Relationship of conventional and fluorescent microscopic technique to assess in vitro semen quality status of murrah buffalo males

In vitro fertility assessment using fluorescent technique is a better predictor of fertility status of bulls as compared to traditional semen quality assessment techniques, therefore, the study was planned to assess in vitro fertility status of bulls based on conventional and fluorescent techniques. Seventy-three ejaculates were collected from 12 Murrah buffalo bulls maintained at Artificial Breeding Research Centre, NDRI, Karnal, India for the experiment and subjected to statistical analysis using SYSTAT. The mean values of ejaculate volume [ml], mass activity, individual motility [%], sperm concentration [millions/ml], live sperm [%], total abnormalities [%], HOST [%] and acrosomal integrity [%] were 2.70 +/- 0.28, 2.8 +/- 0.14, 63.8 +/- 2.16, 1749.7 +/- 122.24, 77.3 +/- 2.48, 6.2 +/- 0.51, 75.1 +/- 1.81 and 84.5 +/- 2.26, respectively. The repeatability estimates were significant [P<0.05] for ejaculate volume [0.34 +/- 0.137], acrosomal integrity [0.29 +/- 0.134] and live percentage [0.28 +/- 0.133], indicating sufficient bull to bull variation for the parameters. The mean values of seminal attributes of fluorescent based criteria of CMA3 [Chromomycin A3], SYBR-PI and FITC-PNA [fluorescent isothiocynate-conjugated peanut agglutinin] were 5.25 +/- 0.41, 67.91 +/- 1.24 and 82.00 +/- 1.25 percent, respectively. Bulls were ranked on the basis of expected producing ability [EPA] for semen characteristics assessed by conventional and fluorescent criteria. Rank correlations were found to be significant for FITC with most of the parameters evaluated by conventional methods. In conclusion, among the conventional criteria, individual motility [%] revealed ranking of bulls almost similar to that of fluorescent criteria

Effectiveness of vitiligo therapy in prospective observational study of 250 cases with review of consensus and individualized care perspective

Outcomes of six month therapy in 250 patients bearing varying disease profiles and treatment regimens delivered either in conformity or divergence from consensus guidelines were compared. Influence of trait variables of patients and disease on the outcomes was also examined. Consensus approach yielded superior rates of repigmentation and improved quality of life. The latter effect significantly influenced the former. Therapy adhering guidelines did not yield optimal benefit in patients of younger age, with disease of shorter standing and involving resistant sites. Steroids best benefited the localized disease as topical monotherapy. Combination of steroid with photochemotherapy adhering guidelines benefited less in moderate disease extent. Steroid overtreatment in extensive disease compromised the prospects of repigmentation. Localized short duration disease may better be first treated with steroid-alternative immunosuppressants. Wider spread more than 3% body surface may also respond to their combination with steroids, prior applying photochemotherapy. Additive therapies are prudent with steroid/photochemotherapy than injudicious steroid overuse in progressive extensive disease. Strategies to counter steroid unresponsiveness and adverse effects, psychiatric address to stress, nutrient and environmental interventions deserve emphasis

Evaluation of three scales of dyspnea in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

The Modified Medical Research Council [MMRC] scale, baseline dyspnea index [BDI] and the oxygen cost diagram [OCD] are widely used tools for evaluation of limitation of activities due to dyspnea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]. There is, however, limited information on how these relate with each other and with multiple parameters of physiological impairment. To study the interrelationships between MMRC, BDI and OCD scales of dyspnea and their correlation with multiple measures of physiological impairment. A retrospective analysis of pooled data of 88 male patients with COPD [GOLD stages II, III and IV] was carried out. Dyspnea was evaluated using the MMRC, BDI and OCD scales. Physiological impairment was assessed by spirometry [FVC% predicted and FEV 1% predicted], arterial blood gas [ABG] analysis and measurement of the 6-min walk distance [6MWD]. The interrelationships between MMRC, BDI and OCD scales were moderately strong. The BDI and OCD scores had strong correlations with ABG abnormalities, weak correlations with spirometric parameters but none with 6MWD. MMRC grades were significantly associated with BDI and OCD scores but did not show clear associations with spirometric parameters, ABG abnormalities and 6MWD. The MMRC grades of dyspnea and the BDI and OCD scales are moderately interrelated. While the BDI and OCD scales have significant associations with parameters of physiological impairment, the MMRC scale does not

Laryngeal hirudiniasis

A case of leech in the Larynx occupying the glottic space is presented. The literature is reviewed

Serum n-acetyl-neuramic acid estimations in follow-up cases of laryngeal carcinoma

The persent study was conducted on thirty individuals, serum N-acety-neuramic acid level were found to increase significantly in cases of laryngeal carcinoma as compared to the normal but after full course of radiotherapy the level comes to normal or near normal

Bilateral retropharyngeal abscess

A rare case of bilateral retropharyngeal abscess with bilateral lymphadenitis [Tubercular] is reported along with relevant review of literature

Immunoglobulin status in chronic tonsillitis

Twenty five cases of tonsillectomy were studied for their serum immunoglobulin profile in pre and post-operative period along with ten age and sexmatched controls. The results showed a highly significant increase in IgG in pre operative period as compared to controls. The IgA and IgM also showed higher values preoperatively. Two months after surgery the values of IgG dropped significantly and became comparable to control group. The drop was not significant in IgM and IgA values