Macroglossia due to venous malformation

Massive vascular malformation involving tongue can cause significant functional impairment. In this report we describe a rare case of extensive venous malformation involving tongue leading to obstructive sleep apnoea, inability to speak, eat, severe discomfort due to exposure induced dryness and ulceration. Multimodality treatment approach comprising of sclerotherapy, electrocautery and radiation therapy was used in this case.     

Pancreatic cancer and diabetes: is there a relationship? A case-controlled study

BACKGROUND: There is controversy about whether diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer or an epiphenomenon of the cancer. The present study aims to determine if long-term diabetes is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. METHODS: The study undertook to determine the prevalence of diabetes among three matched (age/gender) patient groups (pancreatic cancer (PaC), colorectal cancer (CRC), and fracture neck of femur (NOF)) at the date of diagnosis of cancer or fracture as well as 1 and 5 years prior to this. A retrospective review of the medical records of the three groups of patients was undertaken. Patients identified with PaC in the period July 1994 to February 1998 were age (+/- 5 years)- and gender-matched to patients identified in the same time period with NOF and with CRC. The data were then analysed using McNemar's test for discordant pairs. RESULTS: Over a 44-month period 116 patients with PaC were identified of which 24% had diabetes at the time of diagnosis of their malignancy (NOF, 8%; CRC, 9.5%). There was a statistically significant difference (PaC and NOF, P < 0.01; PaC and CRC, P < 0.01). For a duration of diabetes of > 5 years the prevalence of diabetes fell to 7.8% in the PaC group, to 6% in the NOF group and to 6.9% in the CRC group, with no significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: There is no increase in the prevalence of long-standing diabetes mellitus in patients with PaC compared to age- and gender-matched controls with NOF and CRC. The relationship of PaC and diabetes may be an epiphenomenon, rather than diabetes being a risk factor for pancreatic malignancy.     

Auditory brainstem implantation: The first Indian experience

Multichannel auditory brainstem implants (ABI) are currently indicated for patients with neurofibromatosis type II (NF2) involving both vestibulocochlear nerves. The ABI helps bypass the damaged cochlear nerves and restores a level of auditory sensation via the electrical stimulation of the cochlear nucleus. The implant is usually placed in the lateral recess of the fourth ventricle at the time of tumor resection to stimulate the cochlear nucleus. We report a case of ABI done on a 15-year-old girl with bilateral vestibular schwannomas.     

Coupling of acceptor-substituted diazo compounds and tertiary thioamides: synthesis of enamino carbonyl compounds and their pharmacological evaluation

This paper describes the synthesis of enamino carbonyl compounds by the copper(i)-catalyzed coupling of acceptor-substituted diazo compounds and tertiary thioamides. We plan to use this method to synthesize indolizidine (−)-237D analogs to find α6-selective antismoking agents. Therefore, we also performed in silico α6-nAchRs binding studies of selected products. Compounds with low root-mean-square deviation values showed more favorable binding free energies. We also report preliminary pharmacokinetic data on indolizidine (−)-237D and found it to have weak activity at CYP3A4. In addition, as enamino carbonyl compounds are also known for antimicrobial properties, we screened previously reported and new enamino carbonyl compounds for antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties. Eleven compounds showed significant antimicrobial activities.

This paper describes the synthesis of enamino carbonyl compounds by the copper(i)-catalyzed coupling of acceptor-substituted diazo compounds and tertiary thioamides.     

Rare non‐syndromic bilateral maxillary and mandibular permanent canine agenesis

Oligodontia or absence of teeth such as the Canines is rare and is often accompanied with several other missing teeth. This condition may also be accompanied with morphological and growth related changes in the teeth and the maxillofacial complex. Complete agenesis of the permanent canines in the maxilla and the mandible is extremely rare and occurs in association with syndromic oligodontia. Non‐syndromic absence of canines however, is extremely rare and has only been reported twice. Studies have shown that the incidence of missing canines is more in females. This report describes a sporadic case of congenital absence of maxillary and mandibular bilateral canines. The patient reported to the clinic with a chief complaint of crowding and wanted alignment. On intra‐oral examination it was observed that the patient had all permanent canines missing with no prior history of extractions, crowding in both the arches and class I molars on both sides. With no other symptoms fixed orthodontic therapy was planned for the patient with premolars substituted for the canines.     

Protective effects of Terminalia arjuna against Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity

Terminalia arjuna has been marked as a potential cardioprotective agent since vedic period. The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of butanolic fraction of Terminalia arjuna bark (TA-05) on Doxorubicin (Dox)-induced cardiotoxicity. Male wistar rats were used as in vivo model for the study. TA-05 was administered orally to Wistar rats at different doses (0.42 mg/kg, 0.85 mg/kg, 1.7 mg/kg, 3.4 mg/kg and 6.8 mg/kg) for 6 days/week for 4 weeks. Thereafter, all the animals except saline and TA-05-treated controls were administered 20 mg/kg Dox intraperitonially. There was a significant decrease in myocardial superoxide dismutase (38.94%) and reduced glutathione (23.84%) in animals treated with Dox. Concurrently marked increase in serum creatine kinase-MB (CKMB) activity (48.11%) as well as increase in extent of lipid peroxidation (2.55-fold) was reported. Co-treatment of TA-05 and Dox resulted in an increase in the cardiac antioxidant enzymes, decrease in serum CKMB levels and reduction in lipid peroxidation as compared to Dox-treated animals. Electron microscopic studies in Dox-treated animals revealed mitochondrial swelling, Z-band disarray, focal dilatation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) and lipid inclusions, whereas the concurrent administration of TA-05 led to a lesser degree of Dox-induced histological alterations. These findings suggest that butanolic fraction of Terminalia arjuna bark has protective effects against Dox-induced cardiotoxicity and may have potential as a cardioprotective agent.     

