Hyperhomocysteinemia, a biochemical tool for differentiating ischemic and nonischemic central retinal vein occlusion during the early acute phase.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to differentiate ischemic central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) from nonischemic CRVO during the early acute phase using plasma homocysteine as a biochemical marker.

Methods: Fasting plasma homocysteine, serum vitamin B12, and folate levels were measured in 108 consecutive unilateral elderly adult (age >50 years) ischemic CRVO patients in the absence of local and systemic disease and compared with a total of 144 age and sex matched nonischemic CRVO patients and 120 age and sex matched healthy control subjects.

Results: Homocysteine level was significantly increased in the patients with ischemic CRVO in comparison with nonischemic CRVO patients (p = 0.

Does a single loading dose of tranexamic acid reduce perioperative blood loss and transfusion requirements after total knee replacement surgery? A randomized, controlled trial.

Background: Total knee replacement (TKR) is associated with high-perioperative blood loss, which often requires allogenic blood transfusion. Among the many strategies to decrease the need for allogenic transfusion, tranexamic acid (TA) is used systemically in perioperative setting with promising outcome. Here we evaluated the efficacy of single preoperative bolus dose of TA on reduction in blood loss and red blood cell transfusion in patients undergoing unilateral TKR.

Clinicopathological study and management of liver abscess in a tertiary care center.

Background: Liver abscess is a burning problem in tropical nations, with often lethal consequences and diagnostic/therapeutic challenges. We have determined etiopathology, clinical, radiological, and bacteriological characteristics of this condition and review its management strategies.

Materials And Methods: During the period of the month from May 2007 to September 2009, a prospective study was performed involving 125 patients admitted to the in-patient ward of the Department of General Surgery of N.

Novel linkage of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism with Dilated Cardiomyopathy in an Indian case study.

Background: Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the most commonly encountered heart diseases reported globally. It is characterized by enlarged ventricles with impaired systolic and diastolic functions. Mutations in gene are one of the causative factors to precipitate the disease.

Emergence agitation prevention in paediatric ambulatory surgery: A comparison between intranasal Dexmedetomidine and Clonidine.

Objective: Emergence agitation (EA), a short-lived, self-limiting phenomenon, arises frequently after the use of inhalational agents and hampers the implementation of pediatric ambulatory surgery in spite of using so many drugs with variable efficacy.

Methods: In this prospective, double-blinded, parallel group study (2008-2009), 80 children of both sex aged 3-7 years, with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status grade I-II, undergoing sevoflurane-based general anesthesia for elective day care surgery were randomly assigned into groups C or D. Group C received 4 μg/kg intranasal clonidine, whereas group D received 1 μg/kg intranasal dexmedetomidine, 45 min before induction of anesthesia.

Clinico-biochemical correlation between psoriasis and insulin resistance.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with an increased insulin resistance, obesity and cardiovascular risk. The present study was aimed to assess insulin resistance and pattern of body fat deposition in psoriasis. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were measured in 40 psoriatic patients and 46 age- and sex-matched control subjects.

Arabinosylated lipoarabinomannan (Ara-LAM) mediated intracellular mechanisms against tuberculosis infection: involvement of protein kinase C (PKC) mediated signaling.

Tuberculosis causes severe immunosuppression thereby ensuring the loss of the host protective immune responses. During Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, the pathogen modulates TLR-2 receptor down-stream signaling, indicating the possible involvement of TLR-2 in the regulation of the host immune response. Moreover, different PKC isoforms are also involved in the course of infection.

Evaluation of Magnesium as an adjuvant in Ropivacaine-induced supraclavicular brachial plexus block: A prospective, double-blinded randomized controlled study.

Objective: Different additives have been used to prolong brachial plexus block. We evaluated the effect of adding magnesium sulfate to ropivacaine for supraclavicular brachial plexus blockade. The primary endpoints were the onset and duration of sensory and motor block and duration of analgesia.

Fanconi anemia with incidental haemoglobin e trait: the first reported case in literature.

Fanconi anemia (FA), commonly inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, is the commonest cause of inherited bone marrow failure syndrome often accompanied by skeletal deformities, genitourinary abnormalities and an increased risk of malignancies especially acute myeloid leukemia. Haemoglobin E ((β26 Glu→Lys)) is common haemoglobin variant in the north-eastern part of India and the northern part of West Bengal. Here, we report a case of FA with concomitant haemoglobin E-trait in a 5-year-old child who presented with weakness, epistaxis, malaena and intermittent fever.

Eccrine spiradenoma in knee.

Eccrine spiradenoma is an uncommon benign adnexal tumor of the eccrine sweat glands. Although it can occur at any age, it is most common in young adults without any sex predilection. Malignant transformation is rare, presenting as rapid increase in size of a long-standing lesion.

Rare case of chest wall schwannoma with destruction of rib, masquerading as a breast mass.

Schwannomas are slow growing, benign, nerve sheath tumours of Schwann cell origin. They predominantly involve head, neck and flexor surfaces of upper and lower extremities, while the chest wall is an uncommon location for schwannomas. Schwannomas may rarely cause erosion of adjacent bone.

Pesticide use pattern among farmers in a rural district of West Bengal, India.

Background: A vast majority of Indian population are engaged in agriculture. While pesticides help in increasing crop production, inappropriate pesticide storage practice and inadequate protective measures frequently causes accidental poisoning among farmers.

