Protective effect of eucalyptus globulus extract on glufosinate ammonium -induced hepatotoxicity in wistar rats

The present study aims to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of Eucalyptus globulus extract against pesticide liver damage in comparison to silymarin, a classical antioxidant liver medicine. Liver damage was induced by oral administration of toxicant i.e. Glufosinate ammonium. The extent of damage was studied by assessing biochemical parameters and histopathological evaluations. The aqueous extracts of Eucalyptus globulus were administered respectively to the animals pretreated with pesticide and its effects on biochemical parameters were compared with standard drug silymarin (100mg/kg b.wt). Eucalyptus globules showed significant reduction of serum enzymes AST, ALT, ALP & Bilirubin (Aspartate Transminase, Alanine Transminase, Alkaline Phosphatase & Total bilirubin) when compared to control counterparts. The hepatoprotective effect of Eucalyptus globules was comparable with the standard drug silymarin and it was confirmed by histopathological findings. Moreover, these effects presented in a dose-dependent manner.The present study showed that aqueous extract of Eucalyptus globulus at the dosage level of 500 mg/kgb.wt may play a protective role against pesticideinduced hepatotoxicity

Evaluation of trisodium phosphate as a transport medium and its utility in a single-step decontamination technique for the culture of M. tuberculosis.

Background Sputum specimens were received from various out-patient departments of a tertiary care referral hospital to acid-fast staining and mycobacterial culture. Material & Methods A simple, one-step decontamination and concentration method was adopted before subjecting the samples to acid-fast staining and mycobacterial culture. Trisodium phosphate, a cheap, “soft” decontaminant-cum-liquefying agent was used to treat the sputum specimens before Ziehl-Neelsen’s (ZN) acid-fast staining and Lowenstein-Jensen’s (LJ) medium culture. The sputum samples were collected directly into trisodium phosphate containing screw capped McCartney bottles (Day-0). The bottles were vortexed and left overnight at room temperature. On the subsequent morning (Day-1), the supernatants were discarded and smears made from deposits were stained by ZN stain. Results A total of 30 consecutive samples, which showed smear positivity by ZN technique, were selected for the present study. Deposits from these smear positive cases were cultured onto duplicate slants of LJ medium and incubated at 370C (Day-1). Duplicate slants of LJ media were inoculated from each of these preserved deposits on 2nd, 3rd , 4th, 6th and 8th days. Culture bottles were incubated at 370C for 8 weeks and positive growths were recorded. Culture retrieval was possible from 29 (96.7%) samples from deposits of Day –1 to Day-3. The culture positivity , however, had dropped to 26 (86.7%),18 (60%) and 6 (20%) from deposits of Day-4, Day-6 and Day-8, respectively. All the isolates were identified as M. tuberculosis and there was minimal contamination (0.83%). The culture retrieval dropped significantly only after Day-3. Conclusion This method is, therefore, suitable for transportation, preservation and decontamination of sputum samples before staining and culture, up to 3 days after collection. This will be helpful especially for collection of sputum samples from distant places and their transportation to nearest mycobacteriology laboratory as also for sputum samples arriving late in a working day’s schedule.

Mediastinal cavernous haemangioma.

A 44-year-old man presented with palpable right supraclavicular swelling having no symptoms pertaining to respiratory tract. A routine chest radiograph showed an anterior mediastinal mass. Computerised tomographic scan (CT-scan) of chest showed an enhancing and homogeneous mass in anterior mediastinal space with few tiny calcific specks within the mass. Biopsy of cervical swelling showed cavernous haemangioma with chronic non-specific lymphadenitis. A sternotomy was undertaken and an encapsulated 9x7.5x5 cm, dark purplish mass was seen in anteior mediastinum adherent to pericardium and right pleura. The cut-surface was elastic and soft. Histology confirmed cavernous haemangioma. Post-operative course was uneventful. Mediastinal cavernous haemangioma is extremely rare and surgical excision is the treatment of choice.

Fungal infections of lungs the emerging scenario.

Fungal infections of lungs are important infective processes which are being encountered more and more often in today’s practice. Fortunately, we only encounter a few of these pathogenic fungi. With more and more people undergoing organ transplantation and cytotoxic therapy, chances of encountering these diseases are steadily increasing. Though treatment is difficult, nevertheless, the results are encouraging. Hence, it is all the more important today to know these diseases well so that we are able to manage them scientifically. Diseases like ABPA, if diagnosed early, can be treated effectively so as to prevent progression to fibrotic stage and reduce the number of respiratory cripples. Invasive systemic mycosis is also amenable to multimodal therapy. With advent of newer imidazoles and newer modalities of drug delivery like liposomal amphotericin B, the so called complicated treatment modalities can be further simplified. Prophylaxis is today available for preventing PCP in immunocompromised patients and they need to adhere to prophylaxis.

Outcome in multi-drug resistant tuberculosis patientswith ambulatory treatment.

Background: Multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is emerging as an increasingly important cause of morbidity and death. The patients continue to spread disease for a prolonged period and may pose a threat to the success of DOTS. Aim: To evaluate response to chemotherapy with second line drugs given on domiciliary basis in cases of MDRTB. Methods: Retrospective case records of 36 proven MDR-TB patients treated from April 1998 to April 2001 were analyzed. The patients were defined as cured when they had continued to be smear and culture negative for more than one year in addition to clinical and radiological improvement. All patients were followed up for relapse for one year. Results: Out of 36 patients, 27 had far advanced lesions and 8 had moderately advanced lesions. All patients had resistance to at least Isoniazid and Rifampicin. Additional resistance was observed to Streptomycin in 19, Pyrazinamide - 8, Ethambutol - 8, Ethionamide - 6, Cycloserine - 5, Thiacetazone - 4, Ciprofloxacin- 3 and PAS in one patient. Average duration of pre-treatment chemotherapy was 14 months. Twenty patients were cases of relapse. Ten patients had concomitant disease (NIDDM - 3, COPD-4, Bronchial asthma-2, IHD-1). Average time for sputum conversion was 5 months. Twenty-three patients had sputum conversion in less than 4 months after revised chemotherapy. Out of 36 patients, 28 patients were declared cured at the end of 24 months of therapy, 7 patients defaulted and one patient died due to massive haemoptysis. Adverse reactions to chemotherapy included photosensitivity to Sparfloxacin-4 patients, ototoxicity to Kanamycin-2 patients and hyperuricemia- one patient. Conclusion: Problem of MDR-TB can be managed to some extent by ambulatory treatment with other logistic supports like drugs, laboratory services and sympathetic motivated staff.

Solitary tracheal plasmacytoma.

Primary tracheal tumours are rare and trachea is an exceedingly rare site of extramedullary plasmacytoma. We report a case of extramedullary plasmacytoma involving trachea and causing symptoms of airway obstruction in a 44-year-old man. Chest radiograph was normal. Flow-volume loop showed characteristic pattern localizing the lesion at thoracic inlet. Computerised tomography and bronchoscopy demonstrated a broad based pedunculated intratracheal mass obstructing 85% of the lumen. Tracheal tumour was excised via low tracheostomy. Histopathology of resected mass revealed extramedullary plasmacytoma. Relevant investigations excluded multiple myeloma. He was managed with radiotherapy with good response and there has been no recurrence after one-year follow-up.

Lung function in mitral stenosis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to look to for a relationship between pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), left atrial pressure (LAP), mitral valve area (MVA) and transmitral gradient (Gr) on the one hand and the spirometric data on the other, in cases of mitral stenosis. METHODS: The spirometry values measured were forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second and as percent of FVC (FEV1, FEV1/FVC%), forced expiratory flow between 25% to 75% of FVC (FEF 25-75%), at 50% of FVC (FEF 50%) 75% of FVC (FEF 75%) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). The PAP, LAP, MVA and Gr were measured at echocardiography and cardiac catheterisation. RESULTS: Analysis of results was done of 60 patients in four groups divided on basis of mean PAP: Group 1 with least and group 4 with highest mean PAP. FVC values were reduced in direct proportion to PAP, LAP, MVA and Gr in three out of four groups. FEV1% as a percent of predicted value showed uniform reduction in all the groups, PEFR was moderately affected in group 1 and most severely in group 4. Values of FEV1/FVC% were within normal range in all the groups. FEF 25-75%, and FEF 50% showed serial reduction in values in keeping with the elevation of the PAP. FEF 75% was also moderately affected in group 1 and most severely in group 4. CONCLUSION: We found that a moderate restrictive defect and a small airway defect which is found in cases of mitral stenosis, directly correlates to the PAP, LAP, MVA and Gr. There was no significant involvement of the larger airways.