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Byline: Prabhat. Agrawal, Omkar. Singh, Ashwini. Nigam, Shalini. Upadhyay The course of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has changed since the introduction of imatinb, and its side-effects are still being reported. [...]

Introduction: Pioglitazone has been a cornerstone of oral hypoglycemic therapy. Concerns have been raised about its association with urinary bladder cancer. Considering the wide usage of this drug, concrete and multiple population-based studies are needed to establish the safety of this drug. The present retrospective study is aimed to assess the association of pioglitazone with urinary bladder cancer. Materials and Methods: Clinical records of 4170 patients (2085 pioglitazone users and similar number of nonpioglitazone users) attending the diabetes clinic at a tertiary level teaching hospital were accessed, and the patients were subjected to symptom-directed questionnaire, urine examination, and cystoscopy and bladder biopsy (whenever clinically indicated). The risk of bladder cancer was also assessed with respect to cumulative dose and duration of pioglitazone. Results: We did not observe any increased risk of bladder malignancy with pioglitazone exposure; furthermore, there was no association with cumulative dose and duration of pioglitazone therapy. Pioglitazone was found to be effective and safe in managing glycemic control in diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Labeo rohita exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of an azo dye, Eriochrome black T for 4 days, gills show considerable alterations in the activity of certain metabolic enzymes—alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, carboxylesterase, lactate dehydrogenase, and succinate dehydrogenase; and antioxidant enzymes—catalase and peroxidase. The activities of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, carboxylesterase, succinate dehydrogenase, catalase, and peroxidase decline significantly. This has been associated with impaired metabolic function of the gills due to azo dye toxicity. The activity of lactate dehydrogenase, in contrast, shows a gradual increase, reflecting a shift from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism. In the fish kept for recovery for 8 days, after exposing the fish to the dye for 4 days, activity of succinate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase gradually become similar to control. Nevertheless, activity of acid phosphatase, catalase, peroxidase, and carboxylesterase, although recover gradually, remained significantly low as compared to that of control. This study signifies that the dye is highly toxic to Labeo rohita and suggests that the activity of metabolic and antioxidant enzymes can be used as biomarker for fish toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this investigation, the effect of dietary administration of curcumin on the healing of skin wound in fish, Labeo rohita, has been reported. Fish were divided into three groups: control group (fish without skin wound), sham group (fish with skin wound without curcumin treatment) and curcumin-treated group (fish with skin wound and subjected to dietary administration of 1% curcumin). Experiments were conducted for 30 days to assess the healing of skin wounds at different time intervals using scanning electron microscopy, histology, and mucopolysaccharide and enzyme histochemistry. In the curcumin-treated group, healing of skin wounds was found to be enhanced than in the sham group as indicated by early restoration of morphology of the surface layer of epithelial cells; the density of the mucous goblet cells; the density of club cells in epidermal layer; and early granular tissue formation, collagen deposition and tissue remodelling in dermal layer. Furthermore, peroxidase and catalase enzyme activity showed increased endogenous defence system in the curcumin-treated group compared with the sham group. It could be concluded that dietary administration of curcumin is beneficial in rapid healing of skin wounds in fish. Early healing of wounds could be considered to prevent the invasion of pathogens and to maintain the integrity of the surrounding tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work has been undertaken to analyse the antibacterial activity and innate immune components in the skin mucus of Indian major carp, Cirrhinus mrigala. Skin mucus was extracted separately in triple-distilled water (TDW), 3% acetic acid (3% AA) or 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (1% TFA). All mucus extracts exhibited different spectrum of the antibacterial activity against different groups of pathogenic bacteria. Protein profiling by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a series of protein bands in the TDW extract, four major protein bands in the AA extract and two protein bands in the TFA extract. Tandem mass spectrometry analysis of distinct protein bands identified potential innate immune factors – histone H2A, histone H3, histone H4, haemoglobin, cofilin and nucleoside diphosphate kinase in the TDW extract, and ubiquitin and histone H2B isoforms in acidic extracts of skin mucus of C. mrigala. The presence of these innate immune molecules suggests that skin mucus play an important role in the protection of the fish against microbial invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of cholinesterase (ChE) activity in skin mucus of three carps, Cirrhinus mrigala, Labeo rohita, and Catla catla and its applicability as biomarker of the organophosphorus insecticide exposure were investigated. Biochemical characterization, using specific substrates and inhibitors, indicated that measured esterase activity in skin mucus was mainly owing to ChEs. Significant difference in the proportion of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activities