Hypovitaminosis D and Hypocalcemic Seizures in Infancy.

Background: Hypocalcemia accounts for a majority of seizures in infants reporting to the emergency ward of our hospital. Objective: To evaluate the role of Vitamin D deficiency in the etiology of hypocalcemic seizures in infancy. Design and Setting: Cross sectional hospital based study, from April 2006-March 2007. Subjects: 60 infants with hypocalcemic seizures and their mothers (study group) and 60 healthy breastfed infants with their lactating mothers (control group). Measurements: Vitamin D [25(OH) D] and intact parathormone levels. Results: High prevalence of hypovitaminosis D [25(OH)D levels <10 ng/mL] was observed in study mothers (85%), control mothers (50%), study infants (90%), and control infants (41.7%). Mean serum 25(OH) D values in study mothers and their infants (6.54 ± 5.32 ng/mL and 4.92 ± 4.62 ng/mL) were significantly lower than those of motherinfant pairs (9.06 ± 4.78 ng/mL and 9.03 ± 4.63 ng/mL) in the control group (P<0.001). A strong positive correlation of 25(OH) D levels between mothers and their infants was seen in both the study and control populations (P<0.001). Of the 54 study infants who had 25(OH)D levels <10ng/ mL, 48 (89%) were born to mothers who also had 25(OH) D levels <10ng/mL. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is a major cause of hypocalcemic seizures in infants. Infants born to vitamin D deficient mothers are at a significantly higher risk to develop hypocalcemic seizures.

Expression of adenosine deaminase and 5'-nucleotidase in artificially induced deciduoma in rat and hamster.

Enzymes adenosine deaminase (ADA) and 5-nucleotidase (5-'NT) are known to play active role in tissue/cell proliferation and differentiation. To validate this the two enzymes were studied in artificially induced deciduoma of rat and hamster. The deciduoma was induced by traumatizing one of the uterine horns of progesterone primed animals. Non traumatized horn served as control. The animals were later maintained on progesterone, given alone (Gr.I) or conjointly with estrogen (Gr.II). The weight of each uterine horn was recorded to determine the formation of deciduoma. There was no marked difference between the weights of traumatized and control horn on day 2 post-traumatization (PT), but a progressive rise was noticed after this day in both species. The ADA activity however differed, day and species wise. While in the rats of Gr.I it was low in the traumatized horn on all the days, in the hamsters it was remarkably high from day 2 to 6 PT. In the rats of Gr.II also the activity though was low in the traumatized horn, but on day 2 and 4 only; on day 6 and 7 PT it increased markedly. In hamster, on the contrary, again the enzyme activity was remarkably high on all the three days. The 5'-NT activity, however, did not show any marked difference between the two horns under Gr.I and II in both species. It was rather high in the control horn of each group. The results suggest: (I) the progesterone alone though produces a significant rise in the uterine weight of traumatized horn in both species, the ADA activity increases only in hamster, (2) under the conjoint treatment also the enzyme activity remains high in hamster; and (3) the activity of enzyme 5'-NT does not alter during the deciduoma formation in both the species.

Effect of Saral meditation on intelligence, performance and cardiopulmonary functions.

Meditation is a mental exercise to improve mental faculty. Present attempt was to evaluate effect of Saral Meditation on development of intelligence, academic performance & cardiopulmonary functions. Results show significant improvement in development of intelligence and academic performance. There was apparent improvement in confidence and they were free from anxiety. There were also considerable changes in psychomotor ability and cardiopulmonary functions however, result was not significant.

Auxin regulated poly(A)polymerase activity in Cicer arietinum epicotyls.

There was a linear increase in poly (A+) polymerase activity in the C. arietinum epicotyls during germination. Six-day-old auxin treated seedlings showed about 3-4 fold stimulation in enzyme activity, accompanied with 3- fold rise in the relative abundance of poly (A+) RNA levels. Actinomycin D, cycloheximide, cordycepin and amino acid analogues caused dramatic decline in poly (A+) polymerase as well as poly (A+) RNA levels. It seems that auxin induced a de novo synthesis of this enzyme.

