Natl Med J India
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Cogan syndrome (CS) is a rare vasculitis seen primarily in young adults. It predominantly affects eyes, ears and the heart with characteristic findings of interstitial keratitis, sensorineural hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction. A high index of suspicion is required to diagnose this rare disorder. ⋯ Early diagnosis and treatment are the cornerstone of treatment to prevent permanent damage to the ears and eyes. We describe a patient with Cogan syndrome with large vessel vasculitis and IBD. Our patient was treated with glucocorticoids and methotrexate.
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Sexual assault and associated factors among the cases reported in a tertiary care hospital of Delhi.
Sexual assault is said to be an under-reported and under-researched crime worldwide. The high number of cases of sexual assault reported in India is the tip of the iceberg. We did this study to understand various factors associated with this crime. ⋯ More than one-third of sexual assaults were against minors and in a majority of instances the alleged offenders were known to the victims. A major delay in reporting the crime was observed when the victim was known to the perpetrator.
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Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common emergency in gastroenterology. After gallstone disease and alcoholism, hypertriglyceridaemia (HTG) is the next common cause for AP. The role of intensive insulin therapy (IIT) and plasma exchange (PE) in hypertriglyceridaemic acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) is still debatable. ⋯ He received early IIT initially, and PE once haemodynamic stability was achieved. This approach improved the functioning of the organs. In haemodynamically unstable patients with HTG-AP, we suggest early initiation of IIT, followed by adjuvant PE after the resolution of shock, to ameliorate organ dysfunction and improve overall outcome.
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Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a heterogeneous disease with uncertain course. Treatment should be tailored to the patient's disease as well as the prognostic subgroup. With the increased use of rituximab as well as other selective and non-selective immunomodulatory agents, the incidence of infectious complications and second malignancies has also increased. ⋯ One year after the last rituximab exposure, progressive muscle weakness developed and polyoma JC virus DNA was observed with increased titres in the cerebrospinal fluid, and the patient was diagnosed as having PML. The patient died 2 months later. Our patient had an unusual course of CLL over 8 years, with relapses, complicated with a secondary malignancy and an infectious complication.
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The choice of a postgraduate specialization in medicine is influenced by many factors. What motivates students to take up pathology as a career option or to reject the same remains unexplored. This study aimed to understand the perceptions of medical students from a college in southern India regarding the role played by pathologists in clinical practice and how this influenced their choice of pathology as a career. ⋯ A career in pathology can be rewarding and intellectually stimulating. The fact that a pathologist plays an important role in diagnosis and also patient management must be emphasized in the undergraduate medical curriculum. The medical student will then be able to take an informed decision about his or her career.