Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF, also called Shulman syndrome) is a rare connective tissue disorder with poorly understood pathogenesis and unknown etiology. EF is characterized initially by limb or trunk erythema and edema and later by collagenous thickening of the subcutaneous fascia. Here, we present the case of a 16-year-old boy who presented with typical clinical features of EF with a history of typical trigger factor – preceding strenuous physical activity and had a rarer atypical association of hypercalcemia and raised angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) levels.

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Introduction: the blood supply to liver is supplied by hepatic artery which contributes to about 25% to 30 %. and from the portal vein which contributes to the remaining 70%-75%. The variations in portal venous anatomy and dimensions of portal veins are important in liver related procedures like transplant, resections, Trans jugular Intra parenchymal Porto-Systemic Shunt (TIPSS) and radiological intervention procedures. Objective: to describe the anatomic variations in branching pattern of portal vein by CECT scan method. To study the morphometry of portal vein and its major branches (length, diameter) by 3D reconstruction of CECT scan method. Method: 80 CECT scan images of patients was collected from the Radiology Department to evaluate variations in branching pattern of portal vein. Axial and post processed 2D and 3D reformations contributed for accurate evaluation of morphometry of major portal veins. Results: type I pattern of portal vein was observed in 87.5%, Type II in 10% of cases and Type III in 2.5% of cases. There was no gender difference in branching pattern and for variations of portal vein. The mean ± SD of length of main portal vein, right portal vein and left portal vein were 3.8±0.94, 1.69± 0.4, 2.91±0.71 respectively and diameters of main portal vein, right portal vein and left portal vein were 0.98±0.13, 0.68±0.08, 0.50±0.04 respectively. Conclusion: this study highlights the branching pattern and dimensions of portal veins which is prerequisite for hepatobliliary and liver transplantation surgeries.

Acorus calamus (Acoraceae) also known as sweet flag in Indian traditional medicine is generally used for treatment of various ailments like cough, fever, bronchitis, inflammation, depression, tumours, haemorrhoids, skin diseases, insomnia, hysteria, epilepsy, and loss of memory. Asarone is a chemical compound of the phenylpropanoid class found in plants such as Acorus and Asarum. There are two isomers, α (trans) and β (cis). Alpha-asarone is potentially toxic compared to beta-asarone and hence pharmacological elucidation of beta-asarone is wide. Beta-asarone due to its blood brain barrier crossing property it is well elucidated for potential neuroprotective effect. The beneficial properties of beta-asarone are attributed to molecular pathways of endoplasmic reticulum stress, autophagy and synaptogenesis through IRE1/XBP1 ER stress pathway, mitochondrial ASK1/MKK7/JNK pathway, CaMKII/CREB/Bcl-2 expression and PERK/CHOP/Bcl-2/Beclin-1 pathways. The memory enhancing property of beta-asarone is said to be due to beclin dependent autophagy by PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. The aim of this review is to highlight the neuroprotective role of beta asarone in terms of neuroinflammation, apoptosis, neurogenesis and autophagy with special emphasis on two neurodegenerative disorders Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease along with its beneficial property in elucidating synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis. Further research on toxicity and pharmacokinetics of beta-asarone are much needed to bring this potential compound into therapeutic use.

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