Effect of homeopathic preparations of Syzygium jambolanum and Cephalandra indica on gastrocnemius muscle of high fat and high fructose-induced type-2 diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND: Homeopathy is a holistic method of treatment that uses microdoses of natural substances originating from plants, minerals, or animal parts. Syzygium jambolanum and Cephalandra indica are used in homeopathy for treatment of type-2 diabetes. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for such effects are not known. METHODS: Homeopathic preparations of S. jambolanum and C. indica in mother tincture, 6c and 30c were used to examine the molecular mechanism of antidiabetic effects in the skeletal muscle of rats with high fat and fructose-induced type-2 diabetes mellitus. After 30 days treatment, fasting blood glucose, serum insulin and insulin signaling molecules in the skeletal muscle (gastrocnemius) were measured. RESULTS: Diabetic rats showed a significant decrease in serum insulin and lipid profile as well as low levels of insulin receptor (IR), v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog (Akt), p-Akt(ser473) and glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4) protein expression (p < 0.05) with a significant increase in fasting blood glucose level (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. Treatment with homeopathic remedies significantly increased the serum insulin and expression of these proteins (p < 0.05) with a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose (p < 0.05) compared to diabetic rats. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study homeopathic preparations of S. jambolanum and C. indica, including ultramolecular dilutions exhibit antidiabetic effects, improving insulin action through activation of insulin signaling molecules in skeletal muscle of type-2 diabetic rats.

Penile length and circumference: an Indian study.

Apprehension about the normal size of penis is a major concern for men. Aim of the present investigation is to estimate the penile length and circumference of Indian males and to compare the results with the data from other countries. Results will help in counseling the patients worried about the penile size and seeking penis enlargement surgery. Penile length in flaccid and stretched conditions and circumference were measured in a group of 301 physically normal men. Erected length and circumference were measured for 93 subjects. Mean flaccid length was found to be 8.21 cm, mean stretched length 10.88 cm and circumference 9.14 cm. Mean erected length was found to be 13.01 cm and erected circumference was 11.46 cm. Penile dimensions are found to be correlated with anthropometric parameters. Insight into the normative data of penile size of Indian males obtained. There are significant differences in the mean penile length and circumference of Indian sample compared to the data reported from other countries. Study need to be continued with a large sample to establish a normative data applicable to the general population.

Pharmaceutical industry-sponsored meetings: good value or just a free meal?

Although the role of the pharmaceutical industry in continuing medical education (CME) has been debated for many years, industry CME funding continues to increase. Because of concern about the educational quality of industry CME, the Hunter Postgraduate Medical Institute (HPMI), an independent Newcastle and Hunter Valley CME provider, evaluated the use and quality of industry CME as reported by rural and urban general practitioners, physicians and psychiatrists. Furthermore, clinicians were asked if they supported increased industry-funded independent CME. Sixty-two per cent of general practitioners and 71% of psychiatrists attended at least three industry-organized meetings each year, compared with 24% of physicians. Twenty-five per cent of general practitioners attended five or more such meetings. Industry meetings were judged to be of good to excellent quality by 81% of generalists, 79% of physicians and 87% of psychiatrists. All clinical groups ranked the topic and then speaker as the most important reason for attending, with CME points, venue and the sponsor ranked lowest. Eighty to 90% of doctors supported a greater role of industry-funded independent CME. Despite the absence of current data on the use and perceived benefits of industry CME, these preliminary results suggest that industry CME is playing an increasingly important role in clinician education. However, many clinicians and industry representatives support a greater role by independent postgraduate organizations in industry-sponsored CME.

Multifocal motor neuropathy.

A brief report of four patients with Multifocal Motor Neuropathy (MMN) two of whom improved with cyclophosphamide is presented. This is the first report of MMN from India.

RENAL TRANSPLANTATION - AN EARLY EXPERIENCE.

Renal transplant (RT) is now a therapy of choice for end stage renal disease (ESRD). The Nephrology Unit, Asvini started functioning in Dec 90 and to date 1298 sittings of hemodialysis have been given to 45 patients. Of these, 35 were in ESRD and 11 patients underwent renal transplantation at this hospital during the period Jan 91 - Dec 93. One patient expired after 18 months of transplantation due to infection. Early experience in screening patients for RT, use of immunosuppression, management of rejection episodes and protocol are presented with special emphasis on its relevance to the Armed Forces.

'Ease of falling' syndrome. Associated with unilateral thalamic lesion.

An uncommon manifestation of unilateral thalamic infarct with 'ease of falling' syndrome associated with spontaneous thalamic pain is described. Such a combination has not been reported earlier.

Awareness during anaesthesia for caesarean section in Zambia.

PIP: The prevalence of awareness after receiving anesthesia during cesarean section is examined in different patient groups at the University Teaching Hospital in Zambia. The pilot study consisted of 76 patients. 22% of these patients were found to be aware upon postoperative examination. 2 follow-up studies were conducted. Statistical analysis was employed on the data. The 1st follow-up group had 340 patients receiving thiopentone or ketamine intravenously. Suxamethonium was employed during intubation. 5% of the patients were aware. Of this 5%, 6 experienced no pain and 12 had pain. The 2nd follow-up group consisted of 288 patients receiving thiopentone and suxamethonium for induction and endotracheal intubation. Halothane was next given. 6% of this group was aware. Awareness was associated consisting of air, oxygen, and halothane had an incidence rate of 21.7% while nitrous oxide with oxygen halothane had 2.9%. This higher incidence of awareness is attributed to incorrect concentration of halothane by anesthetists. The incidence of awareness was also associated with the anesthetist. 1 anesthetist had none of his 60 patients becoming aware while another anesthetist had 5 out of 28 patients becoming aware. This finding was attributed to the anesthetist's lack of knowledge or poor technique. It is suggested that anesthetists in developing countries determine the prevalence of awareness of their patients.^ieng

Neurological manifestations of homocystinuria.

Six cases of homocystinuria with different clinical manifestations are described. Two of these patients presented with vascular problems, two had proximal muscle weakness, one each had cerebellar ataxia and psychiatric manifestations. Biochemical defects and the pathological mechanisms in different types of homocystinurias are reviewed.