Androgens in childhood acquired aplastic anaemia in Chandigarh, India.

This study assessed the efficacy of stanozolol in acquired aplastic anaemia (AA) in children, who were unable to opt for alternative therapies due to financial constraints. It uses a retrospective case-record analysis. Medical records of children with AA who received stanozolol were analysed.

The effect of hematocrit and leukocyte adherence on flow direction in the microcirculation.

We sought to characterize how adherent leukocytes at the vessel wall, and the presence of erythrocytes, alter the streamlines (paths) of blood flow in the postcapillary venules. We directly visualized blood flow and leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions in postcapillary venules located in the cremaster muscle of anesthetized mice. Fluid streamlines were visualized by perfusing the cremaster muscle tissue with 0.

Dysferlin and the plasma membrane repair in muscular dystrophy.

Muscular dystrophy covers a group of genetically determined disorders that cause progressive weakness and wasting of the skeletal muscles. Dysferlin was identified as a gene mutated in limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (type 2B) and Miyoshi myopathy. The discovery of dysferlin revealed a new family of proteins, known as the ferlin family, which includes four different genes.

Extramammary Paget's disease masquerading as lichen sclerosus.

A wide range of genital infections and skin conditions may present with vulval pruritus. Lichen sclerosus is one cause. This is often associated with visible skin changes which include atrophy, resorption or fusion of the labia, sclerosis and excoriation.

Evidence of free radical participation in N-glycolylneuraminic acid generation in liver of chicken treated with gallotannic acid.

The occurrence of N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) in cancerous tissue and inflammatory diseases, conditions associated with increased oxidative stress suggests the participation of reactive oxygen radicals in Neu5Gc generation, where an oxygen atom is transferred. To study this possibility, we treated two groups of domesticated birds and rabbits with different dosages of gallotannic acid (GTA), a compound known to cause generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The antioxidant status and leukocyte capacity, as well as amount and form of sialic acids were assessed in plasma and liver.

Synthesis of some newer derivatives of 2-amino benzoic acid as potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents.

Diazotization of N-benzylidene anthranilic acids 1a-1n at pH 9 yielded N-[alpha-(phenylazo) benzylidene] anthranilic acids 2a-2n and at pH 3 yielded N-benzylidene-5-(phenylazo) anthranilic acids 3a-3n. When compounds 3a-3n were treated with thioglycolic/thiolactic acid in the presence of anhydrous ZnCl(2), 2-(4-oxo-2-phenylthiazolidin-3-yl)-5-(phenylazo) benzoic acids 4a-4n were afforded. The newly synthesized compounds were screened for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities and were compared with standard drugs, aspirin and phenylbutazone.

Magnesium deficiency increases oxidative stress in rats.

Magnesium deficiency has been implicated in the development of atherosclerosis and late diabetic complications, diseases often associated with increased oxidative stress. Present study was carried out to examine the effect of magnesium deficiency on oxidative stress and total radical trapping antioxidant parameter (calculated) in rats and correlate it with the development of free radical mediated diseases. Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups and pair fed for six weeks with low magnesium diet (70 mg/kg) and control diet (990 mg/kg) prepared synthetically.

Quality of working life in genitourinary medicine.

Quality issues are becoming increasingly relevant to the working lives of health care staff. We sought to assess the perceived work-related quality of life of staff working in a genitourinary medicine (GUM) department using a self-administered anonymous questionnaire focusing on areas from the Trust's staff charter. Over two-thirds (69%) of the staff members participated.

N-glycolylneuraminic acid conjugates: implications of their absence in mammalian biochemistry.

N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) is one of the two most common forms of sialic acids present in glycoproteins and glycolipids of mammalian tissues. It is synthesized from the most ubiquitous sialic acid, N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) in a hydroxylation reaction catalysed by the enzyme Neu5Ac hydroxylase. Though Neu5Gc conjugates are prevalent in many tissues of mammals, they are absent in glycolipids and only trace amounts are present in glycoproteins of the brain and central nervous system.

Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia: clinical and hematological profile.

Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia (CDA) is a rare disorder, which manifests clinically with varying degrees of anemia and hepatosplenomegaly. These features are not pathognomic and a diagnosis of CDA is generally considered after other causes of chronic hemolytic anemia have been ruled out. The clinico-hematological profile of 10 patients with CDA is presented in this communication.

Defective membrane repair in dysferlin-deficient muscular dystrophy.