Utility of prolonged bedside amplitude-integrated encephalogram in encephalopathic infants

We hypothesized that prolonged bedside limited-channel amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG) monitoring following a standard 1-hour conventional electroencephalogram (cEEG) would increase the detection of subclinical seizures and allow continuous evaluation of the background EEG in neonatal encephalopathy. This may identify complementary roles for these EEG technologies in neonatal units where continuous cEEG monitoring may not be readily available. We prospectively recruited 25 term neonates with a diagnosis of neonatal seizures or encephalopathy. All infants underwent a standard 1-hour cEEG followed by 12 to 24 hours of aEEG monitoring. Data from the aEEG (plus the raw signal) were analyzed by an epileptologist and compared with information obtained from the clinical report of the cEEG. aEEG and cEEG data were available for 24 infants. Results from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed at 7 to 10 days of life were available in 23/24 infants. Background classification on cEEG and aEEG was similar in 83% of patients. Five of 24 infants had normal background on cEEG. Prolonged aEEG detected evolution of background from initially normal to moderately abnormal in an additional four infants. It also detected more subclinical seizures than the 1-hour cEEG in 8/14 infants. Normal background on aEEG and cEEG was associated with normal MRI results, and severe background abnormality (5/24) on both aEEG and cEEG was associated with abnormal MRI results. Data obtained from prolonged aEEG (plus raw EEG) provide similar background activity, enhance seizure detection, and complement standard cEEG in predicting short-term outcomes, based on MRI, in term neonates with seizures or encephalopathy. Limited-channel aEEG technology may provide a pragmatic alternative for longitudinal monitoring of newborn infants with encephalopathy in neonatal units where prolonged video EEG monitoring is not feasible.     

Neurodevelopmental changes of fetal pain

Pain in the developing fetus is controversial because of the difficulty in measuring and interpreting pain during gestation. It has received increased attention lately because of recently introduced legislation that would require consideration of fetal pain during intentional termination of pregnancy. During development, sensory fibers are abundant by 20 weeks; a functional spinal reflex is present by 19 weeks; connections to the thalamus are present by 20 weeks; and connections to subplate neurons are present by 17 weeks with intensive differentiation by 25 weeks. These cells are important developmentally, but decline as a result of natural apoptosis. Mature thalamocortical projections are not present until 29 to 30 weeks, which has led many to believe the fetus does not experience emotional "pain" until then. Pain requires both nociception and emotional reaction or interpretation. Nociception causes physiologic stress, which in turn causes increases in catecholamines, cortisol, and other stress hormones. Physiological stress is different from the emotional pain felt by the more mature fetus or infant, and this stress is mitigated by pain medication such as opiates. The plasticity of the developing brain makes it vulnerable to the stressors that cause long-term developmental changes, ultimately leading to adverse neurological outcomes. Whereas evidence for conscious pain perception is indirect, evidence for the subconscious incorporation of pain into neurological development and plasticity is incontrovertible. Scientific data, not religious or political conviction, should guide the desperately needed research in this field. In the meantime, it seems prudent to avoid pain during gestation.     

Current controversies regarding pain assessment in neonates

Although over 40 methods of pain assessment in infants are available for use in clinical practice, unrecognized and under-treated pain remains one of the most commonly reported problems within the Neonatal Intensive Care Units. A number of factors have been found to account for differences in the robustness of the pain response in neonates of varying gestational ages. Discrepancies between behavioral and physiological pain indicators have also been reported. With newer technologies, there is an opportunity not only to verify infant pain perception, but these tools may allow an identification of which of the observed indicators are most sensitive in particular clinical situations. The current controversies regarding pain assessment in preterm and term infants are reviewed to define the most important issues and to develop a dialogue for future directions.     

Premedication for tracheal intubation in neonates: confusion or controversy?

Tracheal intubation is performed frequently in the NICU and delivery room. This procedure is extremely distressing, painful, and has the potential for airway injury. Premedication with sedatives, analgesics, and muscle relaxants is standard practice for pediatric and adult intubation, yet the use of these drugs is not common for intubation in neonates. The risks and benefits of using premedications for intubating unstable newborns are hotly debated, although recent evidence shows that premedication for non-urgent or semi-urgent intubations is safer and more effective than awake intubations. This article reviews clinical practices reported in surveys on premedication for neonatal intubation, the physiological effects of laryngoscopy and intubation on awake neonates, as well as the clinical and physiological effects of different drug combinations used for intubation. A wide variety of drugs, either alone or in combination, have been used as premedication for elective intubation in neonates. Schematically, these studies have been of three main types: (a) studies comparing awake intubation versus those with sedation or analgesia, (b) studies comparing different premedication regimens comprising sedatives, analgesics, and anesthetics, and (c) case series of neonates in which some authors have reported their experience with a specific premedication regimen. The clinical benefits described in these studies and the need for pain control in neonates make the case for using appropriate premedication routinely for elective or semi-urgent intubations. Tracheal intubation without the use of analgesia or sedation should be performed only for urgent resuscitations in the delivery room or other life-threatening situations when intravenous access is unavailable.