Epidural blood patch for treatment of subarachnoid fistula in children

A subarachnoid-cutaneous fistula developed in two children after the placement of a catheter in the subarachnoid space for drainage of cerebrospinal fluid. The management of this iatrogenic complication with epidural blood patch is described.     

Cystine peptides.

NHCH₃ (X = Gly 1 , Ala 2 , Aib 3 , Leu 4 and D-Ala 5 ), have been investigated by Raman and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Solid state Raman spectra are consistent with β-turn conformations in all five peptides. These peptides exhibit similar conformations of the disulfide segment in the solid state with a characteristic disulfide stretching frequency at 519 ± 3 cm^-1, indicative of a trans-gauche-gauche arrangement about the C^α—C^β—S—S—C^β—C^α bonds. The results correlate well with the solid state conformations determined by X-ray diffraction for peptides 3 and 4. CD studies in chloroform and dimethylsulfoxide establish solvent dependent conformational changes for peptides 1, 3 and 5. Disulfide chirality has been derived using the quadrant rule. CD results together with previously reported nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) data suggest a conformational coupling between the peptide backbone and the disulfide segment.     

Aneurysmal Bone Cyst of the Frontal Bone — A Case Report

A rare case of aneurysmal bone cyst of the frontal bone in a 33 years old male is presented with a brief review of the literature.     

A spectroscopic study of the interaction of allylisothiocyanate with mustard 12S protein

The intraction of allylisothiocyanate (AIT) with mustard 12S protein resulted in a change in the absorption spectrum of the protein below 280nm without any shift in the ^γmax. The spectrophotometric titration of mustard 12S protein after interaction with AIT suggested the involvement of phenolic groups. Upon interaction with AIT, a new band at 250nm appeared in the near ultraviolet circular dichroism spectrum of the protein. However, no change occurred in the far ultraviolet circular dichroism spectrum. Circular dichroism measurements with amino acids suggest the possible involvement of tyrosine residues in the interaction of AIT with mustard 12S protein.     

Sonographic Evaluation of Chest Masses in Children

The sonographic appearances of 12 intrathoracic masses in children are presented. Seven out of 12 masses were malignant and presented with opaque hemithorax on chest X-ray. Different types of masses encountered were: Lymphoma, Neuroblastoma, Ewing's sarcoma, metastatic Ewing's sarcoma, Teratocarcinoma, Pseudotumor of the lung, Neuroenteric duplication cyst, Bronchogenic cyst and tubercular mediastinal lymph nodes.     

Diagnosing ascites: Value of ascitic fluid total protein, albumin, cholesterol, their ratios, serum-ascites albumin and cholesterol gradient

Abstract Ascitic fluid total protein, albumin, cholesterol, their ascites/serum ratios, serum-ascites albumin and cholesterol gradients were measured for their ability to differentiate cirrhotic, malignant and tuberculous ascites in 76 patients. The mean ± s.d. ascitic fluid total protein, albumin, cholesterol, their respective ascitic fluid/serum ratios in cirrhotic ascites were lower than malignant and tuberculous groups ( P < 0.001 for each). The difference between malignant and tuberculous groups was significant for ascitic fluid/serum total protein ( P < 0.05) and ascitic fluid/serum albumin ( P < 0.01) only. Mean serum-ascites albumin gradient in cirrhotics was higher than in the malignant and tuberculous groups ( P < 0.001 for each). The difference between malignant and tuberculous groups was significant ( P < 0.01). Mean ± s.d. serum-ascites cholesterol gradient in cirrhotics was higher than that in malignant and tuberculous groups ( P < 0.001 for each). The difference between malignant and tuberculous groups was also significant ( P < 0.01). Both serum/ascitic fluid total protein less than 0.5 and ascitic fluid cholesterol less than 55 mg/dL had 94% diagnostic accuracy for differentiating cirrhotic from malignant and tuberculous ascites. Serum ascitic fluid albumin gradient greater than 1.1 g/dL, ascitic fluid/serum albumin less than 0.65 and ascitic fluid albumin less than 2 g/dL had diagnostic accuracy of 92, 92 and 91%, respectively. Ascitic fluid total protein had diagnostic accuracy of 88%. None of the tests was able to differentiate between malignant and tuberculous ascites. Measurement of ascitic fluid cholesterol concentration is a simple method of differentiating cirrhotic from non-cirrhotic ascites.