Objectives:Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a global health problem. Almost 10%–25% of population worldwide is affected by AR. Oral/intranasal H1-antihistamine, decongestants, leukotriene receptor antagonists, and intranasal corticosteroids are the pillars in the management of AR. The combination therapy of montelukast with antihistaminic provides enhancing and complimentary effects, thereby reducing the symptoms effectively, but there are scanty data regarding the comparisons of combinations. Therefore, we aimed to compare the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of montelukast-levocetirizine and montelukast-fexofenadine combination in patients of AR.Materials and Methods:Seventy patients with AR participated in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, parallel, active-controlled, comparative 4-week trial. The patients between the age group of 18–65 years of either gender having moderate-severe intermittent or mild persistent AR were included in the study. The study inclusion criteria required the patients with total nasal symptom score (TNSS) of 5 or higher. The patients were randomly divided into two treatment groups with montelukast-levocetirizine (10 mg and 5 mg) in one group and montelukast-fexofenadine (10 mg and 120 mg) in another group. TNSS parameter was the main effectiveness parameter.Results:Evaluation of TNSS revealed significant difference (P < 0.05) when compared from baseline to 4th week in both groups. The mean change of TNSS, i.e., 9.46 was significant (P < 0.05) in montelukast-fexofenadine group. The cost-effectiveness ratio was less in montelukast-levocetirizine group than in montelukast-fexofenadine group.Conclusion:The decrease in TNSS was more in montelukast-fexofenadine group, but the cost-effectiveness is more with montelukast-levocetirizine combination.

ABSTRACT:-Xeroderma Pigmentosa is a rare inherited autosomal recessive disease characterised by inability to repair DNA damage caused by UV light. Those affected are extremely sensitive to the UV portion of the light. Affected individuals rapidly develop skin atrophy, splotchy pigmentation, telangectasias and skin cancers. These patients have increased propensity for UV radiation induced mutagenesis. Neoplasms occur commonly in the skin exposed areas. Basal cell carcinomas being the most commonly encountered variety. Squamous cell carcinoma has been infrequently reported.Here we report a case of a 17 year old girl of Xeroderma Pigmentosa with squamous cell carcinoma of lower lip.

Study aims to assess the postoperative ostium shrinkage pattern and also attempted to evaluate various ostium parameters and their impact on surgical outcome by using DOS scoring system. Prospective study comprising 44 patients of NLD obstruction with 52 procedures performed during October 2016 to November 2018. Various dimensions of bony neo-ostium were recorded intraoperatively and during 1st, 3rd and 6th month follow up. Degree of ostium shrinkage and its correlation with anatomical and functional success was studied. DCR ostium (DOS) scoring system, comprised of ten various ostium parameters, was used to evaluate postoperative ostium. Intraoperative mean ostium height and width were 13.67 ± 2.76 mm and 7.0 ± 1.94 mm and surface area was 98.33 ± 38.46 mm 2 . Maximum ostium shrinkage (by 66.93%) occurred at 1 month and after which, average size of ostium was quite stable with little change. The anatomical and functional success rate was 94.23% and failure rate was 5.77%. DOS score was ''excellent'' in 40(75.92%), ''good'' in 9(17.31%) and ''poor'' in 3(5.77%) cases. Meticulous evaluation at regular intervals is important for surgeon to understand the characters of ostium during healing and also helps in early detection of pathologies and may facilitate early corrective intervention. We believe that DOS system provides an effective protocol to standardize the ostium evaluation. The ostium parameters with favourable surgical outcome are ostium location anterior to axilla of MT, circular/ oval shape with shallow base, size [ 8 9 5 mm, clearly visualized and dynamic ICO, absence of ostium cicatrization, granulomas, synechiae and other pathologies.

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<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Various graft materials have been used to repair tympanic membrane perforations. Temporalis fascia and cartilage with or without perichondrium are the most commonly used materials. The objective of the study was to compare the anatomical and functional success in type I tympanoplasty by using cartilage- perichondrium graft with that of temporalis fascia in a homogenous group of population.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> 64 patients with chronic otitis media - mucosal type were included in the study. This prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted at a tertiary care centre between December 2012 to October 2014. Patients were grouped randomly between temporalis fascia (34/64) and cartilage group (30/64). In the fascia group, the graft was placed by underlay technique. In the cartilage group, tragal cartilage was thinned by cartilage thinner keeping the perichondrium attached on one side. The graft was placed by underlay or over-underlay technique. Postoperative results i.e. graft take up (anatomical success) and hearing improvement (functional success) were evaluated at 6 months.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Graft take up rate was 94.11% for fascia group and 96.66% for cartilage group. The mean pure tone air bone gaps pre and postoperatively in the fascia group were 26.4±6.55 dB and 11.47±6.5 dB respectively, whereas for cartilage-perichondrium group, the values were 28.3±5.86 dB and 13.2±6.48 dB respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the graft take up rate and postoperative hearing improvement between the two groups (p≥0.05).</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Cartilage with perichondrium can be considered as an alternative to more traditional grafting material for tympanic membrane reconstruction.</p>