Surveillance of acute respiratory infections in Mumbai during 2011-12.

Purpose: Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in individuals aged less than 5 years. ARI often leads to hospitalisation, and it has been indicated that causative viral and bacterial infections go undetermined and results in the occurrence of resistant strains. The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of various viral and bacterial infections in patients with ARIs.

Quantification of (1→4)-β-d-Galactans in Compression Wood Using an Immuno-Dot Assay.

Compression wood is a type of reaction wood formed on the underside of softwood stems when they are tilted from the vertical and on the underside of branches. Its quantification is still a matter of some scientific debate. We developed a new technique that has the potential to do this based on the higher proportions of (1→4)-β-d-galactans that occur in tracheid cell walls of compression wood.

Acute cutaneous graft-vs.-host disease compared to drug hypersensitivity reaction with vacuolar interface changes: a blinded study of microscopic and immunohistochemical features.

Background: Complications from graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD), a major contributor to morbidity and mortality following hematopoietic cell transplantation, may be mitigated by early diagnosis and intervention. However, differentiation between acute cutaneous GVHD and other common skin eruptions that develop in the post-transplantation period, such as drug hypersensitivity reaction, can be challenging clinically and microscopically.

Drug-induced gingival overgrowth: the genetic dimension.

Background: Currently, the etiology of drug-induced gingival overgrowth is not entirely understood but is clearly multifactorial. Phenytoin, one of the common drugs implicated in gingival enlargement, is metabolized mainly by cytochrome P450 (CYP)2C9 and partly by CYP2C19. The CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 genes are polymorphically expressed and most of the variants result in decreased metabolism of the respective substrates.

A specific role for the REV-ERBα-controlled L-Type Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel CaV1.2 in resetting the circadian clock in the late night.

Within the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus, circadian timekeeping and resetting have been shown to be largely dependent on both membrane depolarization and intracellular second-messenger signaling. In both of these processes, voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) mediate voltage-dependent calcium influx, which propagates neural impulses by stimulating vesicle fusion and instigates intracellular pathways resulting in clock gene expression. Through the cumulative actions of these processes, the phase of the internal clock is modified to match the light cycle of the external environment.

Vimentin positive acantholytic penile squamous cell carcinoma with rhabdoid features.

Acantholytic variant of penile squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is an exceedingly rare and associated with bad prognosis. Histologically it mimics angiosarcoma due to pseudovascular spaces. Vimentin immunopositivity in such cases represent epithelial to mesenchymal transition manifested by cellular discohesion.

Granulocytic sarcoma in non-leukaemic child involving maxillary sinus with long term follow up: A rare case report.

Granulocytic sarcoma (GS) is a rare extramedullary malignant tumor composed of immature myeloid cells. It is strongly associated with acute myeloid leukaemia, chronic myeloproliferative diseases. Occurrence of GS in the oral cavity is extremely uncommon.

Untreated stage IV melanoma patients exhibit abnormal monocyte phenotypes and decreased functional capacity.

Monocytes may contribute to tumor progression in part by mediating tumor-induced immunosuppression. Alterations to the monocyte populations and functions in untreated patients with late-stage melanoma are not fully understood. To characterize these alterations, we compared the frequency, phenotype, and functional capacity of peripheral blood monocytes and other myeloid cells in untreated, newly diagnosed stage IV melanoma patients (n = 18) with those in healthy volunteers.

Endovascular treatment in an unusual case of direct carotid cavernous fistula.

We describe a unique and unusual case of post-traumatic direct carotid cavernous fistula (CCF) with occluded proximal internal carotid artery and CCF filling from the contralateral side with retrograde cortical venous reflux. A male patient presented with intracranial haemorrhage due to cortical venous reflux. He was treated endovascularly through a contralateral approach by coiling the cavernous sinus and occluding the distal internal carotid artery at the fistulous site with glue.

Bilateral visual outcomes and service utilization of patients treated for 3 years with ranibizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Background: The aim of this study was to describe bilateral visual outcomes and the effect of incomplete follow-up after 3 years of ranibizumab therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Secondarily, the demands on service provision over a 3-year period were described.

Methods: Data on visual acuity, hospital visits, and injections were collected over 36 months on consecutive patients commencing treatment over a 9-month period.

Luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone synergy: A review of role in controlled ovarian hyper-stimulation.

Luteinizing hormone (LH) in synergy with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates normal follicular growth and ovulation. FSH is frequently used in assisted reproductive technology (ART). Recent studies have facilitated better understanding on the complementary role of the LH to FSH in regulation of the follicle; however, role of LH in stimulation of follicle, optimal dosage of LH in stimulation and its importance in advanced aged patients has been a topic of discussion among medical fraternity.

Histiocytoid Sweet syndrome may indicate leukemia cutis: a novel application of fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Background: In patients with malignancy-associated Sweet syndrome, a thorough evaluation for leukemia cutis should be considered.

