Histopathological comparison of the salivary glands’ acini and striated ducts after experimental prolonged daily administration of oral ubiquinone doses in rats

Also called coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), Ubiquinone is a vitamin-like endogenously produced factor essential for Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) mitochondrial production. Several research studies have reported that the exogenous supplementation of CoQ10 can lead to excessive salivation, especially in patients complaining of dry mouth. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of long-term daily use of CoQ10 on the salivary glands in experimental animals by comparing the diameters of the glandular acini and striated ducts of a CoQ10-treated group and a control group. Twenty-five white albino rats were randomly divided into two groups; the control group consisted of 10 rats, while the CoQ10-treated group comprised 15 rats. The latter received daily oral treatment of 300 mg/kg CoQ10 for six weeks. Samples of the parotid, submandibular and sublingual glands were then dissected and examined histologically for comparative measurement of the diameters of the glands’ acini and striated ducts. The CoQ10 treated group had mean diameters of the serous acini for the parotid (79.8±11.2 μm) and submandibular (81.07±13.5 μm) glands that were significantly higher (P<0.05) than their diameters in the control group (67.5±8.4 μm and 73.3±13.8 μm), respectively. However, the difference was not statistically significant when comparing the diameters of striated ducts of the CoQ10-treated group and the control group. Continuous and prolonged exposure to exogenous ubiquinone may cause hypertrophic dilation of the acini within the salivary glands, namely the parotid and submandibular glands, which might be the underlying mechanism for excessive salivation. This can be considered a reversible adaptive response.

What is Your Diagnosis? Dyspnoeic Cat

A 4-year-old, 3.5-kg, entire male cat was presented with severe lethargy and increasing dyspnoea and respiratory distress, nasal discharge, excessive salivation, loss of appetite and weight loss, over the past few days. He was an indoor-outdoor cat and was fed a homemade diet. On physical examination, severe laboured abdominal breathing, nasal discharge and excessive salivation were evident. Mucous membranes were slightly hyperaemic, with no jaundice or cyanosis observed. There was no jugular distension. Gingival capillary refill time was 2 seconds. Body temperature was 39.2 °C. On palpation, the mandibular lymph nodes were mildly enlarged, while no abdominal mass was detected. On thoracic auscultation, bronchial crackles in the right lung lobe and dysphonia in the left lobe were noted. The cat was initially stabilised with oxygen therapy (10 L/min) by oxygen chamber. Venous blood (jugular venepuncture), urine (mid-stream free-flow) and faecal samples (rectal swab) were taken for laboratory analysis. Abdominal ultrasonography, thoracic and abdominal radiography, and thoracic computed tomography (CT) were performed.

Review of Psychotropic Agents Associated with Sialorrhoea, Except Clozapine

Introduction: Sialorrhoea, or excessive salivation, is common in psychiatric patients. This can be distressing because of its physical and psychosocial complications. Sialorrhoea due to psychotropic drugs has been reported repeatedly in the literature. Clozapine is the antipsychotic most commonly associated with sialorrhoea. Objective: The objective of this review was to examine and discuss the existing literature on all psychotropic drugs associated with sialorrhoea, except clozapine. Methods: Google Scholar and PubMed were searched for the literature on psychotropic-induced sialorrhoea. The search terms used were sialorrhoea, antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizer, and benzodiazepines. Case reports on patients suffering from psychotropic-induced sialorrhoea except clozapine are reviewed in this study. Results: The pathophysiology behind psychotropic-induced sialorrhoea, the population susceptible to sialorrhoea, and the exact duration from the start of sialorrhoea the drug course to the onset of sialorrhoea are unknown. Also, sialorrhoea is not associated with drug toxicity and is observed even in patients receiving normal doses of psychotropic medications. Treatment involves dose reduction, discontinuation of drugs responsible for the adverse effect, or adding anticholinergic drugs. Conclusion: Sialorrhoea due to clozapine has been reported in the literature. Many other antipsychotics, antidepressants such as sertraline, and other psychotropic drugs such as lithium have also been reported to cause sialorrhoea. No increase in the risk of sialorrhoea was seen in any of the age groups, and no association was found with treatment duration. In cases of lithium-induced sialorrhoea, no relationship was observed between serum levels of lithium and sialorrhoea.

Facial-onset sensory-motor neuronopathy, a rare variant of Huntington’s disease or chance association?

