Association of hypothyroidism in patients with migraine and tension-type headache disorders in Kashmir, North India

Objective: This case control study was undertaken to ascertain the frequency of subclinical and overt hypothyroidism in patients with various types of primary headache disorders in Kashmir, North India. Methods: The study was conducted in a tertiary care (university of Kashmir) hospital of North India. The study subjects consisted of 250 patients with primary headache disorders. This was compared with an age-sex matched control of 500 subjects. Thyroid function tests were performed by new automated immunochemiluminometric assay. Results: Among patients with primary headache disorders, subclinical hypothyroidism was present in 22% and overt hypothyroidism in 7.2%. On the other hand, subclinical hypothyroidism was observed in 11.2% and overt hypothyroidism in 1.2% of cases in the control group, the differences between primary headache and control group was statistically significant (p 0.05). Conclusion: Hypothyroidism is found to be a co-morbidity or predisposes to the development of chronic headache (tension-type headache and migraine) in this North Indian study.

The Relationship between Surgery and Phase of the Menstrual Cycle Affects Survival in Breast Cancer / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: The impact of time of surgery based on the menstrual cycle is a controversial issue. Two decades after the first interest in this topic, a number of studies with conflicting results have not helped to resolve this problem. This study aimed to prospectively evaluate the impact of timing of surgery based on the menstrual cycle on survival rates of breast cancer patients, and various clinical and hormonal classifications of the menstrual cycle were compared in order to determine the phase of the menstrual cycle which showed the highest degree of surgical survival. METHODS: Premenopausal breast cancer patients treated with curative surgery between 1998 and 2002 were prospectively included in this study. Patients were divided into different groups according to the first day of their last menstrual cycle using three different classifications (clinical, Hrushesky, Badwe), and were also grouped according to their serum hormone levels. Serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estrogen, and progesterone were measured on the day of surgery. RESULTS: Ninety patients were included in the study. Median follow-up time was 90 months. Nineteen patients (21.1%) had loco-regional recurrence and/or distant metastases while 12 patients (13.3%) died during follow-up. Five-year (78.6% vs. 90.6%) and 10-year (66.7% vs. 90.6%) disease-free survival (DFS) rates of patients in the clinically defined follicular phase were significantly decreased compared to luteal phase. On the other hand, hormonally determined phases of the menstrual cycle and grouping of patients according to clinical classifications did not show an impact on prognosis. CONCLUSION: In the current study performing surgery in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle decreased DFS in premenopausal patients. According to these results, performing surgery during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle might have a beneficial effect on survival.

Isolation and characterization of actinomycetes from soil and evaluation of antibacterial activities of actinomycetes against pathogens.

Actinomycetes are one of the most attractive sources of antibiotics. In the present studies, total of 15 strains were isolated from Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and RML Park in Lucknow, U.P India. Isolated strains were identified for their antibacterial activity but only six isolate showed good result, they were evaluated for their inhibitory activity on 3 strains of microorganism (E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus). Isolation of Actinomycetes strain was obtained by serial dilution method and grown on actinomycetes isolation agar. Antibacterial compounds were produced by submerged fermentation and activity of compounds were checked against bacterial culture by antibiogram analysis where intracellular and extracellular compounds showed positive result, compare to intracellular compounds, extracellular compounds was showing best result which was 30 mm zone of inhibition against S. aureus and MIC was found to be 0.0009 mg/ml.

Kinetics of high-level of ß-glucosidase production by a 2-deoxyglucose-resistant mutant of Humicola lanuginosa in submerged fermentation / Cinética de produção de ß-glucosidase por um mutante de Hemicola lanuginosa resistente a 2-deoxiglucose em fermentação submersa

