Thirty cases of uncomplicated duodenal ulcer treated by anterior superficial lesser curvature seromyotomy and posterior truncal vagotomy were studied to evaluate the efficacy of this procedure. There was completeness of vagotomy in all the cases as shown by endoscopic Congo Red test. Twenty-seven cases were asymptomatic at 1-48 months (Mean 22.3) follow up, while 3 patients had controllable side effects such as dumping and diarrhoea. There was no mortality. This procedure is safe, effective and is a favourable alternative to highly selective vagotomy.

Roxatidine acetate is a new H2-receptor antagonist. A randomized double-blind clinical trial in fifty-three patients with endoscopically proven duodenal ulcers > 5 mm in diameter was undertaken to compare safety and efficacy of roxatidine with that of ranitidine. Twenty-six patients received roxatidine (75 mg bid) while 27 patients received ranitidine (150 mg bid) for 4 weeks. One patient in each group did not come for follow up. Roxatidine and ranitidine had comparable ulcer healing rates (22/25 vs 22/26); roxatidine, however, resulted in greater reduction in the number and severity of night time pain episodes (p < 0.05). No adverse event was reported during 4 weeks of treatment with roxatidine. Thus roxatidine achieves the primary therapeutic goal of relief of pain better than ranitidine.

Serum levels of the immunoglobulins IgG, IgA and IgM were estimated in 102 apparently healthy Kashmiri adults in the age group of 16-60 years, using single radial immunodiffusion method of Mancini et al. The mean serum levels of IgG, IgA and IgM were observed to be 1289.19 +/- 234.9, 216.18 +/- 50.70 and 118.97 +/- 41.88 respectively. No significant difference in the mean serum levels was observed between the two sexes as such, but IgM showed a significant increase in females in the age group of 16-30 years. IgA showed a significant increase with age, with no such increase in case of IgG and IgM.

To pack or not to pack, has always been a debate, especially after septal and functional endoscopic sinus surgery. The authors have studied the symptoms of packing versus not packing in their series of 100 patients having undergone nasal surgery. They advocate the use of dental wax for the fashioning of septal splints, since they are easy to introduce, cheap and malleable. The patients postoperative comfort is greatly enhanced with the use of dental wax plate splints instead of nasal packing.

Acanthamoeba keratitis, common in soft lens wearers, is not commonly isolated. The reports of Acanthamoeba keratitis in Indian literature are few. We report here a case of Acanthamoeba Keratitis in a medical student using soft contact lenses, initially diagnosed and treated as a bacterial and later as a viral corneal ulcer, who responded extremely well to medical line of therapy.

A patient who reported with a slowly growing swelling ovr thee lateral aspect of the left ankle, was investigated and diagnosed to have a giant cell tumour which was confirmed on FNAC. The tumour was managed with excision biopsy and reconstruction. The case is being reported for its rare site of occurrence.

An unusual case with spinal extradural lipomatosis in a non-obese and otherwise healthy man is reported. The patient presented with a history of weakness of legs which progressed to paraplegia over a 40 day period.

A case of sebaceous adenoma in the region of the medial canthus causing proptosis is presented along with a review of the medical literature. The clinicopathological aspects of the tumour are discussed. The mode of treatment was surgical excision. A six month follow-up showed a reduction in the proptosis with no recurrence.

A lymphangioma of the chest wall, hitherto unreported is described here.

A case report of isolated involvement of the mandible by non-Hodgkin lymphoma is presented. The patient presented with a non-healing ulcer following a tooth extraction. Biopsy revealed an undifferentiated cancer. Investigations failed to reveal any involvement of the organs. A hemimandibulectomy was performed followed by radiotherapy on receipt of the histopathological diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The patient is asymptomatic two and a half years after treatment.