Ceftriaxone-Induced Thrombocytopenia in a Patient with Bacterial Meningoencephalitis

Drug-induced thrombocytopenia is a rare and life-threatening condition. It is mainly caused by the initiation of drug-dependent platelet reactive antibodies that leads to the accelerated platelet destruction. Ceftriaxone is a third-generation cephalosporin, which has rarely reported cases of drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia. Here, we report a case of ceftriaxone-induced thrombocytopenia after the initiation of antibiotic therapy for bacterial meningoencephalitis based on the laboratory findings with the initiation and discontinuation of ceftriaxone.

Heterogeneity in the radiosensitizing effects of the DNA ligand hoechst-33342 in human tumor cell lines.

The AT specific minor grove DNA binding ligands bisbenzimidazole derivatives like hoechst-33342 and hoechst-33258 which scavenge free radicals and stabilize macromolecular structure have been shown to afford radioprotection by reducing the induction of DNA damage. However, their ability to inhibit topoisomerases I & II, which play important roles in damage response pathways including DNA repair can enhance radiation damage under certain conditions. Since pool sizes of the topoisomerases differ not only between normal and tumor cells, but also among different tumors, it is anticipated that radiosensitization by hoechst-33342 can vary among tumors. The present studies were, therefore, undertaken to verify this proposition in human glioma (BMG-1 &U-87) and squamous carcinoma (4197 &4451) cell lines which differ in their biological behavior (ploidy, p53, cyclins, bcl, bax etc). Isotoxic concentrations of hoechst-33342 (IC50 i.e producing 50% cell kill) administered immediately following irradiation resulted in the radiosensitization of all cell lines, with a 4&7 fold increase in the cell death (loss of clonogenic cell survival) in U-87&BMG-1 and a 3 fold increase in 4197 &4451 cells. Growth inhibition and increase in cytogenetic damage (micronuclei formation) as well as delayed apoptosis observed under these conditions corroborated well with the enhanced cell death. The ligand induced a significant cell cycle delay, particularly in the late S and G2 phases of BMG-1, U-87 and 4197 cells, while no significant changes could be observed in 4451 cells. Higher endogenous levels of cyclin B1 found in both the glioma cell lines, was enhanced further by the ligand as compared to the squamous carcinoma cells. These results clearly demonstrate that the radiosensitizing effects of the ligand are indeed heterogeneous among different human tumor cell lines. The radiaosensitization is p53 independent and accompanied by enhanced mitotic death (linked to cytogenetic damage) as well as induction of cyclin B1 mediated apoptosis.

A case of chronic osteomyelitis due to arcanobacterium hemolyticum.

We report here a case of chronic osteomyelitis, which appeared to be tubercular, from the clinical, radiological and histopathological points of view. But on culture an unusual bacterium, Arcanobacterium hemolyticum, was isolated and the patient responded to treatment with clindamicin, prescribed in accordance to the sensitivity reports.

Pancreatic abscess caused by s. typhi.

A case of pancreatic abscess due to Salmonella typhi in a 40-year-old male is presented. The patient was managed by percutaneous needle aspiration and antibiotic therapy.

Dengue haemorrhagic fever outbreak in October-November 1996 in Ludhiana, Punjab, India.

An epidemic of haemorrhagic fever broke out in Ludhiana in October and November 1996. Persons of all age groups were affected with preponderance of young adults. Haemorrhagic manifestations like rashes, epistaxis, bleeding from the gums and haematemesis were observed. The cause of fever was investigated. Serum samples collected at random from 71 patients were tested by ELISA for dengue types 1-4 IgM antibodies. These were positive in 96.7 per cent of cases. Immunoblot testing for IgM and IgG for all serotypes of dengue virus were positive in 90.2 and 73.2 per cent of the serum samples respectively. The haemorrhagic fever was serologically proven to be due to dengue virus.

Mechanism of acti on of chronically administered cannabis extract on the female genital tract of gerbils Meriones hurrianae.

Daily administration of cannabis extract (2.5 mg/day for a period of 60 days) caused degenerative changes in the ovarian tissue. Luteinization was inhibited. Corpus-luteum degeneration was conspicuous. Distinct effects were produced upon the uterine biochemistry, consisting of decreased RNA, protein, sialic acid and glycogen concentration of the uterus. Vaginal RNA and protein contents were low. An anti-estrogenic action of cannabis extract in female gerbils is suggested.