Myopia and plasma cortisol

Estimation of plasma cortisol by fluorometric technique desorbed by Mallingly's was carried out in 56 cases, including 38 cases of myopia (19 cases of simple myopia and 19 cases of degenerative myopia) and 18 normal individuals. Urinary 17-keto steroids/24 hours was also estimated by Zimmermann technique in 12 out of the 56 cases, which include 8 cases of myopia (4 cases of simple myopia and 4 cases of degenerative myopia) and 4 normal individuals as control. Plasma cortisol level is lower in simple and degenerative myopia than in normal subjects, but on statistical analysis the difference was not of much significance. Patients with simple myopia with positive family history showed lower value of plasma cortisol than patients with simple myopia with negative family history, the difference was also statistically insignificant (P-0.1). In degenerative myopia patients, with and without family history, there was very little difference in plasma cortisol level and statistically highly insignificant (P-0.8). Urinary 17 keto steroid/24 hour values are lower in simple and degenerative myopia than in normal subjects.     

Antilymphoproliferative activity of ethanolic extract of Boerhaavia diffusa roots

Extracts of plants have been widely evaluated for possible antiproliferative and anticarcinogenic properties. The antiproliferative activity of ethanolic extract of Boerhaavia diffusa, a plant used in traditional medicine, was evaluated in several cells. It inhibited T cell mitogen phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A-stimulated proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). It also inhibited purified protein derivative antigen-stimulated PBMC proliferation and human mixed lymphocyte culture. In addition, B. diffusa extract inhibited the growth of several cell lines of mouse and human origin, such as mouse macrophage cells (RAW 264.7), human macrophage cells (U937), human monocytic cells (THP-1), mouse fibroblast cells (L929), human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293), mouse liver cells (BNLCL.2), African green monkey kidney cells (COS-1), mouse lymphoma cells (EL-4), human erythroleukemic cells (K562), and human T cells (Jurkat). The present study has demonstrated the antiproliferative potential of ethanolic extract of B. diffusa in vitro.     

Cystosarcoma phyllodes: Our institutional experience

Twenty‐six patients of Cystosarcoma phyllodes, treated between July 1994 and July 2001, were analysed retrospectively. Median age at presentation was 38 years (range 13?61 years). Mean size of the lesion was 6 cm. There were 77% left‐sided lesions and 23% right‐sided lesions. Histologically, 58% lesions were benign, 11% borderline and 31% malignant lesions. All patients underwent definitive surgical procedure in the form of wide local excision or mastectomy. Four patients received postoperative radiotherapy. Median follow‐up period was 35 months. Six patients showed recurrence, and four of these were malignant. Median disease‐free survival period was 34 months.     

Insights in Public Health: Developing the Ho‘ouna Pono Substance Use Prevention Curriculum: Collaborating with Hawaiian Youth and Communities

This article briefly outlines a collaboration among communities on Hawai‘i Island and a university-based research team to develop, implement, and evaluate a school-based substance use prevention curriculum called Ho‘ouna Pono. In addition to providing a rationale for the project, the goal of this paper is fourfold. First, an overview of the Ho‘ouna Pono research results to date (2007–2013) is provided. Second, within this overview, the ways in which selected results informed program development are highlighted. Third, the curriculum is briefly described, and finally, the role of the students and community in the video production is described.     

Differences Between Dendritic Spines of Neurons of Different Regions of the Cerebral Cortex of the Garden Lizard, C. versicolor (Daudin)

The present study, based on neurohistological techniques (Golgi impregnation), focuses on the morphological and numerical changes in the dendritic spines of neuronal classes of the cerebral cortex in Calotes versicolor. The cerebral cortex in reptiles occupies the roof of the cerebral hemisphere and is divided into four regions viz. medial, dorsomedial, dorsal and lateral cortex. Using different characteristics such as criteria of location, dendritic tree pattern, dendritic spine covering and soma shape different neuronal types have been distinguished in the cell layer-II of medial, dorsomedial, dorsal and lateral cortex. The dendritic diameter, spine length and diameter of spine head show almost uniform pattern in all cortical regions except being slightly higher in case of the neurons of dorsomedial cortex. The multipolar and pyramidal neurons show higher dendritic diameter, spine length, spine head diameter and dendritic spine density in comparison to other neurons. The density of these neurons acts as the indicator of high or low activity of a particular region.     

Spontaneous Resolution of an Inflammatory Pseudotumour of the Lung Subsequent to Wedge Biopsy

Spontaneous, complete resolution of inflammatory pseudotumour (IPT) of lungs is exceptionally rare. A 44-year-old male was referred for evaluation for «non resolving pneumonitis». He had cough and minimal expectoration for 5 months, chest pain, haemoptysis and fever for a fortnight. Computed tomography of thorax (CT-thorax) confirmed the presence of a homogenous mass with irregular borders in right middle lobe with areas of breakdown and air bronchogram. Transbronchial lung biopsy was suggestive of «plasma cell granuloma». Thoracotomy disclosed a hard mass in right middle lobe adherent to lower lobe, chest wall and mediastinum which could not be removed. A wedge biopsy confirmed IPT. Chest radiograph after 4 weeks revealed significant resolution. CT-thorax a year later showed fibrotic scar. Till date, there are only five reports documenting 6 patients with spontaneous resolution of IPT of lungs and in 4 this occurred within 3 months of an invasive diagnostic intervention.