Pulmonary Capillary Hemangiomatosis without Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Mimicking Interstitial Lung Disease

Pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis (PCH) is a rare disease usually associated with pulmonary hypertension which is classified in group I as per the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). It is commonly presented as effort intolerance and hypoxia. Pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis can present with ground-glass opacity on chest radiograph which can mimic interstitial lung disease. We need to consider PCH also in the differential diagnosis of interstitial shadows with these clinical presentations and should consider diagnostic evaluation for the same in case of unsatisfactory clinic-radiological response to treatment. We describe a case presented and treated as interstitial lung disease, which turned out to be PCH on lung biopsy. Interestingly, the case was not associated with any evidence of PAH.

Role of coronoid process in reconstruction of temporomandibular joint.

This article reports the role of coronoid process as a free graft and pedicled graft in reconstruction of temporomandibular joint in ankylosis cases. The cases treated were observed clinic-radiologically over a period of 12 months. Various autogenous and alloplastic materials used for reconstruction of TMJ were considered with their advantages and limitations. The use of coronid process for reconstruction of the nose, orbital floor, alveolar ridge and paranasal augmentation has been reported by various authors. Due to its shape and size coronoid process is not a popular option for TMJ reconstruction. The advantage of using coronoid graft is autogenous bone of intramembranous origin harvested through same surgical site. Possibility of graft resorption can be minimized when used as pedicled graft. Postoperative radiograph revealed complete uptake and remodeling of the graft when used both as free and pedicled graft. There was no failure of treatment in terms of reankylosis. Therefore, coronoid process may be a suitable bone resource for condylar reconstruction in patients with TMJ ankylosis.

Prevalence of genetic variants associated with cardiovascular disease risk and drug response in the Southern Indian population of Kerala.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: This study reports the prevalence of five clinically significant variants associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disorders, and variable responses of individuals to commonly prescribed cardiovascular drugs in a South Indian population from the state of Kerala. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genomic DNA isolated from 100 out‑patient samples from Kerala were sequenced to examine the frequency of clinically relevant polymorphisms in the genes MYBPC3 (cardiomyopathy), SLCO1B1 (statin‑induced myopathy), CYP2C9, VKORC1 (response to warfarin) and CYP2C19 (response to clopidogrel). RESULTS: Our analyses revealed the frequency of a 25 bp deletion variant of MYBPC3 associated with risk of cardiomyopathy was 7%, and the SLCO1B1 “C” allele associated with risk for statin‑induced myopathy was 15% in this sample group. Among the other variants associated with dose‑induced toxicity of warfarin, VKORC1 (c.1639G>A), was detected at 22%, while CYP2C9*3 and CYP2C9*2 alleles were present at a frequency of 15% and 3% respectively. Significantly, the tested sample population showed high prevalence (66%) of CYP2C19*2 variant, which determines response to clopidogrel therapy. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified that certain variants associated with cardiovascular disease and related drug response in the five genes, especially those in VKORC1, CYP2C19 and MYBPC3, are highly prevalent in the Kerala population, with almost 2 times higher prevalence of CYP2C19*2 variant compared with other regions in the country. Since the variants chosen in this study have relevance in disease phenotype and/or drug response, and are detected at a higher frequency, this study is likely to encourage clinicians to perform genetic testing before prescribing therapy.

Radical scavenging and in-vitro hemolytic activity of aqueous extracts of selected acacia species.

The aqueous extracts of three Acacia species were screened for their free radical scavenging and in vitro hemolytic activity. The total phenolic content was also determined in all the three species. The total phenolics were estimated spectrophotometrically based on the reduction of phosphomolybdate ion of Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and was expressed as milligram equivalent of Gallic acid. The radical scavenging activity was evaluated by DPPH assay. Acacia nilotica showed maximum radical scavenging activity with EC50 12.5. Hemolytic activity of the aqueous extracts was screened against normal human erythrocytes. Aqueous extract of A. leucophloea possessed minimum hemolytic activity where as A.nilotica showed highest hemolytic activity.

Antidiabetic activity of mollugo nudicaulis against alloxan induced diabetic rats.

The present study was designed to investigate the in alloxan (120 mg/kg b.wt) induced diabetic rats. The ethanolic extract of the whole plant of Mollugo nudicaulis (200mg/kg) administered orally to the diabetic rats for 21 days, produced significant decrease in the level of blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL), lipid peroxidation, liver glycogen, serum creatinine, urea, uric acid and liver marker enzymes such as AST, ALT, ALP. It also produced significant increase in High density lipoprotein (HDL), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST), Reduced glutathione (GSH), Vitamin C, which clearly show the antioxidant property of extract. The effect of the ethanolic the extract of Mollugo nudicaulis was compared with the standard drug Glibenclamide (1.25mg/kg b.wt).

Antibacterial property of locally produced hydroxyapatite

Use of synthetic hydroxyapatite (HA) in biomedical applications is well warranted. It has shown to have an excellent biocompatibility in human tooth and bones. Additionally it has been documented to possess antibacterial potentials. The present study was conducted to assess the presence of any such potential in locally produced (HA) using Streptococcus mutans, a common pathogen in the oral cavity. The study was carried out using 50, 100, 150, 200, 300, 400 and 800 mg/ml concentration of HA. The antibacterial property of HA was assessed using Miles and Misra method. Our studies showed that bacterial growth inhibitions of S. mutans occurred from 50 mg/ml, and complete inhibition was perceived at concentrations at 200mg/ml of HA. The antibacterial property HA should be used to good advantage as a bioactive biomaterial in dental and maxillofacial applications.

Enhanced detection of herpes simplex virus from ocular specimens of herpetic keratitis patients.

Corneal scrapings collected from 70 patients were used to assess the diagnostic value of indirect immunofluorescence (indirect IF) procedure in comparison with routine virus culture (RVC) for the diagnosis of Herpes simplex virus induced keratitis (HSK). Virus specific antigen was detected by indirect IF in 22 (31.42%) cases. In contrast, only 20% (14) of the cases had positive viral isolation which sometimes took as long as a week to show a cytopathogenic effect (CPE). It is concluded that antigen detection by indirect IF is a rapid, specific and sensitive technique for demonstrating HSV-1 antigen in corneal scrapings from HSK patients and a useful laboratory tool not only for diagnosing HSK but also for monitoring efficiency of anti HSV treatment for HSK.