Cytokines and Their STATs in Cutaneous and Visceral Leishmaniasis

Cytokines play a critical role in shaping the host immune response to Leishmania infection and directing the development of protective and non-protective immunities during infection. Cytokines exert their biological activities through the activation and translocation of transcription factors into the nucleus whether they drive the expression of specific cytokine-responsive genes. Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STATs) are transcription factors which play a critical role in mediating signaling downstream of cytokine receptors and are important for shaping the host immune response during Leishmania infection. Here we discuss the signature cytokines and their associated STATs involved in the host immune response during cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis

Foetal arrhythmias: an enigma of the missed beats

Background: The synchronised depolarization and repolarisation of the atria and ventricles is achieved by specialised cardiac cells that generate an electrical impulse and propagate it along the conducting system in the myocardial tissue, leading to rhythmic activity of the atria and ventricles. Abnormalities of these rhythms lead to foetal arrhythmia.Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital over period of one year to study the course and perinatal outcome of women with foetal arrhythmias.Results: The confinement in the study period was N=4302, of which 207(4.81%) women had foetal congenital malformations. Among them 21(0.48%) women had foetal cardiovascular abnormalities and 6(0.14%) women had foetal arrhythmias. There were two cases of maternal primary Sjogrens syndrome: one with foetal 2nddegree atrioventricular (AV) heart block with 2:1 AV conduction and another with foetal 3rd degree or complete heart block. Others were a case of Atrial premature contractions with compensatory pause, a case of Supraventricular tachycardia, one case of sinus tachycardia with non-immune hydrops and a case of foetal bradyarrhythmia with regular ectopic beats in a case of complex congenital heart disease. The course of these pregnancies, treatment options and perinatal outcome was studied.Conclusions: Foetal echocardiography and Doppler are effective tools for detection and monitoring of foetal arrhythmias. Early and correct diagnoses of arrhythmias help in management of foetal arrhythmias and multidisciplinary team-based approach gives optimum treatment results

Advancers in Optical Imaging in Cancer Research — Part 2

In mass disaster situations, demands frequently exceed the capacity of personnel and facilities. In the last few years, there has been an increased incidence of civil disasters; the spectrum of possible catastrophes has also dramatically increased as a result of an increasingly technologically sophisticated society. During the last 15 years, varied terrorist activities have become increasingly common as expressions of the opinions of extreme political groups, especially in India. In Mumbai itself, we have witnessed disasters such as widespread riots, terrorist bomb blasts, floods, and fires. There have been other disasters in India, such as earthquakes, floods, cyclones, as well as tsunamis Though most of the hospitals in India manage the medical problems associated with these disasters fairly efficiently, an analysis of the situation is presented so that this may form the basis for future planning in disaster preparedness and provide a template for other communities that may want to implement preparedness protocols. We present our experience with disaster management in Mumbai, India. A successful medical response to multi-injury civilian disasters, either natural or man-made, dictates formulation, dissemination, and periodic assessment of a contingency plan to facilitate the triage and treatment of victims of disaster

Cryptorchidism as an obscure cause of adhesive small bowel obstruction in an adult, a case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Cryptorchidism is seen in 3% of fullterm neonates. Rarely, it may cause small bowel obstruction. Knowledge of this presentation of cryptorchidism is essential to treat bowel obstruction arising due to cryptorchidism before the patient suffers complications. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a patient who underwent exploratory laparotomy for small bowel obstruction that did not resolve with conservative management. At laparotomy, on initial exploration, this patient had adhesive bands causing the small bowel obstruction. On further exploration, the bands were found to arise from a cryptorchid testis. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Cryptorchidism is a common finding among newborns and needs to be corrected by 1 year of age. Failure to correct cryptorchidism in a timely manner can result in complications such as bowel obstruction. CONCLUSION: Thorough intraoperative exploration is key at operation for all cases of small bowel obstruction, so as to find and treat anatomic causes of obstruction. Congenital causes of bowel obstruction should be suspected in all unexplained cases of bowel obstruction and may be revealed by careful physical examination and thorough intraoperative exploration