Single plane cineangiographic study of normal left ventricular volumes in human subjects

Single plane cine angiographic estimation of left ventricular volumes in 10 Indian subjects with no evidence of left ventricular disease was carried out. The figures obtained were end diastolic volume 72.43+/-10.27 ml/M2, endsystolic volume 26.82+/-7.46 ml/M2, stroke volume 45.61+/-12.23ml/M2, ejection faction 62.30+/-10.90%. These values compare well with those already reported in literature from Western countries. No study in Indian subjects was available for comparison so far.

A study of heterosis in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Heterosis (over mid parent) and "useful" heterosis (over commercial variety H14) estimates were obtained from a line x tester analysis of crosses involving thirteen diverse female parents with two locally adapted varieties H14 (local standard) and J34. Marked heterosis was observed for seed cotton yield, boll number and halo length. The values of positive heterosis and "useful" heterosis for seed cotton yield ranged from 28.1 to 87.0% and 20.1 to 45.5%, respectively. The overall study of heterosis revealed that female parents PRS-72 (USSR), 5904F (USSR) and MCU-5 (Madras Cambodian Uganda Selection, Coimbatore) were among the top three females, showing considerable heterosis in crosses with H14 and J34 for seed cotton yield and fibre properties. The practical difficulties in exploiting the phenomenon of heterosis and possible experimental approaches in upland cotton are discussed.

Antireticulin antibodies in dermatitis herpetiformis and adult coeliac disease. Their relationship to a gluten free diet and jejunal histology

Antireticulin antibody was present in 17% of sera from thirty-five patients with dermatitis herpetiformis, 45% from twenty-eight patients with adult coeliac disease and none of thirty healthy controls. There was a higher incidence of antireticulin antibody(a) in patients on normal diets than in those on gluten free diets, and (b) in patients with subtotal villous atrophy than in those with partial villous atrophy. Two patterns of tissue staining were demonstrated, one of which was almost invariably associated with jejunal subtotal villous atrophy. The Ig class of the antibody was IgG in all instances but in 64% antibody of the IgA class was also present.

Jejunal mucosal immunoglobulin-containing cells and jejunal fluid immunoglobulins in adult coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis

Immunoglobulin-containing plasma cell densities in the jejunal mucosa and serum and jejunal fluid immunoglobulins have been measured in patients with adult coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis with and without jejunal mucosal abnormality. Studies were performed in patients before and after treatment of the jejunal lesion.Total immunofluorescent plasma cells were increased in untreated adult coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis patients with jejunal lesions, but in general the normal predominance of IgA > IgM > IgG was found. There was no difference from controls in IgA-containing cells in the two conditions before or after treatment. The numbers of IgM-containing cells were significantly increased both before and after treatment in groups of patients with adult coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis who had jejunal lesions. IgG-containing cells were significantly raised in only the before-treatment groups. Patients with dermatitis herpetiformis without jejunal lesions, even whilst on gluten-containing diets, had normal numbers of immunoglobulin-containing cells. IgA and IgM jejunal fluid immunoglobulins were significantly raised in dermatitis herpetiformis and adult coeliac disease.It is concluded that patients with dermatitis herpetiformis with jejunal morphological abnormality have a comparable immunological disturbance of the jejunal mucosa to that found in adult coeliac disease.

Effectiveness of addition of neostigmine or dexamethasone to local anaesthetic in providing perioperative analgesia for brachial plexus block: A prospective, randomized, double blinded, controlled study

