Effect of L(+)-tartrate on some biochemical and enzymatic parameters in normal and glycollate treated rats

Some biochemical and enzymatic constituents were determined in the small intestinal tract tissues of normal and sodium glycollate treated adult male rats. Alterations were observed with respect to certain lipids and carbohydrate fractions in the glycollate fed rats. DNA content was also elevated in this group. The functions of the cell membrane is likely to be affected as reflected in the levels of transport ATPases and orthophospho-hydrolases. The activities of the two marker enzymes in the intestinal brush border, namely alkaline phosphatase and leucylnaphthylamidase were reduced in the glycollate administered group. Administration of L(+)-tartrate, which is a mild laxative and has a regulatory influence on oxalate metabolism, lowered the activities of Na+, K(+)- and Ca(2+)-ATPases. There was a distinct lowering in the level of acid phosphatase in the tartrate treated rats.     

In vitro effects of drugs on production of mucins in rabbit tracheal epithelial cells expressing mucin gene

Rabbit tracheal epithelial cells, cultured on collagen-coated dishes in serumfree and hormone-supplemented medium, were found to incorporate [³H]glucosamine into high-molecular-weight components that were secreted in the medium. The chemical analysis of the secreted products resulted in a profile that resembled that of mucous glycoproteins (mucins). When examined by dot blot analysis, the total RNA isolated from these cells hybridized to an antisense 30-mer oligonucleotide corresponding to a rat intestine mucin peptide sequence, indicating that mucin gene was expressed in these cell lines. Lung and liver tissues of rabbit did not express this gene. Transmission electron microscopy exhibited secretory granules in these cells. The incorporation of [³H]glucosamine into mucins was inhibited by three aryl-N-acetyl-galactosaminides and a chemical carcinogen,N-nitroso-N-ethyl urea, whereas 5-azacytidine enhanced the proliferation of cells as well as the radiolabeling of mucins. Parasympathetic agent (pilocarpine), cholinergic antagonist (atropine), and-adrenergic agonist (isoproterenol) alone have little effect on the secretion of mucins. The cholinergic agonist, methacholine, was found to increase the production of mucins and addition of atropine to the medium before methacholine blocked this stimulation. Histamine was found to stimulate mucin production in these cells.The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.     

Leukoerythrophagocytosis by sinus histiocytes: case report

Leukoerythrophagocytosis by sinus histiocytes in the lymph nodes is a rare cytological observation. Though often seen in lymph nodes draining malignancies, one may occasionally encounter them in vascular lesions. We report a case of leukoerythrophagocytosis by sinus histiocytes of the right supraclavicular lymph nodes in a 35-yr-old male. He presented with a painful soft tissue mass in the right anterior region of the chest wall extending into the axilla of 6 mo duration. Bilateral radial pulsations were absent. The patient had received treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis 1 yr ago. FNAC of the soft tissue mass revealed only blood. Radiological evaluation revealed a vascular lesion, with smooth borders, extending into the upper zone of right lung and displacing the second rib inferiorly. Doppler evaluation confirmed it to be a right subclavian aneurysm with arteritis.     

Body growth in early diagnosed vesicoureteric reflux

Body growth was studied in 32 subjects with vesicoureteric reflux (VUR), diagnosed following the prenatal finding of urinary tract dilatation, who had normal renal filtration function and who received antibacterial prophylaxis by the first few days of life. They were followed for 1–5 years (mean 2.3 years). Most had persistent VUR during the 1st year of life. Body growth performance was compared with that of 94 subjects with VUR diagnosed and treated by us after the neonatal period. During the follow-up period, none of the patients with prenatally detected VUR had a height Z score below –2, nor a weight-for-height index below 90%, and 1 had variations in height Z score ≥1. The difference in the percentage of patients with prenatally detected VUR (1/32) and those with VUR diagnosed and treated after the neonatal period (20/94) who had variations in height Z score ≥1 was significant (P=0.035). Patients with prenatally detected VUR and normal renal filtration function, given antibacterial prophylaxis by the first few days of life, have normal body growth, although VUR still persists. Received: 19 March 1998 / Revised: 10 February 1999 / Accepted: 10 February 1999     

Apolipoprotein E polymorphisms and the risk of nonlesional temporal lobe epilepsy

