Factors influencing the acceptability and prolonged use of oral contraceptives.

The prospect of increasing the incidence of continued oral contraceptive (OC) users led to a planned study in which 100 women were given OCs for 1 year. Follow up occurred monthly for the first 3 months and was thereafter 3-monthly. Patients obtaining special attention could continue the pills for a longer duration and had minimum medical problems compared with those where individual attention was lacking. The difference lay presumably in prompt attention towards any trouble and the correct selection of pills. The survey indicates that the success of OCs depends on good educational status of the patients, special individual attention by the doctor, proper appraisal for the correct pill regimen, and frequent follow-up visits. Prompt discovery and treatment of any trouble can prevent disappointment and disillusionment with this method of contraception.     

A study on the present scenario of STD management in an urban clinic in Kolkata

A total of 4129 patients attended the STD clinic from 1996 to 1999. Of those 25.75% were STD cases. Male and female cases comprised 86% and 14% respectively. Majority were in the age group between 18 to 38 years. Chancroid was the commonest STD (37.7%). Other STDs in order were syphilis (30.66%), NGU (15.71%), gonorrhoea (7%), venereal wart (3.57%), candidiasis (2.53%), trichomonal vaginitis (1.6%), herpes genitalis (0.65%) and LGV (0.47%). No case of Donovanosis or HIV was detected. 13.7% of STD cases were reactive for VDRL test and 8% of the antenatal attendants were strongly VDRL test reactive. The urethral discharge on gram staining was positive for gonococcus, in 29%. 68% of the clinic attendants were given safer sex education and served condom.     

Vertebral Venous Air Embolism: An Unusual Complication Following Colonoscopy

Although fiberoptic colonoscopy has gained wide popularity as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool, there remains an inherent complication rate following colonoscopic evaluation. Endoscopically induced bowel perforation and uncontrolled bleeding often necessitate immediate surgical intervention. Another often-unrecognized complication is the introduction of air into the vertebral venous system. A case of vertebral venous air embolism after routine diagnostic colonoscopy is reported with a review of current literature.     

Spontaneous resolution of severe aplastic anemia following thymic hemorrhage

Over the last 7 years we have seen more than 200 severe aplastic anemia patients at this centre. Three of them developed an unusual complication in the form of thymic hemorrhage. Following this complication, all 3 patients recovered partially from their aplastic anemia, without any need for further immunosuppression. These cases show possible ways to manipulate the thymus gland as a management strategy for this disease.     

Abnormalities in nitric oxide and its derivatives in lung cancer

RATIONALE: A cellular prooxidant state promotes cells to neoplastic growth, in part because of modification of proteins and their functions. Reactive nitrogen species formed from nitric oxide (NO) or its metabolites, can lead to protein tyrosine nitration, which is elevated in lung cancer. OBJECTIVE: To determine the alteration in these NO derivatives and the role they may play in contributing to lung carcinogenesis. METHODS: We analyzed levels of NO, nitrite (NO2-), nitrate (NO3-), and the location of the protein nitration and identified the proteins that are modified. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Although exhaled NO and NO2- were increased, endothelial NO synthase or inducible NO synthase expression was similar in the tumor and tumor-free regions. However, immunohistochemistry showed that nitrotyrosine was increased in the tumor relative to non-tumor-bearing sections. We used proteomics to identify the modified proteins (two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; mass spectrometry). Both the degree of nitration and the protein nitration profile were altered. We identified more than 25 nitrated proteins, including metabolic enzymes, structural proteins, and proteins involved in prevention of oxidative damage. Alterations of the biology of NO metabolites and nitration of proteins may contribute to the mutagenic processes and promote carcinogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence in favor of a role for reactive nitrogen and oxygen species in lung cancer.     

Brain age estimation reveals older adults’ accelerated senescence after traumatic brain injury

GeroScience - Adults aged 60 and over are most vulnerable to mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Nevertheless, the extent to which chronological age (CA) at injury affects TBI-related brain aging...