Epidemiological analysis of central nervous system tumors in pediatric patients from a tertiary care centre in India

Background: Tumors of the nervous system are the second most common childhood cancer after leukemia. The diagnosis of CNS tumors is challenging due to non-specific symptoms in children which mimic other less serious illness.Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of case records of patients from 0-18 years of age, who were diagnosed with CNS tumors for a period of 7 years.Results: Out of total 64 patients included in this study, 32 were females and 24 were males. The mean age was 13.2 years. The most common clinical presentation in patients with brain tumors was headache (92.3%) followed by visual symptoms in the form of blurring or loss of vision (42.3%) and swaying while walking (32.6%). The overall mean symptom interval for all patients was 274.8 days (approx. 9 months) ranging from 7-1820 days. In the present study out of total 64 patients, 54 were brain tumors (35 supratentorial and 19 infratentorial) and 10 were spinal tumors. The most common tumor location was cerebellum (21.8%) followed by cerebral cortex, spine and sellar area. Based on histopathology the most common tumor type in our study was astrocytoma. There was no significant correlation of symptom interval with age and gender but was significantly associated with location and tumor grade.Conclusions: Early referral to centers with appropriate facilities will help, as many pediatric CNS tumors are low grade with better survival.

A clinical study of new onset seizures in children aged 3-12 years

Background: Seizures are common in pediatric age group and less than 1/3rd of seizures in children are caused by epilepsy. Aim of present study was to analyze the etiological factors and clinical profile of new onset seizures in children aged 3-12 years.Methods: This was a prospective study done at a tertiary care center of south India. Authors analyzed 98 children aged 3-12 years presenting with new onset seizures. Proper history and investigations including EEG, and CT brain were done to confirm the etiology.Results: Out of 98 children 51 were 3-5 yrs of age and 47 were 6-12 years. 66.3% had generalized seizure and 33.6% had partial seizure. Partial seizure were more common in 5-12 years of age. Intracranial infections were the leading cause (73/98) which included neurotuberculosis (26/73), NCC (20), bacterial meningitis (12), cerebral malaria (8) and viral encephalitis (7). Intracranial infections' were the' leading cause in both age groups. Space occupying lesions were more common in 6-12 years (46.8%) as compared to 3-5 years (19.6%). NCC and Tuberculoma were the leading CT findings in both age groups. There was significantly high incidence of focal EEG changes in partial seizure group compared to generalized seizure group.Conclusions: Intracranial infections were leading cause of new onset seizures especially GTCS. Good clinical evaluation and judicious use of investigations should be ensured. CT brain and EEG are more likely to be informative in partial seizures than in generalized seizures.

Begum Shakeela M, Padmavathi P, Saradamma B, Maturu P, Vardhan Ananda H, Varadacharyulu NC, Reddy Damodara V

Morbidity and mortality attributed to cigarette smoking is a well-known risk factor for diseases and different type of cancers. Free radicals generated by smoking enter into circulation and interacts with blood constituents and RBC membrane thereby causing pathophysiological changes. Herbal extracts have been reported as anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory supplements, which attenuates free radical induced oxidative stress, among which green tea (Camellia sinensis) has been reported as the elixir of life due to its innumerable health benefits. The present study investigates the protective effect of green tea consumption against cigarette smoking-induced oxidative stress on RBC morphology, membrane properties. Blood samples were collected from 120 selected human male volunteers categorized into four groups viz., controls, smokers, control volunteers consuming green tea with no habit of smoking and smokers consuming green tea were analyzed. Results of this study showed that significantly altered membrane lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyls, -SH groups, ATPases, individual phospholipids, morphological changes in RBC structure and membrane proteins as evident by SDS-PAGE in smokers. Besides, smokers showed decreased activities of antioxidant status. The adverse changes observed in the above parameters in smokers were preserved upon supplementation of green tea. In conclusion, the presence of phenols, flavonoids and tannins, in particular, catechins in green tea might be responsible for the observed protection against smoking-induced alterations in blood.

Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis in Kabuli Chickpea (Cicer Arietinum L.)

Thirty genotypes of kabuli chickpea were used to study the extent of genetic variability, correlation and path analysis for yield and yield contributing characters. Wider genetic variability with high heritability and high genetic advance as per cent of mean was recorded for number of primary branches per plant, biological yield per plant and seed yield per plant. Correlation studies revealed that seed yield was significantly and positively correlated with plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of pods per plant, 100-seed weight, harvest index and biological yield per plant. Path coefficient analysis indicated that biological yield per plant, number of pods per plant and harvest index had high positive direct effect on seed yield signifying the importance of these traits in improvement of seed yield.

Studies on the reproductive and pollen biology of Terminalia Arjuna, W&A (Combretaceae).

Terminalia arjuna is a deciduous tree widely distributed in tropical semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests. Flowers of T. arjuna have ten stamens, which remain inside the bud and anthesis is carried out at different times of the day. Pollen grains are yellow in colour, medium and spherical, aperture is tri zonocolporate and exine is smooth. The pollen: ovule ratio is about 15,400 : 1. Optimum germination was seen in BBM + 12.5% sucrose. After 16 hr of anthesis, the pollen grains lost their viability and there was no fruit set. The current findings will be useful in studying pollen – pistil interactions, gene flow and heterozygosity of the T. arjuna populations.

Phenology and reproductive biology of rhynchosia beddomei baker, an endemic medicinal plant of Tirumala Hills.

Flowering phenology and reproductive biology of Rhynchosia beddomei, an endemic medicinal plant of Tirumala hills was studied in the natural habitat in the year 2010-11. Flowering was initiated in December 1st week and continued up to end of March. Peak flowering was observed in 4th week of December and another small peak was also observed in February 2nd week. The flowers are yellow in colour and are arranged in axillary or terminal recemes. Maximum pollen germination was observed in 12.5% sucrose solution + BBM at the time of anthesis (between12 noon to 12. 30PM) and in 37.5% concentration at 3.00PM. Maximum pollen viability was observed at 11.30 AM in TTC and FCR tests. Pollen tube growth was maximum in 12.5% sucrose with BBM at 11.30 AM. Pollen were lipid rich and starch poor. Predominance of outcrossing was observed and was brought about by insects, particularly bees.

Amelioration of alcohol-induced oxidative stress by Emblica officinalis (Amla) in rats.

The present study was aimed at investigating the ameliorative effect of Emblica (Phyllanthus Emblica. L) fruit extract (EFE) against alcohol-induced oxidative changes in plasma biochemical profile in rats. Alcohol administration (5 g/kg body wt/day) for 60 days resulted in significantly (P<0.05) higher levels of plasma nitrite/nitrate (NOx), total bilirubin, creatinine, and abnormalities in lipid and lipoproteins. Moreover, alcohol receiving rats showed significantly (P<0.05) lowered plasma total protein, albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio and uric acid, with no significant change in glucose level. The EFE administration (250 mg/kg body wt/day) to alcohol-administered rats significantly modulated plasma lipids and lipoprotein patterns and also decreased nitrite/nitrate, total bilirubin and creatinine levels. EFE administration to alcohol receiving rats showed a significant (P<0.05) increase in plasma total protein, A/G ratio and uric acid levels. Total cholesterol (r = 0.466), triglycerides (r = 0.574), VLDL-C (r = 0.578), LDL-C (r = 0.225) and total bilirubin (r = 0.419) showed a stronger positive correlation with that of NOx in alcohol-treated rats. The concentration of nitric oxide (NOx) was negatively correlated with HDL-C (r = -0.285) and uric acid (r = 0.392) in alcohol-treated rats. The amelioration of alcohol-induced oxidative stress might be due to the combined effect of phytophenols, such as tannins and flavonoid compounds and vitamin C.