A Cross-Sectional Study on Novel-Risk Factors Associated with Supraspinatus Tendon Tear

Background and AimSeveral patient-related factors have been identified which are responsible for the development of rotator cuff tears. The purpose of the study was to assess various parameters which can be risk factors for the development of supraspinatus tendon tear.MethodsA total of 100 patients with symptomatic rotator cuff tear, aged > 18 years, of either gender, presenting to the outpatient department were included in this cross-sectional study. Magnetic resonance imaging was done and based on its results; patients were identified for the type of tear. Demographic, clinical, and biochemical factors affecting the tears were assessed using logistic regression analysis.ResultsFactors such as age, gender, pain radiation, night pain, and analgesic intake had significant association with supraspinatus tendon tears.Conclusion“Pain radiation” and “Analgesic intake” were two new parameters found associated with the supraspinatus tendon tears. New parameters that have been assessed as risk factors will help in better understanding of supraspinatus tendon tears.     

TrkC Is Essential for Nephron Function and Trans-Activates Igf1R Signaling

BackgroundInjury to kidney podocytes often results in chronic glomerular disease and consecutive nephron malfunction. For most glomerular diseases, targeted therapies are lacking. Thus, it is important to identify novel signaling pathways contributing to glomerular disease. Neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor 3 (TrkC) is expressed in podocytes and the protein transmits signals to the podocyte actin cytoskeleton.MethodsNephron-specific TrkC knockout (TrkC-KO) and nephron-specific TrkC-overexpressing (TrkC-OE) mice were generated to dissect the role of TrkC in nephron development and maintenance.ResultsBoth TrkC-KO and TrkC-OE mice exhibited enlarged glomeruli, mesangial proliferation, basement membrane thickening, albuminuria, podocyte loss, and aspects of FSGS during aging. Igf1 receptor (Igf1R)–associated gene expression was dysregulated in TrkC-KO mouse glomeruli. Phosphoproteins associated with insulin, erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase (Erbb), and Toll-like receptor signaling were enriched in lysates of podocytes treated with the TrkC ligand neurotrophin-3 (Nt-3). Activation of TrkC by Nt-3 resulted in phosphorylation of the Igf1R on activating tyrosine residues in podocytes. Igf1R phosphorylation was increased in TrkC-OE mouse kidneys while it was decreased in TrkC-KO kidneys. Furthermore, TrkC expression was elevated in glomerular tissue of patients with diabetic kidney disease compared with control glomerular tissue.ConclusionsOur results show that TrkC is essential for maintaining glomerular integrity. Furthermore, TrkC modulates Igf-related signaling in podocytes.     

Efficient propagation of single gene deleted recombinant Sendai virus vectors

Recombinant Sendai virus vectors (SeVV) have become an attractive tool for basic virological as well as for gene transfer studies. However, to (i) reduce the cellular injury induced by basic recombinant SeV vectors (encoding all six SeV genes as being present in SeV wild-type (wt) genomes) and to (ii) improve SeV vector safety, deletions of viral genes are necessary for the construction of superior SeVV generations. As a strong expression system recombinant replication-incompetent adenoviruses, coding for SeV proteins hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN), fusion (F), or matrix (M), were generated and successfully employed for the propagation of single gene deleted (DeltaHN, DeltaF, DeltaM) recombinant SeVV. Further investigations of the propagation procedures required for single gene deleted recombinant SeVV demonstrated (i) modifications of the cell culture medium composition as well as (ii) incubation with vitamin E as crucial steps for the enhancement of SeVV-DeltaHN, -DeltaF, or -DeltaM viral particle yield. Such optimized propagation procedures even led to a successful propagation of HN-deleted viral particles (SeVV-DeltaHN), which has not been reported before.     

Intraocular pressure profile during general anesthesia

The effect of some anesthetic drugs on intraocular pressure (IOP) was studied in 120 normal healthy patients undergoing non-ophthalmic surgical procedures. IOP rose significantly following the injection of succinylcholine (SCh) alone, or when such injection had been preceded by a pretreatment with a "self-taming" dose of SCh or d-tubocurarine (d-Tc). Though the rise in IOP after diazepam pretreatment was significant, the magnitude was lower than that observed in the groups pretreated with the other two agents. Halothane brought the IOP down faster and lower than ether. SCh is unsafe for intubation for the administration of general anesthesia in cases involving penetrating ocular injuries. It can, however, be used safely for routine ophthalmic surgery, providing that 8 minutes are allowed to elapse between injection and corneal or scleral incision. Halothane is preferred to ether, since the former lowers IOP faster and in a greater amount than the latter.     