Objective: We sought to describe the clinicopathologic characteristics of histiocytoid Sweet syndrome.

Methods: We retrospectively identified patients with histiocytoid Sweet syndrome at our institution from January 1992 through December 2010.

Oral solid self-emulsifying formulations: a patent review.

Self-emulsifying compositions are lipidic drug delivery systems that provide a number of delivery advantages. A variety of excipients are available for designing of these drug delivery systems. These systems can be classified as Type I, II, III, and IV, and alternatively as solid, semi-solid, and liquid.

Safety and performance of the Penumbra Liberty stent system in a rabbit aneurysm model.

Background: Endovascular treatment of wide necked and large/giant intracranial aneurysms is challenging. The goal of this study was to evaluate the Liberty stent system in the rabbit elastase aneurysm model for 30, 90, and 180 days.

Methods: The Altes elastase model was used to create aneurysms in the right common carotid artery in New Zealand White rabbits.

Technology for the manufacture of Diabetic Rosogolla.

Diabetic Rosogolla was manufactured by using low-fat cow milk. Six different combinations viz. type of chhana and two different concentrations (40° and 50° Brix) of cooking medium.

Palliative management of lymphangioleiomyomatosis: Using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare, progressive systemic disease of unknown etiology, insidious onset, often fatal, and underdiagnosed. It is exclusively found among women. LAM mainly involves the lungs where, as its name suggests, lymphatic (lymph), blood vessel (angio), and airways are surrounded by smooth muscle (leiomyoma) proliferation.

Plasma radiation dynamics with the upgraded Absolute Extreme Ultraviolet tomographical system in the Tokamak à Configuration Variable.

We introduce an upgraded version of a tomographical system which is built up from Absolute Extreme Ultraviolet-type (AXUV) detectors and has been installed on the Tokamak à Configuration Variable (TCV). The system is suitable for the investigation of fast radiative processes usually observed in magnetically confined high-temperature plasmas. The upgrade consists in the detector protection by movable shutters, some modifications to correct original design errors and the improvement in the data evaluation techniques.

A molecular insight into the role of inflammation in the behavior and pathogenesis of odontogenic cysts.

Background: Although, odontogenickeratocyst (OKC) and dentigerous cyst (DC) are considered asdevelopmental cysts inflammation has been seen in its connective tissue wall. Inflammation is seen to alter the epithelial lining of both OKC and DC butwhether it plays in altering the behavior of these cysts is not fully understood.

Aim: The present study is conducted with the help of molecular marker proliferating cellular nuclear antigen (PCNA) to assess the proliferative activity of OKC and DC and to further evaluate and correlate the effect of inflammation on the proliferative activity and hence on biological behavior of these cysts.

Exposure to a high-fat high-sugar diet causes strong up-regulation of proopiomelanocortin and differentially affects dopamine D1 and D2 receptor gene expression in the brainstem of rats.

A strong link between obesity and dopamine (DA) has been established by studies associating body weight status to variants of genes related to DA signalling. Human and animal studies investigating this relationship have so far focused mainly on the role of DA within the mesolimbic pathway. The aim of this study was to investigate potential DA receptor dysregulation in the brainstem, where these receptors play a potential role in meal termination, during high-fat high-sugar diet (HFHS) exposure.

Sweet syndrome: clinical presentation, associations, and response to treatment in 77 patients.

Background: Sweet syndrome is a neutrophilic dermatosis with cutaneous tender lesions that can be associated with malignancies, infections, systemic inflammatory disorders, and medications. Although numerous studies have described Sweet syndrome, few studies have systematically investigated Sweet syndrome.

Objective: We sought to describe characteristics and treatments of patients with Sweet syndrome and evaluate clinical differences depending on the underlying cause.

Is it necessary to use three mandatory loading doses when commencing therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration using bevacizumab? (BeMOc Trial).

Purpose: To determine whether a Pro Re Nata (PRN) regimen with three initial mandatory loading doses results in better functional and anatomical outcome compared with a PRN regimen without initial loading when using intravitreal bevacizumab in patients with minimal classic or occult choroidal neovascularisation secondary to age-related macular degeneration.

Methods: Patients were randomised (1 : 1) to Loading (LD group) or No Loading (NLD group) and treated with open label intravitreal bevacizumab. In the LD group, patients received two mandatory doses after the baseline dose before entering the PRN phase and in the NLD group, patients did not receive mandatory doses after the baseline dose.

Significant morbidity and mortality attributable to rothia mucilaginosa infections in children with hematological malignancies or following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Rothia mucilaginosa is a gram-positive coccus that poses a diagnostic challenge and often requires DNA pyrosequencing for diagnosis as it can be easily mistaken for coagulase-negative staphylococci on initial culture results. While it is often times normal human oral and upper respiratory tract microbiota, it can be a virulent pathogen in immunocompromised patients. Most commonly, it causes bacteremia (catheter and non-catheter related) and meningitis in these patients.