Progesterone potentiating effect of Dipsacus mitis D. Don for its contraceptive action in hamster.

A pure compound, isolated from ethyl acetate extract (root) of D. mitis D. Don, prevented pregnancy by 100% in adult female hamster but partially in rat when administered orally on Days 1-7 and 1-10 post-coitum respectively. The effective dose in both species was 150 mg/kg. Using uterine wet weight in ovariectomized immature rat as bioassay method, the compound was found to be devoid of estrogenic and antiestrogenic property. On examination for progestational and antiprogestational activity, using trauma-induced deciduoma formation in immature rat uterus as end points, the compound (per se) did not show the former activity but in a conjoint treatment with progesterone it augmented the action of latter. The compound was assumed to act by potentiating progesterone biosynthesis, the excess of which might be the cause for interruption of pregnancy in hamster. This is the first study to report contraceptive efficacy and mode of its action at the uterine level.

Need for liver transplantation in Indian children.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation (LT) is the most successful and accepted mode of therapy for failing liver in children. Pediatric LT has neither been widely attempted nor its need objectively assessed in our country. OBJECTIVE: To assess requirement of LT in children at a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: Data of children admitted to pediatric GE services (January 1992 to June 1997) were retrospectively analyzed. Subgroups of children with acute liver disease (ALD), chronic liver disease (CLD), neonatal cholestasis syndrome (NCS) and other etiology were evaluated for need for LT according to established criteria. RESULTS: Of the total 301 inpatients with liver diseases assessed at our center, ALD constituted 26% (n=79), CLD 35% (n=106), NCS 27% (n=82) and miscellaneous 11% (n=34). Among ALD, 19% (n=15) had FHF and 67% (n=10) qualified for LT (INR>4.0). Of CLD, LT was warranted in 13% (2/15) cases of Wilson's disease (Wilson's score > 6) and 60% of cirrhotics (n=40/66) with decompensation. NCS comprised extrahepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) in 43, choledochal cyst in 2, paucity of intralobular bile duct (PILBD) in 2, neonatal hepatitis in 23, and was of indeterminate etiology in 12 cases. Of NCS groups, LT was the only therapeutic option in 45% (n=36) of cases (EHBA 34, choledochal cyst 2). Of 34 cases of EHBA requiring LT, 32 presented after 4 months of age and other 2 children had decompensation before four months of age. Both children with choledochal cysts had decompensated liver disease. One patient of Crigler Najjar syndrome type I had kernicterus and qualified for LT. CONCLUSION: Our data shows need for LT in 30% of children with liver diseases constituted by cirrhosis (45%), biliary atresia (38%) and FHF (11%).

Multiple lymphomatous polyposis presenting as inflammatory bowel disease.

Multiple lymphomatous polyposis is a rare manifestation of primary gastrointestinal lymphoma characterized by polypoidal masses involving several segments of the gastrointestinal tract. We report a case who initially presented with features resembling inflammatory bowel disease.

Pulmonary functions in Indian sportsmen playing different sports.

Regular exercise has proved to be beneficial for the human body and the lungs are no exception. The present study was undertaken to assess the relation between the quality of exercise performed and the quantitative effect of these exercises on the lungs. Pulmonary function tests of sportsmen engaged in various sports were compared with each other and with that of the controls. Players playing football (n=18), hockey (n=19), volleyball (n=20), swimming (n=20) and basketball (n=18) were chosen for this study. Medical students (n=20) were chosen as controls. The parameters taken into account in this study were forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume (FEV-1), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). The results indicate that all the sportspersons had a higher values of lung functions compared to the controls. Among the various groups of players chosen for this study, the swimmers showed the maximum increase in their lung functions.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma masquerading as empyema thoracis.

