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Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is most frequently a self-limiting benign viral skin disease. Transmitted by direct skin contact, it is characterized by flesh-colored, dome-shaped, umbilicated lesions. Diagnosis of MC is often done clinically, but when needed, biopsy can be performed, in which characteristic Henderson-Patterson bodies, representing intracytoplasmic assemblies of the virus, are pathognomonic. Atypical presentations of MC are rare in immunocompetent individuals and are challenging to diagnose. We report a case of giant MC, presenting as an ulcero-proliferative growth, in neck of an 8-month-old female child. Fine-needle aspiration cytology smears revealed characteristic intracytoplasmic molluscum bodies. The diagnosis was subsequently confirmed by histopathology. In this case, cytological examination helped in reaching the correct diagnosis, in a clinically unsuspected case.

Strongyloidiasis is associated with Strongyloides stercoralis, an intestinal nematode with greater prevalence in tropical and subtropical regions. Hyperinfection syndrome with dissemination may occur in immunosuppressed individuals. However, invasion of peritoneal cavity with peritoneal effusion is rarely reported in the literature. We report a case of S. stercoralis hyperinfection in a young alcoholic patient with Diabetes mellitus, liver disease and ascites. Diagnostic paracentesis showed numerous filariform larvae of S. stercoralis against a background of eosinophils.

The importance of bad or negative life events has been emphasised primarily all across in different domains of psychological literature (Baumeister, Bratslavsky, Finkenauer, & Vohs, 2001). In the present research, this supremacy of negative events was re-examined by adopting a novel method of Construal Level Theory (Trope & Liberman, 2000). In addition, positive life events was also compared and contrasted with the negative life events. Participants responded to 20 positive and negative life event statements in terms of either the event taking place in a near or temporally proximal condition (yesterday) or far or temporally distal condition (one year ago) and whether these life events happened to them or others (social distances). Two hundred and fifty six participants (110 males and 146 females, Mage=24.63, SD=6.08) were randomly assigned to a 2 (temporal distance: proximal vs. distal) x 2 (events: positive vs. negative) x 2 (social distance: self vs. others) mixed-factorial design experiment, where each participant was presented with a Life Perception Scale(LPS). The findings supported the hypotheses that greater psychological distance (temporal and social)indeed leads to decreased positivity and negativity associated in its perception. Further, perception of temporally distal events (both positive and negative) was found to have significantly lesser impact than temporally proximal events. Events (both positive and negative) perceived for another person (socially distal) showed a significant impact reduction as well; perceptions of negative or positive events for another person were indeed considered less positive or negative.

Neutral lipid storage disease is a nonlysosomal multisystemic triglyceride storage disease. It is characterized by leukocyte vacuolization (Jordans’ anomaly), variable systemic involvement, and ichthyosis. Two of our patients presented with congenital ichthyosis. Lipid vacuoles were demonstrated in granulocytes and monocytes and in basal keratinocytes on skin biopsy. They were diagnosed as Chanarin Dorfman syndrome. In contrast to these cases, the third case presented with progressive symmetric erythrokeratoderma without ichthyosis. Lipid vacuoles were demonstrated in blood cells on peripheral smear and in basal keratinocytes. Only screening of peripheral smear led to the correct diagnosis.

