HNF transfection with chondrosarcoma DNA results in the development of a sarcoma cell surface-associated epitope.

High molecular weight DNA, which was isolated from a chondrosarcoma cell line, was transfected into human neonatal foreskin fibroblasts and NIH/3T3 cells. Both types of transfected cells expressed anchorage-independent growth in soft agar and produced tumors in nude mice. The tumors which developed in nude mice following injection of transfected human fibroblasts grew to approximately 0.8 cm in diameter in four weeks. The tumors which developed from transfected NIH/3T3 cells grew to greater than 2.0 cm in diameter in 6 weeks. After growth in soft agar the transfected human fibroblasts expressed a cell surface sarcoma-associated epitope recognized by the monoclonal antibody 345.134S. In addition to the transfected human fibroblasts, the original human chondrosarcoma tumor, the chondrosarcoma cell line derived from the tumor, and the nude mouse tumor which developed from transfected human fibroblasts all exhibited positive reactivity with the monoclonal antibody 345.134S. Transfected NIH/3T3 cells that exhibited anchorage-independent growth and tumorigenicity did not exhibit detectable reactivity with the monoclonal antibody. These results suggest that the expression of the tumor-associated cell surface antigen appears to be an early event correlated with transformation of the transfected human cells but not directly related to the tumorigenic potential of the DNA. The transfected cells which expressed anchorage independent growth exhibited the sarcoma cell surface antigen prior to attaining the potential for tumorigenicity.     

Computed tomography enteroclysis: a review

Computed tomography (CT) enteroclysis is being performed routinely for evaluation of suspected small bowel diseases. The availability of multidetector CT scanners has further increased the diagnostic yield of enteroclysis. There is excellent depiction of small bowel wall pathology on CT enteroclysis especially with use of negative enteric contrast. We discuss the CT enteroclysis technique and procedure along with the imaging spectrum of some common small bowel pathologies.     

A pilot study on the usefulness of body mass index and waist hip ratio as a predictive tool for gestational diabetes in Asian Indians

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common public health issue of pregnancy and women who have had GDM are at high risk for developing of diabetes mellitus Type-2. The aim of this study was to find the association between various clinical and biochemical parameters and GDM. One hundred and six consecutive patients who attended the out patient unit of department of gynecology, Kottayam Medical College, were enrolled in the study and followed up through the whole antenatal, intra-partum and post-partum periods to identify the obstetric outcome. We found that the prevalence of GDM was seven times higher in those with higher waist–hip ratio (WHR > 0.85) compared with those having a lower WHR (p < 0.001).Those with higher WHR gained more weight than other group (10.6 kg vs. 8.1 kg; p < 0.001). Obesity (BMI ≥23) and higher WHR were associated with increased risk of gestational diabetes (BMI ≥23: OR = 7.5, CI 95% = (1.61–34.31), p = 0.013; WHR > 0.85: OR = 12.05, CI 95% = (1.82–77.43), p = 0.007). We found that a WHR of 0.849 has the optimal sensitivity and specificity for the prediction of GDM. A waist circumference of 85.5 cm (with sensitivity of 75%, specificity 81.4%) and a BMI of 24.3 kg/m² (sensitivity 75%, specificity 86.5%) had the best predictive value. In conclusion, we found that maternal obesity has a strong correlation with obstetric complications. We found WHR is more important risk determinant for GDM in overweight/obese women than women with normal weight/lean.     

Role of Intrapartum Transcervical Amnioinfusion in Patients with Meconium-Stained Amniotic Fluid

Objectives

The study was undertaken to evaluate maternal, perinatal outcomes following transcervical intrapartum amnioinfusion in women with meconium-stained amniotic fluid.

Methods

A prospective comparative study was conducted on 100 women with meconium-stained amniotic fluid in labor. Group A: study group (50 cases) received amnioinfusion. Group B: control group (50 cases) did not receive amnioinfusion. FHR monitoring was done using cardiotocography.

Results

Significant relief from variable decelerations was seen in 68.18 % cases in the amnioinfusion group as compared to 7.1 % cases in the control group. 78 % cases who were given amnioinfusion had vaginal delivery as compared to 18 % cases in the control group. Fourteen percent cases in the study group had cesarean delivery as compared to 68 % cases in the control group. Meconium aspiration syndrome was seen in six percent neonates in the study group as compared to 20 % in the control group. Two neonates died in the control group due to meconium aspiration syndrome. There was no maternal mortality or major maternal complication.

Conclusions

Intrapartum transcervical amnioinfusion is valuable in patients with meconium-stained amniotic fluid.     

Neutrophil in diabetic stroke: emerging therapeutic strategies

Post-ischemic inflammation is a coordinated process,which lasts from hours to days and involves recruitment of inflammatory cells from blood to the brain endothelial cells.Recently,the adhesion of leukocytes at endothelium,especially neutrophils,and its implication in post-stroke neuronal injury have been extensively explored and reported in both experimental and clinical settings(Jian et al.,2019).However its role in diabetic patients following stroke is still elusive.Some significant differences such as risk factors,stroke subtypes and clinical outcomes are different between diabetic and nondiabetic.     

