Comparative Biometrical Studies on the Trachea and Lungs in Adult Pashmina, Bakerwali and Non-descript Goats of Jammu & Kashmir State

This present study was conducted on the trachea and lungs of adult Pashmina, Bakerwali and non-descript goats to compare the biometrical features of these organs among these breeds. For this, a total of 10 samples from each goat breed were collected. The mean length of the trachea in adult Pashmina, Bakerwali and non-descript goats were recorded as 19.70±0.55 cm, 27.35±0.43 cm and 27.24±1.02 cm, respectively. It was found that the length of the trachea was significantly shorter in case of Pashmina goat as compared to the other two breeds. Also, the width of the middle segment of the trachea was found to be significantly lesser in Pashmina goat. Similarly, the mean weight of the two lungs and their length at various levels in regard to different lobes showed variations among these three breeds and were significant for some biometrical parameters.

Is tongue thrust that develops during orthodontic treatment an unrecognized potential road block?

The role of tongue thrust has often been suspected, long debated and largely dispelled as a primary etiological factor of malocclusion. However, tongue thrust may contribute to poor occlusal intercuspation both during and after treatment. A tongue thrust may also develop during orthodontic mechanotherapy as a result of the transient creation of intra and interarch spaces and this little recognized phenomenon was found to occur in many randomly followed cases. In many instances, this seemingly adaptive and secondary response of the tongue posture and function may persist and thereafter impede the resolution of intra and interarch problems.

Percutaneous tracheostomy.

The purpose of this review is to discuss the various techniques of percutaneous tracheostomy and to assess their safety and efficacy profile, indications and contraindications, early and late complications. Literature was reviewed from Medline and MD Consult databases. Early techniques by Sheldon, toye and Schachner have been abandoned due to their high complication rates. Percutaneous dilational tracheostomy using the Ciaglia kit (Wiliam Cook Europe Bjaeverskov) and a Griggs kit (Portex PDT kit, POrtex, Hythe, Kent, UK) has been used most often. Griggs guide Wire Dilator Forceps kit (SIMS, Portex, Hythe, Kent, UK) is the next most common in use but its long-term studies are few. Fantoni (TLT set, Mallinckrodt Medical) and PercuTwist device (Riisch, Kernen, Germany) are two new techniques currently under study. Percutaneous dilational tracheostomy and conventional surgical tracheostomy are still competing methods to provide an airway for intensive care patient requiring assisted ventilation. Review of literature shows that percutaneous tracheostomy is safe, cost-effective and compares favourably with the open surgical tracheostomy. Many intensive care units now use the percutaneous tracheostomy as a procedure of choice. Percutaneous tracheostomy has a learning curve and requires appropriate case selection and meticulous attention to the technique by all those who want to use this method.

Establishment of embryonic cultures and somatic embryogenesis in callus culture of guggul-Commiphora wightii (Arnott.) Bhandari.

Somatic embryogenesis in callus cultures of Commiphora wightii (Arnott.) Bhandari was achieved. Though the frequency of explants producing embryonic culture was low, immature zygotic embryos were the only suitable explants to produce embryonic callus after reciprocal transfers on media containing 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy acetic acid (0.1 mgl(-1)) and kinetin (0.1 mgl(-1)) or devoid of growth regulators. All other media failed to produce embryonic callus. Embryonic cells were small, densely filled with cytoplasm and isodiametric as compared to non-embryonic cells, which were large, elongated and vacuolated. Maximum growth of embryonic callus was recorded on modified MS medium (MS-2 medium) supplemented with BA (0.25 mgl(-1)) and IBA (0.1 mgl(-1)). MS-2 salts supported higher growth of callus as compared to tissues grown on B5 medium containing same concentrations of plant growth regulators. Exogenous medium nutrients had no effect on somatic embryo development whereas plant growth regulators had little effect. Asynchronously growing embryos formed plantlets regularly which were successfully transferred to the field conditions.

Extracranial head and neck circulation aneurysms in a case of polyarteritis nodosa.

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a rare systemic necrotising medium vessel vasculitis. The hallmark of this condition is aneurysms which are seen in visceral arteries. Aneurysms of extracranial neck and head vessels are rare. We describe a case of PAN who had such aneurysms together with characteristic aneurysms in the mesenteric circulation.

A Socio-Epidemiological Study of Tuberculosis in a Rural Area

Five thousand rural adults (aged IS years and above) were studied to find out role of socIal vanabies in the occurrence of tuberculosis in seven villages of R.S.Pura tehsil of Jammu district. During this cross-sectonial study, 25 tubercular cases were found in the adult rural population. Out of 25 cases. 16 were found in the age group of below 45 years and only 9 cases were above -45 years. Men were affected more than women. Smoking and overcrowding were found to be important social factor, significantly related to the higher prevalence or disease. The other social variables like occupation. Ilteracy, socio-economic status and family size were not found to be slglllficantly related to the prevalence of tuberculosIs in thls study.

Transcatheter coil embolization of a traumatic intrahepatic arterioportal fistula.

