Torsion of the testis is a medical emergency that is most commonly encountered in adolescents. Patients usually present with sudden onset scrotal pain associated with nausea and vomiting. On physical examination the involved testis is tender, high riding and usually horizontal. The cremasteric reflex is usually absent. If left untreated irreversible ischaemia starts appearing in 6 h. Doppler ultrasound is the diagnostic imaging of choice. The ideal treatment is surgical exploration and orchidectomy with contralateral orchidopexy or bilateral orchidopexy depending on the condition of the affected testis. If surgical options are delayed then manual detorsion should be attempted.

Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the L1, L2 and L3 serotypes of Chlamydia trachomatis. The disease has been in the spotlight recently because of recent outbreaks in Europe as well as the USA. A unique feature of the recent outbreaks has been that most cases have been caused by the L2 strain. Another unique feature of these outbreaks is the fact that most cases have occurred in men having sex with men, and most patients have presented with proctitis. Interestingly, most recent cases have occurred in human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive patients. Usually, the disease is divided into three phases: the primary stage characterized by a self-healing papule, the secondary stage characterized by proctitis or lymphadenopathy and the tertiary stage characterized by lymphedema and anal strictures. Tests used for diagnosis include polymerase chain reactions and compliment fixation tests. The treatment of choice is doxycycline.

Nigella sativa (N. sativa ) decreases DNA damage and thereby prevents initiation of carcinogenesis in colonic tissue secondary to exposure to toxic agents such as azoxymethane. N. sativa is of immense therapeutic benefit in diabetic individuals and those with glucose intolerance as it accentuates glucose-induced secretion of insulin besides having a negative impact on glucose absorption from the intestinal mucosa. N. sativa administration protects hepatic tissue from deleterious effects of toxic metals such as lead, and attenuates hepatic lipid peroxidation following exposure to chemicals such as carbon tetrachloride.

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We have previously shown that essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency prevents diabetes and ameliorates insulitis in low-dose streptozotocin (LDS)-treated male CD-1 mice. The effects of EFA deficiency on the incidence of diabetes after LDS treatment has not been examined in other strains. In contrast to highly susceptible CD-1 mice, several other strains of mice are only partially susceptible to LDS treatment and do not develop appreciable insulitis; however, the susceptibility of these strains can be markedly increased by cyclosporin A (CsA) pretreatment to reduce suppressor cell function. Weanling male BALB/cByJ, DBA/2J, and C57BL/6J mice were placed on EFA-deficient (EFAD) or control diets for 2 months and then divided into experimental and control groups. Ten EFAD and 10 control mice from each strain received LDS treatment (40 mg/kg/d 5 d); an additional 10 EFAD BALB/cByJ and another 10 control BALB/cByJ mice received subcutaneous CsA injections (20 mg/kg/d) for 14 days prior to and for 5 days simultaneous with LDS treatment (40 mg/kg/d 5 d). Plasma glucose levels for all mice were determined 3 times per week for 3 weeks after LDS treatment. Mean plasma glucose levels (+/- SEM) at the end of the experiment were significantly lower in the EFAD groups vs control groups in BALB/cByJ (P < 0.001), DBA/2J (P < 0.00001), and C57BL/6J (P = 0.012) mice. CsA supplementation increased the severity of diabetes in LDS-treated BALB/cByJ mice (P < 0.0005); however, EFA deficiency also prevented diabetes in CsA-supplemented BALB/cByJ mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

15(2):153To the editor: I read with great interest the recent article by Li, et al (1) . The authors have clearly shown that tanshinone ⅡA inhibits myocardial cell hypertrophy induced by angiotensin Ⅱ by inhibiting p-ERK1/2 expression. Interestingly, tanshinone Ⅱ A also has potent anti-carcinogenic properties. As a result, tanshinone ⅡA is rapidly emerging as an agent with considerable promise in the field of oncology.