Multifocal pure tubercular osteomyelitis: An unusual presentation in childhood.

Tuberculosis is a major health problem in the developing world. One-third of children infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis have extra pulmonary involvement. Skeletal tuberculosis occurs in 1-6% of them with vertebra being the commonest site. Pure tubercular osteomyelitis without joint involvement occurs in only 2-3% cases of osteoarticular tuberculosis. Common sites are femur, tibia, and fibula. Disseminated skeletal involvement is very rare in children (7%) and calvarial osteomyelitis is even rarer (1%). Here, we report a unique case of disseminated skeletal TB. A 7-year-old tribal girl with no evidence of immunodeficiency presented with multiple lytic lesions involving skull, sternum, and hip bone surprisingly sparing the joints and appendicular skeleton. There was no pulmonary involvement either. FNAC from all three swellings showed presence of acid-fast bacillus. Bone biopsy followed by culture in BACTEC further confirmed the diagnosis. There was complete resolution of the swellings after one year of anti-tubercular drug therapy.

Dental Practice Scenario in a Government Homeopathic Hospital in West Bengal, India.

This pilot investigation initiated a research-targeted systematic dental homeopathy data collection in the dental outpatient section in a government homeopathic hospital in West Bengal, India. One conventionally trained dentist and 3 homeopathic doctors collected data from 949 appointments of 411 patients over 3 months. A specifically designed Excel spreadsheet enabled recording of consecutive dental appointments that was subjected to data synthesis and analysis in the end. A total of 87.3% conditions were chronic, and chronic periodontitis was most frequent (27.5%). Positive outcome was observed in 72.3% appointments. Strongly positive outcomes (scores of +2 or +3) were achieved most notably in toothache (84.6%). Single medicines were prescribed in 83.5% encounters, and mostly in tincture form (29.9%). Arnica montana constituted of 17.8% prescriptions. Considerable insight was gained into the homeopathic dental practice scenario in West Bengal, India. Positive findings suggest that dental homeopathy is a promising area for research in near future.

Universal acquired melanosis in siblings.

Generalized pigmentation in a child may be seen in a variety of disorders which can be clinically differentiated. Accuracy of diagnosis can be increased by classifications based on both clinical and histological findings. The authors report a case of siblings in whom hyperpigmentation started at age of about 6 mo and was progressing. Histology of skin revealed shortening and blunting of rete ridges with presence of melanocytes in stratum basal layer. This is a rare type of hypermelanosis and termed as universal acquired melanosis or carbon baby syndrome. This is a rare presentation and first case report in siblings.

Antinociceptive, cytotoxic and antibacterial activities of Cleome viscosa leaves

The methanol extract of the dried leaves of Cleome viscosa L., Cleomaceae, was investigated for its possible antinociceptive, cytotoxic and antibacterial activities in animal models. The extract produced significant writhing inhibition in acetic acid-induced writhing in mice at the oral doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight (p<0.001) comparable to the standard drug diclofenac sodium at the dose of 25 mg/kg of body weight (p<0.001). The crude extract produced the most prominent cytotoxic activity against brine shrimp Artemia salina (LC50 28.18 μg/mL and LC90 112.20 μg/mL). The extract of C. viscosa L. exhibited significant in vitro antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Shigella sonnie, Salmonella typhi, Vibrio cholera, Streptococcus epidermidis, Shigella flexneri and Staphylococcus aureus with the zones of inhibition ranging from 10.76 to 16.34 mm. The obtained results provide a support for the use of this plant in traditional medicine and its further investigation.