Cerebral palsy children have increased tendency to develop fractures later in life, for which low bone mineral density might be one of the factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bone mineral density in children with cerebral palsy and factors affecting it. A total of 82 diagnosed children with cerebral palsy were sampled by non-probability purposive sampling from the outpatient department of Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine. Bone mineral density (BMD), z-score was measured at lumbar spine with Dual Energy X Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) at L1- L4 lumbar vertebra. Analysis was done using SPSS (Version 20). Statistical comparisons were made using independent sample t-test. Of the 82 children 37 (45.1%) were males and 45 (54.9%) females. The mean age for all the children was 5.6 + 2.34 years and mean BMDz- score was -2.12 + 0.67. There were statistically significant differences in BMDz score with respect to age groups, pattern of involvement and ambulation status (p<0.05) but there were no statistically significant differences in gender, physical therapy programme and nutritional status (p>0.05). The BMDz-scores were lower, especially in the quadriplegic and non-ambulant children. BMD if identified early and managed timely can prevent future fragility fracture risk and avoid delay in rehabilitation process.

Our previous studies have shown that subthreshold concentrations of two platelet agonists exert synergistic effects on platelet aggregation. Here we studied the mechanism of synergistic interaction of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and epinephrine mediated platelet aggregation. We show that 5-HT had no or little effect on aggregation but it did potentiate the aggregation response of epinephrine. The synergistic interaction of 5-HT (1-5 microM) and epinephrine (0.5-2 microM) was inhibited by alpha2-adrenoceptor blocker (yohimbine; IC50= 0.4 microM), calcium channel blockers (verapamil and diltiazem with IC50 of 10 and 48 mM, respectively), PLC inhibitor (U73122; IC50=6 microM) and nitric oxide (NO) donor, SNAP (IC50=1.6 microM)). The data suggest that synergistic effects of platelet agonists are receptor-mediated and occur through multiple signalling pathways including the activation PLC/Ca2+ signalling cascades.
Blotting, Western ; Calcium Channel Blockers/pharmacology ; Calcium Signaling* ; Drug Synergism ; Enzyme Activation ; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Epinephrine/pharmacology ; G-Protein, Inhibitory Gi/metabolism* ; GTP-Binding Proteins/metabolism* ; Human ; Phospholipase C/metabolism* ; Phospholipase C/antagonists & inhibitors ; Platelet Aggregation/physiology ; Platelet Aggregation/drug effects* ; Serotonin/pharmacology ; Signal Transduction

The chronology of the authors can be changed like: Khurshid Natasha, Bishwajit Bhowmik, A. K. Azad Khan, Akhtar Hussain.

Eighteen male Wistar rats aged six weeks were divided equally into Methamphetamine (MA), Placebo and Control group. MA group were injected with 50mg/kg body weight of Methamphetamine hydrochloride (MAHCl) in normal saline, Placebo group were injected with normal saline only, while Control group not injected with anything. Five MA group rats died within four hours of injection and their hearts collected on the same day. Another MA group rat was sacrificed two days after injection. Placebo and control group were sacrificed at similar intervals. Collected hearts were studied for cardiac lesions under light microscopy using special staining and immunohistochemistry. Microscopic examination of the myocardium of the rats that died on the first day of injection showed loss of nuclei in some myocytes, indicating cell death. Some areas in the sub-endocardium region showed internalization and enlargement of myocyte nuclei, consistent with regeneration of cells. There were very few foci of necrosis observed in these samples. The heart samples from the single rat that survived injection for two days showed foci of infiltration of macrophage-like cells that were later revealed to be regenerating myocytes. There were also spindle-like fibroblasts, macrophages and a few leucocytes found within these foci. The overall appearance of the myocardium did not indicate any inflammatory response, and the expected signs of necrosis were not observed. These results suggest a need to re-evaluate the toxic and lethal dosages of MA for use in animals testing. Cause of death was suspected to be due to failure of other major organs from acute administration of MA. Death occurred within a time period where significant changes due to necrosis may not be evident in the myocardium. Further investigations of other organs are necessary to help detect death due to acute dosage of MA.

