Ellis-van Creveld Syndrome (chondro-ectodermal dysplasia) in two siblings.

Two male siblings aged 12 and 15 years (Figure 1) presented with growth retardation, limb abnormalities and, defective teeth and nail since childhood. There was no history of similar defects in other family members. On examination their height was 114 cm and 130 cm (expected height; 169 cm and 150 cm) respectively.

In search of endodontic pathogens.

Success of root canal therapy depends on the complete eradication of microflora from the root canal system. A great deal of research is needed to identify and define the role of the pathogens which are involved in the pathogenesis of the periradicular diseases. This will help the endodontist to plan the best treatment by irradiation of pathogens which, in turn predict the outcome of the treatment.

Comparison of potassium hydroxide mount and mycological culture with histopathologic examination using periodic acid-Schiff staining of the nail clippings in the diagnosis of onychomycosis.

Background: Onychomycosis is a common problem noticed in clinical practice. Currently available standard laboratory methods show inconsistent sensitivity; hence there is a need for newer methods of detection.

Aims: This study involves comparison of standard laboratory tests in the diagnosis of onychomycosis, namely, potassium hydroxide mount (KOH mount) and mycological culture, with histopathologic examination using periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining of the nail clippings.

Method to determine the optical properties of turbid media.

A novel method to determine the optical properties, namely, absorption coefficient, scattering coefficient, and anisotropy factor of turbid solutions, single constituent or multiconstituent, is presented. Turbid solutions of milk, ink, and a mixture of both were illuminated by a laser beam and measurements were carried out in scattered light. Experimental results were matched to the corresponding results of Monte Carlo simulation to obtain the optical properties of the turbid media.

A rat model of chronic gastric sensorimotor dysfunction resulting from transient neonatal gastric irritation.

Background & Aims: Although several pathophysiologic abnormalities have been noted in functional dyspepsia (FD), their pathogenesis is poorly understood. We hypothesized that chronic gastric hypersensitivity and gastric motor dysfunction seen in FD patients can be modeled in rats by transient gastric irritation during the neonatal period, a time of known neuronal vulnerability to long-term plasticity.

Methods: Ten-day-old male rats received 0.

Experimental observation of longitudinal modulation of mode fields in periodically segmented waveguides.

We present what is to our knowledge the first experimental observation by fluorescent visualization, of the evolution of the mode field profile in a periodically segmented waveguide. The experimental observations are then compared with the numerical results obtained by a finite-difference beam propagation method. Good agreement between experimental and numerical results is observed.

Furosemide and acute kidney injury in neonates.

Furosemide is a commonly used loop diuretic in neonatal intensive care. The common indications for the use of diuretics in neonates are fluid retention with adequate circulating blood volume, congestive heart failure, chronic lung disease (now rarely used) and acute kidney injury. This article discusses the pathophysiology of acute kidney injury in neonates and explores and maps the role of furosemide in this clinical situation.

Laparoscopic extraction of the awkward intravesical foreign body: a point of technique.

A technique is described to extract intravesical foreign bodies that cannot be safely extracted urethrally. A laparoscopic port is introduced via a small suprapubic incision into a saline distended bladder. The entry into the bladder is guided by visualization through the cystoscope.

Spectral Measurement of the Film-Substrate Index Difference in Proton-Exchanged LiNbO(3) Waveguides.

We report the spectral characterization of proton-exchanged lithium niobate (PE:LiNbO(3)) waveguides in terms of the variation of the refractive-index difference between the waveguiding layer and the substrate. The dispersion of the extraordinary refractive-index increase (deltan(e)) is measured from 405 to 1319 nm with several light sources. Two types of proton-exchanged waveguide, prepared under different conditions, are studied.

Ray analysis of parabolic-index segmented planar waveguides.

A ray analysis of periodically segmented waveguides with parabolic-index variation in the high-index region is presented. We carried out the analysis using ray transfer matrices, which is convenient to implement and which can be extended to study different types of graded-index segmented waveguide. Results of this ray tracing approach clearly illustrate the waveguiding properties and the existence of stable and unstable regions of operation in segmented waveguides.

P2X receptor-mediated visceral hyperalgesia in a rat model of chronic visceral hypersensitivity.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder characterised by abdominal pain and bloating in association with altered bowel movements. Its pathogenesis and the underlying molecular mechanisms of visceral hyperalgesia remain elusive. Recent studies of somatic and other visceral pain models suggest a role for purinergic signalling mediated by the P2X receptor (P2XR) family.

Successful renal transplantation in children in the presence of thrombosis of the inferior vena cava.

Thrombosis of the inferior vena cava (IVC) has previously been considered to be a contraindication to renal transplantation in children because of the technical difficulties associated with surgery and the increased risk of graft thrombosis. We report three children with previous IVC thrombosis who underwent renal transplantation at our institution over the last 5 years. The pretransplant imaging of these patients included direct venography or magnetic resonance venography to evaluate venous outflow.

