Risk factors for low bone mass in healthy young adults from North India: studies on BMD and bone turnover markers

Background: Despite availability of adequate sunshine, Indian population has the highest prevalence of low bone mass and Bone Mineral Content (BMC). Risk factors for osteoporosis have been extensively studied in the west but poorly investigated in India. We studied BMD and Bone Turnover Markers (BTMs) among healthy young adults.Methods: Fifty one healthy young adults (28 Males, 23 Females) in the age group of 20-35 years were studied. Morphometric, biochemical parameters and BMD (whole body, spine, hip & wrist) were recorded. Anthropometric measurements included height, weight, BMI and Waist/Hip Ratio (WHR). BTMs studied included - serum Bone-Specific Alkaline Phosphatase (sBAP), serum Collagen cross-linked C-Terminal telopeptide (sCTx), serum Osteocalcin (OC) and human intact parathyroid hormone (hPTH) using standard ELISA kits.Results: Of 51 healthy volunteers 21.57% had normal BMD, 13.73% were frankly osteoporotic and 64.70% were osteopenic. Age, weight and BMI were the best predictors of total BMD and BMC at all sites. sCTX positively correlated with Total Bone Area (TBA), BMD at Hip and Forearm. Using multiple regressions - age, weight, and BMI were significant predictors of BMD in young adults. Percentage body fat had inverse correlation with BMC, BMD and TBA. Weight and height positively correlated with BMD at femoral neck, inter-trochanter and Ward’s triangle. Body weight was best predictor of BMD at femoral neck, Ward’s triangle, forearm UD, forearm MID and forearm1/3.Conclusion: Majority of healthy young Indians have poor bone health as evidenced by bone markers.

DETERMINATION OF MEDIAN TOLERANCE LIMIT (LC50 ) OF CHANNA PUNCTATA (BLOCH) FOR CADMIUM CHLORIDE

The present investigation was undertaken to investigate the acute toxicity of cadmium, a heavy metal widely detected in the aquatic environment due to natural effects and anthropogenic activities, in freshwater teleost, Channa punctata (Bloch). The experiments for the bioassay were performed in semi-static test condition according to the standard guidelines. The behavioural changes in the fish were observed for all tested concentrations of the metal. The data obtained for bioassay were analyzed for median lethal concentrations (LC ) of the metal by SPSS computer software. The LC 50 50 values, estimated by SPSS, with 95% confidence level were found to be:20.589 (18.326-23.221), 17.133 (14.840- 19.734), 11.815 (9.696 – 13.850) mg/L and 9.908 (7.635-12381) mg/L for cadmium chloride at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h exposure, respectively

Fetal Brain Transplantation in Kainic Acid Lesioned Caudate Nucleus of Adult Rats

This study confirmed that bilateral kainie acid (KA) injection at the caudate produces aphagia and adipsia in rats. The reduction in food and water intake was fatal after a higher dosage of the drug. To test the effect of transplantation on. the mortality, rate, KA was first injected in the left caudate, in one set of rats. After a gap of three days, fetal striatal tissue was unilaterally transplanted at this lesioned site, along with a second injection of KA in the right caudate. Successful transplantation, as ascertained morphologically, did not significantly alter the mortality rate. The morphometric study revealed that the neurons of the transplant were larger in size, and their numerical density lower than those of the caudate of normal rats. Only very few neurons of the transplant developed functional connectivity with the host, as demonstrated by electrophysiological studies

Rare Form of Crusted Scabies in Diabetes: A Case Report

Crusted scabies is an uncommon manifestation of parasitic infection caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. This variant of scabies is seen in various immunocompromised states. Uncontrolled diabetes is an immunocompromised state which is characterized by increased incidence of various infections, and rarely, may be associated with this rare crusted scabies, which may pose a real diagnostic challenge. A high index of suspicion is required for timely and correct diagnosis in the best interest of the patient and the public health point of view to prevent the spread of this highly contagious infestation

Primary meningeal sarcoma (fibrosarcoma) of cervical spine in an 11 yr old boy: An extremely rare case report

Primary meningeal sarcoma is a rare tumor in pediatric age group. Here we were reporting an extremly rare case report of an 11 year old boy presented with quadriparesis and bladder involvement. MRI revealed a cervical dural based tumor with extension to cord parenchyma and neural foramina involving paravertebral tissue. The histopathology revealed mesenchymal tumor with malignant potential which on immunohistochemical (IHC) study found to be vimentin positive fibrosarcoma

A brief study on Strebulus Asper L. -A Review

Streblus asper L. is a small tree found in tropical countries, such as India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand belonging to family moraceae. Various parts of this plant are used in Ayurveda and other folk medicines for the treatment of different ailments such as filariasis, leprosy, toothache, diarrhea, dysentery and cancer. Research carried out using different in vitro and in vivo techniques of biological evaluation support most of these claims. This review presents the botany, chemistry, traditional uses and pharmacology of this medicinal plant

A cross-sectional study to evaluate the effect of subjective sleep quality on autonomic functions in different age groups of adults

Background: Poor sleep quality adversely affects the person’s homeostasis via combination of impairments to multiple physiological-mechanisms. Autonomic functions are important for different aspects of health and disease. Objective of study was to analyze the impact of subjective sleep quality on autonomic functions in different age groups of adults.Methods: A total of 375 apparently healthy adults from community were randomly selected for this cross-sectional observational study. They were divided into three groups based on the age distributions: Group 1: 18-30 years (n = 146); Group 2: 31-45 years (n = 112); and Group 3: 46-60 years (n = 117). Following assessments were done in all the participants in three groups: Anthropometric measurements, Pittsburgh Sleep-quality Index (PSQI), Electrocardiography (ECG), Autonomic functions based on frequency domain heart rate variability (HRV).  Two-way analysis of variance followed by post hoc analysis was done for intergroup comparisons of all assessment characteristics. Spearman’s correlation was done to find the correlation coefficients between PSQI scoring and all other parameters mentioned above.Results: BMI, GPSQIS, SSQS, SDS and SMS were observed more in group2 and 3 as compared to group1, whereas SD and SE were more in group1 as compared to group 2 and 3. HF, Total Power and RR were more in group 1 as compared to group 3, whereas VLF and HR were less in group 1 as compared to group 3. LF/HF ratio and HR were more in group 3 as compared to group 2, whereas HF was more in group 2 as compared to group 3. There was statistically significant negative correlation between GPSQI and Total power, SMS and HF, SIT and HF, SD and LF/HF ratio, whereas statistically significant positive correlation between SMS and LF, SMS and LF/HF ratio, SIT and LF, SIT and LF/HF ratio, SD and total power as well as SE and total power.Conclusions: Ageing in adults affects the sleep-quality, reduces the sleep duration and decreases the sleep efficiency; these contribute to autonomic dysfunction as increased sympathetic activity and decreased parasympathetic activity in older adults as compared to younger adults