Large Neurofibroma of Trunk

Neurofibroma is a benign tumor of cutaneous nerves. These are benign tumors which may have a varied presentations ranging from a cosmetic problem to a spinal tumor which may lead to neural complications. We here by present a case where the patient has become an appendage of the tumor and its the mass of the tumor that has handicapped the patient.     

Injectable,rapid gelling and highly flexible hydrogel composites as growth factor and cell carriers

A family of injectable, rapid gelling and highly flexible hydrogel composites capable of releasing insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) and delivering mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) were developed. Hydrogel composites were fabricated from Type I collagen, chondroitin sulfate (CS) and a thermosensitive and degradable hydrogel copolymer based on N-isopropylacrylamide, acrylic acid, N-acryloxysuccinimide and a macromer poly(trimethylene carbonate)-hydroxyethyl methacrylate. The hydrogel copolymer was gellable at body temperature before degradation and soluble at body temperature after degradation. Hydrogel composites exhibited LCSTs around room temperature. They could easily be injected through a 26-gauge needle at 4 °C, and were capable of gelling within 6 s at 37 °C to form highly flexible gels with moduli matching those of the rat and human myocardium. The hydrogel composites showed good oxygen permeability; the oxygen pressure within the hydrogel composites was similar to that in the air. The effects of collagen and CS contents on LCST, gelation time, injectability, mechanical properties and degradation properties were investigated. IGF-1 was loaded into the hydrogel composites for enhanced cell survival/growth. The released IGF-1 remained bioactive during a 2-week release period. Small fraction of CS in the hydrogel composites significantly decreased IGF-1 release rate. The release kinetics appeared to be controlled mainly by hydrogel composite water content, degradation and interaction with IGF-1. Human MSC adhesion on the hydrogel composites was comparable to that on the tissue culture plate. MSCs were encapsulated in the hydrogel composites and were found to grow inside during a 7-day culture period. IGF-1 loading significantly accelerated MSC growth. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that MSCs maintained their multipotent differentiation potential in hydrogel composites with and without IGF-1. These injectable and rapid gelling hydrogel composites demonstrated attractive properties for serving as growth factor and cell carriers for cardiovascular tissue engineering applications.     

Black tea prevents high fat diet-induced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

The chemoprotective actions of aqueous black tea extract (BTE) against high-fat diet (HFD) (60%)-induced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) were examined in Wistar rats of both sexes. The results indicated that the HFD rats had higher concentrations of serum glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein and bilirubin than the corresponding control rats. The enzymes serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, which are indicators of liver function, also exhibited higher levels of activity in HFD rats. BTE extract supplementation was found to correct such steatohepatitis-linked biochemical changes. HFD-induced steatohepatitis was associated with substantial pro-oxidant conditions in rat liver, as evidenced by the higher content of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide production and glutathione depletion, with a concomitant decrease in liver antioxidant status caused by reducing superoxide dismutase and catalase activity. In addition, rats with steatohepatitis showed a significantly higher expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, caspase-3 activity and DNA fragmentation. BTE reversed the changes in the pro-oxidant and antioxidant status of the liver, and protected against apoptotic, cytogenetic and hepatocellular damage. In summary, these data suggest that nutritional support with antioxidants may be useful in preventing oxidative damage and the progression of NASH.     

Using spatial multiple regression to identify intrinsic connectivity networks involved in working memory performance

Many researchers have noted that the functional architecture of the human brain is relatively invariant during task performance and the resting state. Indeed, intrinsic connectivity networks (ICNs) revealed by resting-state functional connectivity analyses are spatially similar to regions activated during cognitive tasks. This suggests that patterns of task-related activation in individual subjects may result from the engagement of one or more of these ICNs; however, this has not been tested. We used a novel analysis, spatial multiple regression, to test whether the patterns of activation during an N-back working memory task could be well described by a linear combination of ICNs delineated using Independent Components Analysis at rest. We found that across subjects, the cingulo-opercular Set Maintenance ICN, as well as right and left Frontoparietal Control ICNs, were reliably activated during working memory, while Default Mode and Visual ICNs were reliably deactivated. Further, involvement of Set Maintenance, Frontoparietal Control, and Dorsal Attention ICNs was sensitive to varying working memory load. Finally, the degree of left Frontoparietal Control network activation predicted response speed, while activation in both left Frontoparietal Control and Dorsal Attention networks predicted task accuracy. These results suggest that a close relationship between resting-state networks and task-evoked activation is functionally relevant for behavior, and that spatial multiple regression analysis is a suitable method for revealing that relationship.     

