Basaloid squamous cell cancer arising in Barrett’s esophagus

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is a rare form of cancer that arises primarily in the upper aerodigestive tract. Esophageal BSCC is extremely rare, accounting for less than 2% of primary esophageal malignancies. It is histopathologically distinct from squamous cell carcinoma and has an aggressive biological behavior with poor survival outcomes. There is no known association of Barrett’s esophagus with esophageal BSCC. Here, we report what we believe is the first such case of esophageal BSCC occurring in the setting of Barrett’s esophagus.     

Synthesis and Structure-Activity Relationships of Vasicine Analogues as Bronchodilatory Agents

The series of vasicine (1) analogues, an alkaloid from Adhatoda vasica Nees., were synthesized with changes in A, B or C rings. Compounds 13-19 were evaluated for in vitro bronchodilatory activity using isolated guinea pig tracheal chain. Compounds 3-8 were also synthesized in good yields using microwave-mediated synthesis under solvent free conditions. Compounds 5 and 8 with seven-member C ring were more active than etofylline and caused 100% relaxation of both the histamine and acetycholine pre-contracted guinea pig tracheal chain. The structure-activity relationship studies showed that the quinazoline and oxo functionalities were essential for activity. The compounds without C ring and instead having aliphatic and phenyl substitutions in B ring showed relaxation against histamine pre-contracted tracheal chain only, 2-methyl substituted analogues, 12 and 13, being most active with 100% relaxation effect.     

Safety & efficacy of single subconjunctival triamcinolone 5 mg depot vs topical loteprednol post cataract surgery: less drop cataract surgery

AIM: To do a randomized prospective interventional study for comparing the effects of a single subconjunctival triamcinolone acetonide (SCTA) injection to tapering topical loteprednol in patients undergoing phacoemulsification surgery under topical anesthesia. METHODS: A total of 400 patients were randomized into 2 groups; Group A (200 patients) received 5 mg SCTA at the end of surgery and topical ketorolac tromethamine (0.5%) with ofloxacin (0.3%) combination for 3wk. Group B (200 patients) received tapering topical loteprednol etabonate (0.5%) along with ofloxacin (0.3%) and ketorolac tromethamine (0.5%) for 3wk. Outcomes evaluated were intraocular pressure (IOP), anterior chamber cells/flare and macular oedema postoperatively at 1, 6 and 12wk. RESULTS: Baseline parameters were almost similar in both the groups. No statistical difference was seen between the preoperative and postoperative IOP values for Group A (P=0.82) and Group B (P=0.61) and postoperative IOP values in between both groups (P=0.14) at 1wk. Incidence of cells/flare postoperative was statistically not significant (P=0.82) in both groups at all follow up visits. Postoperative macular oedema was not observed at any follow up visit. CONCLUSION: SCTA appears to be an effective alternative to prolong postoperative topical steroid use.     

Resting Energy Expenditure and Systolic Blood Pressure Relationships in Women Across 4.5 Years

Recent studies have reported a strong association between blood pressure (BP) and resting energy expenditure (REE). However, it is not known whether this relationship persists over time. Therefore, the authors examined the temporal relationship between REE and systolic BP. In addition, the impact of sympathetic tone and anthropometric variables on this relationship was examined. All testing was performed on healthy, overweight African American and European American women aged 25 to 45 years over 4.5 years in the University of Alabama at Birmingham General Clinical Research Center. Repeated‐measures mixed‐models revealed REE as a significant determinant of systolic BP (β=0.0155, P<.0001), independent of catecholamines, leg fat, visceral fat, fat‐free mass, fat mass, height, relative skeletal muscle index, and resting heart rate. Observations that REE is predictive of systolic BP across 4.5 years support previous findings that REE may potentially mediate resting BP, independent of anthropometric variables and a marker for sympathetic tone.     

Utility of divergent domains of 28S ribosomal RNA in species discrimination of paramphistomes (Trematoda: Digenea: Paramphistomoidea)

Among the digenetic trematodes, paramphistomes are known to be the causative agent of “amphistomiasis” or the stomach fluke disease of domestic and wild animals, mainly ruminants. The use of 28S (divergent domains) and 18S rRNA for phylogenetic inference is significantly warranted for these flukes since it is as yet limited to merely the exploration of the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) region. The present study intended to explore the divergent domains (D1–D3) of 28S rRNA and simultaneously equate the phylogenetic information with 18S rRNA in paramphistomes. Divergence of the 28S rRNA domains was evident amongst the divergent (D) domains, where D1 domain emerged as the most variable and D2, the most robust domain, since the latter could provide a higher resolution of the species. D2 was the only domain that comprised compensatory mutations in the helices of its structural constraints; this domain is thus well suited for species distinction and may be considered a potential DNA barcode complementary to mitochondrial DNA. 28S (D1?+?D2?+?D3) rRNA provided a significant resolution of the taxa corroborating with the taxonomy of these flukes and thus proved to be more robust as a phylogenetic marker for lower levels than 18S rRNA. Phylogenetic inferences of paramphitomes are still scarcely explored; additional data from other taxa belonging to this family may estimate better the biodiversity of these flukes.     

An evaluation of microleakage of various glass ionomer based restorative materials in deciduous and permanent teeth: An in vitro study

AimTo evaluate the microleakage of recently available glass ionomer based restorative materials (GC Fuji IX GP, GC Fuji VII, and Dyract) and compare their microleakage with the previously existing glass ionomer restorative materials (GC Fuji II LC) in primary and permanent teeth.MethodOne hundred and fifty (75 + 75) non-carious deciduous and permanent teeth were restored with glass ionomer based restorative materials after making class I cavities. Samples were subjected to thermocycling after storing in distilled water for 24 h. Two coats of nail polish were applied 1 mm short of restorative margins and samples sectioned buccolingually after storing in methylene blue dye for 24 h. Microleakage was assessed using stereomicroscope.ResultSignificant differences (P < 0.05) were found when inter group comparisons were done. Except when GC Fuji VII (Group III) was compared with GC Fuji II LC (Group II) and Dyract (Group IV), non-significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed. It was found that there was no statistically significant difference when the means of microleakage of primary teeth were compared with those of permanent teeth.ConclusionsGC Fuji IX GP showed maximum microleakage and GC Fuji VII showed least microleakage.     

APOE and LRPAP1 gene polymorphism and risk of Parkinson’s disease

Epidemiologic findings suggest that lipids and alteration in lipid metabolizing protein/gene may contribute to the development of neurodegenerative disorders. The aim of the current study was to determine the serum lipid levels and genetic variation in two lipid metabolizing genes, low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-associated protein (LRPAP1) and apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Based on well-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, this study included 70 patients with PD and 100 age-matched controls. LRPAP1 and APOE gene polymorphism were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism, respectively. Fasting serum lipid levels were determined using an autoanalyser. The logistic regression analysis showed that high levels of serum cholesterol [odds ratio (OR) = 1.101, 95 % confidence interval (CI_95%) = 1.067–1.135], LRPAP1 I allelic variant alone (OR = 2.766, CI_95% = 1.137–6.752) and in combination with APOE ε4 allelic variant (OR = 4.187, CI_95% = 1.621–10.82) were significantly associated with increase in PD risk. Apart from that, the high levels of LDL cholesterol appears to have a protective role (OR = 0.931, CI_95% = 0.897–0.966) against PD. The LRPAP1 I allelic variant may be considered a candidate gene for PD, predominantly in patients having the APOE ε4 allelic variant.