Duodenojejunal obstruction by a hemangioma

Gastrointestinal obstruction by hemangiomas is exceedingly rare. We report a case of a duodenojejunal obstruction caused by a large hemangioma. The patient underwent a gastrojejunostomy for relief of the obstruction and has been symptom-free, although the hemangioma persists.     

Sexual dimorphism of incisors: a study of the Jat Sikhs

Upper and lower incisors of 400 Jat Sihks (200 of each sex) have been measured for their length and breadth to assess any possible sexual dimorphism. However, the difference between the two sexes has been observed to be insignificant.     

Possible mechanism of hepatoprotective activity of Azadirachta indica leaf extract: part II

Hepatoprotective activity of Azadirachta indica leaf extract against paracetamol induced hepatic damage in rats has already been reported. In the present investigation effects of Azadirachta indica leaf extract on blood and liver glutathione, Na+K(+)-ATPase activity and thiobarbutiric acid reactive substances against paracetamol induced hepatic damage in rats have been studied with a view to elucidate possible mechanism behind its hepatoprotective action. It was interesting to observe that Azadirachta indica leaf extract has reversal effects on the levels of above mentioned parameters in paracetamol hepatotoxicity. Possible mechanism behind the results are discussed.     

A study on the status of Japanese encephalitis infection in Arunachal Pradesh

Suspected cases of Japanese Encephalitis (J.E.) were recorded in the hospitals of Arunachal Pradesh from 1986 to 1995. 162 cases were diagnosed as J.E. with predominance in male sex and lower age group. Maximum cases were recorded between June to October. 11.3% pig sera showed J.E. antibodies when tested by ELISA test.     

Protective effect of HSV-mediated gene transfer of nerve growth factor in pyridoxine neuropathy demonstrates functional activity of trkA receptors in large sensory neurons of adult animals

The distinct distribution of trkA receptors on small neurons and trkC receptors on large neurons in the dorsal root ganglion correlates with the dependence of these two classes of neurons on nerve growth factor and neurotrophin-3, respectively, for survival during development. In adult animals, the distribution of high affinity neurotrophin (trk) is complex and overlapping; neurotrophins are not required for cell survival, but may influence cell phenotype and the response to injury. In order to test the functional activity of trkA receptors in the sensory ganglia of adult animals in vivo, we examined the ability of a nerve growth factor-expressing recombinant replication-defective herpes simplex virus-based vector to prevent the selective degeneration of large sensory fibres caused by intoxication with pyridoxine. Transduction of dorsal root ganglion neurons in vivo by subcutaneous inoculation of the nerve growth factor-expressing vector prevented the development of pyridoxine-induced neuropathy measured by electrophysiological, morphological and behavioural measures. These results demonstrate a functional activity of trkA receptors expressed on large neurons in the dorsal root ganglion in mature animals; this observation has important implications for the choice of neurotrophic factors for treatment of peripheral nerve disease.     

Direct detection of diarrheagenic Aeromonas from faeces by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting aerolysin toxin gene

Detection of diarrheagenic Aeromonas specific aerolysin toxin (Aer) gene by PCR based assay and isolation, identification of diarrhea causing Aeromonas from faeces by culture methods were carried out in the Division of Active Surveillance, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED), Kolkata, India for a period of 12 months. Out of 602 faecal samples collected from patients with acute diarrhea admitted in Infectious Diseases (ID) Hospital, Kolkata, 68 (11.29%) samples were found to be possessing Aer gene by PCR technique. The conventional culture methods using selective media yielded only 64 (10.6%) Aeromonas strains from the same faecal samples. The different Aeromonas species possessing Aer gene identified by PCR based technique include A. hydrophila (55.8%), A. caviae (17.6%), A. veronii (10.2%), A. schubertii (4.4%), A. jandaei (2.9%) and A. trota (8.8%). The isolation and identification of Aeromonas by routine culture did not detect enterotoxigenic A. trota present in four diarrheal faecal samples. The failure of the growth of enterotoxigenic A. trota on selective media may be attributed to the ampicillin susceptibility of those strains. The quality control studies revealed that PCR method for the direct detection of Aer gene from the faeces has the sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 98%.     

An outbreak of food poisoning in a military establishment

Background: An outbreak of food poisoning in a military establishment mess was investigated and remedial measures suggested.     

Synovial sarcoma of parapharyngeal and retropharyngeal space: A case report

Synovial sarcoma is a rare tumour of head and neck. It was first described by Pack and Ariel in 1950. Synovial sarcoma is said to be the commonest sarcoma of hands and feet and they are usually found adjacent to the articular surfaces. They rarely occur in extra-articular sites originating from bursa or tendon sheaths. Parapharyngeal space appears to be the site of predilection in most of the cases occurring in the head and neck region. One such case is being reported here along with its management and review of literature.     

Telomerase activity in Indian patients with carcinomas of the aerodigestive tract.

The activation of telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein maintaining telomeric length, might represent an additional required event in the multigenetic process of tumorigenesis in human cancer. To investigate whether telomerase activity is a prerequisite or a useful indicator of malignant potential, we assayed the enzyme in squamous cell carcinomas and tried to observe any correlation with clinical staging and histopathological grading. We have studied telomerase activity in 23 samples of squamous cell carcinomas of the aerodigestive tract and in 22 corresponding samples of adjoining tissues using the telomerase repeat amplification assay. Telomerase activity was detected in 100% of the tumor samples studied. The telomerase activity increased with tumor grading, but was not statistically significant. Low levels of enzyme activity were also detected in 60.86% of the adjoining normal tissue samples. Reactivation of telomerase may play an important role in the carcinogenesis of aerodigestive tract tumors. Detection of enzyme activity in the adjoining normal tissue is suggestive of microinvasion of tumor cells and/or early activation of telomerase in the progression towards cancer, before possible pathological identification.