Objective: A new variety of Crotalaria ramosissima is described from the Western Ghats of India.Crotalaria ramosissima Roxb. var. kanuvayensis Binu T., K. M. Prabhu et A. Rajendran (Fabaceae) from Kanuvai hills, Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. Methods: Compare this species with available varieties of Crotalaria and cross checked with previous literature for authetification of this taxa. Results: The current paper provides a detailed description of the new taxa along with illustrations, colour plates and other relevant notes. Conclusions: The present study concluded that this taxa is new to science from the Southern Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India.

In the present study, an objective and reproducible evaluation of mitotic activity and nuclear morphometric factors was attempted in 30 patients of oral squamous cell carcinoma with a view to predicting local relapse and survival. Various nuclear parameters and volume-corrected mitotic index were calculated and compared with the recurrence and death of the study group (n = 30). Volume-corrected mitotic index (M/V index) was the single best prognosticator for recurrence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (p = 0.008 for recurrence; p = 0.015 for death). The combination of M/V and SD of nuclear area (forward stepwise regression) was a more efficient and better predictor of survival (Log rank test, Kaplan-Meier's survival analysis; χ² = 17.46, p = 0.00001). The present study proved the effectiveness of the M/V index in predicting the biological behavior and the outcome of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients.

PURPOSE: To identify parsimonious models for changes in depression in spouses of post myocardial infarction (MI) patients over 2 years based on the biopsychosocial model. METHODS: A total of 442 community living patients who had experienced an MI and their spouses were included for analysis. Patients and spouses completed psychosocial assessments at baseline, 1 year, and 2 years after enrollment in the Patients' and Families' Psychological Response to Home Automated External Defibrillator Trial. Linear mixed models were used for testing hypotheses. RESULTS: A total of 15.2% (baseline), 11.5% (1-year follow up), and 8.1% (2-year follow up) of spouses were depressed. Spouse biological factors did not influence changes in depression. Amongall spouses, twogroups of spouses showed increased depression over time: spouses with lower baseline depression scores (p < .001), and spouses of patients who had higher baseline depression scores (p = .001). Among psychologically distressed (anxious or depressed) spouses, three groups of spouses showed increased depression over time: spouses who had lower baseline depression scores (p < .001), spouses who had more social support at baseline (p = .023), and spouses of patientswho had higher baseline depression scores (p < .001). CONCLUSION: Spouse and patient baseline depression significantly predicted changes in depression for all spouses and psychologically distressed spouses. Among psychologically distressed spouses, higher baseline social support predicted higher depression scores over time. This study is an important step in understanding longitudinal changes in the psychological status of spouses of MI patients for evaluating the need for interventions. It is crucial that patient couples' psychosocial factors are continuously assessed.
Biological Factors ; Defibrillators ; Depression ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Spouses

Blood Pressure Determination ; Humans ; Hypertension ; classification

Dentistry has entered an exciting era of technological advancements. The advent of newer modalitiesof treatment like the use of laser radiation has heralded a change in the field of Periodontics since itsdevelopment and subsequent applications for dental hard and soft tissue procedures. Extensive researchhas been done on the possible benefits of lasers derived from the adjunctive effects of bacterial controland haemostasis associated with its use. This review attempts to explore the current status of laserapplications in the treatment of periodontal diseases and the emerging concepts in the utilization of laserenergy. The limitations of lasers in periodontal therapy are also briefly discussed.

Heptamethine cyanine dyes are categorized as a class of near infrared fluorescent (NIRF) dyes which have been discovered to have tumor targeting and accumulation capability. This unique feature of NIRF dye makes it a promising candidate for imaging, targeted therapy and also as a drug delivery vehicle for various types of cancers. The favored uptake of dyes only in cancer cells is facilitated by several factors which include organic anion-transporting polypeptides, high mitochondrial membrane potential and tumor hypoxia in cancer cells. Currently nanotechnology has opened possibilities for multimodal or multifunctional strategies for cancer treatment. Including heptamethine cyanine dyes in nanoparticle based delivery systems have generally improved its theranostic ability by several fold owing to the multiple functionalities and structural features of heptamethine dyes. For this reason, nanocomplexes with NIRF heptamethine cyanine dye probe are preferred over non-targeting dyes such as indo cyanine green (ICG). This review sums up current trends and progress in NIRF heptamethine cyanine dye, including dye properties, multifunctional imaging and therapeutic applications in cancer.
Anoxia ; Coloring Agents ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Nanoparticles ; Nanotechnology ; Peptides ; Theranostic Nanomedicine

