Spectrum of acute viral hepatitis and its clinical outcome--a study from Ludhiana, Punjab

This study was carried out to find the etiological spectrum and clinical profile of acute viral hepatitis in Ludhiana. Hepatitis E was encountered most frequently (44.56%) followed by hepatitis B (29.7%), whereas hepatitis D occurred least frequently (0.99%). The age group most commonly affected was 20-30 years(32,67%) followed by 30-40 years (23.76%). Males showed higher incidence as compared to females in the ratio of 62.4:37.6. The most frequent clinical features were anorexia and jaundice. The disease was found to be more common in urban set up(78.2%) than in rural regions (21.8%). Mortality was mainly because of fulminant hepatitic failure. In 1.98% of cases, etiology remained undecided. Total bilirubin and prothrombin time were found to be useful prognostic indicators.     

Dok protein family members are involved in signaling mediated by the type 1 Fcepsilon receptor

Aggregation of type 1 Fcepsilon receptors (FcepsilonRI) on mast cells activates a biochemical cascade that culminates in secretion of inflammatory mediators, as well as in changes of cell morphology and adhesion properties. Some of the intracellular components involved in the early coupling events are still unidentified. Here we show that two adaptor proteins, downstream of tyrosine kinases (Dok)-1 and Dok-2, are involved in the FcepsilonRI coupling cascade in the rat mucosal-type mast cells of the RBL-2H3 line. Dok-1 is found to be constitutively associated with the FcepsilonRI, even in untreated cells, and this interaction is not affected by this receptor's aggregation. Both Dok forms undergo a fast and relatively long-term tyrosyl-phosphorylation. This modification of Dok-1 increases its association with RasGAP, suggesting that it is modulating Ras activity. Indeed, we further found that FcepsilonRI-mediated Ras/Raf1/Erk signaling as well as the de novo synthesis of TNF-alpha are markedly reduced in cells overexpressing Dok-1. Moreover, FcepsilonRI clustering causes both Dok-1 and Dok-2 to become docking sites for other signaling molecules including Nck, CrkL and Cas. The latter proteins have been implicated particularly in regulation of the actin-cytoskeletal reorganization. Hence Dok-1/Dok-2 may also be involved in the FcepsilonRI-stimulated processes of cytoskeleton rearrangement required for cell adhesion, membrane ruffling and exocytosis.     

Eosinophilic granuloma with oral manifestations: a case report

Eosinophilic granuloma is the most benign disorder of the triad commonly known as histocytosis X. In this article a case of a 6 year old female child with multiple eosinophilic granuloma with additional liver dysfunction and its oral manifestation is presented. This case demonstrated that oral findings, may be an early manifestation of the disease, definitive diagnosis needs to be determined by correlation of the clinical findings with histologic features. For the duration of 8 years the case has been followed up, there has been a progressive healing of the lesion, the clinical manifestations of the disease resolved with only chemotherapy and provided a very good prognosis.     

Riluzole attenuates spinal muscular atrophy disease progression in a mouse model

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a motor neuron disease caused by mutations of the survival motor neuron 1 gene (SMN1). No curative treatment is available. Mutant mice carrying homozygous deletion of Smn exon 7 directed to neurons display a degenerative process of motor neurons similar to that found in human SMA. To test whether riluzole, which exhibits neurotrophic properties, might have a protective role in SMA, mutant mice were treated with it after the onset of the degenerative process. Riluzole improved median survival and exerted a protective effect against aberrant cytoskeletal organization of motor synaptic terminals but not against loss of proximal axons. These results demonstrate that the disease course of SMA can be attenuated after the onset of neuromuscular defects and may warrant further investigation in a therapeutic trial in SMA.     

CD1a expression in psoriatic skin following treatment with propylthiouracil,an antithyroid thioureylene

Background  

The antithyroid thioureylenes, propylthiouracil (PTU) and methimazole (MMI), are effective in the treatment of patients with plaque psoriasis. The mechanism of action of the drugs in psoriasis is unknown. Since the drugs reduce circulating IL-12 levels in patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism, the effect of propylthiouracil on CD1a expression in psoriatic lesions was examined in biopsy samples of patients with plaque psoriasis. CD1a is a marker of differentiated skin antigen presenting cells (APC, Langerhans cells). Langerhans cells and skin monocyte/macrophages are the source of IL-12, a key cytokine involved in the events that lead to formation of the psoriatic plaque.