Search for lepton flavor violating decays of a heavy neutral particle in p(-)p collisions at sqrt[s]=1.8 TeV

We report on a search for a high mass, narrow width particle that decays directly to emu, etau, or microtau. We use approximately 110 pb(-1) of data collected with the Collider Detector at Fermilab from 1992 to 1995. No evidence of lepton flavor violating decays is found. Limits are set on the production and decay of sneutrinos with R-parity violating interactions.

Spastic quadriparesis: an unusual early manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an uncommon immunological disorder with multisystemic involvement. Neurological and neuropsychiatric manifestations in this disease are multifactorial and can involve any part of this system. We describe one patient presenting with spastic quadriparesis as an early clinical manifestation of SLE. This disease should be kept in mind in such a setting, especially if abnormalities in hemogram and urine analysis are seen. Early diagnosis and aggressive therapy may improve the neurological outcome.

Central pseudorapidity gaps in events with a leading antiproton at the fermilab tevatron pp collider

We report a measurement of the fraction of events with a large pseudorapidity gap deltaeta within the pseudorapidity region available to the proton dissociation products X in p+p-->p+X. For a final state p of fractional momentum loss xi(p) and 4-momentum transfer squared t(p) within 0.06<xi(p)<0.09 and |t(p)|<1.0 [0.2] GeV2 at sqrt[s]=1800 [630] GeV, the fraction of events with deltaeta>3 is found to be 0.246+/-0.001 (stat)+/-0.042 (syst) [0.184+/-0.001 (stat)+/-0.043 (syst)]. Our results are compared with gap fractions measured in minimum bias pp collisions and with theoretical expectations.

Search for the supersymmetric partner of the top quark in dilepton events from pp collisions at square root of s=1.8 TeV

We have searched for pair production of the supersymmetric partner of the top quark (stop) in 107 pb(-1) of pp collisions at square root of s=1.8 TeV collected by the Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF). Each stop is assumed to decay into a lepton, bottom quark, and supersymmetric neutrino. Such a scenario would give rise to events with two leptons, two hadronic jets, and a substantial imbalance of transverse energy. No evidence of such a stop signal has been found. We exclude stop masses in the region (80</=m(t)</=135 GeV/c(2)) in the mass plane of stop versus sneutrino.

Search for associated production of Upsilon and vector boson in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=1.8 TeV

We present a search for associated production of the Upsilon(1S) and a vector boson in 83 pb(-1) of ppmacr; collisions at sqrt[s]=1.8 TeV collected by the CDF experiment in 1994-1995. We find no evidence of the searched signal in the data, and set upper limits to the production cross sections.

Renal lymphangiomatosis: a rare cause of bilateral nephromegaly

We report the ultrasound, excretory urography and MR findings in a young child with renal lymphangiomatosis who presented with gradually progressive bilateral flank swelling but who was otherwise asymptomatic. The typical perirenal and parapelvic cysts are visualized as hypoechoic lesions on sonography and hyperintense on T2-weighted HASTE images. T1-weighted image could not delineate the cysts clearly. The renal parenchyma was hyperechoic on sonography, and MRI showed reversal of the normal corticomedullary signal intensity, and confirmed the diagnosis by suggesting the non-parenchymal origin of the cysts.

Missile injuries of the brain: results of less aggressive surgery

Sixty cases of missile injuries (59 males, average age 25 years) were studied over a period of one year. Forty-three patients had suffered splinter injuries, 12 had gunshot wounds and 5 had suffered injuries from improvised explosive devices. The Glasgow coma scale was <5 in 8 patients, 5-8 in 14, 8-12 in 30 and 13-15 in 8 patients. Extensive comminution of skull bones was found in 10 patients. Thirty-five patients had penetration of the skull and the rest had orbito-cranial or facio-cranial wounds. CT scan revealed small hemorrhagic contusion with in-driven bones without mass effect in 15, contusion with mass effect in 36 cases, cortical contusions without in-driven bones (tangential injuries) in 3, distant intracranial contusions in 4, intraventricular hemorrhages in 5, multilobar injuries in 14, and unilobar injury in 40. Fifty-two patients were operated upon at our center, of which 30 were operated within 24 hrs, 10 between 24 to 48 hrs, and 12 between 48 to 72 hrs. Six patients were treated conservatively and 2 underwent only a simple closure of scalp wound. Craniectomy was done in 10 and craniotomy in 42 patients. Two patients developed wound sepsis, one had aspiration pneumonia, one had septicemia and one had deep vein thrombosis while one had post-traumatic hydrocephalus. On follow-up at 6 months, the outcome as per the Glasgow outcome scale was as follows: Good outcome in 42, moderate disability in 7, severe disability in 6 and death of 5 patients. Retained bone fragments were found in 36.3 % on follow-up CT scan but no one had brain abscess.

