Geraniol dehydrogenase: a determinant of essential oil quality in lemongrass1

Geraniol dehydrogenase, the specific enzyme involved in geraniol to citral TRANS (geranial) transformation, activity was monitored in various lemongrass cultivars differing in amounts and relative percentages of citral and geraniol in their essential oils. The enzyme activity had a positive and significant association with citral to geraniol, and geranial to geraniol ratios. The results are suggestive of a strong relationship between the enzyme activity and essential oil quality in lemongrass cultivars.     

Prophylactic Amnioinfusion During Labour Complicated by Meconium

EDITORIAL COMMENT: This study of amnioinfusion during labour complicated by the known passage of meconium shows that the technique seems clinically worthwhile, even in a centre without facilities for electronic fetal heart monitoring or scalp blood pH and blood gas analysis. The series is small and more data from larger studies is required to test the conclusions reported by the authors.
Summary: A prospective study to see the safety and efficacy of transcervical amnioinfusion in labour complicated by meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) was carried out in a teaching hospital with limited resources. Fifty patients in labour with meconium-stained amniotic fluid and fulfilling the inclusion criteria (vertex presentation, gestational age of 36 weeks or more, no medical or obstetrical complications and normal fetal heart rate at time of inclusion) were taken for the study; 25 patients received amnioinfusion. The control group received only supportive therapy. Labour outcome was compared in the 2 groups. The incidence of Caesarean section was seen to be decreased but neonatal parameters showed no significant difference in the amnioinfusion group.     

Acute,sub-acute and general pharmacological evaluation of 5-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-4-ethyl-2E,4E-pentadienoic acid piperidide (SK-20): A novel drug bioavailability enhancer

An efflux pump inhibitor, SK-20 (5-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyle)-4 ethyl-2E,4E-pentadienoic acid piperidide), was assessed for its toxicity at three different pharmacological profiles: acute, sub-acute and general pharmacology with pharmacokinetics. In acute study, the SK-20 was found safe up to a dose of 2000 mg/kg (b.wt.); and at sub-acute, dosages of 50 and 100 mg/kg (b.wt.) were found to be safe. However, dosages of 200 mg or above per kg (b.wt.) showed some morphological alterations in cellular architecture of both liver and kidneys in both sexes, viz., mild vascular congestion along with sporadic hemorrhages and infiltration into renal and hepatic parenchyma by mononucleate cell. General pharmacological studies did not result into any alterations in analgesic, convulsions, rectal temperatures and in the rhythm or the rate of the intestinal motility or the secretion of the bile. While the respiratory and the cardiac rate remained normal, the only parameter to show was the blood pressure, which at all the doses tested, showed a tendency toward reduction. Characteristically, the SK-20 at all doses influenced pentobarbital-induced hypnosis positively and negatively to spontaneous motor activity in a dose dependent manner. Pharmacokinetics of SK-20 revealed it to have retention time at 10.2 min and half life 2.47 h.     

Internal anal sphincter

The internal anal sphincter, the smooth muscle component of the anal sphincter complex, has an ambiguous role in maintaining anal continence. Despite its significant contribution to resting anal canal pressures, even total division of the internal anal sphincter in surgery for anal fistulas may fail to compromise continence in otherwise healthy subjects. However, recently reported abnormalities of the innervation and reflex response of the internal anal sphincter in patients with fecal incontinence indicate its significance in maintaining continence. The advent of sphincter-saving surgery and restorative proctocolectomy has re-emphasized the major contribution of the internal anal sphincter to resting pressure and its significance in preventing fecal leakage. The variable effect of rectal excision on rectoanal inhibitory reflex has led to a reappraisal of the significance of this reflex in discrimination of rectal contents and its impact on anal continence. Electromyographic, manometric, and ultrasonographic evaluation of the internal anal sphincter has provided new insights into its pathophysiology. This article reviews advances in our understanding of internal anal sphincter physiology in health and disease.     

Relationship between manometric anal waves and fecal incontinence

PURPOSE: The significance of manometric anal waves is uncertain, and their fate and diagnostic importance are unknown. It is conceivable that in neurogenic fecal incontinence (NFI) the frequency and amplitude of these waves may be altered into specific, recognizable patterns. Evaluation of this unexplored relationship between fecal incontinence and anal manometric waves has potential diagnostic use. METHODS: Anal motility was studied in 20 patients, each with NFI and traumatic fecal incontinence (TFI), and results were compared with findings in 20 control subjects to determine changes in frequency and amplitude of anal waves in fecal incontinence. RESULTS: Frequency of slow waves when present (NFI=9.5/minute; TFI=9.5/minute; control subjects=9.1/minute) was identical in the three groups (P>0.05). Amplitude of slow waves (NFI=mean, 4.3 mmHg; TFI=mean, 3.9 mmHg; control subjects =mean, 6.6 mmHg) was reduced in patients who were incontinent compared with control subjects but failed to reach statistical significance (P>0.05). Frequency of ultraslow waves when present (NFI=mean, 0.75/minute; TFI =mean, 0.6/minute; control subjects=mean, 1.2/minute) was not statistically different between the three groups (P>0.05). Amplitude of ultraslow waves (NFI=mean, 10.5 mmHg; TFI=mean, 23.4 mmHg; control subjects=mean, 29.6 mmHg) was significantly reduced in NFI vs.control subjects (P<0.01) and between TFI vs.control subjects (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Manometric slow and ultraslow waves, when present, retain their frequency characteristics, irrespective of underlying disease. Amplitude of slow waves was not statistically different from control subjects, but the amplitude of ultraslow waves was significantly decreased in patients who were incontinent.     

