The therapeutic use of lithium in bipolar disorder is often restricted due to its narrow therapeutic window and adverse drug reactions. Lithium-induced early renal dysfunction is clinically important as it may lead to sodium depletion due to natriuresis leading to lithium retention and lithium toxicity. This is most often seen in the initial phases of therapy, and psychiatrists struggle titrating the dose of lithium and stabilizing the serum lithium level.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of add-on sodium chloride on serum lithium levels in bipolar disorder.

The present randomized controlled trial (NCT04222816) was conducted in 60 patients with type I bipolar disorder who were randomized into the control group who received lithium carbonate with the advice not to take additional salt (at the table) and the test group who received sachets of sodium chloride (1 g/d) as an add-on to lithium carbonate and were advised to restrict their additional salt intake (at the table) to 1 g/d. After baseline assessments, all patients were followed up at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks when serum lithium, sodium and potassium were estimated. Serum creatinine and aldosterone were repeated at 12 weeks.

In the test group, the fluctuation rate in serum lithium (26.7%) was significantly (p=0.01) lower than in the control group (63.3%). There was a significant difference in serum lithium in the control group at different time points; however, the changes were not significant in the test group. There was a significant difference in serum lithium between the groups at 8 and 12 weeks of follow-up. There were no significant differences in the change in serum sodium, potassium, creatinine, aldosterone, creatinine clearance, and blood pressure within the group and between the groups. A significant positive correlation was found between serum lithium and aldosterone at baseline.

Intake of add-on sodium chloride (1 gm/day) may reduce the fluctuations in serum lithium during the maintenance phase of lithium therapy in type I bipolar disorder.

None Declared

Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis is a rapidly progressive disease with high mortality rates of about 60 per cent. The increasing incidence of rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis in coronavirus disease 2019 patients in India and worldwide has become a matter of concern owing to the case fatality rate. This study explored the use of low dose aspirin in decreasing the mortality rate of coronavirus disease 2019 associated mucormycosis.

This was a retrospective observational study. Patients suffering from post-coronavirus disease 2019 mucormycosis were included in the study. Each patient was treated with surgical debridement and systemic amphotericin B. Low dose aspirin was added, and mortality rates were compared with the patients who did not receive aspirin.

The demographic data and rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis staging between the two groups were not significantly different. There was a statistically significant difference in mortality outcomes between the two groups (p = 0.029) and a 1.77 times higher risk of dying for patients not receiving aspirin. Kaplan–Meier survival indicated that patients receiving aspirin had better survival rates (p = 0.04).

Low dose aspirin improves survival rates in coronavirus disease 2019 associated mucormycosis.

Patients with chronic schizophrenia require long term treatment. Attitude towards antipsychotic medications is a crucial determinant of medication adherence and is influenced by multiple factors.

The present study was conducted to investigate clinical and socio-demographic correlates of attitude of patients with schizophrenia to the antipsychotic medications and its correlation with psychopathology and insight.

A cross-sectional sample of 361 patients (194 males, 167 females) with schizophrenia diagnosed as per DSM IV, aged 16-55, having illness for ≤ 6 years and not having co morbid psychiatric, physical and substance use disorders, were assessed on Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) . The subjects were also assessed on drug attitude inventory -30 (DAI-30) and schedule for assessment of insight (SAI) to evaluate insight.

Mean age (±SD) of sample was 32.9 (SD 9.25) years and mean duration of illness was 286.39 (± 293.63) weeks. The subjects got a mean (±SD) score on PANSS, SAI and DAI 56.38 (± 17.04), 8.27 (±2.76) and 18.95 (±6.83) respectively. Most (92.8%) of patients had a positive attitude towards antipsychotic medications. A negative correlation (r= – 3.78, p=0.00) was observed between scores on DAI and PANSS and a positive correlation (0.06, p=0.00) was seen between scores on DAI and SAI. No correlation was observed between scores on DAI and other clinical and socio-demographic variables.

Majority of patients with chronic schizophrenia, who are on treatment, have positive attitude towards antipsychotic medications. There is a need for community based studies on the subject.

The aim of this study was to evaluate contact endoscopy in detecting local treatment failures post-radiotherapy in squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract.

A total of 135 consecutive patients with suspected residual or recurrent cancer after definitive radiotherapy underwent contact endoscopy before biopsy. Contact endoscopy findings were compared with histopathological examination findings. Contact endoscopy could not be completed in 7 patients (5.9 per cent) and histopathological examination was inconclusive in 5 patients (3.7 per cent). The findings of the remaining 123 patients were compared.

The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of contact endoscopy were 88.75, 88.72 and 86.99 per cent, respectively, with similar results across various sites of upper aerodigestive tract. Inter-observer kappa value was 0.86 (95 per cent confidence interval: 0.79–0.93). The intra-observer kappa value was 0.93 (95 per cent confidence interval: 0.87–1.00) for the first observer and 0.95 (95 per cent confidence interval: 0.90–1.00) for second and third observers.

Contact endoscopy showed the same high sensitivity and specificity with low inter- and intra-observer variability in detecting post-radiotherapy failures in cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract as has been shown in non-irradiated tissues in earlier studies.