PURPOSE: This research was conducted to compare the management and the outcome of patients with colovesical fistulae of different aetiologies. METHODS: Retrospective data were collected from 2002 to 2012 and analyzed with SPSS ver. 17. Age, gender, aetiology, management, hospital stay, postoperative complications, and mortality were studied and compared among colovesical fistulae of different aetiologies. RESULTS: A total of 55 patients, 46 males (84%) and 9 females (16%), with a median age of 65 years (interquartile range [IQR], 48-75 years) were studied. Diverticular disease was the most common benign cause and recto-sigmoid cancer the most common malignancy. Anterior resection and bladder repair were the most frequent operations in benign cases, as was total pelvic exenteration in the malignant group. Multiple intestinal loop involvement and subsequent resection were significantly higher in those with Crohn disease than it was in patients of colovesical fistula due to all other causes collectively (60% vs. 6%, P = 0.006). Patients with malignancy had a higher postoperative complication rate than patients who did not (12 [80%] vs. 7 [32%], P = 0.0005). Pelvic collection (11, 22%) was the most frequent early complication (predominantly in the malignant group) whereas incisional hernia (8, 22%) was the most common late complication, with a predominance in the benign group. The median hospital stay was significantly prolonged in the malignant group (32 days; IQR, 17-70 days vs. 16 days; IQR, 11-25 days; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Despite their having similar clinical presentation, colovesical fistulae of various aetiologies differ significantly in management and outcome.
Adenocarcinoma ; Crohn Disease ; Diverticulitis ; Female ; Fistula ; Hernia ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula* ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Mortality ; Pelvic Exenteration ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Bladder

On a pathological specimen of breast cancer cells, retraction artifact during histological processing mimics true lymphovascular invasion (LVI). The accurate determination of the presence or absence of LVI is a factor in determining risk of having a positive sentinel node, or having additional positive axillary nodes after a positive sentinel node biopsy in women with early-stage breast cancer. The determination of nodal risk influences the decision of the treating physicians as to whether a sentinel node biopsy or completion axillary dissection is necessary. On slide preparation, ideal factors favoring true LVI include: a definite endothelial lining, with endothelial nuclei that seem to protrude into the lymphatic space; invasion in one lymphatic vessel (LV) lumen with nearby cancer glands that have minimal or no retraction; a tumor embolus in a LV clear lumen with outside nearby tumor bulk; a tumor embolus that is different in shape than its surrounding clear LV space; and a positive stain for fibrin, CD31, or CD34 on tumor embolus periphery.
Artifacts ; Biopsy ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Embolism ; Female ; Fibrin ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Lymphatic Vessels ; Nitriles ; Prognosis ; Pyrethrins

INTRODUCTIONThe applicability of off-pump coronary-artery bypass (OPCAB) in patients who present as emergency remains controversial. Herein, we explore the efficacy and safety of OPCAB in patients who were indicated for emergency surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODSBetween 2002 and 2007, a total of 282 patients underwent OPCAB, of which 68 were presented as emergency. This cohort (group A) was compared to 68 patients who had traditional on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG, group B) under emergency indications during the same period of time. Baseline demographics, intraoperative data and postoperative outcomes were analysed.

RESULTSPreoperative demographics were comparable in both groups. Mortality during the first 30 days was comparable in both groups and no stroke occurred in the whole series. Patients in group A had significantly less pulmonary complications (4.4% vs 14.7%, P = 0.04), less ventilation time (30.3 ± 33.6 hours vs 41.5 ± 55.4 hours, P = 0.18) and were less likely to have prolonged ventilation, (19.1% vs 35.3%, P = 0.03). Similarly, OPCAB patients had less postoperative renal-failure/dysfunction (5.9% vs 8.8%, P = 0.51) and required less inotropic support (66.2% vs 88.2%, P = 0.002), bloodtransfusions (23% vs 86.8%, P <0.0001), and atrial- (17.6% vs 35.3%, P = 0.02) or ventricular-pacing (17.6% vs 41.2%, P = 0.002). Although the number of diseased vessels was comparable in both groups, patients in group A received less distal anastomoses. (2.78 ± 1.19 vs 3.41 ± 0.89, P = 0.002). Similarly, complete revascularisation was achieved less frequently in group A (76.5% vs 94.1%, P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONOPCAB strategy is a safe and efficient in emergency patients with reasonable good short-term postoperative outcomes.

Cohort Studies ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; instrumentation ; methods ; Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump ; instrumentation ; methods ; Coronary Artery Disease ; mortality ; surgery ; Emergency Treatment ; Female ; Health Status Indicators ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Retrospective Studies ; Safety ; Singapore ; Statistics as Topic ; Time Factors

Introduction: Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) might be an aetiological agent involved in the pathogenesis of certain Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphomas (NHLs). EBV infection has been diagnosed by serologic testing within the tumour biopsies of patients with NHL. However, the association between EBV and NHL is inconsistent with a preference for certain anatomic sites, histologic subtypes and immunosuppressed patients. The objective of this study was to characterise the B-cell NHLs of the oral cavity and maxillofacial region using histological and immunophenotypical techniques and to determine its association with EBV infection. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study that included 14 cases of B-cell NHLs of the oral cavity and maxillofacial region. The haematopoietic and lymphoid tissue tumours classification of WHO was used to categorize the cases. In-situ hybridisation for EBV–encoded RNA was performed to confirm the EBV infection. Results: The average age of the patients included in the study was found to be 48.8 ± 23 years with a higher female to male ratio (1.3:1). Our study suggested that diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) and Burkitt’s lymphomas (BLs) constitute the predominant subtypes of lymphomas affecting the oral cavity and maxillofacial regions. Conclusion: The findings from our study support the view that at least a relatively smaller proportion of B-cell NHLs that occur in the oral cavity and maxillofacial region do not have a pathogenic association with EBV.