Homicide by improvised explosive device made out of firecrackers

Explosion is a phenomenon resulting from a sudden release of energy dissipated by: (1) blast wave; (2) translocation of objects; and (3) generation of heat. There are different types of explosive devices varying from sophisticated military bombs to simple firecrackers. These are made from various kinds of explosive materials. Sophisticated bombs are used in war and military operations to kill one's enemies, while simple firecrackers are meant for expressing joy and celebration. Here, the author reports an unusual case of homicide by the manufacture of an improvised explosive device from simple firecrackers. In India, these firecrackers are widely and freely available all over the country. The case highlights the fatal hazard resulting from easy access to these potentially dangerous devices, apart from the environmental pollution produced by their large scale use at the time of festivals in this country.

Regulation and distribution of MAdCAM-1 in endothelial cells in vitro

Mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1) is a 60-kDa endothelial cell adhesion glycoprotein that regulates lymphocyte trafficking to Peyer's patches and lymph nodes. Although it is widely agreed that MAdCAM-1 induction is involved in chronic gut inflammation, few studies have investigated regulation of MAdCAM-1 expression. We used two endothelial lines [bEND.3 (brain) and SVEC (high endothelium)] to study the signal paths that regulate MAdCAM-1 expression in response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha using RT-PCR, blotting, adhesion, and immunofluorescence. TNF-alpha induced both MAdCAM-1 mRNA and protein in a dose- and time-dependent manner. This induction was tyrosine kinase (TK), p42/44, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B/poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) dependent. Because MAdCAM-1 is regulated via MAPKs, we examined mitogen/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK)-1/2 activation in SVEC. We found that MEK-1/2 is activated by TNF-alpha within minutes and is dependent on TK and p42/44 MAPKs. Similarly, TNF-alpha activated NF-kappa B through TK, p42/44, p38 MAPKs, and PARP pathways in SVEC cells. MAdCAM-1 was also shown to be frequently distributed to endothelial junctions both in vitro and in vivo. Cytokines like TNF-alpha stimulate MAdCAM-1 in high endothelium via TK, p38, p42/22 MAPKs, and NF-kappa B/PARP. MAdCAM-1 expression requires NF-kappa B translocation through both direct p42/44 and indirect p38 MAPK pathways in high endothelial cells.

Ginger, fat and fibrinolysis

Administration of 50 gm of fat to 30 healthy adult volunteers decreased fibrinolytic activity from a mean of 64.20 +/- 5.31 to 52.10 +/- 3.20 units (P < 0.001). Supplementation of 5 gm of ginger powder with fatty meal not only prevented the fall in fibrinolytic activity but actually increased it significantly (P < 0.001). This fibrinolytic enhancing property is a further addition to the therapeutic potential of ginger.

Argemone mexicana poisoning: autopsy findings of two cases

Epidemic dropsy, a disease due to Argemone mexicana poisoning, is characterized by pathological accumulation of diluted lymph in body tissues and cavities. Recently, the largest epidemic of the disease in India affected Delhi and its neighboring states during the months of August-September 1998. Over 3000 persons fell ill, and more than 65 died in the state of Delhi alone. Two cases belonging to the same family died, out of the large number of cases admitted in this tertiary care teaching hospital situated in eastern part of Delhi. Autopsy findings of these two cases are presented and discussed here along with the review of toxicity due to this poisoning.

Synthesis of angular triquinanes from 1-Alkynylbicyclo[3.2. 0]hept-2-en-7-ones. A tandem alkoxy-cope ring Expansion/Transannular ring closure reaction

Addition of ethenyllithium reagents to the carbonyl group of dialkyl squarate-derived 1-alkynylbicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-ene-7-ones (15), followed by a TBAF workup, results in a low-temperature anion-accelerated alkoxy-Cope rearrangement which proceeds by way of a strained cyclic allene intermediates (e.g.,17). This leads to the formation of angularly fused triquinanes (e.g., 20) in which each of the rings is functionally differentiated. Bicyclo[6.3. 0]undecadienones (e.g., 36) are the major products when the reactions are quenched with aqueous bicarbonate rather than TBAF. Under analogous conditions 2-alkylidene-1-alkynylbicyclo[3.2. 0]heptan-7-ones also give bicyclo[6.3.0]undecadienones by a mechanism that was established to involve a 1,5-hydrgen shift in a strained allene intermediate. The synthetic scope and mechanism of these and related transformations are discussed.

