Neural Tube Defect Spectrum - Study of Craniorachischisis.

Neural tube defect spectrum (NTD) includes anencephaly, spina bifida, craniorachischisis, inencephaly etc. Four cases of craniorachischisis were studied from a collection of 34 aborted fetuses. There was deficiency of scalp and cranial vault in all the four cases. In one case the defect was extending up to the cervical region, in rest of the three cases, vertebral column defect extended upto thoracic region exposing the spinal cord and spinal nerves. All the cases presented with bulging eyes, broad nose, folded ears, protruded tongue and absent neck. These defects result due to failure of closure of the neural tube during early embryonic life.

Clinical anatomy of the vocal cord.

Larynx is a multifunctional organ. Laryngeal cavity is divided into the supra-glottic, glottic and sub-glottic cavity by vestibular fold (False vocal cords) and vocal folds (True vocal cords). Various conditions are responsible for vocal cord paralysis; commonest one is recurrent laryngeal nerve injury during neck surgeries. Possible complications should be kept in mind by surgeons and anesthetists. In this paper we have discussed various conditions causing vocal cord paralysis.

Hypoglycaemic and hypolipaemic effects of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (guar) in normal and diabetic guinea pigs.

Information available in literature is contradictory regarding the glycaemic and cholesterolaemic activities of various legume proteins. Present work deals with the study of the effect of 'Guar' feeding on serum total lipids, free and esterified cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids. Normal and alloxan induced diabetic guinea pigs were kept on the whole seed diet of 'Guar' for four weeks. Blood sugar and total lipid levels were found to be decreased significantly in normal and as well as diabetic animals; free and esterified cholesterol levels were also observed to be lowered significantly in normals, whereas esterified fraction alone was found to be lowered in diabetics. Significant fall in the levels of other lipids i.e., triglycerides, phospholipids and total lipids was also noticed.