Degenerated lumbricals in the feet of adult human cadavers: case series / 대한해부학회지

In the foot, the lumbricals flex the metatarsophalangeal joints and extend the interphalangeal joints. The lumbricals are known to be affected in neuropathies. It is not known whether they may degenerate in normal individuals. Here, we report our findings of isolated degenerated lumbricals in seemingly normal feet of two cadavers. We explored lumbricals in 20 male and 8 female cadavers that were 60–80 years of age at the time of death. As part of routine dissection, we exposed the tendons of the flexor digitorum longus and the lumbricals. From the degenerated lumbricals, we took some tissue for paraffin-embedding, sectioning, and staining by hematoxylin and eosin, and Masson’s trichrome technique. Of the 224 lumbricals studied, we found four apparently degenerated lumbricals in two male cadavers. In the first, the 2nd and 4th lumbricals in the left foot and the 2nd in the right foot were degenerated. In the second, the right 4th lumbrical was degenerated. Microscopically, the degenerated tissue was made of bundles of collagen. The lumbricals may have degenerated due to compression of their nerve supply. We cannot comment on whether the functionality of the feet were affected by these isolated degeneration of the lumbricals.

Spectrophotometric analysis of tooth discolouration induced by coffee and tea grown in south india: an in vitro study

Billions around the world start their day with a hot beverage, coffee and tea are considered to be the world's most popular hot beverages. Staining of teeth is a common finding in both tea and coffee drinkers. This study was conducted to evaluate the discolouration caused by two different types of coffee and tea commercially grown in South India Methods: A sample of 40 extracted, caries and stain free teeth were immersed for two minutes,four times a day for ten days in two different types of coffee (Robusta and Arabica) and tea (Organic and Green tea). Baseline and final values were obtained for color change, lightness, chroma and hue according to the CIELAB system using a spectrophotometer. Intragroup comparisons were carried out using Wilcoxon signed rank test and intergroup comparisons were carried out using Kruskal Wallis test (p value 0.05) Results: Colour changes of stained teeth were not statistically significant when compared amongthe different groups,but the intragroup changes in lightesschroma and hue were statistically significant when compared between the baseline and final values. Conclusion: The study suggests that both coffee and tea may cause external staining on the tooth surface (AU)

Bilateral spontaneous Pneumothorax in Miliary Tuberculosis.

Pneumothorax is a common complication in pulmonary tuberculosis that is usually seen with underlying cavitary lesion. However, it is uncommonly seen in patients with miliary tuberculosis. This communication describes bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax in an 18 years’ old female patient having miliary tuberculosis.

Management of lupus nephritis.

Management of lupus nephritis is relatively nonspecific and includes various immunosuppressive drugs, cytotoxic agents and other modalities directed against the aberrant immune response. Treatment decisions are influenced by the clinical features, histology, response to treatment, relapses, patient consent and tolerance to medications. Guidelines based on available evidence, as to how best to manage lupus nephritis and possible future interventions are discussed.