Objectives: To describe a patient with facial-onset sensory-motor neuronopathy (FOSMN) that later developed Huntington’s disease (HD). Case report: A 62-year-old woman complained of progressive dysphagia 8 years before referral. At initial evaluation, there was excessive salivation, dysphagia, and sensory-motor trigeminal impairment. Denervation was noted on the upper limbs and the tongue. Blink reflexes were abolished. Genetic study of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-related genes was normal. She was diagnosed with FOSMN syndrome. Her clinical state progressively worsened with corneal anesthesia, severe denutrition, right arm and axial weakness. Seven years after referral, she was unable walk and developed generalized chorea. Abnormal huntingtin gene repeat expansion confirmed the diagnosis of HD. She died 16 years after onset of dysphagia. Conclusion: Cases with both HD and ALS have already been reported but not FOSMN and HD, to our knowledge. Some FOSMN cases have been linked to ALS-related gene mutations and HD phenocopies have been associated with C9ORF72 repeat expansions. Recently, huntingtin repeat expansions were described in the ALS population. Although a chance association cannot be excluded, data from the literature are in favor of a pathogenic relationship between FOSMN and HD in this particular case. We suggest that huntingtin gene be more systematically studied in patients with FOSMN.

ROLE OF YASHTIMADHU CHOORNA WITH MADHU LEPANA IN THE MANAGEMENT OF MUKHAPAKA

Mukha (mouth) is one of the important parts of body and it is exposed to various risk factors due to the bad habits like tobacco chewing and smoking etc. Mukhapaka is pathological condition related to Mukha which occurs due to the simple cut, eating hot food items, unhygienic cleaning, vitamins deficiencies and adverse reaction of antibiotics. Ulceration, Excessive salivation and Pain etc. are general symptoms of Mukhapaka. As per Ayurveda Mukha Rogas is Pittaja Nanatmaja and Rakta Pradoshaja Vikara and around 20% of population is suffering with this problem. Ayurveda described various treatment modalities for the management of Mukhapaka; Yashtimadhu with Madhu is one of them, present article established efficacy of Yashtimadhu with Madhu Lepana in Mukhapaka. The study concluded that Lepan-Karma with Ayurveda formulation Yashtimadhu Ghrita Madhu offers beneficial effects in mouth ulcer.

Case report of extensive foreign body of esophagus with spread to laryngopharynx and larynx

Foreign bodies of the respiratory tract and esophagus remain one of the pressing problems in medicine, which is associated with the possibility of developing complications that can end in death. We present our clinical observation that demonstrates the long-term presence of a large foreign body fixed in the area of the pharyngeal narrowing of the esophagus and extending into the larynx and the vestibule of the larynx. Patient T., 57 years old, went to the emergency department of the Karachay-Cherkessia Republican Clinical Hospital with complaints of severe sore throat, inability to swallow, excessive salivation, increased body temperature to 37,5 °C, difficulty breathing, mixed shortness of breath, which persist for 3 days. The examination revealed: the epiglottis is mobile, the mucous membrane of the larynx is hyperemic, edematous, with an abundance of saliva, at the level of the vestibular part of the larynx, in the area of the arytenoid cartilage and aryepiglottic folds, an irregular shape was visualized, with smooth edges, a thin, hard whitish plate. Computed tomography of the cervical spine: in the esophagus, at the level of C4-C5 vertebrae, a foreign body with a metallic density of +2900 hU units, elongated, irregular shape, measuring 2.2 by 3.3 cm, with perifocal air bubbles is determined. A preliminary diagnosis was made: Foreign body of the esophagus, laryngopharynx with a spread to the vestibule of the larynx. 3 days after the retention of the foreign body under intubation anesthesia, it is captured using forceps with serrated cups and removed during direct laryngoscopy. There were no complications during the manipulation. The combination of X-ray and endoscopic examinations with the help of innovative medical and diagnostic equipment made it possible to establish a diagnosis in a short time, choose the most effective treatment tactics and remove a foreign body through natural pathways.

Lichens in Genus Parmelia: An Overview and their Application

Parmelia that belongs to the Parmeliaceae Family is a foliose lichen combined with one or two groups of fungi in Phylum Ascomycota or Basidiomycota and algae, which might be green algae or blue-green algae (cyanobacteria). It is generally called “Stone Flower,” “Charila,” “Pattharphool,” or “Shilaaapushpa” in India. Lichen can be generally found growing on walls, old trees and spread largely across India, especially in the mountain area. It is a source of edible organisms for people residing in some regions of Nepal and it is also cultivated in hillsides of Kashmir. It has been found that lichen contains a lot of distinctive chemical compounds such as evernic acid, lecanoric acid, lobaric acid, norstictic acid, physodic acid, and salazinic acid. Some species of this lichen are recommended traditionally for controlling diseases such as boils, bronchitis, inflammations, excessive salivation, toothache, vomiting, etc. It has also applied as an indicator for biomonitoring, astringent, carminative, demulcent, bitter, resolvent, emollient, laxative, sporofic, sedative, diuretic and considered for treating sores, bronchitis, excessive salivation, vomiting, tooth-ache, boils and inflammations. It has been utilized for preparing traditional food and acts as a bioindicator for air pollution and radiation. It shows antibacterial, antioxidant, antimycobacterial and antifungal activities, including haemolytic, anaesthetic, spasmolytic and antispasmodic and antitumour activities. It also has several unique phytoconstituents that could be in charge of different therapeutic activities, but the majority of them are still unexplored. The review mainly focuses on various facets, such as common names, synonyms, traditional uses, botanical descriptions, and pharmacological activities of seven species of Parmelia.

AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF GARBHINI CHARDI (Emesis Gravidarum) WITH CHATURJATA CHOORNA (CHATURJATA POWDER) - A PILOT STUDY

Background: During pregnancy many demands are made by growing fetus, to meet these requirements maternal system has to undergo certain changes. Garbhinichardi (Emesis Gravidarum) is one among them and this has been termed as Gruhita Garbha Lakshanas (Immediate signs of conception) in Ayurvedic clas-sics. Approximately 80 % of pregnant women experience excessive salivation, nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, commonly known as “morning sickness”, which is seen frequently throughout the day. Design: This is single blind pilot study. 30 patients with complaints of Garbhinichardi (Emesis Gravidarum) in first trimester were included in this study. Patients were given Chaturjatachurna (Chatutjata powder)for a peri-od of 2 weeks in dose of 3gms thrice a day after meal with Anupana (Adjuvant) as Madhu (honey) of 5ml mixed with Tandulodaka (Raw rice water) Results: This pilot study showed statistically significant changes with Chaturjatachurna in reducing the complaints of pregnant women such as nausea (p<0.001), vomiting (p<0.001) and Aruchi (Anorexia) (p<0.001) in their first trimester of pregnancy. Conclusion: Chaturjata-churna was effective in the management of Garbhini Chardi (Emesis Gravidarum) and other symptoms in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Periodontal disease and its complications in cats from a shelter in the Central Region of Rio Grande do Sul

ABSTRACT: Periodontal disease is the most common infectious disease that occurs in feline patients. Although it occurs in both sexes, different age groups, and any breeds, the prevalence and severity seem much higher in cats living in animal shelters. This paper aimed to describe the clinical, radiological, cytopathological, and virological aspects of periodontal disease and its complications in cats, based on these aspects and, consequently, on the importance it brings to cat feline medicine in shelter cats. For this, nine cats with periodontal disease from a single animal shelter were evaluated. These cats demonstrated a disease characterized by halitosis, excessive salivation, and oral discomfort. Lymphadenomegaly of the mandibular and retropharyngeal lymph nodes was observed in 44.4% of the cases. Oral lesions consisted of varying degrees of gingival hyperemia, complete loss of free gingival margins, and consequently gingival retraction, dental calculus deposition, dental mobility, complete exposure of the furcation of premolars and molars, and dental roots of canines and incisors, loss of bone radiopacity due to alveolar bone resorption and tooth loss. Complications included chronic ulcerative paradental stomatitis (22.2%), faucitis (22.2%), and chronic gingivostomatitis (11.1%). None of the cats affected by periodontal disease was positive for FIV or FeLV. In 33.3% of the cases, cats were carriers of feline calicivirus, but not feline herpesvirus.

Clinical profile of organophosphorous poisoning in children admitted to tertiary care hospital

Background: Organosphophorous compounds are the commonly available insecticides in households. Therefore, children are vulnerable to accidental poisoning. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to study the clinical profile of organophosphorous poisoning in children.Methods: This was prospective study conducted over a period of two years from January 2018 to January 2020 in department of Pediatrics, Government Medical College Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. All the patients in the age group of 1-18 years with history and examination suggestive of organophosphorous poisoning were included in this study.Results: In this study there were total of 54 patients. In majority of cases poisoning was accidental. Oral consumption was most common route of poisoning. The most common symptoms were excessive salivation (100%), vomiting (72%), abdominal pain (26%), diarrohea (13%), agitation (11%) and convulsions (3.7%). The most common signs were miosis (78%), bradycardia (59%), fasciculation (57%) and altered sensorium (13%). Respiratory failure and circulatory collapse were two main complications which contributed to mortality in this study.Conclusions: Organophosphorous poisoning is one of the most common poisoning in children. Early diagnosis and treatment is of pivotal importance to prevent mortality.