The effect of low environmental temperature on plasma corticosteroid and glucose concentrations in the newborn calf

Exposure of newborn Holstein and Jersey calves to −4 °C did not significantly increase the plasma corticosteroids (cortisol and corticosterone) concentrations compared with calves kept at 16 °C. Two Holstein calves exposed to −12 °C showed a slight decrease of plasma corticosteroid concentrations and one Holstein calf at −18° C responded with a marked increase in both hormones during cold exposure. In the animals at 16 and −4 °C the plasma cortisol and corticosterone concentrations fell steadily during the sampling period. There was also a marked, and almost linear, decrease in the packed cell volume during the sampling period; this occurred in all groups. That this was not due entirely to the withdrawal of blood was shown by a similar decrease in two calves from which only small quantities of blood had been taken. Thus, the decrease in plasma corticosteroids may have resulted to some extent from haemodilution.

An increase in glucose concentration was observed in both the control and cold-exposed calves. There was no correlation between the changes in plasma glucose and plasma corticosteroids.

Atrial myxoma producing a saddle embolus in a child

Atrial myxomata are rare in childhood. A case is described in a boy aged 7 years. The presenting feature was a saddle embolus, requiring immediate surgical intervention. Further investigations showed that a large part of the myxoma remained in the atrium; this portion was successfully removed. This mode of presentation is unusual. The presence of calcification within the myxoma was detectable on intensifier screen examination. The biochemical abnormalities frequently associated with myxomata were not found. The importance of recognizing a myxoma as the cause of a saddle embolus in an otherwise healthy child is emphasized and a number of unusual features of the present case are described.

Short Course Palliative Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck

This prospective cohort study was conducted at the Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka during January 2003to December 2005. Thirty patients with locally advanced stage III and stage IV squamous cell carcinoma ofhead and neck were treated with a short course palliative radiotherapy (30 Gray in 10 fractions over 2 weeks).All (100%) patients with pain and 90% of patients with dysphagia, dyspnoea and disturbed sleep had greaterthan 50% relief in symptoms after radiotherapy. Dysphonia and cough were satisfactorily relieved in morethan 60% of cases. Eight of 30 lesions in this study had complete response; 14 lesions had a partial response; 4lesions had no response; 2 lesions progressed under treatment. Response could not be assessed in two patients.Acute and late reactions were acceptable. After palliative radiotherapy 8(27%) patients were eligible for doseescalation and received further radiotherapy upto radical dose equivalent. It was concluded that short coursepalliative radiotherapy regimen evaluated is an effective treatment modality for sustained symptoms reliefwith good response rates and acceptable toxicity in locally advanced head-neck cancer.Key words: Palliation; radiotherapy; short course; head and neck cancer.DOI: 10.3329/jafmc.v6i1.5986Journal of Armed Forces Medical College, Bangladesh Vol.6(1) 2010 p.16-20

Insect metabolism of photoaldrin and photodieldrin

Photoaldrin and photodieldrin, sunlight products of adrin and dieldrin, are rapidly metabolized to a more toxic material by flies and mosquito larvae. It is suggested that this conversion is the cause for the enhanced toxicities of the photoproducts.