No abstract available.
Bangladesh* ; Depression* ; Glucose* ; Prevalence* ; Rural Population*

BACKGROUND: Depression and glucose abnormality are increasing in Bangladesh including its rural area. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of depression in an urbanizing rural population of Bangladesh with or without glucose abnormality (including diabetes mellitus [DM], and pre-diabetes which combines impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance pre-DM). METHODS: A total of 2,293 subjects aged > or =20 years were investigated. Sociodemographic and anthropometric details, blood pressure, fasting (fasting plasma glucose) and 2 hours after 75 g plasma glucose (2-hour plasma glucose), were studied. Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale was used to assess depression. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of DM was 7.9% and pre-DM was 8.6%. Prevalence of depression was 15.31% (n=351; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.59 to 1.36) with mean depressive score 17.62+/-3.49. Female were more likely to have depression (17.16%). The 22.35% of male and 29.46% of female with pre-DM and 26.58% male and 36.27% female with DM had depressive symptoms. There was no significant variation in the mean age of different groups (healthy, depressed and with glucose abnormality). Depression was significantly associated with age, marital status, occupation, high physical activity, and low body mass index. The odds ratio (OR) for depression was significantly increased in patients with glucose abnormality compared with those without pre-DM (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.76 to 3.51; P<0.000) and DM (OR, 3.27; 95% CI, 2.33 to 4.60; P<0.000). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of depression found alarming in our study area though lesser than previous studies and it is significantly related to glucose abnormality. The study reveals that mental health should get more focused specially along with metabolic diseases.
Bangladesh* ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Depression* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fasting ; Female ; Glucose* ; Humans ; Male ; Marital Status ; Mental Health ; Metabolic Diseases ; Motor Activity ; Occupations ; Odds Ratio ; Plasma ; Prediabetic State ; Prevalence* ; Rural Population*

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of road dust on human health. A PubMed search was used to extract references that included the words “road dust” and “health” or “fugitive dust” and “health” in the title or abstract. A total of 46 references were extracted and selected for review after the primary screening of 949 articles. The respiratory system was found to be the most affected system in the human body. Lead, platinum-group elements (platinum, rhodium, and bohrium), aluminum, zinc, vanadium, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were the components of road dust that were most frequently referenced in the articles reviewed. Road dust was found to have harmful effects on the human body, especially on the respiratory system. To determine the complex mechanism of action of various components of road dust on the human body and the results thereof, the authors recommend a further meta-analysis and extensive risk-assessment research into the health impacts of dust exposure.
Aluminum ; Dust ; Human Body ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Particulate Matter ; Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic ; Respiratory System ; Review Literature as Topic ; Rhodium ; Risk Assessment ; Vanadium ; Zinc

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of road dust on human health. A PubMed search was used to extract references that included the words “road dust” and “health” or “fugitive dust” and “health” in the title or abstract. A total of 46 references were extracted and selected for review after the primary screening of 949 articles. The respiratory system was found to be the most affected system in the human body. Lead, platinum-group elements (platinum, rhodium, and bohrium), aluminum, zinc, vanadium, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were the components of road dust that were most frequently referenced in the articles reviewed. Road dust was found to have harmful effects on the human body, especially on the respiratory system. To determine the complex mechanism of action of various components of road dust on the human body and the results thereof, the authors recommend a further meta-analysis and extensive risk-assessment research into the health impacts of dust exposure.
Aluminum ; Dust* ; Human Body ; Humans* ; Mass Screening ; Particulate Matter ; Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic ; Respiratory System ; Review Literature as Topic ; Rhodium ; Risk Assessment ; Vanadium ; Zinc

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of road dust on human health. A PubMed search was used to extract references that included the words “road dust” and “health” or “fugitive dust” and “health” in the title or abstract. A total of 46 references were extracted and selected for review after the primary screening of 949 articles. The respiratory system was found to be the most affected system in the human body. Lead, platinum-group elements (platinum, rhodium, and bohrium), aluminum, zinc, vanadium, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were the components of road dust that were most frequently referenced in the articles reviewed. Road dust was found to have harmful effects on the human body, especially on the respiratory system. To determine the complex mechanism of action of various components of road dust on the human body and the results thereof, the authors recommend a further meta-analysis and extensive risk-assessment research into the health impacts of dust exposure.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) with air insufflation is commonly used for the staging and treatment of early gastric carcinoma. However, carbon dioxide (CO2) use has been shown to cause less post-procedural pain and fewer adverse events. The objective of this study was to compare the post-procedural pain and adverse events associated with CO₂ and air insufflation in ESD. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted for randomized control trials (RCTs) comparing the two approaches in ESD. The Mantel-Haenszel method was used to analyze the data. The mean difference (MD) and odds ratio (OR) were used for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. RESULTS: Four RCTs with a total of 391 patients who underwent ESD were included in our meta-analysis. The difference in maximal post-procedural pain between the two groups was statistically significant (MD, -7.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], -13.6 – -1.21; p=0.020). However, no significant differences were found in the length of procedure, end-tidal CO2, rate of perforation, and postprocedural hemorrhage between the two groups. The incidence of overall adverse events was significantly lower in the CO2 group (OR, 0.51; CI, 0.32–0.84; p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS:: CO2 insufflation in gastric ESD is associated with less post-operative pain and discomfort, and a lower risk of overall adverse events compared with air insufflation.
Carbon Dioxide* ; Carbon* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insufflation* ; Methods ; Odds Ratio