Suicide is a major global health concern. Bhutanese refugees resettled in the USA are disproportionately affected by suicide, yet little research has been conducted to identify factors contributing to this vulnerability. This study aims to investigate the issue of suicide of Bhutanese refugee communities via an in-depth qualitative, social-ecological approach.

Focus groups were conducted with 83 Bhutanese refugees (adults and children), to explore the perceived causes, and risk and protective factors for suicide, at individual, family, community, and societal levels. Audio recordings were translated and transcribed, and inductive thematic analysis conducted.

Themes identified can be situated across all levels of the social-ecological model. Individual thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are only fully understood when considering past experiences, and stressors at other levels of an individual's social ecology. Shifting dynamics and conflict within the family are pervasive and challenging. Within the community, there is a high prevalence of suicide, yet major barriers to communicating with others about distress and suicidality. At the societal level, difficulties relating to acculturation, citizenship, employment and finances, language, and literacy are influential. Two themes cut across several levels of the ecosystem: loss; and isolation, exclusion, and loneliness.

This study extends on existing research and highlights the necessity for future intervention models of suicide to move beyond an individual focus, and consider factors at all levels of refugees’ social-ecology. Simply focusing treatment at the individual level is not sufficient. Researchers and practitioners should strive for community-driven, culturally relevant, socio-ecological approaches for prevention and treatment.

To evaluate the survival outcomes and toxicities experienced by non-metastatic head and neck cancer (HNC) patients receiving modulated radiotherapy (RT).

A total of 608 HNC patients treated consecutively from March 2010 to December 2014 with common subsites (oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx and nasopharynx) of HNCs formed the study group. Eligible patients included those treated with radical or postoperative RT between March 2010 and December 2014. More than 90% patients received modulated RT [intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) or volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT)] with concurrent chemotherapy as per stage guidelines. Demographic parameters and disease-related factors were analysed. Disease-free survival (DFS) was calculated from end date of RT till last follow-up or last date of disease control. Overall survival (OS) was calculated from date of registration to last follow-up date if alive. The primary endpoint was survival. The statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 20.0 and Kaplan–Meier method was used for calculation survival.

Among the evaluable patients, the median age was 60 years (range: 16–93) with male preponderance (male:female – 513:95). Majority were squamous cell carcinoma 93·4% (568/608). The subsites treated were oral cavity 36·8% (224). oropharynx 26·4% (161), larynx 19·7% (120), hypopharynx 10% (62) and nasopharynx 6·4% (41). RT intent was radical in 63·5% (386) and postoperative in 36·5% (222), with 59·5% (362) receiving concurrent chemotherapy. At last follow-up, 348 (57·2%) patients were alive, 169 (27·7%) patients had succumbed to disease and 120 (24·6%) patients had recurrent disease. Out of 120 recurrent cases loco-regional recurrence, nodal recurrence and distant metastases were seen in 62 (51·7%), 25 (20·8%), 33 (27·5%), respectively. In the entire study cohort at 2 year OS and DFS was 80 and 79% whereas 3 years OS and DFS was 70 and 75%, respectively.

In our study, 2 years and 3 years OS and DFS rates are found comparable to the international data with acceptable toxicity profile with the use of modulated RT. It seems to be possible because of stringent departmental protocols and good medical physics support. Our data re-validates need and benefit of advanced RT techniques like IG-IMRT and VMAT for both postoperative and radical HNC treatment at the cost of minimal long-term side effects. Future stringent follow-up and quality of life issues are being considered in a prospective manner.

A possible role of the APC/beta-catenin pathway in the pathogenesis of sporadic juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma has been suggested. This paper presents its current status and clinical association in our patients.

A prospective observational study was conducted at King George Medical University and Central Drug Research Institute, in Lucknow, India. Western blot analysis was undertaken in 16 cases to examine beta-catenin expression. The clinical details were recorded along with follow up observations, to determine associations.

Up-regulation of beta-catenin expression was seen in 69 per cent of cases. The clinical variables did not reveal significant differences between patients with extremes of expression (extreme under- vs over-expression). However, absent expression was shown exclusively in young adults aged over 18 years, while enhanced expression was associated with an altered facial profile.

Although a beta-catenin association was seen in a subset of our sporadic juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma cases, its expression was not homogeneous. This is in contrast to the Western literature that suggests a universal (homogenous) enhanced expression in the majority. Hence, further research is required to better define its molecular cascade.

To study the presence of bacterial biofilm on the sinus mucosa of healthy individuals (controls) and patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with or without nasal polyposis.

An analytical, prospective and observational study was conducted. Tissue samples were obtained from the sinus mucosa. The bacteria were isolated and typified, and the material was examined for biofilm formation using tissue culture plate, Congo red agar detection and tube methods.

A total of 100 cases were analysed for the presence of biofilm. Bacterial biofilm was present in 26 of 50 disease group cases (52 per cent) and in 4 of 50 control group cases (8 per cent) (p < 0.01).

The presence of biofilm on the mucosa of chronic rhinosinusitis patients offers a possible cause for the persistent inflammation, and for antibiotics resistance and antimicrobial therapy failure. These findings could change the approach to treatment.