Communication between radial nerve and medial cutaneous nerve of forearm

Radial nerve is usually a branch of the posterior cord of the brachial plexus. It innervates triceps, anconeous, brachialis, brachioradialis, extensor carpi radialis longus muscles and gives the posterior cutaneous nerve of the arm, lower lateral cutaneous nerve of arm, posterior cutaneous nerve of forearm; without exhibiting any communication with the medial cutaneous nerve of forearm or any other nerve. We report communication between the radial nerve and medial cutaneous nerve of forearm on the left side in a 58-year-old male cadaver. The right sided structures were found to be normal. Neurosurgeons should keep such variations in mind while performing the surgeries of axilla and upper arm.

Inca - interparietal bones in neurocranium of human skulls in central India

Inca bones are accessory bones found in neurocranium of human skulls. Occurrence of Inca bones is rare as compared to other inter sutural bones such as wormian bones. These Inca ossicles are regarded as variants of the normal. The reporting of such occurrences is inadequate from Central India.

Objectives:

To find the incidence of Inca variants in Central India.

Materials and Methods:

In the present study, 380 dried adult human skulls were examined. All specimen samples were procured from various Medical colleges of Central India. They were analyzed for gross incidence, sexual dimorphism and number of fragments of Inca bones.

Results:

Gross incidence of Inca bones was found to be 1.315 %. Incidence rate was higher in male skulls than female skulls (male: 1.428%; female: 1.176%). The Inca bones frequently occurred signally. Out of the five observed Inca ossicles, two were fragmented.

Conclusions:

This data gives idea regarding gross incidence, sexual dimorphism and number of fragments of Inca bones in neurocranium of human skulls from Central India. The knowledge of this variable is useful for neurosurgeons, anthropologists and radiologists.

Transmission and reflection of the fundamental Lamb modes in a metallic plate with a semi-infinite horizontal crack

Numerical simulations were carried out to quantify the reflection and transmission characteristics of the fundamental Lamb modes propagating in aluminium sub-plates, which are formed due to a semi-infinite horizontal crack. It was observed that, a Lamb mode propagating in a sub-plate when incident at the edge of a crack, undergoes reflection and transmits through the main plate, as well as the other sub-plate. The mode transmitted through the sub-plate has been termed the 'Turning Lamb Mode' (TLM). Furthermore, a mode converted mode also propagates along with the TLM. This mode has been termed the 'Mode Converted Turning Lamb Mode' (MCTLM). Reflection and transmission characteristics of the fundamental Lamb modes in aluminium sub-plates were studied at frequencies 150 kHz, 175 kHz, and 200 kHz. Experiments conducted to validate the observations made in numerical simulations, confirmed that the transmission and reflection characteristics depend on the thickness ratio. From this study it is surmised that when a Lamb mode propagates through a plate containing horizontal crack, the TLM and the MCTLM start propagating from one sub-plate to the other at the rear edge of the crack and amplitude of these modes depends on the location of the crack across the plate thickness.

The utility of periodic acid schiff with diastase and alcian blue stains on fine needle aspirates of breast and salivary gland neoplasms

Background:

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is extensively used in the diagnosis of various clinically palpable lesions of breast and salivary glands. Much interest has been gained in mucosubstances produced in tumors arising from these organs.

Aims:

To evaluate the utility of Periodic acid Schiff with diastase (PAS-D) and Alcian blue (AB) staining pattern on fine needle aspirates of breast and salivary gland neoplasms.

Materials and Methods:

Seventy-five cases of different neoplasm of breast and salivary gland were studied. The staining pattern of PAS-D and AB stains on smears of these neoplasm were observed.

Results:

Among cases of neoplasms of breast, intracytoplasmic PAS-D positive globules were restricted to carcinoma except in one case where PAS-D-positive globules were seen in fibroadenoma. The background substance of both mucinous carcinoma and fibroadenoma with myxoid change stained positive with PAS-D, but the pattern was different. The cases of pleomorphic adenoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma of salivary gland showed intracytoplasmic PAS-D-positive globules. The cases of pleomorphic adenoma showed stromal positivity which was not seen in basal cell adenoma on smears.

Conclusion:

Intracytoplasmic PAS-D-positive globules may be useful in differentiating benign and malignant lesions of breast. The presence of PAS-D positive granules are useful in differentiating various lesions of salivary glands. AB staining of stromal fragments in pleomorphic adenoma is useful in differentiating it from basal cell adenoma.

