Objectives: This study was undertaken to compare the results of laser (Ho:YAG) and pneumatic (ballistic) intracorporeal lithotripsy for ureteric calculi in terms of efficacy, safety and complications. Methods: 55 patients having ureteric calculus were randomly allocated into pneumatic lithotripsy (PL) and laser lithotripsy (LL) groups. Swiss lithoclast was used for PL (3 atm pressure and 12 Hz frequency) and the VersaPulse PowerSuite was used for LL. Appropriate statistical tests were applied. Results: 30 patients (34 stones) were treated with LL and 25 patients (25 stones) with PL. Both groups were comparable in profile. Mean lithotripsy time was 24.03 ± 9.51 min in the LL group and 19.80 ± 4.44 min in the PL group (p = 0.027). The immediate stone clearance rate was higher in the LL group (p = 0.001), but it was comparable at 4 weeks (p = 0.097). Stone migration occurred in 16% of cases in the PL group. No major complication was observed in either group. Conclusions: We conclude that both laser and pneumatic energies are effective and safe for intracorporeal lithotripsy. Laser lithotripsy takes more time but provides earlier stone-free status.

Bone mineral density in steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome is unaffected by cumulative dose of prednisolone therapy both in first episode as well as relapser group of patients.

A 9 year field program was undertaken from 1991–1992 to 1999–2000 to (i) measure the loads in the ice sheet near a dam, (ii) measure the load distribution between a gate and a pier, and (iii) compare the loads on wooden and steel stoplogs. Parallel work was conducted to develop analytical predictors for ice loads. Much progress has been made. One of the most significant findings has been to identify the importance of water level changes on the resulting ice loads. Ice loads are much higher and more variable (compared to purely thermal loads) when significant, but not excessive, water level changes occur. Methods have been developed to predict the ice load. The algorithms predict thermal loads well. They are less accurate for loads produced by a combination of water level and ice temperature changes. An environmental model was developed, and the predictions using the model compare well with the measured data. Hindcast analyses were carried out to evaluate the distribution of expected ice temperature changes and thermal events. With respect to the loads on gates and stoplogs, an analytical method was developed to extend the results obtained in this project to other stoplog or gate configurations (i.e., spans, flexural rigidities, etc.) and pier lengths.Key words: ice loads, dam(s).

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a very rare cause of anemia in a case of malaria and drug-induced AIHA is even rarer. A 50-year old patient with a history of fever for 8 days was diagnosed with a case of complicated malaria with mixed infection having initial parasite index of 45%. He showed good response on initial therapy with artesunate (parasite count reduced to <1%) but his haemoglobin (Hb) continued to drop from 12 g% to 4.9 g% over a course of 11 days. Direct coombs test was positive with reduced haptoglobin and increased lactate dehydrogenase suggesting AIHA. The patient was put on steroids and transfused with saline washed O-negative blood. He gradually recovered over 8 weeks with Hb level rising up to 12 g%. This is a rare case of AIHA following treatment of severe malaria with parenteral artesunate suggesting of the drug immune-related mechanism.

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