Acute barium intoxication following ingestion of soap water solution

We present a rare case in which a young girl ingested a solution of a hair-removing soap. The ingestion resulted in profound hypokalemia and severe acidosis leading to flaccid paralysis, respiratory arrest and ventricular arrhythmias. Ultimately the patient made complete recovery. The soapwas found to contain barium sulfide. The degree of paralysis and acidosis appeared to be directly related to serum potassium levels.     

L-Ascorbic Acid and α-Tocopherol Reduces Hepatotoxicity Associated with Arsenic Trioxide Chemotherapy by Modulating Nrf2 and Bcl2 Transcription Factors in Chang liver Cells

Arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃) is a promising new regimen for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). The induction of oxidative stress mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and excessive intracellular calcium influx are the main reasons behind As₂O₃ toxicity. Since liver is the major organ for xenobiotic metabolism, it is always under stress. Antioxidant vitamins such as L-Ascorbic acid (L-AA) and α-Tocopherol (α-TOC) have been proposed to have beneficial effects against a variety of pathological conditions and are known by their free radical scavenging properties. The present study evaluates the curative efficacy of L-AA and α-TOC against As₂O₃ toxicity using immortalized human Chang liver cells. Our results suggest that L-AA (100 µM) and α-TOC (50 µM) recovered As₂O₃ (10 µM) cytotoxicity. Furthermore, As₂O₃ treatment showed an increase in lipid peroxidation and depletion in antioxidant status, mitochondrial trans membrane potential and values of total antioxidant capacity. Cotreatment of antioxidant vitamins with As₂O₃ resulted in a significant reversal of oxidative stress markers. Our findings substantiate the effect of antioxidant vitamins in protecting the hepatocytes from oxidative stress which may be attributed through Nrf2 (Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) mediated upregulation of Bcl2 (B-cell lymphoma 2) expression.     

Leukocyte adhesion defect‐I: rare primary immune deficiency

Leukocyte adhesion defect I is a rare disorder (1:1,000,000) caused by diminished expression of CD‐18 β2 integrins on leukocytes leading to abnormal adhesion, migration, and chemotaxis. Clinical manifestations include delayed separation of umbilical cord, omphalitis, recurrent severe infections, impaired wound healing, persistent oral ulcers, and severe periodontitis in primary and permanent dentition. A 5‐year‐old girl, second‐born child to parents with consanguinity, presented with pain and mobility of lower teeth. There was history of recurrent infections and multiple hospital admissions with CD18 level‐3% and frame shift mutation in ITGB2, on 21q22.3. There were scars on hands and feet. Oral examination revealed multiple missing teeth and periodontitis in primary dentition. Oral prophylaxis and palliative treatments were performed with periodic follow‐ups. Interdisciplinary care is ubiquitous for patients with immune deficiencies. Early consultation with pediatric dentists and exploration of medical history is essential for diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases.     

Live/Real Time Three‐Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiographic Assessment of Ventricular Septal Volume and Mass before and after Myectomy in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common genetically transmitted cardiomyopathy. In patients resistant to medical management, myectomy is the surgical procedure of choice to reduce the symptoms of left ventricular outflow obstruction. Two‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (2DTEE) has become part of the operative procedure by decreasing the incidence of postoperative complications. However, because of the three‐dimensional geometry of left ventricular outflow tract, it is unable to comprehensively assess the location and severity of the obstruction and to provide accurate guidance during myectomy. In this study, 10 patients with HCM underwent live/real time three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) intra‐operatively to measure the volume of the resected septum. This volume correlated well with the volume of the resected septal muscle directly obtained using a graduating cylinder containing water (r = 0.9, P < 0.000). 3DTEE may be potentially used as an adjunct to guide the surgeon in performing an adequate myectomy with a lower incidence of residual obstruction and complications such as an iatrogenic ventricular septal defect.     

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis: clinical course and outcome of 60 patients from a single center in South India

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) previously known as Wegener’s granulomatosis is one of the forms of idiopathic systemic vasculitis. There is very scanty data available on GPA in Asian and Indian population. We studied data of 60 patients from southern India, diagnosed with GPA to describe the physical characteristics, the treatment, and outcome. Patients who fulfilled any two of the four criteria proposed by the American College of Rheumatology, and those with clinical features of GPA with ANCA positivity and histopathological confirmation, were included in the study. Disease activity and damage were assessed by Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score v. 3 (BVAS v. 3) and Vasculitis Damage Index (VDI), respectively. Relapses were defined as recurrence of GPA of sufficient severity to require treatment or increase in the dose of treatment on a patient who was previously stable. Out of 60 patients, initial BVAS evaluation showed that 57 (95%) patients had severe disease and 3 (5%) patients had limited disease where median BVAS was 21.5 (range 17–44). Follow-up BVAS evaluation for severe disease showed that 13 (22.8%) patients continued with severe disease of which 9 patients did not survive, 24 (42.3%) had remission, 11 (19.2%) had persistent disease, and 9 (15.7%) were lost to follow-up. The mean VDI score was 2.5 ± 2. Renal involvement was established in 42 (70%) patients. Upper and lower respiratory involvement was seen in 38 (63%) patients. Nervous system involvement was noted in the 15 (25%) patients. Articular manifestations were seen in 16 (27%) patients. Diverse clinical manifestation delay early diagnosis and treatment of this potentially treatable vasculitis. Focused approach could expedite early diagnosis and can reduce the mortality.     

Some nutritional properties of the seeds of three Mucuna species

The seeds of Mucuna nivea, M. pruriens and M. utilis showed ash 4.3-5.1%, oil 4.9-5.5%, protein 25.9-27.5%, L-dopa 3.6-4.2%, trypsin 28.5-39.7 mg/g and chymotrypsin inhibitor activity 19.3-24.6 mg/g. The trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitor activity increased in pod hull and seeds while the amount of protein increased in seeds and decreased in pod hull with maturity. The essential amino acid profile was comparable to the FAO pattern (lysine 6.0-6.4%). The fatty acid composition had total unsaturated acids 51.9-55.9%, but were poor in oil contents.