Evaluation of specialized laparoscopic suturing and tying devices.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic suturing and tying constitute advanced minimally invasive surgery skills. Developing proficiency in the standard methods with needle drivers is often an arduous process. Recent advances in laparoscopic instrumentations has allowed for easier methods of suturing and tying. This study investigated the hypothesis that the use of a specialized suturing device and a specialized tying device allows inexperienced medical students to suture and tie laparoscopically. METHODS: Preclinical medical students who had not received any training in open or laparoscopic surgery were included in this investigation. Each student was given a 5-minute demonstration of a specialized suturing device and a specialized tying device. The medical students were not allowed to deploy either device before actual use. After the demonstration, each student was given the device to use in a porcine model. Times were recorded and a subjective grade was given for each student. RESULTS: Twenty medical students were involved in this study. All medical students were able to complete the task of suturing and tying. The average time to suture was 104.6 seconds and the average time to tying was 31.2 seconds. The average subjective performance grade was 90 (out of 100). CONCLUSION: Specialized devices are easy to learn and use for laparoscopic suturing and tying with minimal instruction even for inexperienced medical students. Even surgeons who are not well versed in laparoscopic surgery should be able to suture and tie with certain laparoscopic instruments.     

Tumor angiogenesis in keratocystic odontogenic tumor assessed by using CD‐105 antigen

J Oral Pathol Med (2011) 40 : 263–269 Background: The purpose of this study was to assess and compare angiogenesis with proliferative activity in Keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KCOT) and dentigerous cysts (DC) by using monoclonal mouse anti‐human antibody against CD105 (endoglin). Material and Methods: Angiogenesis was assessed in 38 KCOT, 27 DCs and 19 Normal Oral Mucosa (NOM) by measuring the Mean Vascular Density (MVD), Total Vascular Area (TVA) and Mean Vascular Area (MVA). Cell proliferation was assessed by obtaining Ki‐67 Labeling Index (Ki‐67LI) in all the groups. Results: Statistically significant difference was observed in MVD, TVA, MVA and Ki‐67 LI between the KCOT, DC and NOM (P = 0.000). The MVD, TVA, MVA and Ki‐67 LI were significantly higher in KCOT than in DC and NOM (P = 0.000). The Ki‐67 LI was significantly higher in NOM than in DC (P = 0.000). MVD (P = 0.032) and TVA (P = 0.038) were significantly higher in NOM than in DC. There was significant positive correlation between Ki‐67 LI and MVD, Ki‐67 and TVA and Ki‐67 and MVA. Conclusion: The result suggests that CD105 (endoglin) is strongly expressed in microvessels of KCOT compared with that in Dentigerous cyst and Normal oral mucosa. Thus, it suggests that angiogenesis may be associated with locally aggressive biological behavior of KCOT. These findings further stress on the hypothesis that the stroma of KCOT could be regarded not just as a structural support of the cyst wall, but as playing a part in the neoplastic behavior of cyst.     

Cognitive impairment but preservation of sexual dimorphism in cognitive abilities in chronic schizophrenia

Neurocognitive impairment in schizophrenia is well established, though sex differences on cognitive tasks have produced equivocal findings. The present study was designed to examine performance of schizophrenia patients on a sexually dimorphic cognitive battery. The cognitive battery comprising tests of spatial (mental rotation, computerized version of the Benton Judgment of Line Orientation) and verbal abilities (phonological and semantic fluency) was administered to men (n = 22) and women (n = 21) with schizophrenia and healthy controls (n = 21 men and 21 women). A series of multivariate analyses showed that the patient group performed worse than controls on all the cognitive tasks. Cognitive sexual dimorphism on all spatial tasks favoring men and verbal tasks favoring women remained. Within the patient sample, correlational data demonstrated that earlier age at onset of illness related to poorer spatial performance. It is concluded that normal sexual dimorphism is undisturbed on both spatial and verbal tasks by the schizophrenia disease process.     

Trimetazidine exerts protection against increasing current electroshock seizure test in mice

Trimetazidine, a novel anti-ischemic agent, is used in the therapy of angina, vertigo and chorioretinal diseases. It has also been examined for its effect on nociception, inflammation and neuroprotection in various animal models. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of trimetazidine on electrically induced seizures in mice. Trimetazidine was administered orally in doses of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg (single dose) to observe its effect on the increasing current electroshock seizure (ICES) test in mice. Trimetazidine in 10 and 20 mg/kg doses significantly raised the seizure-threshold current in the ICES test. Further, co-administration of per se ineffective dose of trimetazidine (5 mg/kg, p.o.) with sub-anticonvulsant dose of nimodipine (10 mg/kg, p.o.) and phenytoin (12.5 mg/kg, p.o.) offered significant protection in the ICES test. These results indicate that trimetazidine possesses significant anticonvulsant activity against electro-convulsions in the mice.     

The needs of people with dementia in care homes: the perspectives of users, staff and family caregivers

ABSTRACTBackground: People with dementia in care homes are at risk of having their views ignored and decisions are often made on their behalf by care home staff and family carers. The aim of this study was to compare the ratings of needs of older people with dementia living in care homes, as assessed by the older person themselves, a family caregiver, and the staff of the care home.Method: The Camberwell Assessment of Need for the Elderly (CANE) was completed for 238 residents with dementia by care staff. In addition, 149 users and 81 family caregivers also completed the assessment of the person's met and unmet needs.Results: Many users were able to report their met and unmet needs despite having moderately severe dementia. The views of the person with dementia were commonly in agreement with the staff and family carers' views. However, user and carer pairs had the lowest average percentage agreement of 63% compared to that of 77% between user and staff pairs. In particular, users reported relatively higher unmet needs for psychological distress, company and information, and high unmet needs for daytime activities and eyesight/hearing problems.Conclusions: Users' views on their needs should be sought even when the person has dementia and lives in a care home. Reliance solely on assessment by staff or carers may lead to under recognition of unmet needs.