Elasticity imaging of polymeric media.

Viscoelastic properties of soft tissues and hydropolymers depend on the strength of molecular bonding forces connecting the polymer matrix and surrounding fluids. The basis for diagnostic imaging is that disease processes alter molecular-scale bonding in ways that vary the measurable stiffness and viscosity of the tissues. This paper reviews linear viscoelastic theory as applied to gelatin hydrogels for the purpose of formulating approaches to molecular-scale interpretation of elasticity imaging in soft biological tissues.

Synthesis and crystallographic analysis of benzophenone derivatives--the potential anti-inflammatory agents.

Fries rearrangement of substituted phenyl benzoates 1a-j to substituted hydroxy benzophenones 2a-j was achieved in excellent yield. Further benzoylation of 2a-j to benzoyloxy benzophenones 4a-n, a benzophenone analogue was achieved in good yield. All the newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity and were compared with standard drugs.

Imaging tumor microenvironment with ultrasound.

Recent advances in molecular biology are providing new opportunities for breast cancer imaging. Our approach uses ultrasound to image viscoelastic features of tumors. These features describe microenvironmental factors that stimulate signaling pathways in tumors that ultimately affect metastatic potential and response to traditional therapeutics.

Autosomal recessive type I lissencephaly.

Lissencephaly (LIS) is a brain malformation manifested by a smooth cerebral surface, thickened cortical mantle and microscopic evidence of incomplete neuronal migration, excluding polymicrogyria and other cortical dysplasias. It is important to consider LIS in the diagnosis of developmental delay as many patients may be diagnosed as cerebral palsy. It may have familial occurrence and can occur in sibs of same family often leading to a diagnostic problem.

Association of lipid profile and body mass index (bmi) in hypertensive patients of Eastern Nepal.

Dyslipidemia is closely associated with hypertension. Out of different fractions of lipoprotein, definite association of elevated LDL-Cholesterol (LDLc) and other lipid parameters has been well observed in hypertensive patients. The present cross sectional study was undertaken at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences with the aim to find out association of different lipid parameters and Body Mass Index (BMI) among newly diagnosed hypertension without any medications in Eastern Nepal.

Age related changes in cholesterol level among the patients with subclinical hypothyroidism in eastern Nepal.

This study was undertaken at Biochemistry Department (BPKIHS) from 2001 to 2002. The aim of this study was to assess whether subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with abnormal cholesterol level in different age groups. Of the cases referred to the department, 398 euthyroid controls, 189 hypothyroid cases, 179 hyperthyroid cases and 181 subclinical hypothyroid cases were enrolled for further analyses.

Formulation of questions followed by small group discussion as a revision exercise at the end of a teaching module in biochemistry.

Undergraduate medical students get fewer opportunities to clarify their doubts and to reinforce their understanding of concepts after lecture classes. There is no information available in the literature that addresses the question of usefulness of prior formulation of questions followed by small group discussion by undergraduate medical students as a revision exercise. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the effect of formulation of objective type short answer questions by undergraduate medical students followed by small group discussion on the answers of the questions prepared as a revision exercise on their understanding of the topic "amino acid metabolism" and the retention of the gain after 15 days.

PCB (Aroclor 1254) enhances oxidative damage in rat brain regions: protective role of ascorbic acid.

PCBs are one of the environmental toxicants and neurotoxic compounds which induce the production of free radicals leading to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a contributing factor to alteration caused in neurodegenerative processes. The ability of Vitamin C to retard oxidative processes has been recognized for many years.

Questionnaire survey of exposure to lead in the domestic environment in Nigeria.

Environmental exposure to lead is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries, particularly in children, but remains understudied in developing countries. While prevention is acknowledged as the best public health option, the level of knowledge about lead exposure in many developing countries is not known. We conducted a survey to evaluate the knowledge about lead exposure in Nigeria.

Increased insulin sensitivity in intrauterine growth retarded newborns--do thyroid hormones play a role?

Background: Thyroid hormones are necessary for normal brain development. We studied thyroid hormone profile and insulin sensitivity in intrauterine growth retarded (IUGR) newborns to find correlation between insulin sensitivity and thyroid status in IUGR newborns.

Methods: Fifty IUGR and fifty healthy control infants were studied at birth.

Pseudodentritic keratitis associated with meibomitis in young healthy males.

Purpose: To report unusual corneal manifestations of pseudodendritic keratitis in cases of coexisting meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

Methods: Retrospective chart review of five cases of MGD with associated atypical corneal lesions was carried out. Information including patient's age, symptoms and their duration, clinical features, methods of diagnosis, treatment, and outcome were abstracted from the medical records.

Demonstration of in silico docking at a large scale on grid infrastructure.

WISDOM stands for World-wide In Silico Docking On Malaria. First step toward enabling the in silico drug discovery pipeline on a grid infrastructure, this CPU consuming application generating large data flows was deployed successfully on EGEE, the largest grid infrastructure in the world, during the summer 2005. 46 million docking scores were computed in 6 weeks.

Insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion at birth in intrauterine growth retarded infants.

Aim: To study insulin sensitivity, secretion and relation of insulin levels with birth weight and ponderal index in intrauterine growth retarded (IUGR) infants at birth.

Methods: We studied 30 IUGR and 30 healthy newborns born at term by vaginal delivery in Jipmer, Pondicherry, India. Cord blood was collected at the time of delivery for measurement of plasma glucose and insulin.

Lipoprotein (a) and comprehensive lipid tetrad index as a marker for coronary artery disease in NIDDM patients in South India.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is reaching epidemic proportions in India, in the absence of traditional risk factors. Lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) concentrations are related to both atherogenesis and thrombogenesis and may be a key link between lipid and CAD. We studied the role of Lp(a) and comprehensive lipid tetrad index as markers for CAD in South Indian patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

An examination of knowledge, attitudes and practices related to lead exposure in South Western Nigeria.

Background: Lead is a highly toxic and pervasive metal. Chronic exposure to low levels is responsible for significant health effects, particularly in children. Prevention remains the best option for reducing childhood lead exposure, however the knowledge, attitudes and practices to lead exposure in many developing countries is not known.

Clinical and microbiological profile of microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis in southern India.

Purpose: To report the clinical and microbiological profile of microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis in immunocompetent individuals in southern India.

Design: Retrospective noncomparative case series.

Participants: Nineteen cases of microsporidial keratoconjunctivitis diagnosed between January 2002 and December 2004 were studied.

Vitamin E protects the insulin sensitivity and redox balance in rat L6 muscle cells exposed to oxidative stress.

Background: The effect of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on insulin action is unclear. This study was carried out to explore the effect of prolonged low grade oxidative stress and vitamin E treatment on cultured rat L6 muscle cells.

Methods: L6 myotubes were incubated with vitamin E for 18 h and treated with H2O2 generating system for 12 h.

Effect of ethanol on human osteosarcoma cell proliferation, differentiation and mineralization.

The habitual consumption of even moderate quantities of alcoholic beverages is clearly associated with reduced bone mass, increased prevalence of skeletal fracture and also it is the major risk factor for the development of secondary osteoporosis. The present in vitro study was designed to determine the dose response effects of ethanol on osteoblast-like human osteosarcoma cells (SaOS-2) proliferation, differentiation, mineralization and cyto-toxicity. SaOS-2 cells were plated in 48 and 6 well culture plates and exposed to different concentrations of ethanol (1, 10, 100, 200 and 300 mM) for 24, 48 and 72 h.

Outcome of corneal transplant rejection: a 10-year study.

Purpose: To study the incidence of graft rejection and the predictive factors for its reversibility.

Methods: It is a retrospective study of 1927 consecutive penetrating keratoplasties performed between January 1990 and January 2000 with more than 6 months follow up. A total of 224 rejection episodes were noted in 183 patients.

Synthesis of new bioactive venlafaxine analogs: novel thiazolidin-4-ones as antimicrobials.

A one-pot, three-component, microwave irradiated and conventional solution-phase synthesis of bioactive venlafaxine analogs such as 2,3-disubstituted-1,3-thiazolidin-4-ones 3a-j under mild conditions and their characterization are reported. The novel thiazolidin-4-ones, 3-(2-(1-hydroxycyclohexyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl)-2-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one 3a, 2-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-3-(2-(1-hydroxycyclohexyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl)thiazolidin-4-one 3c, and 2-(furan-2-yl)-3-(2-(1-hydroxycyclohexyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl)thiazolidin-4-one 3i, were characterized by the single crystal X-ray diffraction method. The cyclohexane ring of all the three molecules is in chair conformation.

Kawasaki disease: are we missing the diagnosis?

We report 6 cases of Kawasaki disease (KD) diagnosed over a period of one year and review of all the cases reported from India. The diagnosis of KD was based on clinical criteria The mean age of patients was 6.83 years and mean duration of symptoms before diagnosis was 7.

Allelic heterogeneity of the carbohydrate sulfotransferase-6 gene in patients with macular corneal dystrophy.

Allelic heterogeneity of the carbohydrate sulfotransferase-6 gene in patients with macular corneal dystrophy. Macular corneal dystrophy (MCD) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by grayish white opacities in the cornea. It is caused by mutations in the carbohydrate sulfotransferase-6 (CHST6) gene, which codes for the enzyme corneal N-acetylglucosamine-6-sulfotransferase.

Bilateral peripheral infiltrative keratitis after LASIK.

Purpose: To report a case of peripheral infiltrate between the flap edge and limbus, which appeared on the first postoperative day after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).

Methods: A 22-year-old man underwent uneventful bilateral simultaneous LASIK but developed a thick band of infiltrate between the flap margin and limbus extending from 2 o'clock to 9 o'clock in both eyes. The flap edge was not involved.