Congenital lumbar hernia in association with carpus equina varus.

A rare case of congenital lumbar hernia associated with carpus equina varus is described in a week old baby. The treatment is described with limited review of the literature.     

Primary gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the esophagus in an HIV-positive patient

We describe a rare case of malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) of the esophagus presenting in an HIV-positive man. Not only did the tumor arise from an unusual anatomic site for GIST, namely, the esophagus, but it also had a predominant epithelioid cell morphology that is uncommon and preferentially associated with aggressive behavior. Exhaustive immunohistochemical studies showed strong reactivities to the classic GIST marker, CD34, and to the current more sensitive and more specific GIST marker, CD117/ c-kit protein. This immunophenotype corresponded to that of stromal tumors arising in the more common sites like stomach and small intestine as well as to that of a reported series of esophageal GISTs in the general population. Mutations of the c-kit protein was detected in the tumor, confirming previous observations. This further documents that esophageal GIST and the more common benign esophageal spindle cell lesions are pathologically distinct entities and despite its rarity, esophageal GIST should be recognized by pathologists and clinicians. The occurrence of this tumor in an HIV-positive patient is coincidental, and it resulted in an extremely unusual metastatic site that has not been reported for GISTs.     

What attracts and sustain urban poor to informal healthcare practitioners? A study on practitioners' perspectives and patients' experiences in an Indian city

The practice of allopathic medicine by informal healthcare practitioners (IHPs) is ubiquitous in India. However, a little is known about the patients' experiences and IHPs' perspectives. The core questions guided the present study were (1) why do urban poor approach IHPs for healthcare? (2) what are their experiences of availing services from IHPs? and (3) what are the perspectives of IHPs about their practice with the population they serve? A qualitative research design guided the study. The study was conducted in the Gurugram city of Haryana, India. Nine IHPs and twenty‐seven patients who fit into the pre‐established inclusion criteria were interviewed. The findings of the study underline the structural constrains of healthcare access to the poor in India and the mutual dependencies between IHPs and the urban poor. Three themes were emerged corresponding to the perspectives of IHPs, and five themes were generated, which describes patients' experiences and perspectives of availing treatment. The factors that attract and sustain patients to IHPs are a mixture of socio‐economic aspects, which include poverty, inaccessibility, unaffordability, inefficient public healthcare facilities, and the positive behavioural and treatment attributes of the practitioners. The study implies urgent policy interventions to ensure quality healthcare to urban poor.     

Impact of the malaria parasite on reproductive indices of male mice

Aim:  To investigate the impact and possible mechanism of action of the rodent malarial parasite on reproduction.
Methods:  Male albino mice were infected with 15, 30 and 45% Plasmodium berghei berghei through inoculation with 10⁷ parasitized red blood cells. Each experiment had its own control that was not infected with P. berghei berghei . Mice infected with 15% P. berghei berghei were killed on days 0, 5, 10 and 15; those infected with 30% P. berghei berghei were killed on days 0, 3, 6 and 10; and those infected with 45% P. berghei berghei were killed on days 1–7 after infection. Caudal epididymal sperm motility, counts and morphology, body and wet organ weights and hematological indices were determined.
Results:  The results showed a progressive duration dependent decrease in sperm motility, sperm count and viability ( P  < 0.01) in parasitized mice. There were significant decreases in serum testosterone and increases in cortisol levels ( P  < 0.05) in the infected mice compared with the controls. There was also a progressive decrease ( P  < 0.05) in red blood cell count and packed cell volume. However, there was a progressive increase ( P  < 0.01) in white blood cell count and weight of the spleen and liver. There was no significant change in weight of the testis and epididymides.
Conclusion:  The results suggest that the malaria parasite could depress male fertility indices. (Reprod Med Biol 2006; 5 : 201–209)     

EPR技术研究枸杞多糖清除·OH自由基作用

目的:探讨枸杞多糖清除自由基的作用.方法:采用电子顺磁共振技术(EPR)检测不同浓度枸杞多糖对·OH自由基的清除作用.结果:枸杞多糖清除·OH自由基的能力在0.25 mg/ml为18.64%,在1.0 mg/ml为87.29%,再增大浓度时清除能力呈下降趋势.结论:枸杞多糖低浓度时具显著清除·OH自由基作用,但高浓度时其清除能力却下降.     

Waterborne parasites and physico-chemical assessment of selected lakes in Malaysia

The objective of this study was to assess the physico-chemical parameters and waterborne parasites in selected recreational lakes from Malaysia. Samples were collected from seven stations of Recreational Lake A (RL-A) and six stations of Recreational Lake B (RL-B). The samples were processed to detect the presence of Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. using immunomagnetic separation kit, helminth eggs or ova by bright field microscopy and Acanthamoeba spp. by cultivation in non-nutrient agar. Chemical parameters such as ammonia, chlorine, fluoride, nitrate and nitrite and physical parameters such as dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, pH, salinity, temperature and total dissolved solid were also measured. Both lakes were freshwater with salinity ranging from 0.05 to 0.09 ppt. Most stations of these lakes were contaminated with Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp., Ascaris spp. and hookworm. Schistosoma spp. was found in RL-B only, while Acanthamoeba spp. was found in all stations. Of all sampling sites, station 5 of RL-B is the most contaminated. Linear regression and correlation analysis revealed that Giardia spp. and Schistosoma spp. showed a significant negative correlation with turbidity (p?<?0.01). Based on the preliminary data obtained, it is clearly shown that there is a necessity to implement the detection of waterborne parasites and physico-chemical analysis in Malaysia. Future work on heavy metals (chromium, copper, mercury and zinc) is recommended to enhance the overall water quality monitoring and to take appropriate safety measures to ensure maintenance of good water standards.     

Glimepiride prevents paraquat‐induced Parkinsonism in mice: involvement of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation

There is a growing number of epidemiological and molecular studies which suggest that diabetes is associated with an increased risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). Hence, in this study, the effect of glimepiride (GPD), a sulphonylurea (antidiabetic) on paraquat (PQT)‐induced Parkinsonism was evaluated in mice. Thirty‐six mice were randomly divided into six groups (n = 6) and treated orally for 21 consecutive days as follows: Group 1: vehicle (10 mL/kg), Group 2: PQT (10 mg/kg, i.p., twice per week for 3 weeks), Group 3–5: GPD (1, 2 or 4 mg/kg) + PQT (10 mg/kg, i.p., twice per week for 3 weeks), Group 6: GPD (4 mg/kg, p.o.). The effects of the treatment on motor coordination were evaluated using the rotarod performance, bar and open field tests while working memory was assayed using Y‐maze test. Paraquat injection induced significant decrease in falling time, number of crosses and percentage alternation behaviour with a concomitant increase in the duration of cataleptic behaviour in the rotarod, open field, Y‐maze and bar tests, respectively, which was ameliorated by GPD treatment. PQT also increased lipid peroxidation, peroxynitrite and TNF‐α generations as well as deficit in superoxide dismutase and GSH activities in the midbrain. PQT‐induced oxidative stress and neuroinflammation was attenuated by GPD treatment. Findings from this study showed that GPD prevents PQT‐induced motor dysfunction, memory impairment, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation through enhancement of antioxidant defense system and inhibition of pro‐inflammatory cytokine release. Thus, GPD could be a potential adjunct in the management of Parkinsonism.