Presentation and Management of Facial Fractures: An Experience from a Tertiary-Care Teaching Institute in India.

Background: Most tertiary-care teaching institutes in low and middle-income nations lack dedicated oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) units in the emergency trauma centers. Consequently, most facial fractures need to be managed in the otolaryngology and head-neck surgery (ORL-HNS) setup.

Objectives: To present a study on a series of patients with facial fractures attending the emergency and outpatient departments of ORL-HNS in a tertiary-care teaching institute in India that lacked the facility of OMFS in its emergency trauma center.

Spatiotemporal characterization of relative humidity trends and influence of climatic factors in Bangladesh.

The frequency and intensity of climate change and resulting impacts are more prevalent in South Asian countries, particularly in Bangladesh. Relative humidity (RH) is a crucial aspect of climate, and higher RH variability has far-reaching impacts on human health, agriculture, environment, and infrastructure. While temperature and rainfall have gained much research attention, RH studies have received scant attention in the research literature.

Socio-demographic and Audiological Profile of the Board-Reviewed Applicants for Hearing Handicap Certification in a Tertiary Care Teaching Institute in Eastern India.

To analyze the socio-demographic and audiological profile of the applicants for hearing handicap certification in the Medical Board (henceforth, "Board") of a tertiary care teaching institute. This is a retrospective record review (March 2019-February 2020) from the archival computer database of the institutional Board. The procedure for audiological assessment prior to Board review and thereafter, the evaluation at the Board (computation of hearing impairment) for eligibility for certification was discussed.

Perspectives and early experience on endoscopic stapedotomy from a group of "traditional school" otologists.

This paper evaluates endoscopic stapedotomy from the perspectives of a group of 3 surgeons, each of whose experience in endoscopic and microscopic stapedotomy is 3 years and more than 12 years, respectively. Thirty-four patients clinically diagnosed with stapedial otosclerosis were alternately assigned for unilateral, microscope- and endoscope-assisted stapedotomy following the selection criteria given. Results were evaluated with predetermined epidemiologic, preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative outcome parameters.

Encountering Chronic Sore Throat: How Challenging is it for the Otolaryngologists?

To explore and diagnose the underlying causes of chronic, recalcitrant sore throat. In this descriptive, cross-sectional study spanning 3 years (January 2014-December 2016), 1580 patients with chronic sore throat (>12 weeks duration, despite conventional medication) were evaluated for the possible cause(s) in a tertiary care teaching institute of eastern India, through proper history, appropriate investigations, and a self-designed algorithm. The common causes for chronic sore throat were chronic tonsillopharyngitis, gastroesophageal reflux disorder, submandibular sialadenitis, and laryngopharyngeal reflux disorder, respectively.

A Curious Case of Ankylosing Spondylosis and Motor Neuron Disease: A Mere Coincidence or Correlation?

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic (progressive) painful inflammatory rheumatic disease with genetic predisposition. Genetic susceptibility and common expression cause susceptibility to other inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease. However, cases of motor neuron disease (MND) in patients of biologically treated patients of AS have been rarely reported.

Novel ionic polymer-metal composite actuator based on sulfonated poly(1,4-phenylene ether-ether-sulfone) and polyvinylidene fluoride/sulfonated graphene oxide.

In the present work, sulfonated graphene oxide and sulfonated poly(1,4-phenylene ether-ether-sulfone) were blended with polyvinylidene fluoride to create a novel ionic polymer-metal composite actuator with enhanced performance. An ionic polymer-metal composite membrane in the protonated form was prepared by casting a composite blend of sulfonated poly(1,4-phenylene ether-ether-sulfone), polyvinylidene fluoride and sulfonated graphene oxide onto a plating of platinum metal as the electrode. The degree of sulfonation of poly(1,4-phenylene ether-ether-sulfone) was characterized using ion-exchange capacity measurements.

Development, Characterization and Electromechanical Actuation Behavior of Ionic Polymer Metal Composite Actuator based on Sulfonated Poly(1,4-phenylene ether-ether-sulfone)/Carbon Nanotubes.

This paper presents the development of new cost-effective hybrid-type sulfonated poly(1,4-phenylene ether-ether-sulfone) (SPEES) and functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) based actuators produced by the film-casting method followed by chemical reduction of Pt ions as electrodes. The preparation of SPEES was investigated in details and sulfonation of polymer was characterized by ion exchange capacity (IEC), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and degree of sulfonation measurements. SPEES having degree of sulfonation of 126% was blended with SWNT and used to fabricate IPMC actuator.

Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome and Ocular Myasthenia: A Rare Coexistence or Real Association.

Tolosa- Hunt syndrome is a rare steroid responsive disorder caused by granulation tissue involving the cavernous sinus or superior orbital fissure presenting as painful ophthalmoplegia and facial pain. In this report, we describe coexistence of Tolosa-Hunt syndrome with ocular myasthenia which may point towards an autoimmune etiological basis behind the cavernous sinus granulation tissue formation and also offered therapeutic challenge to ameliorate the symptoms.

Hashimoto's Encephalopathy Presenting with Chorea.

