Stature estimation from the length of the sternum in South Indian males: A preliminary study

Estimation of stature is one of the important initial steps during forensic analysis of human skeletal remains. The aim of the present study was to derive a linear regression formula for estimating stature of adult South Indian males from the length of the sternum. The study included 35 male sternums of South Indian origin dissected from cadavers during medico-legal autopsies. The linear regression equation [Stature = 117.784 + (3.429 × Sternal length)] was derived to estimate the stature from the length of the sternum. The correlation coefficient was 0.638. The standard error of the estimate was 5.64 cm. This preliminary study concludes that the length of the sternum can be used as a tool for stature estimation in adult South Indian males.     

长期应用埃索美拉唑是维持已愈合糜烂性食管炎疗效及控制胃食管反流症状的有效方法

要确保糜烂性食管炎的治愈效果 ,长期抑制胃酸是一项必要措施。在不使用维持治疗时 ,已治愈的反流性或溃疡性食管炎 ,在 1年左右有近 80 %的病人会再出现食管黏膜的破损。 1年中奥美拉唑 2 0ｍｇ或兰索拉唑 30ｍｇ每天 1次治疗 ,可使复发率降至 30 %或更低。Ｈ2 受体阻滞剂 (Ｈ2 ＲＡ)维持治疗的效果不及ＰＰＩ。Ｈ2 ＲＡ 1年维持治疗的效果约为 50 %。奥美拉唑的Ｓ 异构体———埃索美拉唑是第一个发展为同分光学异构体的质子泵抑制剂 (ＰＰＩ)。埃索美拉唑 2 0或40ｍｇ剂量的血浆浓度时间曲线下面积 (ＡＵＣ值 )明显大于奥美拉唑 2 0ｍｇ …     

Metabolic and hepatic effects of liraglutide,obeticholic acid and elafibranor in diet-induced obese mouse models of biopsy-confirmed nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

AIM To evaluate the pharmacodynamics of compounds in clinical development for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH) in obese mouse models of biopsy-confirmedNASH.METHODS Male wild-type C57 BL/6 J mice(DIO-NASH) and Lep~(ob/ob)(ob/ob-NASH) mice were fed a diet high in trans-fat(40%), fructose(20%) and cholesterol(2%) for 30 and 21 wk, respectively. Prior to treatment, all mice underwent liver biopsy for confirmation and stratification of liver steatosis and fibrosis, using the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score(NAS) and fibrosis staging system. The mice were kept on the diet and received vehicle, liraglutide(0.2 mg/kg, SC, BID), obeticholic acid(OCA, 30 mg/kg PO, QD), or elafibranor(30 mg/kg PO, QD) for eight weeks. Within-subject comparisons were performed on changes in steatosis, inflammation, ballooning degeneration, and fibrosis scores. In addition, compound effects were evaluated by quantitative liver histology, including percent fractional area of liver fat, galectin-3, and collagen 1 a1.RESULTS Liraglutide and elafibranor, but not OCA, reduced body weight in both models. Liraglutide improved steatosis scores in DIO-NASH mice only. Elafibranor and OCA reduced histopathological scores of hepatic steatosis and inflammation in both models, but only elafibranor reduced fibrosis severity. Liraglutide and OCA reduced total liver fat, collagen 1 a1, and galectin-3 content, driven by significant reductions in liver weight. The individual drug effects on NASH histological endpoints were supported by global gene expression(RNA sequencing) and liver lipid biochemistry.CONCLUSION DIO-NASH and ob/ob-NASH mouse models show distinct treatment effects of liraglutide, OCA, and elafibranor, being in general agreement with corresponding findings in clinical trials for NASH. The present data therefore further supports the clinical translatability and utility of DIO-NASH and ob/ob-NASH mouse models of NASH for probing the therapeutic efficacy of compounds in preclinical drug development for NASH.     

Transgenic glucocorticoid receptor expression driven by the SP-C promoter reduces neonatal lung cellularity and midkine expression in GRhypo mice

BACKGROUND: Congenital truncation of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is known to lead to lethal lung immaturity in newborn mice associated with increased lung cellularity (ratio of tissue to airspace) and, as we previously showed, prolonged expression of the retinoid-responsive growth factor midkine. OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine if these changes would be reversed by transgenic expression of GR exclusively in the distal airway epithelium. METHODS: Mice were generated with expression of transgenic rat (r) GR driven by the human (h) SP-C promoter, on a background of congenital GR truncation. RESULTS: Transgenic epithelial GR expression reduced lung cellularity and midkine expression to levels comparable to wild-type littermates. Nevertheless, the newborn transgenic mice still displayed respiratory failure. Moreover, epithelial expression of the GR transgene did not alter expression of a number of important markers of lung maturation. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrating normalization of the lung tissue to airspace ratio in neonatal mice expressing transgenic GR in the distal airway epithelium is consistent with the concept that normal mesenchymal cell loss is due to GR-responsive stimulation from epithelial cells. However, we could find no evidence of altered apoptotic activity between the groups of mice. We speculate that correction of the severe neonatal lung phenotype of GR-deficient mice will require expression of normal GR in non-epithelial as well as epithelial tissues.     

Pulmonary vein stenosis: Case report and literature review

BACKGROUND:

Pulmonary vein stenosis is a rare cause of pulmonary hypertension, with variable onset and presentation. One or more of the four pulmonary veins can be primarily or secondarily affected. A five-month-old girl presented with respiratory distress, lethargy and cyanosis requiring intubation.

METHODS:

Echocardiography showed right ventricular dilation, a right ventricular systolic pressure of 97 mmHg, decreased ejection fraction and turbulent flow at the left atrium. Cardiac catheterization revealed stenosis of the left-sided pulmonary veins, for which she underwent a Coles procedure.

RESULTS:

Postoperatively, there was a transient improvement in the patient’s pulmonary hypertension but she subsequently deteriorated. Her prognosis was considered bleak, and a decision was made with the family to withdraw care.

CONCLUSION:

Pulmonary vein stenosis is a rare cause of pulmonary hypertension, and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Surgical intervention may be of benefit in selected cases. It stands to reason that any treatment will have the best chance of success if completed before the pulmonary hypertension becomes fixed. Early diagnosis depends on a high index of clinical suspicion.     

Ectopic thyroid: A rare cause of tracheal obstruction

The endoluminal presence of thyroid tissue in the trachea is a rare cause of airway obstruction. Only 14 well documented cases of intratracheal ectopic thyroid tissue have been reported in English Literature since 1966. These lesions are mostly benign and nearly all patients present with symptoms of respiratory obstruction. We present a case of ectopic thyroid in cervical trachea presenting with symptoms of airway obstruction. Thorough clinical examination and investigations were carried out. A right hemithyroidectomy and excision of a part of the tracheal wall through a tracheotomy was performed for removal of the ectopic thyroid tissue from trachea. The clinicians & radiologists must be aware of this entity to avoid mistaking it for evidence of invasion by a malignant neoplas, and hence this report.