Magnesium level of serum and cerebrospinal fluid in cases of protein calorie malnutrition

Summary One hundred cases of PCM comprising 44 cases of marasmus, 26 cases of oedematous malnutrition and 30 cases of kwashiorkor were taken up for this study along with fifty normal children as controls. There was a definite fall of serum protein, albumin, A/G ratio along with serum and C.S.F. magnesium in cases of PCM, specially in oedematous malnutrition and kwashiorkor compared with the control group. Hypomagnesemia had a direct relation with serum protein and albumin level. Magnesium therapy along with nutritional therapy resulted in early improvement of clinical features and rise in biochemical values compared with the group not given in magnesium therapy. From the Department of Paediatrics, V.S.S. Medical College, Burla, Sambalpur, Orissa.     

TRACHEOSTOMY COMPLICATIONS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT

The word tracheostomy derived from two greek words meaning ‘I cut the trachea’ has been known for about 3500 yrs. The process has evolved over the years and has undergone revolutionary changes in the methodology, instrumentation and indications. Although tracheostomy is now commonly used the complication rate remains high. In our series it was 48% which is comparable with other series. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the complications of tracheostomy with special attention to their management and prevention.KEY WORDS: Complications, Tracheostomy     

Management of nucleus and IOL drop

Background: Thirty six cases of lenticular nucleus drop following phacoemulsification and 43 cases of posterior dislocation of intraocular lens (IOL) inclusive of two paediatric cases were managed by a modified vitrectomy procedure without using perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL).     

Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome in a middle aged patient

A case of Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome is reported in a 50 year old woman presenting with repeated ventricular tachycardia terminating fatally. The case is interesting in view of the fact that this syndrome has not previously been reported in a middle-aged patient.     

Functioning oncocytic adenoma of the pituitary

A case of a functioning invasive pituitary oncocytoma in a 50-year-old man is reported. The serum prolactin was increased and immunocytochemical staining was positive for prolactin. In addition to numerous mitochondria within the neoplastic cells, structurally abnormal mitochondria with crystalline inclusions were also present. Another interesting feature was the presence of about 10 to 15% of non-oncocytic cells which showed prominent RER and Golgi apparatus as found in functioning pituitary adenomas. It is likely that these secretorily active cells were responsible for the functional activity of the tumour.     

Human immune recognition-based multicomponent subunit vaccines against tuberculosis.

The cell-mediated immune response, with its shift in favour of type-1 over type-2 T-helper cell immune response, is generally regarded as essential to protection against mycobacterial infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective potential of two multicomponent subunit vaccines (MSV-1 and MSV-2) against tuberculosis (TB) based on human immune recognition. MSV-1 consisted of five immunodominant antigens (TB10.4, early secretory antigenic target (ESAT)-6, culture filtrate protein (CFP)-8, CFP-10 and CFP-15) selected from a group of polypeptides, which induced a predominant T-cell response in immune human subjects, whereas MSV-2 consisted of antigens (CFP-11, CFP-21, CFP-22.5, Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein (MPT)-64 and CFP-31) selected from a group of polypeptides which induced a subdominant T-cell response along with the antibody response. Both of these sets of polypeptides were extensively recognised in healthy individuals with significant interferon gamma release compared to the diseased population. In C57BL/6J mice, at the level of the lungs, the order of protective efficacy for the test vaccines was: bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG)>MSV-2>MSV-1. The protective efficacy of MSV-1 was found to be significantly less than that of MSV-2 and BCG at the level of spleen, whereas that of MSV-2 was comparable to that of BCG. The results of this study indicate that high T-helper cell type 1 response-inducing polypeptides selected on the basis of human immune recognition do not necessarily impart protection during vaccination experiments.     

Pulmonary function changes in patients with psoriasis on methotrexate therapy.

Methotrexate is known to induce pulmonary fibrosis. The present study was undertaken to assess pulmonary toxicity, if any, in psoriasis patients on methotrexate therapy and correlate the dose and duration of the treatment with any changes in pulmonary function. Ten patients who had taken methotrexate for one year and ten patients receiving methotrexate were included in the present study. Detailed lung function studies including arterial blood gas analysis were carried out. In both groups, the only pulmonary function abnormalities detected were FEF200-1200, FEF25-75%, residual volume (RV), and RV/TLC%, which showed a decline after six months of treatment. However, this was not significant. No changes were detected in the arterial blood gas values following methotrexate therapy. Therefore, the present study did not find any significant deterioration of lung functions in psoriasis patients on methotrexate therapy.