Post mortem outcome of organophosphorus compound poisoning cases at Mymensingh Medical College.

Post mortem studies were carried out on victims of Organophosphorus Compounds (OPC) poisoning cases at Mymensingh Medical College Morgue, Mymensingh from January 2007-December 2008. Data were collected from Post mortem department of Forensic Medicine, Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Out of 1862 autopsy cases 692(37.16%) were identified as OPC poisoning cases. The main cause of ingestion of OPC was to commit suicide but accidental and homicidal cases were very few. Of the OPC cases, 401(57.8%) were males while the remainder 291(42.2%) were females. The study reveals that among the total OPC cases, 657(94.94%) were suicidal, 03(0.43%) were homicidal, and in 05(0.72%) cases the motive of ingestion was something else. The study further reveals that the incidence of OPC cases was highest in 21 to 30 years age group and it was 265 cases (38.29%).

Demography and findings of reported rape cases.

Six hundred and ninety nine cases of alleged rape were studied by the authors during the period from 2007-2008 at the Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh. Of these cases, 122 had positive findings of recent sexual intercourse; 250 cases had the positive findings of habituated sexual intercourse, and 327 cases had no findings of sexual intercourse but they complained of forcible sexual intercourse and found no sign of sexual intercourse. Most of the alleged victims of rape were nulliparous 87.12% and parous was only 12.87%. 430 (61.51%) cases of reported victims who were students of schools and colleges were not considered as rape cases considering their victim's history of love affairs, leaving home secretly with their lovers, living with them for many days. Gang rape was not so common (4.29% of raped cases) in our study. Age groups, their occupations, living areas, time of arrival for medico-legal examination have been studied. Most of the cases were students (61.51%). A few numbers of victims were subjected to gang rape. Examination and reporting the cases have been discussed.

Allelopathy, DIMBOA production and genetic variability in accessions of Triticum speltoides.

A screening was conducted to study the allelopathic potential of Australian-held accessions of Triticum speltoides. Of 26 accessions, four were found to inhibit root growth in the indicator species, lettuce (Lactuca sativa). The methanol leaf extracts of these accessions significantly reduced the root length of wild oat (Avena spp.). In all but one case, alellopathic accessions contained higher amounts of DIMBOA than did nonallelopathic accessions. Since some variation in allelopathic response was detected within lines, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to estimate genetic diversity between and within the allelopathic accessions of Triticum speltoides L. The average genetic similarity between all possible pairs of selected accessions was found to be 55% and ranged from 44% to 88%. Comparison of DNA extracted from different single seedlings within the same accession revealed significant intraaccession genetic diversity (4-24%), although this was much less than that observed between accessions tested. This intraaccession diversity has significant implications for the selection of T. speltoides accessions in breeding or screening programs.

HIV-inhibitory diterpenoid from Anisomeles indica.

The 1H- and 13C-NMR spectral data of ovatodiolide (1), a diterpenoid from Anisomeles indica, and its anti-HIV activity are reported.

Low molecular weight heparins: current use and indications.

Thromboembolic complications are associated with significant morbidity and mortality in postoperative patients. For many years, unfractionated heparin has been used successfully in primary and secondary prophylaxis of these complications. In recent times, however, the usefulness of LMWHs has caught the attention of clinicians because of improved bioavailability, predictable anticoagulation, ease of administration, and the lack of need for monitoring anticoagulation. In clinical situations, LMWHs have been tested and proved to be safe and equipotent or supe rior when compared with unfractionated heparin or warfarin (Table 5). It is clear from clinical trials that LMWHs are superior in primary prophylaxis of DVT in orthopaedic surgical procedures, treatment of unstable angina, and in patients with multiple traumas. LMWHs were also tested and found to be an acceptable alternative to unfractionated heparin in both the primary prophylaxis of DVT in high risk general surgical procedures and in the treatment of patients with DVT and pulmonary embolism. However, the role of LMWHs in ischemic heart diseases, valvular heart diseases, postcoronary angioplasty, and vascular surgery remains to be proved. The major impact of LMWHs would be in allowing clinicians to treat PE and DVT in an outpatient setting, which would directly impact medical economics. LMWHs are associated with similar complications as unfractionated heparin is, but the complications occur less frequently. Currently, the main limitation in using LMWHs in place of unfractionated heparin or warfarin is its cost. However, taking into account the cost incurred by hospitalization and longterm monitoring of anticoagulation in patients treated with unfractionated heparin, certain trials have proved the cost of LMWHs to be the same or less than the cost of unfractionated heparin overall. We envision that LMWHs will be widely used in the future and will bring welcomed change in the treatment of thromboembolic diseases.

Dystrophic calcification in the neck--a case report.

