Serum and peritoneal abnormalities in endometriosis: potential use as diagnostic markers

Endometriosis is an ambiguous disease and its exact pathogenesis still remains elusive to clinicians and scientists. Local and systemic aberrations in immune response are associated with endometriosis. This article reviews the literature regarding various immunological factors such as cytokines, growth factors, adhesion molecules and angiogenic factors involved in the etiopathogenesis of this disease. Our review summarizes the literature regarding biomarkers, which may be reliable nonsurgical tools used in the diagnosis of endometriosis. Superior biomarkers characterized by high sensitivity, specificity and predictive value can help in the early detection and monitoring of disease progression as well as its response to therapeutic treatments critical for its management. A combination predictive model utilizing multiple biomarkers rather then individual markers alone is proposed to improve the diagnostic performance for identifying women with a high likelihood of having endometriosis. Immunomodulators and angiogenic factor blockers have a potential for endometriosis treatment and also to alleviate the pain or infertility associated with the disease. Potential new therapeutic agents include modulators, such as cytokine receptor blockers and angiogenic receptor blockers, presently used for treating endometriosis.

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.

Hemichorea resulting from single enhancing computed tomography lesion

A single small enhancing computerized tomographic lesion is a common finding in Indian patients with seizures, particularly focal seizures. A small single enhancing computed tomography lesion also presents with varied non-epileptic manifestations viz. focal neurological deficits, episodic vascular headache, syndrome of increased intracranial pressure, etc. Here we present a case of hemichorea resulting from single enhancing CT lesion. A 12-year-old female presented with acute onset abnormal movements involving right side of body. A clinical diagnosis of right hemichorea was made and patient was subjected to neuroimaging along with other investigations. CT scan showed a single ring-enhancing lesion with perifocal edema in left thalamic area suggestive of neurocysticercosis. Patient was treated with albendazole, steroids and haloperidol therapy. Patient showed marked improvement at follow-up after one month. Repeat CT scan revealed resolution of lesion. This case has been reported because hemichorea in young female is usually caused by post-streptococcal infection and it is quite rare presentation of small ring enhancing lesion.