Is chromium supplementation effective in managing type II diabetes?

The results of a recent placebo-controlled intervention trial in China show beneficial effects of chromium supplementation in type II diabetes. Before extrapolating the results to Western populations, however, large-scale placebo-controlled studies in Westerners are necessary to confirm the positive results.     

Mechanisms underlying spinal motor neuron excitability during the cutaneous silent period in humans

The transient suppression of muscle contraction during the cutaneous silent period (CSP) could be produced either through postsynaptic inhibition of motoneurons or through presynaptic inhibition of the excitatory inputs to motoneurons that sustain voluntary contraction. We sought to delineate the mechanisms underlying the CSP in hand muscles by measuring changes in H-reflexes and motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) produced by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) during the CSP in 10 healthy volunteers. H-reflexes and MEPs both measure the excitability of the motoneuron pool and activate similar subpopulations of motoneurons through different pathways. Inhibition of H-reflexes and MEPs of similar size was maximal at the midpoint of the CSP and gradually returned to baseline. The similar time course of recovery suggests that the H-reflex and MEP are affected by inhibition at a common site, most likely postsynaptic inhibition of the motoneurons.     

Physiologic studies of spinal inhibitory circuits in patients with stiff-person syndrome

Human protoporphyria results from mutations in the ferrochelatase gene. Heritable deficiency of ferrochelatase causes overproduction of protoporphyrin IX, principally in the erythron. Photosensitivity is a universal feature of protoporphyria but hepatic clearance of the hydrophobic protoporphyrin molecule with excretion in bile may lead to precipitation within biliary pathways. Thus cholestatic injury and protoporphyrin gallstones occur. Minor hepatic abnormalities are frequent, but at least 30 patients have been reported with a progressive liver disease that requires transplantation. Fulminant hepatic disease appears to be recessively inherited in some pedigrees. Hazards of liver transplantation include tissue photolysis, hemolysis, and an unexplained neurological syndrome, but most of the 15 patients reported after transplantation have survived for several months to > 6 years. Aspects of protoporphyria, its pathogenesis and contemporary therapeutic strategies are considered, with emphasis on hepatic sequelae.     

Can community health workers screen under 5 yr children with computer program

EKALAVYA computer program aims at high risk screening of under 5 children in Primary Health Centers by Community Health Workers (CHWs) simulating existing programs like CSSM, ICDS etc. This integrates many common symptoms like fever, respiratory, diarrhea, convulsions etc. along with health promotional aspects like growth, immunization etc. at Community Health Workers skills level. EKALAVYA program was user friendly for CHWs who were trained in 2-3 weeks. CHWs with computer guidance were compared with clinical evaluation of Research Team in 96 pediatric OPD cases in a teaching institution. Overall concordance was 91.66%. Symptom wise and severity wise analysis also showed good concordance. The study also indicated training and programme errors which could be easily corrected. EKALAVYA Program is now ready for field trial in PHCs for the guidance of CHWs in decision making.     

Interleukin 1 beta, but not tumor necrosis factor, enhances neurogenic vasodilatation in the rat skin: involvement of nitric oxide

In phenobarbitone-anesthetized rats the effects of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumor necrosis factors (TNFs) were examined on the capsaicin-induced increase of plantar cutaneous blood flow in the rat hind paw as measured by laser Doppler flowmetry. IL-1 beta (0.5-500 pg) or TNF alpha or TNF beta (50-500 pg) was injected subcutaneously into the left paws, while the right paws received vehicle (10 microL) only. IL-1 beta was without effect on blood flow by its own but dose dependently enhanced the hyperemia due to capsaicin (0.3 microgram). TNFs failed to enhance the capsaicin-induced vasodilatation although 5000 pg TNF alpha produced a transient increase of local blood flow. Indomethacin (10 mg/kg, i.p.) did not alter the capsaicin-induced vasodilatation but prevented IL-1 beta (50 pg) from augmenting the hyperemic response to capsaicin. Likewise, blockade of nitric oxide formation by NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) failed to affect the capsaicin-evoked vasodilatation but abolished its amplification by IL-1 beta. Systemic pretreatment with a neurotoxic dose of capsaicin reduced the capsaicin-induced hyperemia and prevented the facilitatory effect of IL-1 beta. The hyperemia evoked by intraplantar calcitonin gene related peptide (0.038-3.8 ng) was not altered by IL-1 beta (50 pg). These data indicate that IL-1 beta but not TNF enhances the cutaneous hyperemic response to capsaicin. This proinflammatory action arises from sensitization of afferent nerve endings and depends on nitric oxide and cyclooxygenase products as essential intermediates.     

