Cis-isomerism and other chemical requirements of steroidal agonists and partial agonists acting at TRPM3 channels.

Background And Purpose: The transient receptor potential melastatin-3 (TRPM3) channel forms calcium-permeable, non-selective, cationic channels that are stimulated by pregnenolone sulphate (PregS). Here, we aimed to define chemical requirements of this acute steroid action and potentially reveal novel stimulators with physiological relevance.

Experimental Approach: We used TRPM3 channels over-expressed in HEK 293 cells, with intracellular calcium measurement and whole-cell patch-clamp recording techniques.

Congenital generalized lipodystrophy, type 4 (CGL4) associated with myopathy due to novel PTRF mutations.

Congenital generalized lipodystrophy (CGL) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by near total absence of body fat since birth with predisposition to insulin resistance, diabetes, hypertriglyceridemia, and hepatic steatosis. Three CGL loci, AGPAT2, BSCL2, and CAV1, have been identified previously. Recently, mutations in polymerase I and transcript release factor (PTRF) were reported in five Japanese patients presenting with myopathy and CGL (CGL4).

Furanyl-rhodanines are unattractive drug candidates for development as inhibitors of bacterial RNA polymerase.

Previous studies suggest that furanyl-rhodanines might specifically inhibit bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP). We further explored three compounds from this class. Although they inhibited RNAP, each compound also inhibited malate dehydrogenase and chymotrypsin.

Future directions in management of anemia in heart failure.

Anemia in patients with heart failure (HF) may be caused by several factors, including hemodilution, iron or erythropoietin deficiency, and chronic kidney disease. Published pilot studies of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and intravenous iron therapy in anemic heart failure patients demonstrate improvement in surrogate markers of functional capacity and quality of life, and reasonable safety profile during short-term use. However, the long-term safety of ESA in treatment of anemia in patients with HF remains a concern due to documented harmful side effects of ESA in anemic patients with advanced chronic kidney disease and cancer.

Therapy with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and renal and nonrenal outcomes.

The effect of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) on renal and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and heart failure (HF) is uncertain. Observational data indicate a strong relationship between the severity of anemia and poor outcome. On the other hand, randomized controlled trials on patients with CKD indicate that ESAs used in targeting a higher hemoglobin concentration result in increased risk.

A study of dysmenorrhea during menstruation in adolescent girls.

Research Question: What is the prevalence of dysmenorrhea severity and its associated symptoms among adolescent girls?

Objectives: (1) To study the prevalence of dysmenorrhea in high school adolescent girls of Gwalior. (2) To study the evidence of severity of the problem with associated symptoms and general health status.

Study Design: An explorative survey technique with a correlational approach.

Cholelithiasis in gallbladder cancer: coincidence, cofactor, or cause!

Background: While gallstones are associated with cancers of the gallbladder, the actual nature of their relationship needs to be clarified. This would aid the recommendations on the need for prophylactic cholecystectomy.

Methods: A systematic search of the scientific literature was carried out using the Medline, the Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for the years 1891-2009 to obtain access to all publications involving gallstones in gallbladder cancer.

Acute renal failure resulting from rhabdomyolysis following a seizure.

A 30-year-old Indian man presented with progressive renal impairment following a seizure. The complaint of troublesome back pain led to the suspicion of rhabdomyolysis being the cause of acute renal failure. The diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis was supported by a markedly elevated serum creatinine phosphokinase level.

Enzymatic activity of the human 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate-O-acyltransferase isoform 11: upregulated in breast and cervical cancers.

The conversion of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) to phosphatidic acid is carried out by the microsomal enzymes 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate-O-acyltransferases (AGPATs). These enzymes are specific for acylating LPA at the sn-2 (carbon 2) position on the glycerol backbone and are important, because they provide substrates for the synthesis of phospholipids and triglycerides. At least, mutations in one isoform, AGPAT2, cause near complete loss of adipose tissue in humans.

Radiographic griding of subcutaneous soft tissue metallic foreign bodies in emergency department.

Radiographic grid for localization of soft tissue metallic foreign bodies is a modification of traditional radiography. Twenty localization procedures using simple radiographic grid was successfully performed. Its low cost and easy to perform makes it a useful tool in emergency setting.

Myxoma of the temporal bone: an uncommon neoplasm.

We report the case of an 11-year-old girl who presented with a soft-tissue mass that filled the left external auditory canal and a discharge that resembled chronic suppurative otitis media. The patient underwent mastoid exploration with complete excision of the mass. Findings on the excision biopsy were consistent with a myxoma of the temporal bone.

A Cross-sectional Study of QOL of Diabetic Patients at Tertiary Care Hospitals in Delhi.

Background: According to WHO estimates India will be the global capital of diabetes by 2025, accounting for 57.2 million diabetics. Worsening the situation is the fact that diabetes affects the economically productive age-group (45-65 years) in developing countries.

ent-Kaurane glycosides from Tricalysia okelensis.

