Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis: a treatable cause of metabolic ataxia.

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis is an exceptionally rare condition in Indian subcontinent, however, it is potentially treatable if diagnosed. We present and discuss the clinical presentation and investigations in a case of cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX).

Amelioration of experimental diabetic neuropathy and gastropathy in rats following oral administration of plant (Eugenia jambolana, Mucuna pruriens and Tinospora cordifolia) extracts.

Extract of M. charantia (200 mg/kg), E. jambolana (200 mg/kg), M. pruriens (200 mg/kg) and T. cordifolia (400 mg/kg) was administered for 50 days in STZ induced diabetic mice, the plasma glucose concentration was reduced by 24.4, 20.84, 7.45 and 9.07% respectively. Tail flick latency (TFL) and gastric transit percentage were significantly higher in diabetic controls versus normal controls. M. charantia and E. jambolana modified it favorably while M. pruriens and T. cordifolia did not exert any favorable change.

Association between lower hair zinc levels and neural tube defects.

Though folic acid supplementation has reduced the incidence of Neural Tube Defects (NTD), NTD still constitutes one of the important congenital malformations having wide medical, social and ethical implications. Zinc deficiency has been reported to produce NTD in animals. This study was designed to evaluate zinc status of the newborn babies with NTD and their mothers. Eighty newborn babies with NTD and their mothers served as cases. Eighty apparently normal newborn babies and their mothers served as controls. Serum and scalp hair zinc levels were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mean (+/- SD) serum and hair levels in normal mothers were 74.1 +/- 4.1 micrograms/dl and 142.3 +/- 8.0 micrograms/g respectively. The mean (+/- SD) serum and hair levels of the mothers who delivered NTD babies were 75.7 +/- 5.6 micrograms/dl and 129.9 +/- 5.3 micrograms/g respectively. The mean (+/- SD) serum and hair levels in normal newborn babies were 77.8 +/- 5.3 micrograms/dl and 188.8 +/- 6.2 micrograms/g respectively. The mean (+/- SD) serum and hair levels in NTD babies were 80.1 +/- 12.9 micrograms/dl and 174.2 +/- 10.7 micrograms/g respectively. The hair zinc levels of the affected babies and their mothers were significantly lower (P < 0.001) than the controls. This study has found association between NTD and decreased hair zinc levels and large population based studies are recommended to confirm the association between zinc and NTD and to investigate whether zinc supplementation would reduce the overall incidence of NTD.

Zinc levels in women and newborns.

Zinc is an important trace element having a definitive role in the metabolism, growth and development and reproduction. During pregnancy the requirements for zinc increase. This study was designed to evaluate the zinc status of normal women, normal pregnant women and their newborn babies. Forty normal adult females, 40 normal pregnant women and their newborn babies were randomly selected and their serum and hair zinc levels were analysed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The mean serum and hair zinc levels in normal women were 69.47 +/- 1.4 micrograms/dl and 147.45 +/- 6.12 micrograms/g respectively. The mean serum and hair zinc levels in normal pregnant women were 69.0 +/- 3.22 micrograms/dl and 142.83 +/- 4.39 micrograms/g respectively while the mean serum (cord blood) and hair levels in normal new born babies were 72.77 +/- 5.14 micrograms/dl and 188.36 +/- 4.12 micrograms/g respectively. There was a significant (p < 0.001) decrease in hair zinc levels during pregnancy. There was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in zinc levels in new born babies when the time interval between the previous delivery and the present delivery was less than 3.4 years. The results of the present study reinforce the need for zinc supplementation during pregnancy especially if the interval between pregnancies is short.

Olfaction in leprosy.

Olfactory test was carried out in 225 cases of Hansen's disease with 75 cases each of lepromatous leprosy (L.L.), borderline leprosy (B.L.) and tuberculoid leprosy (T). Impairment of olfaction was found in 94(41.7%) cases. It was seen in 69.33% cases of L.L., 33.33% cases of B.L. and 22.6% cases of T. Total anosmia was present in 5(6.61%) cases of L.L. only. Males were more affected than the females. Impairment of olfaction was related to the duration of the disease, severity of the nasal condition, and E.N.L. reaction. It was not related to the type of antileprosy drug used.