Hyperhomocysteinemia,and low intakes of folic acid and vitamin B12 in urban North India

Summary Background and Aim An adverse coronary risk profile has been reported amongst rural-to-urban migrant population living in urban slums undergoing stressful socio-economic transition. These individuals are likely to have low intakes of folic acid and vitamin B12, which may have an adverse impact on serum levels of homocysteine (Hcy). To test this hypothesis, we studied serum levels of Hcy in subjects living in an urban slum of North India and healthy subjects from urban non-slum area. Methods Group I consisted of 46 subjects (22 males and 24 females) living in an urban slum, while group II consisted of healthy subjects (n = 26, 13 males and 13 females) living in the adjacent non-slum area. Anthropometric measurements, biochemical profile (fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, serum triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and fasting serum levels of Hcy were measured. Dietary intakes of folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin B1, and iron were calculated by the 24-hour dietary recall method. Serum levels of Hcy were correlated with dietary intakes of nutrients, anthropometry, and metabolic variables. Results Sex-adjusted serum levels of Hcy in mmol/L (Mean ± SD) were high, though statistically comparable, in both the groups (group I: 20.8 ± 5.9 and group II: 23.2 ± 5.9). Overall, higher than normal serum levels of Hcy (> 15 μmol/L) were recorded in 84 % of the subjects. A substantial proportion of subjects in both groups had daily nutrient intakes below that recommended for the Asian Indian population (folic acid: 93.4 % in group I and 96.7 % in group II, vitamin B12: 76.1 % in group I and 88.4 % in group II). However, between the two groups, average daily dietary intakes of both the nutrients were statistically comparable. As compared to non-vegetarians, vegetarians showed lower intakes of folic acid (p < 0.01) and vitamin B12 (p < 0.01) in both groups. On multivariate linear regression analysis with serum Hcy as the response variable and vegetarian/non-vegetarian status and sex (male/female) as predictor variables, higher serum levels of Hcy were observed in vegetarians vs non-vegetarians (β = 4.6, p < 0.05) and males vs females (β = 5.3, p < 0.01). Conclusions Low intakes of folic acid and vitamin B12, and hyperhomocysteinemia, in both the healthy population living in urban slums and adjacent urban non-slum areas, are important observations for the prevention of nutritional and cardiovascular diseases in the Indian subcontinent. Received: 30 October 2001, Accepted: 14 January 2002     

Solitary pulmonary metastasis from intracranial meningiothelial meningioma

Although known, histologically proven pulmonary metastasis from a benign intracranial meningioma is exceedingly rare. We report a case of meningiothelial meningioma producing a solitary pulmonary deposit.     

Tuberculoma en plaque: a case report

A 14 year old girl presented with a 6-month history of headaches and visual blurring. CT showed a right tentorial enhancing lesion. Angiogram showed no enhancement. Histopathological examination of the excised material was consistent with tuberculoma. The presentation of such unusual intracranial tuberculoma is reported and the literature reviewed on the subject.     

Unusual cervical mass — A surgical dilemma and unfortunate sequelae

The differential diagnosis of a neck mass encompasses a broad range of possibilities including congenital cysts, inflammatory masses and both primary and metastatic neoplasms. A clear understanding of the normal anatomy of the neck and a high index of suspicion with a detailed history elicitation, proper physical examination and adjunctive test reports all lead to an accurate diagnosis. This is a case report of a thirty three year old lady who presented with a mass in the posterior triangle of neck with paraesthesia and mild weakness of the upper limb of the same side. The diagnostic evaluation revealed possibility of Schwannoma of the Brachial plexus and the surgical management posed a great surgical dilemma and led to cervical 5^th and 6^th trunk paralysis. We performed a second stage Sural nerve grafting.     

Effect of irradiation at the early foetal stage on adult brain function of mouse: learning and memory

PURPOSE: To study the long-term effect of early foetal irradiation on the learning and memory in the adult mouse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The abdominal area of pregnant Swiss albino mice was exposed to a single dose of 0.25-1.5Gy gamma-radiation on the 14th day of gestation and the mice were left to deliver their offspring. At 6 months of age, the learning and memory functions of the F(1) mice were tested by hole-board activity, conditioned avoidance response and radial arm maze performance. The animals were again subjected to the radial arm maze test at 12 and 18 months of age. RESULTS: There was a significant dose-dependent decrease in the learning ability and memory retention of 6-month-old mice at doses > 0.25Gy. The significant changes persisted to 18 months of age in mice exposed to >or= 0.5Gy. All changes showed a linear dose-response at doses < 1Gy. CONCLUSIONS: The gestational day 14 of Swiss albino mice is a sensitive stage in brain development to gamma-ray-induced impairment of learning and memory during the adult life. Permanent deficits in these functions can be induced by a dose of approximately 0.5Gy at this stage, when the developmental activity of the cerebral cortex is at its peak.     

Transforming Orphanage Care: A Case Example in Zimbabwe

The author presents the voices of boys from an orphanage in Zimbabwe that he himself grew up in over a period of 10 years. After gaining professional child and youth care training in Canada, he has returned to the orphanage seeking to be an advocate and a catalyst for change in order to assist the Director and Board of Governors in the transformation of the residence.     

Effect of noise stress on free radical scavenging enzymes in brain

The levels of free radical scavenging enzymes in six discrete brain regions (cerebral cortex, cerebellum, midbrain, pons medulla, hippocampus and hypothalamus), after exposure to three different durations of noise stress (broadband white noise, 100dB, 4h/day, in acute: 1 day, sub acute: 15 days and chronic stress: 30 days) was studied in Wister strain male albino rats. Acute noise stress significantly increases the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD: EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (EC 1.11.1.6), glutathione peroxidase (GPx: EC 1.11.1.9), oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) and decreases the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), GSH/GSSG ratio and protein thiols. The free radical scavenging enzymes levels, in sub acute and chronic noise stress also showed marked deviation in certain regions from the controls within the study duration. The results indicate that adaptation to noise stress does not occur immediately in all the brain regions. The noise induced alterations in free radicals may be assumed to serve as a linkage between the environmental noise and the manifestation of multifactorial diseases attributed to noise exposure. Moreover the quantification of the health effects of noise by the alterations in free radicals seems inappropriate in chronic noise stress.     

Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme patterns upon chronic exposure to cigarette smoke: Protective effect of bacoside A

Despite a strong association between cigarette smoking and alarming increase in mortality rate from smoking-related diseases, around 35-40% of the world's population continues to smoke and many more are being exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. Since the role of free radicals and oxidative damage in the pathogenesis of smoking-related diseases has been suggested, bacoside A, a potent antioxidant was tested for its ability to protect against cigarette smoking-induced toxicity in terms of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and its isoenzymes. Rats were exposed to cigarette smoke and simultaneously administered with bacoside A, for a period of 12 weeks. Total LDH activity was assayed in serum, lung, heart, brain, liver and kidney, and serum LDH isoforms were separated electrophoretically. Cigarette smoke exposure resulted in significant increase in serum LDH and its isoenzymes with a concomitant decrease in these organs. These alterations were prevented by administration of bacoside A. Excessive oxidants from cigarette smoke is known to cause peroxidation of membrane lipids leading to cellular damage, thereby resulting in the leakage of LDH into the circulation. Bacoside A could have rendered protection to the organs by stabilizing their cell membranes and prevented the release of LDH, probably through its free radical scavenging and anti-lipid peroxidative effect.