International Journal of Medical Advances and Discoveries

International Journal of Medical Advances and Discovery ISSN 2756-3812 Vol. 1 (1), pp. 001-006, December, 2010. © International Scholars Journals

Case Report

Intramuscular haemangiomas in the new born: a report of 2 cases showing physical and plain film radiographic findings with ultrasonographic correlation.

¹Erondu Okechukwu Felix, ¹Okoro Chinedum Richards, ²Ugwu Anthony Chukwuka, ³Aniemeka Joy Ifeanyi

¹Department of clinical Imaging, Image Diagnostics, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

²Department of Radiography, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

³Department of Radiology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt

Accepted 17 November, 2010

Abstract

Although intramuscular haemangiomas are relatively common benign soft tissue tumors, the classical appearances on plain film radiographs and ultrasonographic correlation have been scarcely reported, particularly in the new born. Diagnostic criteria on plain radiographs include presence of a lobulated appearance, heterogeneity, speculated areas, calcification and sparing of adjacent bony structures. Color Doppler ultrasound findings include lobulation, serpentine or tubular echo-free spaces, positive Doppler signals (peak arterial Doppler shift exceeding 2 KHz and evidence of vascularity. Whereas MRI and CT provide excellent and more reliable diagnostic information, plain film radiography and Doppler ultrasound, jointly provide an atraumatic, easy, cheap and available means of diagnosis with a reasonable degree of accuracy. Furthermore, since ultrasound can be performed on a first clinic visit, the success can be reassuring to the family, and obviate the need for more expensive cross-sectional imaging or biopsy requiring anaesthesia, both of which may be difficult when dealing with a newborn. We report 2 cases involving 2 and 4 month old female babies with intramuscular haemangioma of the lateral abdominis and upper extremity respectively.

Keywords. Intramuscular, haemangioma, newborn, plain film, ultrasonographic, Doppler.

International Journal of Medical Advances and Discovery ISSN 2756-3812 Vol. 1 (1), pp. 001-005, December, 2010. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research paper

Effects of high doses of Gelsemium sempervirens L. on GABA receptor and on the cellular and humoral immunity in mice

Hassan Rammal^*, Rachid Soulimani

Neurotoxicologie Alimentaire et Bioactivié, UR AFPA, Université Paul Verlaine de Metz-INPL-INRA, BP 4102, 57040 Metz, France

Accepted 15 October, 2010

Abstract

In this study, our objective was first to evaluate the anxiolytic-like effect of the acute intraperitoneally administration of high doses (9 CH, 15 CH and 30 CH) of Gelsemium sempervirens L. in mouse model of anxiety, the light/dark choice test. Secondly, to evaluate the effect of the acute intraperitoneally administration of these same doses on the cellular and humoral immunity in mice with contrasting level of anxiety evaluated also in the light/dark choice test. Our results showed that all doses of G. sempervirens, more particularly the 30 CH, presented a significant anxiolytic-like effect comparable to that obtained by the well known anxiolytic diazepam. On the other hand, flumazenil (a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist) significantly blocked the effects induced by all doses of the homeopathic drug G. Sempervirens which also exerted an important effect on the cellular (granulocytes, monocytes, total lymphocytes, TCD4⁺, TCD8⁺ and NK cells) and humoral (Ig A, E and G) immunity.

Key words: Gelsemium sempervirens, anxiolytic-like, cellular and humoral immunity, light/dark choice test, diazepam, flumazenil.

International Journal of Medical Advances and Discovery ISSN 2756-3812 Vol. 1 (1), pp. 001-006, December, 2010. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research paper

Clinical and molecular genetic findings in a Friedreich’s Ataxia Tunisian family

Yosr Bouhlal¹, Ghada El Euch-Fayeche¹, Fayçal Hentati¹, Rim Amouri¹

¹ Laboratoire de Neurobiologie Moléculaire et de Neuropathologie, Institut National de Neurologie, 1007 la Rabta Tunis – Tunisia

