When a few cases of an unknown acute respiratory illness were initially reported from Wuhan, China, in December 2019, little did the world know that it was on the brink of a pandemic.^[1] A cluster of atypical pneumonia cases by a novel coronavirus signaled an outbreak, the World Health Organization recognized this outbreak on January 30, 2020, and declared it a pandemic on March 11, 2020.^[2] Since then, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic has spread across the globe like wild fire infecting as many as 11,500,302 people and causing 535,759 deaths.^[3] Although India registered only a few cases in the early part of the year, there has been a steep rise in the numbers, the statistics adding day by day.^[4] The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is caused by the enveloped RNA virus belonging to the genus Betacoronavirus.^[5]

How to cite: Lall M, Gupta A. Role of Microbiology in Diagnostic Stewardship during the COVID-19 Pandemic. MIMER Med J 2020;4(1):1-2.

Source of Support: Nil.

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Background: Major orthopedic surgery is a very important risk factor for deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Prophylactic agents for preventing DVT include unfractionated heparin, low-molecular-weight heparins, and fondaparinux. Use of low-molecular-weight heparins, however, is associated with an increased risk of bleeding. To date, there are few Indian studies comparing the efficacy of fondaparinux with enoxaparin. A comparison would be useful given the widespread use of fondaparinux in orthopedic patients.

Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study was undertaken in the orthopedic department of our hospital. All patients undergoing hemiarthroplasty between January 2016 and December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed using patient case files, hospital admission, and discharge database. Efficacy was assessed by the occurrence of a venous thromboembolic event, defined as DVT detected by ultrasonography, documented symptomatic DVT, or documented symptomatic pulmonary embolism.

Results: Evaluation of case files of 71 patients who underwent hemiarthroplasty showed that fondaparinux (35) was as effective as enoxaparin (36).

Conclusions: In patients who underwent major orthopedic surgery, enoxaparin was as effective as fondaparinux in preventing venous thromboembolism.

Key words: Efficacy, enoxaparin, fondaparinux, major orthopedic surgery

How to cite: Pillai AS, Gopinath S, Viswanathan MT. A Retrospective Observational study to compare the Efficacy of Fondaparinux with Enoxaparin in DVT prophylaxis in patients undergoing Hemiarthroplasty. MIMER Med J 2020;4(1):3-6.

Source of Support: Nil.

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Background: Renal injuries are common clinical syndrome. Drug causes near about 20% of community and hospital-acquired episodes of renal failure. Kidneys are mainly responsible for elimination of drugs, therefore, it is susceptible to high degree of toxicity. Therefore, they are susceptible to high degree of toxicity.

Objectives: To avoid preventable renal injuries by early prognosis, it is necessary to evaluate parameters of renal injuries in early stages of the drug exposure.

Study setting: This study was based on case series analysis. All patients with abnormal renal function reports were included in the study. It requires longterm study, therefore, it was hard to recruit deranged renal function test patients in shorter time period of 3 months.

Materials and Methods: Our total sample size was 180 out of which 50 (27.77%) patients were recruited within given time limit. This was a prospective observational study conducted at Civil Hospital of Nashik. All 50 patients had abnormal renal function test. Out of total 50 patients, there were 32 patients who were male (64.00%) and 19 (36.00%) patients were female.

Results: NSAIDs were found to be the most common drugs that cause Acute renal failure.

Conclusions: The study concludes that, by identifying renal injuries earlier, we can prevent 30% hospitalizations which are caused due to prescribed drugs.

Key words: Acute renal failure, chronic renal failure, nephrotoxicity, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

How to cite: Bhosale PV, Avinash K. Preventable drug harms in renal injuries: A prospective observational study in OPD and IPD patients in medicine department of Civil Hospital, Nashik. MIMER Med J 2020;4(1):7-10.

Source of Support: Nil.

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Introduction: Oral cancer is among the top three types of cancers in India because tobacco use is rampant and the lack of awareness of its risk in the community. Early detection of oral precancerous legions by visual clinical screening will help in timely preventive interventions by stopping tobacco consumption and other risk factors and treatment needed.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to know the yield of oral screening and to know the association between risk factors such as tobacco-related habits, sharp tooth, poor oral hygiene, and oral lesions.

Materials and Methods: It is an observational cross-sectional study. All the patients above the age 18 years and willing to participate in screening, during June–July 2019 attending screening camps in the outdoor patient’s department of otolaryngology were included in the study. Demographic data, history of tobacco, and alcohol-related habits were collected by interview method. Clinical examination findings of oral cavity were recorded. Appropriate management of the legions was done.

Exclusion Criteria: Patients coming for consultation with previously diagnosed oral lesions or oral cancers were excluded from the study.

Results: Of 1637 screened, 614 (37.51%) were tobacco users, 525 (32.07%) were with poor oral hygiene, and 422 (25.7%) had sharp tooth. Twenty-seven (19.98%) were consuming alcohol, 71 (4.34%) had oral precancerous lesions, of these, 23 (32.39%) had oral submucosal fibrosis, 19 (22.4%) had ulcers, 13 (18.31%) had leukoplakia, 2 (2.82%) had erythroplakia and lichen planus, and 11 (15.49%) had melanoplakia. Tobacco, poor oral hygiene, and sharp tooth found to be risk factors for oral precancerous lesions.

Conclusion: Oral screening is an effective tool for early detection of oral precancerous lesions. Tobacco use, poor oral hygiene, and sharp tooth are the risk factors.

Key words: Oral precancerous lesions, risk factors, screening

How to cite: Kotnis DP, Kotnis S. Screening for oral cancers, need for India: A cross-sectional study in a medical college hospital in Maharashtra. MIMER Med J 2020;4(1):11-15.

Source of Support: Nil.

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Cysticercosis is a condition caused by the encysted larval form of Taenia solium. Cysticercosis can involve any tissue of body but, commonest system affected is the central nervous system neurocysticercosis (80%), followed by subcutaneous tissue, eyes. Sporadic cases of solitary intramuscular cysticercosis have been reported in the literature. We report a case of Cysticercosis in a 28 year old female patient, who presented with a swelling over the left side of pectoralis region. Imaging techniques revealed a cystic mass in the left pectoralis major muscle. Cyst was excised, submitted for histopathology and was diagnosed as Cysticercosis. Treatment should be instituted after definite diagnosis and multidisciplinary management may be required in complex cases.

Key words: Cysticercosis, muscles, Taenia solium

How to cite: Nagare M, Joshi SR, Munde R, Gawade S. Cysticercosis of the pectoralis major: A case report and review of literature. MIMER Med J 2020;4(1):16-18.

Source of Support: Nil.

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.