Influence of Casearia esculenta root extract on glycoprotein components in streptozotocin diabetic rats

The present study was aimed to evaluate the role of the indigenous antidiabetic medicinal plant Casearia esculenta on glycoprotein components in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats in plasma, liver, kidney and cardiac tissues. Streptozotocin injection (50 mg/kg body weight) caused massive elevation of glycoprotein components such as hexose, hexosamine, sialic acid and fucose in plasma and tissues of diabetic control and experimental animals. Oral administration of C. esculenta root extract (200 and 300 mg/kg body weight) for 45 days significantly reverted the hexose, hexosamine, sialic acid and fucose levels to near normal values. These results suggest a normalizing effect of C. esculenta on glycoprotein components in STZ diabetic rats.     

Unintentional injuries in the home in the United States Part I: mortality

BACKGROUND: Unintentional injuries are a leading cause of death in the United States. It is unclear, however, what proportion of these injuries occur in the home. The purpose of this paper is to quantify and describe fatal unintentional injuries that take place in the home environment. METHODS: Data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) were used to calculate average annual rates for unintentional home injury deaths, with 95% confidence intervals from 1992 to 1999 for the United States overall, and by mechanism of injury, gender, and age group. RESULTS: From 1992 to 1999, an average of 18,048 unintentional home injury deaths occurred annually in the United States (6.83 deaths per 100,000). Home injury deaths varied by age and gender, with males having higher rates of home injury death than females (8.78 vs 4.97 per 100,000), and older adults (>/=70 years) having higher rates than all other age groups. Falls (2.25 per 100,000), poisoning (1.83 per 100,000), and fire/burn injuries (1.29 per 100,000) were the leading causes of home injury death. Rates of fall death were highest for older adults, poisoning deaths were highest among middle-aged adults, and fire/burn death rates were highest among children. Inhalation/suffocation and drowning deaths were important injury issues for young children. CONCLUSIONS: Unintentional injury in the home is a significant problem. Specific home injury issues include falls among older adults, poisonings among middle-aged adults, fire/burn injuries among older adults and children, and inhalation/suffocation and drowning among young children. In addition, recommendations are presented for improvements to the NVSS.     

Nature and correlates of SF-12 physical and mental quality of life components among low-income HIV adults using an HIV service center

Objectives: This study describes health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among low-income HIV adults using an HIV service center, compares participants scores to US published norms for the general population and persons with chronic conditions, and examines relationships between patient characteristics, nonadherence, and HRQOL. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of individuals on antiretroviral therapy was conducted. The Medical Outcomes Study SF-12 was used to assess HRQOL. Medication nonadherence was assessed using the 9-item Morisky Adherence Scale. Data also were collected on social support, CD4 cell count, and time since diagnosis. Results: Approximately 84% of the 86 participants were male, 50% were white, and 39% were black. The ean ± SD Physical component summary (PCS-12) score of 41.0 ± 12.5 and Mental component summary (MCS-12) score of 41.9 ± 11.0 were lower than US general population norms (p < 0.001). PCS-12 scores were similar to those of patients with other chronic conditions. Respondents reported lower MCS-12 scores than patients with hypertension and diabetes (p < 0.006). Employment and higher social support had positive associations with PCS-12 scores and nonadherence had a negative association with MCS-12 scores (p < 0.05). Conclusions: HRQOL in this sample of low-income HIV adults was comparable to other HIV populations. Identifying strategies for increasing social support and medication adherence for economically disadvantaged persons with HIV/AIDS may improve their HRQOL.Rodney Anderson: At the time of the study Dr. Anderson was Director of Health & Education Services The Damien Center 1350 Pennsylvania Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA     

Myocardial infarction in young adults

Although myocardial infarction (MI) mainly occurs in patients older than 45, young men or women can suffer MI. Fortunately, its incidence is not common in patients younger than 45 years. However, the disease carries a significant morbidity, psychological effects, and financial constraints for the person and the family when it occurs at a young age. The causes of MI among patients aged less than 45 can be divided into four groups: (1) atheromatous coronary artery disease; (2) non-atheromatous coronary artery disease; (2) hyper-coagulable states; (4) MI related to substance misuse. There is a considerable overlap between all the groups. This article reviews the literature and highlights the practical issues involved in the management of young adults with MI.     

