In silico investigation on sensing of tyramine by boron and silicon doped C60 fullerenes.

The present communication deals with the adsorption of tyramine neurotransmitter over the surface of pristine, Boron (B) and Silicon (Si) doped fullerenes. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been used to investigate tyramine adsorption on the surface of fullerenes in terms of stability, shape, work function, electronic characteristics, and density of state spectra. The most favourable adsorption configurations for tyramine have been computed to have adsorption energies of - 1.486, - 30.889, and - 31.166 kcal/mol, respectively whereas for the rest three configurations, it has been computed to be - 0.991, - 6.999, and - 8.796 kcal/mol, respectively. The band gaps for all six configurations are computed to be 2.68, 2.67, 2.06, 2.17, 2.07, and 2.14 eV, respectively. The band gap of pristine, B and Si doped fullerenes shows changes in their band gaps after adsorption of tyramine neurotransmitters. However, the change in band gaps reveals more in B doped fullerene rather than pristine and Si doped fullerenes. The change in band gaps of B and Si doped fullerenes leads a change in the electrical conductivity which helps to detect tyramine. Furthermore, natural bond orbital (NBO) computations demonstrated a net charge transfer of 0.006, 0.394, and 0.257e from tynamine to pristine, B and Si doped fullerenes.

Fish consumption is associated with a decreased risk of death among adults with diabetes: 18-year follow-up of a national cohort.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of studies examining the beneficial effects of fish consumption on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) among adults with diabetes, who experience a substantially high risk of CVDs. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed the data of 1136 adults with diabetes mellitus aged 18 years and older who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994, and were followed up through December 31, 2010. We used Cox regression to estimate the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for the relative risk across the levels of fish consumption. A total of 698 deaths were recorded at the end of 11,465 person-years follow-up with a mortality rate of 60.88 per 1000 person-years. CVDs were listed as a contributing cause for 326 deaths, thus accounting for 46.4% of total deaths. Stroke-specific mortality rate among patients who ate fish less than once a week was more than twice as high as that among patients who ate fish more than twice a week, 6.23 vs. 2.36 per 1000 person-years, respectively. The corresponding CVD-specific rate was 34.38 vs. 22.99 per 1000 person-years, respectively. The adjusted HRs of death due to stroke were 1.00 (reference), 0.55 (95% confidence interval = 0.28-1.07), and 0.30 (0.11-0.80) among patients who ate fish <1, 1-2, and 2 + times a week, and the corresponding HRs of death due to CVDs were 1.00 (reference), 0.78 (0.60-1.02), and 0.69 (0.50-0.96), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A high consumption of fish was associated with a low risk of death due to CVDs, especially stroke, among adults with diabetes.

Fungemia due to Trichosporon mucoides in a diabetes mellitus patient: a rare case report.

Trichosporon species are widely distributed in nature and can occasionally belong to the human microbiota. For many years, Trichosporon beigelii, the only species of this genus, was found as the aetiological agent of superficial skin infection called white piedra. However, many cases of invasive trichosporonosis caused by different newly delineated species of Trichosporon have been published in increasing numbers in recent past years, especially in immunocompromised persons. We report a rare case of fungemia due to Trichosporon mucoides in a diabetes mellitus patient, which will add to the emerging list of trichosporonosis infections.

Effect of cilostazol on platelet aggregation in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome.

AIMS: The optimal antithrombotic regimen for non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome(NSTEACS) has not yet been defined and the risk of ischemic events remains high in these patients. We aimed to evaluate the effect of cilostazol on agonist induced platelet aggregation and serum plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(PAI-1) in the patients with NSTEACS administered along with the standard antiplatelet regimen. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 40 patients of NSTEACS presenting within 72 h of onset of symptoms were randomized to cilostazol or placebo in 1 : 1 ratio, in whom a conservative treatment strategy was adopted. Cilostazol 100 mg b.i.d was administered within 12 h of hospital admission for 7 days along with standard doses of aspirin and clopidogrel. The primary end points were effect on agonist-induced platelet aggregation and serum PAI-1 levels after 7 days of treatment. Safety and clinical outcome assessment were also done at 7 and 30 days. RESULTS: Patients in the triple therapy group showed significant decrease in the ADP (25.5 +/- 27.4 vs. 5.6 +/- 8.4; p = 0.003) and collagen (24.9 +/- 25.5 vs. 11.7 +/- 11; p = 0.04) induced percentage platelet aggregation after 7 days of treatment compared to the dual therapy group. There was no significant change in levels of serum PAI-1 (50.30 +/- 10.17 ng/ml vs. 53.47 +/- 14.08 ng/ml; p = 0.42). The composite of recurrent ischemia, myocardial infarction, need for intervention and death occurred in 4 patients in the cilostazol group compared to 7 in the placebo group at the end of 30 days of follow-up (p = 0.48). CONCLUSION: Cilostazol has additional platelet aggregation inhibition action in patients with NSTEACS along with aspirin and clopidogrel.

Effective, simple treatment for perichondritis and pinna haematoma.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a new treatment for perichondritis and haematoma of the pinna. At present, the existing treatment for these conditions is initially medical (which usually fails), followed by surgery (incision, drainage and compression to prevent recurrence) with accompanying medical management. However, the result is often a failure, resulting in partial or complete 'cauliflower ear' deformity. PROCEDURE: The described treatment involves draining the site of infection and irrigating with streptomycin solution. The cavity is then filled with a solution of streptomycin, hyaluronidase and triamcinolone. RESULT: The described treatment avoids the conventional surgical procedure, which is cumbersome for surgeons and harrowingly painful for patients. CONCLUSION: The new treatment may be recommended for universal use.