Physicochemical and functional characteristics of lentil starch

The physicochemical properties of lentil starch were measured and linked up with its functional properties and compared with those of corn and potato starches. The amylose content of lentil starch was the highest among these starches. The crystallinity and gelatinization enthalpy of lentil starch were the lowest among these starches. The high amylose: amylopectin ratio in lentil starch resulted into low crystallinity and gelatinization enthalpy. Gelatinization and pasting temperatures of lentil starch were in between those of corn and potato starches. Lentil starch gels showed the highest storage modulus, gel strength and pasting viscosity than corn and potato starch gels. Peleg's model was able to predict the stress relaxation data of these starches well (R(2)>0.98). The elastic modulus of lentil starch gel was less frequency dependent and higher in magnitude at high temperature (60 °C) than at lower temperature (10 °C). Lentil starch is suitable where higher gel strengthened pasting viscosity are desired.

Large Gastric Perforation in Carmi Syndrome: A Morbid Complication in a Rare Association

The association between epidermolysis bullosa (EB) and congenital pyloric atresia (CPA) named Carmi Syndrome is rare. We report unusual and morbid complication of gastric perforation resulting in peritonitis in a preterm neonate born with Carmi Syndrome.

Large gastric perforation in carmi syndrome: a morbid complication in a rare association

The association between epidermolysis bullosa (EB) and congenital pyloric atresia (CPA) named Carmi Syndrome is rare. We report unusual and morbid complication of gastric perforation resulting in peritonitis in a preterm neonate born with Carmi Syndrome.

Unilateral variant brachial plexus

Journal of College of Medical Sciences-Nepal, 2011, Vol-7, No-2, 49-54DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jcmsn.v7i2.6681

Comparison of experimental and modeled absorption enhancement by black carbon (BC) cored polydisperse aerosols under hygroscopic conditions

The quantification of the radiative impacts of light absorbing ambient black carbon (BC) particles strongly depends on accurate measurements of BC mass concentration and absorption coefficient (β(abs)). In this study, an experiment has been conducted to quantify the influence of hygroscopic growth of ambient particles on light absorption. Using the hygroscopic growth factor (i.e., Zdanovskii-Stokes-Robinson (ZSR) approach), a model has been developed to predict the chemical composition of particles based on measurements, and the absorption and scattering coefficients are derived using a core-shell assumption with light extinction estimates based on Mie theory. The estimated optical properties agree within 7% for absorption coefficient and 30% for scattering coefficient with that of measured values. The enhancement of absorption is found to vary according to the thickness of the shell and BC mass, with a maximum of 2.3 for a shell thickness of 18 nm for the particles. The findings of this study underline the importance of considering aerosol-mixing states while calculating their radiative forcing.

Intraluminal polyethylene glycol stabilizes tight junctions and improves intestinal preservation in the rat

Rapidly progressing mucosal breakdown limits the intestinal preservation time below 10 h. Recent studies indicate that intraluminal solutions containing polyethylene glycol (PEG) alleviate preservation injury of intestines stored in UW-Viaspan. We investigated whether a low-sodium PEG solution is beneficial for intestines stored in histidine-tryptophane-ketoglutarate (HTK) preservation solution. Rat intestines used as control tissue (group 1) were perfused with HTK, groups 2 and 3 received either a customized PEG-3350 (group 2) or an electrolyte solution (group 3) intraluminally before cold storage. Tissue injury, brush-border maltase activity, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and claudin-3 expression in the tight junctions (TJ) were analyzed after 8, 14 and 20 h. We measured epithelial resistance and permeability (Ussing chamber) after 8 and 14 h. Group 2 had superior morphology while maltase activity was similar in all groups. TJ proteins rapidly decreased and decolocalized in groups 1 3; these negative events were delayed in group 2, where colocalization persisted for about 14 h. Intestines in group 2 had higher epithelial resistance and lower permeability than the other groups. These results suggest that a customized PEG solution intraluminally reduces the intestinal preservation injury by improving several major epithelial characteristics without negatively affecting the brush-border enzymes or promoting edema.

Planimetric Hematoma Measurement in Patients With Intraventricular Hemorrhage

Background and Purpose—

Reliable quantification of both intracerebral hemorrhage and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) volume is important for hemostatic trials. We evaluated the reliability of computer-assisted planimetric volume measurements of IVH.

Methods—

Computer-assisted planimetry was used to quantify IVH volume. Five raters measured IVH volumes, total (intracerebral hemorrhage+IVH) volumes, and Graeb scores from 20 randomly selected computed tomography scans twice. Estimates of interrater and intrarater reliability were calculated and expressed as an intrarater correlation coefficient and an absolute minimum detectable difference.

Results—

Planimetric IVH volume analysis had excellent intra- and interrater agreement (intrarater correlation coefficient, 0.96 and 0.92, respectively), which was superior to the Graeb score (intrarater correlation coefficient, 0.88 and 0.83). Minimum detectable differences for intra- and interrater volumes were 12.1 mL and 17.3 mL, and were dependent on the total size of the hematoma; hematomas smaller than the median 43.8 mL had lower minimum detectable differences, whereas those larger than the median had higher minimum detectable differences. Planimetric total hemorrhage volume analysis had the best intra- and interrater agreement (intrarater correlation coefficient, 0.99 and 0.97, respectively).