ENPP1/PC-1 K121Q polymorphism and genetic susceptibility to type 2 diabetes

Genetic susceptibility modulates the impact of obesity on risk for type 2 diabetes. The present study evaluates the role of ENPP1 K121Q polymorphism in prediction of type 2 diabetes in three populations that differ in susceptibility to diabetes and environmental exposure. The three cohorts included 679 nonmigrant South Asians living in Chennai, India (223 with type 2 diabetes); 1,083 migrant South Asians living in Dallas, Texas (121 with type 2 diabetes); and 858 nonmigrant Caucasians living in Dallas, Texas (141 with type 2 diabetes). Patients with type 2 diabetes were included in these cohorts if they had diabetes onset before the age of 60 years. The prevalence of subjects carrying the polymorphic ENPP1 121Q allele was 25% in the nondiabetic group and 34% in the diabetic group of South Asians living in Chennai (P = 0.01). The prevalence in the nondiabetic and diabetic groups were 33 and 45% (P = 0.01) for the South Asians living in Dallas and 26 and 39% (P = 0.003) for the Caucasians. Although further replication studies are necessary to test the validity of the described genotype-phenotype relationship, our study supports the hypothesis that ENPP1 121Q predicts genetic susceptibility to type 2 diabetes in both South Asians and Caucasians.     

Fate of chemicals in plant-soil systems: comparison of laboratory test data with results of open air long-term experiments

Three laboratory short-term test systems were used to determine volatilization rates, mineralization rates, and conversion rates of 14 14C-labeled chemicals in soils or soil-plant systems. The chemicals covered a wide range of water solubility, vapor pressure, chemical stability, and biodegradability. In order to compare the data obtained with the environmental behavior of the respective chemicals, data from an outdoor experimental setup which had been shown to give residue data within the range limits of field conditions were used. Volatilization rates, mineralization rates, and conversion rates obtained in the laboratory were correlated to those found under outdoor conditions. Based on these correlations, predictions of field residues were made. The predicted values for total field residues were comparable to those found experimentally with the exception of two chemicals. The prediction of residues of unchanged parent compounds in the field was less satisfactory. The reasons for differences observed are discussed.     

Cervicofacial nocardiosis in an immunocompetent child

Nocardiosis occurs primarily as an opportunistic infection in an immunocompromised host. The infection may on rare occasion occur in a normal host confounding the diagnosis. It is also notably an uncommon infection in children. We report a 1-y-old girl with cervicofacial nocardial infection who presented with acute suppurative otitis media and lymphadenitis. This child did not have any predisposing risk factors for this infection and responded well to treatment with co-trimoxazole and chloramphenicol. She is doing well on follow-up. CONCLUSION: Nocardiosis in an immunocompetent small child is reported.     

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix: outcome and patterns of recurrence

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the sites of relapse and overall survival in women with neuroendocrine marker-positive small cell carcinoma of the cervix. METHODS: The records of all women who had their initial treatment for cervical cancer at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center between 1980 and 2000 were reviewed. Fifty-one patients had stages I-III cancers that were originally described as "small cell" or "neuroendocrine." Histological material was available for reexamination in 45 cases; of these, 21 were found to have small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNEC) as indicated by positive staining for chromogranin, synaptophysin, or CD56. Local treatment consisted of a radical hysterectomy in six patients and radiation therapy in 15. Thirteen patients received chemotherapy as part of their initial treatment. The median follow-up for surviving patients was 83 months (range, 25-209 months). RESULTS: Fourteen (66%) of the 21 patients had a relapse. The median time to first relapse from the initiation of treatment was 8.4 months (range, 3.6-28 months). Most patients developed hematogenous distant metastases before their death. Only 2 of 15 patients who were treated with radiation therapy had a recurrence within the radiation fields. However, five patients had a recurrence above the radiation fields in the paraaortic lymph nodes, and two patients had a recurrence distal to the pelvic fields in the vagina. No patient had brain metastases as the sole site of first recurrence. However, two patients developed brain metastases concurrently with lung metastases. The overall survival rate was 29% at 5 years; none of the patients who had disease more extensive than stage IB1 or clinical evidence of lymph node metastases survived their disease. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with small cell neuroendocrine cervical cancer have a poor prognosis. Their course is frequently characterized by the development of widespread hematogenous metastases; locoregional recurrence outside irradiated fields is also frequent. Brain metastases were seen only in patients who also had lung metastases, suggesting that prophylactic cranial irradiation would be of little benefit.