Tricalysiosides V and W, two new ent-kaurane glycosides with an acylated disaccharide moiety at the C-3 position, were isolated from the roots of Tricalysia okelensis and their structures established by spectroscopic and chemical methods as ent-kauran-3alpha,16alpha,17-triol-19-al 3-O-[5-O-vanilloyl-beta-D-apiopyranosyl(1-->6)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) and ent-kauran-3alpha,16alpha,17-triol-19-al 3-O-[5-O-E-sinapoyl-beta-D-apiopyranosyl(1-->6)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2).

Partial lipodystrophy and insulin resistant diabetes in a patient with a homozygous nonsense mutation in CIDEC.

Lipodystrophic syndromes are characterized by adipose tissue deficiency. Although rare, they are of considerable interest as they, like obesity, typically lead to ectopic lipid accumulation, dyslipidaemia and insulin resistant diabetes. In this paper we describe a female patient with partial lipodystrophy (affecting limb, femorogluteal and subcutaneous abdominal fat), white adipocytes with multiloculated lipid droplets and insulin-resistant diabetes, who was found to be homozygous for a premature truncation mutation in the lipid droplet protein cell death-inducing Dffa-like effector C (CIDEC) (E186X).

Haemoperitoneum caused by perforation of Meckel's diverticulum in a 5-year-old child.

Common complications of Meckel's diverticulum in children include gastrointestinal haemorrhage, intestinal obstruction or intussuception and diverticulitis. Here, the rare case of a perforated, non-inflamed Meckel's diverticulum causing significant haemoperitoneum in a young child, is reported. The case highlights the potential for rapid deterioration of patients with complications form vitelline duct abnormalities, for which surgical exploration should not be delayed.

A review of Indian psychiatry research and ethics.

Ethics does not seem to be a favorite topic of Indian authors. Electronic search of the IJP web site could only identify six articles which were directly related to ethics. One article discussed the relationship of ethics religion and psychiatry.

Choledochal cyst with large stone cast and portal hypertension.

Background: Choledochal cysts in adults are more commonly associated with complications such as cystolithiasis, recurrent cholangitis, portal hypertension and malignancy, than in the pediatric age group.

Method: We report a case of adult choledochal cyst with long-term complication of large stone cast and portal hypertension due to secondary biliary cirrhosis.

Results: A 50-year-old patient presented with obstructive jaundice and hepatosplenomegaly.

Atypical progeroid syndrome due to heterozygous missense LMNA mutations.

Context: Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) and mandibuloacral dysplasia are well-recognized allelic autosomal dominant and recessive progeroid disorders, respectively, due to mutations in lamin A/C (LMNA) gene. Heterozygous LMNA mutations have also been reported in a small number of patients with a less well-characterized atypical progeroid syndrome (APS).

Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the underlying genetic and molecular basis of the phenotype of patients presenting with APS.

Deafness: burden, prevention and control in India.

The high burden of deafness globally and in India is largely preventable and avoidable. According to the 2005 estimates of WHO, 278 million people have disabling hearing impairment. The prevalence of deafness in Southeast Asia ranges from 4.

Terlipressin in control of acute hemobilia during therapeutic ERCP in patient with portal biliopathy.

Background: Portal biliopathy is a late and serious complication of extrahepatic portal venous obstruction usually manifesting with jaundice. Surgery and endoscopic therapy are the usual modalities of treatment for this condition. Endoscopic management contains inherited risk of hemobilia treatment of which is yet to be standardized.

Pseudocyst of ectopic pancreas of the duodenal wall masquerading as malignant cystic tumor of pancreas.

We report a patient who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for a cystic lesion in the region of the pancreatic head and duodenum. Preoperatively, we had suspected a malignant lesion; however, it turned out to be ectopic pancreatic tissue in the duodenal wall, with the changes of chronic pancreatitis and pseudocyst formation. With this report we seek to highlight the rarity of this particular pathologic combination and the difficulties in its correct preoperative diagnosis and management.

Puupehanol, a sesquiterpene-dihydroquinone derivative from the marine sponge Hyrtios sp.

Puupehanol (1), a new sesquiterpene-dihydroquinone derivative, was isolated from the marine sponge Hyrtios sp., along with the known compounds puupehenone (2) and chloropuupehenone (3) that are responsible for the antifungal activity observed in the extract. The structure of 1 was established as (20R,21R)-21-hydroxy-20,21-dihydropuupehenone by extensive spectroscopic and computational methods.

Tubercular cervical adenitis: clinicopathologic analysis of 180 cases.

Objective: To analyze the clinical presentations, laboratory investigation results, and histopathologic evaluation of tubercular cervical adenitis (TCA) in our population.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Tertiary health care centre.