Background: Various local anaesthetic agents are used for brachial plexus block.We compared effectiveness of addition of Dexamethasone versus Neostigmine to Lignocaine, adrenaline admixtures for Brachial plexus block in providing perioperative analgesia. Methods: Ninety patients were randomized in three groups and were received 24ml of study drugs. The group A [Lignocaine with adrenaline (1.5%)], group B [Lignocaine with adrenaline (1.5%)] +500?g Neostigmine, and group C (Lignocaine with adrenaline (1.5%) +4mg Dexamethasone) for brachial plexus block through supraclavicular approach. The observed parameters were onset of analgesia, completion of sensory and motor blockade, Duration of analgesia, Surgeon's score, side effects, number of supplemental analgesics doses and Visual analogue scale (VAS) score for pain in 12 hour of post-operative period. Results: Mean onset of analgesia 4.6±1.1 , 4.4±0.8 , 3.8±1.8 mins in group A, B and C respectively and the Mean onset of motor blockade were 7.7±2.0, 7.0±1.8, 6.0±2.1mins in group A, B and C respectively. Similarly Mean Complete sensory block in 10.6±3, 10.4±2.5, and 8.9±2.2mins and Mean complete motor block in 17.3±4.3, 17.2±4.0 and 14.7±3.5 mins in group A, B and C respectively were achieved. Duration of analgesia was 176.5±53.5, 225.7±53.3 and 454.2±110.7 mins in group A, B and C respectively. Duration of analgesia in group C was statistically significant in comparison with other groups. The number of mean analgesic requirement by group C (0.9±0.4) was significantly (p- 0.005) lower. The mean VAS was significantly lower in group C in 12 hours post-operatively. Conclusion: The onsets of action, duration of analgesia were better in dexamethasone group and also need less number of rescue analgesics requirement. doi: 10.3126/kumj.v6i3.1704 Kathmandu University Medical Journal (2008), Vol. 6, No. 3, Issue 23, 302-309

Estimation of mean ND: Yag laser capsulotomy energy levels for membranous and fibrous posterior capsular opacification

Introduction: Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is a visually-disabling complication of cataract surgery. Objective: To estimate energy levels for capsulotomy in various subtypes of PCO (membranous, fibrous and fibro-membranous). Materials and methods: A total of 215 patients with PCO were randomly selected and evaluated for Nd: Yag laser capsulotomy, after a quiet post-operative course of 3 months. The ocular area was arbitrarily divided into three zones: YAG zone (3mm), Optical zone (6 mm) and the peripheral zone (12mm). A colour code was assigned to the subtype of PCO in these zones: fibrous green and membranous blue. The type of PCO in each quadrant of YAG zone was estimated in percentage. Results: The statistic mean values of initial energy levels were 1.80 mJ for membranous PCO, 3.17 mJ for fibrous PCO and 2.73 mJ for fibro-membranous PCO. The mean summated energy levels for membranous PCO was 22.80 mJ for membranous PCO, 80.06 mJ for fibrous PCO and 80.48 mJ for fibro-membranous type. Conclusion: Colour coding is extremely helpful for quantification of the type of PCO and in deciding the initial energy level necessary to create capsulotomy. Fibro-membranous PCO required more summated energy despite a lower starting energy. Therefore, we recommend firing the initial shot in fibrous portion in case of fibrous-membranous type of PCO. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v4i1.5861 NEPJOPH 2012; 4(1): 108-113

Photoperiodic studies on growth and development of Impatiens balsamina L. : I. Lateral bud development and its relationship with senescence

Seedlings of Impatiens balsamina raised under ND and LD conditions were divided into two sub-groups each when they had reached 5-leaf stage. While one sub-group was left under the same condition (NDND or LDLD), the other was transferred to the other photoperiod (NDLD or LDND). NDND plants were subdivided into 2 lots. One of these was transferred to SD in May. The dates of emergence of individual branches and floral buds were recorded and the vegetative period was calculated in each case.It was found that in NDND plants floral buds were produced from all the nodes except the lowermost which produced a single vegetative branch. In LDND plants the vegetative branches were produced from the lower 9 nodes but floral buds from those above these. Small leafy structures which ultimately dried up were produced from a few top nodes in both these cases. In contrast to this in LDLD plants only vegetative branches were produced from all the nodes. In NDLD plants floral buds were produced from the lower 3-5 nodes prior to transfer to LD condition, but vegetative branches were produced from the upper nodes after this transfer. Even some of the lower floral buds reverted to vegetative state under this condition.The production of floral buds or the vegetative branches as the case may be, occurred in acropetal succession under all the photoperiodic conditions and never in basipetal manner.LDLD and NDLD plants, which did not flower at all, continued to produce lateral branches without showing any sign of senescence, while LDND and NDND ones showed yellowing of the apical growing point which spread downwards and lead ultimately to the death of the plant. The senescence was hastened when these plants were transferred to SD condition towards the end of May. The senescence therefore, appears to be related with reproductive development. The results are discussed in the light of current literature.