Human tail with spina bifida.

A true human tail is a rare occurrence and is defined as a caudal, vestigial, midline protrusion with skin covering connective tissue, muscle, vessels and nerves. We report a case of true human tail in a child, which is a very rare happening in humans.

Giant benign schwannoma on scalp causing 'double-head'.

Abstract- Schwannomas are tumors derived from Schwann cells. They are usually small and comparatively rare on scalp. A 25-year old woman presented with huge mass on posterior side of the scalp that gave the appearance of 'double-head'. The mass was excised and reconstruction was achieved by primary closure. Histology proved to be a benign schwannoma. The patient is well at 6-months of follow up. Giant benign schwannoma on scalp is extremely rare. Clinicians that came across the giant tumors of the scalp should suspect this possibility as these tumors have favorable prognosis.

The theaflavin fraction is responsible for the facilitatory effect of black tea at the skeletal myoneural junction.

The effect of various fractions of black tea [(Camellia Sinensis) (L) O. Kuntze (Theaceae)] on the function of mammalian skeletomotor apparatus was studied. The theaflavin fraction (Tfs) produced a concentration- dependent facilitation of indirect twitch responses of the rat phrenic nerve diaphragm preparation and the facilitation was dependent on the amount of calcium present in the bathing fluid. Nifedipine reduced the facilitatory effect of Tfs as a function of its concentration. Tfs failed to produce facilitation when the twitch height was reduced to about 50% of the control value in presence of magnesium chloride. Tfs completely antagonized the submaximal paralytic effect of d- tubocurarine and decamethonium bromide. Tfs did not have any effect on direct twitch responses or on acetylcholine (Ach) and potassium chloride (KCl) induced contractures of denervated diaphragm. The results revealed that the site of action of Tfs is on the contractile mechanism of the voluntary muscle and point to a critical role of calcium in the mechanism of action of Tfs. N omega-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, antagonized both the facilitatory and inhibitory effects on indirect twitch responses of rat diaphragm induced by L-arginine and Tfs when the phrenic nerve was stimulated at 5 Hz and 50 Hz respectively. The thearubigin (Trs) fraction of black tea and the aqueous part which is completely devoid of Tfs, did not potentiate the twitch responses. The findings suggest that Tfs have a potentiating effect on the contractile mechanism of skeletal muscle and that calcium and nitric oxide may modulate this action of Tfs.