Search

Introduction: Saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) incompetence is the most commonly attributed etiological factor in varicose veins of lower limbs with a consequent increase in the caliber of the great saphenous vein (GSV). This study aimed to assess GSV diameter to determine its cutoff diameter value for predicting reflux at the SFJ, in cases of varicose veins. Methods: This hospital-based prospective study was conducted on 156 patients (245 diseased limbs) over a period of 2 years, involving patients referred from the outpatient department for evaluation of varicose veins or those being evaluated as a part of preoperative assessment. Results: The cutoff value of GSV diameter to detect SFJ incompetence was determined at 5.4 mm with best sensitivity of 74.3%, specificity of 78.5%, and accuracy of 75.1%. Conclusion: GSV diameter assessment is of immense clinical importance as it can help the treating physician to filter out the false-negative cases solely being diagnosed based on reflux at SFJ, especially those with an absence of obvious clinical signs.

Introduction: Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a common condition in elderly men and is a major cause of bladder outflow obstruction. Various parameters are used in clinical practice, to be able to assess the severity of the enlarged prostate and its direct effect on the quality of life of the patient in terms of evaluation of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs). These are the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS); urodynamic studies such as uroflowmetry, measurement of postvoid residual urine (PVRU), prostatic volume (PV), intravesical prostatic protrusion, and digital rectal examination. Out of these, sonographic measurement of prostate volume and postvoid residual urine is the most widely used and readily available noninvasive methods. The present hospital-based study aims to establish an association between the PV, PVRU, and clinical symptom scores derived as per IPSS. Methods: This prospective, hospital-based study was done over a sample group of 748 symptomatic males with LUTS, referred from outpatient departments over a period of 2 years, for the assessment of PV and postvoid residual urine. The ordinal data sets were compared using the Chi-square test and a P < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results: The Chi-square statistics for the association of prostate volume with IPSS were 13.1678. P value was = 0.01. The Chi-square statistics for the association between PVRU and IPSS scores were 1.613. P value was = 0.80645. Conclusion: The results derived from the data establish that the statistical association between prostate volume and IPSS scores is weakly significant and association between PVRU and IPSS scores is not statistically significant at all.

Introduction: Cholesteatoma has been described as an accumulation of desquamated keratin debris in a pocket of squamous epithelium over a matrix within the middle ear cleft. A prospective study was carried out to establish a correlation between preoperative high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) temporal bone findings with intraoperative findings in cases of cholesteatoma. Methods: Fifty patients of chronic otitis media, active squamous type, i.e. clinically suspected cholesteatoma, scheduled to undergo tympanomastoid exploration were selected. The positive and negative findings of the scan were documented as per the parameters to be analyzed. The important intraoperative surgical findings were then analyzed with preoperative HRCT findings. Results: Agreement between surgical and HRCT findings ranged from 86% (facial canal erosion) to 100% (external bony canal involvement). HRCT had higher detection rate as compared to surgery for scutum erosion (40% vs. 36%), tegmen erosion (6% vs. 4%), facial canal erosion (28% vs. 14%), lateral semicircular canal erosion (6% vs. 2%), incus erosion (78% vs. 64%), sinus tympani involvement (14% vs. 4%), attic involvement (44% vs. 42%), mastoid involvement (88% vs. 80%), and aditus widening (54% vs. 44%). The higher detection of scutum erosion, tegmen erosion, facial canal erosion, lateral semicircular canal erosion, and incus erosion is probably due to partial volume averaging. Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that HRCT is an essential and indispensable tool for preoperative evaluation of cholesteatoma. It was highly sensitive and adequately specific for a significant number of findings. These findings are pivotal in planning the surgery and preparing for necessary anticipatory reconstructive procedures.

Objective: Mesenteric lymphadenitis reflects the mesenteric lymph node (MLN) response to an underlying infection of uncertain etiology, usually viral. In children, enlarged MLNs are common findings detected during abdominal ultrasound, whether done for nonspecific pain abdomen or for unrelated clinical presentations. This study was conducted to determine the significance of mesenteric lymphadenopathy in asymptomatic children as compared to those with symptoms of acute abdominal pain or chronic abdominal pain (CAP). Methodology: A prospective hospital-based study was conducted among 72 children aged between 2 and 15 years. These children were referred from the outpatient/pediatric ward department for 1 year, for evaluation by abdominal ultrasonography. Children were grouped into three categories based on their clinical presentations as asymptomatic (controls), those with CAP, and those with acute abdomen. The sonographic findings were tabulated against each, with accounting of parameters such as size, number of enlarged nodes, and site of nodes. Pearson's Chi-square test was used to analyze ordinal variables between groups. About 95% confidence interval was selected with a P = 0.05 taken as statistically significant. Results: Significant enlarged MLNs were comparable in prevalence in all groups. The incidence of significant mesenteric lymphadenopathy in the CAP group was even less than in the control group. The Chi-square statistic was 2.5612. The P = 0.633718. The result is not statistically significant at P < 0.05. This indicates that MLNs on ultrasonography have no significant association with the clinical presentation in children. Conclusion: Our study indicates that reporting of enlarged mesenteric nodes on transabdominal sonography in children is not statistically significant with the clinical symptomatology.

Splenic infarction without splenic vessel thrombosis is an infrequent presentation in clinical practice. The case discussed here is a 45-year-old male with a history of alcohol abuse, who presented to the hospital with pain abdomen epicentered in the left upper quadrant. On evaluation, the patient was found to be having portal hypertension complicated with alcoholic hepatitis, acute necrotizing pancreatitis, gastric, and paraesophageal varices. The presence of splenic infarction without concomitant splenic vessel thrombosis in this patient merits a discussion of relevant investigations and their findings thereof.

Inhalant abuse is common in adolescents and young people. However, awareness about its harmful effects is low, and the potential to cause dependence remains a cause of concern. Inhalant abuse is often associated with underlying novelty-seeking traits, which can also predict propensity for other substances of abuse. Inhalants are cheap, freely available, and legal to possess and escape detection in vulnerable groups. There is a need to spread awareness about the harmful effects of inhalants and devise effective primary and relapse prevention strategies.

Background: More Indians have access to mobile phones than toilets. Concerns have been raised for addictive potential of Internet. There are few Indian studies on the prevalence of Internet addiction (IA) among adolescents. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of IA among adolescents and its association with sociodemographic variables in a cantonment school. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional study among students of the age group of 10–19 years in Western Maharashtra. Sociodemographic data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Young's IA test was used to diagnose IA. Statistical analysis was done using Chi-square test and odds ratio. Results: A total of 1325 students participated in the study. Among these, 2.5% had scores above 69 (addicted). Among those with scores > 69, 85% were boys, average daily Internet use was 5.3 h in last 1 year. Use for academics, online gaming, and social media were the most common reasons for current use among the study sample. Risk factors included watching pornography, online gaming, use of Internet due to loneliness or boredom, use in Internet café, permanent login status, accessing Internet > 4 h daily, and consumption of tobacco or alcohol by any of the parents. The possible protective factors included using Internet only for academics, restricting Internet use to < 2 h, and having a playground nearby and playing there. Conclusion: In our study, prevalence of IA is around 2.5%. The possible risk and protective factors can be targets of intervention and further study.