Regional odontodysplasia.

Regional odontodysplasia (ROD) is a rare developmental anomaly involving both mesodermal and ectodermal components in a group of contiguous teeth. It affects the primary and permanent dentitions in the maxilla and the mandible or both, however, the maxilla is frequently involved. Although the etiology of the ROD is uncertain, it has been suggested that numerous other factors play a role. The treatment plan should be based on the degree of involvement as well as the functional and esthetic needs in each case. This article reports the case of a 5-year-old boy presenting a rare anomaly on the right side of the maxillary arch. The treatment performed was rehabilitation with temporary partial acrylic denture and periodic checkups. The extraction was followed by rehabilitation with dental implants. The main aim of this article is to provide valuable information to pediatric dentists about the review and treatment alternatives for ROD.

Maternal footprints of Southeast Asians in North India.

We have analyzed 7,137 samples from 125 different caste, tribal and religious groups of India and 99 samples from three populations of Nepal for the length variation in the COII/tRNA(Lys) region of mtDNA. Samples showing length variation were subjected to detailed phylogenetic analysis based on HVS-I and informative coding region sequence variation. The overall frequencies of the 9-bp deletion and insertion variants in South Asia were 1.9 and 0.6%, respectively. We have also defined a novel deep-rooting haplogroup M43 and identified the rare haplogroup H14 in Indian populations carrying the 9-bp deletion by complete mtDNA sequencing. Moreover, we redefined haplogroup M6 and dissected it into two well-defined subclades. The presence of haplogroups F1 and B5a in Uttar Pradesh suggests minor maternal contribution from Southeast Asia to Northern India. The occurrence of haplogroup F1 in the Nepalese sample implies that Nepal might have served as a bridge for the flow of eastern lineages to India. The presence of R6 in the Nepalese, on the other hand, suggests that the gene flow between India and Nepal has been reciprocal.

Data of 10 SSR markers for genomes of homo sapiens and monkeys.

In this data, we present 10 Simple Sequence Repeat(SSR) markers TAGA, TCAT, GAAT, AGAT, AGAA, GATA, TATC, CTTT, TCTG and TCTA which are extracted from the genomes of homo sapiens and monkeys using string matching mechanism [1]. All loci showed 4 Base Pair(bp) in allele size, indicating that there are some polymorphisms between individuals correlating to the number of SSR repeats that maybe useful for the detection of similarity among the genotypes. Collectively, these data show that the SSR extraction is a valuable method to illustrate genetic variation of genomes.

Prolymphocytic leukemia. Response to asparaginase.

A 69-year-old woman previously diagnosed as having chronic lymphocytic leukemia had a lymphocyte count of 1,500 X 10(9)/L develop. Bone marrow and peripheral blood lymphocyte morphology and lymphocyte surface markers were consistent with the diagnosis of prolymphocytic leukemia of the null cell type. The leukemia was resistant to management with alkylating agents, combination chemotherapy including doxorubicin hydrochloride, or leukapheresis. The addition of asparaginase to the previously ineffective prednisone and vincristine sulfate therapy produced a dramatic response during a two-week period with a decrease in the peripheral lymphocyte count from 980 X 10(9) to 20 X 10(9)/L and a return toward normal of the concentration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Previously, there has been only infrequent or transient benefit from treatment provided these patients from regimens including chemotherapy, splenectomy, irradiation, and leukopheresis. It is suggested that asparaginase be considered as initial induction therapy for this disease process.

Intensified tuberculosis case finding amongst vulnerable communities in southern India.

India mainly uses passive case finding to detect tuberculosis (TB) patients through the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP). An intensified case finding (ICF) intervention was conducted among vulnerable communities in two districts of Karnataka during July-December 2013; 658 sputum smear-positive TB cases were detected. The number of smear-positive cases detected increased by 8.8% relative to the pre-intervention period (July-December 2012) in intervention communities as compared to an 8.6% decrease in communities without the ICF intervention. ICF activities brought TB services closer to vulnerable communities, moderately increasing TB case detection rates.

L'Inde recourt en majorité à la détection passive des cas de patients avec la tuberculose (TB) à travers le Programme national révisé de Lutte contre la Tuberculose. Une intervention de recherche intensifiée de cas (ICF) a été réalisée au sein de communautés vulnérables dans deux districts de Karnataka entre juillet et décembre 2013 ; 658 cas de TB à frottis positif ont été détectés. Le nombre de cas à frottis positif a augmenté de 8,8% par comparaison à la période précédant l'intervention (juillet­décembre 2012) dans les communautés bénéficiaires comparées aux 8,6% de diminution dans les communautés témoins. Des activités de recherche de cas intensifiées ont amené les services de TB plus près des communautés vulnérables, ce qui a accru modérément le taux de détection des cas de TB.

