Implications of combined ovariectomy and glucocorticoid (dexamethasone) treatment on mineral,microarchitectural, biomechanical and matrix properties of rat bone

Osteoporosis is one of the deleterious side effects of long-term glucocorticoid therapy. Since the condition is particularly aggressive in postmenopausal women who are on steroid therapy, in this study we have attempted to analyse the combined effect of glucocorticoid (dexamethasone) treatment and cessation of oestrogen on rat bone. The dual aim was to generate osteoporotic bone status in a short time scale and to characterise the combination of glucocorticoid–postmenopausal osteoporotic conditions. Sprague Dawley rats (N = 42) were grouped randomly into three groups: untreated control, sham-operated and ovariectomized–steroid (OVX-Steroid) rats. Control animals were euthanized with no treatment [Month 0 (M0)], while sham and OVX-Steroid rats were monitored up to 1 month (M1) and 3 months (M3) post laparotomy/post OVX-Steroid treatment. Histology, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), and biomechanical and mRNA expression analysis of collagenous, non-collagenous matrix proteins and osteoclast markers were examined. The study indicated enhanced osteoclastogenesis and significantly lower bone mineral density (BMD) in the OVX-Steroid rats with Z-scores below −2.5, reduced torsional strength, reduced bone volume (BV/TV%), significantly enhanced trabecular separation (Tb.S), and less trabecular number (Tb.N) compared with sham rats. Osteoclast markers, cathepsin K and MMP 9 were upregulated along with Col1α1 and biglycan with no significant expression variation in fibronectin, MMP 14, LRP-5, Car II and TNC. These results show higher bone turnover with enhanced bone resorption accompanied with reduced torsional strength in OVX-Steroid rats; and these changes were attained within a short timeframe. This could be a useful model which mimics human postmenopausal osteoporosis that is associated with steroid therapy and could prove of value both in disease diagnosis and for testing generating and testing biological agents which could be used in treatment.     

Prosthetic rehabilitation of an orbital and facial defect: a clinical report

For patients undergoing radical head and neck surgery, the deformity or physical defect adds to the agony. Rehabilitation of patients with such deformities is a challenge for the maxillofacial prosthodontist to enhance the esthetics and give psychological strength to the patient. This clinical report describes the rehabilitation, using a silicone prosthesis, of a large facial and orbital defect due to mucoepidermoid carcinoma.     

Comparative genomics of Papaya ringspot virus pathotypes P and W from India

Archives of Virology -     

Effect of ursodeoxycholic acid on hydrogen peroxide induced lipid peroxidation in sheep liver mitochondria

The effect of various concentrations of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a potent hepatoprotective agent on hydrogen peroxide-induced mitochondrial swelling was evaluated in vitro to find out the mechanism of action of the drug. Aliquots of sheep liver mitochondria were pre-incubated with various concentrations of UDCA [0-600 micrograms] and swelling was induced by hydrogen peroxide [1 mM]. Swelling was assessed at various time intervals and lipid peroxide, reduced glutathione status were also evaluated simultaneously. UDCA minimized hydrogen peroxide-induced swelling in a dose-dependent manner. Time-dependent elevation in the level of lipid peroxides was noted in mitochondria treated with hydrogen peroxide and this elevation was minimized in UDCA pre-treatment. UDCA also maintains the reduced glutathione level in mitochondria. UDCA acts against the oxidative stress imposed in liver mitochondria. It reduces lipid peroxidation-induced abnormalities such as swelling and thiol group depletion and the anti lipid peroxidative efficacy of the drug may be related to its hydrophilic nature which might protect the hydrophobic regions of the mitochondrial membranes which are prone for free radical-mediated reactions.     

Analysis of an isolate of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mungbean yellow mosaic virus</Emphasis> (MYMV) with a highly variable DNA B component

Summary. One DNA A (KA30) and five different DNA B components (KA21, KA22, KA27, KA28 and KA34) of a geminivirus, Mungbean yellow mosaic virus–Vigna (MYMV-Vig) were cloned from a pooled sample of field-infected Vigna mungo plants from Vamban, South India. MYMV-Vig DNA A (KA30) and one of the DNA B components (KA27) exhibited 97% and 95% sequence identities, respectively, to those of MYMV reported from Thailand. However, the DNA B components KA21, KA22, KA28 and KA34 exhibited only 71 to 72% sequence identity to MYMV DNA B. Co-existence of multiple DNA B components in field-infected V. mungo was proved by Southern and PCR analyses. Each of the five DNA B components was infective together with the DNA A upon agroinoculation. Agroinoculation with mixed cultures of Agrobacterium with partial dimers of DNA A and all five DNA Bs proved that all five DNA B components can co-infect a single V. mungo plant.A. S. K. and R. V. contributed equally to this work.     

Upper gastrointestinal bacillary angiomatosis causing hematemesis: a case report

A 38-year-old HIV-positive woman presented with massive hematemesis on initial admission to hospital. Endoscopy revealed ulcerated nodular lesions in the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. The clinical impression was of Kaposi's sarcoma. The stomach was biopsied when the patient re-presented, and another endoscopy was performed. The biopsy showed mucosal ulceration with a proliferation of vascular channels associated with neutrophils and clumps of purplish, granular bacterial colonies, which were highlighted by a Warthin-Starry stain. The histopathological features were typical of bacillary angiomatosis. This case highlights bacillary angiomatosis involving the gastrointestinal tract at multiple sites, the cause of massive upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage that was the initial presentation of an HIV-positive patient, and the occurrence of visceral bacillary angiomatosis in the absence of cutaneous lesions.     

Infrared spectral features of exfoliated cervical cells, cervical adenocarcinoma tissue, and an adenocarcinoma cell line (SiSo)

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study is to evaluate and compare the infrared spectral features of normal and malignant exfoliated cervical cells, cells from malignant tissue, and the SiSo cell line. METHODS: Infrared spectra of cervical adenocarcinoma (CA) tissue, normal and malignant exfoliated cervical cells, and a uterine cervical adenocarcinoma cell line (SiSo) were obtained. Spectral qualities in terms of band intensity ratio and band position, which reflect configurational changes in the functional groups of the above samples, were measured. RESULTS: Spectral bands of CA tissue, exfoliated cells from CA, and the cell line were similar but markedly different from that of exfoliated normal cervical cells. Significant changes in bands at 1025 cm(-1) (glycogen), 1080 cm(-1) (glycogen and nucleic acids), 1155 cm(-1) (C-OH groups of serine, threonine, and tyrosine of cell proteins, and C-O groups of carbohydrates), 1240 cm(-1) (PO(2) groups of nucleic acids), 1400 cm(-1) (methyl group of lipids and proteins), and 1450 cm(-1) (methylene group of lipids and proteins) were noted in the CA tissue, exfoliated CA cells, and adenocarcinoma cell line compared with exfoliated normal cells. Marked shifts in band positions from 1080 to 1086 cm(-1), 1153 to 1160 cm(-1), and 935 to 970 cm(-1) in CA tissue, exfoliated CA cells, and the adenocarcinoma cell line were noted. CONCLUSION: Spectral bands of the adenocarcinoma cell line matched very well with those of cervical CA tissue and exfoliated CA cells in terms of position. In contrast, spectral bands of the SiSo cell line differed greatly from those of normal exfoliated cells.