Prognostic significance of primary tumour volume in nasopharyngeal carcinoma – a single institute study

Introduction: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is very uncommon in the southern part of India, the age-adjusted incidence rate is less than 1 per 1,00,000 population. This study is undertaken to evaluate the outcome of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its correlation with Primary tumor volume. Material and methods: Total of 50 non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with concurrent chemo radiation between January 2013 and December 2015 were included in the study. All patients were treated via IMRT with dose of 66-70Gy, along with concurrent chemotherapy. Initial tumour volume was measured from CT based contouring and mean dose delivered was calculated. All patients were followed up for survival, relapse and metastasis. Results: The median follow up for the group was 24 months. The median Gross tumor volume of primary disease and nodal disease was 61.6 cubic centimetres and 35.4 cubic centimeters respectively. The 2 year Disease free survival and Overall survival for the entire group was 64% and 68% respectively. There was significant difference (p-0.018) between disease free survival of low volume disease group (LVD) which was 78 % as compared to high volume disease (HVD) group 52 % at 24 months, similarly Overall survival was also significantly better (p-0.015) in LVD group as compared to HVD group 80% vs 55% at 24 months. Among the treatment related factors adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improved the outcome in HVD group but no difference was seen in LVD group. Conclusion: Our patients had large volume primary disease, the OS and DFS was significantly better in LVD patients, adjuvant chemotherapy after concurrent chemoradiotherapy had no additional benefit for LVD patients but improved DFS and MFS in HVD Patients.

Laboratory Abnormalities in Patients with Organophosphorous Poisoning.

Organophosphorous (OP) poisoning is an ever increasing and troublesome situation in the developing countries and is a major health care challenge in the 21st century. Hundred patients who attempted suicide with organophosphates, admitted to the emergency services were included in the study. They were graded (grade 0,1,2,3) according to clinical findings and examined for parameters like RBS, serum urea, serum creatinine, liver function tests, serum amylase, serum cholinesterase and LDH . The APACHE (II) of the cases were determined and correlated with severity of the clinical manifestations. A significant decline in serum cholinesterase (ChE) with increasing grades of intoxication(p <0.05) was observed along with raised levels of random blood sugar, serum urea, creatinine, hepatic enzymes and amylase. APACHE(II) score, showed a significant rise with severity of the degree of intoxication (p<0.001) and a negative correlation with serum cholinesterase. The findings of this study highlighted usefulness of biochemical and clinical indices in the management of organophosphorous poisoning thereby recognizing the complications early and facilitating early management.

Structure elucidation of a flavonoid glycoside from the roots of Clerodendrum serratum (L.) Moon, Lamiaceae

Apigenin-7-glucoside, C21H20O10 (7-(β-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-5-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one), was first time isolated from the roots of Clerodendrum serratum (L.) Moon, Lamiaceae. Structure elucidation of the compound was carried out by ¹H NMR and FAB-MS studies.

Apigenin-7-glucosídeo, C21H20O10 (7-(β-D-glucopiranosiloxi)-5-hidroxi-2-(4-hidroxifenil)-4H-1-benzopiran-4-ona), foi isolado pela primeira vez das raízes de Clerodendrum serratum (L.) Moon, Lamiaceae. A elucidação estrutural da susbtância foi feita através de estudos de ¹H NMR e FAB-MS.

Blood coagulation factor VIII: An overview.

Factor VIII (FVIII) functions as a co-factor in the blood coagulation cascade for the proteolytic activation of factor X by factor IXa. Deficiency of FVIII causes hemophilia A, the most commonly inherited bleeding disorder. This review highlights current knowledge on selected aspects of FVIII in which both the scientist and the clinician should be interested.

Effect of dissolved oxygen levels on biosynthesis of aureofungin by Streptoverticillium cinnamoneum var. terricola.

Biosynthesis of aureofungin by Streptoverticillium cinnamoneum var, terricola was found to be an oxygen dependent reaction. An accelerated rate of aureofungin production, along with a better yield coefficient were obtained under conditions of enhanced aeration during fermentation. A higher oxygen transfer rate was found to stimulate aureofungin A, and suppresses aureofungin B formation.

Dermostatin A and B: chromatography, structural and configurational studies using HPLC, CCD, 13C (125 MHz) and 1H (500 MHz) NMR spectroscopy.

HPLC of crude Dermostatin indicated presence of three pairs of components. Hence, attempts were made to purify Dermostatin. Purification of crude Dermostatin has been carried out using column chromatography and counter current distribution methods. Each of these fractions were tested for activity. The major fraction which showed greater activity was taken for the preparation of Dermostatin nona-acetate. Structural characterisation of Dermostatin nona-acetate has been carried out using UV-visible spectroscopy in different solvents to obtain the characteristic spectrum of a carbonyl conjugated hexaene at room temperature. Structural and configurational studies of Dermostatin nona-acetate using 500 MHz 1H NMR and 125 MHz 13C NMR has been used in the assignment of various functional groups in Dermostatin A and B as well as to provide corroboration to the earlier structural elucidation.

Platelet adhesiveness in diabetes mellitus with relation to treatment.

To determine whether diabetes mellitus alters the function of platelets, a study on platelet adhesiveness in 30 controls and 75 newly diagnosed diabetics (25 cases of type-1 and 50 cases of type-II) before and after treatment was undertaken. The platelet adhesiveness was 68.83 +/- 6.09% (mean + SD) in type-I diabetics, 72.43 +/- 6.10% in type-II diabetics and 56.31 +/- 9.62% in controls (p less than 0.001 for all comparisons). In complicated diabetics (54 cases) the platelet adhesiveness was 72.33 +/- 5.99% and in uncomplicated diabetics (21 cases) it was 67.33 +/- 5.82% (p less than 0.05). Platelet adhesiveness was significantly reduced after treatment (with insulin it was 62.12 +/- 7.46%, with phenformin 62.10 +/- 8.63 and with tolbutamide 67.12 +/- 7.97%) when compared with pretreatment values. Platelet adhesiveness had no significant correlation with blood sugar and serum cholesterol levels. These results support the concept that platelet adhesiveness is high in diabetes mellitus and is reduced with control of diabetic state after treatment.