Kanwardeep Singh

Neurosyphilis: An Uncommon Cause of Dementia.

adults because of accompanying diseases. Systemic lupus erythematosus is rare, especially in older people. A search of the literature for LO-SLE uncovered three SLE cases in individuals aged 90 and older, each of whom had different clinical presentations and organ involvement, although they had in common that they met fewer diagnostic criteria than younger individuals and were treated less aggressively. The current case differs from these three because of renal involvement and hemolytic anemia. The current case fulfills four of the revised American College of Rheumatology criteria for SLE diagnosis: Coombs-positive hemolytic anemia, proteinuria, ANA positivity, and anti-dsDNA positivity. After excluding chronic infections, malignancy, and other connective tissue disorders common in this age group, this individual was diagnosed with SLE. Because of his advanced age, absence of major organ involvement, and accompanying comorbidities low-dose corticosteroid treatment was started. Clinical response and nearly normal laboratory results after treatment supported the diagnosis. In older adults with high sedimentation rate, anemia, fatigue, and weight loss, after excluding infectious diseases and malignancies, rheumatological diseases should always be screened for, and LO-SLE must be considered.

The Future of Acute Care for Elders

America’s health care system is facing the need to care for increasing numbers of older patients with complex needs. Almost one million older persons are hospitalized per year in the United States for treatment of an acute illness. At the same time, the entire framework of practice and reimbursement is changing as a result of the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Many American hospitals will participate in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). These ACOs will shift the overall quality and costs of care to a shared responsibility between the health system and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. As we look toward the future of the Acute Care for Elders model, we will describe that future in the context of the reform of our health care system. We will describe several of these changes and the implications for ACE.

Evaluation of Indigenous and Exotic Germplasm of Indian Mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj & Cosson] for Morpho-Physiological and Quality Characters

Sixty germplasm accessions from India (27), Australia (25) and China (8) along with 5 check varieties (Bio-902, Bio-772, PCR-7, Rohini and Varuna) of Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj. & Cosson] were grown in an augmented block design with four blocks during rabi season of 2007–08 to assess magnitude and nature of variability for morpho-physiological and quality characters. Significant mean sum of squares due to genotypes indicated presence of substantial variability for all the morpho-physiological characters investigated except protein content. Seed yield/plant, secondary branches/plant, biological yield, 1000-seed weight, specific leaf weight at 50% and full flowering, leaf area index at full flowering and total dry matter at 50% flowering had high genetic variability and could be exploited through selection. The Chinese accessions were very late in maturity due to fact that they were selected under long day conditions and no seed could be harvested. Indian varieties such as GM-2, RGN-13, JM-3, VSL-5 and Australian accession JM-018 showed very low saturated fatty acids (<2%). Oleic acid content in the indigenous germplasm was low varying from 6.0–18.1% and all had high erucic acid in the range of 31.5% (Basanti)-52.5% (GM-2). The Australian accessions exhibited low erucic acid (< 2%) and high oleic acid (29.7–58.4%). Glucosinolate content in the indigenous germplasm ranged from 75–136.6 μ moles/g defatted seed meal. In the Australian accessions it was up to 30 μ moles/g defatted seed meal. Several potentials accessions were identified from exotic as well as indigenous germplasm for utilization in the breeding programme.

Analysis of genetic parameters and correlations for physiological and quality characters in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. & Coss.)

The present investigation was carried out to assess heritability, genetic advance and inter se associations of physiological, oil and seed meal quality characters in diverse accessions of Indian mustard. Significant mean sum of squares indicated genotypic differences for all the physiological and oil and seed meal quality characters investigated except protein content. Estimates of heritability and genetic advance were high for harvest index, specific leaf weight and total dry matter at 50% flowering suggesting the dominant role of additive gene action in their inheritance.The phenotypic and genotypic correlations of seed yield with biological yield/plant and harvest index were positive and significant indicating the usefulness of these characters in selection. Reduction in erucic acid would also bring forth correlated increase in oleic, linoleic and linolenic fatty acids owing to its negative associations with all the fatty acids except eicosenoic acid.