No abstract available.
Bone Marrow* ; Dermatoglyphics* ; Histiocytes*

A 38-year-old woman who presented with unexplained fever and pancytopenia was subjected to a bone marrow examination. Her bone marrow aspirate smear showed no obvious pathological finding except for the presence of hemophagocytosis and mild plasmacytosis. In view of hemophagocytosis, a thorough examination of the smear was conducted and revealed the presence of histoplasmosis. She was advised to undergo evaluation of her immunological status, and she tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This case highlights that hemophagocytosis in the marrow may be an early sign of underlying disease, and that careful examination of bone marrow smears may reveal subtle infections. In addition, histoplasmosis with hemophagocytosis may be associated with pancytopenia, and hence, the HIV status of the patient should always be investigated.
Adult ; Bone Marrow ; Bone Marrow Examination ; Female ; Fever ; Histoplasmosis ; HIV ; Humans ; Pancytopenia

AIMTo evaluate the possible antifertility activity of Sarcostemma acidum (Roxb) Voigt. stem extract in male rats.

METHODMale rats were given 70% methanol extract of S. acidum stem orally at dose levels of 50 and 100 mg/kg/day for 60 days. Fertility was evaluated with mating test. Sperm motility and sperm density in cauda epididymides were also assessed. Biochemical and histological analyses were performed on blood samples and on the reproductive organs.

RESULTSS. acidum stem extract resulted in an arrest of spermatogenesis without any systemic side effect. Sperm motility as well as sperm density was reduced significantly. Treatment caused a 80% reduction in fertility at the 50 mg dose and complete suppression of fertility at the 100 mg dose. There was no significant change in RBC and WBC count, hemoglobin, haematocrit, sugar and urea in the whole blood and cholesterol, protein and phospholipid in the serum. The protein and glycogen content of the testes, fructose in the seminal vesicle and protein in epididymides were significantly decreased. Cholesterol in the testes was elevated. Treatment at both of the doses caused a marked reduction in the number of primary spermatocytes (preleptotene and pachytene), secondary spermatocytes and spermatids. The number of mature Leydig cells was decreased, and degenerating Leydig cells was increased proportionately.

CONCLUSIONS. acidum stem extract arrests spermatogenesis in male rats without noticable side effects.

Animals ; Blood Cell Count ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Contraceptive Agents, Male ; pharmacology ; Glycogen ; metabolism ; Leydig Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Phospholipids ; blood ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermatids ; drug effects ; Spermatocytes ; drug effects ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects

BACKGROUND: Anemia of chronic disease (ACD) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are the two most prevalent forms of anemia having interrelated characteristics. Hepcidin, a newly introduced biomarker for assessment of iron status, is a homeostatic regulator of iron metabolism. We investigated the role of hepcidin and other conventional iron parameters to assess iron status among children with ACD and IDA. We also identified children with ACD who developed iron deficiency (ID). METHODS: The study was undertaken in anemic children with 30 cases each of ACD and IDA along with 30 age and sex-matched controls. The ACD cases were subdivided into pure ACD and ACD with coexistent ID. All cases were subjected to following tests: complete blood count with peripheral smear, serum C-reactive protein, serum interleukin-6, iron studies, serum soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), and serum hepcidin. RESULTS: The mean serum hepcidin concentration was significantly increased in pure ACD patients (143.85±42.76 ng/mL) as compared to those in IDA patients (6.01±2.83 ng/mL, P < 0.001) and controls (24.96±9.09 ng/mL, P <0.001). Also, compared to pure ACD patients [normal sTfR levels (<3 µg/mL)], the serum hepcidin concentration was reduced significantly in ACD patients with ID [high sTfR levels (≥3 µg/mL)] with a mean of 10.0±2.97 ng/mL. CONCLUSION: Hepcidin measurement can provide a useful tool for differentiating ACD from IDA and also help to identify an iron deficiency in ACD patients. This might aid in the appropriate selection of therapy for these patients.
Anemia* ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency* ; Blood Cell Count ; C-Reactive Protein ; Child* ; Chronic Disease* ; Hepcidins* ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; Iron* ; Metabolism ; Receptors, Transferrin

