Physical exertion exacerbates decline in the musculature of an animal model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder caused by loss of the protein dystrophin. In humans, DMD has early onset, causes developmental delays, muscle necrosis, loss of ambulation, and death. Current animal models have been challenged by their inability to model the early onset and severity of the disease. It remains unresolved whether increased sarcoplasmic calcium observed in dystrophic muscles follows or leads the mechanical insults caused by the muscle's disrupted contractile machinery. This knowledge has important implications for patients, as potential physiotherapeutic treatments may either help or exacerbate symptoms, depending on how dystrophic muscles differ from healthy ones. Recently we showed how burrowing dystrophic (dys-1) C. elegans recapitulate many salient phenotypes of DMD, including loss of mobility and muscle necrosis. Here, we report that dys-1 worms display early pathogenesis, including dysregulated sarcoplasmic calcium and increased lethality. Sarcoplasmic calcium dysregulation in dys-1 worms precedes overt structural phenotypes (e.g., mitochondrial, and contractile machinery damage) and can be mitigated by reducing calmodulin expression. To learn how dystrophic musculature responds to altered physical activity, we cultivated dys-1 animals in environments requiring high intensity or high frequency of muscle exertion during locomotion. We find that several muscular parameters (e.g., size) improve with increased activity. However, longevity in dystrophic animals was negatively associated with muscular exertion, regardless of effort duration. The high degree of phenotypic conservation between dystrophic worms and humans provides a unique opportunity to gain insight into the pathology of the disease as well as the initial assessment of potential treatment strategies.

Practical consensus recommendations on ovarian suppression in early breast cancer (adjuvant).

Substantial survival benefits exist for patients with early-stage breast cancer who undergo treatment with single-modality ovarian suppression, but its value is uncertain. Expert oncologist discussed to determine whether additional benefits exist with ovarian suppression plus multiple adjuvant therapy which provides a new treatment option that reduces the risk of recurrence in early breast cancer. This expert group used data from published literature, practical experience and opinion of a large group of academic oncologists to arrive at this practical consensus recommendations for the benefit of community oncologists.

Comparison of mechanical and chemomechanical methods of caries removal in deciduous and permanent teeth: a SEM study.

BACKGROUND: Mechanical method of caries removal is associated with the removal of sound tooth structure, production of pain, heat, annoying sounds, and vibrations. Chemomechanical caries removal method is based on removal of only carious dentin leaving sound dentin intact. AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of mechanical and chemomechanical methods of caries removal in deciduous and permanent teeth. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 30 carious teeth including 15 deciduous and 15 permanent teeth having dentinal caries selected randomly and cut into two halves through center of the lesion, were subjected to caries removal by mechanical (Group A), and chemomechanical methods (Group B). Time taken for removal of caries was noted with stopwatch. Samples were prepared and seen under the scanning electron microscope for the presence of bacterial colonies. Data were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) Software. RESULTS: No significant difference was found for the presence of bacterial colonies in both groups of deciduous and permanent teeth; however, time taken for caries removal by the chemomechanical method was twice than the mechanical method. CONCLUSION: despite the insignificant presence of bacterial colonies and twice time taken as compared to mechanical method, chemomechanical method was easy to introduce, was painless, did not form smear layer and conserved the sound tooth structure.

The mountain-lowland debate: deforestation and sediment transport in the upper Ganga catchment.

The Himalaya-Gangetic Plain region is the iconic example of the debate about the impact on lowlands of upland land-use change. Some of the scientific aspects of this debate are revisited by using new techniques to examine the role of deforestation in erosion and river sediment transport. The approach is whole-of-catchment, combining a history of deforestation with a history of sediment sources from well before deforestation. It is shown that deforestation had some effect on one very large erosional event in 1970, in the Alaknanda subcatchment of the Upper Ganga catchment, but that both deforestation and its effects on erosion and sediment transport are far from uniform in the Himalaya. Large magnitude erosional events occur for purely natural reasons. The impact on the Gangetic Plain of erosion caused by natural events and land cover change remains uncertain.

