Over a 5-year period, virological investigations for Japanese encephalitis (JE) were conducted in children presenting with acute encephalopathic illness. Clinical features of JE-positive patients (n = 116) were compared with patients in whom the diagnosis could be excluded (n = 57). Multivariate analysis by logistic regression revealed that two clinical signs – central hyperpneic breathing pattern and extrapyramidal signs – were significant predictors of the diagnosis. Application of the model yielded a sensitivity of 41.3% and a specificity of 80.7% with positive and negative predictive values of 81.3 and 40.3%, respectively. This indicates that the model may be helpful in making the diagnosis but not in excluding it. The model should be further validated in different areas where the disease is prevalent.

Increased plasma NO levels are associated with increased severity of diabetic retinopathy. For the first time, it has been demonstrated that increased plasma LPO, NO and decreased GSH levels are associated with in vivo structural changes in inner segment ellipsoid and RPE.

Objective The study was undertaken to identify the common type of lesions, and the age, sex distribution, symptomatology, sites of involvement and prognosis of the same.Study design A two-year prospective study was conducted from January 2005 to December 2006.Setting The study was conducted at SMS Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India-a tertiary referral hospital.Patients A total of 50 patients with benign laryngeal lesions were included in the study based on symptoms such as hoarseness of voice, foreign body sensation, throat pain, neck mass and cough and with positive clinical fi ndings on indirect laryngoscopy and neck examination. The patients were in the age group of 14-63 years. All nonoperative cases and malignant cases were excluded. Diagnostic hematological and radiological investigations and therapeutic microlarygoscopic procedures were employed.Results A male preponderance with a male:female ratio of 2.5:1 was observed. Majority of the patients were in the age group of 21-30 years. Vocal cord polyps were observed to be the commonest type of lesions. In our study, hoarseness of voice, cough, foreign body sensation and throat pain were found to be the commonest symptoms. Out of the 50 patients in the study group, only 6% patients got complete relief with voice rest and vocal rehabilitation; 94% patients required surgery, which included microlarygoscopy and endolaryngeal surgery. There was no recurrence in cases of vocal polyps and nodules during the period of observation.Conclusion Microlaryngeal surgery and voice rest offer a cost-effective, useful and safe method for the management of benign laryngeal lesions. With the inclusion of lasers, they can be more precisely operated. As such, the standard treatment of choice in all types of benign tumors of the larynx should consist of a triad of approach by microlaryngeal surgery (either microscopic or endoscopic, with or without use of lasers), voice rest and vocal rehabilitation.

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Background Traumatic posterior fossa hematoma is a rare entity. Traumatic posterior fossa hematomas are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality and their surgical management remained controversial. Methods From August 2011 to August 2017, approximately 5,100 patients with head injury were managed. Authors reviewed clinical and radiological findings, management criteria, and outcome of posterior fossa hematoma in 21 patients. Results Out of 21 cases, 13 survived with our management. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) on admission was higher in favorable group than in poor outcome group. Factors associated with Glasgow Outcome Scale in two groups were status of fourth ventricle, basal cisterns, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), hematoma volume, and their location (hemispheric or midline). Similarly, associated supratentorial lesions, age, gender, lesions in other parts of body, and timing from injury to reporting to hospital were taken into consideration. Conclusion The factors correlated with patient outcome were age, sex, mode of injury, GCS at admission, associated intracranial hematomas, associated SAH, hematoma volume, hematoma location, basal cisterns, status of fourth ventricle, and associated multiple injuries on other body parts. It is hereby concluded that timely surgical intervention should be employed whenever indicated without delay. Posterior fossa hematomas were rarely observed in the pediatric age group.