En la India se da preferencia a la estrategia de búsqueda pasiva con el fin de detectar los casos de tuberculosis (TB) en el marco del Programa Nacional Revisado. Se llevó a cabo una intervención de búsqueda intensificada de casos en las comunidades vulnerables de dos distritos de Karnataka de julio a diciembre del 2013 y se detectaron 658 casos de TB con baciloscopia positiva. El número de casos con baciloscopia positiva aumentó un 8,8% con respecto al período anterior a la intervención (de julio a diciembre del 2012) en las comunidades de la intervención, en comparación con una disminución de 8,6% en las comunidades que no recibieron la intervención. Las actividades de intensificación de la búsqueda de casos llevaron los servicios de atención de la TB a las comunidades vulnerables y aumentaron de manera moderada las tasas de detección de la enfermedad.

Inhibition of 20-HETE production contributes to the vascular responses to nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide (NO) inhibits a variety of heme-containing enzymes, including NO synthase and cytochrome P4501A1 and 2B1. The present study examined whether NO inhibits the production of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) by cytochrome P4504A enzymes and whether blockade of the production of this substance contributes to the vascular effects of NO. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 10(-5), 10(-4), and 10(-3) mol/L) reduced the production of 20-HETE by renal microsomes incubated with arachidonic acid to 71 +/- 5%, 29 +/- 4%, and 4 +/- 2% of control, respectively (n = 5). Similar results were obtained with the use of 1-propanamine, 3-(2-hydroxy-2-nitroso-1-propylhydrazino) (n = 3). To determine whether inhibition of 20-HETE contributes to the vasodilatory effects of NO, the effects of dibromo-dodecenyl-methylsulfimide (DDMS), a selective inhibitor of the formation of 20-HETE, on the response to SNP (10(-7) to 10(-3) mol/L) were examined in rat renal arterioles preconstricted with phenylephrine (n = 5). SNP increased vascular diameter in a concentration-dependent manner to 82 +/- 4% of control. After DDMS (25 mumol/L), SNP (10(-3) mol/L) increased vascular diameter by only 17 +/- 3%. The effects of DDMS on the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and renal blood flow (RBF) responses to infusion of an NO donor and a synthase inhibitor were also examined in thiobutabarbital-anesthetized, Sprague-Dawley rats. Infusion of MAHMA NONOate at 1, 3, 5, and 10 nmol/min reduced MAP by 16 +/- 2, 30 +/- 3, 40 +/- 5, and 48 +/- 5 mm Hg and lowered renal vascular resistance (RVR) by 15 +/- 3%, 26 +/- 2%, 30 +/- 3%, and 34 +/- 4% of control. After DDMS (10 mg/kg, n = 7 rats), the MAP and RVR responses to 1-hexamine, 6-(2-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-nitrohydrazino)N-methyl (MAHMA NONOate) averaged only 20% of those seen during control. In other experiments, MAP increased by 32 +/- 4% and RBF fell to 56 +/- 5% of control after administration of N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NArg) (10 mg/kg IV). After DDMS (10 mg/kg, n = 7 rats), MAP increased by only 19 +/- 4% and RBF fell by only 7 +/- 4% after L-NArg. These results indicate that NO inhibits cytochrome P4504A enzymes and that inhibition of the production of 20-HETE contributes to the vasodilatory effects of NO.

Diphospho-myo-inositol phosphates in Dictyostelium and Polysphondylium: identification of a new bisdiphospho-myo-inositol tetrakisphosphate.

The two major diphospho inositol phosphates from the axenic strain Dictyostelium discoideum AX2 were previously investigated and identified as 6-PP-InsP5 and 5,6-bis-PP-InsP4. In order to examine whether these findings are representative of Dictyostelids in general, five non-axenic wild-type species of Dictyostelium and two of Polysphondylium were studied. It was found that all of the Dictyostelium species exhibit similar patterns of diphospho inositol phosphates. By contrast, both of the Polysphondylium species contain 5-PP-InsP5 as the predominant isomer. Besides 5,6-bis-PP-InsP4, a new bis-PP-InsP4 was detected in Polysphondylium. This compound is either 1,5-bis-PP-InsP4 or its corresponding enantiomer 3,5-bis-PP-InsP5. The structures were elucidated by two-dimensional 1H-1H and 1H-31P NMR analysis. Additionally, they were confirmed using a specific 6-PP-InsP(5)-5-kinase from D. discoideum AX2 as an enantio-specific tool and enantiomerically pure reference standards.

