Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are among the most widespread and persistent pollutants in the global environment. Coplanar and noncoplanar PCBs have been shown to cause congener-specific apoptosis mediated neurotoxicity in rats. Very few, if any, such studies have been reported on human renal cell toxicity. The authors report here caspase-dependent or caspase-independent renal toxicity, as measured by apoptotic death induced by PCBs, depending on the planarity of congeners PCB-77 (coplanar) and PCB-153 (noncoplanar) in human kidney cells (HK2) in vitro. The authors have combined morphological and biological techniques to discover the relevance of apoptosis in renal proximal tubule cell death induced by these two PCB congeners. Treatment with both PCB congeners caused accelerated apoptosis in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Based on our findings using human kidney (HK2) cells, there was more apoptosis-mediated loss of cell viability by non-ortho-substituted PCB-77 when compared to PCB-153. A significant increase of caspase-3 expression through immunoblot studies showed the involvement of apoptosis by PCB-77 compared to none by PCB-153. The broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk showed increased cell death when treated by PCB-153, but not by PCB-77, confirming that caspase inhibitor induced a switch in the mode of cell death. It is reasonable to assume that apoptotic cell death in the renal proximal tubule cells treated by PCBs may have both caspase-dependent and caspase-independent pathways.

Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Gastrooesophageal reflux in infants and children in north India.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of gastrooesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as suggested by the symptom profile in babies ranging in age from 1 month to 2 years. METHODS: Six hundred and two babies were recruited from the well baby clinic for hospital delivered babies and from the childrens OPD of a tertiary care hospital. Children with acute severe illness needing hospitalization were excluded from the study. The primary care taker of each baby was interviewed using a questionnaire (IGERQ) designed by Orenstein et al and the I-GERD score obtained was used to assess for likelyhood of GERD. Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy was carried out and an oesophageal biopsy was taken in clinically suspected cases of GERD (IGERD > 5). RESULTS: Sixty one (10%) of the 602 subjects had an I-GERD score of > 5 suggestive of GERD. Regurgitation was present in 56 of these 61 subjects and also in 106 of the 541 normal subjects. 112 of 205 infants aged 1-6 months had regurgitation and 25 (22.2%) of these regurgitant infants had a score suggestive of GERD. Only 30 of the 202 infants aged 6-12 months and 20 of the 195 babies aged 12-24 months had regurgitation, however 14 of the 30 (46.5%) and 17 of the 20 (85%) regurgitant babies had an I-GERD score suggestive of GERD. Upper GI endoscopy was carried out in 31 babies with a score > 5 and endoscopic oesophagitis was detected in 16 (51.6%). Oesophageal biopsies were taken in 25 of these cases and showed histological evidence of reflux oesophagitis in 23 (92%). CONCLUSION: GERD is fairly common under 2 years of age as observed by symptom evaluation using the I-GERD score. Regurgitation when present beyond 6 months of age with no other identifiable cause needs evaluation. Upper GI endoscopy and oesophageal biopsy is a useful means of demonstrating reflux oesophagitis in babies with a symptom profile suggestive of GERD.

Age Distribution↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Primary gastric lymphoma: role of computed tomography.

Computed tomography (CT) has been suggested as an alternative to surgery for predicting the stage and resectability of primary gastric lymphoma. It is our policy to perform CT scan on all patients and the decision to explore is based upon CT findings. We reviewed our experience to see if any changes were warranted. 12 patients with primary gastric lymphoma underwent CT scanning. The CT findings were compared with the pathological findings available for 10 patients. CT correctly staged 90 per cent of the patients and it obviated unnecessary exploratory surgery in 42 per cent of the patients. It permitted the planning of non-excisional therapy in 75 per cent of the patients and was useful as an indicator of response to therapy and as a follow up measure.

Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal↗

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Cervical cytology screening in Calcutta and adjoining areas with special reference to carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

A total of 1232 female subjects including 100 prostitutes from Calcutta and adjoining areas in the age group of 21-70 years were screened for cervical pathology according to the method of Papanicolaou. Of 1232 examined, 815 were found to have smears with normal cellular cytology (66.15%). The others were grouped into dysplasia (18.4%) and inflammatory (15.4%) according to the cytomorphological characteristics of the exfoliated cells. The findings though revealed more cases of cervical dysplasia in women with early marriage, early childbirth, high parity and multiple sexual partners, it failed to support the smegma theory of cervical carcinoma. This study also showed a number of inflammatory cervical smears in women coming from low socio-economic group.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Graves' ophthalmopathy--role of radiation therapy.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Exophthalmos↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Follow-up results of balloon angioplasty for native coarctation of aorta.

Balloon angioplasty of native discrete (< 1 cm) coarctation of thoracic aorta was performed in 29 patients [aged 13 to 31 years (mean 21.5 +/- 5.8 years), 22 males and 7 females], from March 1993 to December 1995. The patients were followed up for two years. After angioplasty, peak systolic arterial pressure (PSAP) decreased from 173.5 +/- 18.1 mm Hg to 122.5 +/- 9.9 mm Hg (p < 0.001), peak systolic pressure gradient (PSG) decreased by 90.9 percent from 86.2 +/- 15.77 to 7.77 +/- 3.8 mm Hg (p < 0.001) and the coarcted segment diameter increased about three times from 3.7 +/- 1.6 to 10.9 +/- 3.3 mm (p < 0.001). PSG decreased to < 10 mm Hg in 27 patients (93%) whereas in the other two patients PSG was 17 and 13 mm Hg. Restenosis appeared in 2 patients (6.8%); aneurysm in one patient (3.4%) which remained static even after 1.3 years of follow-up; mild dissection in 3 patients (10.3%); temporary femoral artery occlusion in 2 (6.8%) patients who recovered with heparin injection. Though hypertension disappeared after balloon dilatation in all patients, it reappeared in 3 patients (10.3%) within 7 days and in 10 patients (34.5%) within 6 months. In conclusion, balloon angioplasty of CoA is a good alternative to surgical correction.

Adolescent↗