Diethylhexyl phthalate impairs insulin binding and glucose oxidation in Chang liver cells.

The present study examined the dose-dependent effects of diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) on insulin receptor concentration and glucose oxidation in Chang liver cells. Chang liver cells (5 x 10(5) cells) were exposed to different concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 microM) of DEHP for 24h. At the end of exposure, cells were utilized for assessing insulin receptor concentration and glucose oxidation. Both insulin receptor concentration and glucose oxidation in Chang liver cells were significantly reduced by high doses (200 and 400 microM) of phthalate exposure. The present study is first of its kind to report the direct adverse effects of DEHP on insulin receptor and glucose oxidation in Chang liver cells and suggests that DEHP exposure may have a negative influence on glucose homeostasis.     

A safer alternative approach to penetrating keratoplasty in opaque corneas

Background:This video demonstrates a useful technique of keratoplasty which can be routinely undertaken by all surgeons when imaging modalities such as anterior segment optical coherence tomography are not available and prior patient history is not forthcoming.Purpose:To demonstrate a technique of lamellar separation and layer by layer removal of host cornea when dealing with keratoplasty in perforated corneal ulcers, adherent leucomas, dense corneal opacities, which obscure visualization of the iris and anterior chamber details.Synopsis:In this video, we demonstrate penetrating keratoplasty in a failed opacified graft with iridocorneal adhesions, with no visualization of anterior chamber details. Lamellar dissection of the host cornea is done starting at its periphery and moving centrally, with gentle peeling of the superficial layers, the epithelium and bulk of stroma, following which, the deeper portion of the cornea is dissected and separated from underlying adherent iris tissue. Layer by layer separation allows better visualization through the remaining thin layers of the cornea. This permits fine dissection and layered removal of the cornea, thereby avoiding injury to iris and lens. Debulking of the host cornea decreases the force that is needed to be applied to separate adherent iris tissue from the host cornea, and reduces the chances of sudden entry into the anterior chamber and subsequent damage to the iris or lens. This also reduces the chance of iris tears, iridodialysis and bleeding from the iris and helps maintain iris integrity, which is essential intraoperatively for protection of lens and anterior chamber formation, and to avoid glare and photophobia postoperatively. Preventing iris damage also reduces the chances of formation of peripheral anterior synechiae (PAS), which can predispose to graft rejection, graft failure and secondary glaucoma.Highlights:Layer by layer corneal separation beginning inside the graft host junction, careful separation of iridocorneal adhesions and PAS is a helpful technique to optimally preserve the anterior segment anatomy during difficult cases of penetrating keratoplasty.Online Video Link: https://youtu.be/ZmQQhuOnAh4     

Intermittent nicotine exposure upregulates nAChRs in VTA dopamine neurons and sensitises locomotor responding to the drug

Dopaminergic projections from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) mediate the behavioral and motivational effects of many drugs of abuse, including nicotine. Repeated intermittent administration of these drugs, a pattern often associated with initial drug exposure, sensitises the reactivity of dopamine (DA) neurons in this pathway, enhances the locomotor behaviors the drugs emit, and promotes their pursuit and self‐administration. Here we show that activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the VTA, but not the NAcc, is essential for the induction of locomotor sensitisation by nicotine. Repeated intermittent nicotine exposure (4 × 0.4 mg/kg, base, i.p., administered over 7 days), a regimen leading to long‐lasting locomotor sensitisation, also produced upregulation of nAChRs in the VTA, but not the NAcc, in the hours following the last exposure injection. Functional nAChR upregulation was observed selectively in DA but not GABA neurons in the VTA. These effects were followed by long‐term potentiation of excitatory inputs to these cells and increased nicotine‐evoked DA overflow in the NAcc. Withdrawal symptoms were not observed following this exposure regimen. Thus, intermittent activation and upregulation by nicotine of nAChRs in DA neurons in the VTA may contribute to the development of behavioral sensitisation and increased liability for nicotine addiction.     

Maxillary tumour as first sign of endocrine abnormality: A report of a rare case

Brown tumour is a non-neoplastic giant cell lesion resulting as a complication of hyperparathyroidism (HPT). HPT usually results from increased secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH). We present a rare case of brown tumour of anterior maxilla presenting as a first sign of previously undiagnosed secondary HPT, to emphasise that giant cell lesions of jaw bones should routinely be screened for PTH levels to rule out underlying endocrine abnormalities and oral manifestation is the earliest manifestation of many systemic diseases and careful evaluation of oral cavity by physician gives information to underlying systemic pathology.     

Antioxidant activity of commonly consumed plant foods of India: contribution of their phenolic content

Antioxidants are important in protection against hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Polyphenols are potent antioxidants in plant foods, but their contribution to such protective effects is yet to be established. This study attempted to generate a database on the antioxidant activity (AOA) and phenolic content (PC) of some plant foods commonly consumed in India and to assess the contribution of the PC to their AOA. Plant foods belonging to different food groups such as cereals, legumes, oil seeds, oils, green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, spices, roots and tubers were analysed for AOA and PC. AOA was the highest in black pepper (0.43 mg food required for 50% inhibition of the coupled auto-oxidation of β-carotene and linoleic acid in a mixture in vitro) and it had the highest PC (191 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g food). The AOA (18.4 mg) as well as the PC (not detectable) were the lowest in sunflower oil. PC in oil seeds was higher than that in the oil, which could be due to the hydrophilic nature of phenolics and suggests the need for greater use of oil seeds than oils. A significant correlation was observed between the AOA and PC of the plant foods studied in general (r=?0.465), but the coefficient of correlation and determination were high only in spices (r=?0.86 and r²=74%, respectively) and dehusked legumes (r=?0.65 and r²=42.2%, respectively). The results suggest that phenolics may contribute significantly to the AOA of some plant foods, such as spices and dehusked legumes.