BackgroundObesity and related complications have now became epidemic both in developed and developing countries. Cafeteria type diet mainly composed of high fat high carbohydrate components which plays a significant role in the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome.This study investigated the effect of Syzygium cumini seed powder on fat accumulation and dyslipidemia in high carbohydrate high fat diet (HCHF) induced obese rats.MethodMale Wistar rats were fed with HCHF diet ad libitum, and the rats on HCHF diet were supplemented with Syzygium cumini seed powder for 56 days (2.5% w/w of diet). Oral glucose tolerance test, lipid parameters, liver marker enzymes (AST, ALT and ALP) and lipid peroxidation products were analyzed at the end of 56 days. Moreover, antioxidant enzyme activities were also measured in all groups of rats.ResultsSupplementation with Syzygium cumini seed powder significantly reduced body weight gain, white adipose tissue (WAT) weights, blood glucose, serum insulin, and plasma lipids such as total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and HDL concentration. Syzygium cumini seed powder supplementation in HCHF rats improved serum aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities. Syzygium cumini seed powder supplementation also reduced the hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and elevated the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities as well as increased glutathione (GSH) concentration. In addition, histological assessment showed that Syzygium cumini seed powder supplementation prevented inflammatory cell infiltration; fatty droplet deposition and fibrosis in liver of HCHFD fed rats.ConclusionOur investigation suggests that Syzygium cumini seed powder supplementation prevents oxidative stress and showed anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic activity in liver of HCHF diet fed rats. In addition, Syzygium cumini seed powder may be beneficial in ameliorating insulin resistance and dyslipidemia probably by increasing lipid metabolism in liver of HCHF diet fed rats.

BackgroundThe objective of the present study aimed to investigate the effect of CoQ10 treatment on isoprenaline (ISO)-induced cardiac remodeling in rats.MethodsRats were divided into three groups namely Control group, ISO treated group and CoQ10 + ISO treated group, each consisting of 6 rats. The cardiac specific CK-MB, AST, ALT activity and other oxidative stress parameters were estimated in heart and kidneys. Additionally histological examination was also performed to visualize the inflammatory cells infiltration and fibrosis in both tissues.ResultsAdministration of ISO resulted in an increase in the heart-to-body weight (HW/BW) ratio and an also increased the serum CK-MB, AST and ALT enzyme activity. Serum levels of lipid peroxidation products, and oxidative stress markers showed significant increase in ISO-treated rats. Histopathological examination of heart tissue revealed focal areas of endocardium degeneration, mononuclear cells infiltration, fibrous tissue deposition, and increased thickness of the myocardium of left ventricle. Similar degeneration was also found in kidneys. Treatment with CoQ10 (100 mg/kg) significantly improved the oxidative stresses in ISO treated rats. Moreover, CoQ10 treatment prevented inflammatory cells infiltration and reduced fibrosis in ISO administered rats.ConclusionIn conclusion, our study provides evidence that CoQ10 may prevent the development of cardiac remodeling, and fibrosis in ISO administered rats.

We evaluated the cardioprotective effect of Aloe vera gel isoprenaline (ISO)-administered myocardial infarction in rats. ISO administration increased lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress in rats, which were ameliorated by A. vera gel supplementation. Our study also revealed that creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) activities were increased in ISO-administered rats, while the activities of cellular antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase and catalase, and glutathione concentration were decreased. A. vera gel lowered CK-MB enzyme activities and the glutathione concentration in ISO-administered rats, and increased antioxidant activities. Histopathological examination also revealed increases in thickness of the left ventricle myocardium, increases in mononuclear cell infiltrations, increased degeneration of focal areas of the endocardium, and increased fibrous tissue deposition in the heart of ISO-administered rats; whereas, A. vera prevented infiltration of inflammatory cells and reduced left ventricular fibrosis. In conclusion, we show that A. vera supplementation protects against development of cardiac inflammation, fibrosis, and oxidative stress in ISO-administered rats.

