Collagen: Animal Sources and Biomedical Application.

Collagen is the sole most profuse protein in the animal kingdom. It has been subjected to various studies from time immemorial. Its applications are numerous and have been extracted from various sources such as land animals (mainly bovine and porcine) and birds. Although collagen sources are abundant the outbreak of varied diseases among land animals posed a threat to its utilization in our daily life. Thus a probe for an alternative source began which in turn revealed the immense untapped marine source. The present article deals with a brief description of collagen its characteristics,chemistry,common extraction procedure, application in various fields and sources. A lot of studies have been carried out on various land animals, birds and marine organisms and this review sums up the work performed to date in a concise manner.

Analysis of brain tumors in Kashmir Valley - A 10 year study.

Background: Geographically Kashmir valley is isolated from the rest of the country. It has a different climate with people having different social and dietary habits. Gastric cancer, esophageal, and skin (Kangri) cancer have a higher prevalence but there is little data available on the cancers of brain. Objectives & Methodology: Aim was to study brain tumors prospectively and retrospectively, to analyse brain tumors geographically and to analyse the age and sex ratio of brain tumors in Kashmir valley. In this Retrospective and Prospective study, retrospectively (initial seven years) all patients were analyzed for their clinical symptoms, age, sex, residence, histopathologic characteristics of tumors. Prospectively (later three years) after get-ting the radiological diagnosis pathological diagnosis was arrived by procedures like open, stereotactic, and endoscopic procedures. All patients were then analysed for age, sex, residence, signs and symptoms and histopathological characteristics. Follow up was done for gliomas. Mortality and morbidity was analysed for gliomas in these 3 years. Patients who lost the follow up were considered dead. Out of 1730 patients included in our study, there were 1031 males and 699 females. The most common age group was between 41-50 years. Results: The most common tumor was gliomas followed by meningiomas. Gliomas were most common in men and meningiomas in females. Out of all the histological grades in gliomas, the glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) was the most common, and frontal lobe was the commonest anatomical site involved. The most common symptom in our study was headache followed by vomiting.

Cystic Hygroma of Wrist.

Cystic hygroma is the rare congenital lesion. This is a cystic variety of lymphangioma. Cystic hygroma arising outside of the cervicofacial, thoracic, and abdominal areas are extremely rare. Wrist is a very rare site for occurrence of cystic hygroma. Presentation depends on site of location of cystic hygroma. A case of cystic hygroma of wrist in a child is reported. This child presented with painless swelling of left wrist. Excision of cyst was done. This is first case report of literature reporting occurrence of cystic hygroma on wrist.