Serum lactate dehydrogenase in head and neck malignancy patients

50 patients of head and neck malignancy were selected for this study while excluding those associated with renal, hepatic, cardiac and metabolic diseases. Age and sex matched even number of controls were also included for comparison. Serum LDH levels in the control group were 124.2 +/- 3.50 I.U./L. Higher levels of LDH were observed in patients with malignancy of head and neck (335.50 +/- 21.60 I.U./L, P < 0.001). Serum LDH level was also related to histopathological stage of malignancy, being higher in poorly differentiated tumour as compared to moderate and well differentiated malignancy. Patients without metastasis had insignificantly lower serum LDH levels as compared to those with metastasis.

Host resistance assays as predictive models in styrene immunomodulation

Three infection models namely an oncogenic virus Encephalomyocarditis (EMCV), a rodent strain of malaria, Plasmodium berghei, and a rodent hookworm parasite, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, were used to confirm the in vivo immunotoxic potential of styrene reported in our previous communication. The altered host resistance to these challenge infections was evaluated in rodents pre-treated with 0, 0.02, 0.03 or 0.05 x LD50 dose of styrene (5 days/week) for 4 weeks. Significantly increased mortality in mice was observed at the various tested dose levels of styrene when challenged with EMCV. Similarly the results obtained in the malaria infection model indicated increased blood parasitaemia as well as significantly enhanced mortality in styrene-treated animals. Also the rejection of N. brasiliensis was also found to be significantly impaired in animals treated with a higher dose of styrene. These results indicate that the exposure of rodents to styrene can markedly impair host resistance which may have biological significance.

Overlap between Majewski and hydrolethalus syndromes: a report of two cases

We present 2 unrelated fetuses with manifestations of both the hydrolethalus syndrome and the short rib-polydactyly syndrome, type Majewski. It is proposed that cases of hydrolethalus syndrome with short limbs constitute a separate type of lethal osteochondrodysplasia mimicking short rib-polydactyly syndromes.

Prostaglandin-F2 alpha levels in normal saline-induced mid-trimester abortions

In 20 mid-trimester abortion seekers induced by extra-amniotic instillation of normal saline, serial estimation of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) in the plasma and extra-ovular space were carried out. It was observed that PGF2 alpha was undetectable in both plasma and the extra-ovular space prior to the onset of induction, and was first detected in the extra-ovular fluid 2 hours after the onset of induction, prior to oxytocin infusion. In the subsequent samples, the prostaglandin concentration in plasma as well as in the extra-ovular fluid was found to rise, with levels in the latter showing a more significant rise with time as compared to the former. Thus, this study confirms the hypothesis that the mechanism of action of extra-ovular normal saline instillation in mid-trimester termination of pregnancy is the result of separation of fetal membranes from the uterine wall, leading to the release of prostaglandins which, in turn, causes uterine contractions leading to abortion.

Virulence of Giardia lamblia: an in vitro study on host-parasite interaction

Trophozoites of G. lamblia, a human parasite, were lysed by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) of healthy individuals during in vitro interaction. However, the parasite damaged PMNL of giardiasis patients. A prior treatment of giardia trophozoites with anti-giardia serum, caused agglutination of pathogen and, thereby, the cytotoxic capacity of the parasite was reduced. Interaction of giardia-trophozoites with peritoneal macrophage, derived from infected mouse, reduced the phagocytic activity of the latter to 43% (against 100% in control). Macrophage activity was, however, stimulated to 131% when the mice were immunized with giardia antigen prior to experimental infection. Giardia extract proved cytotoxic at a dose of 0.7 mg, to HeLa cells in tissue culture. These in vitro studies offer experimental evidence of the cytotoxic and immuno-toxic behaviour of G. lamblia towards the host cells.

Radioprotection of peripheral blood cells with a combination of hydroxytryptophan and a thiol compound in mice

Radiation induced changes in peripheral blood cells were studied in male Swiss albino mice after 4 Gy and 10 Gy whole body gamma irradiation with and without pretreatment with 2-amino-ethylisothiuronium bromide hydrobromide (AET) or with a combination of 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan (5-HTP) and AET. Combination of 5-HTP with AET or AET alone in a high dose achieved excellent protection against both 4 Gy and 10 Gy whole body irradiation as regards peripheral blood cell counts.

Evaluation of two compounds as possible radioprotectors

Radioprotecting effectiveness of S-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl] 4-methylbenzothiohydroximate hydrochloride (Dev-B-9) and S-[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]alpha-keto 4-methyl benzothiohydroximate hydrochloride (Dev-B 43) were evaluated by both survival studies in mice exposed to 10.5 Gy whole body gamma-irradiation and 24 hours deoxycytidine (CdR) excretion in urine of rats following 5 Gy irradiation. The drugs were tested after intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration. The drugs rendered significant protection in sublethal (5 Gy) irradiation but could not protect against 10.5 Gy exposure.

Folk-lore medicinal plants of dumka (bihar)

The present paper reports medicinal properties of 69 plants of Dumka forest division of Dumka district of Bihar. The information is gathered from the tribals and local physicians inhabiting the forest.

Pathological analysis of intracranial tumors

An analysis of 145 intracranial tumors observed in the Department of Pathology, Maulana Azad Medical College, and associated Irwin and G.B. Pant Hospitals was carried out. The relative frequency of the different tumors, their site, and the age and sex of the patients is reported, and compared with previous reports in the literature.

The detection of endometrial tuberculosis in cases of infertility by uterine aspiration cytology

The cytology and histopathology of tuberculous endometritis are described in eight cases found among 200 women who presented with primary or secondary infertility. Because tuberculous endometritis is considered a possible cause of such sterility, the combination of endometrial aspiration and biopsy is recommended as an outpatient screening technique in such cases in areas where the rate of endometrial tuberculosis is high.

Leydig-cell tumour of the testis

Leydig cell tumor of the testis is an uncommon occurrence. A case is reported here which had two interesting features. One was extensive calcification and the other an abundant lipid deposition within the tumour cells. The pathogenesis of calcification is discussed.

Morphology, serology and biochemical characters of phage CVX-5, isolated from a patient with colitis

Electronmicroscopic observations indicate that bacteriophage CVX-5 has an angular head with long spiral tail which is noncontractile, possibly having 2--3 tail fibres attached at the distal part of the tail. This phage is antigenically unrelated to any of the T-phages. Inhibition of phage CVX-5 multiplication by mitomycin C and incorporation of 3H-thymidine into this phage indicate that phage CVX-5 is a DNA phage.