Background: The myocardial infarction (MI), the most common manifestation of coronary artery disease remains as a major cause of mortality in both developed and developing countries. The people without known major risk factors can be screened for MI with a simple and cost-effective tool which will be helpful in developing countries to reduce the mortality. Dermatoglyphic patterns in clinical conditions have been studied so far and their relationship is established in the literature. Dermatoglyphics has been considered as a diagnostic tool in many diseases with genetic bases. Hence this study is conducted to analyse the correlation between dermatoglyphic features and MI, so that dermatoglyphics may be used as screening tool for MI. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 150 MI patients diagnosed with ECG or coronary angiography who were admitted in the Institute of cardiology, Madras Medical College, Chennai after obtaining clearance from Institutional ethics committee. 150 healthy consented volunteers were included as controls. The finger prints from both groups were taken by ink method and type of fingerprint patterns and total finger ridge count (TFRC) and absolute finger ridge count (AFRC) were studied. The correlation of the findings between cases and controls were analysed with t-test and Chi-square test using SPSS 13.0. Results: The frequency of loop, arch and whorls is 54.9%, 8.3% and 36.8% respectively in MI as compared to 59.4%, 13.2% and 27.4% respectively in controls. The frequency of whorls is increased in thumb, middle finger and little finger of both hands of the MI patients when compared with controls with statistically significant difference (p<0.005). The mean value of TFRC and AFRC is increased in cases than controls and statistically significant difference was observed for AFRC. Conclusion: Thus, our study has indicated the specific fingerprint patterns in MI and we hope this knowledge can be used for screening the people without known risk factors for MI. KEY WORDS: Fingerprint, Dermatoglyphics, Myocardial infarction, early diagnosis.

Background: Anterior communicating artery, a short trunk connecting the anterior cerebral arteries is important in stabilizing blood flow by acting as collateral channel. The present study was conducted to note the variations in anterior communicating artery which may be one of the reason for formation of aneurysm.Materials and Methods: Anterior communicating artery was observed for its number, course, length and variations in 50 adult embalmed cadaveric brains after injecting with latex solution.Results: Duplication of anterior communicating artery was found in 4 specimens (8%) and it was absent in 2%. The course of ACoA was oblique in 54.2% and transverse in 45.8%. The length of ACoA was on an average of 2.82mm. The mean diameter of ACoA was 1.12mm. Fenestration of ACoA was seen in 4%.Median artery of corpus callosum was found in 1 specimen. Conclusion:Congenital anomalies of the intracranial arteries predispose to the formation of aneurysms due to an increased haemodynamic stress. Knowing the length, course and diameter of ACoA is important as it may guide radiologists in interpretation and neurosurgeons in microsurgical procedures.

Polymelia is a congenital defect involving limbs, in which the affected individual has more than the usual number of limbs. The supernumerary limb can be either shrunken or deformed and can be attached to various regions of the body. Supernumerary limb attached to a lipomyelomeningocele is very rarely reported and we report a case of 4 months old male baby born to parents of non-consanguineous marriage presented with supernumerary lower limb of length 9cm attached to lipomyelomeningocele at the lumbosacral region of size 18x13cm. Surgery was performed with untethering of the spinal cord, debulking of the lipoma and excision of the supernumerary limb. On histopathological examination lipomatous tissue was confirmed and on meticulous dissection of the supernumerary limb, it had bone exposed at one end and the other end had two digits of length 1.4 and 1cm. The limb had features of sole with partially developed plantar aponeurosis, muscles and blood vessels. Thigh and leg were not fully formed. These malformations can have multifactorial etiology and antenatal diagnosis can be done by ultrasonogram. Early surgical management can prevent neurological complications.

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BACKGROUNDThe increasing number of persons above 65 years of age forms a special population at risk for infections. The vulnerability of this age group is related to impaired host defences such as diminished cell-mediated immunity. LRTIs place a considerable strain on the health budget and are more serious than upper respiratory infections. Accurate diagnosis of respiratory tract infections in older people is problematic because of the lack of clear symptoms and signs. In addition, the increasing prevalence of bacterial resistance to antibiotic therapy has complicated the antimicrobial selection process and highlights the importance of appropriate treatment.