Sajal De

Post intubation tracheal stenosis.

Tracheal stenosis following prolonged intubation is a relatively rare but a serious problem. However, some degree of airway injury is common following intubation, no matter whether it is prolonged or of short duration. Here, we are reporting a fifty six year old male patient who developed multiple web like tracheal stenosis following intubation with high volume low pressure cuff endotracheal tube. Subsequently, the stenosis was successfully dilated by balloon bronchoplasty.

CD14 C‑159T polymorphism and its association with chronic lung diseases: A pilot study on isocyanate exposed population of Central India

CONTEXT: CD14 functions as a multifunctional receptor for bacterial cell wall components including endotoxin and lipopolysaccharide and is likely to influence the cytokine profile and subsequent immunoglobulin E production in response to antigen/allergen contact in allergic phenotypes. AIMS: The present study was to investigate genetic polymorphism in CD14 gene - 159C/T, which may be one of the risk factor for increased prevalence of Chronic Lung Diseases in the Central India. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Survivors of Methyl isocyanates toxicity in Bhopal still suffering from various respiratory ailments were examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was performed to determine the polymorphism of C-159T. RESULTS: The genotype and allelic frequencies were in Hardy-Weinberg’s equilibrium. Prevalence of CC, CT, and TT were 5.5%, 22.2% and 9.25% respectively in asthmatics; 16.6%, 20.3% and 5.5% respectively in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and 5.5%, 14.8% and 1.85 respectively among interstitial lung disorder (ILD) patients; whereas the control cohort with no methyl isocyanate exposure displayed (CC, CT, and TT) cytosine, thymine as 2%, 1.6% and 2% respectively. Increased risk of Asthma among those carrying TT genotype and T allele (odds ratio [OR] =2.61 and 2.02 respectively). CONCLUSION: COPD risk significantly found among those with CC genotype and C allele (OR = 2.81 and 1.50 respectively), whereas ILD risk found significantly among CT genotype and C allele (OR = 1.75 and 1.40 respectively). Therefore, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) C-159T polymorphism in CD14 gene might be a risk factor for development of CLD in this population.

Tracheal metastasis of small cell lung cancer

Endotracheal metastases of primary lung cancer are rare. Only one case of tracheal metastasis from small cell lung cancer has been reported in literature. Here, we report a rare case of a 45-year-old woman who was admitted for sudden-onset breathlessness with respiratory failure and required ventilatory support. Endotracheal growth was identified during bronchoscopy, and biopsy revealed endotracheal metastasis of small cell lung cancer.

Pulmonary nocardiosis mimicking relapse of tuberculosis.

The present report concerns a case of pulmonary nocardiosis in an immunocompetent host. This patient was diagnosed as having smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis and received supervised antitubercular treatment for 6 months from a government run tuberculosis centre (Directly Observed Therapy, Short-Course (DOTS) centre). At 3 months after completion of treatment, she presented with fever and cough with posterior–anterior (PA) view chest x ray showing a cavitary lesion on left upper zone. She was subsequently diagnosed as having a case of pulmonary nocardiosis and responded to oral cotrimoxazole.

Annual change in spirometric parameters among patients affected in Bhopal gas disaster: A retrospective observational study

Background: The involvement of respiratory system due to inhalation of methyl isocyanate (MIC) during Bhopal gas disaster was particularly severe. We retrospectively evaluated the annual changes in spirometric parameters among those who were affected in this disaster (exposed survivors) and had respiratory symptoms. Materials and Methods: Spirometry reports of exposed survivors that were carried out in our institution were retrospectively reviewed and we identified 252 subjects who had performed spirometry at least twice with interval of more than one year. The annual changes in spirometric indices of them were calculated. Results: The average age of study population was 55.7 years and 72% were male. Annual decline of FEV1 ≥ 40 ml/yr was observed among 48% exposed survivors. The mean annual decline of FEV1 among symptomatic exposed survivors with initial normal spirometry was 91 ml (95% CI: 52 ml to 130 ml) and this was more than the patients with initial obstructive pattern. Among fifty four patients with initial normal spirometry, ten patients (18.5%) developed obstructive and two patients (5%) developed restrictive lung function abnormalities during follow up spirometry. Conclusion: The exposed survivors with chronic respiratory symptoms had accelerated decline in lung function and they are at higher risk of developing obstructive lung function.

Unusual cause of chronic cough in an immunocompetent host.

Aspergillus infections cause a spectrum of pulmonary diseases depending on the immune status of the host. We report a rare case of a young, immunocompetent, patient who developed Aspergillus tracheobronchitis. Owing to primary resistance to itraconazole, the disease progressed to aspergilloma despite treatment. The condition was successfully treated with oral voriconazole.

An HIV1/2 point of care test on sputum for screening TB/HIV co-infection in Central India - Will it work?

OBJECTIVE To determine whether the OraQuick® HIV-1/2 Assay (OraSure Technologies, Inc., Bethlehem, PA, USA) in sputum is a valid tool for HIV surveillance among TB patients. METHODS A cross sectional study was carried out on sputa of patients diagnosed with tuberculosis. Sputa were tested for antibodies to HIV using OraQuick® HIV-1/2 Assay (OraSure Technologies, Inc., Bethlehem, PA, USA). The results were compared with results of serum ELISA. RESULTS Compared to serum ELISA, the OraQuick® HIV-1/2 Assay in sputum specimens reported 90% sensitivity (9/10) and 100% specificity (307/307), with a positive predictive value of 100% (95%CI: 66.37%-100.00%) and a negative predictive value of 99.68% (95%CI: 98.20%-99.99%). CONCLUSIONS This testing method may provide a useful strategy for conducting HIV surveillance in possible co-infected TB patients at peripheral centres. Since there is no investment on infrastructure, it may be possible for paramedical health professionals to carry out the test, particularly in areas with low HIV endemicity.

Comparision of performance characteristics of automated PCR systems with culture for detection of MTB complex from clinical samples in Central India

Most published studies on performance characteristics of the COBAS AMPLICOR (CA) system and Real Time PCR (RT-PCR) for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis have been carried out in countries other than India.[1] Strains of M. tuberculosis are known to vary in their genomic structure between geographical regions. Performance characteristics of these tests have not been determined on locally prevalent strains in Central India.

Effect of antitubercular treatment on tumorous endobronchial tuberculosis.

Four cases of tumorous endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB) were prospectively evaluated to assess the effect of antitubercular treatment (ATT) on tumorous EBTB. All 4 patients received standard ATT (isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, and pyrizinamide for 2 months followed by isoniazid and rifampicin). At the completion of ATT, bronchoscopy was repeated in all cases and no residual structural abnormality of the bronchus was identified. Short-course ATT without corticosteroid is effective in preventing residual endobronchial complication of tumorous EBTB.