Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) is one of many pathogens that use the cell surface glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate as a receptor.Heparan sulfate is highly expressed on the surface and extracellular matrix of virtually all cell types making it an ideal receptor.Heparan sulfate interacts with HSV-1 envelope glycoproteins gB and gC during the initial attachment step during HSV-1 entry.In addition,a modified form of heparan sulfate,known as 3-O-sulfated heparan sulfate,interacts with HSV-1 gD to induce fusion between the viral envelope and host cell membrane.The 3-O-sulfation of heparan sulfate is a rare modification which occurs during the biosynthesis of heparan sulfate that is carded out by a family of enzymes known as 3-O-sulfotransferases.Due to its involvement in multiple steps of the infection process,heparan sulfate has been a prime target for the development of agents to inhibit HSV entry.Understanding how heparan sulfate functions during HSV-1 infection may not only be critical for inhibiting infection by this virus,but it may also be crucial in the fight against many other pathogens as well.

We conducted a retrospective review on eleven patients who were treated for Type A and C distal femoral fractures (based on AO classification) between January 2004 and December 2004. All fractures were fixed with titanium distal femoral locking compression plate. The patients ages ranged from 15 to 85 with a mean of 44. Clinical assessment was conducted at least 6 months post operatively using the Schatzker scoring system. Results showed that four patients had excellent results, four good, two fair and on

A specific, precise and stability indicating high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method for simultaneous estimation of pantoprazole sodium and itopride hydrochloride in pharmaceutical formulations was developed and validated. The method employed TLC aluminium plates precoated with silica gel 60F254 as the stationary phase. The solvent system consisted of methanol:water:ammonium acetate; 4.0:1.0:0.5 (v/v/v). This system was found to give compact and dense spots for both itopride hydrochloride (Rf value of 0.55±0.02) and pantoprazole sodium (Rf value of 0.85 ± 0.04). Densitometric analysis of both drugs was carried out in the reflectance-absorbance mode at 289 nm. The linear regression analysis data for the calibration plots showed a good linear relationship with R2=0.9988± 0.0012 in the concentration range of 100-400 ng for pantoprazole sodium. Also, the linear regression analysis data for the calibration plots showed a good linear relationship with R2=0.9990±0.0008 in the concentration range of 200-1200 ng for itopride hydrochloride. The method was validated for specificity, precision, robustness and recovery. Statistical analysis proves that the method is repeatable and selective for the estimation of both the said drugs. As the method could effectively separate the drug from its degradation products, it can be employed as a stability indicating method.

Introduction: Diabetic nephropathy is a microvascular complication and is the leading cause of diabetes related morbidity, mortality and important cause of end-stage kidney disease. Both microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Evidence has been accumulating from clinical trials that assessing the levels of apolipoprotein B (ApoB), a constituent of atherogenic lipoproteins: ApoA1, a component of anti-atherogenic high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol; and the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio will provide better prediction of future cardiovascular events than measuring serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels. There is paucity of published data linking ApoB/ApoA1 ratio to diabetic nephropathy especially from developing countries, hence this study was carried out. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in the Department of Medicine, CSM Medical University, Lucknow between August 2009 and July 2010. Patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) attending the Diabetic and Medical Out-Patient clinics or who were admitted to the medical wards of Gandhi Memorial and Association Hospital CSM University, Lucknow were included. One hundred patients were enrolled; 64 of those were cases (Micro- and Macroalbuminuria groups) and 36 without nephropathy (Normoalbuminuria) were controls. The cut-off value for higher ApoB/ApoA1 ratio for male was 0.97 and for female was 0.86. Results: Older age, durations and control of DM were significantly correlated with degree of albuminuria. Fifty-six patients (56%) had raised ApoB/ApoA1 ratio, 19.4% in the Normoalbuminuria group (n=7/36), 71.4% in the Microalbuminuria group (n=30/42), and 86.4% in the Macroalbuminuria group (n=19/22). There were no statistical differences in the mean total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides among the groups. Conclusion: In our study higher ApoB/ApoA1 ratio was significantly correlated with diabetic nephropathy.
Apolipoprotein A-I ; Apolipoproteins B ; Complications ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Kidney Diseases

Objective: To evaluate the fasting serum glucose (FSG) lowering potential of different fractions (C & D) and subfraction (D1 & D2) from aqueous extract of Aloe vera leaf on normal and alloxan induced type 2 diabetic rats. Methods: Two fractions (C & D) obtained by common chemical treatment of the aqueous extract of Aleo vera leaf and subfraction (D1 & D2) from fraction D were administered to the alloxan induced (150mg/kg i.p.) diabetic rats. The FSG lowering capacity, of different fractions and subfractions, was then evaluated in terms of percentage reduction in blood glucose level. Results: Oral administration of fractions C & D and subfraction D1 & D2 for 15 days led significant (P<0.05) reduction to the elevated FSG level of alloxan induced diabetic rats. Percentage reduction in blood glucose level and comparison with standard drug glibenclamide suggest the superiority of fraction D and subfraction D1 in hypoglycaemic potential. Conclusions:The results suggest that fraction D and subfraction D1 from aqueous extracts of Aloe vera leaf possesses the maximum FSG lowering capacity and further investigation is required for determination of anti-diabetic principal(s) and exact mechanism of their hypoglycaemic action.

