Lymphatic Filariasis Presenting as a Swelling over the Upper Arm: A Case Report

Filariasis continues to be one of the endemic problems worldwide with 40% of the cases in India. We report a case of lymphatic filariasis in a 32-year old female who presented with a non-tender swelling over left upper arm. Blood sample showed no eosinophilia while the FNAC was diagnostic of W. bancrofti. Patient responded well with oral diethylcarbamazine. High index of suspicion of filariasis is indicated when dealing with a swelling of unknown cause especially in filariasis endemic areas.

New chemical and radiochemical routes to [18F]Rho6G-DEG-F, a delocalized lipophilic cation for myocardial perfusion imaging with PET

New chemical and radiochemical syntheses are described for the preparation of [¹⁸F]Rho6G-DEG-F, an ¹⁸F-labeled analogue of the fluoresecent dye rhodamine 6G, which has shown promise as myocardidal perfusion imaging agent. Tosylated precursors of [¹⁸F]Rho6G-DEG-F amenable to ¹⁸F-labeling were obtained either through a two-step synthesis from rhodamine 6G lactone (33% yield), or in one step from rhodamine 575 (64% yield), then purified by preparative C₁₈ chromatography. Manual synthesis of [¹⁸F]Rho6G-DEG-F was achieved in a single radiochemical step from either the tosylate salt or the tosylate/formate double salt in DMSO under standard nucleophillic aliphatic ¹⁸F-fluorination conditions (K[¹⁸F]F/K₂CO₃/Kryptofix 2.2.2.). Incorporation of the [¹⁸F]F^- was found to be satisfactory (≥34% by TLC), despite the protic character of the precursor molecules. [¹⁸F]Rho6G-DEG-F was manually synthesized in final decay-corrected radiochemical yields of 11-26% (tosylate salt) and 9-21% (tosylate/formate double salt). The protocol was transferred to an automated synthesis unit, where the product was obtained in 3-9% radiochemical yield (n=3) decay corrected to start-of-synthesis, >99% radiochemical purity, and a molar activity of 122-267 GBq/μmol (3.3-7.2 Ci/μmol).

PCR-SSCP analysis of MDGI gene and its association with milk production traits in river buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

In this study, we investigated the genetic variation within 3'UTR of Mammary-Derived Growth Inhibitor (MDGI) gene of buffalo using PCR-SSCP and sequencing; and also analyzed association of polymorphism with the milk production traits. The study revealed two conformational patterns, 'A' and 'B' among 234 Mehsana buffaloes maintained with their records in the field and at farm. The frequency of SSCP variant 'A' was found to be invariably high in the buffalo population under study. Further, association analysis of SSCP variants with various milk production and milk quality traits indicated no significant effect on any of the traits investigated. Sequencing of SSCP variant 'A' showed homozygous G/G and A/A and 'B' had heterozygous G/C and A/G at positions +124 and +140 respectively, in the 3'UTR of buffalo MDGI. The preliminary results showed the substantial variations in the distribution of SSCP variants' frequencies within Mehsana buffaloes, however these variants had non-significant association with milk yield, fat yield and fat percentage in Mehsana buffaloes.

Combined trabeculotomy-trabeculectomy with antimetabolite and releasable suture: outcome with primary congenital glaucoma in a north Indian population

OBJECTIVE

To determine the surgical outcomes of combined trabeculotomy- trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C and releasable suture in children with primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) in a North Indian population.

DESIGN

Retrospective, interventional, consecutive, non-comparative case series.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The medical records of 137 eyes of 77 patients who underwent combined trabeculotomy- trabeculectomy with 0.2 mg/ml mitomycin C (MMC) either bilaterally (49 patients) or unilaterally (28 patients) between January 2004 and March 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. The main outcome measures were postoperative intraocular pressures, corneal clarity and diameter, duration of follow-up, success rate and complications.

RESULTS

The mean preoperative intraocular pressure reduced from 34 ± 7 mm Hg (range 15- 54 mm Hg) to 17 ± 7 mm Hg (range 5 - 32 mm Hg) with a mean reduction of 44 % (P less than 0.001). The mean follow-up period was 24.4 ± 10.3 months (range 6 - 48 months). Complete success defined as intraocular pressure less than 21 mm Hg without any medication and clinically stable glaucoma at last follow-up was achieved in 113 eyes (83 %) while a 'qualified success' of intraocular pressure less than 21 mm Hg with one medication was achieved in ten eyes (7 %). The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed success rates (at 'n' months) of 90 % (6), 85 % (12), 82 % (24), 80 % (36) and 77 % (48). There were no significant intraoperative or postoperative complications.

CONCLUSION

Primary combined trabeculotomy-trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C and releasable suture offers a viable surgical option in Northern Indian infants with primary congenital glaucoma. The use of 0.2 mg/ml mitomycin C for 2 minutes improves the overall success while the releasable suture decreases the risk of postoperative complications especially associated with the use of antimetabolites.

Retracted: Evaluation of the incidence of microcracks caused by Mtwo and ProTaper NEXT rotary file systems versus the Self Adjusting File: a scanning electron microscopic study

The following article from International Endodontic Journal, 'Evaluation of the incidence of microcracks caused by Mtwo and ProTaper NEXT rotary file systems versus the Self Adjusting File: a scanning electron microscopic study' by S. G. Saha, N. Vijaywargiya, S. Dubey, D. Saxena & S. Kala, published online on 24 November 2015 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal Editor in Chief, Prof. Paul Dummer, and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. The retraction has been agreed due to the consideration that the SEM methodology used by the authors has the potential to cause cracks and is thus is not suitable for the evaluation of micro-cracks in roots.

The association between bone mineral density and higher body mass index in men

BACKGROUND

A number of studies have identified that higher body mass index is associated with higher bone mineral density. However, a small number of previous studies have indicated an association between higher body mass index (> 35 kg/m(2)) and lower bone mineral density. No previous study has investigated the association between higher body mass index and bone mineral density in a large male population.

METHODS

Data of men aged over 50 years of age who attended for a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan at a UK teaching hospital were collated. The population was divided according to body mass index increments of 5 kg/m(2). The mean bone mineral density of both the lumbar spine and femoral neck was ascertained for each body mass index category. Multiple linear regression analysis, adjusted for age, was used to investigate for an association between body mass index and bone mineral density.

RESULTS

Data of 1263 men were collated. Increasing body mass index was associated with increasing bone mineral density of both the lumbar spine and femoral neck up to 35 kg/m(2); further increase in body mass index was not associated with an increasing bone mineral density.

CONCLUSIONS

The beneficial effect upon bone mineral density of increasing body mass index exists up to 35 kg/m(2); a body mass index higher than 35 kg/m(2) is not associated with further increase in bone mineral density.

I. Reactions of Uranium pentaethoxide with carboxylic acids

Reactions of carboxylic acids in different stoichiometric ratios have been carried out under anhydrous conditions, the compounds of the type U (OEt) 4 (OOCR), U (OEt) 3(OOCR)2 U (OEt) 2 (OOCR) 3 and U (OEt) (OOCR)4 (where R is CH3, C2H5, C3H7 and C6H5) have been isolated. Lactic acid yielded the compounds of the type U (OEt)3 (C3H4O3), U (OEt) (C3H4O3)2, U2 (C3H4O3) 5 and U (C3H4O3) (C3H5O3). Determination of molecular weight of some of the soluble derivatives of benzoic acid, suggest them to be dimeric in boiling benzene.

Digital holographic testing of biconvex lenses

Lenses are one of the most important optical elements for manipulation of wavefronts. For their proper selection, the wavefronts produced by the lenses should be analyzed. Digital holography is a tool which provides whole-field reconstructions of wavefronts, and here the use of digital holographic interferometry in complete characterization of wavefronts from lenses is investigated. Digital holograms of the wavefront from the test lens are recorded for various positions of the test lens from a point source. The reconstructed phase of the wavefront from the test lens is compared with a digitally inputted wavefront for measurement of parallelism as well as curvature. The focal length of the test lens is computed by measuring the change in curvature of the wavefront for two positions of the test lens. The radius of curvature of the test lens is determined by using the test lens in the reflection mode. Refractive index of the lens material is also determined using this method. Detailed theoretical and experimental analysis is provided.

A randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 study of ganitumab or conatumumab in combination with FOLFIRI for second-line treatment of mutant KRAS metastatic colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Targeted agents presently available for mutant KRAS metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) are bevacizumab and aflibercept. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of conatumumab (an agonistic monoclonal antibody against human death receptor 5) and ganitumab (a monoclonal antibody against the type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor) combined with standard FOLFIRI chemotherapy as a second-line treatment in patients with mutant KRAS mCRC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with mutant KRAS metastatic adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum refractory to fluoropyrimidine- and oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy were randomized 1 : 1 : 1 to receive intravenous FOLFIRI plus conatumumab 10 mg/kg (Arm A), ganitumab 12 mg/kg (Arm B), or placebo (Arm C) Q2W. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

In total, 155 patients were randomized. Median PFS in Arms A, B, and C was 6.5 months (HR, 0.69; P = 0.147), 4.5 months (HR, 1.01; P = 0.998), and 4.6 months, respectively; median overall survival was 12.3 months (HR, 0.89; P = 0.650), 12.4 months (HR, 1.27; P = 0.357), and 12.0 months; and objective response rate was 14%, 8%, and 2%. The most common grade ≥3 adverse events in Arms A/B/C included neutropenia (30%/25%/18%) and diarrhea (18%/2%/10%).

CONCLUSIONS

Conatumumab, but not ganitumab, plus FOLFIRI was associated with a trend toward improved PFS. Both combinations had acceptable toxicity.