Distribution of nodal lymphomas in a referral hospital of Mangalore city.

CONTEXT: The distribution of different types of lymphoma varies across geographic regions. AIMS: The present study was done to understand the occurrence of nodal lymphomas in a referral hospital of Mangalore city. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Descriptive study. SETTING: The present study was conducted on 95 lymph node biopsy specimens, received in a referral hospital of Mangalore city. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All cases of nodal lymphoma diagnosed between January 2007 and June 2010 in a referral hospital of Mangalore were selected for the study. The patients age and clinical details were obtained. Immunophenotyping was done for all cases of NHL and selected cases of HL. IPI score for NHL was noted and correlated with the outcome. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Chi square test was used. RESULTS: Out of the total 95 cases of nodal lymphoma 37 (39%) were HL while 58 (61%) were NHL. Classical HL was diagnosed in 35 cases (37%) while 2 cases (2%) were diagnosed NLPHL. B cell lymphoma formed 72% of NHL. Follicular lymphoma accounted for 28% of all NHL. T cell lymphoma formed 28% of NHL. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion the following points are significant about the distribution of lymphomas in a referral hospital of Mangalore city. The incidence of NSHL is higher while national data suggests MCHL as the most common subtype. The incidence of FL as well as T cell NHL is much higher when compared to national incidence. The epidemiological factors for this high frequency (either genetic or environmental) needs to be studied further.

Prescribing Practices of Doctors in Management of Acute Diarrhea.

We conducted this study to determine the prescribing practices of doctors in management of acute diarrhea in children in the age group of 6 month -5 year. Antimotility agents and low/zero lactose formula was prescibed in 9.8% and 24.7% cases, respectively by general practitioners.In about 66.6% and 5.7% cases pre/probiotics were prescribed and oral rehydration salt (ORS) were not prescribed by the pediatricians.

Virchows node: rare presentation of childhood hepatocellular carcinoma.

Cervical (supra-clavicular) lymphadenopathy may not always be due to tuberculosis in children. Hepatocellular carcinoma in children even may present as supra clavicular lymphadenopathy (Virchow's node).

Pyrexia of unknown origin: a prospective study of 100 cases.

AIM: There are few studies on pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO) from India. The present study was planned to elucidate the causes of in PUO Eastern India and to define the changing patterns of PUO, if any. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective case series. PATIENTS: One hundred patients meeting the classic criteria of pyrexia of unknown origin. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT: The final diagnosis established at discharge or during follow up. RESULTS: Infections, especially tuberculosis was the most dominant cause (53%), followed by neoplasms (17%), and collagen vascular disorders (11%), Miscellaneous causes were responsible in 5% cases and in 14% the cause of fever remained undiagnosed. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that infections remain the most important cause of PUO in India, confirming the trends found earlier in other studies. The incidence of neoplasms was much higher compared to other studies from India.

Plant regeneration from leaf explants of mulberry: influence of sugar, genotype and 6-benzyladenine.

A protocol for plant regeneration from leaf explants was developed for tropical mulberry varieties. Effect of sugars, 6-benzyladenine and genotype on shoot regeneration was studied. Highest percentage of shoot regeneration (80 +/- 6) was obtained with genotype S799 on medium containing glucose and 8.9 microM 6-benzyladenine. Genotypes Mandalaya and MIHP, having thicker leaves with waxy cuticle, showed poorer regeneration ability than S799 and Sujanpur-5, which have thinner leaves and cuticle. Histological studies revealed that shoots regenerated from sub-epidermal cells.

H2O2-induced lipid peroxidation in mitochondria of pulmonary vascular smooth muscle tissue and its modification by DFO, DMTU and DIDS.

Treatment of bovine pulmonary artery smooth muscle tissue mitochondria with H2O2 stimulated iron release, hydroxyl radical (OH) production and lipid peroxidation. Pretreatment of mitochondria with deferoxamine (DFO) and dimethyl thiourea (DMTU) prevented OH production and markedly reduced lipid peroxidation without appreciably altering iron release caused by H2O2. Simultaneous treatment of either DFO or DMTU with H2O2 significantly reduced lipid peroxidation and also prevented OH production without causing marked decrease in iron release. In contrast, addition of DFO or DMTU even 2 min after treatment of the mitochondria with H2O2 did not significantly altered iron release, OH production and lipid peroxidation. Pretreatment of the mitochondria with 4,4'-dithiocyano-2,2'-disulfonic acid stilbene (DIDS) markedly reduced lipid peroxidation without appreciably altering the increase in OH production and iron release caused by H2O2.