An audit of the incidence of arm lymphoedema after prophylactic level I/II axillary dissection without division of the pectoralis minor muscle

Lymphoedema is reported to occur in approximately one in four women following curative treatment for breast cancer. Reported rates are almost exclusively for level 1,2,3 axillary clearance with few data for the current practice of level 1,2 dissections. Swelling can affect the whole upper limb but frequently will remain restricted to hand, forearm or upper arm. The aims of this study were to determine incidence after level 1,2 dissection, degree and site of swelling and risk factors which might determine such incidences. Results were available on 198 patients. The cumulative prevalence of lymphoedema after level 1,2 dissections was 14% in the arm, 12% in the forearm and 16% in the hand, assuming a circumference difference of more than 5% indicated lymphoedema. Moderate lymphoedema representing more than 10% circumference difference was found in 1% (arm), 3.5% (forearm) and 0.5% in the hand. Risk factors for lymphoedema were experience of the surgeon (upper arm only), dominant limb (forearm only) and right-sided cancer treatment (for hand only). When lymphoedema in any site was considered, right-sided treatment and nodal status were independently significant.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that lymphoedema is a common complication following level 1,2 dissection. Whole limb volume is often considered the main outcome measure for detecting lymphoedema and determining success of treatment, yet swelling may be restricted to regions of the limb and site specific circumference measurements are therefore recommended. Pre- and postoperative circumference measurements are likely to be the most sensitive way of determining presence of lymphoedema following surgery for breast cancer.

Search for long-lived charged massive particles in pp collisions at square root s = 1.8 TeV

We report a search for the production of long-lived charged massive particles in a data sample of 90 pb(-1) of square root[s]=1.8 TeV pp collisions recorded by the Collider Detector at Fermilab. The search uses the muonlike penetration and anomalously high ionization energy loss signature expected for such a particle to discriminate it from backgrounds. The data are found to agree with background expectations, and cross section limits of O(1) pb are derived using two reference models, a stable quark and a stable scalar lepton.

Comparative studies of global migration levels of recycled vs virgin polyethylene for packing and storage of milk

The use of Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is increased for packaging and storage of food, milk etc. Virgin polyethylene is safe due to non-toxic, inertness and insoluble in milk. It is a replacement of conventional bottle packing of milk. Detection of contamination of milk contact of LDPE film in which milk was packed is being done by global migration method. LDPE films developed by well known technique i.e. Blown film extrusion technique, containing different ratio of virgin-recycled polyethylene materials as well as additives such antioxidants, filler, colourant etc. The impact of above LDPE films on the quality of milk was studied by global migration testing. After analyzing the observed results, it is found that the values of global migration increase with increase in percentage of recycled granules and percentage and type of additives in the film.

Feasibility and safety of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in patients with subtotal gastrectomy

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

We aimed to study the technical feasibility, safety, efficacy and complications of endoscopic feeding tube placement in patients who had previously undergone subtotal gastrectomy. We also investigated whether jejunal feeding tube placement (percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy [PEJ]) is superior to gastric feeding tube placement (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy [PEG]) in the prevention of aspiration pneumonia in patients with subtotal gastrectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was carried out which included 48 patients treated between 1995 and 2001. Participants were selected from 3400 patients who were referred for PEG placement. The study group consisted of 15 consecutive patients with a prior subtotal gastrectomy. The control group comprised 33 randomly selected patients with intact stomachs. The primary end point of the study concerned the safety of PEG placement. The secondary end points included the efficacy and technical difficulty of the procedure.

RESULTS

PEG/PEJ placement was successful in 14 of the 15 patients (93 %) who had previously had a subtotal gastrectomy. None of the study patients developed procedure-related complications. Feeding intolerance was more common in patients with gastrectomy compared with patients with an intact stomach, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (10 % vs. 3 %, P>0.05). A significantly higher incidence of pneumonia was observed in patients with gastrectomy compared with patients with an intact stomach (P=0.01). Subgroup analysis showed that the risk was higher with jejunal tube placement compared with gastric tube placement (42 % vs. 12 %, P=0.001).

CONCLUSION

PEG/PEJ placement in patients with gastrectomy is a technically safe procedure. These patients are at higher risk of aspiration pneumonia and risk is higher with jejunal tube placement compared with gastric tube placement.

Prospective study of pattern of breast diseases at Nepalgunj Medical College (NGMC), Nepal

INTRODUCTION

Patients of breast diseases of female are very common cases attending surgical out patient department for treatment at NGMC, Banke, Nepal.

OBJECTIVES

To find out the magnitude of the breast diseases, its frequency distribution in different age group among the patients attending surgical OPD for surgical consultation.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

This is a prospective study conducted at NGMC, Nepalgunj, Nepal. Patients attending surgical OPD for one or another breast problem were included. They were assessed clinically and their diagnosis was confirmed by cytological (FNAC) or histopathological (biopsy) examination. Then they were subjected to appropriate treatment. It must be mentioned at the outset that no clinical mammography could be done in the case of this study as these facilities are not available at NGMC.

RESULTS

264 cases of breast disease were diagnosed. This includes 232 female and 32 male patients. The ratio between benign and malignant lesions was 13.6:1. The benign breast diseases (BBD) were the commonest lesions of the breast found in this study (93.2%) whereas malignant lesion was infrequent (6.8%). Among BBD, the commonest lesion was fibroadenoma (32.57%) followed by breast abscess (24.19%), Aberration of Normal Development and Involution (ANDI) which was 16.63% and gynecomastia (11.34%). 18 cases (6.80%) were of malignant lesion. This includes 16 female and 2 male cases. The common ages for BBD were, 20-40 years for fibroadenoma, 15-40 years for breast abscess, 18-40 years for ANDI and 10-19, 50-59 for gynecomastia respectively, whereas carcinoma breast was common in the age group of forties and fifties.

CONCLUSION

We conclude from this study that BBD were the most frequent breast lesion. Among the BBD fibroadenoma was the commonest lesion. Breast carcinoma cases were less frequent and reached to the hospital in very late stage of the disease.

Orofacial conidiobolomycosis due to Conidiobolus incongruus

We report here a patient of orofacial conidiobolomycosis presenting with classical centrofacial distribution described typically for Conidiobolus coronatus infection. The culture, however, showed C. incongruus. The mode of infection and its possible correlation with patient's occupation is also discussed.

Association of vitamin A, vitamin C and zinc with laryngeal cancer

BACKGROUND

The incidence of the cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus and larynx in different population groups of India is amongst the highest reported in Asian countries. There is evidence that high dietary carotenoids and vitamin C may possibly decrease the risk of laryngeal cancer. Limited data is available from India on the association between these micronutrients and the risk of laryngeal cancer.

AIMS

To assess the levels of vitamin A, vitamin C and zinc in laryngeal cancer patients and healthy controls.

SETTING AND DESIGN

A hospital based case- control study.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

One hundred and fifty five laryngeal cancer patients and a control group of 155 healthy individuals constituted the study population. Individuals in the control group were individually matched with the patients for their age +/- 2 years, sex and place of residence. Venous blood was drawn from the cases and controls and estimations of vitamin A, zinc and vitamin C was done utilizing the standard procedures.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Paired 't' test to compare the mean serum levels of vitamin A and zinc and plasma vitamin C between laryngeal cancer patients and controls. Univariate logistic regression analysis to calculate the odds ratios and the confidence intervals.

RESULTS

The mean serum vitamin A, zinc and plasma vitamin C levels were significantly lower in laryngeal cancer patients as compared to the controls.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the present study indicated a strong association of these micronutrients with laryngeal cancer in the Indian population.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy: current trends and applications

Hyperbaric medicine is the fascinating use of barometric pressure for delivering increased oxygen dissolved in plasma to body tissues. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HOT) or hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) involves intermittent inhalation of 100% oxygen under a pressure exceeding that of the atmosphere, that is greater than 1 atmosphere absolute (ATA). Therapy is given in special therapeutic chambers which were earlier used primarily to treat illnesses of deep sea divers. There is recently a renewed interest in this field all over the world. Acute traumatic wounds, crush injuries, burns, gas gangrene and compartment syndrome are indications where addition of hyperbaric oxygen may be life and limb saving. Patients who are suffering with non-healing ulcers, decubitus ulcers (bed sores) and all late sequelae of radiation therapy are also benefited with HBO therapy. Acute hearing loss and many neurological illnesses are also now known to possibly benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This article aims to give a brief overview of the rationale, existing trends and applications of this therapy.

