Cerebral venous thrombosis with auto-immune hyperthyroidism

Sudden deterioration of visual functions warrants comprehensive ophthalmic examination with evaluation for systemic association. Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is an uncommon disorder that can present with neurological deficits. We report a young female patient aged 28 years who presented with severe headache and sudden diminution of vision and was subsequently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and CVT. Management of CVT and hyperthyroidism hastened full recovery of visual functions.

Disseminated histoplasmosis mimicking laryngeal carcinoma from central India--a case report.

A 58 year old male, chronic smoker, with diabetes mellitus (Type II), residing in Madhya Pradesh presented with dysphagia, hoarseness, odynophagia and significant weight loss. Microlaryngoscopy showed reddish ulcerated area involving valleculae, and pharyngo-epiglottic fold. Histopathological examination showed foamy macrophages containing Histoplasma capsulatum. Patient initially responded to Azoles, relapsed three months after stopping the treatment and presented with oral lesions. Biopsy showed H. capsulatum, histologically as well as on culture. The mycelial phase converted to yeast phase on B.H.I.A. at 37 degrees C confirming the isolate as H. capsulatum. The patient responded well to amphotericin B.

Evaluation of the efficacy of mifepristone/misoprostol and methotrexate/misoprostol for medical abortion.

BACKGROUND: Unsafe abortion is a major cause of mortality among women in India accounting for 12% of all maternal deaths. In developing countries, annually, up to 200,000 women die of complications after illegal abortion. Medical abortion is potentially a simple and a safe method for use in developing countries. We conducted a prospective controlled trial to compare the efficacy of low-lose mifepristone and methotrexate for medical abortion. OBJECTIVE: To find out the efficacy of low-dose mifepristone and methotrexate for inducing abortion. METHOD: In this prospective clinical study, 100 women opted for a medical method of abortion. Out of these, 50 patients were given 50 mg/m2 of methotrexate intramuscularly followed by 800 micro gm of intravaginal misoprostol, and 50 patients were given 200 mg of mifepristone orally followed by 800 micro gm of intravaginal misoprostol. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Complete abortion was the principal outcome measure. Secondary outcome measures were side effects and acceptability data. RESULTS: The rate of expulsion by first week after initiation of treatment was 58% in methotrexate and 98% in mifepristone group (P <0.001). CONCLUSION: Low-dose mifepristone and intravaginal misoprostol is safe, effective, and well tolerated as compared to methotrexate and misoprostol.

Splenic lymphocytes with circulating villous lymphocytes--a case report.

A 25 years old male presented with hepatomegaly splenomegaly and fever. He was diagnosed as splenic lymphoma with circulating villous lymphocytes (SLVL) on morphology, cytochemistry and immunocytochemistry performed on peripheral blood and bone marrow smears. Case is being presented because of rarity and unusual presentation at young age.

Energy expenditure and ventilatory responses during Siddhasana--a yogic seated posture.

Reports of energy expenditure and ventilatory responses to yogic seated posture of Siddhasana are lacking in literature. Various cardio-ventilatory responses were studied in states of the horizontal supine, chair-sitting and Siddhasana. It was observed that sitting in Siddhasana posture was characterised by greater minute ventilation, larger tidal volume, higher oxygen consumption, greater CO2 elimination, higher heart frequency greater oxygen pulse and lesser as compared with other two postures. These observations suggest that Siddhasana is a mild type of exercise and may have its application in conditions of low cardio-respiratory reserves especially in individuals in whom heavy exercises are contra-indicated.

Potentiation of ricin cytotoxicity by liposomal monensin under in vitro and in vivo conditions.

Effect of monensin, intercalated in liposomes on the cytotoxicities of ricin, Pseudomonas exotoxin A and diphtheria toxin in phagocytic and non-phagocytic cells as well as in mice has been studied. Intercalation does not disturb the integrity of the liposomal bilayer and substantially enhances the cytotoxicities of ricin and Pseudomonas exotoxin A in both phagocytic and non-phagocytic cells while it has no effect on diphtheria toxin. The observed effect is highly dependent on the liposomal lipid composition as well as cell types. The potentiating ability of monensin in neutral vesicle is 2.2-fold higher than in negatively charged vesicles in non-phagocytic cells while no difference was observed in phagocytic cells. Incorporation of stearylamine in liposomes reduces the potentiating effect of monensin. Liposomal monensin has also been found to enhance the cytotoxicity of ricin in mouse in vivo in a dose-dependent manner and is maximal when ricin is injected within 60 min of monensin injection. Liposomal monensin remains in circulation for 2 hr while free monensin remains only for 15 min. Tissue distribution studies reveal that liposomal monensin is present mainly in the liver and spleen which are also the major sites for ricin accumulation. Thus liposome is found to be an effective delivery vehicle for monensin to potentiate the cytotoxicity of immunotoxins or hormonotoxins and could prove useful for selective elimination of cancer cells.

Inter-relationship between dental, skeletal and chronological ages in well-nourished and mal-nourished children.

Dental casts, wrist roentgenograms and full mouth radiographs of teeth of 80 mal-nourished and 40 well-nourished children were evaluated and compared for correlation of dental, skeletal and chronological ages. The findings revealed (1) very high correlation between dental and skeletal ages (r = 0.9584); (2) high correlation of chronological age with dental and skeletal ages (r = 0.8635 and r = 0.8716); (3) out of all the three correlations considered, dental and skeletal ages had the maximum correlation; (4) malnutrition had a significant adverse effect on the skeletal and dental ages. Greater the severity of malnutrition, more pronounced was its effect on the dental and skeletal ages; and (5) no evidence of severity of malocclusion with retarded skeletal and dental ages.