A case of neurofibromatosis type 1 with clival chordoma

Neurofibromatosis type-1 is an autosomal dominant tumour syndrome with a high clinical susceptibility to malignancies, especially nervous system malignancies. Here, we reported a case of neurofibromatosis type-1 in a male in his 50s, who presented with generalised weakness, headache associated with ear pain, a feeling of heaviness of the head, and giddiness for a duration of 1 week. On examination, he had axillary freckling and multiple neurofibromas over his body. Nystagmus and dysdiadokokinesia were present. MRI brain revealed an enhancing lesion in the sphenoid and clivus, extending into the sellar and supra-sellar region. The possibility of pituitary adenoma and clival chordoma were considered. He was referred to Neurosurgery and underwent Trans-nasal Trans-sphenoidal near-total resection of the tumour. Biopsy of the lesion was indicative of conventional clival chordoma, which is rarely reported with NF-1. The post-operative period was uneventful and the patient is planned for regular follow-up to detect recurrence.

Social media and mental health of undergraduate medical students of Mysuru: cross sectional study

Background: Social media is a form of electronic communication, through which people can share ideas and information. With the advent of internet and social networking sites, humans have become social more virtually than in person. This has led to people living more isolated lives affecting one’s health. Hence the objective is to assess the effects of social media on students and factors associated. Methods: It was a Cross sectional study among 367 undergraduates from a medical college in Mysuru, over a duration of 2 months. A self-administered questionnaire with socio- demographic variables and a standard GHQ-12 (general health questionnaire) was used for the scoring of their distress levels. Descriptive statistics were taken and Chi-square test was done for statistical significance. Results: Out of 367 students, the mean age of students were 21.5 years. The prevalence suggestive of distress was found to be 72.4% (265), and severe psychological distress was found to be 3.27%. Among usage of apps, people using 1 app had 48.5% distress, 2 apps had 75.6% distress, 3 apps had 63.3% distress and 4 apps 74.2% distress. There was no significant association between factors and severity of distress. Conclusions: From the above study, we have shown that social media with all its influence has a negative impact on the students’ behavior. With this the youth need to be educated on its use and its limitations counselled regarding its ill effects and necessary tolls for seeking help be made available at their disposal.

Correlating the altered bowel habits among young medical doctors when exposed to rural posting in the course of their training in India

Background: Altered bowel habits, is a commonly encountered presentation, especially among training professionals. During training, young doctors move to rural areas, experience the stress factors in food and environment causing the altered bowel habits. Hence correlating altered bowel habits among young medical doctors when exposed to relative culture barriers was the main aim of the study. Methods: It was a cross sectional study among interns and postgraduates from all over the country for a duration of 2 months from January 2023 to March 2023 for 150 participants. A self-administered questionnaire with socio- demographic variables and a standard PAC-SYM was used for the scoring of altered bowel habits. Data entered into Excel and analysed using SPSS software. Descriptive statistics were taken and Kruskal Wallis test was done for statistical significance. Results: 60% of the students belong to 20-24 age group. 55% of participants were female. 48.7% of mothers were homemakers and 46.6% were professionals. 90% of students were exposed to rural areas and 32% of them stayed there for more than 2 months. Gender, duration of stay, frequency of food consumption and bathroom comfort were statistically significant with the symptoms of altered bowel habits. Conclusions: From the above study, we have tried to prove poor water supply, poor hygiene, and multiple people sharing the toilet are significant stressor factors for the medical trainee during their stay in rural health centres across the country.

Are farmers aware of first aid measures for their injuries-a survey in rural Karnataka, India

Background: Agriculture, being the main source of livelihood in most parts of the country, has some hidden dangers to the farmers which get them injured or ill. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted for 2 months among farmers aged >18 years of age residing in rural Mysuru. A purposive sampling technique was used and the data was collected from 150 farmers through house-to-house interviews using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Results: The survey took account of the farmer's opinion on first aid procedures; a vast majority of the practices weren’t supported by any scientific evidence. Ineffective first-aid procedures could worsen the problem. Thus, the farmers should receive sufficient first aid training and education, enabling them to take appropriate action for themselves and their communities in an emergency. Conclusions: The survey took account of the farmer's opinion on first aid procedures; a vast majority of the practices weren’t supported by any scientific evidence. Ineffective first-aid procedures could worsen the problem. Thus, the farmers should receive sufficient first aid training and education, enabling them to take appropriate action for themselves and their communities in an emergency.

