Onset of psoriasis in childhood is quite common. Chronicity, inflammation and hyperproliferation are the cardinal features by which the condition establishes its uniqueness. Clearance of disease may be farfetched in most patients and relapse is frequent. Early recognition and management of psoriasis in children and adolescents is vital in therapy in children.

Ventricular tumors are excised using both microscope and endoscope as the viewing device. Excision of these tumors requires corticectomy. After these corticectomies, brain has tendency to fall because of CSF drainage. Currently available retractor systems are fixed and thus can be traumatic. On the other hand few systems that require small corticectomy need stereotactic or navigation system aid. These all methods and equipment are costly. Our simple method of using a cylindrical channel retractor custom made out of 20 cc plastic syringe in OT helps in making minimum possible corticectomy. It gives surgeon minimally traumatic, inexpensive, hands free retractor.

Background: Circumcision has been the traditional treatment for phimosis, but with some controversies due to complications. The current study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of topical steroid therapy as primary treatment for childhood phimosis. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted and a total of 100 patients (age-3 to 12 years) of phimosis were enrolled. The management consisted of topical application of 0.05% betamethasone Ointment for 4 weeks. Those with partial response were advised additional 2 weeks of therapy. Failure to treatment cases were subsequently subjected to circumcision. Results: Total 100 patients were enrolled in the study. Out of 100 patients, 9 were excluded because of noncompliance and remaining 91 patients were studied and followed up. 85 cases out of 91 (93.4%) were declared a 'success'; while remaining 6 (6.6%) were declared 'failure' and were subjected to circumcision. Of the 85 successfully treated; majority (70, 82.3%) responded within 4 weeks of treatment and 15 (17.6%) responded in 6 weeks. The highest number of patients who responded to treatment within 4 weeks were < 5 years of age (54, 93.1%) (p<0.05). Conclusions: Topical steroid (0.05% betamethasone ointment) is an effective, safe, conservative and non-surgical method of primary treatment of childhood Phimosis, especially when combined with good hygiene practices of foreskin with daily retraction and cleansing.

No abstract

Ventricular tumor surgeries pose significant challenges to the neurosurgeon. Apart from the operative challenges and typical complications of surgery, subdural fluid collection is common after these surgeries. Various methods have been used to prevent this complication. The authors' technique of implanting an inflatable balloon attached to a catheter after resection of a huge intraventricular tumor was highly effective in preventing the development of a subdural fluid collection.

No abstract

EARLY LIFEBorn in a middle class family at Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, in 1957, and soon after birth, his family shifted to Rajasthan, where he spent his initial childhood days and completed schooling. He was the eldest of six siblings with very average performance in studies initially, but changed gear once he reached the formative years of preparation for medical entrance test (premedical test). From early childhood, he was interested in stage and cultural activities and in fact won many prizes too. PRENEUROSURGICAL MEDICAL EDUCATIONAfter completing his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from SMS Medical College, Jaipur, he did his MS in general surgery from the same medical college. While doing his postgraduate training, he got married to Madhubala, a woman of steely resolve and great understanding. But, soon after passing his MS, life took a very different turn when he joined the Rajasthan state medical services as a civil assistant surgeon. He was posted in a very small village in a dispensary with no surgical or indoor facilities whatsoever. All the pleas and requests to transfer him to a primary health center where some surgical work could be done fell on deaf ears and yielded ridicule, humiliation, and advice to resign, if not happy. Due to family's financial compulsions, it was not possible to do so, but the fire in the belly to move forward in life and the intense desire to break the shackles made him apply and appear for entrance tests for neurosurgical training all over the country. It was a very hard task to arrange books for entrance tests in a subject he had hardly any exposure to, while working in a very small remote village. He always performed well in theory, but failed in viva voce. After completing one full round of almost all national neurosurgical centers, he reached Postgraduate Institute (PGI) of Medical Education and Research Chandigarh for the second time, Professor VK Kak recognized him as a repeater and wondered that he was still not selected! On hearing about the lack of practical experience as the reason, he agreed and commented that he had a vacant senior registrar's post, but only for 2 months, while the second entrance exam was still 6 months away. In the evening when Professor Kak was in his office, Dr Singh met him and pleaded him for that post. Professor Kak was surprised as the post was only for 2 months and, moreover, Dr Singh was already in a permanent government job! He straight away refused, but on Dr Singh's repeated pleas and on realization that young man was highly frustrated, he relented and agreed. But, he took a promise that Dr Singh would resign from the government job and would not blame him if he were still not selected. He asked Dr Singh to come back next day morning to confirm on this after he had taken his family in confidence.That evening, Dr Singh talked to various people, on phone, including his lot of friends and family members about this equation. Everybody except his father and wife were dead against this decision. Medico friends were aware of ...

No abstract