Reversal of fluorosis in children

Large populations consume fluoride-contaminated water, especially in developing countries. The toxic effects of fluorosis take three forms: clinical, skeletal and dental. Research thus far indicates that the manifestations of fluorosis are irreversible. However, it has been observed that the ingestion of calcium, vitamin C or vitamin D, individually, is effective in protection from fluoride toxicity to a certain extent. Therefore, a double blind control trial was conducted to examine the effect of a combination of calcium, vitamin D₃ and ascorbic acid supplementation in fluorosis-affected children. In the present study, 25 children were selected from an area consuming water containing 4.5 p.p.m. of fluoride, All the children were in the age group 6–12 years and weighed 18–30 kg. They were graded for clinical, radiological and dental fluorosis and relevant biochemical parameters. Grade I skeletal fluorosis and all grades of the manifestation of dental and clinical fluorosis were observed. The children were given ascorbic acid, calcium and vitamin D₃ well below the toxic dosages in a double blind manner using lactose as a placebo. Follow up revealed a significant improvement in dental, clinical and skeletal fluorosis and relevant biochemical parameters in these children. Thus, the study indicated that fluorosis can be reversed, at least in children, by a therapeutic regimen that is fairly cheap, simple and easily available and without any side effects.     

Transesophageal Echocardiographic Findings in Primary Leiomyoma of Inferior Vena Cava

We describe for the first time the usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography for the identification of a primary leiomyoma of the inferior vena cava, which originated near its junction with the right atrium. A portion of the tumor was initially visualized in the right atrium during a transthoracic echocardiographic study, but its attachment in the inferior vena cava was evident only by transesophageal echocardiography using the transgastric approach. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 10, November 1993)     

Percutaneous liver biopsy: A safe outpatient procedure

Percutaneous liver biopsy with Menghini or Trucut needle as an outpatient procedure was performed on 159 patients over a 3.5-year period. No major complications were observed. Liver biopsy is recommended as an outpatient procedure, which would reduce the patient load on limited hospital beds and economize on the hospital resources.     

Solution-structure of a Peptide Designed to Mimic the C-terminal Hexapeptide of Endothelin

The peptide: Ac-cyclo(Cys-His-Leu-Asp-Cys)-Ile-Trp-OH, has been designed by computer-aided molecular-modelling techniques to mimic the proposed α-helical conformation of the C-terminal hexapeptide of endothelin. Two-dimensional proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra were acquired for the peptide dissolved in d₆-DMSO or D₂O-H₂O and the distance and angle constraints incorporated into simulated annealing experiments. Conformers generated from the D₂O-H₂O data superposed on the corresponding main-chain atoms in the crystal structure of endothelin 1 and the solution structure of BQ-123 with root mean square co-ordinate differences of 0·9 Å and 0·77 Å, respectively. The peptide did not elicit antagonism of endothelin-induced in-vitro contractions of rabbit aorta (endothelin A receptor) or rabbit bronchus (endothelin B receptor) preparations. Because the peptide can adopt a conformer which closely matches the equivalent residues in the endothelin 1 crystal structure and in BQ-123, we suggest BQ-123 does not necessarily mimic the endothelin C-terminal region to achieve its antagonism, and that a helical conformation of the endothelin C-terminal hexapeptide does not favour its interaction at the endothelin B receptor.     

TREATMENT OF PAUCIBACILLARY LEPROSY

Background. When multidrug therapy was introduced a decade ago to shorten the duration of treatment, paucibacillary leprosy was advocated 6 months of treatment. The diagnosis is based mainly on clinical and histopathologic examination, negative slit-skin smear examination, and positive lepromin test. Methods. The case records of 508 paucibacillary leprosy patients attending our urban leprosy center have been analyzed with reference to regularity of therapy, response to multidrug regimen, follow-up, and relapse. Results. The incidence of paucibacillary leprosy was found to be 37%. Defaulter rate was 45%. Nine percent of the cases attended the center with deformities emphasizing the need for corrective surgery and early case detection to prevent them. Conclusions. The main problem that we faced was the optimum duration of treatment, which is as yet an unsettled question. The opinions of other workers have been given, and a slight modification in current WHO regimen has been suggested without significantly affecting the cost of therapy.     

EFFECT OF CHRONIC TREATMENT WITH AMLODIPINE IN NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETIC RATS

We have investigated the effects of amlodipine on streptozotocin- (STZ) induced neonatal non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) rats. NIDDM was induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ (70 mg kg⁻¹) to 5-day-old rat pups. The animals were weaned at 30 days and maintained with food and waterad libitumfor 3 months. Amlodipine (5 mg kg⁻¹p.o.) was administered for 6 weeks after the animals were confirmed diabetic (3 months after the STZ injection). A group of control animals were also maintained and this group received citrate buffer 5 days after birth. Fasting- and fed-glucose levels in NIDDM rats were significantly higher than control rats. Treatment with amlodipine reduced the elevated fasting- and fed-glucose levels significantly. Results of the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) revealed that glucose tolerance is impaired in the NIDDM rats. There was a marked increase in glucose levels after oral administration of glucose in the control NIDDM rats. Increased glucose levels were found to be associated with increased insulin levels. Treatment with amlodipine in the NIDDM rats caused a decrease in insulin release, however, glucose levels were found to be lowered significantly indicating that amlodipine causes an increase in insulin sensitivity. In conclusion, our data indicated that amlodipine increases insulin sensitivity in neonatal-STZ NIDDM rats.