Corneal endothelial cell changes in diabetics versus age group matched nondiabetics after manual small incision cataract surgery

Purpose: To assess and compare the endothelial cell changes after manual small incision cataract surgery (SICS) in diabetic patients versus age group matched non-diabetic patients. Methods: This comparative prospective observational follow-up study included 54 diabetic patients and 52 control patients without diabetes who underwent manual SICS. Preoperative, one day, one week, one month and three months post-surgery assessments of corneal endothelial cell changes were done using specular microscopy. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 20.0, SPSS, Inc.). Mann朩hitney U test was used to compare the data between the test group and control group. Results: There was drop in the endothelial density in both the groups postoperatively, with the mean percentage of endothelial loss at three months post- surgery being 27.5% in diabetics and 18.3% in controls. There was also a significant increase in central corneal thickness and coefficient of variance in diabetics as compared to controls at every follow up one day, one week, one month and three months. The percentage of hexagonality was statistically significant at post-operative three months. Conclusion: The diabetic endothelium was found to be under greater metabolic stress and had less functional reserve after manual SICS than the normal corneal endothelium.

Can cryotherapy be used as an adjunct in select cases of recalcitrant endophthalmitis? - A case report

We report two cases of recalcitrant endophthalmitis, a delayed postoperative fungal endophthalmitis following cataract surgery and an atypical mycobacterial endogenous endophthalmitis associated with infective scleritis. Due to recalcitrant nature of the endophthalmitis, one or more sittings of double freeze and thaw cryotherapy was applied over and adjacent to the infective foci in each case. This cryotherapy was used as an adjunct alongside conventional endophthalmitis management following which resolution of infection was observed in both cases.

Coats' disease - disease of the eye rarely encountered by pathologists

Coats' Disease is an idiopathic condition of the eye affecting young children although it can be seen in adults. Most patients present early in life with unilateral decreased vision, strabismus or leukocoria. The most important differential diagnosis is unilateral retinoblastoma. In this study we report a case of coat's disease in an young girl, and evaluate histopathological and clinical findings.

Mating success of males with and without wing patch in Drosophila biarmipes.

Some males of D. biarmipes--synonym of D. rajasekari and D. raychaudhuri have a black patch on the wing. The patch extends from the apical margin of wing to the third longitudinal vein. Field and laboratory studies have been carried out in D. biarmipes to study role of male's wing patch in mating success. The field study shows that nature favors D. biarmipes males with patch. Although males without patch mated, males with patch have higher mating success suggesting the role of wing patch during courtship. Further, among mating males, males with patch had longer wings than males without patch. During courtship, males with patch oriented and mated faster; performed courtship acts such as tapping, scissoring, vibration, licking and twist dance more times than males without patch in both competitive and non-competitive situations. The results indicate that there is a casual relationship between the presence of wing patch, mating speed and success. Also there is a correlation between presence of wing patch, size of the flies and mating success.

Estimation of salivary bacteria capable of inhibiting and stimulating Streptococcus mutans and its correlation to dental caries and untreated carious teeth.

Bacteriocins are bacteriocidal proteinaceous molecules produced by the Gram-positive bacteria not active against the produced strain. Many investigations have revealed that certain bacteria using antibacterial or the inhibitory substance inhibit some other bacteria. A study was conducted in a group of 60 children to ascertain whether any correlation exists between the proportion of salivary bacteria inhibiting and stimulating Streptococcus mutans and the oral health indices (DMFT, deft and Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs). A definite inverse correlation was observed between the percentage of salivary inhibiting S. mutans and untreated carious teeth (UCT).

Oral melanotic macule--a case report.

A melanotic macule is a benign pigmented lesion of oral cavity characterised by increase in melanin pigmentation. Presented here is a case report of 12 year old girl with black pigmented area on right buccal mucosa. An excision biopsy was done which confirmed the diagnosis by as melanotic macule.

Acute renal failure secondary to rhabdomyolysis following near-drowning in sea water.

We report here a rare case of acute renal failure following near-drowning in sea water. A 21-year old college student presented in acute renal failure 48 hours after a near-drowning event. Investigations revealed rhabdomyolysis to be the cause of renal failure.

Accidental dextropropoxyphene poisoning.

Dextropropoxyphene poisoning is an uncommon accidental poisoning in children. Presentation is similar to narcotic over dosage or poisoning. Convulsions, conduction disturbances, arrhythmias and hypoglycemia are common. Naloxone is the antidote. As it is uncommon and not documented in children in Indian literature we are reporting this case.

Variability of morphological traits in Drosophila bipectinata complex.