Traumatic arterioportal fistulas are rare lesions in the pediatric age group. This case highlights the safe and effective management of intrahepatic arterioportal fistulas by transcatheter coil embolization.

A method for large-scale multiplication of Curculigo orchioides through bulbil formation from leaf explant in shake flask culture.

An efficient method has been developed for large-scale multiplication of Curculigo orchioides (Hypoxidaceae), an endangered medicinal plant, through direct bulbil formation from leaf explants in shake flask cultures. Leaf-segments (7 x 10 mm) were cultured in B5 liquid medium containing KNO3 (200 mgNL-1), (NH4)2SO4 (50 mgNL-1), benzyl adenosine (2.2 microM), adenine (0.11 mM), indole butyric acid (1.0 microM) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (250 mgL-1). About 95% of explants produced maximum number of bulbils (546/flask at 6 weeks growth) in the medium. Shake flask cultures yielded 2737 bulbils/L medium whereas static cultures yielded 624 bulbils/L medium. Germination of bulbils was maximum (90.62%) on agar-gelled B5 medium containing benzyl adenosine (2.2 microM) and gibberellic acid (3.5 microM). Plantlets developed in vitro were successfully transferred to soil with a high rate of survivability (90%) and were comparable to natural population in growth and vigour.

Usefulness of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage in patients with surgical jaundice--a prospective randomised study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with obstructive jaundice undergoing surgical procedures have a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. The role of preoperative percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) was evaluated in a randomized trial. METHODS: A total of 40 patients were assigned to either preoperative PTBD (n = 20), or surgery alone (n = 20). PTBD was performed under ultrasound guidance. There were no major complications related to the procedure. RESULTS: Ultrasound guided drainage was a successful and safe method of preoperative biliary decompression. There was a marked relief from pruritus and significant reduction of hyperbilirubinaemia from a mean of 386.48 mumol/L to 116.10 mumol/L (p < 0.001). Mean duration of drainage was 42.5 days. Postoperative complications occurred in five patients in PTBD group (25%) compared to 11 patients (55%) in the control group. One death (5%) occurred in PTBD group compared to four deaths (20%) in the control group (significant at 5% level with probability 0.2). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound guided drainage is a useful preoperative supportive measure in preparing deeply jaundiced patients for surgery and permits hepatic function to return to a near normal state preoperatively. The improved results in our study were due to longer duration of drainage.

T-tube access for endoscopic sphincterotomy: a variant of combined percutaneous and endoscopic approach.

Selective deep cannulation of the common bile duct (CBD), which is essential for successful endoscopic sphincterotomy, may not be possible in all patients. Three patients with retained CBD stones with T-tube in situ in whom selective deep cannulation failed, underwent successful sphincterotomy using a combined percutaneous and endoscopic procedure through the T-tube. CBD stones were then extracted with a Dormia basket. In situ T-tube can provide percutaneous access for combined approach in patients with retained CBD stones in whom endoscopic cannulation is not successful.

Combined percutaneous-endoscopic approach for biliary endoprosthesis placement.

A nonoperative method of palliation was used in four patients with malignant obstructive jaundice in whom biliary endoprosthesis could not be placed endoscopically. A guide wire was manipulated through the lesion by a percutaneous transhepatic route and retrieved from the duodenum through an endoscope. A 10 Fr stent was then passed through the endoscope over the guide wire across the stricture. The procedure was successful in all four patients, with no complication.

Caroli's disease: a central dot means a lot.

We present here a patient of congenital non-obstructive focal dilatation of intrahepatic biliary radicles (Caroli's disease). The peculiar configuration of dilated intrahepatic biliary channels with central portal vein radicles was picked up sonologically as the 'central dot' sign. Awareness of this sign allows an accurate diagnosis without resorting to more invasive and expensive investigations.

Evaluation of left ventricular functions in chronic renal failure before and after acute hemodialysis.

Left ventricular functions were evaluated in 25 adult patients of chronic renal failure by 2-D echocardiography before and after four hours of standard hemodialysis session. Eighteen patients showed clinical evidence of fluid overload. Predialysis left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-diastolic volume, left ventricular end-systolic diameter and left ventricular end-systolic volume were comparable in patients with or without fluid overload. Similarly, predialysis stroke volume and left ventricular ejection fraction were not significantly different in the two subsets. However, following hemodialysis there was a significant decrease in the left ventricular systolic and diastolic volumes and diameters in patients with fluid overload. The improvement in the left ventricular ejection fraction was of the same magnitude in the two subsets. The significant improvement in the left ventricular functions both in patients with and without fluid overload indicates that fluid overload may not be the only determinant of left ventricular functions in patients of chronic renal failure, but other factors, such as various uraemia toxins and metabolic changes might also be inhibiting the myocardial functions.

Bifid pancreas: a case report.

Bifid pancreas is a rare anatomical anomaly in which the main pancreatic duct is bifurcated along its length. Although the pancreatographic appearance has been described in the literature, there is no mention of the computerised tomographic appearance of this condition. We report a case of bifid pancreas with the ERCP and CT appearances, who also had alcohol induced changes of chronic pancreatitis.