Germ cell abnormalities in streptozotocin induced diabetic mice do not correlate with blood glucose level.

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of streptozotocin induced hyperglycemia on germ cell integrity, DNA ploidy and methylation status for a period of two spermatogenesis cycles in adult male Swiss albino mice. METHODS: Streptozotocin injected mice were monitored for hyperglycemia at a regular interval for a period of 36 and 72 days. The DNA integrity in epididymal spermatozoa was determined by the comet assay. Flow cytometric analysis was done in germ cells to assess the DNA ploidy. The global methylation analysis in germ cells was done by 5-methyl cytosine immunostaining. RESULTS: Streptozotocin administration successfully resulted in hyperglycemic response which significantly affected serum testosterone level, sperm DNA integrity and DNA ploidy at the end of 36 days. However, no changes were observed in either epididymal sperm concentration or germ cell methylation status. In contrast, at the end of 76 days, although serum testosterone level, sperm DNA integrity and DNA ploidy status were unperturbed significantly in hyperglycemic group, the epididymal sperm concentration and methylation status of preleptotene/zygotene cells were significantly altered. Importantly, an attempt to find out the association between the blood glucose levels and the abnormalities in hyperglycemic group failed to demonstrate any correlation. CONCLUSIONS: The germ cell abnormalities observed in hyperglycemic group could be interpreted as a primary effect of streptozotocin and not due to hyperglycemia. Our results call for further evaluation of streptozotocin before its application to study the hyperglycemic responses on male germ cells.

Recurrent Facial Paralysis-an Unusual Initial Presentation of Temporal Bone Metastasis in Case of Advanced Prostate Malignancy.

Metastasis into temporal bone is uncommon. Involvement of facial nerve is rarer. We report an unusual case of metastatic prostatic carcinoma presenting initially as facial nerve palsy in an 82 year old male. Diagnostic pitfalls have been discussed. Radiological evaluation followed by biopsy was diagnostic.

Assessment of Site, Degree and Pattern of Airway Obstruction in Patients with Moderate to Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) Using Drug Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE)and Its Association with Awake Fibreoptic Evaluation and Polysomnography Parameters.

Accurate assessment of site of obstruction in Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is key to its effective management, especially the surgical intervention. Currently, Drug induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) is widely used to assess the obstruction during sleep as assessing during physiologic sleep is impractical and cumbersome. To assess the site, pattern and degree of airway obstruction in patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea using DISE and to find a co-relation of DISE findings with awake fibreoptic assessment and severity of OSA. 41 adult patients (29 males, 12 females, mean AHI 40.58 ± 16.94, mean age 54 ± 9.15 years underwent awake fibreoptic nasal endoscopy in the outpatient department and propofol induced DISE in the main operation theatre. The site/s, degree and pattern of obstruction were recorded as per VOTE and Fujita classification. Velum was the commonest site of collapse followed by oropharynx, base of tongue and epiglottis. All had multilevel collapse with velum, oropharynx and base of tongue being the most common combination. At velum, base of tongue and epiglottis, antero-posterior pattern of collapse was commonest and at oropharynx lateral pattern of collapse was the commonest. We found no difference in the site, pattern or severity of collapse between the moderate and severe group though there was a tendency of epiglottis collapse being present more frequently in severe OSA. Awake fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation was able to assess the collapse at level of velum with higher sensitivity but with poor specificity. There was high chances of missing a hypopharyngeal collapse with fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation.

Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma in the hard palate: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (EMC) is an uncommon salivary gland tumor. CASE: EMC arising from the minor salivary gland of the hard palate is very rare. A 70-year-old man presented with a nodular swelling in the hard palate. Fine needle aspiration cytology revealed biphasic epithelial (small cell) and myoepithelial (large/clear cell) clusters in a pseudopapillary and trabecular pattern. The cytology was reported as salivary gland neoplasm. The mass was excised and the histomorphology was suggestive of a low grade EMC. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the biphasic nature of the tumor and confirmed the diagnosis of EMC. Follow-up for 2 years post surgery to date did not show any recurrence or metastases. CONCLUSION: Though exact cytologic typing of EMC was not possible; this case highlights the importance of awareness of this tumor in the differential diagnosis of biphasic tumors of the salivary gland.