A rare case of isolated hydatid cyst of breast.

Introduction: Hydatid cyst of the breast is very rare. It is challenging to differentiate it from other tumoral lesions of the breast. Only few reports of breast hydatid cyst are published and majority of the reported cases have been diagnosed postoperatively as it is not possible to reach definitive diagnosis with clinical examination and radiological investigations only.

Astrocytes refine cortical connectivity at dendritic spines.

During cortical synaptic development, thalamic axons must establish synaptic connections despite the presence of the more abundant intracortical projections. How thalamocortical synapses are formed and maintained in this competitive environment is unknown. Here, we show that astrocyte-secreted protein hevin is required for normal thalamocortical synaptic connectivity in the mouse cortex.

Challenges in ototoxicity monitoring in the pediatric oncology population.

Background: Platinum-based chemotherapy and cranial radiation are effective treatment options commonly prescribed for a variety of childhood cancers. These therapies can, and often do, result in early- and late-onset adverse health effects such as hearing loss. Undetected hearing loss is particularly concerning in young children developing speech and language skills and can negatively affect academic achievement and the psychosocial well-being of both young and older children.

Modeling DPOAE input/output function compression: comparisons with hearing thresholds.

Background: Basilar membrane input/output (I/O) functions in mammalian animal models are characterized by linear and compressed segments when measured near the location corresponding to the characteristic frequency. A method of studying basilar membrane compression indirectly in humans involves measuring distortion-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) I/O functions. Previous research has linked compression estimates from behavioral growth-of-masking functions to hearing thresholds.

A Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Survey regarding Sex, Contraception and Sexually Transmitted Diseases among Commerce College Students in Mumbai.

Introduction: One in four Indians is a juvenile. Sexual crimes, pre marital sex, sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies are on the rise. It has been shown that lack of sexuality education can significantly contribute to the above.

Expression Profile of Markers of Apoptosis, Injury and Oxidative Stress in Human Lung Epithelium Cells-A5449 Receiving Chronic Exposure of Potential Anti-Tubercular Drug-trans-Cyclohexane-1, 4-Diamine Derivative-"9u".

Earlier, we had reported the synthesis of a library of symmetrical trans-cyclohexane-1,4-diamine derivatives and evaluated them for their anti-mycobacterium activity in the H37RV strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A range of efficacy was recorded in different derivatives and the compound "9u" having an i-propyl group substitution at the p-position was found to be the most effective. The compound "9u" was found to be safe for cytotoxic and genotoxic responses in human lung epithelium cells-A549, even up to many fold higher than that required to kill M.

Novel Na(+) doped Alq3 hybrid materials for organic light-emitting diode (OLED) devices and flat panel displays.

Pure and Na(+) -doped Alq3 complexes were synthesized by a simple precipitation method at room temperature, maintaining a stoichiometric ratio. These complexes were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV/Vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. The X-ray diffractogram exhibits well-resolved peaks, revealing the crystalline nature of the synthesized complexes, FTIR confirms the molecular structure and the completion of quinoline ring formation in the metal complex.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided pelvic and prostatic abscess drainage: experience in 30 patients.

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided drainage is an effective treatment for many abscesses in the abdomen. We review our experience with EUS-guided drainage of pelvic abscesses.

Methods: Thirty consecutive patients who underwent EUS-guided pelvic abscess drainage were evaluated after excluding three patients with distance to transducer >2 cm or organized abscess.

Psychophysical auditory filter estimates reveal sharper cochlear tuning in musicians.

Musicianship confers enhancements to hearing at nearly all levels of the auditory system from periphery to percept. Musicians' superior psychophysical abilities are particularly evident in spectral discrimination and noise-degraded listening tasks, achieving higher perceptual sensitivity than their nonmusician peers. Greater spectral acuity implies that musicianship may increase auditory filter selectivity.

Antioxidant activity of essential oil and extracts of Valeriana jatamansi roots.

Valeriana jatamansi is an indigenous medicinal plant used in the treatment of a number of diseases. In the present study, chemical composition of the essential oil was determined by GC-MS. Seven major components were identified in Valeriana jatamansi essential oil, namely, β-vatirenene, β-patchoulene, dehydroaromadendrene, β-gurjunene, patchoulic alcohol, β-guaiene, and α-muurolene.

Cyto-genotoxicity Assessment of Potential Anti-tubercular Drug Candidate Molecule-trans-cyclohexane-1, 4-diamine Derivative-9u in Human Lung Epithelial Cells A549.

