Electrophysiological and histological changes in extrinsic muscles proximal to post burn contractures of hand.

Burn scar hand contractures of variable degree are frequently encountered. Although the forearm is apparently spared, it was clinically observed that there was disuse atrophy in the unburnt extrinsic forearm muscles. Usually the clinicians do not give much importance to this fact. The girth at the midforearm was significantly reduced as compared to normal side. The flexion of the hand joints are governed by two components (a) intrinsic and (b) extrinsic muscles. The intrinsic muscles are directly involved in the contracted tissue. Therefore it was thought essential to evaluate the extrinsic group of muscles for their contribution in the final functional recovery following corrective surgery. Thirty patients having unilateral post thermal burn contracture sparing forearm were studied. A detailed clinical evaluation was made including grade of contracture and reduction in the forearm girth. The forearm unburnt muscles were evaluated by preoperative electrophysiological studies. Intraoperative biopsies were taken from these muscles for histopathological examination. On histopathological examination, there were significant abnormal changes in the form of muscle fiber atrophy, fibrolipomatous tissue replacement of atrophic muscle fibers and sarcolemmal changes. These changes were directly proportional to the severity of contractures. The electrophysiological studies showed proportionate changes in the form of reduction in amplitude, duration and interference. This study suggests that if these changes are mild and in reversible stage, they will favourably affect the functional recovery following surgery. However if these changes are of severe grade and irreversible, in spite of adequate surgery, splinting and physiotherapy, the functional recovery may not be complete.

Role of grommet in otitis media with effusion: A necessity or nuisance? A comparative study.

Otitis media with effusion is one of the commonest otological problems in paediatric age group. The condition occurs in childhood as overt or covert hearing loss presenting as an educational or behavioural problem. As there is widespread controversy regarding its precise aetiology, natural history and pathogenesis a treatment dilemma still persists. The main goal of this study is to compare the efficacy of different modalities of medical and surgical treatment designed for this condition and analysis of the results statistical.

Effect of casein diet on gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonist induced changes in adrenal gonadal functions in male rats.

Adult male rats received daily injections (sc) of gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonist (0.2 mg/kg(-1) x day(-1)) for 21 days when they were sacrificed on day 22, adrenal weight, adrenal A5-3beta (delta 5-3beta) hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Delta5-3beta-HSD) activity and serum level of corticosterone were increased significantly while testicular 17beta (17beta) hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD) activity and serum level of testosterone and spermatogenesis were decreased in the rats fed on 5% casein diet. GnRH antagonist treated rats fed on 20% casein diet, resulted significant decrease in adrenal weight, serum corticosterone and adrenal A5-3beta-HSD activity while testicular 17beta-HSD activity serum testosterone levels and the weights of sex organs were increased with respect to anti GnRH treated rats fed on 5% casein diet. But the GnRH antagonist treated rats fed on 20% casein diet showed decreased spermatogenesis quantitatively and sperm count appeared similar to anti GnRH treated rats fed on 5% casein diet. These results indicate that high casein diet protects adrenocortical activity and stimulates testosterone synthesis without effecting spermatogenic arrest in GnRH antagonist treated rats. It may be concluded that GnRH antagonist in presence of high milk protein diet may be considered to be a suitable antihormone in the development of an ideal male contraceptive.

Influence of adrenal cortex on testicular activity in the toad during the breeding season.

The aim of the present study was to determine the role of adrenals in gonadal activity in the male toad during the breeding season. Exogenous administration of corticosterone or metapyrone for 6 days inhibited adrenal delta5-3beta(delta 5-3 beta) hydroxysteroid (delta5-3beta-HSD) and testicular 17beta (17 beta) hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD) activities, decreased the serum levels of testosterone and inhibited spermatogenesis. When toads were treated with corticosterone a significant rise of serum corticosterone was noted while metapyrone treatment appeared to decrease serum corticosterone levels. It is concluded that adrenocortical hormone plays an indirect role in testicular activity in toads during the breeding season.