Microvessel density and p53 overexpression in young women with breast cancer: a case-control study.

Several reports have indicated that young women (less than 40 years of age) with breast cancer have a worse prognosis than older women. We performed a case-control study in order to confirm this observation and to determine whether this was attributable to increased microvessel density (MVD) or p53 expression. Twenty-six young women (cases) with stage I-III breast cancer that had adequate paraffin-embedded archival tissue were identified by the Montefiore Medical Center Tumor Registry over a 24-year period.

In vivo hepatoprotective activity of active fraction from ethanolic extract of Eclipta alba leaves.

The alcoholic extract of fresh leaves of the plant Eclipta alba (Ea), previously reported for is hepatoprotective activity was fractionated into three parts to chemically identify the most potent bioactive fraction. The hepatoprotective potential of the fraction prepared from extract was studied in vivo in rats and mice against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity. The hepatoprotective activity was determined on the basis of their effects on parameters like hexobarbitone sleep time, zoxazolamine paralysis time, bromosulphaline clearance, serum transaminases and serum bilirubin.

Case of the month. Symptomatic chronic calcified subdural hematoma in a 5-year-old child.

Head trauma is a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. The pathophysiology and clinical outcomes of head trauma differ between children and adults. Traumatic mass lesions such as subdural and epidural hematomas occur less frequently in children and, when present, are associated with lower mortality.

Neonatal outcomes at a subdistrict hospital in north India.

Subdistrict hospitals form the first referral level facilities for essential newborn care services. However, there is a paucity of information on the pattern of neonatal admission and outcomes at this level. The objective of this study was to describe the spectrum of neonatal mortality at a subdistrict hospital.

Protein kinases modulate the cellular adaptations associated with opioid tolerance and dependence.

Prolonged opioid exposure occurs frequently as a result of clinical use or drug abuse. Research using different ligands, cell lines, and animal models in the past three decades has elucidated some correlation between the biochemical events and behavioral changes resulting from opioid tolerance, dependence and addiction. For the most part, opioid tolerance and dependence are associated with up-regulation of the cAMP pathway, mediated by the supersensitization of adenylyl cyclase and by the altered coupling of opioid receptors to stimulatory G proteins.

Developmental Neurobiology of Pain in Neonatal Rats.

The authors examine the biological basis for the behavioral evidence of pain perception in neonatal rats, and discuss the potential link to a greater understanding of chronic pain

Hormonal and metabolic stress responses after major surgery in children aged 0-3 years: a double-blind, randomized trial comparing the effects of continuous versus intermittent morphine.

Children aged 0-3 yr were stratified for age and randomized to receive either continuous morphine (CM, 10 microg x kg(-1) x h(-1)) with three-hourly placebo boluses or intermittent morphine (IM, 30 microg x kg(-1) every 3 h) with a placebo infusion for postoperative analgesia. Plasma concentrations of epinephrine, norepinephrine, insulin, glucose and lactate were measured before and at the end of surgery and 6, 12 and 24 h after surgery. Pain was assessed with validated pain scales [the COMFORT scale and a visual analogue scale (VAS)] with the availability of additional morphine doses.

Estimation of mortality and morbidity due to strokes in India.

In order to control the stroke problem, its magnitude should be assessed. India is ranked among the countries where the information on stroke is minimal. We decided to review the information available in order to estimate the mortality and morbidity due to stroke in India.

Neurocysticercal serodiagnosis--updated.

For diagnosis of neurocysticercosis the gold standard would be a stereotactic biopsy and histological confirmation which are not universally available or acceptable to patients, hence the necessity of immunodiagnosis. The authors have narrated beautifully the serodiagnostic aspects of neurocysticercosis in its updated form and have discussed the subject with proper references.

Injection use in a village in north India.

Background: Injections can transmit infections such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), and precipitate poliomyelitis. Complications such as injection abscesses and nerve damage may also occur. It is estimated that 50% of the injections given in developing countries are unsafe.

Statistical models to predict the need for postoperative intensive care and hospitalization in pediatric surgical patients.

Objective: To develop statistical models for predicting postoperative hospital and ICU stay in pediatric surgical patients based on preoperative clinical characteristics and operative factors related to the degree of surgical stress. We hypothesized that preoperative and operative factors will predict the need for ICU admission and may be used to forecast the length of ICU stay or postoperative hospital stay.

Design: Prospective data collection from 1,763 patients.

Economic evaluation of water iodization program in Thailand.

In Thailand, iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) are endemic in 57 out of 75 provinces with an estimated 15 million people at risk of IDD. A three pronged control program with iodized salt, iodized water and iodized oil capsules is being implemented. The water iodization program is both school based and household based.

Adaptogenic activity of a novel, withanolide-free aqueous fraction from the roots of Withania somnifera Dun.

The practitioners of the traditional Indian system of medicine regard Withania somnifera Dun. as the 'Indian ginseng'. A new withanolide-free aqueous fraction was isolated from the roots of this plant and was evaluated for putative antistress activity against a battery of tests such as hypoxia time, antifatigue effect, swimming performance time, swimming induced gastric ulceration and hypothermia, immobilization induced gastric ulceration, autoanalgesia and biochemical changes in the adrenal glands.

Interactions of inflammatory pain and morphine in infant rats: long-term behavioral effects.

Neonatal rat pups exposed to repetitive acute pain show decreases in pain threshold and altered behavior during adulthood. A model using prolonged inflammatory pain in neonatal rats may have greater clinical relevance for investigating the long-term behavioral effects of neonatal pain in ex-preterm neonates. Neonatal rat pups were exposed to repeated formalin injections on postnatal (P) days 1-7 (P1-P7), with or without morphine pretreatment, and were compared with untreated controls.

Life-threatening respiratory failure following accidental infusion of polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution into the lung.

Functional fecal retention is the most common cause of encopresis in children. Hospitalization may be required to clear the bowel following failure of outpatient management. Although the safety and efficacy of polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution is well established in children older than 6 months (1), its use should be carefully monitored in patients with altered mental status or impaired airway protective reflexes.