Quantitative study of muscle spindles in suboccipital muscles of human foetuses.

The proprioceptive inputs from the cervical musculature play an important role in head-eye co-ordination and postural processes. Deep cervical muscles in humans are shown to have high spindle content. The density, distribution and morphology of muscle spindles were studied in superior oblique capitis, inferior oblique capitis and rectus capitis posterior major and minor three small suboccipital muscles. The muscles were obtained, post-mortem from stillborn human foetus. The spindle density was calculated as the ratio of mean spindle content to the mean wet weight of that muscle in grams. The distribution and arrangement of spindles within the muscle and their arrangement was studied. The spindle density of superior oblique muscle was found to be 190, that of inferior oblique was 242 and the rectus capitis posterior contained 98 spindles per gram of muscle. No tendon organs were seen. The serial transverse sections of inferior oblique muscle revealed muscle spindles of varying sizes, length varying between 100-650 microns and, diameter 50-250 microns. A complex parallel arrangements of group of large spindles were seen in the belly of the inferior oblique muscle, while the polar regions contain few small isolated spindles. The relevance of such high spindle receptor content in these tiny muscles is discussed.

Potential and novel therapies for asthma.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterised by airflow obstruction. The inflammatory process involves mast cells, antigen presenting cells, eosinophils, neutrophils, airway epithelial cells and TH2 lymphocytes. These cells produce a broad array of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines that lead to the pathophysiological changes seen in asthma. The improved understanding of this complex disease, the specific cells and the complex mediators has lead to newer insights into the efficacy of various novel and potential therapies. In this review, we discuss the pharmacological agents that interrupt the synthesis and action of leukotrienes, cytokine antagonism, monoclonal antibodies against IgEs, selective phosphodiesterase inhibitors, adenosine receptor ligands and immunomodulators to drive the inflammatory response towards a TH1 type and other possible specific targeted therapy for the management of asthma. Although most of these therapies are in the inchoate stages these may hold the future for use in asthma.

Pulmonary sarcoidosis in a south Indian hospital: clinical and lung function profile.

Twenty-two histopathologically proven cases of sarcoidosis were analyzed to determine the clinical presentation, lung function and the response to treatment. Laboratory data, chest x-ray and pulmonary function tests (PFT) were analyzed. Sarcoidosis was found to be more common in females in this study. Cough, breathlessness and weight loss were the predominant symptoms. Serum angiotensin converting enzyme (SACE) was elevated in 50% patients. Comparison of chest radiographs and PFT at the time of diagnosis revealed that stage I disease was associated with normal pulmonary function, 50% patients with stage II disease had mildly impaired PFT and 75% patient with stage III disease had severely impaired PFT. The indication for oral steroid treatment was respiratory symptoms in 58.8% of cases. Of the 13 patients who were available for follow up 10 (76.9%) had subjective improvement in symptoms. Majority of patients showed regression on chest radiograph but one patient progressed to stage IV disease. Pulmonary function data of the patients who were followed up showed improvement but this was not significant statistically. Oral corticosteroids improved symptoms but changes in pulmonary function seemed to be independent of steroid therapy. Further study of a larger number of patients over a longer period would be necessary.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma masquerading as empyema thoracis.

Non-hodgkin's lymphoma has varied presentations. Malignant lymphoma arising in chronic pyothorax is very rare and has been reported from Japan. We report a case of non-hodgkin's lymphoma presenting as empyema thoracis.

Glycogen utilization in tissues of toad, Bufo melanostictus under electropolarity treatment.

Electropolarity treatment (0.8V/DC/Cm) was given to the gastrocnemius muscle of B. melanostictus every day for 5 min for 5 days. The glycogen content and aldolase activity levels increased and phosphorylase 'a' activity levels decreased on cathode treatment in muscle, liver and brain while an opposed trend was observed on anode treatment. The heart showed contrasting pattern under both cathode and anode electropolarity treatments.

Impact of scorpion Heterometrus fulvipes venom on cholinesterase rhythmicity in the tropical mouse Mus booduga.

Rhythmicities of acetylcholine (ACh) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were studied in the mouse, Mus booduga (Gray), following intramuscular injection of scorpion, Heterometrus fulvipes (C. Koch) venom. Envenomation inhibited the activity levels of ACh and AChE in all the tissues selected for experimentation. Control animals exhibited diel rhythmicity in ACh and AChE while envenomated animals showed fluctuation in the Phase (delta phi), amplitude (A), Acrophase (phi) and the extreme activity hours (X and X1).

Synaptic transmission in the 7th abdominal ganglion of the scorpion, Heterometrus fulvipes (C. Koch).

Electrical recordings made from the peripheral nerves of the 7th abdominal ganglion in the scorpion, H. fulvipes showed pronounced activity on ipsilateral stimulation of the connective and minimum activity on the contralateral side. Measurement of conduction velocities and synaptic delays indicated that ipsilateral pathways are probably monosynaptic and excitatory, while contralateral pathways might be polysynaptic and inhibitory. The nature of transmission has been suggested to be chemical.

Effect of ventral nerve cord transection on metabolic parameters in the nervous system of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana L.

Periplaneta americana were subjected to unilateral transection of the ventral nerve cord, and the levels of soluble and total proteins and total carbohydrates were determined 30 days postoperatively. Total proteins showed a decrease while soluble proteins and total carbohydrates showed an elevation. These changes were correlated with the generation of giant fibers in the ventral nerve cord.