A 2-deoxyglucose-resistant mutant (M7) of Humicola lanuginosa was obtained by exposing conidia to γ-rays and permitting expression in broth containing 0.6 percent 2-deoxyglucose (DG) and cellobiose (1 percent) before plating on DG esculin-ferric ammonium citrate agar medium from which colonies showing faster and bigger blackening zones were selected. Kinetic parameters for enhanced ß-glucosidase (BGL) synthesis by M7 were achieved when corncobs acted as the carbon source. The combination between corncobs and corn steep liquor was the best to support higher values of all product formation kinetic parameters. Effect of temperature on the kinetic and thermodynamic attributes of BGL production equilibrium in the wild organismand M7was studied using batch process at eight different temperatures in shake-flask studies. The best performance was found at 45ºC and 20 g L-1 corncobs in 64 h. Both growth and product formation (17.93 U mL-1) were remarkably high at 45ºC and both were coupled under optimum working conditions. Product yield of BGL from the mutant M7 (1556.5 U g-1 dry corncobs) was significantly higher than the values reported on all fungal and bacterial systems. Mutation had thermo-stabilization influence on the organism and mutant required lower activation energy for growth and lower magnitudes of enthalpy and entropy for product formation than those demanded by the wild organism, other mesophilic and thermo-tolerant organisms. In the inactivation phase, the organisms needed lower values of activation energy, enthalpy and entropy for product formation equilibrium, confirming thermophilic nature of metabolic network possessed by the mutant organism.

Um mutante de Hemicola lanuginosa resistente a 2-deoxiglucose(M7) foi obtido através de exposição de conídios a raios γ, permitindo a expressão em caldo contendo 0,6 por cento de 2-deoxiglucose (DG) e celobiose (1 por cento) antes da semeadura em ágar DG esculina citrato de ferro amoniacal, da qual foram selecionadas as colônias com halo negro. Os parâmetros cinéticos para produção aumentada de ß-glucosidase (BGL) foram obtidos empregando-se sabugo de milho como fonte de carbono. A combinação de espiga de milho com água de maceração de milho foi a que forneceu os valores mais altos nos parâmetros cinéticos de formação de todos os produtos. O efeito da temperatura na cinética e atributos termodinâmicos da produção de BGL pelas cepas selvagem e M7 foi avaliado empregando-se processo de batelada em oito temperaturas diferentes in frascos em agitação. O melhor desempenho foi observado a 45ºC e 20g.l-1 de espiga de milho em 64h. Tanto a multiplicação quanto a formação do produto foram muito altas a 45ºC e ambas estavam ligadas em condições ótimas de trabalho. O rendimento de BGL produzido pelo mutante M7 (1556 U.g-1 de espiga seca) foi significativamente superior aos valores reportados para todos os sistemas fúngicos e bacterianos. A mutação influenciou a termoestabilização no microrganismo, sendo que o mutante necessitou de energia de ativação mais baixa para multiplicação e valores mais baixos de entalpia e entropia para a formação do produto quando comparado à cepa selvagem e a outros microrganismos mesofilicos e termotolerantes. Na fase de inativação, os microrganismos necessitaram valores mais baixos de energia de ativação, entalpia e entropia para o equilíbrio da formação de produto, confirmando a natureza termofílica da máquina metabólica do mutante.

Role of testicular interleukin-1 alpha tIL-1alpha in testicular physiology and disease

This review focuses on the role of the cytokine interleukin-1a [IL-1a] in the testis; elaborating upon its importance during the complex process of spermatogenesis while relating this cytokine to some of the pathophysiological states affecting the testis. IL-1a, a proinflammatory cytokine, is expressed constitutively by the intact adult rat testis where it acts on germ, Sertoli and Leydig cells to regulate germ cell proliferation and steroidogenesis. The sequence identity of testicular IL-1a matches with the one secreted by activated macrophages in systemic immunity. The classical macrophage IL-1a is produced as 32 kDa precursor protein which is processed to mature 17 kDa IL-1a and a 16 kDa propiece. The rat testicular IL-1a, mainly secreted by Sertoli cells, was found to have molecular heterogeneity that can be observed both at the transcriptional and the translational levels. In the rat testis, two transcripts were found to be expressed with 941 bp and 767 bp [that lacks 174bp] which were translated into 32 kDa and 24 kDa precursor proteins, respectively. The 32 kDa precursor protein is processed to the 17 kDa mature IL-1a. Identical transcripts are also shown to be present in cat, dog and pig. Most of the functional role is assigned to the mature 17 kDa IL-1a isoform. However, functional analysis of recombinant rat IL-1a isoforms showed that there was a clear biopotency difference between these forms in order of 17 kDa IL-1a>32proIL-1a>24proIL-1a. Furthermore, the mature 17 kDa tIL-1a has also been implicated in pathologies such as orchitis, relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL] in the testis and infertility disorders in men. Thus, tIL-1a may play an important functional role both in coordination of normal testicular physiology as well as in contributing to the disease states in the testis