One 55 years aged male person was admitted with progressive painless neck swelling with multiple discharging sinuses. His X-ray of the neck showed a dense radio-opaque shadow & serum calcium level was 2 mmol/l. On neck exploration, an irregular calculus was revealed; hooking around the left carotid sheath. Histopathology confirmed the clinical diagnosis of tuberculosis. Anti-TB chemotherapy for six months cured him.

The differential effect of contrast agents on endothelial cell and smooth muscle cell growth in vitro.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of ionic and nonionic contrast agents on endothelial cell (EC) and smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation, and to determine the role of osmolality as the etiology of these effects. METHODS: Cultured bovine aorta EC and SMC were exposed to ionic (iothalamate meglumine) or nonionic (ioversol or iopamidol) contrast, or varying osmolar solutions of mannitol, for periods of 1, 3, 5, 10, or 20 minutes. Cells were then incubated in growth media at 37 degrees C and proliferation and structure were assessed 1, 3, 5, and 7 days later. RESULTS: Both EC and SMC showed decreased proliferation after brief exposure to both ionic and nonionic contrast. Proliferation was markedly decreased at 24 hours after exposure, and began to recover by day 3 after exposure. EC showed a significant decrease up to 7 days after exposure to ionic contrast (p < 0.03), whereas SMC showed a significant decrease up to 7 days after exposure to nonionic contrast (p < 0.001). The decrease in proliferation was directly dependent on the length of exposure to the contrast and the concentration of the contrast. EC proliferation decreased in proportion to increasing osmolality of the test solution (p < 0.05). SMC proliferation did not show a decrease proportional to osmolality. No change was observed in cell viability as assessed by LDH activity studies. After contrast exposure, bare areas with no cells present were noted in the previously confluent EC and SMC culture wells. Cell structure was altered immediately after exposure to contrast, with normal structure recovered by 24 hours after exposure. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that brief exposure to contrast agents injures EC and SMC, altering their structure and decreasing proliferation for up to 7 days in vitro. This response is both dose and time dependent. EC are more severely affected by ionic contrast, and SMC are more severely affected by nonionic contrast. EC injury appears to be mediated by the osmolar effect of the contrast, but the effects of contrast on SMC seem to be due to a different mechanism.

Anterior cervical osteophytes: a rare cause of dysphagia.

Anterior cervical osteophyte is a rare cause of dysphagia usually occurring in the elderly. We report two cases in which the anterior cervical osteophytes impinged upon the esophagus, and we describe their surgical management. Initial investigation of a case of dysphagia should be directed to the common causes; however, in the elderly and in those with disorders of the cervical spine an anterior cervical osteophyte may be the cause of dysphagia.

Clostridium difficile colitis in the critically ill.

UNLABELLED: Morbidity and treatment of Clostridium difficile colitis (CDC) continue to be controversial. Some claim minimum morbidity, which may be a function of differences in patient population and/or bacterial virulence. METHODS: To evaluate the effect of CDC in the critically ill, we retrospectively reviewed the records of 59 intensive care unit patients with CDC who were diagnosed by fecal toxin assays or clinical evidence of pseudomembranous colitis from January 1991 to October 1994. Symptoms, signs, antibiotic regimens, diagnostic tests, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores, morbidity, and mortality were analyzed, and results of surgical treatment were compared with the literature. RESULTS: Mean age was 66.4 (17-95) years, with a male to female ratio of 1.8:1. First treatment was metronidazole by mouth in 15 patients (25.4 percent), vancomycin by mouth in 30 patients (50.8 percent), sequential by mouth vancomycin/metronidazole in 3 patients (5.1 percent), and intravenous metronidazole in 5 patients (8.5 percent). Six patients had no medical therapy before surgery or discharge. Ten patients (17 percent) had recurrence and 12 (20.3 percent) required surgery for progressive toxicity or peritonitis. Of three patients who were initially treated by diverting stomas, one died and two required total colectomy (TAC). Two underwent partial resection (1 that was nearly a total colectomy), and seven others had a TAC. Surgical patients had worse mean APACHE II scores at diagnosis (24.4 vs. 19.9; P < 0.001). Thirty-day mortality in surgical patients was 41.7 vs. 14.7 percent in medical patients (P < 0.5). CONCLUSION: Twenty percent of critically ill patients with CDC required operation. TAC and diversion appeared to be more effective surgical treatments than diversion alone.

Bifid blind-ending ureters.

There have been scattered cases of bifid blind-ending ureters reported in the literature. We report 2 cases of unilateral bifid blind-ending ureter, 1 of which was in a bilateral complete duplex system.

Muscle fibrillation following thiopentone and pancuronium bromide. An association with metachromatic leucodystrophy.

A case is reported of muscle 'gibrillation' following the administration of thiopentone and pancuronium to a patient suffering from metachromic leucodystrophy and possible mechanisms are discussed.