Overlap between Majewski and Hydrolethalus syndromes: A report of two cases

We present 2 unrelated fetuses with manifestations of both the hydrolethalus syndrome and the short rib-polydactyly syndrome, type Majewski. It is proposed that cases of hydrolethalus syndrome with short limbs constitute a separate type of lethal osteochondrodysplasia mimicking short rib-polydactyly syndromes. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Novel organotypic in vitro slice culture model for intraventricular hemorrhage of premature infants

Mechanisms of brain injury in intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) of premature infants are elusive, and no therapeutic strategy exists to prevent brain damage in these infants. Therefore, we developed an in vitro organotypic forebrain slice culture model to advance mechanistic studies and therapeutic developments for this disorder. We cultured forebrain slices from E29 rabbit pups and treated the cultured slices (CS) with moderate (50 μl) or large (100 μl) amounts of autologous blood to mimic moderate and severe IVH. Blood‐induced damage to CS was evaluated by propidium iodide staining, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, microglial density, neuronal degeneration, myelination, and gliosis over 2 weeks after the initiation of culture. CS were viable for at least 14 days in vitro (DIV). The application of blood induced significant neural cell degeneration. Degenerating cells were more abundant and LDH levels were elevated in a dose‐dependent manner in CS treated with 50 versus 100 μl of blood compared with untreated controls. Microglial density was higher in blood‐treated CS compared with controls at both 7 and 14 days posttreatment, and myelination was reduced and gliosis enhanced. Selective application of blood fractions revealed that CS treated with plasma displayed more hypomyelination and gliosis compared with erythrocyte‐treated slices. This study develops and characterizes a novel rabbit forebrain slice culture model of IVH that exhibits neuropatholgical changes similar to those in human infants with IVH. Importantly, plasma appears to induce greater white matter damage than erythrocytes in IVH,indicating plasma as a source of neurotoxic components. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Lipomatous variant of angiomyofibroblastoma: a case report and review of the literature

Angiomyofibroblastoma represents a rare, benign mesenchymal tumor with a predilection for the vulvovaginal region. Lipomatous change may occur but rarely comprises a substantial component of the lesion. There are only eight reports in the English language literature describing the lipomatous variant of this tumor. We describe a further lipomatous angiomyofibroblastoma that occurred on the labium majus of a 49‐year‐old woman. The histopathologic and immunohistochemical features are described, and the collective experience in the literature is reviewed.     

Effect of saxagliptin on the pharmacokinetics of the active components of Ortho‐Cyclen®, a combined oral contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol and norgestimate,in healthy women

Saxagliptin (Onglyza?) is a dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 (DPP4) inhibitor for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus. This open‐label, randomized, two‐way crossover study in 20 healthy female subjects investigated the effect of saxagliptin on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of the active components of a combined oral contraceptive (COC). Subjects received either COC (Ortho‐Cyclen^®) once daily (QD) for 21 days, then 5 mg saxagliptin QD + COC QD for 21 days, or vice versa. Coadministration of saxagliptin and COC did not alter the steady‐state PK of the primary active oestrogen (ethinyl estradiol) or progestin (norelgestromin) COC components. The area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) and peak plasma concentration (C_max) of an active metabolite of norelgestromin (norgestrel) were increased by 13 and 17%, respectively, a magnitude that was not considered clinically meaningful. Coadministration of saxagliptin and COC in this study was generally well‐tolerated. Saxagliptin can be co‐prescribed with an oestrogen/progestin combination for women taking oral contraceptive.     

Liver abscess, portal vein thrombosis and cavernoma formation following umbilical vein catherisation in two neonates.

Liver abscess is a rare condition in neonates and its diagnosis requires a high degree of suspicion. CT scan and ultrasound are the most sensitive diagnostic modalities for detecting hepatic abscess. Portal vein thrombosis and cavernoma formation are rare complications following neonatal liver abscess and sepsis. We describe the case of two neonates with hepatic abscess following umblical vein catheterisation, with rare complications of portal vein thrombosis and portal vein cavernoma formation. Therefore, unreserved caution should be exercised in performing umbilical cannulation in neonates due to the inherent risks involved with this procedure.     

