Zygaphophysial arthropathy

Summary Normal saline injections into appropriate zygaphophysial joints were carried out on low back pain suffers to reproduce the pain. Patients were selected on certain defined clinical criteria for inclusion to this pilot study. Only five out of ten patients reported accurate pain reproduction and these were thought to suffer from zygaphophysial arthropathy. It is argued that recognition of this condition will influence its management.     

Leiomyomatosis metastatic to the tricuspid valve complicated by pelvic hemorrhage

Metastatic leiomyomatosis is a rare but potentially life-threatening tumor of smooth muscle cells. Leiomyomas originate predominantly in the uterus and can spread to the lung and, rarely, the heart. We present a case of a 36-year-old woman with known pelvic leiomyomatosis with metastasis to the tricuspid valve. Tricuspid valve replacement was complicated by retroperitoneal hemorrhage from residual pelvic tumor. This potentially catastrophic occurrence should be considered when undertaking resection of intracardiac leiomyomatosis.     

Spontaneous bilateral perirenal hematoma in a patient with tetrology of Fallot

We report a patient with tetralogy of Fallot who developed spontaneous bilateral perirenal hematoma at the age of 35. Polycythemia was seen from the age of 3 in this patient. Prolonged clotting time and partial thromboplastin time were observed on various occasions before he developed perirenal hematoma. Blood letting was done periodically according to the value of hemoglobin level and packed cell volume. Resolution of hematoma was seen sonographically.     

Environmental pollution in rural areas of Orissa state due to industrial emissions--with special reference to fluoride

Angul - Talcher belt in Central Orissa, having a number of industries contributing to a great extent to deteriorate the air quality of the surrounding villages. Previous reports showed higher SPM, SO2, NO, levels in air and prevalence of respiratory illness, skin and teeth disorders among village population. Higher ground water fluoride, urine and serum fluoride among the cattle were also reported in some villages. Present study reports SPM, SO2, NOx and Fluorides (gaseous and Particulate) in ambient air around aluminium smelter during February and August 1996. High volume sampling technique for SPM and the standard colorimetric methods (BIS) for analyses of SO2 and NOx were adopted. Fluoride in air and water were estimated by standard fluoride ion selective electrode method. Higher SPM, SO2 and NOx values than prescribed CPCB standard were obtained in February. Gaseous fluoride in village air were varied between, 1.66 - 7.64 mg/m3 in February and 1.11 - 22.75 mg/m3 in August, whereas particulate fluoride ranged between, 0.054 - 19.61 mg/m3. Water sources of the villages near the smelter showed fluoride values above permissible limit. The study indicated higher fluoride pollution in air and water of the surrounding villages.     

Aggressive Giant Pituitary Adenoma Presenting as a Nasopharyngeal Mass: Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Pathologic Findings

We report a giant pituitary adenoma with aggressive histologic features that prominently invaded the nasopharynx. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a large heterogeneous nodular mass that was hypointense to isointense on T1-weighted images and mixed hypointense, isointense, and hyperintense on T2-weighted images. The mass measured 7.5×5×7cm, extending from the nasopharynx posteriorly through the clivus, and superiorly through the paranasal sinuses, and sellar-suprasellar region. After contrast administration, heterogeneous nodular enhancement was noted. A nasopharyngeal neoplasm extending into the sella was suspected because voice change and nasal speech long preceded the patient's visual symptoms. A biopsy disclosed an aggressive, infiltrating, hemorrhagic tumor, which was diagnosed as a non-secreting pituitary macroadenoma. This report indicates that pituitary adenomas may grow invasively to tremendously large sizes resulting in their initial presentation as nasopharyngeal masses.     

镰孢菌属镰刀菌致与接触镜有关的真菌性角膜炎1例(英文)

目的:报道1例罕见的被确诊为由镰孢菌属镰刀菌引起的与接触镜有关的严重的真菌性角膜炎,该病例最后通过治疗性穿透性角膜移植术成功治疗。方法:病例报告。结果:一位39岁的马来西亚女士,私企职员,配戴长戴性软性接触镜18a。感右眼剧痛、眼红10d。眼部检查见多个长有伪足的圆形旁中心角膜溃疡,前房少许积脓,临床诊断为真菌性角膜炎。经重复角膜刮片检查真菌和细菌结果均阴性后给予局部广谱抗生素和抗真菌治疗,但患者右眼角膜炎病情进一步加重,又给予其他的局部和全身抗真菌药物治疗,患者右眼角膜溃疡进一步加深。最后,为保留眼球,限制感染,在发病1.5mo后,给予患者治疗性的穿透性角膜移植术。术后,角膜组织病理学检查和PCR检查证实为镰孢菌属镰刀菌感染所致。结论:这是1例罕见的由镰孢菌属镰刀菌感染引起的严重的与接触镜有关的真菌性角膜炎。这也说明了在真菌性角膜炎的治疗上存在挑战性。为控制真菌性角膜炎进一步发展,并保护眼球,治疗性的穿透性角膜移植术应该是最后的选择。     

