Gastric Schwannoma mimicking gastrointestinal stromal tumor: a rare case with review of literature

Gastric schwannoma (GS) is a rare neoplasm of the stomach. It accounts for 0.2% of all gastric tumors and is mostly benign, slow-growing, and asymptomatic. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal tumors and up to 60-70% of GIST occur in the stomach. Schwannoma and GIST have similar radiological and endoscopic features making it extremely difficult to differentiate them preoperatively. Differential diagnosis of these two submucosal tumors is important because of the malignant potential of GIST and the relatively benign course of gastric schwannomas. This case stresses on the importance of including gastric schwannomas in the differential diagnosis of a submucosal gastric mass as it has the ability to mimic a gastrointestinal stromal tumor, which is a leading differential diagnosis because of its common occurrence at this site.

Google Search Trends Predicting Disease Outbreaks: An Analysis from India / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVES: Prompt detection is a cornerstone in the control and prevention of infectious diseases. The Integrated Disease Surveillance Project of India identifies outbreaks, but it does not exactly predict outbreaks. This study was conducted to assess temporal correlation between Google Trends and Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) data and to determine the feasibility of using Google Trends for the prediction of outbreaks or epidemics. METHODS: The Google search queries related to malaria, dengue fever, chikungunya, and enteric fever for Chandigarh union territory and Haryana state of India in 2016 were extracted and compared with presumptive form data of the IDSP. Spearman correlation and scatter plots were used to depict the statistical relationship between the two datasets. Time trend plots were constructed to assess the correlation between Google search trends and disease notification under the IDSP RESULTS: Temporal correlation was observed between the IDSP reporting and Google search trends. Time series analysis of the Google Trends showed strong correlation with the IDSP data with a lag of −2 to −3 weeks for chikungunya and dengue fever in Chandigarh (r > 0.80) and Haryana (r > 0.70). Malaria and enteric fever showed a lag period of −2 to −3 weeks with moderate correlation. CONCLUSIONS: Similar results were obtained when applying the results of previous studies to specific diseases, and it is considered that many other diseases should be studied at the national and sub-national levels.

Atypical neuroleptic malignant syndrome. “Doing more harm than gain”.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) a rare, idiosyncratic, and potentially fatal adverse reaction can be deceptive especially when the hallmark features are lacking. Most diagnostic criteria include fever and muscle rigidity, although NMS may present without either. Delirium, agitation and catatonia can be the earliest features of NMS and in acute care settings, concomitant use of sedatives and anti-psychotics by the attending clinicians may even obscure the sentinel signs of NMS and further aggravate the underlying insult. A strong clinical suspicion based on clinical history is crucial for early diagnosis and treatment and the strict adherence to the classical criteria of NMS may lead to a diagnostic delay and dire consequences for these patients and sometimes this delay can procure death.

Reversible germ cell toxicity of sulphasalazine and ampicillin combination in male rats

The antifertility effect of ampicillin [AMP, 40 mg/kg] and sulphasalazine or salicylazosulfapyridine [SASP, 300, 450 and 600 mg/kg] in male rats has been reported earlier. The combination of AMP and SASP is generally used in certain pathological conditions, but the combined effect of these two drugs on the fertility is not clear. So, the aim of this study was to investigate the antifertility effect of ampicillin and sulphasalazine combination in male rats. In the present study, forty rats were randomly divided into five groups [n=8]. Group 1 served as the control, while Group 2 and 3 received AMP and SASP at the doses of 20 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg respectively. Moreover, group 4 and 5 received the combination of SASP [100 mg/kg] and AMP [10 mg/kg]. However, for evaluating the reversible effect of the combination, a washout period of 30 days was given in group 5. After 45 days of drug treatment, each rat was sacrificed. The testes, seminal vesicles and epididymis were dissected and weighed. Furthermore, fertility tests, sperm characteristic analysis, histopathological studies, testosterone assay and tissue biochemistry were performed. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and in case ANOVA shows statistical differences, post hoc analysis was performed. A decrease in parameters related to fertility of males such as sperm count, sperm motility, fertility ratio, serum testosterone level, glycogen and protein content in sexual organs was observed. Although AMP and SASP significantly [p<0.001] reduced the reproductive activity separately, but their combination was found to be impairing the reproductive activity at a considerably lower dose. However, on withdrawing the treatment, all these parameters were restored which was confirmed by the histopathological analysis of the testis. The combination produces synergistic antifertility effect in male rats and the effect was reversible. The dose and efficacy of results could be extrapolated in future clinical trials

Assessment of the current practice regarding Diarrhea Management by pharmacists/chemist in Moradabad.

Diarrhea is one of the GIT disorders that create discomfort of normal life. Diarrhea is defined by the World Health Organization as having 3 or more loose or liquid stools per day or as having more stools than is normal for that person. It may be due to infection by viruses, Bacteria and parasites etc. Generally in small cities large number of diarrheal patients visit chemist shop and took medicine with or without advice/precaution from over the counter. Present study deal with specific aim focus on evaluating the role of Pharmacist/Chemist in management of diarrhea. Pharmacist helped in out in managing diarrhea to some extent by prescribing drugs either in single or combinations form but they don’t know about the which patients to test, what tests to order, what accurate medical treatments to use, and what steps to take in case of acute as well as in chronic case of diarrhea.

Effects of Mangifera indica fruit extract on cognitive deficits in mice.

Mangos are a source of bioactive compounds with potential health-promoting activity. The present work was undertaken to evaluate the ethanolic extract of Mangifera indica L. fruit on cognitive performances. The models used to study the effect on cognitive performances are step down passive avoidance task and elevated plus maze task in mice. Chronic treatment (7 days) of extract and vitamin C significantly (p < 0.05) reversed the aging and scopolamine induced memory deficits in both paradigms. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of free sugars, saponins, tannins, and flavonoids. The results suggest the extract contained pharmacologically active principles that are memory-enhancing in nature.

Central nervous system activity of acute administration of ethanol extract of Punica granatum L. seeds in mice.

Role of ethanolic extract of P. granatum seeds on central nervous system (CNS) in animal models of elevated plus maze test, barbiturate-induced sleeping time, tail suspension test, hot-plate and tail-flick test was studied. P. granatum (PG) extract was administered to young and aged mice at single doses of 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg, perorally while diazepam (1 mg/kg), morphine (5 mg/kg) and imipramine (30 mg/kg) were used intraperitoneally as standard drugs. The results showed that PG extract at all dose levels significantly exhibited the anxiolytic activity. In another study PG extract (250 and 500 mg/kg) significantly increased the sleeping latency and reduced the sleeping time. Tail suspension test showed that PG extract (250 and 500 mg/kg) was able to induce a significant decrease in the immobility time, similar to imipramine, a recognized antidepressant drug. Tail-flick and hot-plate tests exhibited antinociceptive property of PG extract, similar to morphine, a recognized antinociceptive agent. Phytochemical investigation of ethanol extract for the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, anthocyanins, sugars and saponins was also carried out. Phytochemical screening and measurement of reducing power revealed the CNS activity of ethanol extract of PG seeds may be due to its antioxidative profile.