Oxy-cope rearrangements of bicyclo[3.2.0]heptenones. Synthesis of bicyclo[4.2.1]non-1(4)-en-6-ones and bicyclo[5.2. 1]dec-1(10)-en-5-ones

6-exo-Methylbicyclo[3.2.0]hepten-7-ones and their 2-alkylidene analogues are readily prepared from dialkyl squarates. These compounds undergo facial oxy-Cope ring expansions upon treatment with vinyllithium; the former leads to bicyclo[4.2. 1]non-1(4)-en-6-ones and the latter to the first examples of bicyclo[5.2.1]dec-1(10)-en-5-ones, compounds having exceptionally strained bridgehead double bonds. The transformations are controlled by the 6-exo-methyl group in the starting material along with the substituent at position-1 (bridgehead) which force attack of the lithium reagent from the concave face of the starting material, thus allowing the cyclopentenyl or alkylidene groups to participate in the sigmatropic event.

Hepatic artery mycotic aneurysm of tubercular aetiology

Hepatic artery aneurysm caused by tuberculosis is extremely rare, the commonest being atherosclerosis and vasculitis. A 13 year boy admitted with suspected disseminated tuberculosis had a hepatic bruit. Patient died of aneurysmal rupture before antemortem etiological diagnosis could be established. Postmortem examination revealed widespread tubercular lesions in the chest and abdomen and hepatic artery aneurysm.

Foreign body bronchus - presenting with asthma

Foreign bodies in the respiratory passages are always due to the accidental inhalation. Children are more affected while the adults rarely present with the foreign bodies in the respiratory tract. A case report of an accidentally inhaled foreign body ( a broken piece of a stainless steel spoon handle), where the patient was not aware of it and presented with bronchial asthma is being presented.

Accidental hanging with delayed death in a lift

While hanging is a common method of committing suicide in India, accidental hanging is uncommon. However, it does occur when people are engaged in auto-erotic practices. An adult male who was helping passengers trapped in the lift of an outpatient department at a teaching hospital was accidentally hanged. He survived for 39 days. This case highlights a rare but serious hazard in the use of lifts.

Knowledge and attitude of medical students in Delhi on postmortem examination

A survey proforma with multiple choice questionnaire was designed and asked to be filled in by two hundred medical students belonging to 3rd and 4th year of MBBS curriculum of a University medical college in Delhi. One hundred thirty-three (66.5) students responded. A large majority of 129 (96.9%) students were aware of the major use of the postmortem examination/autopsy. All students have the knowledge that postmortem involves examination of a body in detail both externally and internally. Sixty-four (48.1%) feel that it does not cause disfigurement of the body. One hundred fifteen (86.4%) students were the view that they possess satisfactory level of knowledge on postmortems. The main source of knowledge and information on the subject is teaching during medical curriculum as informed by 76 (57.1%) students. More than 50% were willing ti permit autopsy on the self/relative. While, only 7 (5.3% students showed reluctance to watch autopsy.

Primary progressive aphasia : a case report

Primary progressive aphasia is due to focal left perisylvian degeneration and manifests with progressive decline in language function for two or more years. There is preservation of cognitive functions and activities of daily living continue to be normal. We report a case of progressive aphasia in a 65 year old lady.

Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis of Indian scented basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.) germplasm for identification of variability and duplicate accessions, if any

Genetic variation among the seventeen basmati rice accessions collected from the farmers' fields located at different places in India was analyzed using ten arbitrary tenmer oligonucleotide primers by the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method. The number of polymorphic/monomorphic bands among the pairwise combinations of the accessions and the total number of bands were determined to categorize all the accessions in different groups of similarity and dissimilarity at the genetic level. The procedure described also allows the identification and discrimination of the individual genotypes of basmati rice including the identification of the duplicates in genetic resource collections.

Immunological assessment of infertility by estimation of antisperm antibodies in infertile couples

160 clinical samples were collected from 40 infertile couples with unexplained infertility. The samples collected included serum and seminal plasma of the male partners and serum and cervical mucus samples of the female partners. 25 fertile healthy couples were investigated as controls. All the samples collected were then tested for class-specific antisperm antibodies by an Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Antisperm antibodies were detected in 30% of the infertile couples which included 25% female and 10% male partners. Amongst the cases positive for antisperm antibodies, antibodies were detected most frequently in female sera 58.4% followed by male sera 33% and 25% in cervical mucus. The isotyping of antisperm antibodies in various samples showed IgG to be the most frequent type specific antibody followed by IgM & IgA types of antibodies. ELISA has provided a relatively simple, reliable and highly reproducible method of detection of antisperm antibodies. Thus application of antisperm antibody testing especially in cervical mucus should become an integral part of the investigation of immunologic infertility.

Respiratory pressures in normal Indian subjects

Regression equations for the prediction of maximum inspiratory pressures (MIP) in North Indian adults are reported, based on observations in 120 females and 153 males. Age and sex were the only significant predictor variables. MIP was significantly related to vital capacity, FEV1 and peak flow rate. The MIP observed in the present study are similar to those reported earlier in Caucasians and Chinese. The lower lung volumes and flow rates in Indians are not explained by differences in MIP.