Introduction: Traumatic spine injuries are on the rise. The literature is sparse regarding epidemiology of patients with traumatic spine injuries from this part of the world. Objectives: To analyse the following in patients with traumatic spine injuries with neurological deficits: demographic and social profile, common modes of injury, pre-hospitalisation practices, region of spine affected, severity of neurological deficit and the lay individuals’ awareness about traumatic spine injuries. Methods: The study sample comprised 52 adult patients with traumatic spine injuries with neurological deficits. We collected data on demographic and social characteristics, mode of injury, pre-hospitalisation treatment, interval between injury and presentation, spine region affected and severity of neurological deficits and patient's knowledge about such injuries. Results: The average patient age was 31.32y. The male: female ratio was 2.25:1, and the most common modes of injury were fall from height, followed by traffic accident. More than half of the patients suffered cervical spine injuries, followed by dorsolumbar spine injuries. Only 9.61% of patients received pre-hospitalisation treatment. All patients understood there could be complete functional recovery after treatment for traumatic spine injuries. Conclusion: There is a growing need to improve railway and roadway safety equipment and to make it accessible and affordable to the susceptible economically weaker population. Attempts should be made to increase awareness regarding traumatic spine injuries.

Tuberculosis of the extra-oral region is uncommon and is rarely primary. Extra-oral involvement of the cheek in the absence of tuberculosis elsewhere in the body is rare. To the best of our knowledge, we report here the first case of primary tuberculosis of the cheek in a 31-year-old male presenting as a nodular swelling of the cheek. Previous reported cases of extra-oral involvement of the cheek involved either fistula or sinus of the cheek. Excisional biopsy for tissue diagnosis and bacterial examination with culture should be performed for an early diagnosis as a delay in treatment can lead to devastating consequences.
Tuberculosis ; Cheek

Background and Objective: For improving overall care in epileptic patients, careful evaluation of pharmacotherapy, seizure control, quality of life (QOL) and cost effectiveness are helpful but such data are relatively meagre from developing countries. The present study was undertaken to audit all these said factors with different drug combinations comparing older with newer drugs in the setting of a tertiary care epilepsy hospital in India. Methods: Forty patients were divided into four treatment groups, of ten each which were valproic acid + lamotrigine (Group-I), valproic acid+ clonazepam (Group-II), oxcarbazepine + clobazam (Group-III) and phenobarbitone + phenytoin (Group-IV), based on most commonly used dual therapy in local clinical practice. The patients were followed at monthly intervals for six months. Effi cacy was assessed by reduction in seizure frequency, QOL was assessed by using an adapted version of 31- items questionnaire QOLIE-31 (quality of life in epilepsy) and cost effectiveness was calculated as ratio of direct cost of medicine and improvement in quality of life. Results: There was a signifi cant reduction in seizure frequency and improvement in QOL in all four groups at 2nd and 6th months. Cost-effectiveness analysis at the end showed that group-IV paid the least for same improvement in QOL. Conclusion: Older drugs are equally effi cacious as compared to newer in controlling seizure frequency and improving QOL, but are more cost effective.

The epithelioid variant of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours is a rare histological entity, and the occurrence of a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour in the skull base is even more unusual. We report a case of a 52-year-old man who presented with reduced hearing in the left ear, giddiness and left-sided facial weakness of short duration. He was a known hypertensive. On examination, left-sided 7th to 12th cranial nerve palsies were noted. Computed tomography (CT) and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were reported as an ill-defined heterogeneously enhancing mass left skull base suggestive of chondrosarcoma. Left tympanotomy and biopsy of the lesion were carried out. On light microscopy and immunohistochemical examination of the biopsy, a diagnosis of epithelioid malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour was established. The patient underwent left extended modified radical mastoidectomy and selective neck dissection. Histopathological study of the resected surgical specimen confirmed left-sided extensive tumour involvement of skull base structures, as well as neck nodal metastases.

A neglected shoulder dislocation is a rarer entity and only few cases are reported in the literature. An anterior dislocation of the shoulder is rarely missed as patients present with limb in abduction and external rotation, an attitude very familiar to orthopaedic surgeon. Occasionally such cases are missed when they present with fracture of proximal humerus or when they receive treatment from unqualified practitioners who commonly practise in rural areas. Owing to very few reports there is paucity of literature and no standard treatment protocol exists for neglected anterior dislocation of the shoulder, though most such chronic cases are managed by open reduction. This case report describes a six months old neglected anterior dislocation with a significant Hill Sachs lesion, which was managed by closed reduction and Latarjet procedure.
Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Orthopedic Procedures ; methods ; Shoulder Dislocation ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery