ONCOCYTOMA OF THE NASAL CAVITY

ABSTRACTOncocytoma of the nasal cavity is an extremely rare condition with only a few cases reported in the literature.A case of oncocytoma of the nasal cavity in a 12 years old Nepali boy is presented along with a brief reviewof the relevant literature.Key Words: Oncocytoma, Oxyphil adenoma, Nasal cavity.

A survey of the treatment of displaced intracapsular femoral neck fractures in the UK

A survey was undertaken to investigate the treatment of displaced intracapsular femoral neck fractures across the UK. The usual practice at 223 hospitals was recorded for two groups of patients, active and frail. Management of stereotyped fractures, in similar patients, varied between hospitals. There was also variation between specialists within some hospitals: two or more of the alternative methods of treatment were in routine use for active patients at 22% of hospitals and for frail patients at 27%. Overall, for active patients, bipolar hemiarthroplasty was undertaken at 41% of hospitals, internal fixation at 37%, unipolar hemiarthroplasty at 32% and total hip replacement at 16%. Cemented prostheses were used in 74% of arthroplasties for active patients. For frail patients, hemiarthroplasty with an Austin Moore or Thompson prostheses was undertaken at 94% of hospitals; bipolar prostheses were used at 8%; internal fixation was undertaken at 1%. Cement was used in 46% of hemiarthroplasties. These findings indicate a lack of consensus in aspects of the treatment of displaced intracapsular femoral neck fractures and are likely to reflect difficulties in determining "best practice."

Contents of minerals in green leafy vegetables cultivated in soil fortified with different chemical fertilizers

Content of selected minerals in spinach (Spinacea oleracea) and ambat chuka (Rumex vesicarius) cultivated in soil fortified with different chemical fertilizers was determined in a pot experiment. Addition of NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium) fertilizer along with micronutrients, iron and zinc, enhanced the concentration of zinc, iron and magnesium in selected green leafy vegetables markedly (p < 0.05), while the concentration of copper was not altered significantly (p > 0.05). Potassium content in the green leafy vegetables was not affected (p > 0.05) by the addition of chemical fertilizers to soil. Spinach and ambat chuka differed remarkably in their mineral contents. Contents of potassium, zinc and copper were significantly high in spinach, while the contents of magnesium and iron were markedly high in ambat chuka (p < 0.05).

Synthesis of melithasterol A, a 5alpha,6alpha-epoxy-7alpha-hydroxy Delta(8)-steroid

A short, first synthesis of melithasterol A (3) utilizing microwave irradiation-induced isomerization of 5alpha,8alpha-epidioxy steroid (1) as the key step has been achieved in 80% yield.

Bull-specific effect on fertilization rate and viable embryo recovery in the superovulated buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

This study was conducted to compare fertilization rate and viable embryo recovery rate in superovulated buffalo (n = 64) following insemination with semen from buffalo bulls (n = 5) having different fertility rates as determined by AI. Frozen-thawed semen from fertile bulls with similar post-thaw progressive motility and sperm morphology was used to inseminate buffalo at superovulatory estrus. Fertilization and viable embryo recovery rates differed among bulls, but this bull-specific effect was not related to the overall herd fertility rate as determined by AI in normal cyclic animals. These results indicate that individual bulls differ in their contribution to fertilization of superovulated donors and also to embryonic development, as determined by viable embryo recovery. Moreover, the results also suggest that buffalo bulls can be screened for optimal fertility and embryo recovery rates in superovulated donors. Further studies are warranted to ascertain the factors which contribute to such bull-specific effects.

New oxygenated africanenes from the soft coral sinularia dissecta

Three new oxygenated africanenes (1-3) have been isolated from the soft coral Sinularia dissecta and were characterized by spectral and chemical studies.

Factors affecting pregnancy rate following nonsurgical embryo transfer in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis): a retrospective study

The objectives of this study were to determine the pregnancy rate and factors affecting it following nonsurgical embryo transfer in buffalo. Donor buffalo were superovulated with FSH, and embryos collected nonsurgically were evaluated for stage of development and quality. They were transferred nonsurgically to 91 recipients on Days 5 to 7 of the natural (n = 52) or induced (n = 39) estrus (estrus = Day 0). The overall pregnancy rate of 24/91(26.4%) was higher than in earlier reports for buffalo but was much lower than in cattle. Pregnancy rates were not affected by season (autumn vs winter), side of transfer (right vs left uterine horn), or type of estrus (spontaneous vs induced). The pregnancy rate was high 11/27(40.7%) when donors and recipients were closely synchronized, while it was compromised when recipients were in estrus at +12 h (1/7, 14.3%) and at -12 h (5/27, 18.5%). Asynchrony beyond 12 h on either side resulted into conception failure. The pregnancy rate tended to increase with the increase in CL size of recipients, while stage of embryonic development had no effect. The transfer of an 8-cell embryo with a 16-cell embryo led to the birth of heterosexual twins, indicating that the uterine milieu of Day 5 to 6 recipients may be tolerated by the out-of-phase 8-cell embryo, at least in the presence of a more mature embryo. Embryo quality had the greatest effect on pregnancy rate as it was higher (P < 0.005) after the transfer of Grade I than Grade III embryos (6/10, 60.0% vs 3/36, 13.9%). Assessment of returns to estrus indicated that among nonpregnant recipients, 17/67 (25.4%) embryos never matured sufficiently to prevent luteolysis through maternal recognition of pregnancy (MRP), while 14/67 (20.8%) embryos probably died following MRP. These results indicate that efforts to increase pregnancy rate following embryo transfer in buffalo should include prevention of luteolysis during the first week of transfer and a reduction in the incidence of embryonic mortality.

A new 1,2-dihydroisoquinoline from the sponge petrosia similis

A new 1,2-dihydroisoquinoline (1) and a known isoquinolinequinone (2) have been isolated from the sponge Petrosia similis and characterized by the study of spectral data.

Effect of spraying selected pesticides on the contents of specified minerals in cabbage

The present study was conducted to assess the effect of spraying of pesticides on the content of minerals in cabbage harvested at varying waiting periods (0, 7, 14 and 21 days) after spraying. The amounts of phosphorus and zinc in cabbage were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased while those of iron, calcium and potassium were significantly (p < 0.05) increased by the sprayings of pesticides. At varying waiting periods after the spraying of pesticides calcium, phosphorus, zinc and potassium contents of cabbage were found to be decreased remarkably (p < 0.05) while the content of iron was increased significantly (p < 0.05). Between the two pesticides, the spraying of endosulfan exerted a more pronounced effect in altering the contents of minerals than the spraying of malathion.

Trace elements in spinach (Spinacia oleracea) cultivated in soil fortified with graded levels of iron

Trace elements in two varieties of spinach cultivated in soil with different levels of added iron were determined. Addition of iron to soil decreased potassium, sodium and magnesium contents in spinach markedly (p < 0.05), while the contents of zinc, manganese and copper in spinach were not significantly altered (p > 0.05). Differential behavior of spinach varieties was found in the zinc, manganese and sodium contents.

The results of surgical management of displaced tibial plateau fractures in the elderly

We retrospectively reviewed 32 elderly patients (mean age 71.7 years, range 66-83 years) with displaced tibial plateau fractures after a mean of 3.7 years (range 1-7 years) after operative treatment. Schatzker type 2 fracture was the commonest pattern of fracture (60.3 per cent). According to the modified Rasmussen clinical and radiographic criteria, there were nine excellent, 14 good, five fair and four poor results clinically, and 11 excellent, 12 good, six fair and three poor results radiographically. There was no significant correlation between the final radiographic appearance and clinical outcome. Fourteen patients mobilized postoperatively on a continuous passive motion machine followed by a cast brace had a better result than those mobilized in a cast brace alone, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.29). Postoperative complications included deep vein thrombosis in two patients.

In vitro bioavailability of iron from spinach (Spinacea oleracea) cultivated in soil fortified with graded levels of iron and zinc

A pot-culture experiment was conducted to assess the bioavailability of iron from spinach cultivated in soil fortified with graded levels of iron and zinc (FeSO4 x 7H2(0) and ZnSO4 x 7H2(0), respectively). Applications of varying levels of iron to soil increased the total iron and phosphorus contents and decreased the zinc content (P < 0.05). The effect of applying varying levels of zinc was the opposite of on the minerals in spinach. The ascorbic acid content was remarkably reduced with varying levels of iron and zinc. Higher levels of zinc and lower levels of iron in the soil increased the bioavailability of iron from spinach (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the interactions of 15 ppm zinc with 30 ppm iron significantly enhanced the bioavailability of iron, total iron and zinc contents.

In vitro availability of iron from selected nuts and oilseeds

Availability of iron from sixteen varieties of selected nuts and oilseeds was assessed by in vitro method. Wide and significant variations were recorded in the contents of total and ionisable iron and in the bioavailability of iron of the nuts and oilseeds. The total iron content was the highest in nigre seeds and the lowest in linseed seeds. Bioavailability of iron was significantly high from pistachio nut and almond and markedly low from groundnut. Most of the nuts and oilseeds were found to have less than 10 percent of bioavailability of iron, hence, they were not considered as good sources of iron among plant foods.