Three sibs with mild variety of osteopetrosis

We report three sibs with mild autosomal recessive variety of osteopetrosis. The prominent clinical features were short stature, malocclusion of teeth, hepatosplenomegaly and a typical facial appearance. The only atypical features were microcephaly, a normal upper segment to lower segment ratio and a normal arm span.     

Prognosis versus actual outcome. III. The effectiveness of clinical parameters in accurately predicting tooth survival

Tooth loss for 100 treated periodontal patients (2,509 teeth) under maintenance care was evaluated to determine the effectiveness of commonly taught clinical parameters utilized in the assignment of prognosis in accurately predicting tooth survival. Previous studies in this series evaluated prognosis as a surrogate variable representing the condition of the tooth at a particular point. In this study, survival analysis was used to evaluate the relationship of these common clinical parameters to an actual end point, tooth loss. Robust log rank tests indicated that initial probing depth, initial furcation involvement, initial mobility, initial crown-to-root ratio, and initial root form were all associated with tooth loss. In addition, smoking and increased initial bone loss were both found to be associated with increased risk of tooth loss while fixed abutment status was associated with a decreased risk of tooth loss. A Cox proportional hazards regression model showed that initial probing depth, initial furcation involvement, initial mobility, initial percent bone loss, presence of a parafunctional habit without a biteguard, and smoking were all associated with an increased risk of tooth loss. This model suggests that patients are twice as likely to loose their teeth if there is increasing mobility, if they have a parafunctional habit and do not wear a biteguard, or if they smoke. From these data there does appear to be a relationship between the assigned prognosis and tooth loss. Teeth with worse prognosis have a worse survival rate, but the commonly taught clinical parameters used in the traditional method of assignment of prognosis do not adequately explain that relationship. Furthermore, initial prognosis did not adequately explain the condition of the tooth or accurately predict the tooth's survival. These results seem to indicate that the effect of these clinical parameters on tooth survival is only partially reflected in the assigned prognosis initially, suggesting that perhaps some of the clinical parameters should be weighed more heavily than others when assigning prognosis. Further studies are needed to develop a more accurate method for the assignment of prognosis.     

Motor neuron syndromes in cancer patients

Previous reports indicate that motor neuron disease (MND) may rarely be associated with systemic cancer. We have encountered 14 patients with MND and cancer who formed three distinct groups. Group 1: Three patients developed a rapidly progressive MND, less prominent symptoms of involvement of other areas of the nervous system, and anti-Hu antibodies. Group 2: Five women developed signs of upper motor neuron (UMN) disease, initially resembling primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), and breast cancer. In 4, symptoms of UMN occurred within 3 months of cancer diagnosis or tumor recurrence. They had no metastases or spinal cord compression. Serum anti-neuronal antibodies were negative. Three patients are alive (follow-up of 156, 15, and 12 months), and 2 remain without lower motor neuron signs. Group 3: Six patients developed MND resembling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis between 47 months before and 48 months after their cancer diagnosis. In group 1, the MND associated with the anti-Hu antibody is unequivocally paraneoplastic. In group 2, the proximate onset of MND with the diagnosis of cancer or its recurrence, its pure or long-lasting UMN signs, and its association with breast cancer, suggest that the disorder may be paraneoplastic. Although for most cancer patients who develop MND the occurrence of both disorders is probably coincidental, in some patients with MND a careful search for an underlying cancer is warranted (ie, patients in groups 1 and 2).     

Ca2+ and the regulation of neurotransmitter secretion

A new binary polymer matrix tablet for oral administration was developed. The system will deliver drug at variable rates according to zero-order kinetics for total drug content and is manufactured by direct compression technology. Highly methoxylated pectin and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) at different ratios were used as major formulation components, and prednisolone was used as the drug model. The results indicate that by increasing pectin:HPMC ratios, release rates are increased, but zero-order kinetics prevail throughout the dissolution period (e.g., 3-22 h). Different pectin:HPMC ratios provide a range of viscosities that modulates drug release and results in rapid hydration/gelation in both axial and radial directions, as evidenced by photomicrographic pictures. This hydration-gelation contributes to the development of swelling/erosion boundaries and consequently to constant drug release. Combination of these particular polymers facilitates rapid formation of necessary boundaries (i.e., gel layer and solid core boundaries) to control overall mass transfer processes. The drug fraction released (Mt/M infinity), release kinetics, and mechanism of release were analyzed by applying the simple power law expression Mt/M infinity = kt(n), where k is a kinetic constant and the exponent n is indicative of the release mechanism. The calculated n values for pectin:HPMC ratios of 4:5, 3:6, and 2:7 were >0.95, which is indicative of a Case II transport mechanism (polymer relaxation/dissolution). The achievement of total zero-order kinetics is due to the predictable swelling/erosion and final polymer chain deaggregation and dissolution that is regulated by the gelling characteristics of polymers in the formulation.