory and antioxidant effects, thus may have a protective role in AD. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation of retinol levels in skin lesions and serum, with AD. Materials and Methods: The study was a hospital-based, case–control study. Punch biopsy from the skin and venous blood of 86 participants (including 43 cases and 43 controls) were assayed for retinol levels by a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method. Analysis of data was performed using appropriate statistical methods. Results: Skin and serum retinol levels were highly significantly decreased in patients in respect to that of controls. Conclusion: Retinol levels were decreased in AD. Retinol estimation may be used as a promising parameter for the elaboration of treatment strategy and monitoring.