Background: Urinary tract infections are the most commonly acquired bacterial infections and they account for an estimated 25-40% of the nosocomial infections. The microbial biofilms pose a public health problem for the persons who require indwelling medical devices, as the microorganisms in the biofilms are difficult to treat with antimicrobial agents. Aims:The present study included the isolation and the biofilm formation of the uropathogens in patients with catheter associated urinary tract infections. Methods and Materials:This prospective analysis which was carried out over a period of two months, included 50 urine samples from catheterized patients with symptoms of UTI. Following their isolation and identification, all the isolates were subjected to the biofilm detection by the tube adherence method and the Congo Red agar method.Results: E.coli was found to be the most frequently isolated uropathogen 35(70%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae 8(16%), Pseudomona aeruginosa 2(4%), Acinetobacter spp 1(2%), coagulase negative Staphylococci 3(6%) and Enterococci spp 1(2%). In the current study, 30 (60%) strains were positive in vitro for the biofilm production. Conclusion:To conclude, there was significant bacteriuria in all the symptomatic catheterized patients and E.coli was the most frequent isolate. Diabetes (44%) was the most common factor which was associated with the UTIs in the catheterized patients.

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the kidney is a rare tumor with an aggressive behaviour. A 55-year-old woman presented with a left sided abdominal mass in our outpatient department. Radiologic investigations revealed the mass to be renal in origin with colonic adhesions for which radical nephrectomy and hemicolectomy were done. The tumor completely appeared to replace the left kidney and had a whorled character focally on cut section. Microscopically, spindle cells having malignant features with cigar shaped nuclei were seen. The smooth muscle origin of the cells was confirmed by immunohistochemical positivity for smooth muscle actin. Sarcomatoid variant of the renal cell carcinoma was ruled out as the tumor was negative for cytokeratin. Tumors with spindle cell morphology in the kidney should not always be taken for a sarcomatoid variant of renal cell carcinoma and should be investigated thoroughly.

Schwannoma is a solitary, benign tumour arising from the neural sheath Schwann cells of the peripheral, cranial or autonomic nerves. In the head and neck region, it occurs most commonly in association with the acoustic nerve within the skull and is rarely found in oral structures. When it is found in oral structures, the tongue is reported to be the favoured site. Schwannoma of the tonsil is extremely rare, with only two cases reported in the literature. We report what is, to our knowledge, the third case of schwannoma of the tonsil, diagnosed by histopathology.

Contaxt: Every year in India 6000 to 8000 children are born with thalassaemia major. The birth of such a child produces considerable physical and economic strain on the affected child, its family and the community at large. Thus, the emphasis must shift from the treatment to the prevention of such births in the future. Aims:To find out the prevalence of the Beta Thalassaemia trait among the pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinics in a Primary Health Centre, by using the NESTROF test; to describe the socio-demographic characteristics of the study subjects, to find out the pregnancies which were 'at risk' of delivering babies with Thalassaemia major and to find out the 'awareness' of the pregnant women regarding Thalassaemia. Material and Methods:This exploratory study was conducted in a PHC which was attached to the Department of Community Medicine of a medical college which was situated in Bangalore, India, for a period of 3 months. All the pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinic and the husbands of the NESTROF positive women were included in the study. The details regarding the sociodemographic characteristics of the women were collected on a structured proforma and the NESTROF test was performed.Results: Out of the 210 pregnant women who were tested, 18 (8.5%) were thalassaemia carriers. 12 (66.6%) of them were between 20 -25 years of age. 5 (27.7%) were born out of 2 nd degree consanguineous marriages. 7 (38.8%) had a history of abortions, among which 6 (33.3%) were in the 1 st trimesters of their pregnancies. Out of the 18 positive women, 9 (50%) had turned up with their husbands. All of the husbands were negative for the Thalassaemia carrier status. Thus, there was no pregnancy which was at a risk of delivering babies with thalassaemia major. None (100%) of the pregnant women were aware of the disease, thalassaemia. Conclusions:The prevalence of the Beta Thalassaemia trait among the pregnant women was 8.5%.Praveen KulKarni, n r ramesh masthi, sr niveditha, r suvarna InTROduCTIOnThe implementation of the National Rural Health Mission in the past few years, has resulted in decline of the Maternal Mortality Rate and the Infant Mortality Rate in the entire country, with most of the better performing states reaching the targets. This achievement will allow us to focus on the other important causes of the morbidity and the mortality which are seen in the children in these states. Beta-thalassaemia is the commonest type of haemoglobinopathy which is seen in India. Almost 30 million people in India are the carriers of Beta thalassaemia, with a mean prevalence of 3.3% [1]. 6000 to 8000 children are born every year with thalassaemia major, of which only 10-15% receive optimal treatment. The cost of treating one thalassaemic child amounts to Rs. 90,000 (1875$) to 1, 00,000 (2100$) annually at around 3 years of age, which increases further as the child grows [2]. The only cure which is available today is bone marrow transplantation, which is beyond the affordability of most of the patients. T...

Mycetoma and actinomycosis are common in tropical countries and are increasingly diagnosed in other parts of the world due to rapid mobilization of the population. They are usually diagnosed on histopathology. There is very limited data on the role of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in diagnosing these lesions. We report here two cases: one of eumycetoma and the other of an actinomycosis that were reliably diagnosed with FNAC. The cytological features were similar to histopathology features and differentiated eumycetoma and actinomycosis. FNAC is a rapid, simple and inexpensive outpatient procedure that helps in rapid diagnosis.

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Background: Nebulization is an important tool in the treatment of respiratory conditions. Nurses are primary health care providers for using the nebulizers in a hospital setting. The examination of nurse's knowledge and performance regarding the nebulizer therapy is of utmost importance for proper nebulization. Aim of the study was to access the knowledge and attitude of staff nurses towards nebulization therapy.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at the RL Jalappa hospital, Kolar, Karnataka, India. 50 nurses working the intensive care units and wards were given a questionnaire regarding the key aspects of nebulization therapy. A workshop was then conducted for the same participants on correct nebulization techniques and the questionnaire was given and the results post workshop was analyzed.Results: In pre-study, most nurses had unsatisfactory knowledge with respect to breathing pattern during nebulization (72.2%), types of masks used (83.3%), changing of filter (62.5%). On comparing satisfactory knowledge level of nurses pre-and post, it was found statistically significant increase in knowledge for breathing pattern during nebulization, knowledge of types of nebulization, nebulization time, nebulization end point, types of drugs used, type of dilution, proportion of dilution, ideal volume of drugs in medication, replacement of tubing, changing of filter, types of disinfections used, types of nebulization and types of mask (p <0.05).Conclusions: The knowledge of the staff nurses regarding the nebulization therapy was unsatisfactory which was reflected by improvement in the knowledge post workshop training. The staff nurses should be provided periodic training on nebulization therapy to give effective and safe care to patients.

The morbidity of β-thalassemia major has forced medical professionals to formulate screening tests to effectively screen β-thalassemia trait (BTT) of which naked eye single tube osmotic fragility test (NESTROFT) is the most cost effective test. Optimal time to screen for BTT appears to be during pregnancy, as at risk couples can be offered prenatal diagnosis. We screened 55 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in a medical college hospital at Bangalore, with NESTROFT. Twelve (21.89%) were NESTROFT positive with mean hemoglobin of 11.2 mg % and packed cell volume of 32.6%. Catering predominantly to Vokkaliga community in whom literature reports increased prevalence of BTT, addition of a cost effective test like NESTROFT in the antenatal panel, appears promising.