Relation of body fat distribution to hyperinsulinemia in children and adolescents: the Bogalusa Heart Study

The relation of body fat distribution to plasma levels of glucose and insulin during an oral glucose tolerance test was examined in 355 Black and White school-age children. Both central and peripheral fat were similarly related to fasting, 30-min, and 1-h glucose. Unlike peripheral fat, central body fat was more strongly related to the 1-h insulin response (r = 0.35 vs 0.26); this association remained significant for central fat independent of peripheral fat (r = 0.18). The strong relation of central fat to insulin response was noted in both races and sexes but not in either sexually immature or relatively thin children. These findings indicate that, even in early life, a central body fat pattern relates positively to insulin response to glucose load. Thus, knowledge of body fat localization may help identify persons most susceptible to hyperinsulinemia in early life.     

Psychoactive drugs, pineal gland and affective disorders

The possibility of pineal gland involvement as a part of "neuroendocrine dysfunction" in some of the psychiatric diseases has received special attention in recent years. The discovery of a cascade of receptors and the action of many psychoactive drugs on pineal gland supports the concept that the pineal gland can be considered as a suitable model system for assessing the action of psychotropic drugs. Psychotropic drugs, particularly antidepressants both tricyclics and monoamine oxidase inhibitors when administered either to animals or to patients suffering from depressive illness affects the pineal gland function and melatonin concentration. This raises the possibility that the beneficial effects of these drugs may relate to their ability to alter the pineal gland function and melatonin secretion. The occurrence of seasonal affective disorders and their response to bright light treatment implicate, melatonin as a "bio-chemical marker" for these disease states. In view of these facts it can be suggested that pineal gland does play an important role in the etiology of mental diseases, especially affective disorders.     

Role of radiation therapy in small cell lung cancer: a bio-clinico-pathological review and perspective

The role of radiotherapy in small cell carcinoma of the lung is unsettled; however, the radiosensitivity of this neoplasm is unquestioned. The ability of radiotherapy to cure or improve patients with this disease is still undergoing study. A review of this challenging subject is presented.     

Lymph node infarction – a rare complication associated with disseminated intra vascular coagulation in a case of dengue fever

Background  

Lymph node infarction is known to occur in association with many non-neoplastic and neoplastic conditions however its occurrence in association with DIC is not reported hitherto in the literature.     

The immunological and virological response in human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infected Indian individuals on HAART therapy: a one-year follow up study

Currently, antiretroviral therapy has become more affordable even in developing countries and it is being used in India. Fifteen HIV-1 infected individuals, who were on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), were followed up for an average period of one year. The plasma viral load and CD4+ T cell estimation done at mean intervals of 5 months and 11 months after initiation of therapy showed a good response to therapy in 14 (93%) individuals.     

Clomipramine treatment in neonatal rats alters the brain acetylcholinesterase activity in adulthood

The enzyme, acetylcholinesterase, activity of the brain was measured in control and clomipramine-induced behaviorally depressed rats. Compared with control rats, the soluble form of acetylcholinesterase activity of the depressed rats was 31.8% higher in the hippocampus and 26.0% lower in the frontal cortex. However, the activity of soluble form of this enzyme was not significantly different in the hypothalamus, septum, and brainstem. These results suggest for the first time that the altered cholinergic activity in the specific areas of the brain may be involved in the behavioral depression observed in the rat model of human endogenous depression.     

Structural response and relative strength of a laminated composite hip prosthesis: effects of functional activity

To obtain a better appreciation for the structural performance of a laminated composite hip prosthesis (CP), we examined in situ prosthesis structural response and relative strengths as a function of walking and stair climbing using our previously developed analysis guidelines. Accordingly, we examined overall prosthesis structural response utilizing a global continuum level modeling approach and prosthesis relative strengths using a local microstructural (or ply-level) modeling approach. As a reference and control, we examined the structural performance of the intact natural femur (NAT) and a titanium alloy (Ti) based hip prosthesis. In terms of the overall structural response, i.e., the femur/prosthesis deformational response, stem/bone interfacial stress transfer, and calcar strain energy density restored, the performance of the CP prosthesis was moderately improved over that of the control Ti prosthesis and better approximates the NAT response. In terms of relative strength, we found that the neck of the CP prosthesis failed for all activities with the exception of the mid-stance phase of level walking. However, the prosthesis appears to have sufficient relative strength for function at positions distal to the neck of the prosthesis. While these results dampen enthusiasm for consideration of laminated composite hip prostheses designed with a shape based on a metal alloy implant, they indirectly support consideration of alternate hip prosthesis structural designs such as using a better supported prosthesis neck or utilizing metal/composite hybrid constructions. Importantly, our simulation and analysis approach could be utilized in the design of other laminated composite biomedical structural components.