Search for a W' boson decaying to a top and bottom quark pair in 1.8 TeV pp collisions

We report the results of a search for a W' boson produced in pp; collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.8 TeV using a 106 pb(-1) data sample recorded by the Collider Detector at Fermilab. We observe no significant excess of events above background for a W' boson decaying to a top and bottom quark pair. In a model where this boson would mediate interactions involving a massive right-handed neutrino (nu(R)) and have standard model strength couplings, we use these data to exclude a W' boson with mass between 225 and 536 GeV/c(2) at 95% confidence level for M(W')>>M(nu(R)) and between 225 and 566 GeV/c(2) at 95% confidence level for M(W')<M(nu(R)).

Progastrin1-80 stimulates growth of intestinal epithelial cells in vitro via high-affinity binding sites

Proliferation and carcinogenesis of the large intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) cells is significantly increased in transgenic mice that overexpress the precursor progastrin (PG) peptide. It is not known if the in vivo growth effects of PG on IEC cells are mediated directly or indirectly. Full-length recombinant human PG (rhPG(1-80)) was generated to examine possible direct effects of PG on IEC cells. Surprisingly, rhPG (0.1-1.0 nM) was more effective than the completely processed gastrin 17 (G17) peptide as a growth factor. Even though IEC cells did not express CCK(1) and CCK(2) receptors (-R), fluorescently labeled G17 and Gly-extended G17 (G-Gly) were specifically bound to the cells, suggesting the presence of binding proteins other than CCK(1)-R and CCK(2)-R on IEC cells. High-affinity (K(d) = 0.5-1.0 nM) binding sites for (125)I-rhPG were discovered on IEC cells that demonstrated relative binding affinity for gastrin-like peptides in the order PG >or= COOH-terminally extended G17 >or= G-Gly > G17 > *CCK-8 (* significant difference; P < 0.05). In conclusion, our studies demonstrate for the first time direct growth effects of the full-length precursor peptide on IEC cells in vitro that are apparently mediated by the high-affinity PG binding sites that were discovered on these cells.

Contact vitiligo: etiology and treatment

Fifty patients of contact vitiligo were studied. Etiological agents of contact vitiligo were identified by clinical history, distribution of lesions and patch testing with suspected material. All patients were advised to avoid the suspected agent and treated with PUVASOL and topical steroid. Out of 50 patients (Male 8%, Female 92% age 14-60 years)., etiological agent of contact vitiligo was found to be sticking bindi alone in 24 (48%), while bindi along with other etiological agents were found to be purse, foot wear, plastic watch strap, lipstick and tooth paste in 14 (28%) cases. 14 (28%) patients also had disseminated lesions of vitiligo along with contact vitiligo. Positive reaction with patch testing was observed in 18 (36%) while depigmentation was seen in 4 (8%) cases. We observed that response of treatment was better in patients with shorter duration of disease while poor response was seen in patients with longer duration of disease.