Wortmannin and LY294002 inhibit the insulin-induced down-regulation of IRS-1 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

The insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) is expressed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and is involved in at least some insulin responses, notably mitogenesis. Chronic exposure to insulin down regulates IRS-1 in these cells by stimulating its degradation (Rice, K.M., Turnbow, M.A. and Garner, C.W. (1993) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 190, 961-967). This insulin response was completely inhibited by wortmannin and LY294002 (2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one), two inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase). Neither wortmannin nor LY294002 had any effect on the calcium-dependent degradation of IRS-1 in vitro nor did they inhibit the phosphorylation of IRS-1 in vitro. In addition, neomycin, a cationic aminoglycoside antibiotic that binds to phosphoinositides, inhibited the insulin-induced down-regulation of IRS-1 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and, also, the C8-PIP3-stimulated degradation of IRS-1 in vitro. These results suggest that PI 3-kinase and its 3-phosphoinositide products mediate the insulin-induced down-regulation of IRS-1 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Ultrastructure of the human posttraumatic syrinx.

Although posttraumatic syringomyelia is a well-established clinicopathological entity, there is a paucity of information on the ultrastructural features of this condition. This study documents the light and electron microscopic features of posttraumatic syringes obtained from two patients who underwent surgical cordectomy. The syringes were lined largely by cell processes of astrocytes. Small regions near the caudal end were lined by flattened ependymal cells that lacked surface specializations. These were thought to represent remnants of the central canal ependyma. The ultrastructural appearance of the syrinx was similar to that of the communicating syringomyelia as well as the periventricular changes that accompany hydrocephalus. The authors conclude that the changes represent the nonspecific sequelae of a distensile force within the syrinx cavity.

Pitfalls of bungee jumping. Case report and review of the literature.

A case of cervical spine injury related to bungee jumping is presented. Surgical intervention resulted in resolution of the patient's quadriparesis. The incidence of serious injury connected with this pastime is not inconsiderable, and it is recommended that safer jumping practices be followed. Inspection of bungee equipment and certification of instructors is now voluntary but should be mandated. Jumping heights should be limited and the use of air cushions encouraged.

Lipid profiles among fish-consuming coastal and non-fish-consuming inland populations.

Serum lipid profiles were examined in 100 individuals of fish-consuming coastal and 109 individuals of non-fish-consuming inland populations. The fish-consuming population showed lower mean serum cholesterol, triacylglycerols and significantly higher levels of HDL cholesterol and phospholipids. The bleeding time and clotting time were significantly prolonged in the fish-eating population. Thus the fish-consuming population showed lower risk factors of coronary heart disease when compared to the non-fish-consuming population.

Alkaptonuric ochronosis and multiple intracranial aneurysms.

Alkaptonuric ochronosis is a heritable disorder of tyrosine metabolism, with various systemic abnormalities related to pigment deposition and degeneration of collagen and other tissues, including the heart and aorta, though no cerebrovascular abnormalities have been reported. The authors report a patient with alkaptonuric ochronosis and multiple intracranial aneurysms presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage. The ruptured aneurysm was surgically treated, with a satisfactory outcome. In view of the well-known association of other connective tissue disorders with intracranial aneurysms, a potentially causal relationship is suggested between cerebral aneurysms and alkaptonuric ochronosis.

Fatal embolization of ball portion of Starr-Edwards aortic valve prosthesis.

We report an unusual case of a Starr-Edwards aortic valve malfunction with fatal dislodgment and embolization of its ball portion to the distal abdominal aorta, just above the bifurcation, leading to sudden death. This case is unusual in that it is, to date, the longest time elapsed between valve placement and ball dislodgment.

Antioxidants, lipid peroxidation and lipoproteins in primary hypertension.

