Efficacy of conservative treatment modalities used in epistaxis

Objective  To assess the efficacy of conservative modalities in the management of epistaxis. Study design  Prospective case studies. Setting  Rural medical college hospital. Patients  Indoor and outdoor patients with epistaxis. lntervention  Conservative(non surgical) management techniques in epistaxis. Results  Chemical cauterization was successful in 72.07% cases, anterior nasal packing in 84.5% and posterior nasal packing in 95.6% cases. Conclusion  Out of 300 cases of epistaxis included in the study (except for one case that required internal maxillary artery ligation). all cases were treated successfully with conservative treatment alongwith treating the underlying pathology causing epistaxis.     

Neurilemmoma of tongue

Neurilemmoma is usually soimry, benign tumour derived from schwan cells of the Sheaths of peripheral cranial or autonomie nerves. In thehead and neck region it occurs most commonly in association with acoustic nerve within the skuil and is rely fottnd in the oral cavity (1,2). We report here two cases of the iongue diagnosed on histopathohgy.     

Transmission of dengue virus-induced helper signal to B cell via macrophages.

The helper T cells (TH) generated in dengue type 2 virus (DV) infection of mice produce a soluble helper cytokine (HF) which enhances the clonal expansion of DV-specific IgM antibody plaque forming cells (PFC). The present study was undertaken to investigate the mechanism of transmission of the helper signal from TH and HF to B cells. It was observed that TH could transmit the helper signal to B cells by direct cell to cell contact, but HF could not do so without the presence of live macrophages (M phi). HF was adsorbed by both heat killed and live M phi but the former could not transmit it to B cells. Both the polypeptide chains of HF bind to M phi. HF remains on the surface of M phi and can be retrieved completely by contact with B cells for 40 min. The helper signal from TH or HF-adsorbed M phi could not be transmitted to B cells when they were separated from each other by a cell impermeable membrane. The enhancement of PFC count is greater when the signal is transmitted by HF-adsorbed M phi as compared to that by TH alone. Thus, even with lower frequency of TH a significant number of B cells may be triggered with the help of HF and M phi. The findings thus show that the DV-specific helper signal could be transmitted only by a close physical contact of the plasma membranes of the signal presenting cells (TH or HF-adsorbed M phi) and B cells.     

The synthesis and localization of alternatively spliced fibronectin EIIIB in resting and thrombin-treated megakaryocytes

There are several species of alternatively spliced fibronectin (FN). One of these, FN EIIIB, is primarily present in embryonic and in proliferating and migrating cells and is believed to be important for cell maturation. We have studied the synthesis, localization, and secretion of this FN isoform in isolated guinea pig megakaryocytes, nonmegakaryocytic bone marrow cells, and platelets. There was 7.5 times more general FN in megakaryocytes than in nonmegakaryocytic cells based on the analysis of equivalent amounts of protein. FN EIIIB was detected by Western blotting in megakaryocytes but not in nonmegakaryocytic cells present in bone marrow. Neither megakaryocytes nor platelets secreted FN EIIIB, while megakaryocytes secreted 25.3% +/- 4.6% general FN and platelets secreted about 61% general FN in response to thrombin. Analysis of immunostained cells by confocal microscopy revealed that FN EIIIB had been redistributed to the surface of megakaryocytes in response to thrombin. Synthesis was studied by metabolic labeling, and megakaryocytes were shown to synthesize FN and FN EIIIB. Thus, megakaryocytes and platelets are among a small number of adult cells and tissues that synthesize and contain FN EIIIB. The expression of FN EIIIB on the megakaryocyte surface may influence migration and maturation.