Intracellular sodium in proximal tubules of diabetic rats. Role of glucose

Renal hypertrophy is a common consequence of diabetes mellitus that precedes and possibly accounts for the increased glomerular filtration rate. We have postulated that the glucose-mediated increase in the intracellular concentration of sodium [Na]i initiates the chain of events leading to the increase in cell size and eventually cell number. Experiments were conducted on Sprague-Dawley rats made diabetic by the intravenous injection of 45 mg/kg body wt of streptozotocin dissolved in a 5 mM citrate buffer solution. Control animals were injected with the vehicle alone. Ninety-six hours and 11 weeks later, measurements of [Na]i were done by NMR spectroscopy on suspensions of proximal tubules, using dysprosium tripolyphosphate as an extracellular shift reagent. At 96 hours after the induction of the diabetes, there was a 60% increase in [Na]i compared to control (P less than 0.01). No further increase in [Na]i was observed during the subsequent 11 weeks of observation. Addition of ouabain (1.0 mM) resulted in a fourfold increase in [Na]i in tubules from control animals, and a 2.5-fold increase in tubules from 96-hour diabetic rats. Ouabain-inhibitable Na+-K+-ATPase activity was substantially higher in the renal tubules of diabetic rats, the increase being proportional to that of [Na]i. In order to ascertain the effect of hyperglycemia on [Na]i, proximal tubules prepared from kidneys of normal and diabetic rats were exposed to low (5 mM) and high (25 mM) concentration of glucose in the media.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Ultrasonic study of processed milk cream and vegetable oils.

Food systems are complex and inhomogeneous in nature. Ultrasonic propagation velocity in the food systems, in this case processed milk cream and vegetable oils, is studied. Ultrasonic properties of the food systems are similar to those of complex biological tissues. The presence of vegetable oil as an adulterant in the processed milk cream is detected with the help of a double-probe-through-transmission ultrasonic technique. The present study helps to maintain quality control of various food systems, particularly with regard to their adulteration, if any.     

Ossifying fibroma of nose in a two year old child

We report a cast of ossifying fibroma of the nose, arising from the bony septum and extending into the nasophaynx in a 2 yrs. old child presenting with features of obstructed nose.     

Laparoscopic Deployment of Biliary Self-Expandable Metal Stent (SEMS) for One-Step Palliation in 23 Patients with Advanced Pancreatico-Biliary Tumors—a Pilot Trial

Background Exploratory laparoscopy is commonly undertaken in patients with highly suspicious biliary and pancreatic lesions to facilitate diagnosis and staging cancer is present. If an unresectable tumor is identified, a second endoscopic procedure may be required do deploy a self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) for palliation. As endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography (ERCP) may be unsuccessful in up to 20% of patients, we evaluated the feasibility and safety of deployment of self-expandable metal stents at the same time as the initial laparoscopy. Patients and Methods A total of 23 eligible patients (8 male and 15 female) with malignant obstruction of the common bile duct underwent deployment of SEMS at laparoscopy. Primary outcome measure was the successful laparoscopic deployment of stent and secondary outcome measure was complications rates. Results Indications for stent deployment were unresectable pancreatic cancer in 18, cholangiocarcinoma in two, neuroendocrine tumor in one and ampullary adenocarcinoma in two patients. The median age was 73 years (range 49–93). Twenty-two of 23 stents were deployed successfully: 17 stents were deployed transcystically and five via a choledochotomy. Median times for laparoscopic exploration and SEMS deployment were 165 min (range 105–230) and 20 min (range 10–50), respectively. Pre- and post-procedures median total bilirubin were 9.4 mg/dl (range 5.4–17.5) and 4.0 (range 2.6–7.1). The median size of the pancreatic mass was 3 cm (range 2–5 cm) and that of the common bile duct (CBD) from 9.2 mm (range 7.2–17.4). The mean duration of laparoscopy was 170 min (range 120–230 min) and that for stent deployment 23 min (range 10–50 min). Complications included bleeding, obstruction, and wound infection. Bleeding occurred on day 7 in two patients and on day 30 in one patient; bleeding occurred at the gastrojejunal anastomosis site and was successfully treated with endoscopic hemostasis. A total of three stent obstructions were identified: one each at 60, 90, and 120 days follow-up. All complications were successfully managed endoscopically. There were a total of seven deaths, six as a result of progressive cancer and one of surgical wound infection and ensuing complications. Conclusion This study demonstrates that laparoscopic deployment of self-expandable metal bile duct stents is feasible and safe. This option appears to be a reasonable option in patients with inoperable malignant obstruction of the distal common bile duct.     

Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type II — a case report of two siblings in a family

Two children out of three siblings of a family presented with tiredness, fatigue, and breathlessness for more than 6 months. Examination of peripheral blood smear, bone marrow aspirate, and a positive acidified serum test (HEMPAS) revealed these children to be a case of congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type II. This case is reported because of its rarity.     

Editorial

Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine -     

A Pelvic Ring Fracture Complicated by Acute Traumatic Obstructed Direct Inguinal Hernia

Abstract A young male motorcyclist presented to the Pelvic Unit with an open-book fracture of his pelvis and an acute obstructed direct inguinal hernia. He was managed operatively and made an excellent recovery. Traumatic abdominal wall hernias are rare. This is a unique combination of injuries that the trauma surgeon should be aware of.     

Clinical Impact of Community-Acquired Respiratory Viruses on Bronchiolitis Obliterans After Lung Transplant

Community-acquired viral respiratory tract infections (RTI) in lung transplant recipients may have a high rate of progression to pneumonia and can be a trigger for immunologically mediated detrimental effects on lung function. A cohort of 100 patients was enrolled from 2001 to 2003 in which 50 patients had clinically diagnosed viral RTI and 50 were asymptomatic. All patients had nasopharyngeal and throat swabs taken for respiratory virus antigen detection, culture and RT-PCR. All patients had pulmonary function tests at regular intervals for 12 months. Rates of rejection, decline in forced expiratory volume (L) in 1 s (FEV-1) and bacterial and fungal superinfection were compared at the 3-month primary endpoint. In the 50 patients with RTI, a microbial etiology was identified in 33 of 50 (66%) and included rhinovirus (9), coronavirus (8), RSV (6), influenza A (5), parainfluenza (4) and human metapneumovirus (1). During the 3-month primary endpoint, 8 of 50 (16%) RTI patients had acute rejection versus 0 of 50 non-RTI patients (p=0.006). The number of patients experiencing a 20% or more decline in FEV-1 by 3 months was 9 of 50 (18%) RTI versus 0 of 50 non-RTI (0%) (p=0.003). In six of these nine patients, the decline in FEV-1 was sustained over a 1-year period consistent with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). Community-acquired respiratory viruses may be associated with the development of acute rejection and BOS.