Clinico-Haematological Study of Dengue Cases.

Objectives: To study and establish clinical and haematological correlation in cases of dengue viral infection. Methodology: A total 169 serum samples were received from L.G. Hospital for the detection of Dengue IgM during the period of October 2013 to January 2014. They were tested for the same with ELISA method. The clinical -haematological case study was done and the data was analyzed retrospectively. Results: Total 169 serum samples were tested, out of which 44(26.03%) were positive for Dengue IgM antibodies. Out of the total serum samples, Male: Female ratio and Urban: Rural ratio was 1.6:1 and 2.8:1 respectively. Peak incidence of the disease is seen in October. Clinically fever was the commonest presentation in 39(88.6%) patients followed by headache and muscle pain i.e., 33(75%) and 16(36.3%) respectively; the least common was epistaxis in 4 (9.04%) patients. Retrobulbar pain was in 3(6.8%) rash was in 6 (13.6%) and hemorrhagic manifestations in 12 (27.2%) patients. Amongst total WBC count, the proportion of Lymphocyte was above 70% in 3(6.8%) cases, between 50-70% in 17(38.6%) cases, and between 35-49% in 16(36.3%) cases and below 35% was in 8(18.18%) cases. The platelet count less than 50,000 was observed in16(36.3%) cases, 50,000 to 1, 00000 in 15(34.09%) cases and greater than 1,00,000 was in 13(29.5%) cases.19(43.1%) patients had erythrocyte sedimentation rate less than 7mm/hr, While 15(34.09%) patients had8- 20mm/hrand 10(22.7%) had more than 20 mm/hr.

FNAC of Head and Neck Swellings.

Background : Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology is simple, quick, inexpensive, majority are on OPD basis and minimally invasive technique used to diagnose different types of swellings located in the head and neck commonly originate from cervical lymph node, thyroid, salivary glands and soft tissues. Aim : To assess the frequency of incidences at different sites of head and neck region, and amongst the sex group. To assess distribution amongst inflammatory and neoplastic lesions. Methodology: A retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital, Ahmedabad from October 2013 to January 2014. Patients between the ages of 1 to 80 years were enrolled into the study. A total of 146 patients with a head and neck swelling underwent FNAC. Fine needle aspiration diagnosis was correlated with detail of relevant clinical findings and investigations. Results : Out of 146 fine needle aspiration procedures, 107 (73.29%) were of lymph nodes, 25 (17.12%) were of thyroid gland, 08 (5.48%) from soft tissue and 06 (4.11%) from salivary glands. Amongst lymph node swellings (73.29%), tuberculous involvement was seen in 73 cases (68.22%) with a female preponderance. Out of total 146 lesions, 109 (74.66%) were inflammatory, 29 (19.86%) were benign and 08 (5.48%) were malignant. Conclusions : The head and neck swellings are very common conditions encountered, with most of them being on OPD basis. Our study found that FNAC is simple, quick, inexpensive and minimally invasive technique to diagnose different types of head and neck swellings. It could differentiate the infective process from neoplastic one and avoids unnecessary surgeries. In case of neoplastic conditions, patient may be referred to Regional Cancer Centre.

Lipid Peroxidation, Sperm DNA Fragmentation Total Antioxidant Capacity and Semen Quality in Male Infertility.

Infertility is a major clinical problem, affecting people medically and psychosocially. Male factor plays a significant role in about 50% of infertile couples. Recent reports indicate that increasing male infertility could be due to genomic abnormalities. The etiology of sperm DNA damage is multi-factorial but compromised due to nuclear defects, protamine deficiency and oxidative stress. The present study was aimed to evaluate sperm DNA integrity and oxidative stress in infertile men. The study is prospective, comprises 96 infertile patients and 30 fertile controls. Sperm DNA integrity was assessed by flowcytometry. MDA and TAC were evaluated spectrophotometrically. The percentage of DNA Fragmentation Index and MDA were found to be significantly increased while TAC was significantly decreased in infertile men as compared to control. DFI and MDA were negatively correlated with TAC levels. Present study indicates significant increases in seminal MDA and sperm DNA damage in infertile men. Seminal MDA was significantly correlated with sperm DNA damage, TAC and standard sperm parameters. The elevated levels of seminal OS observed in these infertile patients could be responsible for poor sperm quality and sperm DNA fragmentation. Hence evaluation of DFI, MDA and TAC can be used for diagnosis, prognosis of male infertility in addition to routine semen parameters to decide the treatment strategies.

Latitudinal variation in eclosion rhythm among strains of Drosophila ananassae.

Eclosion rhythm parameters of D. ananassae strains originating between 8 degrees-34 degrees N were highly variable and latitude dependent. In the field under naturally fluctuating light intensity, temperature and R.H., the amplitude of the rhythm was high and the eclosion gate was narrow; however, under the naturally fluctuating light intensity but at constant temperature and R.H., the amplitude of the rhythm was lowered and the width of eclosion gate was widened. The eclosion rhythm entrained to light-dark (LD) cycles ranging from LD 6:18 to LD 18:6, the width of the eclosion gate was decreased and increased in the short and long photoperiods respectively. Among the strains, both the phase angle difference (psi, the time from lights-off in a 24 hr LD cycle to the eclosion median) and the period of free-running rhythm (tau) in constant darkness varied by about 3 hr and the amplitude of the rhythmicity (Amp) by about 10%. Lower latitude was correlated with late psi (r = -0.69), long tau (r = -0.88) and high Amp value (r = -0.95).

Apoptosis in granulosa cells induced by intrafollicular peptide.

Ovarian follicular fluid peptide (OFFP) purified from sheep ovaries has been earlier shown to induce degeneration of ovarian follicles in mice. In the present study, whether the effect of OFFP on granulosa cells was similar to apoptosis was studied using three parameters. Immature mice injected with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin on day 0 were administered with 10 or 20 J.lg of OFFP on day 1 and autopsied on day 2. The granulosa cells were collected from the ovarian follicles. The presence of apoptotic bodies were observed by staining the cells with acridine orange. DNA profiles of DAPI-stained cells analysed by flow cytometry also revealed apoptotic response to OFFP. Furthermore, agarose gel electrophoresis of low molecular weight DNA fraction extracted from the cells of OFFP-treated animals confirmed ladder formation and induction of apoptosis and not necrosis in granulosa cells. In conclusion, all the three parameters indicated apoptotic changes in granulosa cells of ovarian follicles in .mice treated with OFFP. The effect of OFFP seems to be exerted directly on the granulosa cells showing its autocrine role in the process of follicular atresia. This is discussed in the light of other intra/extra ovarian factors.