Hashimoto's encephalopathy (HE) is a steroid-responsive relapsing neuropsychiatric disorder associated with high titers of antithyroid antibody with or without thyroid dysfunction. We report a case of HE in a 78 year old female who developed sudden onset behavioral abnormalities associated with choreiform movement of extremities. All causes of vascular, infective, metabolic, autoimmune, paraneoplastic and toxic encephalopathy were excluded.

Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody (ANCA)-Negative Small Vessel Vasculitis: A Rare Cause of Pulmonary Renal Syndrome.

Pulmonary renal syndrome (PRS) is characterized by both diffuse alveolar haemorrhage and glomerulonephritis as pathological features. Several immunologic and non-immunologic mechanisms including anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-positive vasculitis, anti-glomerular basement membrane disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus are commonly involved in the pathogenesis of the syndrome. We herein present a 60-year-old woman, non-smoker, who presented with fever, polyarthralgia, and the spreading of generalized purpuric rashes.

Quality of Life and Clinical Response to On-Demand Maintenance Doses of Infliximab in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Aim: The aim of this study was to study the effect of modified maintenance doses (MDs) of infliximab on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) over a period of 3 years.

Methods: Medical records of AS patients (n = 25) who received a normal induction dose but modified MDs as required were retrospectively analyzed. After induction dose and the first MD, patients were followed up every month and were treated with infliximab whenever Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) score was 4 or greater.

Cystic squamous cell carcinoma of the neck: could a second metastatic focus help?

Squamous cell carcinoma of the neck presenting clinically as predominantly cystic lesion has often been considered as branchiogenic carcinoma in the past. However, such cystic lesions presently constitute a distinct form of head-neck metastasis, and a co-existent second metastatic focus could supposedly help distinguish them from branchiogenic carcinoma. We here present a case where, although the primary remained elusive, the associated spinal metastasis precluded us from diagnosing a cystic squamous cell carcinoma as branchiogenic carcinoma.

Ameloblastic carcinoma of mandible: facts and dilemmas.

Ameloblastic carcinoma is a rare malignant odontogenic tumor and is considered as the malignant counterpart of ameloblastoma with features of both benign and malignant histology. It may arise de novo or from a long-standing ameloblastoma and is locally aggressive with a propensity for metastasis. With limited documentation, little is known about its pathobiogenesis, with no universal guidelines for management.

Contact headache and its management: our experience.

Headache and facial pain is very common and distressing complaint. Due to its multifactorial origin often it remains undiagnosed and inadequately treated. In this study strong relationship between nasal mucosal contact point and reason for unresponsive headache is found and various nasal surgeries are found to be quite helpful in treating these conditions.

A comparative study of efficacy and safety of lornoxicam versus tramadol as analgesics after surgery on head and neck.

To assess efficacy and safety of lornoxicam as analgesic after surgery on head and neck in comparison to tramadol. Forty five patients undergoing operations on head and neck were recruited and randomly assigned to two parallel groups-lornoxicam and tramadol, both given intramuscular on the first post-operative day followed by oral tablets for the consecutive 4 days. Treatment was given single blind.

Movement disorders: Indian scenario: a clinico-genetic review.

Movement disorder (MD) is an important branch of neurology and has great potentiality in management because of improved diagnosis and therapeutic strategies. Over the last three decades, emphasis has been laid on the evaluation of various MDs in India by a limited number of interested neurologists and basic scientists. In this review, we want to highlight common problems of MDs in India with regard to epidemiology, clinical features and genetics.

Protective effect of livina, a polyherbal liquid formulation against ethanol induced liver damage in rats.

Alcohol liver disease (ALD) is a major health problem worldwide. After heart disease and cancer, alcoholism is the world's biggest health problem and most deaths attributed to alcoholism are caused by cirrhosis of the liver. Results show that LlVINA, a poly herbal liquid formulation was effective in blunting ethanol-induced enhanced activities of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), level of serum bilirubin (both total and direct), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum total cholesterol, liver weight loss and was also effective in reducing ethanolinduced lipid peroxidation.

Quantitative dimensions of histopathological attributes and status of GSTM1-GSTT1 in oral submucous fibrosis.

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a precancerous condition of the oral cavity and oropharynx and a significant number of such cases transform into oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Presently, diagnosis of OSF is done mainly through qualitative histopathological techniques and in the level of diagnostic molecular biology no specific genetic marker is evident. Keeping these facts in mind this study evaluates histopathological changes in the epithelium and subepithelial connective tissue of OSF through quantitative digital image analysis in respect to specific candidate features and analyses null mutations in the GSTM1 and GSTT1 by PCR amplification.

Synovial sarcoma of parapharyngeal and retropharyngeal space: A case report.

Synovial sarcoma is a rare tumour of head and neck. It was first described by Pack and Ariel in 1950. Synovial sarcoma is said to be the commonest sarcoma of hands and feet and they are usually found adjacent to the articular surfaces.

Spectrum of peripheral neuropathy in eastern India.

Peripheral neuropathies constitute an important group of disorders in neurological practice. Very few systematic studies on peripheral neuropathies are available from India. Hence we conducted a prospective study in two large hospitals from Kolkata, the biggest city of eastern India in order to find out the spectrum of peripheral neuropathy.