Giant intermuscular lipoma of neck and chest: a case report with review of literature

Intermuscular lipoma is an uncommon benign tumor. In this case report we described a case of a patient with intermuscular lipoma located between sternocleidomastoid, pectoralis and scalene muscles on left side. These types of tumors are exceedingly rare in head and neck regions. Intermuscular lipomas are thought to arise from the Intermuscular septa and enlarge between muscle bundles. Clinical data, investigations, Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan confirm the diagnosis. These tumours are more common in males than females. Complete surgical excision of tumor is the treatment of choice. It is crucial for the surgeon to consider deep lipomas when dealing with soft tissue tumors

Scimitar syndrome: a rare congenital venolobar anamoly

Scimitar syndrome is a rare congenital anomaly presenting with partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage from right lung to inferior vena cava. This is the rarest anomaly seen in 1 to 3 in 100000 births. Embryologically it is thought to be a primary developmental anomaly of lung with secondary anomalous venous drainage. This is seen commonly in right lung and is common in females. Most of the cases are asymptomatic or minimally symptomatised. If symptoms are present patient usually presents with pulmonary hypertension and symptoms of left to right shunt. Clinically this syndrome is diagnosed by chest x- ray by the presence of “Scimitar sign”. Surgical treatment effective in this syndrome

Schwannoma arising from hypoglossal nerve in the submandibular triangle: a case report

Hypoglossal schwannomas usually develop in the intracranial portion of the brain. The incidence of hypoglossal schwannomas of the submandibular region is extremely rare. Here we report a case of schwannoma arising from the extracranial hypoglossal nerve in the left submandibular region

A study of cephalic index and facial index in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

Background: The description of the human body has been a major concern since ancient times. The use of medical terminology enhances reliability of comparison made between studies from different areas thereby contributing higher level of scientific evidence. Cephalic index is an important parameter in forensic medicine, anthropology and genetics to know the sex and racial differences between individuals. Facial index is useful index for forensic scientists, plastic surgeons and anatomist. The parameters are useful for plastic surgeons during treatment of congenital and traumatic deformities, identification of individuals in medicolegal cases by forensic scientists and identifying craniofacial deformities of genetic syndromes by geneticist.Methods: 170 males and 110 female adults from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India region are included in this study. Anthropometric points for cephalic index were measured by using spreading calipers. Facial index measurements were taken by measuring tape. All measurements were taken in subjects sitting in relaxed condition and subjects head is in anatomical position. Cranial index and facial index were calculated as per the formula.Results: Maximum number of males with mean cephalic index values of 80.21 were observed as mesocephalic and female with mean value of 79.25 observed as brachycephalic. Regarding facial index males were leptoprosopic and females were mesoprosopic.Conclusion: Cephalic index and facial index were terms used by anthropologists, anatomists, plastic surgeons and forensic scientists to identify individual’s race and sex for treatment of craniofacial deformities.

Evidence-based national vaccine policy

India has over a century old tradition of development and production of vaccines. The Government rightly adopted self-sufficiency in vaccine production and self-reliance in vaccine technology as its policy objectives in 1986. However, in the absence of a full-fledged vaccine policy, there have been concerns related to demand and supply, manufacture vs. import, role of public and private sectors, choice of vaccines, new and combination vaccines, universal vs. selective vaccination, routine immunization vs. special drives, cost-benefit aspects, regulatory issues, logistics etc. The need for a comprehensive and evidence based vaccine policy that enables informed decisions on all these aspects from the public health point of view brought together doctors, scientists, policy analysts, lawyers and civil society representatives to formulate this policy paper for the consideration of the Government. This paper evolved out of the first ever ICMR-NISTADS national brainstorming workshop on vaccine policy held during 4-5 June, 2009 in New Delhi, and subsequent discussions over email for several weeks, before being adopted unanimously in the present form

NK-CD11c+ Cell Crosstalk in Diabetes Enhances IL-6-Mediated Inflammation during Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection

In this study, we developed a mouse model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using streptozotocin and nicotinamide and identified factors that increase susceptibility of T2DM mice to infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). All Mtb-infected T2DM mice and 40% of uninfected T2DM mice died within 10 months, whereas all control mice survived. In Mtb-infected mice, T2DM increased the bacterial burden and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production in the lungs relative to those in uninfected T2DM mice and infected control mice. Levels of IL-6 also increased. Anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody treatment of Mtb-infected acute- and chronic-T2DM mice increased survival (to 100%) and reduced pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine expression. CD11c+ cells were the major source of IL-6 in Mtb-infected T2DM mice. Pulmonary natural killer (NK) cells in Mtb-infected T2DM mice further increased IL-6 production by autologous CD11c+ cells through their activating receptors. Anti-NK1.1 antibody treatment of Mtb-infected acute-T2DM mice increased survival and reduced pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine expression. Furthermore, IL-6 increased inflammatory cytokine production by T lymphocytes in pulmonary tuberculosis patients with T2DM. Overall, the results suggest that NK-CD11c+ cell interactions increase IL-6 production, which in turn drives the pathological immune response and mortality associated with Mtb infection in diabetic mice

Vision, challenges and opportunities for a Plant Cell Atlas

With growing populations and pressing environmental problems, future economies will be increasingly plant-based. Now is the time to reimagine plant science as a critical component of fundamental science, agriculture, environmental stewardship, energy, technology and healthcare. This effort requires a conceptual and technological framework to identify and map all cell types, and to comprehensively annotate the localization and organization of molecules at cellular and tissue levels. This framework, called the Plant Cell Atlas (PCA), will be critical for understanding and engineering plant development, physiology and environmental responses. A workshop was convened to discuss the purpose and utility of such an initiative, resulting in a roadmap that acknowledges the current knowledge gaps and technical challenges, and underscores how the PCA initiative can help to overcome them.</jats:p

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Not AvailableKyphosis and Lordosis are the outward and inward curvatures of thoracic and lumbar regions of the human spine. Symptoms may include back pain, muscle fatigue, and stiffness in the back; may increase the risk of disk degeneration and injury to spinal ligaments which would affect the basic activities of daily living. In this study, 30 women were selected comprising of ten kitchen workers, 20 VDT workers inclusive of teachers and students who were above 20 years of age and using desktops and laptops for their regular work. Height in upright position with an anthropometric scale and the weight of all workers by using a weighing machine was recorded. Teachers were found to have highest mean age with a standard deviation of 35.7+9.2 followed by kitchen workers (34.6+6.8) and Students (21.4+1.3). BMI was found to be highest in teachers (26.3+3.5) and normal BMI was found in students (21.02+1.9) and kitchen workers (23.6+5.1). When the degree of kyphosis and lordosis was compared by age, highest mean was found in the age group of 33-45 years. The kyposis and lordosis index when compared among VDT workers and kitchen workers, it was found to be higher in kitchen workers due to their strenuous activities. This followed by teachers with a higher range of kyposis and lordosis shown their prolonged sitting posture at work being the causative factor.Not Availabl