BACKGROUND: Sibutramine (Sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate) is an anti-obesity drug that enhances satiety. Olfactory stimulation with grapefruit oil decreases the body weight. In this study, we examined the effects of sibutramine and olfactory stimulation with grapefruit oil on body weight, food consumption and neurotransmitters controlling appetite in obese rats.

METHODS: Rats were assigned to two dietary groups for 3 weeks; control group (n=6) was fed commercial standard pellets diet and obese group (n=24) was fed cafeteria diet (hypercaloric diet consisting of highly palatable food). The effect of sibutramine and olfactory stimulation with grapefruit oil was studied on obese rats. Statistical difference and interactions were evaluated through one-way analysis of variance test (one-way ANOVA) followed by Dunnett test was used for means of different groups. For all statistical tests done, a 0.05 level of probability was used as the criterion for significance.

RESULTS: Sibutramine produced its weight reduction effect after 1 week of administration and lasted for only 2 weeks and produced an increase in brain noradrenaline while olfactory stimulation with grapefruit oil produced its weight reduction effect after 2 weeks and did not affect brain noradrenaline.

CONCLUSION: Olfactory stimulation with grapefruit oil produces a weight reduction effect on obese rats after a lag period but it does not affect brain noradrenaline level, while sibutramine produces a weight reduction effect that started from the first week and lasted for 2 weeks only but it increases brain noradrenaline level which may affect blood pressure.

Subcutaneous actinomycosis of the neck is uncommon. Since its presentation is vague and nonspecific, the diagnosis is difficult. Being rare, the diagnosis needs a high index of suspicion. An unusual case of actinomycosis presented as abscess in the neck is discussed here along with review of literature.

Invasive ductal carcinoma is the most common form of breast cancer, attributing to about 70 to 80 percent of all breast cancers; the medullary variety constitutes 1 to 10 percent of this carcinoma. A case review of the medullary carcinoma with atypical features is presented with regards to clinical and pathological characteristics.

Bowel perforation and spontaneous extrusion of the lower end of the tube through the anal opening is a rare and unusual complication of the ventriculoperitoneal shunt. We report a case of a two-year-old female child who presented to the emergency department when her mother noticed the shunt catheter protruding from her anus four months after shunt placement. The shunt tube was removed and the patient underwent repeat ventriculoperitoneal shunting on the left side two weeks after shunt removal. Removal of the catheter by a less invasive method is advisable in the absence of infection. Exteriorization of the proximal end is recommended as it can be useful to rule out ventriculitis and meningitis and also to assess the dependency on shunt followed by placement of new shunt after control of the infection.

BACKGROUND: Sibutramine (Sibutramine hydrochloride monohydrate) is an anti-obesity drug that enhances satiety. Olfactory stimulation with grapefruit oil decreases the body weight. In this study, we examined the effects of sibutramine and olfactory stimulation with grapefruit oil on body weight, food consumption and neurotransmitters controlling appetite in obese rats.

METHODS: Rats were assigned to two dietary groups for 3 weeks; control group (n=6) was fed commercial standard pellets diet and obese group (n=24) was fed cafeteria diet (hypercaloric diet consisting of highly palatable food). The effect of sibutramine and olfactory stimulation with grapefruit oil was studied on obese rats. Statistical difference and interactions were evaluated through one-way analysis of variance test (one-way ANOVA) followed by Dunnett test was used for means of different groups. For all statistical tests done, a 0.05 level of probability was used as the criterion for significance.

RESULTS: Sibutramine produced its weight reduction effect after 1 week of administration and lasted for only 2 weeks and produced an increase in brain noradrenaline while olfactory stimulation with grapefruit oil produced its weight reduction effect after 2 weeks and did not affect brain noradrenaline.

CONCLUSION: Olfactory stimulation with grapefruit oil produces a weight reduction effect on obese rats after a lag period but it does not affect brain noradrenaline level, while sibutramine produces a weight reduction effect that started from the first week and lasted for 2 weeks only but it increases brain noradrenaline level which may affect blood pressure.