Hirayama's Disease - A Rare Case Report with Review of Literature.

INTRODUCTION: Hirayama's disease is a rare benign disorder, also referred to as monomelic amyotrophy (MMA), Juvenile non progressive amyotrophy, Sobue disease. It is a focal, lower motor neuron type of disease. Mainly young males in their second and third decades of age are most commonly affected. It is seen most commonly in Asian countries like India and Japan. In majority of people cause of this disease is unknown. MRI of cervical spine in flexion will reveal the cardinal features of Hirayama disease. CASE REPORT: A 22 year gentleman came with a history of insidious onset of weakness in both the hands begenning with left side followed by right of 4 years duration. On examination he had clawing of both hands with wasting of forearm muscles. Lower limbs had no abnormality with normal deep tendon reflexes. MRI showed thinning of cord from C4 to C7 level suggestive of cord atrophy. Based on these features a diagnosis of focal amyotrophy was made. A cervical collar was prescribed and patient is under regular follow up. CONCLUSION: Hirayama disease is a rare self-limiting disease. Early diagnosis is necessary as the use of a simple cervical collar which will prevent neck flexion, has been shown to stop the progression.

Genetic relationship of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) varieties from Senegal based on SSR markers.

Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships among 22 local cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) varieties and inbred lines collected throughout Senegal were evaluated using simple sequence repeat molecular markers. A set of 49 primer combinations were developed from cowpea genomic/expressed sequence tags and evaluated for their ability to detect polymorphisms among the various cowpea genotypes. Forty-four primer combinations detected polymorphisms, with the remaining five primer sets failing to yield PCR amplification products. From one to 16 alleles were found among the informative primer combinations; their frequencies ranged from 0.60 to 0.95 (mean = 0.79). The genetic diversity of the sample varied from 0.08 to 0.42 (mean = 0.28). The polymorphic information content ranged from 0.08 to 0.33 (mean = 0.23). The local varieties clustered in the same group, except 53-3, 58-53, and 58-57; while Ndoute yellow pods, Ndoute violet pods and Baye Ngagne were in the second group. The photosensitive varieties (Ndoute yellow pods and Ndoute violet pods) were closely clustered in the second group and so were inbred line Mouride and local cultivar 58-57, which is also one of the parents for inbred line Mouride. These molecular markers could be used for selection and identification of elite varieties for cowpea improvement and germplasm management in Senegal.

Simultaneous Bilateral Tibial Tubercle Avulsion Fracture in a case of Pre-Existing Osgood-Schlatter Disease (OSD).

INTRODUCTION: Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD) is a well known condition, characterized by pain over the tibial tubercle with subsequent tubercle prominence. Avulsion fracture following OSD is a rare complication. We report an unusual case of simultaneous bilateral tibial tubercle avulsion fracture in a 16 year old boy who was a known case of OSD. CASE PRESENTATION: A 16 year old boy a known case of OSD presented to the outpatient department with history of jumping from the school compound wall (two feet height) while playing, followed by severe pain around anterior aspect of both knees and difficulty in walking. Radiographs showed bilateral tibial tubercle avulsion fracture. He was treated successfully with open reduction and internal fixation with tension band wiring. At the end of 22 months the patient was symptomatically relieved and both the tuberosities were united with the main bone. CONCLUSION: Even though bilateral Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD) is a well known condition, one should always keep in mind the risk of tibial tubercle avulsion fractures while treating a case of OSD. Patient should be advised not to involve in strenuous activities till the disease subsides radiologically or till skeletal maturity.

Giant Cell Tumor (GCT) of Capitate.

INTRODUCTION: Giant cell tumors (GCT) of bone are not uncommon. The most common location for this tumour is distal femur, followed by proximal tibia and distal radius (the third most common location). GCT of small bone is a rare presentation. Occurrences in the hand, however, particularly in the carpal bones are rare. We report an unusual case of GCT of Capitate in a 20 year female patient. CASE PRESENTATION: A 20 year old female patient presented with history of pain in the left wrist of 6 months duration. She was diagnosed to be having GCT of Capitate which was successfully treated with curettage, phenol ablation and bone grafting. At the end of 1 year, patient was symptom free and near normal range of movements and with no evidence of recurrence. CONCLUSION: Giant cell tumors usually are solitary lesions. Occurrence in the hand, particularly in the carpal bones is rare. This case report emphasizes the rarity of the lesion with only few cases reported in literature.

An improved genetic linkage map for cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) combining AFLP, RFLP, RAPD, biochemical markers, and biological resistance traits.

An improved genetic linkage map has been constructed for cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) based on the segregation of various molecular markers and biological resistance traits in a population of 94 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the cross between 'IT84S-2049' and '524B'. A set of 242 molecular markers, mostly amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), linked to 17 biological resistance traits, resistance genes, and resistance gene analogs (RGAs) were scored for segregation within the parental and recombinant inbred lines. These data were used in conjunction with the 181 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), AFLP, and biochemical markers previously mapped to construct an integrated linkage map for cowpea. The new genetic map of cowpea consists of 11 linkage groups (LGs) spanning a total of 2670 cM, with an average distance of 6.43 cM between markers. Astonishingly, a large, contiguous portion of LG1 that had been undetected in previous mapping work was discovered. This region, spanning about 580 cM, is composed entirely of AFLP markers (54 in total). In addition to the construction of a new map, molecular markers associated with various biological resistance and (or) tolerance traits, resistance genes, and RGAs were also placed on the map, including markers for resistance to Striga gesnerioides races 1 and 3, CPMV, CPSMV, B1CMV, SBMV, Fusarium wilt, and root-knot nematodes. These markers will be useful for the development of tools for marker-assisted selection in cowpea breeding, as well as for subsequent map-based cloning of the various resistance genes.

Delusional parasitosis responding to risperidone.

Delusional parasitosis (DP) appears to be common in India. This condition is more prevalent in elderly people. Currently used treatment pimozide, a high potency antipsychotic, has disadvantage of extra-pyramidal symptoms & tardive dyskinesia in this age group. Hence there is a need to evaluate the use of high potency atypical antipsychotic risperidone in DP. This case report documents the efficacy of risperidone in DP.

NRSA-1: a resistance gene homolog expressed in roots of non-host plants following parasitism by Striga asiatica (witchweed).

Studies of the initial interactions of Striga asiatica with the non-host plant species Tagetes erecta (marigold) established that parasite penetration through the root is arrested most frequently in the cortex. The arrest of parasite ingress is associated with browning and necrosis of root cortical cells flanking the invading endophyte and with increased intracellular wall appositions on the root cell walls directly adjacent to the plant-parasite interface. Using a polymerase chain reaction-based differential cDNA amplification strategy followed by 5'-RACE, we have identified several gene products whose expression is induced in marigold roots during attempted parasitism by Striga. Among these was a 917 bp cDNA encoding a 221 amino acid protein with significant homology to proteins encoded by disease resistance genes from other plant species, including N, RPP5, L6 and M. This cDNA was subsequently used to isolate a nuclear gene, designated NRSA-1, for non-host resistance to Striga asiatica. NRSA-1 is a member of a small gene family in marigold consisting of two to four members. RNA gel blot analysis showed that NRSA-1 transcripts accumulate to high levels in roots near the site of Striga invasion within 120 h after parasite attachment, and appear at lower levels throughout the rest of the plant under Striga parasitism. NRSA-1 expression is rapidly induced by treatment with jasmonic acid (JA), but not by mechanical wounding, treatment with salicylic acid, paraquat or ABA. A possible role for NRSA-1 in the non-host resistance mechanism is discussed.