RESUMEN
Leprosy is a major infectious cause of serious deformities which affects skin, nerves, eyes and limbs. In this study we have attempted to incorporate ultrasonography as an objective tool for the detection of early nerve thickening compared to healthy controls.A case control study was performed with 35 patients with leprosy as cases and 30 healthy controls. Clinical evaluation of bilateral ulnar, median and common peroneal nerves respectivelywas performed by two observers and they reached a consensus whether the nerve was thickened or not.Ultrasonography of these nerves was conducted and dimensions like cross sectional area and circumference was noted and compared with those of healthy subjects. Receiveroperator characteristics and area under curve method was used to determine cut off values for nerve thickness of each nerve. All six examined nerves showed significant thickening in leprosy patients compared to controls. Nerve involvement was more common among males at 72.4%. Around 62.8% patients belonged to the Borderline spectrum followed by lepromatous, pure neural and tuberculoid at 17.1%, 11.4% and 5.7% respectively. One patient had histoid type of lepromatous leprosy with nodular lesions. Patients with leprosy had significantly higher number of thickened nerves with p value <0.001. Asymmetric nerve thickness was noted in 54.6%. Among 210 nerve points examined 86 were found to be clinically thickened and 138 were found to be thickened ultrasonographically (p<0.001). The most common sonographic finding was focal thickening (83.3%) followed by hypoechoicity (63%). Using receiveroperator characteristics, nerve cross sectional area above 0.08cm sq. was found to be a predictor of nerve thickness.Ultrasound is a noninvasive modality that acts as an effective and objective marker of nerve thickening in leprosy. Besides detection of nerve thickening in leprosy, it can be used to identify structural changes in the nerve such as focal thickening and inflammation.
RESUMEN
Mitochondrial transcription has been studied as a function of mitochondriogenesis in yeast cells. Two systems have been used: synchronously growing cells and cells subjected to glucose repression followed by derepression. Maximal RNA synthesis has been found in the S phase of the cell cycle and during the 'repressed' phase in asynchronous cells. Activities of RNA polymerase, poly A polymerase and incorporation of [32P]-into RNA in vitro are maximal at the same period. Gel analysis reveals the presence of some high molecular weight RNA species which are likely to be precursors. When chase experiments are carried out in the presence of excess glucose, the high molecular weight species remain unaffected, suggesting that RNA processing may be an important site of action of glucose repression.
RESUMEN
The functional status of fish muscle mitochondria during exposure of the organism to salinity stress was studied. No alterations were observed in the substrate oxidation capacity. However, the mitochondria appear to be in an uncoupled state during the first few days of exposure and recover thereafter. This could be correlated to high endogenous Ca2+ levels in the mitochondria in the early period. A Na+ – Ca2+ antiport in these mitochondria is shown. Evidence is also presented to show that the mitochondria isolated during the early stages of stress are in a swollen state and are unable to contract on addition of ATP and Mg2+ Continued exposure to the stress, however, reverses the situation.
RESUMEN
Mitochondria isolated from the gill tissues of the fish Sarothredon mossambica were analysed for their macromolecular content, following transfer from freshwater to media of higher salinity. The results suggest a breakdown of mitochondria during the initial phases of the stress and a regeneration during continued exposure. Also all the synthetic machineries, in general, seem to be triggered in gill tissue during continuous exposure to hyperosmotic media.