Accepted 15 November, 2010

Abstract

The most common mutation in Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) is an expanded GAA trinucleotide repeat in the first intron of the FXN (Frataxin) gene. A clear correlation between the size of the expanded alleles and phenotype severity was found as the major determining factor. The objective of this study was to report clinical and molecular data of 10 patients homozygous for pathological FXN GAA expansions. Clinical evaluation was preformed for all the patients. GAA expansions were detected by Tripled Primed PCR (TP-PCR) and GAA allele size was estimated by Long Range PCR (XL-PCR). Clinical features were variable within the same family with no correlation between age at onset, worsening score or tendon reflexes status. All patients were homozygous for the pathological GAA expansions. No obvious relationship was found between the different clinical features and size of GAA repeats. In conclusion, factor controlling phenotypic expression in FA may be related to other factors than FXN GAA expansions.

Key Words: Friedreich’s ataxia, GAA expansion, intrafamilial variability.

International Journal of Medical Advances and Discovery ISSN 2756-3812 Vol. 1 (1), pp. 001-009, December, 2010. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research paper

A tumor selective chemotherapy. Can this be managed by an algorithm based on the non-Markovian population dynamics?

Dmitry A. Kuznetsov^1,2, Sergey A. Roumiantsev^3,4, Majid Fallahi ³, Nima Amirshahi¹, Andrey V. Makarov², Karina S. Kardashova⁵

¹N.N.Semenov Institute for Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kosygin St.4, Moscow 119991, Russia ²Department of Medicinal Nanobiotechnologies, N.I.Pirogov Russian State Medical University, Ostrovityanov St.1, Moscow 117997, Russia

³Department of Molecular and Experimental Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Federal Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Leninsky Prospect 117, Moscow 117997, Russia

⁴Department of Clinical Hematology, N.I.Pirogov Russian State Medical University, Ostrovityanov St.1, Moscow 117997, Russia

⁵Department of Fundamental and Applied Neurobiology, V.P.Serbsky Institute for Social and Forensic Psychiatry, Kropotkinsky Pereulok, 23, Moscow 119992, Russia

Accepted 15 October, 2010

Abstract

A non-Markovian theory of population dynamics is to simulate the anti-cancer drug distribution between malignant and the hosting normal cell pools. The model takes into account both the cell life span and the proliferation rate differences. This new simulation approach looks promising for its potential to optimize a chemotherapeutic strategy by choosing the scheme with a higher degree of the drug-tumor selectivity.The pre-test designed simulation mode fits nicely the experimental data on Porphylleren-MC16 (PMC16) pharmacokinetics patterns including the allometric plots revealed for this new medicinal porphyrined-fullerene nanoparticle possessing some anti-cancer potential and intervening into the oxygen-independent ATP production mechanisms.

Key words: chemotherapy, population dynamics, drug-tumor selectivity.

International Journal of Medical Advances and Discovery ISSN 2756-3812 Vol. 1 (1), pp. 001-005, December, 2010. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Increase activity of serum total and prostatic acid phosphatase in rats exposed to gasoline vapours

*F. E. Uboh, M. I. Akpanabiatu, E. E. Edet and P. E. Ebong

Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, P.M.B.1115, Calabar, Nigeria.

Accepted 12 October, 2010

Abstract

In this study, changes in the activities of serum total and prostatic acid phosphatase (TACP and PACP, respectively), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma( )-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and testosterone level were assessed in male rats exposed wholly to 17.8±2.6cm³ hr^-1kg^-1m^-3 day^-1 of gasoline vapours (8 hours daily, 6 days/week) for 20 weeks in exposure chambers. The results showed that exposure to gasoline vapours caused a significant increase (P < 0.05) in serum TACP, PACP, ALP, GGT and testosterone levels, by 74.12 ± 4.71, 74.00 ±  2.80, 53.00 ± 3.6, 87.17 ± 2.5 and 83.42 ± 5.2 percents, respectively, in male rats. Increase in serum acid and alkaline phosphatases, - glutamyltransferase and testosterone levels, observed in this study to be associated with exposure of male rats to gasoline vapours, is known to be implicated in various prostatic clinical conditions, including prostatic cancer.

Key words : Gasoline vapours, acid phosphatase,  -glutamyltransferase, testosterone.