Phenotypic or morphological differences among different populations and sexual dimorphism in certain metric traits were analysed in D. bipectinata complex. It was noticed that different populations of D. bipectinata species group harbour large amount of variation for these characters. In all the populations, morphometric characters such as lengths of femur, tibia and wing length, wing width, number of sternopleural bristles and bristles on epandrium varied significantly among populations. The study indicates that the morphological variations are due to the interplay of genetic and environmental endowments. Further, females had significantly larger values, for lengths of femur, tibia and wing length, wing width and sternopleural bristles.

Bottleneck effect on intra- and interspecific competition in Drosophila malerkotliana.

Intra and interspecific competition experiments involving control and bottleneck lines of monomorphic and polymorphic populations of D.malerkotliana with D.nasuta nasuta have been carried out. Productivity and population size were evaluated in these lines. The results show that control line had higher relative fitness and adaptedness (productivity and population size) under both intra and interspecific competition than their respective bottleneck lines and D.nasuta nasuta. This indicates that bottlenecks have an effect on competition in D.malerkotliana. The consequence of such competition studies using control and bottleneck lines of D.malerkotliana and D.nasuta nasuta is discussed.

Partial 1q and 21p trisomies in a male child due to maternal t(1;21).

Proband 7 years old male child referred for cytogenetic investigation revealed 47, XY + der (21), t(1;21) (q32;q11) mat.

Prevalence of malocclusion and periodontal status in Tibetan school children of Kushalnagar, Mysore district.

A representative sample of 817 Tibetan school children aged 7 to 17 years of Mysore district were examined for malocclusion, gingival bleeding and calculus, using plane mouth mirror, sickle explorer and periodontal probes, under natural light. A very slight increase in malocclusion was noted in school girls, in addition to the statistically significant increase in gingival bleeding among 8-13 years and 17 year old girls and 7-10 years and 15-16 year old boys. Moreover, a highly statistically significant increase in calculus was perceived amongst girls. The present study thus showed an increasing demand for preventive and therapeutic dental treatment in these children and early identification of such individuals at risk, can lead to better disease management.

Body size, mating success and advantage of large flies in Drosophila bipectinata species complex.

Mating success of large and small flies of Drosophila malerkotliana and D. bipectinata was studied using multiple, male and female choice methods. In multiple choice method the large male mated with large female and small male paired with small female. In female choice method, large male was successful in mating with female irrespective of its size while in male choice method, preferential mating occurred between large male and large female as well as small male and small female. The consequence of such non-random mating in the presence of male rivarly and preferential mating has been discussed.

Down syndrome associated malformations.

This paper reports the associated malformations and the clinical findings that were observed in 417 cytogenetically confirmed Down Syndrome patients. Among them congenital heart defects have occurred more frequently [75; 17.98%] than osteoarticular malformations [23; 5.52]; eye anomalies [22; 5.27%]; and gastroenterological malformations [n 16; 3.84%]. With regard to prognosis and treatment appropriate counselling has been given to Down Syndrome patients and their families.

Assessment of percent body fat content in young and middle aged men: skinfold method v/s girth method.

Percent body fat content was found in apparently normal healthy 30 young (17-20 Yrs.) and 30 middle aged men (30-46 Yrs.) by measuring the skinfold and girth. None of the subjects were athletes or did regular physical exercise. Body density was calculated using mean of the four skinfold measurements as per the equations advocated by Durnin and Womersley, while percent body fat content was calculated from the body density by the Siri's equation. The mean % body fat content by this method in young men was 15.87 +/- 3.85% and in middle aged men was 24.75 +/- 3.55%. Ten percent of the young subjects and 90% of the middle aged subjects were found to be obese. Percent body fat content was also calculated from the girth measurements as advocated by McArdle et al. The mean of % body fat content with this method was 14.91 +/- 3.82% in young men and 24.30 +/- 3.35% in middle aged men. On comparison, the difference in percent body fat content calculated by both the methods was found to be significant in young men but not for middle aged men. The correlation, coefficient between girth method and skinfold method was 0.95 in case of young men and 0.90 for middle aged men. Therefore, we advocate that girth measurements can be used to determine percent body fat content, main advantage being simplicity of technique and requirement of inexpensive instruments for measurement.

Effect of bottlenecks on incipient sexual isolation, mating activity and fertility in Drosophila malerkotliana.

Effect of bottleneck sizes, on sexual isolation, mating speed and fertility were studied in D. malerkotliana established from natural population. After 10 generations of laboratory breeding, flies showed incipient sexual isolation between control line and some bottleneck lines and also between bottleneck lines. These findings do not fully agree with the general assumption that the establishment of bottlenecks accelerates speciation. The courtship latency and mating speed increases with increasing size of bottlenecks whereas copulation duration and fertility decreases with increasing bottleneck size. There was no sign of rebounding in fitness with in 10 generations as observed by Bryant et al. in house flies.