Osmotolerant Cytokinin Producing Microbes Enhance Tomato Growth in Deficit Irrigation Conditions

The authors have reported the evaluation of two osmotolerant rhizospheric microbial strains for their abilities to promote tomato growth and alleviate deficit irrigation stress effects at 100, 50 and 25 % water holding capacity (WHC) of a red sandy loam soil in pot culture conditions. It was observed that osmotolerant microbial inoculation significantly enhanced the stomatal conductivity, rates of transpiration, photosynthesis and the relative water contents of tomato plants across stress levels. A similar trend was also observed with respect to the biomass production and marketable fruit yields at harvest. Plants inoculated with Actinobacterium, Citrococcus zhacaiensis recorded 24 and 9 % higher yields, while Bacillus amyloliquefaciens inoculated plants recorded 42.0 and 12.7 % higher yield at 50 and 25 % WHC, respectively, as compared to uninoculated controls.     

Distribution and Diversity of Lichenized Fungi Colonizing Jageshwar Group of Temples,Almora, Uttarakhand

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences - Present study describes the lichen species compositions which are colonizing Jageshwar monuments and offers a...     

What is the dosimetric impact of isotropic vs anisotropic safety margins for delineation of the clinical target volume in breast brachytherapy?

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to report dosimetric differences for breast brachytherapy plans optimized for clinical target volume (CTV) generated using conventional isotropic expansion of tumor bed volume (TBV) and Groupe Européen de Curiethérapie–European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (GEC-ESTRO) recommendations to expand the TBV anisotropically to achieve a total safety margin of 2 cm (resection margin size + added safety margin).MethodsInstitutional records of 100 patients who underwent accelerated partial breast irradiation using multicatheter interstitial brachytherapy from May 2015 to March 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. Two sets of CT-based plans were made, one with 1-cm isotropic margins around the tumor bed (CTV_ISO) and the other with anisotropic margins (CTV_GEC). Plans were evaluated and compared using the American Brachytherapy Society and GEC-ESTRO guidelines.ResultsThe median TBV was 36.97 cc. The median margin widths were as follows: anterior 1.2, posterior 1.0, superior 1.0, inferior 0.9, medial 1.2, and lateral 1.2 cm. The mean tumor bed coverage index was 0.94; 0.93 [p.066], the CTV coverage index 0.86; 0.84 [p 0.001], the dose homogeneity index (DHI) 0.77; 0.75 [p < 0.001] and the conformity index 0.66; 0.64 [p < 0.001] in CTV_ISO and CTV_GEC plans, respectively. In smaller volume implants (TBV< 35 cc), the DHI was 0.76; 0.75 [p 0.008] and the conformity index was 0.66; 0.62 [p < 0.001], whereas in larger volumes >35 cc, the CTV coverage index was 0.86; 0.84 [p 0.003] and the DHI 0.78; 0.76 [p 0.001] in CTV_ISO and CTV_GEC plans, respectively.ConclusionsIn this cohort of patients who underwent accelerated partial breast irradiation, plans with anisotropic margins had lower conformity, the impact of which was predominantly seen in smaller implants. Rest of the dosimetric constraints were achieved in both the plans as per the American Brachytherapy Society and GEC-ESTRO guidelines.     

Drug interaction between ethanol and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (“ecstasy”)

Alcohol (ethanol) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) are frequently co-abused, but recent findings indicate a harmful drug interaction between these two agents. In our previous study, we showed that MDMA exposure inhibits the activity of the acetaldehyde (ACH) metabolizing enzyme, aldehyde dehydrogenase2 (ALDH2). Based on this finding, we hypothesized that the co-administration of MDMA and ethanol would reduce the metabolism of ACH and result in increased accumulation of ACH. Rats were treated with MDMA or vehicle and then administered a single dose of ethanol. Liver ALDH2 activity decreased by 35% in the MDMA-treated rats compared to control rats. The peak concentration and the area under the concentration versus time curve of plasma ACH were 31% and 59% higher, respectively, in the MDMA–ethanol group compared to the ethanol-only group. In addition, the MDMA–ethanol group had 80% higher plasma transaminase levels than the ethanol-only group, indicating greater hepatocellular damage. Our results not only support a drug interaction between MDMA and ethanol but a novel underlying mechanism for the interaction.     

Intramuscular vascular malformation of the masseter muscle presenting with turkey wattle sign

Intramuscular vascular malformations are unusual tumors in the head and neck region. Less than 1% of vasoformative tumors throughout the body occur in skeletal muscle; 15% of them arise in head and neck musculature. Masseter muscle is the most frequent site for such vascular malformations; it accounts for approximately 5% of all intramuscular vascular malformations in the head and neck region. A case of unusual intramuscular vascular malformation of masseter muscle is described and the diagnosis and management of these tumors is discussed.