Introduction and Aim: This study has been undertaken to evaluate efficacy of platelet rich plasma (PRP) dressing that is recently introduced with conventional dressing. We have tried to compare PRP dressing with conventional normal dressing in healing the wound.   Materials and Methods: We conducted this study in 120 patients of chronic non healing diabetic foot ulcers who were treated over the period of three years. Number of cases (60 each) were studied for efficacy of applying autologous platelet rich plasma versus normal dressing for chronic non healing diabetic foot ulcers. At every week follow up, the ulcer was examined for granulation tissue, area and volume which was calculated using Vernier calipers and marked on a graph paper and photographs were taken. Wound healing was compared between PRP and normal dressing.   Results: The incidence of male susceptibility was more (70%) than females (30%) in diabetic foot. Average rate of healing per week was found to be significantly better among the PRP group than normal dressing group. The ulcer showed significant reduction in size among the PRP group in comparison to the normal dressing group with a significant P value (0.001).   Conclusion: In this study application of platelet rich plasma into chronic non-healing diabetic foot ulcers in comparison with conventional dressing has shown a significant reduction in the size of the ulcer, hospital stay and cost for the patient.

Objectives. In our study we are aiming to analyse the learning curves in our surgical trainees by using two standard methods of intracorporeal knot tying. Material and Method. Two randomized groups of trainees are trained with two different intracorporeal knot tying techniques (loop and winding) by single surgeon for eight sessions. In each session participants were allowed to make as many numbers of knots in thirty minutes. The duration for each set of knots and the number of knots for each session were calculated. At the end each session, participants were asked about their frustration level, difficulty in making knot, and dexterity. Results. In winding method the number of knots tied was increasing significantly in each session with less frustration and less difficulty level. Discussion. The suturing and knotting skill improved in every session in both groups. But group B (winding method) trainees made significantly higher number of knots and they took less time for each set of knots than group A (loop method). Although both knotting methods are standard methods, the learning curve is better in loop method. Conclusion. The winding method of knotting is simpler and easier to perform, especially for the surgeons who have limited laparoscopic experience.

Aim and objectives: To assess the effectiveness of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and its impact on the clinical and pathological response in locally advanced breast cancer. To compare molecular subtypes of breast cancer with response to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients and methods: This was a prospective study on patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast carcinoma for a 3-year period. A total of 60 patients who presented with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Forty patients were treated with the 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FEC) schedule, 16 patients were treated with Adriamycin and cyclophosphamide (AC), and four patients were treated with oral cyclophosphamide, intravenous methotrexate, and fluorouracil (CMF). Taxol was added in all node-positive cases, triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), and Her 2 positive cases. The clinical response was assessed with RECIST criteria after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The response was compared with molecular subtypes of carcinoma breast and receptor status individually. Results: A total of 60 female patients receiving primary chemotherapy for locally advanced breast malignancy were studied. The median age of the patients at the time of diagnosis was 44 years (range=24-73). In terms of menopausal status, 25 (42%) patients were pre-menopausal and 35 (58%) patients were post-menopausal. Histological classification showed invasive ductal carcinoma in 72% of patients, invasive lobular carcinoma in 15% of patients, and other types including mixed patterns in 13% of patients. Among 60 patients, 16 patients (26.6%) had clinically complete remission (cCR), 30 patients (50%) had partial remission, eight patients (13.3%) had stable disease, and six patients (10%) had progressive disease. Following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 46 (76.6%) patient underwent Modified radical mastectomy surgery. Target therapy was given for Her2 neu patients after surgery. Hormonal therapy was added to hormone ER PR positive cases postoperatively. Eight patients (13.3%) among this operated cases attained complete pathological response. Conclusion: Preoperative chemotherapy downstages the primary tumors and axillary metastasis in patients with locally advanced breast carcinoma. Comparison of molecular subtypes with chemotherapy response is a better way to find out the predictors of response to chemotherapy.

INTRODUCTIONChordomas are rare, slow growing, locally destructive bone tumours arising from the notochord.PRESENTATION OF CASEPresenting a case of a 65 year old man, who presented with complaints of swelling on the right lower back for 1 year associated with pain.On, physical examination, a swelling measuring 5 cm × 4 cm was noted in the lower back with posterior wall indentation on per rectal examination.MRI revealed a mass lesion involving the sacrum (s3–s4) and coccyx. FNAC showed features of a chroma.At surgery, we excised a mass from the retrorectal space and biopsy proved it to be a chondroid chordoma, a variant of chordoma.DISCUSSIONChordomas are solid malignant tumours that arise from vestiges of the foetal notochord. Common locations are the clivus and the sacrococcygeus region.Annual incidence of these tumours is 1 in one million. MRI is the imaging modality of choice. Prognosis improves based on the age, resected margins and postoperative treatment.CONCLUSIONHere, we shall discuss the literature, variants, treatment and prognosis of this rare tumour.

Objectives. Pathogenesis of gallstone includes bile stasis due to defect in the gallbladder muscle contraction. Our aim of the study is to find out the role of 99mTc-HIDA scan in assessment of gallbladder dyskinesia in cholelithiasis patients before laparoscopic cholecystectomy and compare the gallbladder dyskinesia with various parameters like symptoms of patients, diabetic status of patients, gallstones size and number, and cholecystitis features in histopathology report after surgery. Material and Method. This is a prospective observational study conducted at our hospital for three years. Totally 40 patients with gallstone were subjected to 99mTc-HIDA scan, to assess the ejection fraction of gallbladder. For all these patients detailed clinical history, presence of comorbid illness like diabetics, and symptomatology were elicited. For all patients, ultrasonogram of abdomen was done to assess number and size of stones. All parameters were tabulated and correlated. Result. While comparing 99mTc-HIDA scan findings with symptoms of patients, 21.2% were asymptomatic and 78.8% symptomatic patients who had ejection fraction less than 80%. All patients in EF >80% group were symptomatic only. It is not statistically significant. On comparing 99mTc-HIDA scan findings with diabetic status of the patients, 42.4% of diabetic and 57.6 % of nondiabetic patients had ejection fraction less than 80%. It is not statistically significant (0.681). While comparing 99mTc-HIDA scan findings with size of the gallstone in ultrasound, 63.6% patients with size less than 1cm and 36.4% with size more than 1cm had ejection fraction < 80%. It is statistically significant (0.048). On comparing 99mTc-HIDA scan findings with number of stones in ultrasound, 18.2% single gallstone patients and 81.8% multiple gallstone patients had EF less than 80% which is statistically significant (0.001). While comparing the 99mTc-HIDA scan findings with histopathology report after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 21.2% non-cholecystitis patients and 78.8% cholecystitis patients had EF less than 80%, which is statistically (0.017) significant. Conclusion. 99mTc-HIDA scan can be an accurate method to diagnose the gallbladder dyskinesia. Gallbladder dyskinesia in 99mTc-HIDA scan can be used to predict large size stones and multiple stones before surgery. The sensitivity can be improved by 99mTc-HIDA scan in diagnosing cholecystitis patients.