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The history of thyroid surgery is both interesting and illustrative. The ambitions of a thyroid surgeon have evolved along the length of time. The objective of this article is to give an idea about the evolution of thyroid surgery thus giving inspiration to future surgeons in their quest for a perfect technique, which would take into consideration disease elimination and maintenance of physiology and cosmesis. The history of thyroid surgery back to as early as 952 AD, when Albucasis first performed the surgery. Thereafter, the course of this surgery had its crests and troughs. At one point of time, surgeons refused to perform this surgery because of the complications. But later on, surgeons like Billroth and Kocher gave this procedure a new leash of life, after which this surgery became popular and underwent numerous modifications to where now it stands. History reveals that thyroid surgery has travelled a long path in time. From an operation which once was considered dreadful to the present times when techniques are being tried to make the incision as small as possible. The quest is still on to develop the perfect technique.

In recurrent tonsillitis, the pathogenic bacteria are harbored in the tonsil core, and therefore cultures of superficial swab samples are not particularly accurate in identifying specific types of core bacteria. On the other hand, the results of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cultures of core samples have been closely correlated with the findings of core cultures in excised tonsils, and both methods are far superior to surface swabbing. We conducted a prospective study to compare the accuracy of culture findings from tonsillar tissue obtained by surface swabbing, FNA sampling of the tonsil core in situ, and core sampling of the excised tonsil in children with recurrent tonsillitis. Our patient population was made up of 54 children-22 boys and 32 girls, aged 4 to 14 years (mean: 10.7)-who were undergoing elective tonsillectomy during a 1-year period. On the day of surgery, a surface swab, core FNA sample, and dissected core sample were obtained from each patient and sent for culture. Culture showed that the three methods were in agreement in 34 cases (63.0%). In 9 cases (16.7%) the surface swab culture grew different pathogens from those of the two core cultures, and in 3 other cases (5.6%) the surface swab culture was negative while the two core cultures were positive for the same pathogens. In all, the results of core FNA culture and dissected core culture were in agreement in 46 cases (85.2%); in only 4 cases (7.4%) did the core FNA culture fail to accurately identify the causative pathogens. Overall, the sensitivity and specificity of core FNA sampling were 100 and 50% respectively, compared with 82.9 and 30.8% for the superficial tonsillar swab. We conclude that routine culture of surface swab specimens in patients with chronic or recurrent tonsillitis is neither reliable nor valid. We recommend that core FNA sampling be considered the diagnostic method of choice since it can be done on an outpatient basis, it would reliably allow for culture-directed antibiotic therapy, and it could obviate the need for elective tonsillectomy in many cases. However, its feasibility as an office procedure in children remains to be determined.

The aim of the study is to give an idea about true incidence and most common location of fallopian canal dehiscence and to identify predictive factors associated with fallopian canal dehiscence based on preoperative and peroperative clinical correlates so as to facilitate preemptive prediction of the condition. The study design pertains to a prospective study. The setting of the study was tertiary referral hospital and a total of 146 patients underwent radical and modifi ed radical mastoidectomy as primary procedure between Jan. 2003 to Dec. 2004. The site of dehiscence and associated pre-operative and per-operative fi ndings were noted. Our results showed the incidence of fallopian canal dehiscence among cases undergoing radical and modifi ed radical mastoidectomy was 82/1000 per year. Around 66.6% dehiscence was located in tympanic segment. The preoperative factors signifi cantly associated with the fallopian canal dehiscence (p< 0.05) were Aural polyp, Extra-cranial complications, Cholesteatoma and Facial palsy. Per-operative fi ndings were Cholesteatoma, All ossicles necrosed except stapes footplate and Lateral semicircular canal fi stula.

Supernumerary nostril is a ve,y rare congenital anomaly. It can be unilateral or bilateral, and it sometimes occurs in the pres ence of other congenital deformities. Behind the external opening ofa supernumerary nostril is a small accessory nasal cavity, which mayor may not communicate with the normal nasal cavity on the same side. We describe a new case in which the supernumerary nostril with a small accessory nasal cavity, which did not communicate with the normal nasal cavity on the same side, appeared in a young girl who also had microcornea and congenital cataract. The accessory nasal cavity was successfu lly removed surgically. We believe that this case may represent thefirst reported case ofa supernumerary nostril with a congenital cataract on the same side. We also discuss the hypotheses that have been proposed to explain supe rnumerary nostrils.