Involvement of a protease in tert-butylhydroperoxide-mediated activation of Ca2+ ATPase in microsomes of pulmonary smooth muscle.

Microsomes isolated from bovine pulmonary artery smooth muscle tissue treated with the oxidant t-buOOH stimulated Ca2+ ATPase activity dose-dependently as also protease activity when tested with a synthetic substrate N-benzoyl-DL-arginine p-nitroanilide. At 300 microM, t-buOOH optimally stimulated these activities. Treatment of the microsomes with t-buOOH stimulated ATP dependent Ca2+ uptake while Na+ dependent Ca2+ uptake was inhibited by t-buOOH. Pretreatment of the microsomes with vitamin E (1 mM) and aprotinin (1 mg/ml) prevented t-buOOH caused stimulation of protease activity and Ca2+ ATPase activity, and also stimulation of ATP dependent Ca2+ uptake while t-buOOH caused inhibition of Na+ dependent Ca2+ uptake was reversed by vitamin E and aprotinin. Treatment of the microsomes with trypsin (1 microgram/ml) stimulated Ca2+ ATPase and ATP dependent Ca2+ uptake while Na+ dependent Ca2+ uptake was inhibited. Pretreatment of the microsomes with aprotinin prevented trypsin caused stimulation of Ca2+ ATPase and ATP dependent Ca2+ uptake, while trypsin caused inhibition of Na+ dependent Ca2+ uptake was reversed by aprotinin.

Redox state of pyridine nucleotides, but not glutathione, regulate Ca2+ release by H2O2 from mitochondria of pulmonary smooth muscle.

Treatment of bovine pulmonary artery smooth muscle mitochondria with H2O2 stimulated oxidation of GSH and NAD(P)H along with an increase in Ca2+ release. Addition of oxaloacetate to mitochondrial suspension stimulated Ca2+ release and oxidation of NAD(P)H while GSH level remained unchanged. Subsequently, addition of beta-hydroxybutyrate which reduced mitochondrial pyridine nucleotides caused reuptake of the released Ca2+ without causing appreciable alteration of GSH level. Treatment of the mitochondria with 1,3-bis(2-dichloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU), an inhibitor of glutathione reductase, significantly decreased GSH level without producing discernible change in Ca2+ release and NAD(P)H oxidation.

Objective evaluation of psychological abnormality in irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is frequently regarded as a psychological disorder. Data on objective evaluation of psychological abnormalities among IBS patients and control subjects are scanty in our country. We therefore objectively studied patients with IBS. METHODS: 42 patients satisfying the Manning's criteria and Munich workers' for diagnosis of IBS underwent psychological evaluation using the following tests: a) Eyesenck personality questionnaire. b) State and trait anxiety inventory according to Speilberger's method. c) Hamilton depression rating scale for detection of depression. d) Whitely index of hypochondriasis and discriminant function by Pilowsky's illness behavior questionnaire. RESULTS: Neuroticism was detected in 76% of IBS patients compared to 9% in control population (p < 0.01). State and trait anxiety scores were 44.5 +/- 17.1 and 49.0 +/- 15.3 respectively in IBS patients; these were higher than those in controls (35.5 +/- 7.5 and 41.2 +/- 6.1 respectively; p < 0.01). Severe depression was observed in 26% of IBS patients and 6% of control subjects (p < 0.05). Significantly higher hypochondriasis score was observed in IBS patients as compared to controls (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Neuroticism, hypochondriasis and depression were significantly more prevalent in IBS patients attending a clinic, compared to control population.

Protective role of anion channel blocker in lipid peroxidation caused by H2O2 in microsomes of bovine pulmonary arterial smooth muscle tissue.