Mechanisms of generation of multi-peak and mode-locked resembling pulses in Q-switched Yb-doped fiber lasers.

The output pulse characteristics of Q-switched Yb-doped fiber lasers have been investigated experimentally. It has been observed that for any typical modulation frequency, the pump power and the modulator OFF-time govern the shape of the output Q-switched pulse. At a fixed modulation frequency, with a fine adjustment of acousto-optic modulation window ON-time, pump power and cavity mirror position, it was possible to obtain modulation free single-peak pulse, multi-peak pulse, mode-locked resembling pulse and multi-pulse structured pulse shapes in a Q-switched fiber laser output.

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 mediates hyperalgesia and is up-regulated in rats with chronic pancreatitis.

Background & Aims: The neurobiologic basis of pancreatic hyperalgesia in chronic pancreatitis (CP) is understood poorly and there is a need to identify novel therapeutic targets. Our aim was to study the role of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), a key integrator of noxious stimuli, in the pathogenesis of pancreatic pain in a rat model of CP.

Methods: CP was induced in rats by intraductal injection of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid.

Increases in central aortic impedance precede alterations in arterial stiffness measures in type 1 diabetes.

Objective: Increased pulse pressure has been associated with increased cardiovascular risk in individuals with diabetes. Changes in central aortic properties can increase central pulse pressure and may adversely affect microvascular perfusion and cardiac performance. This study was performed to define early changes in central arterial properties in a group of young individuals with type 1 diabetes.

A novel mutualism between an ant-plant and its resident pollinator.

Pollination systems in which the host plant provides breeding sites for pollinators, invariably within flowers, are usually highly specialized mutualisms. We found that the pollinating bee Braunsapis puangensis breeds within the caulinary domatia of the semi-myrmecophyte Humboldtia brunonis (Fabaceae), an unusual ant-plant that is polymorphic for the presence of domatia and harbours a diverse invertebrate fauna including protective and non-protective ants in its domatia. B.

Outcome of Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis treated with long-term immunosuppression.

This retrospective study investigated the outcome of 27 children (19 male) with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSN) of International Study of Kidney Disease in Children (ISKDC) grade 3b or higher treated with long-term immunosuppressive therapy in a single centre over a 10-year period. The mean age at presentation was 9.7 years.

Cutaneous rhinosporidiosis.

Rhinosporidiosis is a chronic granulomatous disease of the mucocutaneous tissue, which clinically presents as polypoidal growths. Cutaneous lesions are infrequent and are generally associated with mucosal lesions. We present a case of cutaneous rhinosporidiosis in association with recurrent nasopharyngeal rhinosporidiosis in a 65-year-old male patient.

Treating severe Henoch-Schönlein and IgA nephritis with plasmapheresis alone.

The aim of our study was to determine the outcome of children with severe Henoch-Schönlein nephritis (HSN) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephritis (IgAN) treated with early plasmapheresis alone. Children with acute renal impairment, heavy proteinuria or both and histology greater than grade 3 were treated with early plasmapheresis alone. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimated from plasma creatinine (eGFR), urine albumin:creatinine ratio (UA/UC) and blood pressure 2 weeks after treatment and were measured at the last follow-up.

Kaposi's varicelliform eruption.

Kaposi's varicelliform eruption (eczema herpeticum) is the name given to a distinct cutaneous eruption caused by herpes simplex and certain other viruses that infect persons with preexisting dermatosis. Most commonly it is associated with atopic dermatitis. We report a case of a three-year-old atopic child who presented with extensive vesicular eruption suggestive of Kaposi's varicelliform eruption.

The vanilloid receptor initiates and maintains colonic hypersensitivity induced by neonatal colon irritation in rats.

Background & Aims: Robust chemical or mechanical irritation of the colon of neonatal rats leads to chronic visceral hypersensitivity. The clinical and physiologic relevance of such noxious stimulation in the context of human irritable bowel syndrome is questionable. The aims of this study were to determine whether mild chemical irritation of the colon of neonatal rats produced persistent changes in visceral sensitivity and to evaluate the role of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) in the initiation and maintenance of visceral hypersensitivity.

Renovascular hypertension commencing during fetal life.

We report three infants with severe, early hypertension due to unilateral renovascular disease, whose cardiovascular changes, or polycythaemia, or both, indicated they had been affected as fetuses. All underwent unilateral nephrectomy, and had a similar histology, with patchy areas having relatively normal glomeruli but immature proximal tubules. This pattern may be a marker for renovascular disease in fetal life.

Diagnosis and management of stage a heart failure.

Reduction of the monetary and societal costs of the heart failure epidemic can best be achieved by prevention of new heart failure cases. To effectively prevent heart failure, patients at risk must be identified and treated. The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Guidelines for Evaluation and Management of Chronic Heart Failure in the Adult define the stage A heart failure patient as one with identified risk factors for heart failure, particularly coronary heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes, but no evidence of cardiovascular damage.