Pot studies were carried out to evaluate the reactions of 23 selections of field pea (Pisum sativum) against Meloidogyne incognita (2000 freshly hatched juveniles (J2)/pot). Experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions ((24.7+/-3) degrees C and (62+/-7)% RH) and terminated 45 d after inoculation. The roots of all the selections were assessed to determine root-knot indices (RKI) on a 0-4 scale. Out of 23 selections HFP-990713, Pant P-25, and HFP-0129 were resistant; Pant P-2005, NDP-2 and Pant P-42 were tolerant; LFP-305, HFP-8909, HFP-4, HUP-31, HFP-0128, Pant P-31, Pant P-40, LFP-363, and HFP-0118 were moderately resistant; HFP-0110, HUDP-28, HUDP-15, HUDP-27, HUP-30, HUP-2 and HUDP-26 were moderately susceptible; and only Ambika was susceptible to M. incognita. It was observed that reproduction of nematode was favored on tolerant and susceptible cultivars but inhibited on resistant ones. Strong negative correlation was observed between the total fresh and dry plant weights and the root-knot index. The selection Pant P-42 showed highest tolerance among all the selections tested and can be recommended for field trials, whereas, selection Ambika showed highest susceptibility and should be avoided.
Animals ; Peas ; classification ; genetics ; parasitology ; Plant Roots ; classification ; parasitology ; Tylenchoidea ; pathogenicity ; physiology

Studies were conducted under pot conditions to determine the comparative efficacy of carbofuran at 1 mg a.i./kg soil, bavistin at 1 mg a.i./kg soil, neem (Azadirachta indica) seed powder at 50 mg/kg soil, green mould (Trichoderma harzianum) at 50.0 ml/kg soil, rhizobacteria (Pseudomonas fluorescens) at 50.0 ml/kg soil against root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita-wilt fungus, Fusarium oxysporum disease complex on green gram, Vigna radiata cv ML-1108. All the treatments significantly improved the growth of the plants as compared to untreated inoculated plants. Analysis of data showed that carbofuran and A. indica seed powder increased plant growth and yield significantly more in comparison to bavistin and P. fluorescens. Carbofuran was highly effective against nematode, bavistin against fungus, A. indica seed powder against both the pathogens and both the bioagents were moderately effective against both the pathogens.
Animals ; Benzimidazoles ; administration & dosage ; Carbamates ; administration & dosage ; Carbofuran ; administration & dosage ; Fusarium ; drug effects ; pathogenicity ; Glycerides ; administration & dosage ; Pest Control ; methods ; Phaseolus ; drug effects ; microbiology ; parasitology ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; parasitology ; Terpenes ; administration & dosage ; Tylenchoidea ; drug effects ; microbiology ; pathogenicity

INTRODUCTION: Uncinectomy can be performed using various methods. The aim of the present study was to compare the results and complications of uncinectomy and middle meatus antrostomy using the standard and swing door techniques during functional endoscopic sinus surgery. METHODS: In a prospective controlled study, 60 patients (aged 18-50 years) suffering from chronic maxillary sinusitis underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery from January 2007 to December 2008 at a tertiary care centre. The patients were randomly divided into two groups of 30: Group A underwent uncinectomy using the standard technique, while Group B underwent uncinectomy using the swing door technique. RESULTS: Group B showed more improvement in symptoms, with a mean visual analogue scale score of 80.58 ± 14.34 compared to 78.50 ± 16.63 in Group A. Both groups had no major complications. At the end of Week 2, minor complications were observed in 8 (26.7%) of the patients from Group A and 2 (6.7%) from Group B. By the sixth week, the minor complication rate was 1 (3.3%) and 0 (0%) in Group A and Group B, respectively. When compared statistically during the second week using chi-square test, the difference in the minor complication rate was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05, χ CONCLUSION The swing door technique for uncinectomy produces good postoperative results, with fewer complications, as compared to the standard technique.