Weight loss due to maxillomandibular fixation in mandibular fractures

The aim of this study was to calculate extent of weight loss [in kilograms] due to Maxillomandib-ular fixation in patients after trauma. Study design was prospective observational study. The study was conducted in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry, Rawalpindi from February 2014 to July 2014 over a period of 06 months. A total of 30 patients with only mandibular fracture were included in the study. Out of these 30 patients 27 patients were males and 03 patients were females. All patients were treated with Max-illomandibular fixation for 04 weeks. Weight of the patient was noted pre-operatively, 1st week post operatively and 4th week post operatively. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. The study included 30 patients with mean age of 36.67 [SD +9.743] out which 90% were male and 10% were female. The overall weight loss sustained by patients in this study was 6 kilograms [kgs] at the end of first week post operatively and 5kilograms [kgs] at fourth week post operatively when compared with their weights before surgery. Within the limitations of this study, significant weight loss was observed at the first week post operatively among all patients

Ecological Study on Macrozoobenthic Community of Verinag Spring, Kashmir.

Benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages of Verinag spring in Kashmir corresponding to different catchment and land uses acts as indicators of water quality. Physico-chemical parameters and population density of Annelids, Arthropoda and Mollusca individuals were determined. Diptera was dominating the study area instead of Annelida. The Oxygen Concentration was high and the mean dissolved oxygen was 9.8±0.90 mg/l. The presence of relatively high oxygen value seems to be a function of good periphytic algal population liberating oxygen during photosynthesis. The water of the spring was well buffered with mean pH 7.2±8. Therefore, the pH of the water generally did not exceed 8.0.

Primary isolated echinococcal cyst of the seminal vesicle: a rare case

Hydatid disease of the organs other than liver and lung is extremely rare. Although hydatid disease is endemic in India, we report a rare case of hydatid cyst in a young male primarily involving the seminal vesicle and aim to highlight the management of such cases. A 23 year old male farmer diagnosed with primary isolated echinococcal cyst of the seminal vesicle has been presented. Thorough investigations with radiological methods such as ultrasonography [abdominal and trans-rectal], and magnetic resonance imaging were carried out to aid in the diagnosis. Surgical excision of the lesion was carried out with careful removal of the cyst to prevent any bursting and spillage, leaving the seminal vesicle preserved. The cystic lesion was subjected to histopathological examination. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of hydatid disease. Postoperative period was uncomplicated and patient was discharged on seventh postoperative day. Patient was put on albendazole [10 mg/kg/day] for three cycles of 21 days each with a gap of one week between each cycle. There was no evidence of recurrence or development of cysts elsewhere in the body during the 2 year follow-up. Hydatid cyst of seminal vesicle is rare and should be kept in differential diagnosis of a cystic lesion in pelvis especially in regions where hydatid disease is endemic. Proper surgical and medical management to avoid any recurrences, and a regular follow-up, are of utmost importance to detect any late complications such as local recurrence of the disease and development of hydatidosis at the primary sites

Phytoecological evaluation with detail floristic appraisal of the vegetation arround Malam Jabba, Swat, Pakistan

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the present status of plant communities and their possible association with the habitat in Malam Jabba, Swat, Pakistan.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A study on the phytoecology was conducted in various ecologically important sites of Malam Jabba, Swat, Pakistan from 2002 to 2004. The altitude of these sites ranged from 1 200 m to 3 200 m. Quadrat method was used for evaluation of plants communities and the data on these attributes was converted to relative values. The plant communities were named after 3 leading species with highest importance values. Biological spectrum of the flora based on the life form was prepared by following Raunkiar's life form classes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The floristic composition and structure of the study area were found to be 200 species belonging to 75 families. Asteraceae, Lamiaceae and Poaceae were important families in the study area. The biological spectrum showed that therophytic and hemicrytophytic life form and micro-nonophyllous leaf sizes were dominant in the area. The air and soil temperatures were decreasing with increasing elevation. Both the air and soil temperatures were relatively higher in south slopes than on the northeast slopes. The vegetation analysis of the area indicated eleven plant communities around the area. The present vegetation is the relics of moist temperate coniferous forest in the area. The communities reflect highly deteriorated conditions. Both the structure and composition of the surrounding vegetation were associated with the types of habitats.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The conservation of the remaining populations of the reported communities will be best achieved by proper time of sustainable harvesting. It is only possible with the participation of local communities.</p>

