Serum enzymes in head and neck cancer. II. Aliesterase

Serum aliesterase levels have been estimated in 38 patients with head and neck cancer. The mean value was significantly lower than in controls. The decrease in activity was greater in patients with ulcerative growths and it progressed with advancement in the stage of cancer. With radiotherapy, a progressive and significant increase in serum aliesterase activity was observed. In patients with non-malignant growths the activity was comparable with that in controls.     

Magnesium levels in serum and in C.S.F. in febrile convulsions in infants and children

Summary Magnesium levels in the serum and in the C.S.F. in 100 children presenting with febrile convulsions were determined. This was repeated in 36 children after 2 weeks, of which 23 could be re-examined after a further period of 2 weeks. Nearly one-half of the cases on admission had magnesium levels in the serum lower than the average observed in normal children in this region and in over two-thirds of the cases the levels in the C.S.F. were lower than the average in the same region. The C.S.F. magnesium levels rose after 2–4 weeks. This was not found in the case of serum levels. These findings bear out the suggestion made in a pervious communication that there is some aetiological relationship between the magnesium levels in these two body fluids on the one hand and febrile convulsions on the other. From the Department of Pediatrics, M.G.M. Medical College and M.Y. Hospital, Indore. (M.P.)     

Balloon dilatation of pulmonary valve in Tetralogy of Fallot's

In some children of Tetralogy of Fallot's (TOF) presenting with progressive cyanosis, are palliative Blalock-Taussing (BT) shunt may be required. There are no reports of this modality of management in India, though this has been practiced in the other countries. The author reports an infant with Tetralogy of Fallot's who successfully underwent ballon dilatation of the pulmonary valve. Review of literature shows 332 patients with TOF undergoing pulmonary valve balloon dilatation as an alternative to BT shunt in 12 studies with significant increase in pulmonary artery 'Z' score and low incidence of conversion to shunt. This modality of management should be considered in selected patients to change a palliative surgery to an intervention.