Nutritional correlates of acute respiratory infections

During October 1992 to June 1993 in eight villages covered by the Primary Health Center Machhra in Meerut District, India, interviews with mothers and examinations of 1600 children aged less than 5 years (under-fives) were conducted to examine the relationship between acute respiratory infection (ARI) and malnutrition. 42.25% of all children had an ARI within the last 15 days. Most ARIs (73.4%) were considered mild (cough and cold with no pneumonia). Pneumonia accounted for 19.5% of all ARI cases, which were considered moderate. The remaining ARI cases were severe (severe and very severe pneumonia). 57.5% of all children suffered from protein energy malnutrition (PEM). 78.6% of children aged 12-14 months had PEM. ARI was more common among malnourished children than well-nourished children (52.2% vs. 28.8%; p 0.001). The incidence of ARI increased as the nutritional status deteriorated (p 0.05). It also increased as the midarm circumference decreased (p 0.001). These findings confirm the synergistic action between malnutrition and infection, in this case ARI. Malnourished children suffer considerable impairment in immunity, especially cellular immunity, which makes them more prone to ARI. These findings reinforce the need to strengthen the quality, quantity, and accessibility of nutritional services, particularly promotion of breast feeding and vitamin A supplementation.     

Mixed germ cell tumour of the pineal region: a case report

An intracranial mixed germ cell tumour with germinoma and teratoma components is reported. The patient presented with parinaud's syndrome and precocious puberty. The treatment involved partial surgical debulking followed by whole brain radiotherapy (4500 cGY in 25 fraction over 5 weeks) and chemotherapy (consisting of cisplatin and etoposide). Post treatment MRI showed no residual lesion. The controversies in the management are discussed.     

Relative bioavailabilities of natural and synthetic vitamin E formulations containing mixed tocopherols in human subjects

There are several reports in the literature on the relative bioavailabilities of RRR (natural) vs. all-rac (synthetic) forms of vitamin E in humans and animal models but none on the bioavailability of alpha-tocopherol in mixed vitamin E formulations. In the present study we examined the bioavailability of alpha-tocopherol in a typical commercially available product containing mixed tocopherols. We also tested a formulation containing all-rac-alpha-tocopherol with mixed tocopherols for purposes of comparison along with straight RRR- and all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate as reference products. Normal male subjects were given one of the four formulations of vitamin E (800 IU per day in softgel capsule form for 10 days): 1. All-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, 2. RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, 3. RRR-alpha-tocopherol with mixed tocopherols, and 4. all-rac-alpha-tocopherol with mixed tocopherols. Both serum alpha- and gamma-tocopherols were determined by HPLC at baseline, and at days 2, 4, 7 and 10. The values for alpha- at baseline and 10 days were 0.80, 0.80, 0.80 & 0.79 mg/dl and 1.67, 1.72, 1.76 & 1.62 mg/dl. The values for gamma- were 0.28, 0.29, 0.30 & 0.29 mg/dl and 0.11, 0.08, 0.10 & 0.10 mg/dl. Thus the data show that a) the bioavailability of RRR- and all-rac-alpha-tocopherols is not affected by other tocopherols, and b) both RRR- and all-rac-alpha-tocopherol (free or esterified) significantly suppress the serum gamma tocopherol to the same extent. Furthermore, since there was no difference in the serum values of alpha-tocopherol between RRR- and all-rac-vitamin E given the same dose as IUs, the data also support the currently accepted ratio of 1.36 for the biopotency of RRR- vs. all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate.     

Lichen planus and lupus erythematosus overlap syndrome

A 45-year-old woman with livid plaques showing central atrophy and erythematous vesicular borders over both dorsa of feet and buttocks, and follicular and papular lesions over buttocks and lumbar area, was difficult to diagnose as either lichen planus (LP) or lupus erythematosus (LE). The histological studies from two places showed features of both LE and LP. Laboratory findings were within normal limits first, but follow up studies for two years showed persistent albuminurea, leucopenia, arthritis and erythema over the exposed areas with same histology suggesting that eruption may be an unusual variant of LE.