Objective: The present study was conducted to explore the pattern of pesticide use among farmers in a district of India with an attempt to identify the lacunae in their knowledge and awareness level on risks and hazards of pesticides use.

Unusual presentation of Klinefelter syndrome.

Introduction: Klinefelter syndrome usually presents in the puberty and adulthood with its characteristic features. We report a boy who had Klinefelter syndrome with hypospadias and hydrocele.

Case Note: Six and half year old boy had complaints of genitourinary problem in the form of hypospadias, small phallus and hydrocele.

Effect of Chinese Medicine Danshen and Indian Ayurvedic Medicine Bark of Arjuna Tree on a Relatively New LOCI Digoxin Assay for Application on the Vista 1500 Analyzer.

Background: Danshen is a traditional Chinese medicine and bark of Arjuna tree is an Ayurvedic medicine both indicated as heart tonic. Interference of Danshen in serum digoxin immunoassays has been reported but potential interference of extract of bark of Arjuna tree has not been reported. We studied potential interferences of Danshen and bark of Arjuna tree on a relatively new LOCI digoxin assay for application on the Vista 1500 analyzer (Siemens Diagnostics).

Synergistic effect of anti and pro-inflammatory cytokine genes and their promoter polymorphism with ST-elevation of myocardial infarction.

Background: The single-gene approach in association studies of polygenic diseases such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is likely to provide limited value. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) plasma levels may be genetically influenced.

Aim: We evaluate the impact of single nucleotide polymorphism of the promoter region of these genes, as well as reciprocal interaction of these genes with ST-elevation of myocardial infarction (STEMI).

A KAP study on graduate nursing students of a tertiary health care teaching hospital in rural West Bengal, India.

Nursing personnel are the largest deliverer of health care worldwide, responsible for the constant care of in-patients. They are the most important link between doctors and patients. This study evaluated the knowledge, attitudes and practices of nursing students about different health care related aspects, which must have a profound impact on the quality service of any health care setup.

Dysphagia due to forestier disease: three cases and systematic literature review.

Forestier disease or diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is an uncommon cause of dysphagia. Due to rarity of this condition there is neither any demographic data nor any consensus about the investigation and treatment modalities. Here an effort is made in the present article to compile the information regarding the demographic and clinical features, investigation modalities and different methods of treatment from all the available case reports of dysphagia due to Forestier disease in the English literature till date.

Tracheo-bronchial foreign bodies: a retrospective study and review of literature.

Tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration is a common emergency in childhood constituting major cause of mortality. Although ample studies regarding airway foreign bodies are present in western literature, studies in Indian context are however lacking. The aim of the study is to present an epidemiological data regarding airway foreign bodies in Indian context thereby helping to analyze the situation with regard to our socio-economic condition.

A new system for naming ribosomal proteins.

A system for naming ribosomal proteins is described that the authors intend to use in the future. They urge others to adopt it. The objective is to eliminate the confusion caused by the assignment of identical names to ribosomal proteins from different species that are unrelated in structure and function.

Balantidium coli in urine sediment: report of a rare case presenting with hematuria.

Balantidium coli (B. coli) is the only trophic ciliate of low virulence causing dysentery in human. However, may be due to their active motility and invasive nature, they have been rarely described to cause infection in extraintestinal sites also.

Apolipoproteins AI/B/E gene polymorphism and their plasma levels in patients with coronary artery disease in a tertiary care-center of Eastern India.

Aim: The present study was designed to investigate whether the three-apolipoprotein (AI, B, E) gene polymorphisms were related to alter their plasma protein levels and hence associated to coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: We determined distribution of MspI apo AI, EcoRI apo B, HhaI apo E gene polymorphisms, plasma apolipoproteins and lipids levels among 150 patients having CAD admitted to the Department of Cardiology, N.R.

A rare case of Goldenhar syndrome with radial aplasia.

Goldenhar syndrome (GS) is a well-recognised condition characterised by variable degree of uni- or bilateral involvement of craniofacial structures involving first and second branchial arches manifesting ocular and auricular anomalies and also vertebral defect. This syndrome presents at birth and its exact aetiology is still unknown. The affections of the neural crest cells may have some role in the multiple malformations of the GS.

CDK/CK1 inhibitors roscovitine and CR8 downregulate amplified MYCN in neuroblastoma cells.

To understand the mechanisms of action of (R)-roscovitine and (S)-CR8, two related pharmacological inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), we applied a variety of '-omics' techniques to the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y and IMR32 cell lines: (1) kinase interaction assays, (2) affinity competition on immobilized broad-spectrum kinase inhibitors, (3) affinity chromatography on immobilized (R)-roscovitine and (S)-CR8, (4) whole genome transcriptomics analysis and specific quantitative PCR studies, (5) global quantitative proteomics approach and western blot analysis of selected proteins. Altogether, the results show that the major direct targets of these two molecules belong to the CDKs (1,2,5,7,9,12), DYRKs, CLKs and CK1s families. By inhibiting CDK7, CDK9 and CDK12, these inhibitors transiently reduce RNA polymerase 2 activity, which results in downregulation of a large set of genes.

Role of common investigations in aetiological evaluation of exudative pleural effusions.

Background: Pleural effusion is a common problem encountered in daily practice. To Establish aetiology of exudative effusions is a diagnostic challenge to general practitioners and even to pulmonologists especially in resource poor government hospitals with lack of investigations like thoracoscopy. Some recent studies had shown that around 2% of patients remained undiagnosed even after these investigations.