The antioxidants and lipid peroxidation products are being extensively studied because of their potential importance and pathogenetic role in several non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular diseases and cancer, but the data on hypertension is scanty. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the levels of lipid peroxidation and antioxidants besides dislipidemia changes among 32 newly diagnosed male hypertensives by comparing them with an equal sample of normotensives. Significant increase in serum lipid peroxide levels and decrease in antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase and vitamins E and A were observed among hypertensives than the controls. Hypertensives had higher total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, body mass index and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than normotensives. The percentage prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and obesity was higher in study subjects. Obese hypertensives had significantly higher levels of lipid peroxides and lipids with no change in antioxidant status than normal-weight hypertensives. Our results suggest that hypertensive patients may have elevated lipid peroxidation, lipids and reduced protection from antioxidants, which may contribute to the propensity in such patients to develop cardiovascular diseases, and to correct this, antioxidant supplementation besides weight reduction may be helpful to reduce the severity of burden.

Serum lipid peroxides and lipids in urban and rural Indian men.

Serum lipid peroxides, lipids, blood pressure, body mass index, and dietary intake in 190 urban men were compared with 190 age-matched rural men. Significantly higher levels of lipid peroxides, serum cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides were seen in urban men, compared with rural men. In rural men, serum lipid peroxides were related negatively to age; the same was observed in the 70 + y age group in the urban population. All the lipid constituents were related positively to age in both populations. There were statistically significant correlations between lipid peroxides and serum cholesterol and triglycerides in the urban men. The marked elevation of lipid peroxides and lipids in urban men may be the result of urbanization, including exposure to environmental pollutants.

Serum vitamins E, A and lipid peroxidation levels in Kurichias, an Indian tribal population.

Serum vitamins E, A, lipid peroxides, prevalence of dislipidemia, hypertension, obesity and smoking habits were assessed in a volunteer sample of 310 (175 males + 135 females) Kurichias, a tribal population of Kerala, India, who are enjoying longevity relatively free from age associated chronic problems. The mean serum levels of vitamins E and A were higher and lipid peroxides were lower with comparable ages of Indian and Western studies. The prevalence (age standardized to the world population of Segi 95% CI) was obesity 2.87 (1.22-4.53), central obesity 3.71 (2.27-5.15), hypertension 2.70 (1.92-3.48), hypercholesterolemia 0.71 (0.66-0.76), hypertriglyceridemia 2.60 (1.18-4.02) and low high density lipoprotein cholesterol 1.24 (1.07-1.42). Significant negative correlation was observed between vitamins and lipid peroxides. Serum cholesterol and triglycerides showed significant positive correlation with antioxidant vitamins and lipid peroxides. Blood pressure found positive correlation with lipid peroxides and no correlation with vitamins except systolic blood pressure having negative relation with vitamin A. Age showed negative correlation with vitamins and positive correlation with lipid peroxides, whereas lipid peroxides showed positive correlation with obesity only. In multivariate regression analysis serum cholesterol and old age groups were significant predictors of serum antioxidant vitamins and lipid peroxides. The higher levels of antioxidant vitamins, lower levels of lipid peroxides as well as low prevalence of CHD risk factors in Kurichias when compared to other populations suggest that antioxidants or increased intake of foods rich in antioxidants play a key role in their health and longevity.

Changes in antioxidant enzyme levels and DNA damage during aging.

Multiple mechanisms underlie the human aging process, but interest continues in the role that free radicals and antioxidants may play. The concentrations of lymphocyte free radical generation (O(2) (-)& H(2)O(2)), DNA damage and antioxidant enzyme levels (glutathione Stransferase, superoxide dismutase and catalase) were evaluated in 110 healthy individuals with an age range of 20-80 years. The antioxidant enzyme levels were significantly less in very old age when compared to young. Moreover, the levels of free radical concentration and DNA damage were increased in the same age group with respect to younger group. Cigarette smoking had a positive relation with free radicals and DNA damage, and inverse relation with antioxidants. On the other hand, body mass was found to have positive relation with free radical generation only. The data indicate that depletion of antioxidant enzyme levels would render the older people more susceptible to free radical stress and DNA damage.

Free radical generation and lipid peroxidation among the dry cell industry workers exposed to carbon.

A total of 75 healthy male dry cell industry workers exposed to carbon for 5, 8 and 10 years were compared with 48 controls matched for age and economic status with respect to free radical generation, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant levels. Lymphocytes were seperated from the whole blood and used for estimation of free radicals and antioxidants. Plasma lipid peroxidation products were estimated in the form of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Significant increase in free radical generation and lipid peroxidation products were observed in carbon exposed population than controls, and the increase was found to be significant with increase in the period of exposure. The levels of antioxidants i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were found to decrease with the increase in exposure to carbon in industrial workers. These results suggest that exposure to carbon augments free radical generation, lipid peroxidation and promotes decline in antioxidant enzymes.