ABSTRACT
Adenocarcinoma of the gastro-esophageal junction (GEJ) remains a significant clinical problem that is increasing in incidence and is associated with a poor prognosis. The majority of patients present with advanced disease and less than 50% undergo curative treatment. To diagnose GE junction mass with conventional procedure like Barium swallow where endoscopy cannot be performed, CECT is done to access the potential spread of disease.
ABSTRACT
The mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are a group of inherited metabolic disorders that result in widespread skeletal, visceral, and mental abnormalities. A defect in metabolic degradation leads to the storage of mucopolysaccharide macromolecules in the nervous system and other body tissues. The MPS are classified into various types, and there are additional diseases, such as the mucolipidoses and a gangliosidosis, that demonstrate similar clinical and radiologic findings. We hereby present 3 cases of Hurler Syndrome, TypeI mucopolysaccharidoses, and enumerate there radiological characteristic radiological findings.
ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: Regular practice of slow breathing has been shown to improve cardiovascular and respiratory functions and to decrease the effects of stress. This pilot study was planned to evaluate the short term effects of pranayama on cardiovascular functions, pulmonary functions and galvanic skin resistance (GSR) which mirrors sympathetic tone, and to evaluate the changes that appear within a short span of one week following slow breathing techniques. Methods: Eleven normal healthy volunteers were randomized into Pranayama group (n=6) and a non-Pranayama control group (n=5); the pranayama volunteers were trained in pranayama, the technique being Anuloma-Viloma pranayama with Kumbhak. All the 11 volunteers were made to sit in similar environment for two sessions of 20 min each for seven days, while the pranayama volunteers performed slow breathing under supervision, the control group relaxed without conscious control on breathing. Pulse, GSR, blood pressure (BP) and pulmonary function tests (PFT) were measured before and after the 7-day programme in all the volunteers. Results: While no significant changes were observed in BP and PFT, an overall reduction in pulse rate was observed in all the eleven volunteers; this reduction might have resulted from the relaxation and the environment. Statistically significant changes were observed in the Pranayama group volunteers in the GSR values during standing phases indicating that regular practice of Pranayama causes a reduction in the sympathetic tone within a period as short as 7 days. Interpretation & conclusions: Beneficial effects of pranayama started appearing within a week of regular practice, and the first change appeared to be a reduction in sympathetic tone.
ABSTRACT
The toxicity studies were carried out a 50% aqueous ethanolic extract of Benincasa hispida ( B. hispida )in rodents.The acute toxicity study, B. hispida was found to be well tolerated upto 2000mg/kg, produced neither mortality nor in behavior in mice. In subacute toxicity study, B. hispida at dose level of 200 and 400 mg/kg did not produce any significant difference in their body weight, food and water intake when compared to vehicle treated rats. It also showed no significant alteration in hematological and biochemical parameters in experimental groups of rats apart from a decrease in aspatate transaminase, alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphate content at the dose of 400 mg/kg. Histopathological study revealed normal architecture of kidney and liver of B. hispida treated rats. These results demonstrated that there is a wide margin of safety for the therapeutic use of B. hispida and further corroborated the traditional use of this extract as an anti hepatocarcinogenic agent.
ABSTRACT
Gelastic syncope or laughter-induced syncope is a rare disease often misdiagnosed as narcolepsy or cataplexy. We report a 54-year-old man with syncopal episodes. Each episode started after laughter, leading to light-headedness with blurring of vision and loss of consciousness for a few seconds. The episodes resolved spontaneously. The treatment of gelastic syncope is the same as that for neurally mediated syncope.
Subject(s)
Humans , Laughter , Male , Medical History Taking , Middle Aged , Polysomnography , Syncope/classification , Syncope/diagnosisABSTRACT
BACKGROUND. Most studies on knowledge, attitude and practice regarding contraceptives have been conducted in rural areas and urban slums. In this study, a mixed urban population was surveyed. SUBJECTS. Two thousand parous women from different social and educational backgrounds residing in the metropolis of Mumbai (Bombay), Maharashtra were included in the study. RESULTS. Fifty per cent of illiterates, semi-literates and highschool educated, and 80% of college-educated couples said that they had no gender preferences for their children, but actual practice belied this. Regardless of the level of education, 25%, 75% and 95% of all couples were sexually active by 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after childbirth. Awareness regarding the availability of various contraceptives increased with education; 20% of all graduate couples used condoms or the rhythm method immediately after marriage. After the birth of their first child, 80% of educated couples used spacing methods whereas even after the birth of their third child more than 50% of the uneducated did not. The major complaint of the intrauterine device users was menorrhagia and abdominal pain, while that of pill users was nausea, giddiness and headache. Spacing methods were popular among the educated, and terminal ones among the uneducated. Steroidal contraceptive pills were not popular with any group, regardless of the level of education. CONCLUSION. Education was the main variable in the decisions regarding the family size, spacing interval, contraceptive awareness, its use immediately after marriage and during the postpartum period.