Different parameters of fibrinolytic systems like t-PA, PAI, D-dimer, and inhibitors of blood coagulation, i.e., protein C (PC), protein S(PS), and antithrombin III (AT-III), have been studied in cases of acute malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum and plasmodium vivax infection, and these patients were followed up. It was observed that the plasma PAI-1 was very high in cases of P. falciparum malaria infection as compared to normal controls and P. vivax infection. The changes in complicated cases of P. falciparum were remarkable as compared to uncomplicated ones. The PC, PS, and AT-III levels were also low in P. falciparum, particularly so in complicated cases, and were normal in P. vivax infection. The factor VIII R:Ag levels were invariably high in acute malaria. On follow-up of some of these cases the values came back to normal after the antiparasite treatment. The monocyte procoagulant activity was found to be significantly higher in P. falciparum infection as compared to that of P. vivax infection. All these findings therefore contribute towards the production of a hypercoagulable state in P. falciparum infection and partly explain the complications of P. falciparum infection like cerebral malaria.

The study reports safety and efficacy of sofosbuvir-based treatment in non-cirrhotic, treatment-naive β-thalassemia major patients infected with HCV genotype-3. However, further studies with larger patient populations are needed to build up stronger evidence of safety and efficacy of this treatment approach for HCV infection in thalassemic patients.

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Sofosbuvir-based treatment is safe and efficacious in clinical practice in Indian patients with HCV genotype-1 and genotype-3 infection.

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Foreign bodies in common bile duct (CBD) are rare. Obstructive jaundice in patients who have undergone cholecystectomy may be due to a variety of causes. Common causes of obstruction in these cases are residual stones, inflammatory or ischaemic strictures following CBD injury during cholecystectomy or malignant strictures. Foreign bodies in the bile duct in these post cholecystectomy patients are known but reported very rarely. Clinical features and biochemistry of these patients are no different than those due to other causes mentioned above. Imaging studies will show obstruction due to stones or sludge or narrowing but may not give conclusive diagnosis of a foreign body. Endoscopic ultrasound is helpful in these cases as it shows a hyperechoic foreign body within the stone if the substance is a metallic clip. In our current case series, we are presenting eight such cases with post cholecystectomy foreign bodies, in the form of materials used for ligating or clipping the cystic duct before transection during cholecystectomy, or a mistakenly left behind gauze piece, migrating into the bile duct and forming a nidus for stone formation and causing CBD obstruction. To conclude, if a patient presents with biliary obstruction with a history of cholecystectomy, the possibility of foreign body in the CBD must be considered as a possible differential diagnosis.