Muscular dystrophy includes a diverse group of inherited muscle diseases characterized by wasting and weakness of skeletal muscle. Mutations in dysferlin are linked to two clinically distinct muscle diseases, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2B and Miyoshi myopathy, but the mechanism that leads to muscle degeneration is unknown. Dysferlin is a homologue of the Caenorhabditis elegans fer-1 gene, which mediates vesicle fusion to the plasma membrane in spermatids.

Effect of magnesium supplementation on oxidative stress in alloxanic diabetic rats.

Magnesium deficit and oxidative stress are common features of the diabetic state. This concept supported by another observation that magnesium deficiency is also a state of increased oxidative stress prompted us to study the effect of magnesium supplementation on magnesium status and oxidative stress in diabetic rats. For this purpose, male Wistar rats were made diabetic with a single intraperitoneal injection of Alloxan.

'Shelf life' of Trichomonas vaginalis.

The diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) infection in women may be made by observing motile trichomonads in wet-mount preparations of vaginal discharge. The duration for which these organisms can be identified in such samples is unknown. We sought to assess this by performing wet-mount microscopy on samples from female patients immediately, and then in positive samples, every 10 minutes until motile trichomonads could no longer be identified.

Clinico-haematological profile of pure red cell aplasia in children.

Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is a rare disorder, characterized by isolated failure of erythropoiesis. The clinico-haematological profile of 16 patients with PRCA is presented in this communication. Fourteen patients had Diamond-Blackfan anaemia (DBA), one had transient erythroblastopenia of childhood, and one patient had PRCA secondary to carbamazepine.

Cervical intramedullary tuberculoma: acute presentation and rapid response to medical therapy.

A case of an 11-year-old boy with rapidly progressing quadriparesis with bowel and bladder incontinence is reported. MRI of the spine revealed an intramedullary tuberculoma at the level of C5-7. Investigations further revealed evidence of tuberculosis in the brain and lungs as well.

Portal hypertension secondary to Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

We report two children, aged 2 and 2 1/2 years, with multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). Both were administered chemotherapy, with apparently good response. However, hepatic fibrosis and portal hypertension were detected 5 and 1 1/2 years after therapy, respectively.

Transfusion reactions.

Blood components are indicated in a wide variety of disease states. Although most transfusion therapies are administered uneventfully, there are a number of potential adverse transfusion reactions, some of which can assume serious dimensions. These reactions could occur during or even days after a transfusion.

Protective antioxidant effect of vitamins C and E in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

We have investigated the protective effect of vitamin C and E together supplementation on oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activities in the liver of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, unsupplemented diabetic and control rats. We also determined the levels of both the vitamins and oxidative stress in plasma. Vitamin supplementation in diabetic rats lowered plasma and liver lipid peroxidation, normalised plasma vitamin C levels and raised vitamin E above normal levels.

Study of diagnostic modalities and pathology of Helicobacter pylori infection in children.

To evaluate various diagnostic tests for Helicobacter pylori (Hp) in children, and to study the spectrum of endoscopic and histological changes in the stomach and duodenum of children with gastroduodenal disorders, associated with Hp infection Children below 12 years of age with various gastroduodenal disorders requiring upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were studied. Endoscopic biopsy specimens were collected from duodenum and antrum. Apart from histopathological examination of biopsy material, rapid urease test (RUT) of the antral biopsy specimen and blood examination to estimate specific IgG antibodies to Hp by Indirect Solid Phase Enzyme Immunoassay was performed.

Induction of tissue plasminogen activator secretion from rat heart microvascular cells by fM 1,25(OH)(2)D(3).

We investigated the effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [25(OH)(2)D(3)] on tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) secretion from primary cultures of rat heart microvascular cells. After an initial 5-day culture period, cells were treated for 24 h with 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and several of its analogs. The results showed that 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) induced tPA secretion at 10(-10) to 10(-16) M.

Disruption of the sarcoglycan-sarcospan complex in vascular smooth muscle: a novel mechanism for cardiomyopathy and muscular dystrophy.

To investigate mechanisms in the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy associated with mutations of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex, we analyzed genetically engineered mice deficient for either alpha-sarcoglycan (Sgca) or delta-sarcoglycan (Sgcd). We found that only Sgcd null mice developed cardiomyopathy with focal areas of necrosis as the histological hallmark in cardiac and skeletal muscle. Absence of the sarcoglycan-sarcospan (SG-SSPN) complex in skeletal and cardiac membranes was observed in both animal models.

Helicobacter pylori infection in recurrent abdominal pain.

Objective: To study the relationship between Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) and to evaluate various modalities to diagnose Hp infection.

Design: Prospective case control study.

Setting: Teaching hospital.