'Layer by layer' phacoemulsification in posterior polar cataract with pre-existing posterior capsular rent.

PURPOSE: To evaluate a new technique of 'Layer by Layer' phacoemulsification in eyes with posterior polar cataract with pre-existing posterior capsular rent (PCR). METHODS: Layer by layer phacoemulsification was performed in eight eyes of eight patients of posterior polar cataract with pre-existing posterior capsular rent. All the patients had evidence of a posterior capsular defect showing presence of iridescent refractile lens particles in vitreous with onion skinning of central dense plaque. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 43.75+/-2.5 years and six patients were men. All the eyes had vertical posterior capsular defect irrespective of the site of entry of phaco probe. Vitrectomy was not required in any of the eyes. Single piece foldable acrylic intraocular lens was implanted in the bag in all the eyes. The mean preoperative best corrected visual acuity was 0.14+/-0.05, which improved to 0.77+/-0.27. CONCLUSION: Our technique of 'Layer by layer' phacoemulsification is an effective and safe technique for the management of posterior polar cataract with pre-existing PCR.

Immunoglobulin profile in mycetoma.

Serum samples obtained from 25 patients of mycetoma caused by Madurella mycetomi in 18, Streptomyces somaliensis in 5, Streptomyces madurae and streptomyces palletierii from 1 each and also from 25 healthy controls were evaluated for immunoglobulins IgG, IgM and IgA by radial immunodiffusion method using tripartigen plates. All the three classes of immunoglobulins showed increased concentration in cases of mycetoma by M. mycetomi and S. pelletierii. The raised levels of IgG and IgM in cases of mycetoma caused by S. madurae and S. somaliensis where bones were involved, were not statistically significant. IgA was consistently high in all cases of mycetoma irrespective of causative agent and tissue involved. These alterations may possibly reflect relatively poor IgG and IgM response in individuals with extension of mycetoma lesion to bones.

Topical phenytoin in the treatment of split-thickness skin autograft donor sites: a comparative study with polyurethane membrane drape and conventional dressing.

The effectiveness of topical phenytoin as a wound healing agent was compared with that of OpSite (Smith & Nephew) and a conventional topical antibiotic dressing (Soframycin, Roussel) in a controlled study of 60 patients with partial-thickness skin autograft donor sites on the lower extremities. Mean time to complete healing (complete epithelialization) was 6.2 +/- 1.6 days in the phenytoin-treated group (30 patients), compared to 8.6 +/- 2.2 days with OpSite (15 patients), and 12.6 +/- 3.4 days in the 15 Soframycin-treated patients. The differences between the treatment groups were significant at P < 0.001. Mean pain scores were also lower in the phenytoin-treated group, 0.40 +/- 0.55 vs. 0.66 +/- 0.60 with OpSite (P < 0.05) and 1.4 +/- 0.50 with the conventional dressing (P < 0.001). Both phenytoin and OpSite were superior to the Soframycin dressing with respect to bacterial contamination and wound infection as measured by Gram stains of wound smears, swab and aspirate (OpSite) cultures, and clinical assessments (P < 0.001) carried out on the fifth day of treatment. No local or systemic adverse effects of the three agents used were noted. Phenytoin appears to be an effective, low-cost and safe method for the treatment of partial-thickness skin graft donor sites, comparing very favourably with, and in some aspects superior to, occlusive dressings. Further clinical use and evaluation of topical phenytoin are merited.

The indirect platelet suspension immunofluorescence test in the detection of platelet antibodies in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Among the various techniques developed for the detection of platelet antibodies, the platelet suspension immunofluorescence test has been reported to be simple, sensitive and reproducible, and therefore more clinically useful than other techniques available. An initial evaluation of the test was carried out for the detection of platelet autoantibodies in ten cases of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. The indirect PSIFT was found to be positive in 60%. The technical aspects of the test and the problems encountered are discussed.

The prevalence of markers for hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency viruses, malarial parasites and microfilaria in blood donors in a large hospital in south India.