Effects of different levels of intravenous alpha-linolenic acid and supplemental breast milk on red blood cell docosahexaenoic acid in very low birth-weight infants

Preterm infants weighing less than 1,500 g were started on total parenteral nutrition (TPN) if unable to tolerate full enteral feedings. They were randomly assigned to receive intravenous lipids containing either 4.2 or 9.0% alpha-linolenic acid to assess the effect on red blood cell (RBC) phospholipid polyenoic fatty acid composition, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n3) (DHA). DHA ultimately comes from alpha-linolenic acid (18:3n3), although there is evidence in human preterm infants that they require preformed DHA. After 1 week of TPN, infants were started on gradually increasing amounts of enteral feeding, breast milk, if elected by mothers, or premature milk formula (Preemie Enfamil). RBC phospholipid fatty acids were measured weekly. Results were evaluated comparing samples from week 1 and week 6. Supplying 9% alpha-linolenic acid in intravenous lipids did not prevent a fall in DHA by 6 weeks; however, infants receiving breast-milk feeding did not have a significant decrease in DHA. Studies are needed to evaluate supplying DHA in intravenous lipids.

Intussusception: a rare complication following abdominal hysterectomy

A 35-year-old parous woman was treated with abdominal hysterectomy for uterine myomata. The patient developed intussusception in the immediate postoperative period and was managed by laparotomy and manual reduction. The difficulties in diagnosis and management of this rare complication are discussed.

Postcoital vesico-vaginal fistula following surgery for cancer cervix

A 25-year-old parous woman was treated with radical hysterectomy for cancer of the cervix. Six months later she developed a vesico-vaginal fistula following coitus. The fistula was repaired and vaginal reconstruction performed. Sexual dysfunction and the need for vaginal reconstruction are discussed.

Isolation and mapping of a gene for protein synthesis initiation factor 4A and its expression during differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells

Eukaryotic protein synthesis initiation factor 4A (eIF-4A), a 46-kDa polypeptide, is involved both in mRNA cap recognition and in the binding of mRNA to 40S ribosomal subunits. A 41-mer oligodeoxynucleotide probe was synthesized complementary to a portion of the published coding sequence of eIF-4A mRNA [Nielsen et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 13 (1985) 6867-6870] and used to screen a mouse genomic library. We have isolated and characterized a full-length clone from that library. The eIF-4A sequence is contained in eleven exons. The eleventh exon also has the 3'-nontranslated sequence and two separate polyadenylation sites. Northern-blot analysis of mouse poly(A)+RNA indicates that there are several distinct mRNA species coding for eIF-4A. Two of these contain the same coding sequence and differ only in the length of the 3'-nontranslated region. Two of the eIF-4A mRNAs are therefore likely to be the result of differential processing at the 3'-end. We have used a fragment of the genomic clone to measure the steady-state levels of eIF-4A mRNA during the induced differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells. S1 nuclease protection experiments demonstrated that by the fourth day after induction eIF-4A mRNA declined to 25% of its steady-state level in uninduced cells. In contrast, the steady-state level of beta-globin mRNA increased dramatically during differentiation. In vitro transcription assays using nuclei isolated from uninduced and induced cells show that the rate of transcription of eIF-4A mRNA was 40% greater in differentiated cells, indicating a posttranscriptional component is involved in the regulation of the steady-state mRNA level.

Effects of prolonged versus acute indomethacin therapy in very low birth-weight infants with patent ductus arteriosus

Indomethacin has proven effective in closing the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in most low birth weight (LBW) neonates with this disorder. Early reopening of the ductus is a problem and often leads to the need for surgery. Prolonged use of indomethacin for several days has been suggested as a means to alleviate this problem. The present study was designed to determine if prolonged therapy over 5 days is more effective than a two-dose regimen in preventing reopening of the PDA. Seventy neonates were randomized for either prolonged therapy over 1 week or to receive two doses of indomethacin. All infants were given two doses of indomethacin 0.15 mg per kg, 12h apart. The maintenance group received an additional 0.1 mg per kg daily for 5 days. Ten days after the infants' initial dose of indomethacin, 6 of 22 in the nonmaintenance group as compared to 0 of 22 in the maintenance group had reopening of their ductus arteriosus. Ten infants in the maintenance group eventually had the ductus reopen at a median of 29, range 11-66 days compared to a median of 3, range 2-44 days in the nonmaintenance group. Significantly fewer babies in the maintenance group had a grade II-IV intraventricular hemorrhage compared to the nonmaintenance group. There was no other significant difference in the two groups in the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis, retrolental fibroplasia or death. Indomethacin given over 5 days is effective for closure of the ductus arteriosus and will prevent reopening until after the acute clinical course in babies under 1500 g; however, the overall incidence of reopening was not different.