was observed in skin mucus of three carps. Enzyme kinetic analysis, using the substrate acetylthiocholine iodide revealed significantly high Vmax value in C. catla compared to that in L. rohita and C. mrigala. In contrast, Vmax value using the substrate butyrylthiocholine iodide was significantly high in C. mrigala than in L. rohita and C. catla. In vitro treatment of skin mucus of three carps, with the organophosphorus insecticide Nuvan®, showed strong inhibition of ChE activities. In vivo experiments conducted using C. mrigala and exposing the fish to the sublethal test concentrations (5 and 15 mg/L) of the insecticide also revealed significant inhibition of ChE activity in mucus. In C. mrigala, exposed to the sublethal test concentrations of the insecticide for 4 days and then kept for recovery for 16 days, mucus ChE activity recovered to the control level. Thus, ChE activity in skin mucus could be considered a good biomarker of the organophosphorus insecticide exposure to fish and a useful tool in monitoring environmental toxicity. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 29: 788-796, 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gynecomastia can be seen in about 10%–40% of cases of thyrotoxicosis, but thyrotoxicosis presented with gynecomastia as an initial manifestation is extremely uncommon. Only few case reports are found in the literature. Here, we present a case of a 27-year-old male of hyperthyroidism who presented with painful left-sided gynecomastia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengue has been a major problem as endemic occurs almost every year and causes a state of panic due to lack of proper diagnostic methods and facilities for proper management. Patients presenting with classical symptoms are easy to diagnose, however as a large number of cases occur every year, a number of cases diagnosed with dengue fever on occasion presents with atypical manifestations, which cause extensive evaluation of the patients, unnecessary referral to higher centre irrespective of the severity and therefore a rough idea of these manifestations must be present in the backdrop in order to prevent these problems. Involvement of cardiovascular system in dengue has been reported in previous studies, and they are usually benign and self-limited. The importance of study of conduction abnormalities is important as sometimes conduction blocks are the first sign of acute myocarditis in patients of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever in shock. We present here a case of 2nd Degree Mobitz Type II atrioventricular AV block in a case of Dengue Hemorrhagic fever reverting to the normal rhythm in recovery phase and no signs thereafter on follow up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Canagliflozin, a second line OHA is well known to reduce weight. Patients of type 2 diabetes with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) frequently have abnormal liver functions. We evaluated role of canagliflozin in reducing weight and improving liver function tests (LFT) in type 2 diabetes with NAFLD., Aims: Effects of canagliflozin on abnormal liver function tests in patients of type 2 diabetes with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease., Methods: We selected type 2 diabetes patients who were having comorbid NAFLD with abnormal LFT. Subjects were prescribed canagliflozin in dose of 100mg/ day for 6 months. Dose adjustments of other drugs (oral hypoglycemics agents and insulins) was done to monitor glycemic target. Effects of canagliflozin was observed on LFT, vitals and HbA1c. It was an observational study. Subjects who developed major side effects were excluded and managed., Results: One subject was lost to follow up during study and 31 completed the study successfully. Average HbA1c and weight differences were -0·46% and -1·86% respectively. Average ALT reduction was 36 U/L; t= -9·153623, p is < 0·00001. Average AST reduction was 19·0 U/L; t= -8·153600; p is <0·00001. Average GGT reduction was 5·87 U/L; t= -3·286677, p=0·002588. Average ALP reduction was 1·68 U/L; t= -1·295661. p=0·204973. Serum Bilirubin was elevated by 0·04%; t=0·912, p=0·368. With 0·46% reduction in HbA1c there is 37·5% reduction in ALT levels (R=0·1424) and with 1·86% weight reduction there is 37·5% ALT reduction (R=0·3448)., Conclusions: Canagliflozin controls HbA1c and reduce weight in type 2 diabetes. It also significantly improves LFT in co-morbid NAFLD., (© Journal of the Association of Physicians of India 2011.)

In Labeo rohita exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of an azo dye, Eriochrome black T for 4 days, gills show considerable alterations in the activity of certain metabolic enzymes-alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, carboxylesterase, lactate dehydrogenase, and succinate dehydrogenase; and antioxidant enzymes-catalase and peroxidase. The activities of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, carboxylesterase, succinate dehydrogenase, catalase, and peroxidase decline significantly. This has been associated with impaired metabolic function of the gills due to azo dye toxicity. The activity of lactate dehydrogenase, in contrast, shows a gradual increase, reflecting a shift from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism. In the fish kept for recovery for 8 days, after exposing the fish to the dye for 4 days, activity of succinate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase gradually become similar to control. Nevertheless, activity of acid phosphatase, catalase, peroxidase, and carboxylesterase, although recover gradually, remained significantly low as compared to that of control. This study signifies that the dye is highly toxic to Labeo rohita and suggests that the activity of metabolic and antioxidant enzymes can be used as biomarker for fish toxicity.