Neumann’s tumor: a case report

Background: The congenital granular cell tumour of the newborn, also known as congenital epulis or Neumann‘s tumor, is rare. It occurs on the gingiva of the anterior alveolar ridge of the jaws. This lesion behaves in a benign manner and no recurrent or metastatic lesions have been reported.Case Report: We are reporting a 2-day-old female neonate, who came to our unit with a well defined, solitary, firm mass arising from the maxillary anterior region measuring about 3.5 cms in diameter and causing difficulty in breast feeding but no hindrance to the airway. The mass was surgically excised under general anesthesia. Postoperative wound healing was uneventful.Conclusion: We have shared our experience in handling this rare type of tumor. We have presented the clinical features and the different modalities of its treatment to spread awareness among clinicians for better management of similar tumors.Keywords: Neumann’s tumor, Congenital Epulis, Congenital Granular Cell Tumor (cgct

Effect of Conventional and Microwave Tissue Processing Technique on DNA Integrity: A Comparative Molecular Analysis

BACKGROUND: Methods of diagnostic molecular biology are routinely applied on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues processed via conventional method. Recently, there has been a growing interest to use microwave technology in histopathology laboratories to overcome the deficiencies of the conventional processing method. Thefore, this study was aimed to compare and analyze the quality and quantity of DNA obtained from tissues processed by conventional and microwave tissue processing techniques and to further ascertain the applicability of the latter for PCR (polymerase chain reaction based research).METHODS: Thirty fresh tissues of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) were included, and each sample was cut into two equivalent halves. One tissue half was processed by conventional manual method whereas the other half was processed using a domestic microwave oven. DNA was obtained from all the tissues which were then subjected to Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to evaluate GAPDH (Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) gene expression.RESULTS: The results revealed better DNA yield from microwave processed tissue while the quality of the DNA was alike from both the techniques.CONCLUSION: On the basis of the results obtained, it can be concluded that DNA produced by microwave processed tissues was similar to that obtained by conventional processing technique in terms of quantity and quality. Thus, microwave processed tissue samples can be successfully used for further molecular studies and researches

Fat Plug Myringoplasty Vs Trichloroacetic Acid Cauterization as Office Procedures for Managing Small Central Perforation

Introduction In a series of day care office procedures, techniques like fat plug myringoplasty and Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) cauterization are becoming increasingly popular for managing small central perforations now-a-days[Office1] . These are minor, cost effective procedures and have success rates that match success rates of conventional tympanoplasty[Office2] . The aim of this prospective randomized controlled trial, was to compare the effectiveness of fat plug myringoplasty and chemical cauterization in the management of small centrally located perforations of the pars tensa. Materials and Methods The study was carried out over a period of 2 years on 62 patients selected from ENT OPD in our tertiary health care setup of central India. All the selected patients were grouped into two using a random allocation software EPi Info7.1.1.14. Group A included those who underwent fat plug myringoplasty while group B were those who underwent TCA cauterization. Results At 6 months follow up there was closure of perforation in 29 out of 30(96.6%) patients of group A and 29 out of 32(91%) patients of group B. In both groups success was defined by closure of perforation. Comparison of results was done using Fisher Exact Test. The difference between the success rates of the two procedures was statistically insignificant with p value of 0.6624, indicating that both the office procedures are equally effective and can be used according to the needs of the patients. Conclusion These office procedures can revolutionize the protocol of tympanoplasty which has an obvious higher morbidity and more days of absenteeism as compared to these minor procedures

Comparative potency of formulations of mometasone furoate in terms of inhibition of 'PIRHR' in the forearm skin of normal human subjects measured with laser doppler velocimetry

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Topical glucocorticoid formulations are widely used for effective treatment and control of a variety of dermatoses. Mometasone furoate is a newer corticoid that has high potency but low systemic toxicity. Pharmaceutical factors are known to significantly influence potency and systemic absorption of topically applied glucocorticoids. We studied the potency of "Elocon", a topical formulation of mometasone furoate, compared with two other branded formulations of the same corticoid. METHODS: Corticoid potency was measured by employing a pharmacodynamic parameter of an inhibitory effect of the corticoid on post-ischemic-reactive-hyperemic-response (PIRHR) in human forearm skin under occlusive dressing. The PIRHR was expressed in terms of % increase in the skin blood flow (SBF) as measured with laser doppler velocimetry (LDV). RESULTS : All three active branded formulations of mometasone furoate produced significant inhibition of PIRHR. The AUC (0-2min) of PIRHR was ( Mean ± SEM ), Control = 213.52 ± 11.80, Placebo = 209.77 ± 19.31, Formulation A = 119.83 ± 13.71, Formulation C = 53.67 ± 4.85 and Formulation D = 111.46 ± 22.87. Formulation "C" exhibited significantly higher topical anti-inflammatory potency than formulations "A" or "D". CONCLUSIONS: Thus, branded formulations of the same glucocorticoid, mometasone furoate significantly differed in their topical anti-inflammatory potency. "Elocon" was significantly more potent than the two other branded formulations studied