Expression of a gene for mouse eucaryotic elongation factor Tu during murine erythroleukemic cell differentiation

The eucaryotic elongation factor Tu (eEF-Tu) is a single polypeptide with an approximate Mr of 53,000. During protein synthesis eEF-Tu promotes the binding of aminoacyl-tRNA to the ribosome. To study the expression of the gene(s) for this factor, a genomic clone was isolated that contains a mouse eEF-Tu gene. We screened a phage genomic library with a synthetic oligonucleotide probe complementary to a region of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Artemia sp. eEF-Tu genes which codes for an area that is highly conserved between both yeast and Artemia sp. eEF-Tu. From approximately 75,000 phage plaques we obtained five isolates with apparently identical inserts. All five clones contained a 3.8-kilobase EcoRI fragment that hybridized to additional oligonucleotide probes corresponding to different conserved regions of eEF-Tu. We sequenced the 5' end of one genomic clone and determined the length of the cloned fragment that was protected by eEF-Tu mRNA in S1 nuclease protection assays. A quantitative S1 nuclease protection assay was used to compare the relative steady-state levels of eEF-Tu mRNA in total mRNA in total RNA isolated from hexamethylene-bisacetamide-induced murine erythroleukemia cells. The results show a dramatic reduction in the steady-state level of eEF-Tu mRNA as differentiation proceeds. A similar reduction in transcription of eEF-Tu mRNA was observed in isolated nuclei. Finally, we examined the in vivo synthesis of eEF-Tu during differentiation and found that it declined in a manner parallel to the decline in the steady-state level of eEF-Tu mRNA. In addition, we have isolated and sequenced a cDNA clone for mouse eEF-Tu. The derived amino acid sequence is compared with sequences from other eucaryotes.

Nutritional Factors Affecting Growth and Production of Antimicrobial Substances by Streptococcus lactis subsp. diacetylactis S1-67/C

The present study pertains to the effect of nutritional factors on the growth and production of antimicrobial substances (AS) by Streptococcus lactis subsp. diacetylactis S₁-67/C. Among nine media tested, yeast extract dextrose broth supported good growth and maximum production of AS. Addition of beef extract and yeast extract at 1.0 and 0.6% levels, respectively, increased growth as well as production of AS. Of ten carbohydrates examined, maximum production of AS was achieved with 1% glucose followed by fructose, 4% molasses, lactose, sucrose, galactose, mannitol, maltose and 2% molasses. Xylose inhibited production of AS, although it stimulated growth of the organism. Peptone, tryptone and tryptose (each at the 1.5% level) significantly stimulated production of AS. Other nitrogen sources, including soytone, casein hydrolysate and proteose peptone, retarded production of inhibitory substances. Among the amino acids, L-leucine, DL-methionine and L-glutamic acid were most essential for growth and production of AS, whereas L-lysine, L-proline, DL-serine, DL-asparatic acid, L-arginine-HCl and DL-tryptophan were stimulatory. Other amino acids such as DL-ornithine, L-cysteine-HCl and DL-citrulline slightly stimulated AS production. In the presence of cynocobalmin, niacin, folic acid, calcium pantothenate and riboflavin, S. lactis subsp. diacetylactis S₁-67/C produced maximum amounts of inhibitory substances. Omission of individual mineral salts from the basal medium did not affect production of AS by the organism.

Preliminary Studies on Antimicrobial Activity of Streptococcus lactis subsp. diacetylactis

Streptococcus lactis subsp. diacetylactis is well-known for its ability to inhibit pathogenic and milk spoilage microorganisms. In this study, an attempt was made to standardize the method for estimation of antimicrobial activity of the organism. Fourteen strains of S. lactis subsp. diacetylactis were examined for production of antimicrobial substances and all strains were found to produce antimicrobial substances. Of the strains, strain DRC₁ produced maximum amounts of antimicrobial substances followed by strains DRC₂ and S₁. Mutants of S₁ (S₁-67/C and S₁-195) produced higher amounts of antimicrobial substances than all other strains tested. The antimicrobial properties of strains S₁-67/C were assessed against 28 bacterial and mold cultures. Cell-free filtrates of S₁-67/C strain were more inhibitory to gram-negative than gram-positive bacteria. This organism also inhibited the growth of Geotrichum candidum but failed to inhibit other molds tested in this study.

Documenting clinicopathologic consultations

The role of the clinical pathologist as a provider of services reimbursable under Medicare Part B is increasingly being challenged. This article reports how a group of pathologists is successfully providing consultations that meet the guidelines of Medicare and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals.

Unusual case of laryngeal foreign body

The foreign bodies in respiratory tract have been major cause of morbidity and present as challenge to otolaryngologist. The spectrum of presentation varies widely from sudden death due to respiratory obstruction to accidental finding during routine investigation. One case of unusual presentation of laryngeal foreign body with loss of voice is described here. Key words: Respiratory obstruction laryngeal; foreign body DOI: 10.3126/jcmsn.v6i1.3601 Journal of College of Medical Sciences-Nepal, 2010, Vol. 6, No. 1, 44-46