Increasing incidences of multiple drug-resistance (MDR) in Mycobacterium tuberculosis are emerging as one among the serious public health threats and socio-economic burden to the third world countries including India. Last couples of decades are witnesses of the dedicated and sustained efforts made toward the development of target specific and cost-effective antimicrobial agents against MDR-M. tuberculosis.

Pediatric cervical sympathetic chain schwannoma with Horner syndrome: a rare case presentation.

Schwannomas are rare, benign, slowly growing neurogenic tumors that originate in peripheral, spinal, or cranial nerves other than the optic and olfactory nerves. In the head and neck, these tumors usually arise from the vagus nerve and the cervical sympathetic chain in the parapharyngeal space. Cervical sympathetic chain schwannomas represent a rare subgroup of schwannomas; fewer than 60 cases have been reported in the literature.

Attenuation of serum ferritin and iron burden by intake of antioxidants in beta thalassemia major.

It has been anticipated that iron and ferritin burden in patients with beta thalassemia major is associated with enhanced free radical formation and blemished antioxidant defense system. The goal of study was to scrutinize impact of serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), ferritin and erythrocyte catalase in patients with beta thalassemia major. 140 beta thalassemia major patients were studied before and after supplementation of antioxidants for one month, and status was compared with 140 age and sex matched healthy controls.

Concordance between the chang and the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) ototoxicity grading scales in patients treated with cisplatin for medulloblastoma.

Background: Reporting ototoxicity is frequently complicated by use of various ototoxicity criteria. The International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) ototoxicity grading scale was recently proposed for standardized use in reporting hearing loss outcomes across institutions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concordance between the Chang and SIOP ototoxicity grading scales.

"Globus symptoms": a rare case of giant osteochondroma of the axis treated with high cervical extrapharyngeal approach.

Background Osteochondroma is the most common primary bone tumor, composing 35% of benign bone tumors and 9% of all bone tumors; 1.3 to 4.1% of all osteochondromas originate from the spine.

Endoscopic Trans-Nasal Trans-Sphenoidal (TNTS) Approach For Pituitary Adenomas: Our Experience.

Advances in optics, miniaturization, and endoscopic instrumentation have revolutionized surgery in the past decade. Current progress in the field of endoscopy promises to further this evolution: endoscopic telescopes and instruments have improved upon the optical and technical limitations of the microscope, and require an even less invasive approach to the sella. Pituitary surgery is traditionally within the realm of the neurosurgeon.

Clinical profile of pharyngeal malignancy in a tertiary care centre, state of uttarakhand.

Pharynx is a common site of malignancy in the head and neck region. This study presents a series of 94 cases of pharyngeal malignancy conducted at Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Dehradun, Uttarakhand in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology for a period of one year (2009-2010). Mean age at presentation was 56.

Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia presenting as isolated persistent epistaxis: a very rare presentation.

Nose bleed is the most common rhinological emergency. There are multiple risk factors for the development of epistaxis and it can affect any age group, but it is the elderly population with their associated morbidity who often require more intensive treatment and subsequent admission. Most cases of epistaxis occur in the Little's area, a location readily accessible and treatable by cautery or anterior nasal packing.

A Unusual Case of Complicated Zenker's Diverticulum.

We report the surgical management of a case of Zenker's diverticulum in a 64 year old man, complicated by metallic nail penetration and surgical scarring due to previous surgery for cervical vertebral trauma.

Fungus cerebri (brain fungus): a rare complication of mastoidectomy.

Fungus cerebri is a relatively rare disease. The various reasons attributed to such pathology are, long standing mastoiditis, previous temporal lobe fracture, spontaneous herniation and most important common cause is post operative to mastoidectomy. The diagnosis is mainly clinical and supplemented by imaging studies.

Clinico-etiolological study of vocal cord paralysis.

The purpose of this study was to identify patients of vocal cord paralysis and to establish an etiological diagnosis. Patients with vocal cord paralysis have been followed prospectively at a tertiary referral center. 120 patients identified with vocal cord paralysis by laryngeal endoscopy were evaluated clinically, radiologically and pathologically to make an etiological diagnosis.

Design and synthesis of guanylthiourea derivatives as potential inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase enzyme.

A new class of compounds based on S-benzylated guanylthiourea has been designed as potential PfDHFR inhibitors using computer aided methods (molecular electrostatic potential, molecular docking). Several compounds in this class have been synthesized starting from guanylthiourea and alkyl bromides. In vitro studies showed that two compounds from this class are active with the IC50 value of 100 μM and 400 nM.