Disseminated cryptococcal infection in immune competent patients.

Cryptococcal meningeal or cerebral infection has become an increasing global problem.(1) In this respect there are many anacedotal Indian case reports.(2) More than 50% of CNS infections occur in immunosuppressed patients and other debilitating conditions. Neurological form of cryptococcosis in immunocompetant patients needs to be considered in situations with intractable headache, papilloedema, hydrocephalus and prior to decisions on shunt placements.(3) We report on two such immunocompetent patients who presented with CNS involvement. Their clinical features and outcome is discussed.

Regeneration following orthotopic transplantation of entire plantaris muscle in Sprague Dawley rats.

Regeneration of rat plantaris muscle has been studied without predeneration. The original muscle fibres were completely degenerated within one week, but were completely regenerated at the end of experiment. The weight of regenerate showed 51% recovery. The breadth, length and total area of muscle and number of muscle fibres was less by 42, 37, 26 and 29% respectively, compared to control muscle at the end of experiment. The diameter of regenerated fibres was almost normalized at the end of experiment. The number and diameter of nuclei in the regenerate was more than that of control which coincides with the increase in DNA and RNA contents. The protein contents after an initial loss started increasing and continued to do so till the end of the experiment. The better regeneration of the plantaris muscle seems to be due to the presence of supporting gastrocnemius muscle.

Effect of exercise on transplanted extensor digitorum longus muscle in Sprague Dawley rats.

Effect of exercise has been studied on intact and transplanted extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle in rats. Majority of muscle fibres hypertrophied and a few showed hyperplasia in intact and transplanted EDL muscle after exercise. The weight, dimensions and diameter of muscle fibres increased, while total muscle area, number of muscle fibres and the number and diameter of nuclei decreased after exercise in all the experimental groups. The DNA, RNA and protein contents were however increased after exercise.

Effect of silica treatment on histopathology of intestinal & hepatic amoebiasis in murine model.

Histopathological changes in intestinal and hepatic amoebiasis were studied in Swiss albine mice with and without silica pretreatment. The intestinal infection rate was higher in silica treated mice (83%) as compared to non-silica treated mice (33%). Histologically all the silica treated mice had caecal ulceration which tended to spread across the muscularis propria into the serosal layer. The hepatic lesions were observed grossly in 100 and 60 per cent mice with and without silica treatment, respectively. However, the liver lesions in the silica treated mice were more severe, leading to satellite abscesses and in some cases the capsule ruptured leading to adhesions to the diaphragm and peritoneum. Histologically, the blockade of histiocytes with silica resulted in mainly a neutrophilic damage which was extensive and widespread. It also destroyed the amoeba and led to abundant fibrosis. In the non-silica group the damage was slow and devoid of neutrophils with quicker healing and lack of fibrosis resembling human hepatic lesions.