Imaging appearance of subependymoma: A rare tumor of the cord.

Subependymoma of the cord are rare tumors with very few cases described in the literature. They represent a diagnostic dilemma as far as imaging and histopathology is concerned. They are biologically benign with low proliferative index, hence postoperative prognosis is very good. We present a case of a 42-year-old male patient with an intramedullary Subependymoma located within the central canal of thoracic region cord. On imaging with T1-weighted and T2-weighted sequences it mimicked syringohydromyelia, however, on heavily T2-weighted images the tumor located within the central canal could be delineated. The tumor was excised with complete recovery.

Primary spinal extradural hydatid cyst.

We report a rare case of spinal cord compression caused by primary multiple extradural hydatid cysts.

Posterior fossa oligodendroglioma.

Oligodendroglioma are the tumors of glial cells. They are rare in children and are more common in the cerebral hemispheres. A rare case of infratentorial oligodendroglioma in a female child is being reported here.

Correlation between CT scan and automated perimetry in supratentorial tumors.

An attempt was made to correlate various types of visual field defects on automated perimetry with the findings of computed tomography in 44 patients of supratentorial tumors. All the patients above the age of 10 years were subjected to complete neurological examination including investigations like plain X-rays and CT scan, however, MRI and angiography were performed wherever indicated. Ocular examination particularly pertaining to neuro-ophthalmological profile was carried out with special emphasis on automated perimetry on Humphrey field analyser. The results indicated that automated perimetry was capable of reliably detecting and quantitating the visual field defects and thus established the location of the tumor in 72% patients when compared to CT scan. Hence, any patient with neuro-ophthalmic features should be subjected to automated perimetry for early diagnosis and probable location of intracranial space occupying lesion affecting visual pathways.

Need for bringing in a change in biochemistry curriculum to make it clinically oriented?

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to (a) assess the views of medical students and doctors regarding relevance of biochemistry training, (b) explore if they have any suggestion to bring in any improvement in contents of biochemistry curriculum and mode of teaching. METHODS: In 1997-98, a structured questionnaire was filled up by 114 medical students and 118 doctors. RESULTS: As many as 62/114 (55%) medical students and 40/118 (34%) doctors believed that it is not important to remember minute details of biochemical reactions (p value < 0.0001). Among medical students, 108/110 (98.2%) agree that a clinician should be invited to seminars for developing skills of interpretation of laboratory investigations; whilst 110/118 (93.2%) doctors expressed similar view, p value ns. Approximately 92% responders favored that departments biochemistry and physiology should co-ordinate on the topics of common interest in order to save time and effort. What is the most informative and effective way of teaching biochemistry?' in response to this question only 0.9% responders opted lecture as the best option. Seminars with active participation of medical students was preferred by 93.2% responders. About 6.9% responders reckoned that symposium prepared by a more than one teacher. In response to the question whether it is possible to cover pre-clinical subjects in 12 months so as to allow spiral mode of curriculum, 73% of all the responders agreed that it would be good idea, there was no difference of opinion among the doctors and medical students. On the other hand, 27% were strongly opposed to this suggestion. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that there is a need to modify the contents, methods of teaching, and curriculum organization of training in clinical biochemistry. How best the curriculum can be made problem oriented needs to be debated among medical educationists.

Bacteriological analysis of uncooked pork sausages in relation to public health.

One hundred and eighteen samples of uncooked pork sausages were analysed bacteriologically. The total aerobic plate count ranged from 1.8 x 10(8) to 9.2 x 10(8) CFU/g in the samples. High mean counts of Staphylococci, Enterococci, Micrococci, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella and Coliforms were observed. Staphylococcus aureus were encountered with count range 2.8 x 10(6) CFU/g to 7.4 x 10(6) CFU/g. The viable count of Escherichia coli ranged from 2.0 x 10(5) to 4.3 x 10(5) CFU/g. Clostridium perfringens were detected in 66.9% of samples with a count ranging from 3.9 x 10(2) to 1.1 x 10(7) Cl. perfringens/g. None of 118 samples contained Yersinia enterocolitica.

Mast cell in leprosy.

Mast cell distribution in the affected skin and in the apparently normal skin at least 10 cm away from the lesion was studied in 250 leprosy patients. These cells were found and were more numerous in the apparently normal skin of established cases of leprosy as well amongst indeterminate group. Absence of mast cells was conspicuous in 16.7% LL, 41.7% BB, 40.9% BT, and 68.0% TT lesions. It is suggested that mast cells might play a role in the early stages of the disease and in postreactional connective tissue proliferation.

A report on six cases of histoid variety of lepromatous leprosy in children.

Six cases of histoid variety of lepromatous leprosy among children below 12 years of age were detected in over 3 years period. Bacteriological index was high (3 to 5+). None of the patients had received any anti-leprosy treatment. It is a public health problem because of infectious nature of the disease, therefore early detection and management of this entity among children is important.