Regions of homozygosity and a novel variant in Steel syndrome: An added dilemma to diagnosis.

Steel syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder that is caused by mutations in COL27A1 gene. The majority of reported cases have been of Puerto Rican origin, with few reports from India. The present case adds to the repertoire of homozygous recessive disorders from non-consanguineous Indian families. With the present case, a 4-year-old girl, we wish to signify that although mutations in several genes are known to cause skeletal abnormalities, identification of underlying mutations is important as it not only helps with the ascertainment of diagnosis but also aids in determining the role of surgical interventions which is particularly true for Steel syndrome, where the outcome of surgical intervention is usually dismal.

Osteopathia Striata with Cranial Sclerosis: A Face-to-Radiograph-to-Gene Diagnosis.

Osteopathia striata with cranial sclerosis is an X-linked dominant bone dysplasia with osteosclerosis. It should be suspected in girls with macrocephaly, intellectual disability with unique facial dysmorphic features. We described the clinical and radiological profile of a patient with this rare disorder. A novel heterozygous variant was identified in the AMER1 gene which leads to premature truncation of the AMER1 protein. Facial gestalt recognition using artificial intelligence and radiographic features were used to narrow the differential diagnosis.

Pallister-Killian syndrome: Review of fetal phenotype.

Pallister-Killian syndrome is a multi-system sporadic disorder with developmental delay. It is a rare chromosomal abnormality involving supernumerary isochormosome 12p. The disorder exhibits tissue specific mosaicism. The first prenatal diagnosis of PKS was reported in 1985 after ultrasound detection of fetal anomalies. Since this observation, there have been about 62 reports of fetuses with PKS. In this review, we cover the prenatal aspects of PKS.

Role of magnetic resonance imaging in breast cancer management.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast is primarily used as a supplemental tool to breast screening with mammography or ultrasound. A breast MRI is mainly used for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, to help measure the size of the cancer, look for other tumors in the breast, and to check for tumors in the opposite breast. For certain women at high risk for breast cancer, a screening MRI is recommended along with a yearly mammogram. MRI is known to give some false positive results which mean more test and/or biopsies for the patient. Thus, although breast MRI is useful for women at high risk, it is rarely recommended as a screening test for women at average risk of breast cancer. Also, breast MRI does not show calcium deposits, known as micro-calcifications which can be a sign of breast cancer.

Synthesis and antiinflammatory activity of newer pyrazolinylbenzidines and isoxazolinylbenzidines.

In an effort to search for more active antiinflammatory agent, a series of pyrazolinylbenzidines and isoxazolylbenzidines was designed, synthesized, and screened for their potential as novel orally inflammation inhibitors. Compounds 4,4'-bis-(1"-acetyl-5"-substitutedaryl-2"-pyrazolin-3"-yl)benzidines (8-13) and 4,4'-bis-(2"-substitutedaryl-isoxazolin-4'-yl)benzidines (14-19) have been synthesized from 4,4'-bis-(substituted benzylidenyl-acetyl)benzidines (2-7). The structures of the products have been delineated by spectral and elemental analysis. Compounds 2-19 evaluated for antiinflammatory activity and acute toxicity and results are reported. The compound 4,4'-bis-[1"-acetyl-5"-(p-methoxyphenyl)-2"-pyrazolin-3'-yl)benzidine (9) showed more potent and dose-dependent antiinflammatory activity in comparison to reference drug.

Remote sensing study on geomorphological degradation of Sarda Sagar reservoir.

An attempt was made to estimate the geomorphological degradation due to sedimentation of Sarda Sagar reservoir, located in Pilibhit and Udhamsingh Nagar, district of Uttar Pradash and Uttarakhand respectively. The study was conducted using multidated IRS LIISS III remote sensing data for the year 2006-2007. Using satellite images of different seasons during 2006-2007, a total of 45.23 million m3 volume of sedimentation was computed in-between the 183.704 m and 190.504 m elevation. The reservoir has lost 11.72 % of the total capacity of water storage and an average rate of sedimentation was calculated as 0.26 % per year. Due to this sedimentation the new feeder channel of Sarda Sagar is choked with silt and the water flow from this channel has almost stopped. The morphology of the reservoir has been changed due to sedimentation during the period 1962 to 2007. This has altered breeding ground of fishes since important indigenous fish species which need flowing water condition to perform the breeding. This study would be helpful for the planners to manage the reservoir and to assess the biological productivity.

Statin intolerance: now a solved problem.

