The Prospective Role of Plant Products in Radiotherapy of Cancer: A Current Overview

Treatment of cancer often requires exposure to radiation, which has several limitations involving non-specific toxicity toward normal cells, reducing the efficacy of treatment. Efforts are going on to find chemical compounds which would effectively offer protection to the normal tissues after radiation exposure during radiotherapy of cancer. In this regard, plant-derived compounds might serve as “leads” to design ideal radioprotectors/radiosensitizers. This article reviews some of the recent findings on prospective medicinal plants, phytochemicals, and their analogs, based on both in vitro and in vivo tumor models especially focused with relevance to cancer radiotherapy. Also, pertinent discussion has been presented on the molecular mechanism of apoptotic death in relation to the oxidative stress in cancer cells induced by some of these plant samples and their active constituents

A clinicopathological study of malignant melanoma with special reference to atypical presentation

Malignant melanoma is a tumor of melanocytic origin. Lymphatic and hematogenous metastases are common in this condition. Retrospective analysis was performed in 16 consecutive cases diagnosed histopathologically as malignant melanoma at the pathology department of a medial college in eastern India. 75% of the patients were male; majority of them was in their sixth decade. All (100%) the lesions were pigmented. The primary site was known in all cases, except two (12.5%). Out of the 14 cases with known primary site 11 (78.57%) were cutaneous melanomas, including one arising in labia minora, two (14.29%) were ocular and one (7.14%) was vaginal in origin. Among cutaneous melanomas, superficial spreading type was the commonest variety and mixed population of epithelioid and spindle cell was the commonest histopathological pattern. The commonest grade of invasion was grade III (Clark′s). The clinical presentation of the case of vaginal melanoma and the two cases of secondary melanomas, including the one with obscure primary tumor, were bewildering and hence are discussed separately

Huge congenital teratoma containing tooth in a three-day-old neonate

Congenital teratoma is a rare cause of congenital proptosis. A full term three-day-old male child was presented with massive unilateral swelling in the left orbit, which was noted since birth. Diagnosis of orbital teratoma without intracranial extension was made based on clinical examination and imaging. Lid-sparing exenteration of the left orbit was done. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of cystic teratoma. Congenital orbital teratoma with a tooth and mature elements of all the three germ cell layers is reported due to its extreme rarity

Evaluation of registered visually disabled individuals in a district of West Bengal, India

<b>Objective:</b> To identify the sociodemographic characteristics, degree and cause of visual disability among certified visually disabled individuals in a rural district of West Bengal, India and to identify possible lacunae, if any, in the existing certification system.<b> Materials and Methods:</b> A cross-sectional study by secondary data analysis of medical records of 155 visually disabled individuals and their 310 eyes. Demographical features, diagnosis, percentage of visual disability and work activity status of each individual were analyzed. <b> Results:</b> One hundred and thirty one (84.52&#x0025;) individuals had 100&#x0025; disability. The number of males was significantly higher than that of females. Fifty eight (37.42&#x0025;) individuals were below 21 years of age. Phthisis bulbi was the most common cause followed by microphthalmos. Further, 81.29&#x0025; patients had the same lesion bilaterally.<b> Conclusion:</b> Patients with higher grades of disability have attended certification boards. A large number of disabled individuals comprised children and young adults. Male gender bias demands concern