Tryptophan metabolism in Cicer arietinum.

Crude extracts of Cicer arietinum seedlings contain enzymes that mediate the oxidation of tryptophan. The most active is formylase followed by tryptophan oxygenase and kynureninase. Tryptophan is also utilized for the synthesis of indolyl-3-acetic acid. The stimulation of tryptophan oxygenase in seedlings incubated in presnece of indolyl-3-acetic acid has been shown by specific labelling of haem moeity and the apoenzyme not to involve de novo synthesis.     

Giant cell arteritis: diagnosing and treating inflammatory disease in older adults

Giant cell arteritis (GCA), also known as temporal arteritis, cranial arteritis, or granulomatous arteritis, is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis seen in patients typically over age 50. If untreated, GCA can cause permanent visual loss in one or both eyes in 13% to 50% of patients. Primary care physicians routinely see elderly patients with headaches and fatigue; these may be potential symptoms of GCA. C-reactive protein (CRP) in conjunction with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) has 97% specificity in diagnosing GCA. Temporal artery biopsy confirms the diagnosis in many cases. Early recognition and treatment of this potentially blinding condition is thus essential. Systemic steroids are the standard therapy for patients with a positive diagnosis of GCA, and in a high percentage of patients the treatment may extend for more than one year.     

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma of the neck with pulmonary metastases

We present a case of follicular dendritic cell sarcoma in a 48 years old Saudi female who reported with slowly progressive right sided extranodal neck mass associated with pulmonary metastasis. Clinical examination, histopathologic features including distinct immunostains combine together to make the rare diagnosis of follicular dendritic cell sarcoma. This entity is often misdiagnosed due to non-consideration in differential diagnosis of sarcoma. It carries a significant potential for regional as well as distant spread and hence categorized as intermediate risk malignancy. Clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical aspects and therapeutic options of this unusual case are discussed.     

Comparison of patellar bone strain in the natural and implanted knee during simulated deep flexion

Instances of anterior knee pain and patellar fracture are significant complications following total knee replacement (TKR). Bone strain measured in the patella can provide an indication of patellar fracture risk and may also be related to anterior knee pain. The objective of this study was to develop subject‐specific finite element models of the patellofemoral (PF) joint including density‐mapped material properties to gain insight into the patellar bone strain distribution in the natural and implanted knee. In eight subjects, the volume of bone experiencing strains >0.5% in the implanted condition was ～200% larger, on average, than the natural condition. An inverse relationship with a correlation of ?0.74 was established between postoperative bone volume and strain in the implanted specimens, suggesting that patellar geometry may be a useful indicator of postoperative strain. Comparing strains between regions (superior, inferior, medial, and lateral), it was found that although highly strained bone was evenly distributed between medial and lateral regions in the natural case, the implanted specimens demonstrated significantly larger volumes of highly strained bone medially as a result of substantially lower modulus bone in the medial compartment. Understanding distributions of PF strain may aid in preoperative identification of those patients at risk for patellar fracture or anterior knee pain, guidance regarding altered component placement for at‐risk patients, and design of components considering the implications of PF load transfer and patellar strain distribution. © 2010 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 29:232–239, 2011     

Spectrum of beta-thalassemia mutations in various regions of Punjab and Islamabad, Pakistan: establishment of prenatal diagnosis

We present here an analysis of 888 unrelated beta-thal chromosomes consisting of 444 transfusion dependent children from various regions of Punjab and Islamabad Pakistan. By using Multiplex ARMS- PCR, restriction endonuclease analysis, allele specific oligonucleotide (ASO) hybridization and sequencing, 17 beta-thal mutations and 3 Hb variants were detected in 99.5 % (884/888) of the chromosomes analyzed. First trimester prenatal diagnosis by chorionic villus sampling (CVS) was also carried out in seven pregnancies at risk of beta-thalassemia. Our results indicate that three most common mutations accounted for 86.8% of the beta-thal alleles in this region. These findings have important implications for prevention of beta-thalassemia through genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis in this part of Pakistan.     

Halothane induced fulminant hepatic failure

A rare case of halothane-induced fulminant hepatic failure is reported in a 22 years old male, who developed fever, jaundice, coma and deranged coagulation profile, 2 days after undergoing laparotomy under halothane anaesthesia. Despite all supportive care, he died of fulminant hepatic failure, 6 days after surgery. Postmortem liver biopsy revealed massive predominantly centrilobular hepatic necrosis.