Non-hodgkin's lymphoma has varied presentations. Malignant lymphoma arising in chronic pyothorax is very rare and has been reported from Japan. We report a case of non-hodgkin's lymphoma presenting as empyema thoracis.

Relative potentiality of some contragestational agents on trauma induced deciduoma formation in immature rats.

Relative progestational and antiprogestational profile of four contragestational agents, viz. RMI-12,936, RU-38,486, STS-557 and WIN-32,729, known to possess either or both the properties in other test systems, was determined in immature rats using deciduoma induction as marker. The deciduoma was produced by needle traumatization in one of the uterine horn, and the extent of stimulation was analysed, both macro and microscopically, against the control nontraumatized horn. The results indicated that the agents which demonstrated better potentiality(ies) as progestational and/or antiprogestational in this bioassay exhibit contraceptive efficacy at relatively lower doses as compared to those that showed mild to moderate potentiality.

Study of pulmonary functions in swimmers of Lucknow city.

In this study, the pulmonary functions of young swimmers of K.D. Singh Babu Stadium, Lucknow were studied, 20 swimmers of the age group of 15-20 years were chosen along with 15 students as controls. The parameters taken into account were Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV1) and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR). Two sets of readings were recorded. One before the start and the other at the end of the practice season. These readings were compared to each other and also with the values of the controls. The results indicate that swimming has considerable effect on enhancing lung functions of an individual as FVC, FEV1, PEFR were significantly raised in swimmers after swimming session. Such results suggest that swimming may be induced in the exercise programme for rehabilitation of respiratory patients who have compromised lung functions.

Determination of proteins secreted by growing rat decidual cells in vitro.

Proteins secreted by rat decidual cells while growing in culture medium were monitored on gel electrophoresis. It was done by assuming that outgrowing cells in vitro mimic differentiated endometrial stromal tissue in vivo following attachment of embryo. The decidual cells were obtained from implantation swellings of day 10 pregnant rats, maintained in serum free medium and the cell dependent protein profile was analysed after 48 hr on single dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The proteins identified were in molecular weight range of 29, 43 and 66 kDa respectively. The result indicated involvement of the differentiated stromal cells in secreting these low molecular weight proteins.

Easy criterion for detection of mating in guinea pig.

Existing criteria for determining receptivity to mating in female guinea pig has been redefined on the basis of kind of cells present in vaginal smear following its opening. The animals that showed not only cornified but also predominantly cornified cells over the leucocytes show higher sperm positivity rate. It is inferred that continuous cohabitation of these animals invariably leads to successful mating.

Decidual cell reaction: relative response to traumatization in uterus of rat, hamster and guinea pig.

Relative decidual cell response to traumatization was studied in the uterus of immature rat, hamster and guinea pig. A single dose of progesterone (1.0 mg/animal) caused 285 +/- 41 and 459 +/- 58% uterotrophy in traumatized horn of rat and hamster respectively, while in guinea pig increasing doses of progesterone (1, 2 and 5 mg/animal), several combinations of estrogen and progesterone or alteration in treatment schedule of the two hormones as well as extending the day of traumatization failed to elicit comparable uterotrophic response. Uterus of immature hamster was found to be most responsive to traumatization and that of guinea pig the least.

Pulmonary functions of the elderly Indian subjects: trends of decline with age.

Respiratory Functions mainly vital capacity, FEV1, MBC and breath holding time, of 400 healthy elderly persons, 328 men and 72 women, aged 60+, sedentary and belonging to upper middle class from Bombay were studied. The findings are examined in each sex in 5 yearly age groups and are obviously low. An attempt is made to link the age-wise averages of VC in younger subjects in India reported by other workers with our data on elderly. The values from Northern groups are comparatively much higher than those from the rest of India. The connecting link in graphs shows a sudden fall when the data of northern Indians and that of our elderly are joined, but it is smooth when those of rest of India are connected.