POST OPERATIVE PAIN RELIEF IN CAESAREAN SECTION

Eighty female patients in the age group of 20-40 years, weighing 40 ± 15 Kg, in ASA physical status I and II, awaiting either elective or emergency caesarean delivery were selected for this study. Patients with cardiovascular disorders and those with significant systemic ailments were excluded from the study. They were randomly divided into two equal groups of 40 patients each. Group I was subdivided randomly into two equal sub-groups (1A and 1B) of 20 patients each and was selected for administration of epidural narcotics. Patients in sub-group 1A were given epidural morphine in the dose of 3-5 mg and those in subgroup 1B were given buprenorphine in the dose of 0.1-0.15 mg. Group II consisting of 40 patients, were again subdivided randomly into two equal subgroups (2A and 2B) of 20 patients each and were selected for administration of parenteral (intravenous) narcotics. Patients in subgroup 2A were given morphine in the dose of 5-7.5 mg I.V., and those in subgroup 2B were given 0.15-0.3 mg of buprenorphine intravenously. The degree of pain relief was assessed by applying numerical rating scale (NRS) and resulting complications were observed and recorded. It was found that 60-80% of patients with epidural narcotics, with various dosage schedules, experienced good to excellent analgesia as compared to 30-40% of patients with parenteral use of narcotics.KEY WORDS: Analgesia, Caesarean section, Epidural narcotics     

Soluble kit receptor in human serum

c-kit encodes the transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase (Kit) for the recently described ligand stem cell factor (SCF). We have developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for measuring soluble human Kit and we have used the assay to show high levels of soluble Kit in human serum. The distribution of soluble Kit levels was investigated among 112 normal human serum donors. The mean serum level (+/- SD) was found to be 324 +/- 105 ng/mL with the values falling between 163 ng/mL and 788 ng/mL. No correlation between soluble Kit levels and the sexes or ages of the donors was found. Partial purification using immunoaffinity chromatography allowed us to characterize the soluble Kit from pooled human serum. Antibodies generated to a 497-amino acid recombinant human soluble Kit corresponding to the N-terminal extracellular domain of the receptor recognized the serum-derived soluble Kit by immunoblotting. We found that the serum-derived soluble Kit is glycosylated, with mostly N- linked but also O-linked carbohydrate, and with terminal sialic acid residues. When compared with the recombinant human soluble Kit, the serum-derived material was similar both in size and glycosylation pattern. CNBr cleavage of the isolated serum-derived material followed by amino terminal sequencing confirmed the presence of five peptides expected for the extracellular portion of the Kit molecule. The immunoaffinity purified serum-derived soluble Kit inhibited binding of [125I]SCF to membrane-bound receptor in an in vitro assay. These results indicate that soluble Kit could modulate the activity and functions of SCF in vivo.     

Characteristics of serum lipid state in women with premature failure of the ovarian function

The evidence obtained supports referring women with ovarian amenorrhea and gonadal dysgenesis to a high-risk group for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. This fact dictates inclusion of the diagnosis of atherogenic dyslipoproteinemia into the complex of check-up measures for women with early nonoperative ovarian amenorrhea as well as prophylaxis of cardiovascular disorders.     

ANEURYSMAL BONE CYST IN THE MANDIBLE (A Case Report)

Aneurysmal bone cyst is commonly seen in the long bones and vertebrae and is rare in the jaws. Its association with other lesions of the bone has been stressed by many workers. Because of its variable radiological appearance, diagnosis of the lesion is established by histopathological examination. A case of aneurysmal bone cyst occurring in the mandible is reported.KEY WORDS: Aneurysmal bone cyst, Mandible     

Aplasia cutis congenita: a report of 12 new families and review of the literature.

Aplasia cutis congenita (ACC) is a heterogeneous group of disorders whose common characteristic is focal absence of skin. In the majority of instances this is limited to the scalp, although other areas of the body may also be involved. Other congenital malformations have been reported to occur with ACC; limb defects appear to be a specific association. Given our experience with ACC, we suggest a classification based on genetically distinct entities. Type I ACC is limited to the scalp. Type II involves body or scalp; IIA involves body or limb defects. Type III is limited to the scalp or limbs. Type IV is associated with epidermolysis bullosa; type IVA is Bart syndrome. Although most reported cases have been sporadic, there are many familial occurrences of all types of ACC. Most published pedigrees are consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance with reduced penetrance, or autosomal recessive inheritance. Careful examination of family members of affected individuals is warranted.