Macrocarposide, a new isoflavanone c-glucoside from Pterocarpus macrocarpus heart wood

Macrocarposide has been isolated for the first time as a natural product from the heartwood of PTEROCARPUS MACROCARPUS along with some known compounds. Based on its spectral and chemical evidence, it has been assigned the structure dalbergioidin-6- C-glucoside ( 1).     

Modulation of mouse skin tumor promotion by dietary 13-cis-retinoic acid and {alpha}-difluoromethylornithine

The effects of dietary supplementation of 13-cis-retinoic acid(13-cis-RA) and -difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) in the drinkingwater on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-promotedskin tumor formation was determined. Administration of 13-cis-RAin the diet and DFMO in the drinking water was started 1 weekand 2 days before the first TPA application to the dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-initiatedskin of either female CD-I or SENCAR mice, respectively. Dietary13-cis-RA failed to inhibit both the tumor yield and the incidence;papillomas per mouse at 0, 5, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg diet 13-cis-RAdoses were 25, 30, 22, 28 and 25 respectively at 18 weeks ofpromotion treatment and at all doses 100% of the mice bore papillomas.However, dietary 13-cis-RA dramatically reduced the size ofskin tumor promoted with TPA. 13-cis-RA at doses of 5, 50, 100and 200 mg/kg diet inhibited skin papillomas (> 4 mm diameter)per mouse by 28, 55, 76 and 93%, respectively. Retinoid treatmentdid not affect body weight gains and the survival was more than80% in all groups. In accord with our previous findings, DFMOwhen given in drinking water, was a very effective inhibitorof mouse skin tumor promotion by TPA; DFMO at 0.25% concentrationinhibited the number of papillomas by 50%. Inhibition of skintumor promotion by combined treatments with dietary 13-cis-RA(100 mg/kg) and DFMO (0.25%) in the drinking water was possiblyadditive. The retinoid and DFMO preclude TPA-increased ornithinedecarboxylase (ODC) activity and the accumulation of putrescineby differential effects on ODC, an enzyme associated with skintumor promotion by TPA.     

Pulmonary tuberculosis among contacts of patients with tuberculosis in an urban Indian population.

The study was conducted among 1810 contacts of 50 index "cases"/"suspects" of pulmonary tuberculosis including 312 household and 1498 neighbourhood contacts in the Jhansi city of Uttar Pradesh. The overall prevalence of radiologically active and bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis was 2.9% and 1.1%. The prevalence rates of radiologically active and bacteriologically confirmed disease, although comparatively high in both the contact groups, were significantly higher in household (5.4% and 2.6%) than in neighbourhood contacts (2.3% and 0.8%). Significant differences in distribution of secondary cases among clusters were observed. Although higher prevalence rates were found in contacts of sputum positive source than in contacts of sputum negative source in both the contact groups, the statistical difference was observed to be insignificant. Case yield among contact symptomatics was 80.0% (30.8% cases and 49.2% suspects).     

Ultrasonic evaluation of retinoblastoma

Seventeen children presenting with leucocoria were subjected to complete investigations. Careful A and B mode ultrasonography allowed us to make the correct diagnosis of retinoblastoma in 11 eyes of 9 patients, which was confirmed by histopathology or by response to radiotherapy. The diagnosis of retinoblastoma was not missed ultrasonographically in any of the eyes studied. The "V/W" configuration and absence of vascular pulsations on A mode; the "mixed" pattern and absence of choroidal excavation and orbital shadowing on B mode were found to be essential echographic features in characterizing the tumor and in differentiating it from other conditions including vitreous hemorrhage. The ultrasonographic features of early extraocular extension of retinoblastoma are discussed. Careful ultrasonic evaluation of leucocoria would seem to be invaluable in obviating the possibility of misdiagnosis in such problematic cases.     

Comparison of electrocautery versus holmium laser energy source for transurethral ureterocele incision: an outcome analysis from a tertiary care institute

Lasers in Medical Science - Transurethral endoscopic incision is an established treatment option for management of obstructing ureterocele. It can be performed using monopolar electrocautery or...     

Restarting LDLT During COVID-19: Early Results After Restructuring

IntroductionLiving-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has been mostly suspended and deceased-donor living transplantation activity has been considerably reduced because of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We modified our protocols and procedures in line with COVID-19 guidelines. Since the restructuring, we have performed 20 LDLTs. Our study reports the outcomes of these cases and demonstrates the feasibility of LDLT during this pandemic.Materials and MethodsThe changes were influenced by experiences and communications from across the globe. A month-long self-imposed moratorium was spent in restructuring the program and implementing new protocols. Twenty LDLTs were performed between April 18 and September 15 using the new protocols. Our experience includes 2 simultaneous liver-kidney transplants, 1 ABO-incompatible LDLT, and 1 pediatric case (age 11 months).ResultsNineteen patients recovered and 1 patient died. We maintained our postoperative immunosuppression protocol without many changes. Major complications were observed in 30% of recipients but none of the donors. One recipient was infected with COVID-19 during the postoperative period. A donor-recipient couple contracted COVID-19 after discharge from the hospital. All patients recovered from COVID-19 and liver enzymes were unaffected.ConclusionThis study represents a microcosm of experience in LDLT during the COVID-19 era. Outcomes of LDLT are not affected by COVID-19 per se, provided that we make necessary changes.     

Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Lateral Process of Talus Involving the Subtalar Joint: An Unusual Case

Osteochondritis dissecans is a fairly recognized entity affecting the talus dome but subtalar joint involvement is not that common. We report a case of a 34-year-old male with osteochondritis dissecans of lateral process talus which was missed on imaging studies and identified intraoperatively. The patient was treated with curettage of the subchondral cyst at talus, followed by bone grafting and fixation of the osteochondral lesion with a 4-mm partially threaded cancellous screw. At the 1-year follow-up evaluation, there were no signs of recurrence and the patient resumed his complete activities including sports. We believe that the threshold for diagnosing these lesions should be low in cases with nonspecific chronic ankle pain, and surgeons are encouraged to consider this diagnosis.