Molecular characterization of scl rearrangements in T-cell all from India and egypt

SCL gene rearrangement is the most common molecular lesion (25%) identified so far in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Since the frequency of T-ALL appears to be relatively higher in developing countries, we wished to determine as to what fraction of T-ALL from this population harbor SCL rearrangements. We show in this study that although the overall frequency of SCL/SIL rearrangements in T-ALL is similar to the Western countries this is at the expense of increased type A rearrangements. Whether the paucity of type B rearrangements reflects a difference in disease etiology in this part of the world is to be determined.     

Adolescent mother -- an unprepared child

The World Health Organization considers adolescence to be the period between 10 and 20 years during which individuals undergo significant psychosexual and psychosocial development. The needs an well-being of people, especially girls, in this age group in India, however, are neglected. Almost 25% of India's population is comprised of girls below 20 years of age. Adolescent pregnancies make up 10-15% of the total and may be largely attributed to early marriage, but these girls are prepared neither physically nor emotionally for pregnancy and motherhood. Adolescents who marry between aged 15-19 will nonetheless bear on average 6-7 children over the course of their lives. In fact, 80% of women's time between the ages 15 and 35 is spent either being pregnant or nursing offspring. Sections discuss nutritional deprivation and poor fetal growth, obstetric risks, and maternal and infant mortality, literacy and school dropouts, and psychosocial aspects of adolescent pregnancy and motherhood. Intervention programs could aim to increase total food intake, prevent against iron deficiency anemia, provide education and health care for girls aged 10-15, promote the use of contraception, register marriages and provide family life education, and involve boys in the education process. While the marriage age needs to be increased, this change should not be legislated. Change must instead result from education syllabi at the school level.     

Neuro-otological profile of Episodic Vertigo

Episodic Vertigo Comprises a large group of patients seen in any neurootology unit. A total of 118 subjects were reviewed who attended the neurootology unit. Vertigo of shorter duration was noted in 78 and of longer duration in 40 cases. 51 cases showed bilateral neurosensory deafness, 15 cases had bilateral and another one case had unilateral conductive loss. Spinovestibular tests were abnormal in all cases of vertigo of short duration but only 29 cases showed abnormal reflex in patients with a long duration of illness. Thermal vestibulometry revealed hyporeflexia in 33 cases, directional preponderance in 30 cases and 4 cases showed hyperreflexia 28 cases had peripheral lesions while 81 cases had central lesions. The acute cases showed significant improvement on follow up except cases with abnormality in thermal vestibulometry . The cases with positional nystagmus showed improvement with head and body balance exercises expect in those who received treatment with vestibulosedative and vestibular suppersive drugs. Hearing loss remained the same except in patients with middle ear disorders.     

15th Scientific Congress of the European Society for Pediatric Hematology and Immunology (ESPHI) Bingen,Germany, 23–26 August 1995

Abstracts

15th Scientific Congress of the European Society for Pediatric Hematology and Immunology (ESPHI) Bingen, Germany, 23–26 August 1995     

Epidemiology of chronic suppurative otitis media and deafness in a rural area and developing an intervention strategy

Of 613 children evaluated in a village in Haryana 94 (15.3%) were observed to have chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM). Fifty eight (61.7%) children had hearing impairment. CSOM contributed to 71.6% of the hearing impaired (58/81). On analysis of association of CSOM with literacy and socio-economic status of mothers, and age, sex, and upper respiratory tract infections (URI) in children positive correlation was observed only with URIs (P<0.001). Literacy and socio-economic status of the mothers did not correlate significantly with knowledge about treatment seeking, and ear cleaning practices, probably due to the narrow range of incomes and literacy levels. An intervention program consisting of play, demonstrations, health charts and slogans, and aural cleaning and antibiotic drops was introduced.     