Epidemiology of animal bites and rabies cases in India. A multicentric study.

Rabies, a disease of antiquity continues to be a major public health problem in India. Multiple factors contribute to high mortality and morbidity due to animal bites. An effective strategy for control of rabies takes into account the epidemiology of animal bites, rabies and factors influencing post exposure treatment. The study was carried out as a part of Agreement for Performance of Work (APW) from World Health Organization (WHO) during the period April 2001 to September 2002. Two sets of proformae were developed and used after field testing to interview cases of animal bites and get retrospective information about rabies cases. The study was carried out at six selected centres across the country viz. Delhi, Hyderabad, Raipur, Jamnagar, Coonoor and Rajahmundry and was co-ordinated by National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), Delhi. The officials engaged in the study work were thoroughly trained in the study methodology before the start of the study itself. To maintain quality and uniformity supervisory checks were done during the survey. A total of 1357 fresh animal bite victims were interviewed (exit interview) from the anti-rabies centres (ARCs). Dog bites caused maximum morbidity (92%). Second most common biting animal was monkey (3.2%), followed by cat (1.8%), fox (0.4%) etc. Most bites (64.3%) were unprovoked bites by stray (64.7%) animals. In this study 72.4% animal bite victims were males and 47.5% were children in age group of 2-18 years. 63% had Category III exposure as per the WHO classification. Before coming to ARCs 58.5% people had washed the wound with water/soap or water alone. Some of the bite victims (10.8%) had also applied chillies, salt, turmeric powder, lime, snuff powder, paste of leaves, acid, ash given by Peer Baba (magician) etc. These practices varied from one region to another. The practice of wound washing at the ARC which is an important component of animal bite management was being practiced at only one of the six centres. Of the six centres, Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) was available and was being used at only two centres. The study was conducted in public sector ARCs where Nervous Tissue Vaccine (NTV) was available free of cost. All the centres were using NTV except Coonoor, which is using indigenously produced Tissue Culture Vaccine along with NTV. Analysis of 192 case records of rabies cases, from two centres, revealed that dog bites caused maximum mortality (96.9%). Nearly 40% were children below 15 years of age and 78.6% were males indicating that it is an exposure related disease. In all cases, failure to seek timely and appropriate treatment led to development of disease. This paper provides an overview of epidemiology of animal bites and retrospective information about rabies patients. There is a need to strengthen Information, Education and Communication (IEC) programme regarding merits of local wound management including "do's and don'ts". ARCs should be strengthened in terms of facilities and availability of safe and effective anti rabies immunobiologicals. There is a need to create awareness regarding epidemiology and at-home and hospital management of animal bites among the service providers and general community.

Evaluation of ketamine, nimodipine, gabapentin and imipramine in partial sciatic nerve transection model of neuropathic pain in rat: an experimental study.

The aim of this research is to study the effects of nimodipine, gabapentin, ketamine and imipramine in the partial sciatic nerve transection (PST) model of neuropathic pain in rats. PST was produced in young Wistar rats of either sex by partial destruction of the sciatic nerve. A decrease in the latency to paw withdrawal reaction on the hot plate was considered as development of neuropathy. The drugs were given daily from the third day of the procedure, and evaluation was done on days 7, 14, 21 and 28. There was a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the paw withdrawal response in the nimodipine group from day 14 onward when compared with the control group. In the ketamine and imipramine group, this response was seen from day 21 onward. The effect persisted till the end of the study. There was no improvement in the gabapentin group. The results of our study show that nimodipine (dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker), ketamine (NMDA antagonist) and imipramine (tricyclic antidepressant) modulated hyperalgesia and allodynia in the PST model of neuropathy. Gabapentin (an alpha-2 delta calcium subunit blocker) did not show any effect in this model of neuropathy. The widespread use of gabapentin in various types of neuropathic pain thus needs to be reevaluated.

A meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of statins in children with familial hypercholesterolemia.

This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effect of statins on the lipid profile in pediatric and adolescent patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Randomized, double-blind, controlled trials comparing statins with placebo were identified through electronic and manual search; percent reductions from baseline were calculated for various lipid parameters. Standardized mean differences (effect size) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for each study and pooled effect size was calculated. A total of 6 studies were included in the meta-analysis. As compared to placebo, statins caused a significant decrease in total cholesterol (TC) [-3.11% (95% CI -3.46 to -2.99)], low-density lipoprotein (LDL) [-4.01% (95% CI -4.27 to -3.81)], triglyceride (TG) [-1.41 (95% CI -1.66 to -1.26)] and a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) [1.12 (95% CI 0.73 1.13)]. In conclusion, statins were shown to have good efficacy for the treatment of FH in children.

Interesting observations on Primary Atrophic Rhinitis.

Primary Atrophic Rhinitis (PAR) which has baffled the physicians of the past and the present ENT surgeons, till now, is found to have strong clinical evidence to suggest it to be of Hanseniatic origin. A rational review of literature, elicitation of the cardinal signs of leprosy - in its indeterminate paucibacillary form, and the similarity of the symptomatology between these two diseases corroborate this view. This is further sustained by observing it cured with antileprotic drugs which brings a new hope for these patients. It also unfolds a new horizon on further research on this disease.