Statins are the most effective and widely used drugs for treating dyslipidemia, a major risk factor for coronary heart disease. These are one of the safest hypolipidemic drugs but many patients are bound to discontinue statins due to their side effects. Hepatotoxicity, myotoxicity and peripheral neuropathy are important out of them. Discontinuation of statins leads to dylipidemia and its grave consequences. Hence, there should be enough strategies for statin intolerant patients, so that they can be saved from these consequences. These side effects can be avoided by the awareness of certain factors viz. potential drug interactions and dose adjustment according to patho-physiology of the patient. Baseline investigations for liver function and muscle toxicity should be done before initiating statin therapy. Here, we are discussing various options for statin intolerant hyperlipidemic patients such as lower and intermittent dosing of statins, alternate hypolipidemic drugs, red yeast rice, supplementation with coenzyme Q10 and vitamin D. A number of hypolipidemic drugs are in trial phases and hold promise for statin intolerant patients.

Study of antinociceptive activity of SSRI (fluoxetine and escitalopram) and atypical antidepressants (venlafaxine and mirtazepine) and their interaction with morphine and naloxone in mice.

OBJECTIVE: to study the probable site of antinociceptive action of SSRI (fluoxetine, escitalopram) and atypical antidepressants (mirtazapine, venlafaxine) and their interaction with morphine and naloxone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: the study was conducted on albino mice (25-35 grams) of either sex. Different doses of morphine (0.5 and 1 mg/kg), fluoxetine (2, 5 and 10 mg/kg), venlafaxine (30, 40 and 50 mg/kg), mirtazapine (3, 5 and 7 mg/kg) and escitalopram (2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg) were administered subcutaneously to obtain their subanalgesic doses using tail flick analgesiometer. Tail flick latencies were obtained at 15, 30, 60 and 120 min. after drug administration. Naloxone (1 mg/kg) was administered 10 minutes prior to test drug for testing antagonism. OBSERVATIONS: fluoxetine (5 and 10 mg/kg), mirtazapine (5 and 7 mg/kg) and venlafaxine (40 and 50 mg/kg) were found to have antinociceptive activity but not at lower doses. Escitalopram failed to show any antinociceptive activity at any of the doses used. The antinociceptive effect of all the drugs was antagonized by naloxone (1 mg/kg). Further, subanalgesic doses of fluoxetine, mirtazapine and venlafaxine showed analgesic activity with suboptimal dose of morphine (0.5 mg/kg). RESULT AND CONCLUSION: fluoxetine, mirtazapine and venlafaxine have antinociceptive activity whereas escitalopram doesn't; their site of action seems to be the same as that of opioid analgesics ('mue' receptors). However, other pathways (cholinergic, histaminic, noradrenergic, GABAergic) may be involved in mediation of their analgesic activity, deserving further elucidation. Results apparently show that these drugs may be useful in the management of pain as monotherapy or in combination with other opioids.

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of various substituted oxadiazole derivatives.

Some new 2-(2-(4(4-substitutedbenzoyl-2-methylphenoxy)acetyl)-N-(2-substitutedphenyl) hydrazinecarbothioamides (4a-4j) and (4-((5-(2-substitutedphenylamino)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)methoxy)-3-substitutedphenyl)(phenyl)methanones (5a-5j) have been synthesized from 2-(4-(3-substitutedbenzoyl)-2-methylphenoxy)acetohydrazides (3a, 3b). These newly synthesized compounds (4a-4j and 5a-5j) were characterized by elemental and spectral (IR, (1)H-NMR and MS) analysis. All the synthesized compounds have been screened for their antibacterial activity against both types of Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria. The most potent antibacterial compound of this series was compound 5i which has the low MIC 3.75-0.9375 µg/mL value. Both minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and inhibition zones were determined in order to monitor the efficacy of the synthesized compounds. Certain compounds inhibit bacterial growth with low MIC (µg/mL) value.

Statin Hepatotoxicity: Is it a Real Concern?

Statins are the most effective and widely used drugs for treating dyslipidemia, a major risk factor for coronary heart disease. These are one of the safest hypolipidemic drugs but many patients are advised to discontinue statins for the fear of hepatotoxicity. Despite a lack of evidence that statins cause liver diseases, many physicians are reluctant to start statins in patients with an out-of-range liver enzymes value and this reluctance to initiate or interrupt the therapy with statins leads to dyslipidemia and its grave consequences. Further, there are some reports showing an additional benefit of statins in reducing cardiovascular events in patients with abnormal liver function tests.

Blue cures blue but be cautious.