Oval cells and cystic structures in multiplication of M leprae

Ten preserved biopsy suspensions from leprosy patients were inoculated in biphasic medium and incubated alternatively in refrigerator and at 37 °C. The cultures were observed every week for 3 months. The typical actinomycetoid growth appeared within 3-5 days. Microscopically, two types of cysts (unstained and dark) were seen along with oval cells. Dark cysts showed developement of irregular septae or cracks breaking the mass into irregular quadrangular pieces. Granular acid-fast material could be made out inside the cracks and around the cysts. Oval cells were seen either independently or organised around pink homogeneous material. The oval cells were stained blue or pink. Some of them showed both blue and pink shades.     

Kinetics study of palm oil hydrolysis using immobilized lipase Candida rugosa in packed bed reactor

Continuous hydrolysis of palm oil triglyceride in organic solvent using immobilized Candida rugosa on the Amberlite MB-1 as a source of immobilized lipase was studied in packed bed reactor. The enzymatic kinetics of hydrolysis reaction was studied by changing the substrate concentration, reaction temperature and residence time(tau) in the reactor. At 55 degrees C, the optimum water concentration was found to be 15 % weight per volume of solution (%w/v). The Michaelis-Menten kinetic model was used to obtain the reaction parameters, Km(app) and V max(app). The activation energies were found to be quite low indicating that the lipase-catalyzed process is controlled by diffusion of substrates. The Michaelis-Menten kinetic model was found to be suitable at low water concentration 10-15 %w/v of solution. At higher water concentration, substrate inhibition model was used for data analysis. Reactor operation was found to play an important role in the palm oil hydrolysis kinetic.     

The effect of polycythemic hyperviscosity on ischemic bowel necrosis

It is known that polycythemia decreases the fluidity of the blood and impairs tissue perfusion due to red-cell sludging in the microcirculation. In this study, the effect of polycythemic hyperviscosity (PH) on bowel necrosis was evaluated in an experimental model of intestinal ischemia. Twenty-eight Wistar albino rats (90–170 g) were divided into two groups: group 1 was transfused to create hyperviscosity and then intestinal ischemia was produced (n = 16); in group 2 ischemia was produced without transfusion (n = 12). Intestinal ischemia was produced by clamping the superior mesenteric artery and the collateral arcades of the right colic artery for 30 min. Gross and histopathologic evaluations were performed by either immediate necropsy or relaparotomy 24 h later. Microscopic findings were graded from 0 to 3 according to the degree of ischemic changes. In group 1, 2 animals (12.5%) died before 24 h postoperatively; coagulation necrosis with grade 2 or 3 ischemic changes was observed in 10 animals (62.5%). In group 2 only a few hypertrophied Peyer's patches and capillary dilation were found, and all histopathologic changes were between grades 0 and 1. The difference between the histopathologic gradings of the two groups was significant (P < 0.001). It appears that in addition to reduced splanchnic blood flow, a secondary effect of PH is needed to induce ischemic coagulation necrosis. PH of the newborn must be considered a risk factor for necrotizing enterocolitis, so-called spontaneous intestinal perforations, and even intestinal atresia.Presented at the 1st European Congress of Pediatric Surgery, Graz/Austria, May 4–6, 1995     

The voluntary community health movement in India: A strengths,weaknesses, opportunities,and threats (SWOT) analysis

There has been a prolific growth of voluntary organizations in India since independence in 1947. One of the major areas of this growth has been in the field of community health. The purpose of this article is to historically trace the voluntary movement in community health in India, analyze the current status, and predict future trends of voluntary efforts. A review of the literature in the form of a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis was the method of this study. Some of the key trends which emerged as the priority areas for progress and for strengthening voluntary organizations in the future were enhancing linkages between health and development; building upon collective force; greater utilization of participatory training; establishing egalitarian and effectual linkages for decision making at the international level; developing self-reliant community-based models; and the need for attaining holistic empowerment at individual, organizational, and community levels through duty consciousness as opposed to merely asking for rights.The authors would like to express gratitude to Voluntary Health Association of India for sharing the necessary documents and to Dr. Rick Petosa for valuable editorial comments.