Exophytic gliomas of the spinal cord

Intradural extramedullary glial tumours of the spinal cord are rare. We report for such tumours arising from the dorsal cord. Myelography and operative findings were almost similar to that of an intradural neurofibroma. Surgical removal had resulted in rewarding neurological recovery. One of them had a recurrence after six years and was re-explored. Anterolateral attachment near the root entry zone suggests its origin probably from the spinal cord with an exophytic growth.     

Descriptive epidemiology of lymphoid and haemopoietic malignancies in Bangalore,India

Lymphoid and haemopoietic malignancies as a group constitute one of the important cancers in India, as elsewhere in the world. While information on incidence and mortality of these cancers, and that on survival, are available from most developed countries, there are very few reports describing this experience in developing ones. Population-based cancer registration commenced in Bangalore, India, in January 1982, under the auspices of the Indian Council of Medical Research. This source provides fairly complete and reliable incidence data, but, in order to obtain mortality and survival information, active follow-up involving visits of homes of patients was undertaken. Between 1982 and 1989, 1397 cases of lymphoid and haemopoietic malignancies were registered in the Bangalore cancer registry, giving an age-adjusted incidence rate of 7.7 and 4.8 per 100,000 in males and females respectively. Active follow-up provided mortality/survival information in 1267 or 90.7% of these cases. The overall observed 5-year survival for these cancers combined (both sexes) was 26%, and relative survival 28.4%. The 5-year survival rate was lower in all the individual lymphomas and leukaemias as compared with similar reports from the developed countries. Survival in Hodgkin's disease was influenced by clinical stage and age at presentation.     

The effects of lanthanum and thulium on the mechanical responses of rat vas deferens.

1. The contractile responses of rat vas deferens to noradrenaline and K+ are composed of phasic and tonic components both of which are dependent upon the concentration of extracellular Ca2+. 2. Lanthanum, La3+, and thulium ions, Tm3+, inhibited the noradrenaline and K+ induced responses, complete inhibition being obtained at approximately 10(-3) M-Ln3+. 3. La3+ and Tm3+ were equally effective in inhibiting noradrenaline and K+ responses. The phasic and tonic components of the noradrenaline response were equally sensitive to lanthanide cations, Ln3+, but the phasic component of the K+ response was more sensitive than the tonic component. 4. 170Tm binding did not show any saturable component over the concentration range in which inhibition of the pharmacological response was obtained. 5. It is suggested that the actions of Ln3+ in the rat vas deferens are mediated through some kind of membrane stabilization rather than via a specific Ca2+ binding site concerned with excitation-contraction coupling, the mechanism previously postulated for the Ln3+ action in guinea-pig ileal longitudinal muscle.     

Curcumin- and natural extract-loaded nanofibres for potential treatment of lung and breast cancer: in vitro efficacy evaluation

Drug-eluting medical implants are more common, particularly for fighting against cancers. FDA and other drug regulatory bodies have approved many nanoformulated devices eluting active pharmaceutical ingredients and thus there is growing demand for further value- added devices. Nanofibre membranes are known for its versatility of drug incorporation and sustained drug release. We intend to fabricate natural ingredient or extract, and their combination loaded polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibre for usage as drug-eluting stents or implants for anticancer activity against lung and breast cancers. The fabricated nanofibre membranes were characterised by scanning electron microscope for morphology, FT-IR for chemical nature and tensile testing for mechanical strengths. Release of curcumin was studied with time to find the applicability of the device as drug-eluting implant. The activity of the nanofibre membranes was tested against human breast cancer (MCF7) and lung cancer (A459) cell lines in vitro. In both the cell lines tested, 1% aloe vera and 5% curcumin-loaded PCL nanofibre exhibited 15% more cytotoxicity in comparison with the commercial drug 1% cis-Platin-loaded PCL nanofibre after 24?h incubation.     

