PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L S Pal

Publications and source records attributed to L S Pal.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Relevance of Weil-Felix test in diagnosis of scrub typhus in India.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship of Weil-Felix test and microimmunofluorescence test. METHODS: Sera of 21 patients with clinical diagnosis of scrub typhus were subjected to Weil-Felix and Microimmunofluorescence tests. RESULTS: On Weil-Felix test, 13 (62%) sera showed titers 1: > or = 40-320. 7 patients showed titers 1: > or = 320, 3 showed titers 1 : 160, 2 showed titers 1 : 80 and 1 patients showed titers 1 : 40, to Proteus OXK antigen. All 21 sera showed significant titers to O. tsutsugamushi on microimmunofluorescence. CONCLUSION: Weil-Felix test is not a very sensitive test in diagnosis of scrub typhus but due to of lack of availability of definitive tests in India it canbe a useful tool when used and interpreted in the correct clinical context.

Adolescent↗

Neurocysticercosis presenting with psychosis.

Cysticercosis consists of infection with the small bladder-like larvae of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium. The life cycle of parasite is maintained between man and pig infected with cysticerci. Epilepsy is the most common presentation of neurocysticercosis; focal signs, headache, involuntary movements and global mental deterioration are other symptoms. Psychosis is a rare presentation and may be seen in up to 5% of patients. We present a 25 years old male, who had been under treatment from psychiatry OPD for psychosis for one year, developed generalized tonic-clonic seizures. CT scan of brain revealed multiple calcified and hypodense lesions with surrounding oedema. Histopathological examination of subcutaneous nodule confirmed the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis.

Adult↗

Seasonal behaviour of healed duodenal ulcer.

Incidence of peptic ulcer is more in people living at higher altitude and similarly relapse of healed duodenal ulcer is more in winter season. Seasonal behaviour of healed duodenal ulcer with or without maintenance therapy with H2 blockers was studied among subjects residing around Shimla (approximate altitude 7000 feet above mean sea level). Sixty-four subjects of endoscopically healed duodenal ulcer were alternatively advised placebo (32 subjects) and ranitidine 150 mg (32 subjects) at bed time as maintenance therapy for period of one year. Subjects were reviewed endoscopically and evaluated for H pylori by rapid urease test, every months or earlier if symptomatic. Relapse rate was analysed among 60 subjects at the end of one year. Cumulative relapse rate was found 60% in ranitidine group and 100% in placebo group. In ranitidine group percentage of relapse to number of endoscopic examinations was 21.4% throughout the year, but in placebo group during winter and spring season relapse was 87.5% of endoscopic examination whereas 57.2% during summer and fall season. Incidence of duodenal ulcer relapse without maintenance therapy was more in winter and spring season (October to March) as compared to summer and fall (April to September), whereas intermittent seasonal treatment is efficacious in prevention of duodenal ulcer relapse and also improves cost benefit ratio of ulcer treatment.

Adult↗