An Inertial Sensor-based System to Develop Motor Capacity in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract—Learning to communicate with alternative augmentative communication devices can be difficult because of the difficulty of achieving controlled interaction while simultaneously learning to communicate. What is needed is a device that harnesses a child’s natural motor capabilities and provides the means to reinforce them. We present a kinematic sensor-based system that learns a child’s natural gestural capability and allows him/her to practice those capabilities in the context of a game. Movement is captured with a single kinematic sensor that can be worn anywhere on the body. A gesture recognition algorithm interactively learns gesture models using kinematic data with the help of a nearby teacher. Learned gesture models are applied in the context of a game to help the child practice gestures to gain better consistency. The system was successfully tested with a child over two sessions. The system learned four candidate gestures: lift hand, sweep right, twist right and punch forward. These were then used in a game. The child showed better consistency in performing the gestures as each session progressed. We aim to expand on this work by developing qualitative scores of movement quality and quantifying algorithm accuracy on a larger population over long periods of time

Identification of Barriers to Stroke Awareness and Risk Factor Management Unique to Hispanics

Barriers to risk factor control may differ by race/ethnicity. The goal of this study was to identify barriers to stroke awareness and risk factor management unique to Hispanics as compared to non-Hispanic whites (NHWs). We performed a prospective study of stroke patients from an academic Stroke Center in Arizona and surveyed members of the general community. Questionnaires included: the Duke Social Support Index (DSSI), the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) Scale, a stroke barriers questionnaire, and a Stroke Awareness Test. Of 145 stroke patients surveyed (72 Hispanic; 73 NHW), Hispanics scored lower on the Stroke Awareness Test compared to NHWs (72.5% vs. 79.1%, p = 0.029). Hispanic stroke patients also reported greater barriers related to medical knowledge, medication adherence, and healthcare access (p < 0.05 for all). Hispanics scored higher on the “powerful others” sub-scale (11.3 vs. 10, p < 0.05) of the MHLC. Of 177 members of the general public surveyed, Hispanics had lower stroke awareness compared to NHWs and tended to have lower awareness than Hispanic stroke patients. These results suggest that Hispanic stroke patients perceive less control over their health, experience more healthcare barriers, and demonstrate lower rates of stroke literacy. Interventions for stroke prevention and education in Hispanics should address these racial/ethnic differences in stroke awareness and barriers to risk factor control

Fat Plug Myringoplasty Vs Trichloroacetic Acid Cauterization as Office Procedures for Managing Small Central Perforation

Introduction In a series of day care office procedures, techniques like fat plug myringoplasty and Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) cauterization are becoming increasingly popular for managing small central perforations now-a-days[Office1] . These are minor, cost effective procedures and have success rates that match success rates of conventional tympanoplasty[Office2] . The aim of this prospective randomized controlled trial, was to compare the effectiveness of fat plug myringoplasty and chemical cauterization in the management of small centrally located perforations of the pars tensa. Materials and Methods The study was carried out over a period of 2 years on 62 patients selected from ENT OPD in our tertiary health care setup of central India. All the selected patients were grouped into two using a random allocation software EPi Info7.1.1.14. Group A included those who underwent fat plug myringoplasty while group B were those who underwent TCA cauterization. Results At 6 months follow up there was closure of perforation in 29 out of 30(96.6%) patients of group A and 29 out of 32(91%) patients of group B. In both groups success was defined by closure of perforation. Comparison of results was done using Fisher Exact Test. The difference between the success rates of the two procedures was statistically insignificant with p value of 0.6624, indicating that both the office procedures are equally effective and can be used according to the needs of the patients. Conclusion These office procedures can revolutionize the protocol of tympanoplasty which has an obvious higher morbidity and more days of absenteeism as compared to these minor procedures