Effect of 1-(gamma)linolenyl-3-eicosapentaenoyl propane diol on the growth of human pancreatic carcinoma in vitro and in vivo

Essential fatty acids such as (gamma)linolenic (GLA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acids have been proposed as anticancer drugs. The aim of this study was to test the effect of a lipid emulsion containing both GLA and EPA in a novel chemical formulation of 1-(gamma)linolenyl-3-eicosapentaenoyl propane diol on the growth of human pancreatic carcinoma in vitro and in nude mice. This compound had a dose-dependent growth-inhibitory effect on human pancreatic cancer cell lines MIA PaCa-2 and Panc-1 in vitro. The concentration necessary for 50% growth inhibition was 25 micromol/l for MIA PaCa-2 and 68 micromol/l for Panc-1 (95% CI 20-29 and 59-77 micromol/l respectively). Nude mice bearing subcutaneous pancreatic tumours produced with the MIA PaCa-2 cell line were treated with the maximum tolerated dose (6.75 mg GLA and 7.3 mg EPA per g of body weight) administered over 10 days by daily intravenous (i.v.) bolus injections. No antitumour effect or major alteration in tumour lipid fatty acid composition was seen in comparison with control animals. Concurrent treatment with parenteral iron (iron saccharate, 5 microg/gram body weight daily) did not make a significant difference. Further improvements in fatty acid delivery mechanisms are necessary before they can become useful anticancer agents.     

Impact of neonatal onset hypothyroidism on Sertoli cell number, plasma and testicular interstitial fluid androgen binding protein concentration

The impact of neonatal onset hypothyroidism from day 1 postpartum through different postnatal developmental events on rat testis was studied in vivo. Hypothyroidism was induced in neonates by feeding the lactating mother or directly with 0.05% methimazole (MMI) through drinking water from the day of birth and were killed at day 10, 15, 30, 40 and 60 postpartum. Hypothyroidism was confirmed by radioimmunoassay of thyroid hormones and TSH. Sertoli cell number, plasma and testicular interstitial fluid (TIF) androgen binding protein (ABP) concentration was quantified. Sertoli cell number was consistently decreased in all hypothyroid rats. Plasma ABP was also decreased irrespective of the duration of hypothyroidism. Unlike plasma ABP, TIF ABP concentration in hypothyroid rats increased at day 10, and 15 postpartum and decreased in other age groups. Plasma FSH level was increased significantly in all hypothyroid groups. The present investigation points out that suppression of T3 during the critical period of Sertoli cell proliferation affects their number and functional activity.     

Duration-dependent effect of transient neonatal hypothyroidism on sertoli and germ cell number, and plasma and testicular interstitial fluid androgen binding protein concentration

The impact of transient neonatal hypothyroidism on growth and function of puberal testis during different milestones of postnatal testicular development was studied in Wistar rats. Rat pups were made hypothyroid for 10, 15, 30, 40 and 60 days of postnatal age from birth by providing 0.05% (W/V) methimazole (MMI) in the drinking water of the mother, from day 1 postpartum till weaning (25 days postpartum) and thereafter in the drinking water. Control rats were raised without MMI treatment. Sertoli cell number and its function was assessed on day 60 postpartum. Sertoli cell number increased consistently in 10, 15, 30 and 40 days transient hypothyroid rats but decreased in rats subjected to continuous hypothyroidism from birth to 60 days postpartum. Rats subjected to continuous hypothyroidism from birth showed spermatogenic arrest at puberty and had only a single layer of spermatogonia. Transient neonatal hypothyroidism for 10 (or) 15 days from birth increased spermatocytes (pachytene and zygotene), spermatids (elongated and round) whereas, that of 30 and 40 days decreases the number of germ cells. Plasma androgen binding protein (ABP) concentration decreased in puberal rats belonging to all groups, whereas the testicular interstitial fluid (TIF) concentration of ABP increased significantly in 10 and 15 days hypothyroid rats while it decreased in all other groups. These findings indicate that the mitogenic activity of Sertoli cell is increased irrespective of the duration of transient neonatal hypothyroidism. However, the functional activity of Sertoli cells (ABP production) in these puberal rats varies depending upon the postnatal period at which the animals were in hypothyroid state.