Methemoglobinemia is a disorder characterized by the presence of >1% methemoglobin (metHb) in the blood. Spontaneous formation of methemoglobin is normally counteracted by protective enzyme systems, for example, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) methemoglobin reductase. Methemoglobinemia is treated with supplemental oxygen and methylene blue (1-2 mg/kg) administered slow intravenously, which acts by providing an artificial electron acceptor for NADPH methemoglobin reductase. But known or suspected glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is a relative contraindication to the use of methylene blue because G6PD is the key enzyme in the formation of NADPH through pentose phosphate pathway and G6PD-deficient individuals generate insufficient NADPH to efficiently reduce methylene blue to leukomethylene blue, which is necessary for the activation of the NADPH-dependent methemoglobin reductase system. So, we should be careful using methylene blue in methemoglobinemia patient before G6PD levels.

Synthesis and antipsychotic and anticonvulsant activity of some new substituted oxa/thiadiazolylazetidinonyl/thiazolidinonylcarbazoles.

A novel substituted oxa/thiadiazolylazetidinonyl/thiazolidinonylcarbazoles (4a-j), (5a-j) and (6a-j) were synthesized and screened for their antipsychotic and anticonvulsant activities. It is concluded from the results compound 6j showed promising antipsychotic as well as anticonvulsant activity.

Synthesis of substituted acridinyl pyrazoline derivatives and their evaluation for anti-inflammatory activity.

A rapid preparation of compounds (1-24), with the objective of discovering novel and potent anti-inflammatory agent. All the compounds exhibited anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities at the dose 50 mg/kg p.o. The compound 1-(2',4'-Chloroacridine-9'-yl)-3-(5'-pyridine-4-yl)-(1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl-thiomethyl)-pyrazole-5-one 24 showed better anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities at the three graded dose of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg p.o.

Limnological investigations of Texi Temple pond in district Etawah (U.P.).

Present investigations were carried out on the limnological aspects of Texi temple pond in district Etawah. Many of the parameters were found below the permissible limits for drinking water as suggested by WHO. A total of 18 parameters were analysed and their seasonal variations in the year 2003 were discussed.

Synthesis and anticonvulsant activity of some potential thiazolidinonyl 2-oxo/thiobarbituric acids.

A series of 5-[(N-substituted benzylidenylimino)amino]-2-oxo/thiobarbituric acids (3a-3h) have been synthesized by the condensation of 5-hydrazino-2-oxo/thiobarbituric acids (2a-2b) with various aromatic aldehydes. Cycloaddition of thioglycolic acid to 3a-3h, yielded 5-[(2'-substituted phenyl-4'-oxothiazolidin-3'-yl)amino]-2-oxo/thiobarbituric acids (4a-4h). All these compounds were screened, in vivo, for their anticonvulsant activity and acute toxicity studies. Compounds 4f and 4g were found to be most potent compounds of this series and were compared with the reference drugs, phenytoin sodium, lamotrigine and sodium valproate. The structures of these compounds have been established by IR, 1H NMR and mass spectroscopic data.

A study of anti-inflammatory activity of some novel alpha-amino naphthalene and beta-amino naphthalene derivatives.

In the present study, some naphthalene derivatives have been synthesized by incorporating azetidinyl and thiazolidinyl moieties at its alpha- or beta-positions such as alpha-(3-chloro-2-oxo-4-substituted)aryl-1-azetidinyl)naphthalenes 6-10, alpha-((substituted)aryl-4-oxo-1,3-thiazolidin-3-yl)naphthalenes 11-15, beta-(3-chloro-2-oxo-4-substituted aryl-1-azetidinyl)naphthalenes 21-25, and beta-(substituted aryl-4-oxo-1,3-thiazolidin-3-yl)naphthalenes 26-30. These compounds have also been screened for acute toxicity and anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. Compounds which showed better anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities were also examined for their ulcerogenic liability and underwent a cyclooxygenase assay. Two compounds, 12 and 28, were found to exhibit potent anti-inflammatory activity as compared to the standard drugs phenylbutazone and naproxen.

Hepatoprotective activity of Beta vulgaris against CCl4-induced hepatic injury in rats.

Ethanolic extract of Beta vulgaris roots given orally at doses of 1000, 2000 and 4000 mg/kg exhibited significant dose-dependent hepatoprotective activity against carbontetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Hepatotoxicity and its prevention were assessed by serum markers viz. cholesterol, triglyceride, alanine amino transferase and alkaline phosphatase.

Concomitant gout and rheumatoid arthritis--a case report.

We report a case of definite rheumatoid arthritis and co-existing gout. Although gout and rheumatoid arthritis are relatively common entities individually, the co-existence of these two conditions is rare.