Entomopthoromycosis--report of four cases

Entomopthoromycosis is a rare subcutaneous infection and manifests in two clinically distinct forms. Subcutaneous zygomycosis which manifests as a painless nodule on the trunk or the extremities and rhinofacial zygomycosis which is a locally progressive infection of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses and soft tissues of the face. Neither of these two forms occur in patients with underlying disease or defective immunity. Here we report four cases of entomopthoromycosis.     

Sex differences in the effects of alcohol on brain structure

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether alcoholic women manifest deficits in cortical gray and white matter volumes and ventricular enlargement similar to those seen in alcoholic men. METHOD: Volumetric measures of intracranium, cortical gray matter, white matter and sulci, and lateral and third ventricles were obtained from magnetic resonance images of 42 women and 44 men with DSM-III-R alcoholism and age-matched healthy comparison groups (37 women and 48 men). Groups of alcoholic men and women were matched on age and length of sobriety, but men had a 2.5 times higher lifetime alcohol consumption than women. RESULTS: Women, regardless of diagnosis, had less cortical gray and white matter and smaller third ventricles than men, consistent with sex-related differences in intracranial volume. Alcoholics had larger volumes of cortical sulci and lateral and third ventricles than comparison subjects. Diagnosis-by-sex interactions for cortical white matter and sulcal volumes were due to abnormalities in alcoholic men but not alcoholic women, relative to same-sex comparison subjects. This interaction persisted for cortical sulci after covarying for lifetime alcohol consumption. Slopes relating cortical gray matter and sulcal volumes to age were steeper in alcoholic than in comparison men. Slopes relating lateral ventricle volume to age were steeper in alcoholic than in comparison women. In alcoholic women, longer sobriety was associated with larger white matter volumes. CONCLUSIONS: Alcoholic men and women show different brain morphological deficits, relative to same-sex comparison subjects. However, age and alcoholism interact in both sexes, which puts all older alcoholics at particular risk for the negative sequelae of alcoholism.     

Permanent, direct His-bundle pacing: a novel approach to cardiac pacing in patients with normal His-Purkinje activation

BACKGROUND: Direct His-bundle pacing (DHBP) produces synchronous ventricular depolarization and improved cardiac function relative to apical pacing. Although it has been performed transiently in the electrophysiology laboratory and persistently in open-chested canines, permanent DHBP in humans has not been achieved. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 18 patients aged 69+/-10 years who had a history of chronic atrial fibrillation, dilated cardiomyopathy, and normal activation (ie, QRS< or =120 ms) were screened for permanent DHBP using an electrophysiology catheter. In 14 patients, the His bundle could be reliably stimulated. Of these 14, permanent DHBP using a fixed screw-in lead was successful in 12 patients. Radiofrequency atrioventricular node ablation was performed in patients exhibiting a fast ventricular response. All patients received single-chamber rate-responsive pacemakers. Acute pacing thresholds were 2.4+/-1.0 V at a pulse duration of 0.5 ms. Lead complications included exit block requiring reoperative adjustment and gross lead dislodgment. Echocardiographic improvement in heart function was shown by reductions in the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension from 59+/-8 to 52+/-6 mm (P相似文献   

Anticonvulsive activity of Albizzia lebbeck, Hibiscus rosa sinesis and Butea monosperma in experimental animals

The ethanolic extracts of leaves of Albizzia lebbeck and flowers of Hibiscus rosa sinesis and the petroleum ether extract of flowers of Butea monosperma exhibited anticonvulsant activity. The bioassay guided fractionation indicated that the anticonvulsant activity lies in the methanolic fraction of chloroform soluble part of ethanolic extract of the leaves of A. lebbeck, acetone soluble part of ethanolic extract of H. rosa sinesis flowers and acetone soluble part of petroleum ether extract of B. monosperma flowers. The fractions protected animals from maximum electro shock, electrical kindling and pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsions in mice. The fractions also inhibited convulsions induced by lithium-pilocarpine and electrical kindling. However, they failed to protect animals from strychnine-induced convulsions. The fractions antagonised the behavioral effects of D-amphetamine and potentiated the pentobarbitone-induced sleep. The fractions raised brain contents of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and serotonin. These fractions were found to be anxiogenic and general depressant of central nervous system.     

Leptospirosis - an under-diagnosed clinical condition

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by leptospiral spirochaete. Two cases in children are described presenting with hepatorenal dysfunction.