Objective:The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of smartphone and its WhatsApp application as a communication method amongst the staff of plastic and reconstructive surgery section at tertiary care health facility.Materials and Methods:From January 2012 onwards, the authors used smartphones and its WhatsApp application as a communication method amongst their team for various aspects of patient management and as a tool for academic endorsements.Results:During the period of this study, there were 116 episodes regarding patient management, which were handled, in a timely fashion by using this application. In addition opinion of rotating residents in the section was sought regarding the efficacy of this method of communication. Overall majority of residents were satisfied with this mode of communication.Conclusions:This new method of communication is an effective method for clinical and academic endorsements. The method is cheap and quick and easy to operate.

Background Ear keloids are abnormal continuously growing healing process following cutaneous injury. Surgical excision is the standard treatment strategy; however, 50–80% of cases develop recurrence. Adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) is commonly offered with a marked decrease in the recurrence rate. The variation in RT protocols used in different studies leads to a bias of results analysis. The aim is to present our experience of using surgical excision with postoperative radiotherapy for recurrent ear keloids. Also, studying different variables especially dose and keloid size that affects recurrence rate. Radiotherapy complications were reported and assessed. Patients and methods Keloids between 2006 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Fifty-five ear keloids out of 83 cases who received RT after surgical excision were included in the study. Different dose regimens including 13 Gy/1fx, 8 Gy/1fx, 10 Gy/2fx, 15 Gy/3fx, and other fractionated regimens were used. The Median follow-up period was 35 months. Recurrence-free rate (RFR), side effects, and prognostic factors were assessed. Results The overall 2-year RFR was 88 ± 5%. The 2-year RFR was 83 ± 8% for dose regimens with biological effective dose (BED) ≤ 40 and 92 ± 5% for regimens with BED > 40 Gy with an insignificant p value. The 2-year RFR was 74 ± 10% compared to 97 ± 3% for keloids > 2 cm and keloids ≤ 2 cm respectively (p value 0.02). The higher dose used for keloids with > 2 cm size significantly improved RFR. The orthovoltage therapy showed marginally better 2-year RFR compared to electron beam therapy; however, statistically insignificant (p value 0.09). The side effects were minimal with no reported second malignancy or serious G3-4 complications. Conclusion Excision followed by RT is a safe and effective treatment for recurrent ear keloids. Low and modest radiation doses are effective; however, a higher dose is recommended for keloids > 2 cm. We recommend a prospective larger-scale study to test the effect of dose and keloid size on the treatment results.

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Se publica una lista de especies de parasitoides afidiinos (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) asociados con varias especies de áfidos en Kashmir, India. El trabajo menciona a 61 especies de 15 géneros que se distribuyen en diversas localidades y áreas del valle de Kashmir. La base de datos sobre fauna de áfidos ha sido actualizada con cambios recientes de sistemática, nomenclatura, nombres de hospederos y plantas hospederas. Los parasitoides de áfidos son enemigos naturales de áfidos y pueden ser considerados como potenciales agentes de control biológico. El estudio sistemático de estos parasitoides, ayudará en la implementación de estrategias de manejo para controlar a los áfidos.

Aplasia Cutis Congenita (ACC) is a condition characterized by congenital absence of skin, usually on the scalp. ACC can occur as an isolated condition or in the presence of other congenital anomalies. Here we describe a case of a 16-day-old baby girl with an isolated ACC of the scalp. Her elder two siblings have been diagnosed with ACC with concomitant cardiac or limb anomalies. The patient was managed conservatively until the defect has formed scar tissue 6 months later.