Synchronous uterine serous carcinoma and ovarian sex cord stromal tumor (thecoma)–A rare first case report

Synchronous endometrial and ovarian carcinoma is a rare instance and it accounts for 50 to 70% of all synchronous female genital tract tumors. However, it is very rare to find synchronous endometrial carcinoma and ovarian sex cord–stromal tumor (thecoma). The present case is a 75-year-old woman with a complaint of post-menopausal vaginal bleeding. Radiologically, the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pelvis revealed altered signal intensity mass in the uterus. Frozen section and routine histopathological examination were done on radical hysterectomy. Microscopically, serous carcinoma involving uterine corpus and left Fallopian tube was identified along with the unusual finding of contralateral ovarian sex cord–stromal tumor (thecoma), which was confirmed on immunohistochemical examination. It is a very rare association and is first reported in the present study after a thorough search of the published literature. Their relationship based on a high level of estrogen produced by the hyperactive ovary is controversial as serous carcinomas are less hormone-dependent.

Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts.

Megalencephalic leukocncephalopathy is rare disorder seen in India in patient belonging to Agarwal community. Many of the patients may have a mild clinical course with gradual worsening of neurological disability. A case is being reported who was followed for 17 years and paradoxically showed radiological and clinical improvement.

Brainstem death: implications in India.

Brainstem death and brain death although practically same with regards to the concept of organ donation, remain technically different. Brain death mandates irreversible cessation of all the functions of the entire brain and brainstem while brainstem death signifies irreversible damage to the brainstem. As per the Indian law, brainstem death is the legal requirement and not brain death.

Vibrio cholerae diarrhoea in a three-day-old breastfed neonate.

A confirmed case of cholera in a 3-day-old neonate is being reported. Possible source of infection could be by holy water (Chamamrit) given to the baby, which is common ritual in India. Mother's milk has never been reported to transmit cholera, even though mother herself may be suffering from cholera. Contaminated water can transmit the disease as there is no maternally transmitted immunity.

Serum zinc, copper, magnesium, proteins and superoxide dismutase in leprosy patients on multidrug therapy--a follow-up study.

Serum zinc, copper, magnesium, total proteins and albumin-globulin fractions and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were estimated in 80 untreated patients with TT/BT/BL/LL type of leprosy and in 40 controls. The investigations were repeated on day 30, 60 and 120 after starting multidrug therapy (MDT-WHO) on the patients. Serum zinc was significantly lowered in all types of leprosy on days 0 and 30. Serum copper was significantly raised in all types of leprosy. This was not significant in BT/TT cases on 60, 120 days. There was a correlation between serum zinc and copper levels and the severity and type of leprosy. The lowering of serum magnesium values were not significant. With therapy, there was a shift of all the three elements towards normal values. Serum total proteins reduction was not significant. Serum albumin was significantly lowered in all types of leprosy. Serum globulin was significantly raised in all types of leprosy. This rise in TT/BT was not significant on day 60 and 120 after starting treatment. Serum SOD was significantly reduced in all the untreated cases. It gradually increased with the clinical improvement under MDT.

Role of migratory population in keeping up endemicity of malaria in metropolitan cities of India.

Urbanisation is rapidly taking place in India. A sizeable number of people migrate to metropolitan cities to take up casual labour jobs and settle in pockets scattered all over the city. They generally pay frequent visits to their native place with a higher malarial endemicity and are believed to be important reservoirs of infection for the native population of metropolis. To investigate this problem, a survey was conducted in 1987-88 to compare the prevalence of chronic malaria in two such pockets of migrant population with that of local population of Delhi from nearby villages. Ninetyone out of 701 (12.84 per cent) immigrants investigated had fever clinically diagnosed as malaria at the time of survey, while in the native population 45 out of 646 (6.97 per cent) had such a history. The difference is statistically significant. Splenomegaly was also significantly higher in migrants (15.41 per cent) than in natives of Delhi villages (3.10 per cent). Migrant population is not covered by active surveillance and live in poor environmental conditions conducive to mosquito breeding and malaria transmission. A special attention needs to be paid to the migratory population in the anti-malaria programme in order to control the transmission of the disease in the cities.

Subacute toxicity of adsorbed 250 Lf tetanus toxoid in rats.

Since the naturally acquired tetanus antitoxin titre in Indian population is mostly less than protective levels, to minimise the incidence of morbidity, Glaxo Laboratories (India) Ltd., Bombay have prepared a single dose potent tetanus vaccine of 250 Lf as compared to 5 Lf previous tetanus toxoid. Subacute toxicity study revealed that this toxoid (250 Lf) injected at different dose levels (1-2 ml/rat/injection x 4) is non-toxic to rats.

Childbirth spacing in a rural community of Delhi: profile in various marriage cohorts by decades.

Complete retrospective fertility histories of 843 ever married women of two villages in Delhi, obtained through house to house survey, were analysed to study various marriage cohorts by decades for trends of child birth spacing over a period of 60 years from 1921 to 1980. Spacing between consummation of marriage and first child birth gradually declined over the last 6 decades. For all other subsequent livebirths remained constant at an average of nearly 30 months. Irrespective of the reasons for such a trend, much more efforts are required to be put in to increase child spacing.

Aminopyrine-N-demethylase activity of rat liver after administration of crude cannabis extract.

The effect of cannabis extract, on the hepatic aminopyrine-N-demethylase activity was studied in rats. Daily administration of cannabis extract for 15 consecutive days increased the aminopyrine-N-demethylase activity which was significant on day 15 post-treatment at 2 and 10 mg/kg doses. At 20 mg/kg, a significant increase was observed from day 7 which continued up to day 15. These findings suggest that cannabis extract can induce hepatic aminopyrine-N-demethylase activity.