Myxopapillary ependymoma of lumbosacral region with metastasis to both cerebellopontine angles: report of a rare case

Introduction Myxopapillary ependymomas are low grade tumours that are known to recur locally even after complete excision, but metastasis to distant sites is extremely uncommon. Case report We report an unusual case of lumbo-sacral myxopapillary ependymoma in a 13-year-old boy with metastasis to both cerebellopontine angles. To the best of our knowledge, this is the youngest patient of metastatic myxopapillary ependymoma.     

Comparison of morning versus afternoon cecal intubation rates

Background  

Many factors impacting cecal intubation rates have been examined in detail; however, little information exists regarding the effect of the timing of the procedure. We sought to examine any difference in cecal intubation rates between morning and afternoon colonoscopies and identify factors contributing to a discrepancy.     

Current trends in infant care: An Indian experience

The infant is the youngest but perhaps the most valuable member of society. It has been unequivocally established through research that the period up to two years is the most potent for forming and establishing the basis of later development. This paper summarizes the findings of two research studies on infant care in India that began in July 1988 and culminated in March 1989 under my guidance. The two studies are linked in their final implications for infant stimulation and in their role in providing insights into changing trends in infant-care in India.

In study I patterns of infant caregiving practiced by fathers were investigated. Study II looked into infant-care practices in Punjabi families where the grandmother lived with the young parents.     

Scleral dellen in strabismus surgery

This communication highlights scleral dellen as an unusual complication of strabismus surgery in a 55-year-old hypertensive male. The clinical significance, differential diagnosis and management of this condition has been discussed.     

Modulation of carcinogenicity in 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-7,12- dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (THDMBA) by fluorine substitution: crystal structures of the 5- and 6-fluoro regioisomers.

1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (THDMBA) is an animal carcinogen which lacks an aromatic bay-region and shows promise as a model to investigate non-classical mechanisms of carcinogenesis. The fluorine-substituted derivatives at positions 5 and 6 on the B-ring exhibit a striking range of oncogenic potential wherein the 6F-THDMBA is twice as potent as the parent carcinogen, but the 5F-THDMBA is virtually inactive. To study structure-reactivity relationships for these fluorine regioisomers, we have determined the three-dimensional structures of the compounds by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. These crystal structures are the first such to be reported for any monofluoro anthracene (or pyrene) derivative. The partially-reduced A-ring exists in both enantiomeric half-chair conformers in the crystalline state, and the compounds have quasi-planar anthracene ring systems which exhibit a right-handed twist in the 'beta'-conformer, with the expected opposite twist in the other. A complete analysis of bond lengths, bond angles and torsion angles is presented. Preliminary electrostatic potentials have been derived from the X-ray data sets, and the results indicate significant differences in potential between 5F- and 6F-THDMBA at positions near the partially reduced bay region. Such results are likely to be of importance in the understanding of metabolic activation to reactive intermediates capable of bonding covalently to DNA.     

Analysis of clozapine response and polymorphisms of the dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) in schizophrenic patients

We have examined the hypothesis that a variable number of tandem repeats in the third cytoplasmic loop of the dopamine D4 receptor influences clinical response to clozapine using a sample of 189 schizophrenic patients. Alleles of the 48-bp repeat, which range from two to ten copies in the normal human population, were analysed by the polymerase chain reaction using genomic DNA as template. Association between these alleles and response to clozapine was tested using the difference in pre-and post-treatment GAS scores as a measure of response. We found no statistically significant variation between genotypic groups and response by analysis of variance. We conclude that the variation of the number of 48-bp repeats alone does not determine response to clozapine. Larger studies are underway to determine if there is a more subtle relationship with sequence variation within the repeats or at other polymorphic sites within the gene that may provide evidence for a component of clozapine's action being at D4 receptors. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Is maintenance antiparkinsonian treatment necessary?

The authors designed a three-phase prospective trial in which only those patients who developed an acute, neuroleptic-induced extrapyramidal side effect (EPSE) received benztropine (BZ) at 2 mg i.m. and then 1 mg p.o. b.i.d. for 2 days after their symptoms were rated for severity and type (Preparatory Phase 1). They were then randomly assigned under double-blind conditions to continue BZ or be switched to placebo for 8 days (Experimental Phase 2). Finally in Phase 3 (Followup), all patients continued on placebo in a single-blind design until Day 30. If the patient re-experienced an acute EPSE that was of sufficient severity to require immediate BZ administration, he or she was rated, treated, and then dropped from the study. EPSE scores and dropout rates did not differ in Phase 2 between the placebo- and BZ-treated groups. Implications for the continuation, cessation, or intermittent use of antiparkinsonian (AP) drugs are discussed.     

Anopheles culicifacies: siblings species composition and its relationship to malaria incidence

Entomological and epidemiological surveys in May, August and November 1985 and March 1986 were conducted in villages in Bulandshahr, a western district in Uttar Pradesh and in three eastern districts, Jaunpur, Ballia and Saran. In Bulandshahr, Anopheles culicifacies sibling species A and B were found, with a predominance of species A. Both Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum were present and the malaria incidence remained high (SPR, 6-50%) indicating an active transmission. In contrast, in three eastern districts predominance of species B with an occasional occurrence of species A was observed. Malaria cases were almost absent in Ballia and Saran and in Jaunpur 10.3% slide positivity rate was observed in May but in later surveys cases were considerably lower (SPR, 0.5-2.9%) indicating the absence of indigenous transmission. In the eastern districts, malaria parasites are regularly brought in from endemic areas by the migrant labor population. Although An. culicifacies s.l. occurs in both the areas, the difference in malaria incidence appears to be due to the difference in the composition of the sibling species which is, the predominant presence of species A in the western district and its absence in eastern districts. This indicates that species A is responsible for active malaria transmission while species B is not.