MAGNESIUM SULPHATE VERSUS PHENYTOIN FOR ECLAMPSIA: ONE YEAR PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Aim: Eclampsia is one of the important preventable causes of maternal mortality.This study aims to review the clinical profile of eclamptic women and compare thematernal mortality, recurrence of convulsions, other morbidities including the neonataloutcome with Magnesium Sulphate versus Phenytoin used for its management.Material and Methods: Prospective study was carried out in all the eclamptic patientadmitted in Gynae ward from April 2000 - April 2001 (Baisak 2057 to Chaitra 2057).Results: There were total of 30 patients.Most of the them (53.3%) were of the 15-20years of age group and three fourth (73%) were primigravidas. More than half (56%)were unbooked and one fourth were nonimmunised and illiterate .Blood pressure hadnever been measured in 63% of the patient . In the Phenytoin Group 68.75% hadrecurrences of fits where as in the Magnesium Sulphate Group only 21.43 % hadreccurence. In the Magnesium Sulphate group, 50% delivered normally whereas 42.5%needed caesarean section in the Phenytoin group Only 6.2% delivered normally andin 37.5 % forceps had to be applied. There were 37.50% admission to NeonatalIntensive Unit (NICU) for various complications in Phenytoin group whereas therewere only 14.2% NICU admission in Magnesium Sulphate group. There were twocases of neonatal deaths out of 16 neonates in the Phenytoin group whereas only oneout of 14 cases in Magnesium Sulphate group. There was only one maternal death inthese thirty patients and it belonged to the Phenytoin group.Conclusion: As proved in many other studies this study also showed that MagnesiumSulphate was superior to Phenytoin in terms of recurrence of fits, maternal and neonataloutcome. In our country where many deaths still occur due to Eclampsia the valuablerole of magnesium Sulphate should not be ignored and health personnels should betrained for its frequently than it is practiced to-day.Key Words: Eclampsia, Preeclampsia, Magnesium Sulphate, Phenytion.

pp60c-Src Kinase mediates growth effects of the full-length precursor progastrin1-80 peptide on rat intestinal epithelial cells, in vitro

Growth factor effects of precursor forms of gastrins have become evident in recent years. However, intracellular pathways that mediate growth effects of the precursor molecules are not known. In previous studies, we reported an increase in Tyr phosphorylation of pp60(c-Src) in intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) in response to the fully processed form of gastrin [gastrin(1-17) (G17)]. We have now examined whether c-Src kinase is similarly phosphorylated and activated in response to the full-length precursor molecule, progastrin (PG)(1-80), (recombinant human PG) in IEC cells. We found a significant increase in pp60(c-Src) kinase activity in response to both G17 and PG (0.1-1.0 nM), suggesting that growth effects of both the precursor and fully processed gastrin molecules may be mediated via similar pathways. On the other hand, pp62(c-Yes) was not phosphorylated or activated in response to either G17 or PG. To examine whether c-Src kinase mediates proliferative effects of PG, IEC cells were microinjected with anti-Src-IgG and (3)H-thymidine ((3)H-Tdr) uptake of the cells measured. Control cells received nonimmune IgG. The (3)H-Tdr uptake of cells stimulated with 1.0 nM PG was significantly reduced in cells microinjected with anti-c-Src-IgG; control IgG had no effect. In cells stimulated with 1.0% fetal calf serum, microinjection with c-Src-IgG had no effect on (3)H-Tdr uptake. The specificity of the effect was further confirmed by blocking the inhibitory effect of anti-c-Src-IgG with antigenic Src peptide. These results suggest that activation of c-Src kinase likely represents a critical step in mediating proliferative effects of both the precursor and fully processed forms of gastrins on IEC.

Limits on extra dimensions and new particle production in the exclusive photon and missing energy signature in pp collisions at square root [s]=1.8 TeV

The exclusive gammaE(T) signal has a small standard model cross section and is thus a channel sensitive to new physics. This signature is predicted by models with a superlight gravitino or with large extra spatial dimensions. We search for such signals at the Collider Detector at Fermilab, using 87 pb(-1) of data at square root [s]=1.8 TeV, and extract 95% C.L. limits on these processes. A limit of 221 GeV is set on the scale |F|(1/2) in supersymmetric models. For 4, 6, and 8 extra dimensions, model-dependent limits on the fundamental mass scale M(D) of 0.55, 0.58, and 0.60 TeV, respectively, are found. We also specify a "pseudo-model-independent" method of comparing the results to theoretical predictions.

Successful treatment of pulmonary artery aneurysms secondary to possible Behçet's disease

Pulmonary artery aneurysm (PAA) secondary to Behçet's disease (BD) is a rare condition. The commonest presentation is hemoptysis, which can be fatal. Though the classical triad of recurrent oral and genital ulcers and relapsing iritis is present in most patients of BD, isolated pulmonary artery involvement termed as incomplete BD has been reported. Prompt diagnosis and immunosuppressive therapy can cause regression of aneurysm and prevent fatal hemoptysis. We report a case of PAA due to BD who presented with hemoptysis and responded to steroid therapy.