Therapeutic options in nonulcer dyspepsia

The exact cause of non ulcer dyspepsia is not known. Therefore the treatment of non ulcer dyspepsia is largely empirical. We need to find out the most effective therapy for this disease. Evidence for the effectiveness of antacids, histamine-2 receptor antagonists, bismuth salts, sucralfate and prokinetic therapy in non-ulcer dyspepsia is conflicting. Antisecretory and prokinetics drugs are used in the treatment of non-ulcer dyspepsia [NUD]. We conducted a randomized trial for evaluating these therapies in non-ulcer dyspepsia. Two hundred and fifty patients of dyspepsia were studied. Gastroscopy and ultrasound of the gall bladder was done. Ninety six patients turned out to be suffering from nonulcer dyspepsia. They were randomly given antisecretory and prokinetics medication one after the other for a period of two weeks each. Symptom scoring was done on a four-point scale. Out of 96 patients of NUD 53[55.20%] reported improvement with antisecretory drugs, 27[28.12%] found relief with Prokinetic drugs but 16[16.66%] did not get relief from any drug. Statistical analysis revealed that antisecretory medication is more effective in the treatment of non-ulcer dyspepsia compared to the prokinetics drugs. A subgroup analysis of ulcer type NUD and dysmotility type NUD also showed the same results. Antisecretory drugs are more effective than prokinetics drugs in the treatment of non-ulcer dyspepsia. They are effective in the ulcer type and dysmotility type of NUD

Growth promotion of HepG2 hepatoma cells by antisense-mediated knockdown of glypican-3 is independent of insulin-like growth factor 2 signaling

Glypican-3 (GPC3) encodes a cell-surface heparan-sulfate proteoglycan and its expression is frequently silenced in ovarian cancer, mesotheliomas, and breast cancer cell lines and ectopic expression of GPC3 inhibited the growth of these cells, suggesting that GPC3 plays a negative role in cell proliferation. In contrast, up-regulation of GPC3 is often observed in hepatoma, neuroblastoma, and Wilms' tumor. Whether GPC3 plays the same growth inhibitory role in these tumors remains to be studied. Here we report that antisense-mediated knockdown of GPC3 in the HepG2 hepatoma cells significantly promotes the growth of hepatoma cells. In addition, we show that this growth promotion is independent of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) signaling. Our data suggest that GPC3 plays a growth-suppressing role in hepatoma and provide cell biological evidence inconsistent with the hypothesis that GPC3 acts as a growth suppressor by downregulating IGF2.

Cloning of BNIP3h, a member of proapoptotic BNIP3 family genes

Apoptosis is regulated by interaction of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins with various proapoptotic proteins, several of which are also members of the Bcl-2 family. BNIP3 (formerly NIP3) is a proapoptotic mitochondrial protein classified in the Bcl-2 family based on limited sequence homology-3 (BH3) domain and COOH-terminal transmembrane domain. Sequence comparison of BNIP3 has indicated that there are several BNIP3 human homologs of this protein, like BNIP3L, Nix and BNIP3. We have cloned a new member of BNIP3 family from the cDNA library prepared from human dermal papilla cells and designated as BNIP3h. BNIP3h shows substantial homology with other BNIP3 family proteins. BNIP3h induced apoptosis from 24 hours after transfection in MCF7 cell lines and its apoptosis inducing activity is extended until 72 hours after transfection.