The role of hydroxyl radical (OH.) in H2O2-mediated stimulation of lipid peroxidation in microsomes of bovine pulmonary arterial smooth muscle tissue and the protective effects of DIDS, the anion channel blocker have been studied. Treatment of microsomes with H2O2 (1 mM) stimulate iron release, OH. production and lipid peroxidation. Pretreatment with DFO (an iron chelator) or DMTU (a hydroxyl radical scavenger) prevents OH. production and thereby reduces lipid peroxidation without any appreciable reduction of iron release. Simultaneous treatment of either DFO or DMTU with H2O2 significantly reduces lipid peroxidation and prevents OH. production without any significant reduction of iron release. However, addition of DFO or DMTU 2 min after treatment of the microsome with H2O2 does not produce any significant reduction of lipid peroxidation, OH production and iron release. Pretreatment of microsomes with DIDS markedly reduces the stimulation of lipid peroxidation without appreciably altering the increase in OH. production and iron release caused by H2O2.

Insecticide susceptibility status of certain populations of Aedes aegypti mosquito from rural areas of Maharashtra state.

Ae. aegypti mosquitoes from rural areas of Maharashtra state were subjected to insecticide bio-assays. All the populations showed resistance to DDT at larval and adult stages. No resistance to deltamithrin and malathion was detected at any stage. Biochemical analysis of these mosquito populations showed that resistance to DDT was probably due to increase in the kinetics of glutathione S-transferase.

Insecticide susceptibility status & enzyme profile of Aedes albopictus populations from different localities of Maharashtra state.

Susceptibility status of five populations of Ae. albopictus mosquitoes from Maharashtra state, to DDT, malathion, fenitrothion, bromophos, propoxur and deltamethrin was studied and compared with the laboratory population. Four populations survived when adults were exposed to 4 per cent DDT impregnated paper for 2 h; though three of these populations had lower DDT-LC50 values at larval stages in comparison with the laboratory population. Results of topical application of DDT on these four populations supported these findings by showing comparatively higher LD50 values at adult stages in comparison with the laboratory population. All the populations were highly susceptible to other pesticides tested i.e., malathion, fenitrothion, bromophos, propoxur and deltamethrin. These populations were distinguished from each other by esterase isoenzyme patterns.

Role of serine esterase in hydrogen peroxide-mediated activation of phospholipase A2 in rabbit pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells.

Exposure of rabbit pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells to hydrogen peroxide cause dose-dependent stimulation of [14C] arachidonic acid (AA) release and enhancement of the cell membrane-associated phospholipase A2 activity as well as of the cell membrane-bound serine esterase activity tested against synthetic substrate p-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester. While pretreatment of cells with serine protease inhibitors, viz. phenyl methyl sulphonyl fluoride, diisopropyl fluorophosphate and alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor, and antioxidant vitamin E prevents H2O2 stimulation of AA release and the cell membrane-bound serine esterase and PLA2 activities, that with actinomycin D and cycloheximide is devoid of any effect on H2O2 caused stimulation of AA release and the smooth muscle cell membrane associated serine esterase and PLA2 activities. Treatment of the smooth muscle cell membrane suspension with the serine protease trypsin markedly stimulates PLA2 activity. These results suggest that on exposure to H2O2 the smooth muscle cell membrane-bound serine esterase plays an important role in stimulating the cell membrane associated PLA2 activity thereby resulting in an increase in AA release.

Immunoblot analysis of antibody responses to Shigella dysenteriae type 1 infection.

Immunoblot analysis was used to identify the antigenic components of the outer membrane protein (OMP) extract from Sh. dysenteriae type 1 that may be relevant in protection against infection. The OMPs were extracted by ultrasonic disruption followed by Sarkosyl extraction. The macromolecular bands were separated by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), electroeluted to a nitrocellulose matrix and complexed with peroxidase conjugated antibodies in human convalescent sera. IgG specific reaction was found to a major antigenic component at 57 kilodaltons. In addition, weakly reactive three antigenic determinants of greater than 57 kD and four of less than 57 kD were found. Control sera from a rabbit immunized against OMP also exhibited a similar pattern of antigenic reactivity. Some of the OMPs with high antigenicity may be important in immunoprophylaxis.