Role of alpha blockers in the management of lower ureteric stones

To study the role of Alpha-blockers in the management of patients with lower ureteric stones. Single blind experimental study. Department of Urology Nishtar Hospital and Medical College, Multan from 1st January 2002 to 30 December 2003. Eighty patients of lower ureteric stones were included in the study. They patients were divided into two equal groups. Basic data of all patients was collected including history, examination, age, sex, stone size, location, number and duration of symptoms. In group I forty patients [Experimental group], Doxazocin 4mg was given OD for four weeks, along with routine analgesics while the group II were performed weekly for eight weeks. The results were collected regarding stone passage rate, time, analgesic use, hospitalization and endoscopical intervention if needed. Statistical analysis was performed. In all paitents the mean size of stones was 5.68mm [range 5-8mm], average number one [range 1-3] and located in the lower five centimeters of ureter. In experimental group, 36 patients [90%] passed their stones in average three weeks; rest of the four patients [10%] needed ureterorenoscopy. While in Control group, only eighteen patients [45%] passed their stones spontaneously in average five weeks, eighteen patients [45%] needed ureterorenoscopy and in four patients [10%] ureterolithotomy was done. Alpha-blockers when, used as a spasmolytic drug for treatment of lower ureteric stones of size less than one centimeter, increased the stone expulsion rate and decreased expulsion time. It also decreased the need for hospitalization and endoscopic intervention, and provided particularly good control of colic pain

Stroke in hypertensive patients

To find the incidence of hypertension in stroke patients comparing it with other common risk factors and to determine the frequency of occurrence of reactive rise in blood pressure in the acute stage of stroke in normotensive patients. A prospective study. The study was conducted in Medical Unit III B V Hospital Bahawalpur from Feb 2001 to May 2002. One hundred consecutive CT Scan confirmed patients of stroke from emergency department were evaluated for various risk factors by using a proforma to record the bio-data, history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, transient ischemic attacks, smoking and past history of stroke. After segregating the hypertensive stroke patients, the reactive rise in blood pressure due to acute stage of stroke was also studied in the normotensive patients. Out of the 1334 admitted patients 7.49% [100 patients] accounted for acute stroke. There were 64 [64%] males and 36 [36%] Female patient. 78 patients [78%] had cerebral infarction while 22 [22%] were having hemorrhagic stroke. 49 patients [49%] were hypertensive. Out of these 30 [61.22%] were males and 19 [38.77%] were females. 35 patients [7l.42%] had cerebral infarction while 14 [28.57%] patients had hemorrhagic stroke. Hypertension was a risk factor in 35 out of 78 patients [44.87%] with cerebral infarction, while it was present in 14 out of 22 patients [63.63%] with hemorrhagic stroke. Comparing hypertension 49% to the other commonly encountered risk factors in the study, smoking was found in 30%, diabetes mellitus in 19%, ischemic heart disease in 18%, atrial fibrillation in 6% and other cardiac diseases in 4% of all the cases of stroke. Reactive rise in blood pressure in normotensive patients with acute stroke was found in 51% [26 out of 51] cases. Hypertension is the most common risk factor for all types of strokes and a significantly high proportion of normotensive patients show a reactive rise in blood pressure in the acute stage of stroke, which usually becomes normal within a week, without any anti-hypertensive therapy.