Prophylactic Vitamin D Supplementation Practices for Infants: A Survey of Pediatricians From Delhi

This survey was conducted among 125 pediatricians working inpublic and private child care facilities of Delhi. Prescription ratesof routine vitamin D supplementation varied between 70-100%for various groups of infants, despite non-availability ofgovernment guidelines. Pediatricians in private practice morefrequently prescribed vitamin D supplementation to term healthyinfants as compared to government pediatrician (91.4% vs71.6%; P=0.005).

Tumefactive fibroinflammatory lesion: a diagnostic dilemma

Tumefactive fibroinflammatory lesions [TFLs] are rare idiopathic benign fibrosclerosing lesions that clinically simulate a malignancy. TFLs are seen more frequently in males between 10 and 74 years of age. The usual site of involvement is the head and neck region, but rarely the extremities may be involved. Coexisting fibrosclerotic processes have been reported including retroperitoneal fibrosis, sclerosing cholangitis, sclerosing mediastinal fibrosis, and orbital pseudotumors. The etiology of this poorly understood entity remains unknown. Possible suggestions include exaggerated responses or autoimmune reactions to any chronic infection. The clinical and radiological appearance of TFLs is that of malignancy, but histopathology reveals them to be a benign process broadly classified under non-neoplastic, fibroinflammatory proliferations. The treatment strategies for these lesions are not well defined and variable and include steroids, surgery, and radiotherapy either alone or in combination. TFLs, albeit not fatal, have a high recurrence rate; patients should, therefore, be kept on long-term follow-up. We describe a young female patient presenting with a rapidly developing cheek swelling, which was diagnosed histopathologically as a TFLs

2,3-Diaryl-3-imidazo4,5-pyridine derivatives as potential anticancer and anti-inflammatory agents

In this study we examined the suitability of the-imidazo[4,5-]pyridine ring system in developing novel anticancer and anti-inflammatory agents incorporating a diaryl pharmacophore. Eight 2,3-diaryl-3-imidazo[4,5-]pyridine derivatives retrieved from our in-house database were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against nine cancer cell lines. The results indicated that the compounds showed moderate cytotoxic activity against MCF-7, MDA-MB-468, K562 and SaOS2 cells, with K562 being the most sensitive among the four cancer cell lines. The eight 2,3-diaryl-3-imidazo[4,5-]pyridine derivatives were also evaluated for their COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitory activity. The results showed that compoundexhibited 2-fold selectivity with ICvalues of 9.2 and 21.8 µmol/L against COX-2 and COX-1, respectively. Molecular docking studies on the most active compoundrevealed a binding mode similar to that of celecoxib in the active site of the COX-2 enzyme.

Brunner gland hamartoma masquerading as malignancy; a rare case report

Brunner's gland hamartoma is a rare benign tumour of the duodenum. It was first described by Cruveilhier in 1835. Presently around 200 cases have been reported in literature. No sex predilection is seen. Patients usually present in the fifth to sixth decades of life. They may be clinically silent or may present with variable symptoms and occasionally obstructive symptoms and chronic pancreatitis. Endoscopic presentation can be nodular, polypoid or diffuse glandular proliferation with thickening of duodenal wall and hence can be misdiagnosed as malignancy. We describe a case of duodenal tumor reported outside [on biopsy] as well differentiated adenocarcinoma which out as Brunner gland hamartoma upon complete resection. Brunner gland hamartoma may sometimes have a very unusual presentation. Extensive pre-operative evaluation is necessity to avoid radical surgical procedure

Alternate parameter for estimation of gestational age - a study

The placental thickness was estimated in about 608 normal antenatal women of all gestational ages [greater than 10 weeks] attending both Obstetrics and Radiology departments using the 3.5 Mhz USG probe. The placental measurement was taken at the insertion of the umbilical cord in all the cases. Mean placental thickness was calculated with standard deviation in all the cases. It was concluded, that the placental thickness gradually increased from 12 mm at 11 weeks to 40 mm in 39-40 weeks of gestation more or less corresponding to the gestational weeks. Between the 22nd and 40th weeks, it was corresponding to the period of gestation. In all these cases, other parameters were also taken. Thus the placental thickness can be used as an important parameter along with other parameters in early, mid and late mid trimesters where the exact duration of pregnancy is not known