β-Globin gene haplotype in Hb SC disease

We asked the question, is the haplotype found with the sickle hemoglobin gene associated with different hematological characteristics in patients who were combined heterozygotes for sickle hemoglobin and hemoglobin C (Hb SC disease)? In 73 adults with Hb SC disease, a Benin haplotype chromosome was present in 56%, and Bantu (or Central African Republic; CAR), Senegal, and atypical haplotype chromosomes were found in 25%, 6%, and 12%, respectively. No significant differences were found in hematological characteristics or fetal hemoglobin levels of patients with Benin/C, CAR/C, Senegal/C, and atypical/C haplotypes. There were 71%C I, 18% C II, and 11% other β^c haplotypes. Fetal hemoglobin levels are lower in Hb SC disease than in sickle-cell anemia. Perhaps because haplotype has no discernible effect on fetal hemoglobin level in Hb SC disease, it does not modulate its hematological features. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The patent track sign

Abdominal Radiology -     

Synovial sarcoma of anterior abdominal wall

Sarcomas are connective tissue tumours, and can arise in any part of the body, more commonly in the extremities. Histological types and clinical presentation of truncal sarcomas are similar to those seen in any other anatomic locations. Radiological investigations may be contributory, but biopsy is conclusive. Surgical resection with wide margins is the initial standard treatment, however a multimodal approach including radiotherapy and chemotherapy is often favoured. Because of the high recurrence rate regardless of therapy, close follow-up is imperative. We present a case of synovial sarcoma of the anterior abdominal wall.     

Anomalous left anterior descending artery from pulmonary artery: An extremely rare coronary anomaly

We report a rare coronary artery anomaly–anomalous origin of the left anterior descending artery from the pulmonary artery in a 40-year-old woman. The uniqueness of this case is the absence of any significant morbidity from this condition in adulthood which is in contrast to other reported cases where patients present with myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and sometimes death during the early infantile period.¹     

Paediatric rehabilitation in a developing country—India in relation to aetiology,consequences and outcome in a group of 459 burnt children

Age, aetiology of burn, percentage body surface area burnt and post-burn sequelae have a direct relationship to the rehabilitative necessity in burnt children in a developing country—India. In spite of the gross disfigurements and sequelae, only adolescent children required psychosocial rehabilitation. These are the results following a retrospective analysis of 459 paediatric burn patients in Madras, India.     

Vitamin D status of Hong Kong Chinese infants

Vitamin D deficiency is a common nutritional problem of weaning infants in many parts of the world. Hong Kong infants, who are fed with traditional rice-based weaning foods and live in crowded high rise flats, might be expected to suffer from this nutritional problem. Yet a study of 150 bottle fed infants revealed that the vitamin D intake from fortified milk and cereals was more than half of the recommended amount throughout the first 18 months and that the serum 25-OH vitamin D concentration of the infants at 18 months was normal. The effect of sunlight was also evident.