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether the inheritance of the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) epsilon4 allele is a risk factor for nonlesional temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), and to determine whether the newly described -491 A/T ApoE polymorphism may independently affect the risk of nonlesional TLE. METHODS: The study group consisted of 63 patients (35 women and 28 men; age at onset of epilepsy, 30.6 +/- 19.6 years; mean (+/-SD). All of them had received a diagnosis of nonlesional TLE after a detailed clinical, electroencephalographic, and brain magnetic resonance investigation. The ApoE polymorphisms were determined from blood samples by standard methods. The molecular study also was performed in 220 age- and sex-matched normal individuals. RESULTS: There were no differences between TLE patients and controls in either allelic or genotypic frequencies of the ApoE and -491A/T polymorphisms. Moreover, no effect of ApoE or -491A/T polymorphisms was found on the age at onset and severity of epilepsy. CONCLUSIONS: The allelic and genotypic frequencies of ApoE polymorphisms in Italian patients with nonlesional TLE are comparable to control values, indicating that ApoE polymorphisms are not a significant genetic risk factor for the occurrence of nonlesional TLE.     

Antileishmanial action of Tephrosia purpurea linn,extract and its fractions against experimental visceral leishmaniasis

Tephrosia purpurea (family: Fabaceae), which is used in traditional remedies for the treatment of febrile attacks, enlargement and obstruction of liver, spleen, and kidney, was found to have significant antileishmanial activity, and has been extensively fractionated to locate the abode of activity. A fraction (F062) obtained from N‐butanol extract of T. purpurea showed consistent antileishmanial activity at 50 mg/ kg × 5 days by oral route against Leishmania donovani infection in hamsters. Activity was further confirmed in a secondary model, i.e., Indian langur monkeys (Presbytis entellus). Thus, the fraction F062 from this plant possesses potential to produce significant antileishmanial activity by oral route without producing any toxic side effects. Drug. Dev. Res. 60:285–293, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Effect of L-ascorbic add supplementation on testicular oxidative stress and endocrine disorders in mature male rats exposed to intensive swimming exercise

In order to investigate the ameliorative potential of L-ascorbic acid on intensive swimming exercise induced testicular oxidative stress, 18 Wistar male rats (age: 3 months, weight: 127.5 ± 5.3 g) were randomly divided into the following groups: (i) control group (CG,n = 6); (ii) experimental group (EG,n = 6); and (iii) supplemented group (SG,n = 6). An exercise protocol of 3 h swimming per day, five days per week was followed for 6 weeks in EG and SG with no exercise in CG. In SG, L-ascorbic acid was supplied orally at a dose of 25-mg/kg of bodyweight each day for 6 weeks. A significant decrease (P < 0.05) was noted in paired testicular weights, epididymal sperm count, testicular Δ⁵, 3β-hydroxyseroid dehydrogenase, 17β-hydroxyseroid dehydrogenase, plasma levels of testosterone luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, prolactin, the numbers of preleptotine spermatocytes, midpachytene spermatocytes and stage 7 spermatids of stage VII seminiferous epithelium cycle in EG when compared with CG. A significant elevation (P < 0.05) in plasma corticosterone and testicular content of malondialdehyde along with a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in glutathione, ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione-peroxidase, and glutathione-S-transferase were noted in testes of EG compared with CG. No significant change was noted in final bodyweight or numbers of spermatogonia-A among the groups. Furthermore, L-ascorbic acid supplementation restored the above parameters to the control level. Conclusion  It can be concluded that intensive swimming exercise induced oxidative stress causes dysfunctions in the male reproductive system, which can be protected by L-ascorbic acid.     

A rare case of eccrine spiradenoma—treatment and management

A young male patient presented with multiple swellings on his chest and the nape of his neck. Physical examination revealed multiple small papulonodular swellings measuring 0.5?×?0.5 cm to 2?×?2 cm, that were soft without discharge with no surrounding skin changes or induration. Skin biopsy samples were diagnosed as benign adnexal neoplasm consistent with eccrine spiradenoma, trichoepithelioma, and cylindroma, i.e., Brooke–Spiegler syndrome. Having confirmed this to be a case of eccrine spiradenoma, surgical excision was performed and the raw area was covered with a split thickness skin graft taken from the right thigh and sutured over the raw area. The sternal lesion was circumferentially excised and the wound was primarily closed by Z-plasty. Surgical excision is considered the gold standard for the treatment of these cases, with low rates of recurrence. Around 50 such cases have been reported in the literature to date. Although eccrine spiradenomas are usually solitary and small, the findings in our case underscore the fact that a variety of presentations are possible. With strict clinical suspicion and histological criteria, the correct diagnosis can be achieved, especially when combined with pertinent clinical information and laboratory studies.Level of Evidence: Level V, therapeutic study.