Sudden death in neurocysticercosis by trauma

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the commonest parasitic infection affecting the central nervous system in the world. However, sudden death is rare in these cases. Increased intracranial pressure, hydrocephalus, acute encephalitis, meningitis and reaction to antilarval drugs are the common causes of death in NCC. The case reported here is a rare case of sudden death, in an apparently healthy asymptomatic young adult male, who met with a vehicular accident and died almost instantaneously due to ruptured cysts of cysticerci produced by trauma. Possible mode of death is also discussed.

Antioxidant property of Saffron in man

50 mg of Saffron dissolved in 100 ml of milk was administered twice a day to 20 human subjects. Lipoprotein oxidation susceptibility (LOS) was estimated initially and after 3 and 6 weeks. There was a constant decrease in LOS during this period. From a mean of 66.4 +/- 3.18 it decreased to 38.3 +/- 2.8 in 10 healthy individuals and from 76.0 +/- 3.72 to 48.8 +/- 3.0 in 10 patients of CAD. The significant fall (P < 0.001) in LOS indicates the potential of Saffron as an antioxidant.

Quality of life in schizophrenia and dysthymia

Quality of life (QOL) was assessed in three groups of patients, consisting of 30 schizophrenic patients with duration of illness <2 years, 30 schizophrenic patients with duration of illness > or = 2 years and 30 dysthymic patients. The diagnoses were made according to ICD-10. Two scales of quality of life were used, one of which was specific for schizophrenia, while the other was generic for all patients. On inter-group comparison the two schizophrenia groups did not show significant differences in quality of life, but on comparing schizophrenic and dysthymic patients, significant differences emerged. Dysthymic patients were significantly less satisfied than schizophrenic patients with duration of illness <2 years in the domain of physical health. In the domains of satisfaction with medication and leisure-time activities, both schizophrenic groups were significantly more satisfied than the dysthymic group. Comparison of the quality of life ratings of our patients with those of a well-known study from Sweden revealed some significant differences which relate to the domains of work, contacts, inner experience and leisure-time activities. Cultural factors are invoked to account for these differences. The need for refinement of assessment of quality of life in multi-racial and multi-ethnic contexts is stressed.

Effect of garlic (Allium sativum) on blood lipids, blood sugar, fibrinogen and fibrinolytic activity in patients with coronary artery disease

Thirty patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) were administered garlic (study group) while another 30 patients received the placebo (control group). Various risk parameters were determined at 1.5 and 3 months of garlic administration. Garlic, administered in a daily dose of 2 x 2 capsules (each capsule containing ethyl acetate extract from 1 g peeled and crushed raw garlic), reduced significantly total serum cholesterol and triglycerides, and increased significantly HDL-cholesterol and fibrinolytic activity. There was no effect on the fibrinogen and glucose levels. In vitro effects of the garlic oil on platelet aggregation (PAg) and eicosanoid metabolism were examined; it inhibited PAg induced by several platelet agonists, and also platelet thromboxane formation. Two important paraffinic polysulphides - diallyl disulphide (DADS) and diallyl trisulphide (DATS) - derived from garlic and are usual constituents of garlic oil, showed antiplatelet activity, and also inhibited platelet thromboxane formation. In this respect DATS was more potent than DADS. The nature of inhibition of PAg by DATS was found to be reversible.

Effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum L.) on blood lipids, blood sugar and platelet aggregation in patients with coronary artery disease

In a placebo-controlled study the effect of ginger and fenugreek was examined on blood lipids, blood sugar, platelet aggregation, fibrinogen and fibrinolytic activity. The subjects included in this study were healthy individuals, patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), and patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) who either had CAD or were without CAD. In patients with CAD powdered ginger administered in a dose of 4 g daily for 3 months did not affect ADP- and epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation. Also, no change in the fibrinolytic activity and fibrinogen level was observed. However, a single dose of 10 g powdered ginger administered to CAD patients produced a significant reduction in platelet aggregation induced by the two agonists. Ginger did not affect the blood lipids and blood sugar. Fenugreek given in a dose of 2.5 g twice daily for 3 months to healthy individuals did not affect the blood lipids and blood sugar (fasting and post prandial). However, administered in the same daily dose for the same duration to CAD patients also with NIDDM, fenugreek decreased significantly the blood lipids (total cholesterol and triglycerides) without affecting the HDL-c. When administered in the same daily dose to NIDDM (non-CAD) patients (mild cases), fenugreek reduced significantly the blood sugar (fasting and post prandial). In severe NIDDM cases, blood sugar (both fasting and post prandial) was only slightly reduced. The changes were not significant. Fenugreek administration did not affect platelet aggregation, fibrinolytic activity and fibrinogen.