Hepatoprotection with Glycosmis pentaphylla (Retz).

Effects of extracts of leaf (250, 500 and 750 mg/kg body wt) and stem bark (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body wt) of G. pentaphylla were studied on CCl4 (1 mg/kg body wt) induced hepatic injury in albino rats. Parameters studied were plasma ALAT, ASAT, ALP, total bilirubin and tissue histopathology. Recovery of hepatic tissue was indicated with the highest dose (750 mg/kg body wt) of leaf extract. The therapeutic dose range was devoid of toxic effects. Toxicity of leaf extract was observed histopathologically at and above 2.5g/kg body wt.

Primary gastrointestinal lymphoma--disease spectrum and management: a 15-year review from north India.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze retrospectively the disease spectrum and outcome of primary gastrointestinal lymphoma (PGIL) in a tertiary referral center in north India. MATERIAL: Seventy five patients presenting with PGIL between January 1971 and December 1985 were evaluated. RESULTS: The 49 males and 26 females were aged 3.5-69 years (mean 34) at presentation. Abdominal pain, weight loss and vomiting were cardinal symptoms at presentation; the stomach was the most common site of involvement. Histologically, a majority of patients were classified as having diffuse poorly-differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma (46.7%) and diffuse histiocytic type (30.7%). Twenty seven (36%) patients had stage I disease, 31 (40%) stage II, 11 (14.7%) stage III, and 6 (8%) stage IV. At laparotomy, primary resection and anastomosis was carried out in 66 patients, while only biopsies were taken in nine. Forty eight patients received adjuvant radiation with or without chemotherapy. The mean follow-up was 3.9 years (range 1-14). The 5-year actuarial survival was 34%, 25% and 16% for stages I, II, and higher-stage disease, respectively. The survival was significantly better (p < 0.01) for gastric location (44%) compared to other sites (24%). CONCLUSION: PGIL was more common in the 3rd and 4th decades of life, with the stomach being the predominant site of involvement. Survival was better among patients with stages I and II disease, and gastric location of lesion.

Metastatic tumour of the iris: a rare presentation.

Metastasis to the iris is less frequent than that to the ciliary body and choroid. This might be the presenting feature. We report a 40 years male patient, a chronic smoker, who presented with pain, redenss and photophobia in the right eye. On detailed examination and investigations it turned out to be a case of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the bronchus metastasising to the iris. The presentation, difficulty in the diagnosis and management is discussed with review of the relavent literature.

Evaluation of radical treatment of carcinoma esophagus using a combination of external beam and intracavitary irradiation.

Twenty five patients with squamous cell carcinoma arising from the middle third of the esophagus were treated radically, with external radiation, to a dose of 55-60 Gy. All patients had lesions less than 6 cm in length with no extra-esophageal spread on computed tomography scan. Eleven of these patients received additional intracavitary radiation to a dose of 12 Gy, 1 cm from the source axis in two sessions of 6 Gy each, a week apart. There was no significant difference in the relief of dysphagia and survival among these receiving and those not receiving intracavitary radiation. Addition of intracavitary radiation to radical external radiation was associated with significant complications like stricture and fistulae formation, which accounted for the poor results.

High dose rate intracavitary therapy in advanced carcinoma esophagus.

Nine patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the middle third of the esophagus were treated by high dose rate intracavitary therapy. The dose delivered was 12 Gy in two sessions at 1 cm from the center of the source. All nine patients were alive after 9 months. Six months after treatment, 4 patients had strictures which were dilated. At the end of nine months, 6 patients had dysphagia, four of whom had strictures and two had recurrence which was treated by further intracavitary irradiation. Intracavitary radiation using high dose rate, remote controlled afterloader has a significant role in palliation in patients with advanced esophageal carcinoma and avoids intubation.