Keratoglobus: An experience at a tertiary eye care center in India

Context:

This study was carried out as a part of an internal audit and is the largest series of patients having keratoglobus, published in the literature. Poor visual acuity of the patients indicates the blinding nature of the disease.

Aims:

We report our experience with patients having keratoglobus at a tertiary eye care center in India.

Settings and Design:

Retrospective study.

Materials and Methods:

We analyzed adults and pediatric patients (<16 years) with keratoglobus, seen during 2008–2012. The age, gender, consanguinity, presenting ocular signs, ocular and systemic associations, visual acuity, corneal topography, and surgeries were documented.

Results:

Forty-eight patients (mean age 22 ± 15 years, 31 males) having keratoglobus were analyzed. 21 patients (42 eyes) were <16 years. Twelve eyes (16 events) had positive history of trauma. The presenting clinical signs were corneal scars/scars of tear repair (15 eyes), hydrops, healed and acute (14 eyes) and corneal or globe rupture (9 eyes). Best-corrected visual acuity was >20/40 in 6/42 (14.3%) pediatric eyes and 15/53 (28.30%) adults. Visual acuity ranging from counting of fingers to no light perception was noted in 20/53 (37.74%) adults and 21/42 (50%) pediatric patients; 13/20 (65%) with blue sclera and 8/22 eyes (36.37%) without blue sclera. Vernal keratoconjunctivitis was present in one pediatric patient. Choroidal osteoma, retinitis pigmentosa, and retinal detachment were present in adults. Surgeries performed were corneal tear repair (5 eyes), tissue adhesive application (2 eyes), descematopexy (4 eyes) and penetrating keratoplasty (PK - 8 eyes: Three had post-PK glaucoma, graft failure-one eye, 4 patients wore scleral lens - prosthetic replacement of the ocular surface ecosystem).

Conclusions:

About 50% of pediatric eyes (65% having blue sclera) had no functional vision. Trivial trauma was responsible for corneal rupture indicating need for protective glasses. About 50% patients had post-PK glaucoma though grafts were clear.     

Allograft rejection after living-related simple limbal epithelial transplantation

A 23-year-old man presented with congestion, peripheral corneal vascularization, an elevated ridge-like epithelial line and cellular infiltration around limbal transplants, 15 months after undergoing living-related simple limbal epithelial transplantation (SLET) for total limbal stem cell deficiency. A diagnosis of acute allograft rejection was made and he was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone, topical and oral prednisolone as well as systemic cyclosporine and azathioprine, leading to reversal of the signs. Similar findings were noted during a later rejection episode. An epithelial rejection line and cellular infiltration of limbal transplants are easily identifiable clinical signs of allograft rejection post SLET.     

Proximal humeral reconstruction using nail cement spacer in primary and metastatic tumours of proximal humerus

Limb salvage surgery for malignant tumours of proximal humerus is an operative challenge, where the surgeon has to preserve elbow and hand functions and retain shoulder stability with as much function as possible. We treated 14 consecutive patients with primary malignant or isolated metastasis of proximal humerus with surgical resection and reconstruction by nail cement spacer. There were 8 females and 6 males, with a mean age of 28.92 years (range 16–51 years) and a mean follow-up of 30.14 months (range 12–52 months). The diagnosis was osteosarcoma in 8 patients, chondrosarcoma in 4 patients and metastasis from thyroid and breast carcinoma in 1 patient each. One of our patients had radial nerve neuropraxia, 1 developed inferior subluxation and 3 developed distant metastasis. Two patients died of disease and one developed local recurrence leading to forequarter amputation, leaving a total of 11 patients with functional extremities for assessment at the time of final follow-up which was done using the Musculoskeletal Tumour Society (MSTS) score. Though we were able to preserve the elbow, wrist and hand functions in all patients, the abductor mechanism, deltoid muscle and axillary nerve were not salvageable in any of cases. The mean MSTS score at the time of final follow-up was 19.09. Thus, proximal humeral reconstruction using nail cement spacer is a technical simple, cost-effective and reproducible procedure which makes it a reliable option in subset of patients where the functions around the shoulder cannot be preserved despite costlier prosthesis.