Influence of Media Supplementation with Alpha Tocopherol and/or Epigallocatechin Gallate on in vitro Maturation and Subsequent Fertilization of Bovine Oocytes

The present study was planned to determine the effect of Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), Alpha tocopherol and their combination as an antioxidant in TCM-199 media for in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) in bovine oocytes. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated from the ovaries derived from slaughter house and in vitro cultured in three groups using TCM-199 supplemented with EGCG @10 μM, Alpha tocopherol @100 μM, and Combination (EGCG @10 μM plus Alpha tocopherol @100 μM). Oocytes of a control group were matured in TCM-199 medium without any treatment. After IVM, cumulus-free oocytes were co-incubated with frozen-thawed spermatozoa for 15–18 h. Compared to no addition, the presence of EGCG @10 μM in medium during IVM significantly (p<0.05) increased the proportion of maturation and fertilization rate. Combination produced significantly higher percentage of in vitro matured bovine oocytes compared to the alpha tocopherol @100 μM alone. The results suggest that EGCG @10 μM in IVM medium had better effect than Alpha tocopherol alone and Combination on in vitro maturation and subsequent fertilization of bovine oocytes.

First case of Paragonimus westermani infection in a female patient in India.

Paragonimiasis is a foodborne parasitic zoonosis caused by lung fl uke species of the genus Paragonimus. The Paragonimus westermani is the most common human pathogen in Asian countries. In northeast India, Paragonimus heterotremus has been documented as the only human pathogen in the earlier literature. In India, P. westermani infection in humans remained undetermined. Herein, we report a case of pulmonary paragonimiasis due to P. westermani in an adult female in Manipur. The diagnosis was made by morphological and molecular characterisation of the eggs in the sputum. This is the fi rst confi rmed case of paragonimiasis due to P. westermani in India.

Acute filarial myositis.

An uncommon case of filariasis presenting as acute myositis is described. The patient was treated initially with steroids and antihistamines with no response. Later on with the confirmation of filariasis he was treated with diethyl carbamazine with complete recovery.

Post streptococcal glomerulonephritis co-existing with acute rheumatic fever--a case report.

A case of post streptococcal acute glomerulonephritis co-existing with acute rheumatic fever is reported. The relevant literature is briefly reviewed.

Malarial hepatitis: a heterogeneous syndrome?

BACKGROUND. The incidence of malarial hepatitis in patients with Plasmodium falciparum infection and jaundice is not known and it is not clear whether the condition is a single entity or a heterogeneous syndrome. METHODS. We prospectively studied the natural history of all patients with falciparum malaria and jaundice admitted to military hospitals in Northeast India from 1988 to 1991. A possible drug or viral cause for the hepatitis was excluded by the history, serological tests and liver histology. RESULTS. Of the 732 patients admitted with falciparum malaria, 39 had jaundice but only 18 had malarial hepatitis indicated by a rise in their serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase levels to more than three times the upper limit of normal and an absence of clinical or serological evidence to suggest drug or viral hepatitis. The liver in these patients was always enlarged. Their mean age was 27.6 years and 85% were males. The mean serum bilirubin was 12.7 +/- 10.3 mg/dl, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase was 212.8 +/- 144.9 IU, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase was 287.1 +/- 206.2 IU and the serum alkaline phosphatase was 20.4 +/- 10.1 KA. Clinically, 2 groups of patients were seen. Thirteen patients who presented with a severe form of disease had coma, deep jaundice and renal failure. The other 5 patients had a relatively mild illness with only fever, headache and vomiting for 2 days. Four patients with severe disease died. Liver histology (studied in 5 patients) showed Kupffer cell hyperplasia and deposition of malarial pigment. Plasmodium falciparum was demonstrated in sinusoidal red blood cells in only 2 cases. CONCLUSIONS. Malarial hepatitis occurred in 18 out of 39 patients with jaundice and falciparum malaria. It is a heterogeneous syndrome with at least two clinical subsets and the severe disease should not be mistaken for fulminant hepatic failure as there is a better response to therapy.

Thalamic haemorrhage due to tuberculous arteritis.

A young adult presenting as subarachnoid haemorrhage, which was proved to be a thalamic haemorrhage on CT scan, with evidence of tuberculous arteritis, is reported.

Idiopathic oedema--a missed entity.

Twenty nine patients were diagnosed to have idiopathic oedema; 27 (93.1%) of these were females. Associated psychological symptoms were observed in 86.2% of patients. The most common associated symptoms were related to autonomic dysfunction. Obesity and diuretic abuse were found in 48.3% and 41.4% of patients respectively. The association of bizarre symptoms with idiopathic oedema is a common feature.

Maternal and neonatal anthropometric and hematological parameters in Manipuri population.

One hundred and sixty five women admitted in the Regional Medical College Hospital, Manipur, for delivery and their newborns were studied for some anthropometric and hematological parameters. The mean weights of mothers and infants were 50.94 +/- 0.86 kg and 2.86 +/- 0.07 kg, respectively. The mean hemoglobin levels were 11.05 +/- 1.57 g/dl in mothers and 15.05 +/- 0.27 g/dl in cord blood. Statistically no correlation existed between hemoglobin levels and between weights of mothers and infants.