Galactocerebroside mediates Ca2+ signaling in cultured glioma cells.

Expression of galactocerebroside (GalC) was detected in human glioma cell line (U-87 MG). Exposure of cells to antibody against GalC and fluoresceinated second antibody showed intense fluorescence on the plasma membrane. Possible involvement of GalC in receptor-mediated transmembrane signaling was explored in this cell line. Antibodies raised against GalC were used as ligands. Binding of anti-GalC to these cells caused a transient increase in intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i). The response was observed both in the presence and absence of extracellular calcium demonstrating that the rise in [Ca2+]i induced by anti-GalC was due to an influx of Ca2+ through plasma membrane as well as the release of Ca2+ from intracellular pools. Ca2+ influx was blocked by verapamil, indicating that influx is mediated by voltage-sensitive channels. Our results suggest that GalC can play a role in transmembrane signaling by modulation of voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels.     

Nasopharyngeal glioma: A unique presentation in infants

Despite the complex embryological development of the nose and surrounding structures, significant developmental nasal anomalies are rare. Of the various anomalies like-nasopharyngeal cysts, hairy polyps, dermoids, haemangiomata, fibromas, mucocoeles, lipoma, aplasias. We are presenting a rare case of Heterotopic Brain Tissue in the nasopharynx. This 1.5-month-old patient was operated through transpalatal route and mass excised. Histopathologicaly it consisted of various central nervous tissue elements. Seven months post surgery patient is thriving well.     

Renal Transplantation in Indo-Asian Patients in the UK

Membership of some ethnic groups has an effect on renal transplant outcome but little is known about the impact of Indo-Asian ethnicity, despite this group's high incidence of renal disease. We compared outcomes in Indo-Asians and Caucasians at the Hammersmith Hospital (Indo-Asians, N = 46; Caucasians, N = 90), in the Long-Term Efficacy and Safety Surveillance (LOTESS) database of cyclosporin-treated renal transplant recipients (Indo-Asians, N = 254; Caucasians, N = 4262) and the National Transplant Database held by UK Transplant (Indo-Asians, N = 459; Caucasians, N = 4831). The baseline demographic and co-morbid characteristics of the two ethnic groups were comparable, save for more diabetes in the Indo-Asian community. Following transplantation, the incidence of delayed graft function and steroid-resistant acute rejection were also comparable, as were graft and patient survival (out to 5 years) and graft function. In addition, post-transplant blood pressure, levels of cholesterol and triglycerides and exposure to corticosteroids and cyclosporin were comparable. However, when patients who were not diabetic before transplantation were studied separately, there was an increased incidence of diabetes in the Indo-Asian community (Hammersmith data: Indo-Asians 10.9% vs. Caucasians 3.3%, p = 0.02; LOTESS data Indo-Asians 5.5% vs. Caucasians 1.6%, p < 0.0001). Subsequent management of this group should pursue immunosuppressive regimens less likely to impair post-transplant glucose tolerance.     

单纯2型糖尿病患者的风险分层：对冠状动脉钙化成像联合选择性心肌灌注成像的前瞻性评价

目的:确定在单纯2型糖尿病患者中亚临床动脉粥样硬化和心肌缺血的患病率和临床预测因素,并评价其与近期临床预后的关系。方法和结果:以501例无心血管疾病史的无症状2型糖尿病患者(年龄53±8岁,61%为男性)为研究对象,前瞻性检测受试者的已知危险因素和冠状动脉钙化(CAC)评分。所有CAC评分>100Agatston单位(AU)的患者(n=127)以及CAC≤100AU患者中的随机抽样(n=53),接受心肌灌注成像(M PS)检查。46.3%的患者有明显的CAC(>10AU)。在中位期为2.2年的随访(IQR1.9～2.5)中,共发生20例次事件,分别为2例冠状动脉性死亡、9例非致死性心肌梗…     

Persistence of heart reactive antibodies (HRA) in acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) patients

Heart Reactive Antibodies (HRA) of IgG and IgM classes were investigated in 79 patients in four clinically classified groups. Group I comprised of 16 children with Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF) and Group II consisted of 15 cases with active Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD). Twenty seven cases of ARF and RHD in remission and 21 adults with quiescent RHD were included in Groups III and IV respectively. Control groups comprised of 14 normal, healthy, donors and eight Post Streptococcal Acute Glomerular Nephritis (PSAGN) cases. Low levels of HRA of IgG and IgM classes were detected in control groups. The overall incidence of HRA of IgG and IgM classes was 82.28 and 39.24% respectively in the patient group. An increased frequency of HRA-IgM antibodies was observed in Groups I, III and IV (p less than 0.01, 0.001 and 0.025 respectively). All the four groups demonstrated a highly significant increase in incidence of HRA--IgG class (p less than 0.0005). Persistence of high titres of HRA-IgG class in ARF and RHD is reported in the paper.     

Metastasising chordoma to the mandible from a rare vertebral site: the first reported case.

Chordoma is a rare tumor, arising from notochord remnants, which usually occurs in the axial skeleton and rarely metastasizes. Although there have been 3 previous reports of metastatic disease to the facial bones from sacrococcygeal chordoma, this is the first to describe spread to the mandible from a vertebral primary chordoma.