Immature teratoma of the nose and paranasal sinuses masquerading as bilateral nasal polyposis: a unique presentation.

Teratomas are tumors of multipotent cells derived from all three germ cell layers and recapitulate normal organogenesis. Teratomas are hypothesized to arise by misplacement of multipotent germ cells. Teratoma is usually developmental and sometimes congenital neoplasm which displays both solid and cystic components with gross and microscopic differentiation into a wide variety of tissues representative of all three germ layers--ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. We are describing a case which was initially diagnosed as bilateral nasal polyposis clinically but histopathology report came out to be immature teratoma. This case is being reported to make aware all ENT surgeons of such unique presentation of sinonasal teratomas as such presentation of these tumors has not been reported in literature previously, and hence teratomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of nasal polyposis in future.

Carbon nanotube reinforced polylactide-caprolactone copolymer: mechanical strengthening and interaction with human osteoblasts in vitro.

This study proposes the use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as reinforcement to enhance the mechanical properties of a polylactide-caprolactone copolymer (PLC) matrix. Biological interaction of PLC-CNT composites with human osteoblast cells is also investigated. Addition of 2 wt % CNT shows very uniform dispersion in the copolymer matrix, whereas 5 wt % CNT shows severe agglomeration and high porosity. PLC-2 wt % CNT composite shows an improvement in the mechanical properties with an increase in the elastic modulus by 100% and tensile strength by 160%, without any adverse effect on the ductility up to 240% elongation. An in vitro biocompatibility study on the composites shows an increase in the viability of human osteoblast cells compared to the PLC matrix, which is attributed to the combined effect of CNT content and surface roughness of the composite films.

Further studies on chemical evaluation of lauha bhasma iii.

Samples of marketed Lauha bhasma from different manufactures were evaluated chemically. Apart from the 81 -85% iron content, the 15-19% other constituents were determined therein. Ferrous ferric and total iron in a single aliquot were determined spectrophotometrically, Qualitative and chromatographic analysis indicate the presence of sodium, potassium, calcium copper and cobalt in the samples, silicious matter and traces of ascorbic acid were present while tannin was absent in Lauha bhasma . Quantitatively sodium and potassium were determined by flame spectrometry. Upon fractionation, water soluble and acid soluble contents were determined.