Dental prosthesis is an uncommon ingested non-food foreign body in adults. Once swallowed, it can lead to serious complications and morbidity. Hence, early localization of the offending foreign body is crucial for timely management. As the dentures are usually made up of non-metallic material and often impacted at or below the level of C7 vertebra, conventional radiograph has limited role in their evaluation. We describe the clinical history and imaging findings of swallowed partial dentures in four patients who presented to the emergency department. The dentures were localized using unenhanced CT of the neck that showed the characteristic mildly hyperdense curvilinear or irregular appearance of the dentures within the upper esophagus. Multiplanar CT reconstructions provide an orientation of the ingested denture within the esophagus, thus guiding the endoscopist.
Background: Pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX-1) is a key transcription factor which regulates Insulin gene expression and insulin secretion in adult β-cells and helps to maintain β-cells mass. Naringin, a flavanone, owing to its antioxidant property, is reported to have antidiabetic effects. Objectives: The present study tries to evaluate the role of naringin on the β-cell-specific transcription factor PDX-1 in diabetic rats. Methods: Diabetes was induced in male rats using streptozotocin and treated with naringin (100 mg/kg) orally for 4 and 8 weeks. Serum insulin level, Pdx-1 and Insulin gene expression, and PDX-1 protein expression were assessed in the rat pancreas. Histopathological and ultrastructural changes in the islet and β-cells were observed. Results: Naringin prevented leukocytic infiltration in the pancreas of diabetic rats and recouped the β-cells with adequate secretory granules. Naringin-treated diabetic rats showed significantly increased mRNA expression of Pdx-1 and Insulin genes, increased expression of transcription factor PDX-1, and higher serum insulin levels than the diabetic control animals. These changes were more pronounced in the 8-week naringin-treated diabetic animals. Conclusions: Naringin was found to be an effective antidiabetic agent which increased Insulin gene expression and insulin secretion by upregulating the PDX-1 gene and protein expression.
Background: Adult pancreatic beta cells, though quiescent, can proliferate in response to physiological need. This inherent character is used in exploring the possibilities of expanding the beta cell mass in the treatment of diabetes. Forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) transcription factor is an important regulator in the proliferation and survival of adult beta cell mass. Naringin, a flavanone glycoside, is reported to have antidiabetic activity and exhibited an increase in insulin levels in diabetic animals. Objectives: The present study tried to evaluate the role of naringin in the regulation of FoxM1 in the pancreas of diabetic rats and to reascertain its antilipidemic and antioxidant properties. Methods: Diabetes was induced in male rats using streptozotocin and treated with naringin (100 mg/kg) orally for 4 and 8 weeks. Serum biochemical parameters, insulin, gene and protein expression of FoxM1, and antioxidant markers in rat pancreas were analyzed. Results: Naringin administration reduced the blood sugar, urea, creatinine, and cholesterol values and improved the pancreatic antioxidant status in diabetic rats. Naringin-treated diabetic rats showed a significant increase in mRNA and protein expression of FoxM1 compared to the diabetic control rats, indicating regeneration of cells. It also increased the insulin immunopositive cells, indicating functional beta cells. Conclusion: Naringin was found to upregulate the FoxM1 transcription factor in diabetic animals, which influenced the proliferation and functional status of beta cells.
Background: The nerve of Kuntz is an inconstant intra thoracic ramus arises from the 2 nd thoracic nerve and it carries the sympathetic fibres joined with either 1 st thoracic or 1 st intercostal nerve or stellate ganglion to contribute the sympathetic innervations to the upper limb. The intra thoracic nerve of Kuntz is one of the causes for surgical failures and recurrence of symptoms after sympathectomy. Knowledge of anatomy of the sympathetic innervation to the upper limb is of great importance for neurosurgeons during surgical sympathectomy procedures. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in 12 formalin fixed cadavers (24 sides) in the Department of Anatomy, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute. After reflection of the anterior wall and eviscerated of the thorax, the intrathoracic organs were removed to expose the posterior mediastinum. The incidence of any connection between the 2 nd to 1 st thoracic or 1 st intercostal nerve or stellate ganglion were noted and photographed. The variations observed were classified as per Zaidi and Ashraf (2010) classification of intra thoracic nerve of Kuntz. Observations: In the present study, Out of 12 cadavers (24 sides) dissected, the nerve of Kuntz was present in 9 Specimens (37.6%). As per Zaidi and Ashraf (2010) classification, Type A was seen in 12.5%, Type B in 4.3%, Type C in 8.3% and of Type D in 12.5% Conclusion: The data regarding the study on variations of intra thoracic nerve of Kuntz is helpful to the surgeons to successfully perform upper limb sympathectomy.
Every human being is exposed to the stress in one or the other form in the day to day life. Most of the existing studies on the impact of stress on the male reproduction were assessed by using single stressor, which may lead habituation to that stressor. The present study intends to estimate the consequence of stress on motor activity, sperm quality and histopathology of the testis in stress-induced male rats using multimodal stress one per day. Four weeks old Wister albino rats were randomly split into 4 groups and induced multimodal stress at different ages of life span. After induction of stress serum corticosterone levels, muscle strength and coordination, quality of sperm and histopathology of testes were estimated. Elevated serum corticosterone levels and body weight, reduced muscle strength, coordination. Sperm concentration and motility was significantly reduced and increased morphologically abnormal sperm in stress induced animals but sperm viability was not altered much. Histopathology of testes in stress received animals showed decreased tubular diameter and increased intertubular space. Multimodal stress caused elevated serum corticosterone and body weight, decreased motor activity, sperm quality and degenerative changes in the testis
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