Error rates in reporting prostatic core biopsies

Oxley J D & Sen C
(2011) Histopathology Error rates in reporting prostatic core biopsies 58 , 759–765 Aims: To evaluate the false‐negative and false‐positive error rates both in a screening and a non‐screening population. Methods and results: A total of 4192 prostatic biopsies were reported in a 6‐year period by 15 consultant histopathologists, two of whom had an interest in uropathology and were deemed to be specialists (J.O. and C.S.). All biopsies were reviewed prior to the multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting. The overall false‐negative rate was 1.7% (screening 2.1%, non‐screening 1.5%). The overall false‐positive rate was 0.5% (screening 0.9%, non‐screening 0.4%). These error rates varied among pathologists, with the false‐negative rate ranging from 0% to 9.3%, and the false‐positive rate ranging from 0% to 3.8%. Conclusion: The false‐negative rate was three times greater than the false‐positive rate, showing that detection of significant pathology is far greater in the negative biopsies. More errors occurred in the screening population than in the non‐screening population. The consultants making the most errors were non‐specialists, but the specialists also made false‐negative errors, suggesting that just using specialist reporting alone would not have eradicated errors.     

Rho guanosine 5'-triphosphatases differentially regulate insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) receptor-dependent and -independent actions of IGF-II on human trophoblast migration

Both IGF-I and IGF-II stimulate migration of human extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cells. Although IGF-I is known to signal through IGF type 1 receptor (IGF1R), IGF-II signals through IGF1R as well as in an IGF1R-independent manner. The purpose of this study was to investigate the roles of Rho GTPases in IGF1R-independent and -dependent actions of IGF-II on EVT cell migration. To distinguish IGF1R-dependent and -independent actions, we used picropodophyllin, a selective inhibitor of IGF1R tyrosine kinase, and IGF analogs with differential affinities for IGF1R, IGF-II/cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor, and IGF-binding proteins. IGF1R-dependent actions of IGF-II were confirmed by showing the effects of IGF1R-selective agonist Des1-3 IGF-I. We used pharmacological inhibitors or selective small interfering RNAs to investigate the roles of RhoA, RhoC, Rac1, Cdc42, and Rho effector kinases called ROCK-I and -II in IGF-induced EVT cell migration. Although basal migration of EVT cells required each member of the Rho GTPase family studied, IGF1R-dependent and -independent EVT cell migration exhibited differential requirements for these enzymes. IGF1R-mediated EVT cell migration was found to depend on RhoA and RhoC but not on Rac1 or Cdc42. However, IGF1R-independent effect of IGF-II on EVT cell migration required ROCKs but not RhoA, RhoC, Rac1, or Cdc42. Most importantly, IGF1R-independent action of IGF-II was found to be exaggerated when RhoA or RhoC was down-regulated. Thus, different members of the Rho GTPase family regulate IGF-II-mediated EVT cell migration differentially, depending upon whether it signals through IGF1R or in an IGF1R-independent manner.     

Perceptions about psychosis and psychiatric services: a qualitative study from Vellore, India

Each culture influences the perceptions of illness and pathways to health care that its members follow. Non-biomedical beliefs about psychosis and treatment are reported from the developing world. This study explored people’s perceptions on psychosis to understand local perceptions of the condition. Focus group discussions were conducted with people who have relatives with psychosis (in five focus groups), with members of the general public (in four focus groups), and with patients who had recovered from psychosis (one group) in Vellore, South India. These discussions were recorded, transcribed and analyzed. Participants recognized psychosis as an illness category, and viewed indigenous healing methods as complementary to allopathic treatments. Multiple and apparently contradictory beliefs on different aspects of psychosis were often simultaneously held by participants. People in the community were more likely to express negative views about mental illness. Relatives of patients with psychosis wanted more support from mental health professionals and community in combating stigma against mental illness. Results of this study reveal the complex nature of illness perspectives among patients with psychosis, their relatives and community. Bio-medical and indigenous beliefs are simultaneously held by a significant number of people who often seek help from both modern and traditional health systems at the same time. The results indicate the need for better understanding of local perceptions of psychosis.