Conclusions—

Computer-assisted planimetric techniques provide a reliable measurement of ventricular hematoma volume, but are susceptible to higher absolute error when assessing larger hematomas.

Effect of zinc in animal models of anxiety, depression and psychosis

The role of zinc (Zn) in anxiety, depression and psychosis was studied in rodents. Zn was administered at doses of 15 and 20 mg/kg intraperitoneally for 7 days. Both doses of Zn reduced the immobility time and increased the swimming time in the modified forced swim test. In the elevated plus maze test, increases in the number of open arm entries and time spent in the open arms were observed with both doses of Zn. In the amphetamine (1 and 2 mg/kg subcutaneously) induced locomotor activity test both doses of Zn produced reduction in the total movement time, mean velocity and stereotypic movements. Extrapyramidal symptoms such as catalepsy in animals are usually observed with conventional antipsychotic agents; but in the present study, Zn at doses of 15 and 20 mg/kg did not produce any cataleptic state in mice. The results of the present study demonstrated the anxiolytic, antidepressant and antipsychotic-like effects of Zn metal ion, which may be due to its N-methyl d-aspartate receptor antagonistic activity. Concurrent administration of a lower dose of Zn with standard existing anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs in this study showed potentiating effect, suggesting that Zn could exert beneficial role when prescribed as add-on medicine in the psychiatric illnesses. The results obtained in this study are preliminary, as further research is required to confirm the exact role of Zn metal in the investigated central nervous system disorders.

Use of interferon-gamma release assays in a health care worker screening program: experience from a tertiary care centre in the United States

BACKGROUND

Interferon-gamma release assays including the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT-GIT [Cellestis Ltd, Australia]) may be used in place of the tuberculin skin test (TST) in surveillance programs for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection control. However, data on performance and practicality of the QFT-GIT in such programs for health care workers (HCWs) are limited.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the performance, practicality and reversion rate of the QFT-GIT among HCWs at a tertiary health care institution in the United States.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review of HCWs at Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (Arkansas, USA) who underwent QFT-GIT testing as a part of their employee screening between November 1, 2008 and October 31, 2009.

RESULTS

QFT-GIT was used to screen 3290 HCWs. The initial QFT-GIT was interpreted as positive for 129 (3.9%) HCWs, negative for 3155 (95.9%) and indeterminate for six (0.2%). Testing with QFT-GIT was repeated in 45 HCWs who had positive results on the initial test. The QFT-GIT reverted to negative in 18 (40.0%) HCWs, all of whom had negative TST status and initial interferon-gamma values of 0.35 IU⁄mL to 2.0 IU⁄mL.

CONCLUSION

The QFT-GIT test is feasible in large health care setting as an alternative to TST for M tuberculosis infection screening in HCWs but is not free from challenges. The major concerns are the high number of positive test results and high reversion rates on repeat testing, illustrating poor short-term reproducibility of positive QFT-GIT test results. These results suggest adopting a borderline zone between interferon-gamma values of 0.35 IU⁄mL to 2.0 IU⁄mL, and cautious clinical interpretation of values in this range.

Tobacco use, its influences, triggers, and associated oral lesions among the patients attending a dental institution in rural Maharashtra, India

BACKGROUND

World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that tobacco deaths in India may exceed 1.5 million annually by 2020.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of tobacco use, its influences, triggers, and associated oral lesions among the patients of Rural Dental College and Hospital of Loni, Maharashtra.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted from June - December 2010. All the patients from the outpatient department and with tobacco habits were included in the study. Patients were interviewed through a pre-tested structured questionnaire in relation to their tobacco habits, its influences and triggers. Also clinical examination was carried out to check for any tobacco related oral lesions. For the data analysis, Microsoft Excel and chi-square test was used.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of tobacco use was 16.38%. Smokeless form of tobacco was more prevalent in both males (81.84%) and females (100%). Majority of the patients (males - 68.22%, females- 90.62%) were light tobacco users. About 76.09% males and 31.25% females admitted that they developed the habit due to initial influence of friends. The most common oral mucosal lesion in both the males (42.20%) and females (11.07%) was tobacco hyperkeratosis. Most common trigger for tobacco use was "work related" (69.14%) in males and "after meals" (53.13%) in females.

CONCLUSION

Since the number of tobacco users visiting the dental hospital is reasonably high; dentists can contribute to restrain the hazard through community educational activities such as de-addiction counseling of tobacco users to quit the habit.