Mediators of the effects of other-profitable (e.g., sincere vs. irresponsible) or self-profitable (e.g., intelligent vs. unintelligent) traits on attraction were investigated. In Experiment 1 (N = 256), valence of a single other- or self-profitable trait was varied, and trust in, respect for, and attraction toward the partner were measured. The three constructs were distinct. Moreover, the effects of the other-profitable traits on attraction were solely mediated by trust, and those of the self-profitable traits were mediated more strongly by respect than trust. In Experiment 2 (N = 144), an other-profitable trait was crossed with the self-profitable one, and diagnosticity ratings of those traits for the partner's warmth and competence and the previous three responses were taken. The five constructs were empirically distinct. Although trust mediated the effect of other-profitable trait on attraction, there was a direct effect also. Respect was the sole mediator of the self-profitable trait effect. Theoretical and methodological implications of these findings are discussed.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is particularly sensitive to water stress at its reproductive phase and, under conditions of water stress, will abort flowers and pods, thus reducing yield potential. There are two types of chickpea: (i) Macrocarpa (“Kabuli”), which has large, rams head-shaped, light brown seeds; and (ii) Microcarpa (“Desi”), which has small, angular and dark-brown seeds. Relatively speaking, “Kabuli” has been reported to be more sensitive to water stress than “Desi”. The underlying mechanisms associated with contrasting sensitivity to water stress at the metabolic level are not well understood. We hypothesized that one of the reasons for contrasting water stress sensitivity in the two types of chickpea may be a variation in oxidative injury. In the present study, plants of both types were water stressed at the reproductive stage for 14 d. As a result of the stress, the “Kabuli” type exhibited an 80% reduction in seed yield over control compared with a 64% reduction observed for the “Desi” type. The decrease in leaf water potential (Ψw) was faster in the “Kabuli” compared with the “Desi” type. At the end of the water stress period, Ψw was reduced to −2.9 and −3.1 MPa in the “Desi” and “Kabuli” types, respectively, without any significant difference between them. On the last day of stress, “Kabuli” experienced 20% more membrane injury than “Desi”. The chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate were significantly greater in “Desi” compared with “Kabuli”. The malondialdehyde and H2O2 content were markedly higher at the end of the water stress in “Kabuli” compared with “Desi”, indicating greater oxidative stress in the former. Levels of anti-oxidants, such as ascorbic acid and glutathione, were significantly higher in “Desi” than “Kabuli”. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activity did not differ significantly between the two types of chickpea, whereas on the 10th day, the activities of ascorbate peroxidase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and glutathione reductase were higher in “Desi”. These findings indicate that the greater stress tolerance in the “Desi” type may be ascribed to its superior ability to maintain better water status, which results in less oxidative damage. In addition, laboratory studies conducted by subjecting both types of chickpea to similar levels of polyethylene glycol-induced water stress and to 10 μ.mol/L abscisic acid indicated a greater capacity of the “Desi” type to deal with oxidative stress than the “Kabuli” type.

Water stress during the reproductive phase, especially during seed development, is considered detrimental for chickpea yield. In the present study, the relative sensitivity of Desi and Kabuli chickpea types to water stress during seed filling was assessed in terms of effects on quantitative and qualitative aspects of seed yield. Leaves of both types experienced stress injury (evaluated as electrolyte leakage) to the same extent and possessed almost similar values of water potential at the end of 14 days of water stress. The stressed plants of Kabuli type lost more chlorophyll and had less photosynthesis than Desi type. At maturity, Desi type showed more diminution of vegetative dry matter due to stress over control than Kabuli type. On the other hand, Kabuli type showed a proportionally greater reduction in seed weight per plant, average seed weight, average seed size, number of pods (single- and double-seeded) and harvest index. The stressed seeds of Kabuli type showed 48 and 46% reduction over control in starch and protein content compared with 25 and 40%, respectively in Desi type. The accumulation of soluble sugars was relatively greater due to stress in Kabuli (47%) than Desi type (23%). Fat and fiber content declined by 39 and 35% over control in Desi seeds because of stress whereas Kabuli type showed 46 and 67% decreases, respectively. Protein fractions, namely albumins, globulins, glutelins and prolamins, decreased in stressed seeds of Kabuli by 32, 40, 16 and 15% over control relative to 40, 48, 30 and 28%, respectively, in Kabuli type. The activities of sucrose synthase, invertase and soluble starch synthase were inhibited to a higher extent in Kabuli seeds than Desi seeds under stress. Kabuli seeds showed significantly more reduction in the accumulation of amino acids such as phenylalanine + tyrosine, tryptophan, valine, alanine and histidine and minerals (Ca, P, Fe) due to stress compared with Desi type. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry

Adducts 4a-d obtained by nucleophilic addition of sulphenylated dimethyl sulphox ide derivatives 2a,b to glucose thiose micarbazones 3a,b undergo intramolecu lar cyclisation , invo lving methanesulphinyl leaving group, with 90% H2S04 and Pummerer rearrangement with g lac ial acetic ae id to yie ld acyc lic C-nucleosides, 2-aryl amino-6-(5-ary l1 ,3,4-thiadiazol2-y lthio)-5-(o-gl ucopentyl)-4H,5,6-dihydro-l,3,4-thiadiazines 6a-d and 2-arylamino-6-(5-aryl-I ,3,4-thiad iazol-2-ylthio)-5(o-glucopentyl)-6methy lthio-4H,5,6-di hydro1 ,3,4-thi ad iaz ines 7a-d , respecti ve ly.