Mast cell in leprosy.

Mast cell distribution in the affected skin and in the apparently normal skin at least 10 cm away from the lesion was studied in 250 leprosy patients. These cells were found and were more numerous in the apparently normal skin of established cases of leprosy as well amongst indeterminate group. Absence of mast cells was conspicuous in 16.7% LL, 41.7% BB, 40.9% BT, and 68.0% TT lesions. It is suggested that mast cells might play a role in the early stages of the disease and in postreactional connective tissue proliferation.

Variations in the shape of foramen magnum in Indian skulls.

200 skulls from anthropology museum of GSVM Medical College, Kanpur, U.P., India, were studied to note the variations in the shape of foramen magnum. Foramen magnum was found to be variable in shape: Shapes noted were oval (64%), hexagonal (24.5%), pentagonal (7.5%), irregular (3.5%) and round (0.5%). The findings are hitherto not reported.

Vaginal cytology in women using oral contraceptives.

The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of a known synthetic steroid on vaginal epithelium as a diagnostic and prognostic tool. Biweekly vaginal smears from 10 multiparous, normally menstruating Indian females ages 21-40 were studied for 3 consecutive cycles, during which time they received Voldy's 21 oral contraceptive which contained both estrogen and progesterone. 7 of these cases acted as controls for themselves since their daily smears had been studied prior to the medication. In general, all smears had present a large number of leukocytes and Doderlein bacilli. There was a loss of cyclic pattern normally seen by midzonal maturation index, low karyopyknotic index, and the appearance of navicular cells with marked curling and folding of cells. The appearance of occasional cells having larger than a 5 micron-sized nucleus during the 2nd and 3rd cycles of medication may be suggestive of some significant effect with regard to the prolonged use of this oral contraceptive.

Effect of melatonin on glucose tolerance and blood glucose circadian rhythm in rabbits.

Experimental studies on pinealectomized animals and in vitro studies using pancreatic tissue, have indicated that the pineal gland has a suppressive effect on the pancreatic B cells which secrete insulin. In this study, melatonin, was injected into rabbits and a statistically significant decrease in glucose tolerance was noted. The effect of melatonin in influencing the circadian rhythm of blood glucose was also studied in rabbits. Results showed that melatonin influences the circadian rhythm leading to a shift in the occurrence of minimum levels from 16.00 hr to 04.00 hr (next day) during fasting and from 16.00 hr to 20.00 hr during feeding. Also melatonin treatment lead to a statistically significant rise in blood glucose levels. It is probable that melatonin administration reduces glucose tolerance and influences the blood glucose circadian rhythm mainly through its effects on insulin release by pancreatic B cells.

Acid mucopolysaccharides in leprosy lesions.

Uniform accumulation of acid mucopolysaccharides in all types of leprosy lesions was seen, except late tuberculoid lesions which showed the accumulation only at the periphery. Absence of acid mucopolysaccharides was significant in well formed epithelioid granulomas and in giant cells of late tuberculoid cases. Generally a progressive decrease with advancing chronicity of the disease was noted. The dermal zone without any cellular infiltrate showed abundant acid mucopolysaccharides in comparison to those areas having inflammatory cell infiltrate in 70.83% of LL, 42.86% of BL, 33.3% of BB, 40.0% of BT, and 13.51% of TT cases. In Indeterminate cases the distribution was same to that of control cases. Testicular hyaluronidase digestion established that hyaluronic acid constituted the main bulk of acid mucopolysaccharides. The possible source of hyaluronic acid is discussed.

A histochemical study of human fetal skin.

Glycogen and alkaline phosphatase have been studied in human fetal epidermis between the 28th and 182nd days of gestation. Early on, bladder cells rich in glycogen and alkaline phosphatase are present in the periderm. After 140 days, however, keratin appears in the superficial layers of the periderm; the bladder cells degenerate and become 'rosette' cells, and glycogen and alkaline phosphatase begin to disappear. It is suggested from this evidence that, in early fetal life, before the onset of keratinization, glucose is absorbed from the amniotic fluid and stored as glycogen in the periderm.