To evaluate peripheral neuropathy of ulnar sensory nerve through nerve conduction studies in Type 2 diabetic patients

Background: Secretory defects or defects in action of insulin precipitate a condition of chronic hyperglycemia known as diabetes mellitus, a metabolic disorder progressive in nature with long asymptomatic stage. Diabetic neuropathy is the most life threatening complication. Aims and Objectives: Early detection of peripheral neuropathy helps to take remedial measures in controlling the progression of the disease. Materials and Methods: Forty clinically detectable peripheral neuropathy Type 2 diabetic patients and 40 age-matched control subjects were selected for the study and nerve conduction test of ulnar sensory nerve was done and distal latency (DL), sensory nerve action potential (SNAP), and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) were recorded using RMS-EMG-EP-MAK II machine to predict the extent and type of neuropathy in diabetics. Results: Significant difference (P < 0.05) of DL, SNCV, and SNAP of ulnar sensory nerve was found in clinically detectable peripheral neuropathy group as compared to controls. Predominantly, axonal type (loss of amplitude) of neuropathy was present in study group. Conclusion: Electrophysiological variables of ulnar sensory nerve were affected in most of the subjects suggesting axonal loss and demyelinating changes in the nerve.

Assessment of Wave V latency and Wave I-V Interpeak latency in preterm babies by Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry

Background: Early screening of hearing impairment optimizes communication, social, academic, and vocational outcomes for each child with hearing loss measurement of the auditory brain stem response which is considered the most sensitive method of assessing the auditory activity of neonates. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to compare wave V latency and interpeak I-V latency by brainstem auditory evoked response in preterm babies (32 weeks–36 weeks) with age-specific normal response and intergroup comparison (Group 1–32 weeks, Group 2–34 weeks, and Group 3–36 weeks) for the identification of hearing impairment if any. Materials and Methods: The present study was done on 50 preterm newborn, and after satisfying inclusion and exclusion criteria, preterm babies were subdivided into three groups on the basis of gestational age (Group A: 32 weeks [n = 12], Group B: 34 weeks [n = 18], and Group C: 36 weeks [n = 20]). Babies were subjected to brainstem evoked response audiometry (BERA) test on RMS EMG EP MARK-II machine in the neurophysiology unit of the Department of Physiology, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal. Interpretation of the data as compared to normal values was done. Results: A trend toward decrease in absolute peak latencies of wave V with advancing gestational age was observed indicating progressive maturation, but the values recorded in all the three groups were longer as compared to the normal term values suggesting impairment in the maturation process. Wave I-V interpeak latencies values showed appreciable prolongation in all groups as compared to normal term values. Conclusion: The present study has shown that the preterm babies had altered BERA findings signifying hearing impairment.

A rare case of hypereosinophilic syndrome presenting with unilateral proptosis and torticollis

Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a spectrum of myeloproliferative disorder, which is characterized by persistent and marked blood eosinophilia and damage to multiple organs due to eosinophilic infiltration. Idiopathic HES is identified after ruling out all other causes of eosinophilia. Poor prognosis is usually associated with cardiac involvement and malignant transformation of blood cells. We report a rare case of HES in an 8-year-old boy who presented with unilateral proptosis and torticollis. The patient responded well to corticosteroid therapy with reduction of proptosis and torticollis and normalization of serum eosinophil count.

Degradation of xenobiotic compounds by lignin-degrading white-rot fungi: enzymology and mechanisms involved.

White-rot fungi (WRF) are ubiquitous in nature with their natural ability to compete and survive. WRF are the only organisms known to have the ability to degrade and mineralize recalcitrant plant polymer lignin. Their potential to degrade second most abundant carbon reserve material lignin on the earth make them important link in global carbon cycle. WRF degrade lignin by its unique ligninolytic enzymatic machinery including lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, laccase, cellobiose dehydrogenase, H2O2-generating enzymes, etc. The ligninolytic enzymes system is non-specific, extracellular and free radical based that allows them to degrade structurally diverse range of xenobiotic compounds. Lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase carry out direct and indirect oxidation as well as reduction of xenobiotic compounds. Indirect reactions involved redox mediators such as veratryl alcohol and Mn2+. Reduction reactions are carried out by carboxyl, superoxide and semiquinone radicals, etc. Methylation is used as detoxification mechanism by WRF. Highly oxidized chemicals are reduced by transmembrane redox potential. Degradation of a number of environmental pollutants by ligninolytic system of white rot fungi is described in the present review.

Action of an algicide from a cyanobacterium, Oscillatoria laetevirens, on photosystem II.

Oscillatoria laetevirens produces an algicide, named oscillatorin (OS), which inhibits growth of higher plants. Effect of purified oscillatorin and some 'urea-triazine type' herbicides was studied on photosystem II activity and composition of pigment protein complex in spinach thylakoid membrane. For oscillatorin the I50 at 10 microg chlorophyll concentration, inhibitor constant (Ki), specific binding sites and Hill coefficient were calculated to be 1.45, 0.15, 2.3 and 0.2 microM respectively. Metribuzin and oscillatorin affected towards the donor side and brought about identical changes in polypeptide composition of PSII complex. Further, metribuzin and atrazine exerted antagonistic and synergistic responses on oscillatorin action. Some of these parameters were also studied on weed plants to assess upon the weedicidal potential of oscillatorin.

Eosinophilic gastritis--an unusual cause of gastric outlet obstruction.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is a rare entity. We report a 41-year-old man who presented with features of gastric outlet obstruction due to a submucosal lesion in the distal end of the stomach. Distal gastrectomy with Billroth II reconstruction was done. Histology showed eosinophilic gastritis infiltrating the muscular and serosal layers of the pylorus and antrum.

A simple screening procedure for detection of infraclinical cases of multiple myeloma.

Agarose Gel Serum Electrophoresis is a simple, rapid and sensitive technique routinely used for diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma. Its effectiveness as a screening tool for detecting infraclinical cases of Multiple Myeloma is brought out in this study. 29 out of the 219 patients presenting with unexplained osteoporosis and pain are found to be positive for M proteins. These patients were earlier adjudged organic disease free after preliminary investigation and examination.

Extraosseous giant cell tumour of lung.

A rare case of Extraosseous Osteoclastoma like giant cell tumour of the lung is presented.

Aggregative Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Shigella are associated with increasing duration of diarrhea.

In order to relate etiology of diarrhea to the duration of the episode, a cohort of 452 children up to 36 months of age was visited once weekly at their households for 18 consecutive months to record diarrheal morbidity. Fecal specimens were obtained in 453 diarrheal episodes occurring in 354 children during this period. The common putative agents as single isolations associated with diarrhea were EA-AggEC (17.2%), ETEC (14.1%), EPEC (6.0%) and rotavirus (4.0%). The pathogens with higher median duration of diarrhea were Shigella (13.5; mean +/- SD 13.7 +/- 2.7), Salmonella (8.8: 15.3 +/- 4.5) and EA = AggEC (12.0: 15.1 +/- 1.8). Of 55 episodes with duration of greater than 14 days, the main pathogens isolated were EA-AggEC (32.7%), ETEC (9.0), Salmonella, G. lamblia (5.5% each) and Shigella (3.5%). These data provide a preliminary evidence to suggest that EA = AggEC may well be the main long sought microbial agent responsible for diarrhea of long duration.