Intradural spinal cavernomas.

Intradural cavernomas are rare vascular lesions of the spinal cord. Four cases of histologically verified cavernomas of the cord are reported, of which two were extramedullary and two were intramedullary in location. Progressive neurological deficit was the presenting feature in three cases while one patient had a rapid evolution of neurological deficits and was found at surgery to have had bled from the extramedullary lesion. All the patients were subjected to surgery and total excision of the cavernomas was carried out in each case. While two patients improved after surgery the other two remained static. The available literature on spinal cord cavernomas is reviewed.     

Primary exophytic laryngeal amyloidosis presenting as sudden airway obstruction

Primary amyloidosis of larynx is an uncommon phenomenon, the precise etiopathogenesis of which is not yet clear. It can present with slowly increasing hoarseness or difficulty in breathing. It presents more commonly as infiltrative lesion, exophytic presentation is a rare occurrence.     

Cytotoxicity of citrinin in cultured kidney epithelial cell systems

Cytotoxicity of citrinin, a fungal metabolite and a common food contaminant, was evaluated in an established cell line, Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells and primary fetal bovine kidney (PFBK) cells. Citrinin is a known nephrotoxicant but produced a low order of cytotoxicity in cultured renal cells. A dose-dependent cytotoxic effect was observed at millimolar concentrations of the toxin. MDBK cells were more sensitive than the PFBK cells. The primary effect of this chemical was on the adherence of MDBK cells to the culture dish. Microscopic evaluation of morphologic changes indicated that cells elongated, flattened, swelled, and became rounded. The appropriateness of toxicity evaluation in culture systems in vitro is considered.     

Factors associated with recovery and recurrence of depression in older people: A prospective study

The Liverpool Continuing Health in the Community Study has followed up 1070 elderly community subjects over 6 years. In the first year 123 subjects had case-level depression. Three years later 49 (39.8%) of the previously depressed were recovered, 33 (26.8%) were depressed, 16 (13%) were not available for interview and 25 (20.3%) were dead. This study looks at factors associated with the 3-year outcome of patients who were depressed at year 0. Two outcome groups that were compared were a recovered depression group and a recurrent/persistent depression group. The factors that were significantly associated with a recurrence of depression (or persistent depression) at year 3 were bereavement of a close figure in the 6 months before interview, loneliness and life dissatisfaction at year 3. A variety of traditional risk factors for depression (including age, marital status, physical ill-health and incapacity) failed to attain significance in predicting recurrent or persistent depression. When combined, both recovered and recurrently depressed groups at year 3 had significantly higher levels of pain and a higher number of serious upsets in the past 6 months and 6 weeks compared to a compared to a control group. The depressed at year 0 were more likely to have entered more dependent forms of accommodation by year 3.     

Osteoclastoma of occipital bone

Osteoclastoma of the calvarial bone of membranous origin is a rare entity. This paper presents a case of osteoclastoma of the occipital bone and a brief review of literature.     

Ossifying fibroma of the sella turcica.

Ossifying fibroma of the sellar turcica is extremely rare. There are only sporadic case reports in the literature. One such case simulating pituitary adenoma is presented in an 18-year-old girl.     

Development of medicated aerosol dressings of chlorhexidine acetate with hemostatics.

Aerosol formulations to act as medicated aerosol dressings have been prepared with an aim of forming a protective film over the wound after spraying combining the properties of antiseptics and hemostatics. Chlorhexidine acetate along with three hemostatics namely zinc acetate, methyl cellulose and Calendula tincture were used for the formulations. The formulations were found to be satisfactory in their performance and purpose.