Blood donors (35,395) were screened at the CMC Hospital, Vellore, in South India during the 2-year period from July 1986 to June 1988. They were either relatives of patients (referred to as replacement donors) or volunteers. Paid or professional donors were not accepted. Of the replacements 21.5% and of the voluntary donors 9.7% were rejected. Mean donor age was 32.2 years and the commonest blood group was O (39.46%), Rh positive (93.93%). Hepatitis B surface antigen was found in 1.37% and 2.96% of voluntary and replacement donors respectively. Anti-HIV antibodies were found in 1.9/1000 donors. This shows an increasing prevalence of HIV infection in the Indian donor population not reported earlier. The prevalences of malarial parasites and microfilaria in replacement donors were 0.02 and 1.62% respectively. In voluntary donors, malarial parasites were not found and microfilaria were found in only 0.15%. All rejection criteria except low haemoglobin were significantly more frequent among replacement donors than among voluntary donors. In the light of these results, screening of all donor blood for HBsAg and Anti-HIV by the most sensitive techniques and for malarial and filarial parasites in endemic areas is essential.

Ultrastructure of Taenia saginata oncospheres cultivated in artificial media.

Oncospheres of Taenia saginata cultivated in Leibovitz's medium on a cell monolayer from calf kidney developed up to 10th day of in vitro cultivation. Fine and often branched microvilli were observed on their surface. On day 5 of cultivation, the muscle system of hooks turned to a granular matter and on day 7 neither hooks nor their muscle system were found. The tegumental cytoplasm was not formed in the period of 7-60 days of cultivation. On days 7 and 10 of cultivation, a contact of oncospheres with the cells of monolayer was visible. On day 10 of cultivation, an extrusion of a portion of cytoplasm of surface cells filled with minute vesicles occurred. The bonds among cells, particularly in the centre of the oncosphere, were loosened in a 30-day-old culture and the cells were interconnected by long cytoplasmic bridges. Degenerative changes occurred on about day 40 of cultivation. The oncospheres cultivated in pure Leibovitz's medium lost the microvilli on their surface and the original tegumental cytoplasm turned to a fibrous layer already on day 5 of cultivation. Dystrophic changes in cells occurred from day 7 of cultivation and gradually increased.

Mucosal lesions in the rat associated with the attachment of Moniliformis (Acanthocephala).

By means of scanning electron microscopy, aspects of the attachment of Moniliformis dubius (Acanthocephala) to the intestinal wall of the rat are described together with various changes in the structure and form of the mucosa. Attachment of the parasite results in the formation of a distinct pit around the everted proboscis and a crater around the neck. Contact between the anterior region of the trunk of the worm and the intestine of the host appears to lead to villous fusion so that characteristic grooves are formed in the mucosal tissue. Evidence was also obtained to suggest that host goblet cells may become exhausted during the course of an infection with Moniliformis.

Rat-dietary fructose and the intestinal distribution and growth of Moniliformis (Acanthocephala).

The numbers, distribution in the small intestine, sexual development and growth (dry weight) of 5-week-old Moniliformis dubius (Acanthocephala) were investigated experimentally in adult, female CFHB rats fed on theoretically isoenergetic diets containing known amounts of fructose in combination with either maize-oil fatty acids or maize oil and two concentrations of casein. There was no obvious development of M. dubius when there was no fructose in the host's diet. In contrast, estimated consumption by the host of as little as about 2 g of fructose during the 5-week infection period was accompanied by marked sexual dimorphism and weight gain in most of the M. dubius present. The dry weights of M. dubius of both sexes were positively correlated with fructose concentrations ranging from 0 to 2.5% (w/w) in the diets containing fatty acids. Significant, but not substantial, increases in M. dubius dry weight were observed as the dietary fructose concentration was raised to 12% (w/w). Similar trends were observed when the fructose was offered to the infected rats with maize oil, but in general, fructose added to the fatty-acid based diets supported most M. dubius growth. Differences in the distribution pattern of the worms in rats fed on the fatty-acid or maize-oil based diets were observed and their possible significance is discussed.