Interchangeability of activated clotting time values across different point-of-care systems

Significant variability in activated clotting time (ACT) measurement exists based on the type of point-of-care system used. We sought to determine the degree of agreement in ACT measurements by the Hemochron Response and the Hemochron Signature Elite Whole Blood coagulation systems and whether these 2 systems can be used interchangeably. We prospectively compared 126-paired samples in 77 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. ACT was measured for each sample using the Hemochron Response system with glass test tubes and the Hemochron Signature Elite system with low-range ACT cuvettes simultaneously. We used correlation and Bland-Altman analyses. Mean age of the study cohort was 67 ± 11 years, 49% were women, and 65% of measurements were made after systemic anticoagulation. There was a significant correlation between the Hemochron Response and Hemochron Signature Elite systems (r = 0.84, p <0.01). However, the mean bias for the ACT measurement was 9 seconds (95% confidence interval -69 to 86). In the therapeutic range of ACT measurements, the mean bias was 15 seconds (95% confidence interval -60 to 91). Thirty-three percent of total samples had >10% disagreement and 8% of samples had >20% disagreement in the ACTs measured with the Hemochron Response compared to the Hemochron Signature Elite. In conclusion, the Hemochron Response and Hemochron Signature Elite ACT values cannot be used interchangeably. Institutions using these 2 devices should be cognizant of this difference for ensuring patient safety.     

Results of non-vascularised fibular grafting in gap non-union of long bones in paediatric age group

BackgroundBone defect has always been a challenge to treat for the orthopaedic surgeon. Fibular grafting is a popular method for bridging the gap in bone defects created by tumour excision, trauma or bone loss as sequelae to infection. Fibula is a popular substitute for this method because of its easy accessibility and minimal donor site morbidity. The present study is aimed at finding the results in paediatric population.Material and methods20 patients with bone defect (19 as a result of chronic osteomyelitis and one as a result of excision of a tumour) were included in the current study. The age of the patients ranged from one year to 12 years. The fibular graft was applied after freshening of bone end and fixed with K wire or plating and cancellous bone graft was also applied at both ends. The limb was immobilized in plaster till union of fibula at both ends.ResultsThe average gap was 8 cm (range 6–12 cm). Out of the twenty cases nine involved the humerus, seven in the tibia, two in radius and one each in femur and ulna. Union was achieved at both ends in 80% of the patients after the first surgery. Three out of six patients with K wire as fixation device failed and one out of fourteen patients with plate as fixation device ended in non-union. Union was achieved in these patients after revision surgery. One patient had stress fracture at distal end of the plate after weight bearing. Union occurred in this patient after plaster immobilization. Range of motion at distal and proximal joint was comparable to normal side. Superficial infection was seen in two patients and they responded to antibiotics.ConclusionNon-vascularised fibular grafting is a good option for bone defects in paediatric population provide adequate fixation and immobilization has been done.Level of evidenceLevel IV (Therapeutic).     

Association between long-term aspirin use and periodontal attachment level in humans: a cross-sectional investigation

Background: Pharmaceutical inhibition of host response pathways may be an adjunctive or alternative strategy for treating periodontal diseases. In addition to inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, aspirin is known to modify the action of cyclo‐oxygenase, changing its activity to a lipoxygenase and leading to formation of lipoxins which have a proresolving effect. This study evaluated the periodontal attachment level of subjects on long‐term low dose aspirin therapy. Methods: Oral hygiene index simplified, clinical attachment loss and bleeding index were recorded for 162 subjects who were on long‐term (>6 months) low dose (75 mg and 150 mg) aspirin therapy (study group) and 146 subjects not taking the drug (control group). Results: Mean clinical attachment loss was 2.38 ± 0.49 mm in the control group and 2.01 ± 0.69 mm in the study group. The difference was statistically significant at p < 0.001. Correlation analysis suggested that there was a negative correlation between clinical attachment loss and duration of aspirin intake but the clinical attachment loss was not significantly different in the two dosage groups. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that low dose aspirin may reduce the risk of periodontal attachment loss. This hypothesis needs to be tested by larger sample sized prospective cohort studies.