Alterations in free radical scavenger system profile of type I diabetic rat brain

The activities of the enzymes related to glutathione synthesis, degradation, and functions as well as reactive oxygen scavenging enzymes were analyzed in different brain regions, such as cerebral hemisphere, cerebellum, brainstem, thalamus, and hypothalamus after 1 and 3 mo of streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats. Parallel studies were also made in age-matched control rats and insulin-treated diabetic rats. The content of glutathione (GSH) and its synthesizing enzyme γ-glutamylcystein synthetase and also superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities (reactive oxygen scavenging enzymes) were significantly decreased from almost all the brain regions studied. However, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP), and glutamine synthetase (GS) activities were increased in the diabetic rat brain. Insulin treatment to the diabetic rats resulted in partial to full recovery in these enzymes activities. The present results emphasize the potentially serious alterations of brain free radical scavenger system in uncontrolled Type I diabetes.     

Synthesis and Antitumour Activity of New Derivatives of Flavone-8-acetic Acid (FAA). Part 1: 6-Methyl Derivatives

A range of 17 derivatives of flavone-8-acetic acid (FAA) with a 6-methyl substituent have been prepared and their anti-tumour activity evaluated in vitro against a panel of human and murine tumour cell lines and in vivo against MAC 15A. While many of the compounds show activity comparable to FAA in vitro, this essentially disappears in vivo, possibly due to degradation before the compounds can reach the tumour site.     

TNFα Inhibits Schwann Cell Proliferation, Connexin46 Expression, and Gap Junctional Communication

Schwann cell responses to nerve injury are stimulated, in part, by inflammatory cytokines. This study compares changes in the phenotype of cultured Schwann cells after exposure to the cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α or the mitogen neu differentiation factor (NDF)-β. TNFα inhibited proliferation in a dose-dependent manner without altering Schwann cell survival. TNFα also reduced both gap junctional conductance and Lucifer yellow dye coupling between Schwann cells. Moreover, both P₀and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity were reduced. By contrast, NDFβ initially had little effect on cell division although it reduced junctional coupling within 8 h. However, by 48 h, NDFβ stimulated proliferation with a concomitant increase in coupling. Dividing Schwann cells (BrdU⁺) were preferentially dye coupled compared to nondividing cells, indicating an association between proliferation and coupling. Moreover, cultured Schwann cells expressed connexin46 mRNA and protein, and changes in the levels of the protein correlated with the degree of proliferation and coupling. The data thus provide evidence for cytokine-induced modulation of Schwann cell antigenic phenotype, proliferation, and gap junction properties. These observations suggest that enhanced gap junctional communication among Schwann cells after nerve injury could help to coordinate cellular responses to the injury, and that TNFα may be a signal which terminates proliferation as well as junctional communication.     

Ornithine decarboxylase activity as a biochemical marker in individuals predisposed to lung cancer

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is the first enzyme in the pathway of mammalian polyamine biosynthesis. "Tumor promoters" appear to induce ODC. In addition, increased ODC activity has been observed in normal appearing colonic mucosa of patients with familial polyposis, an autosomal dominant disorder associated with a high incidence of colon cancer. Ornithine decarboxylase activity was measured in bronchoscopic mucosal biopsy specimens from the noninvolved lung in patients with unilateral lung masses. No correlation could be determined in ODC levels from "normal" mucosa between patients with lung cancer compared to those with benign disease, despite elevated ODC activity in the tumors themselves.     

Multiplex PCR assay for rapid identification of oculopathogenic adenoviruses by amplification of the fiber and hexon genes

Eye infections caused by adenovirus (Ad) often result in nosocomial infections and community epidemics with significant rates of morbidity. No antiviral agent effective against Ad is yet available for clinical use. Therefore, early diagnosis is still the mainstay for patient management and the prevention of epidemics. A multiplex PCR assay based on amplification of a combination of the fiber and hexon genes which can identify the six important oculopathogenic serotypes of Ads (Ad serotype 3[Ad3], Ad4, Ad7, Ad8, Ad19, and Ad37) in a single-tube amplification reaction was developed. Ad serotypes could be distinguished by the different amplicon sizes. The assay correctly identified prototype strains as well as isolates in clinical specimens. In comparison with a previously described PCR-restriction fragment polymorphism method, our assay gave unequivocal results for clinical specimens. Our multiplex PCR has the potential to serve as a rapid and cost-effective tool for the typing of important ocular Ads.     

Megakaryocytes in pleural and peritoneal fluids: prevalence, significance, morphology, and cytohistological correlation.

Over a period of 22 years, 4844 pleural and peritoneal fluids from 3279 patients were examined cytologically. Megakaryocytes were found in the fluids from five patients. The clinical diagnoses in the five patients were agnogenic myeloid metaplasia, chronic myeloid leukaemia, and lymphocytic lymphoma. All of these patients had persistent serous effusions. Megakaryocytes in serous fluids occurred in three forms: (1) a large type with abundant cytoplasm and multilobed nuclei, (2) a smaller type with a high nucleocytoplasmic ratio and unlobed nuclei, and (3) anucleate cytoplasmic masses. Foci of agnogenic myeloid metaplasia found on the serous surfaces at necropsy of two patients contained megakaryocytes similar to those in the corresponding effusions. The clinical course of our patients confirmed that the presence of megakaryocytes in serous fluids signifies an advanced haematopoietic malignancy.     

Incidence of major chromosomal abnormalities in a referred population for suspected chromosomal aberrations: a report of 357 cases

The present report describes the cytogenetic findings in 357 cases referred for suspected chromosomal abnormalities because of abnormal clinical features. Chromosomal anomalies were found in 97 (27.2 %) of the cases studied. A significantly high rate of chromosomal abnormalities was found in a population with clinical abnormalities in comparison to an unselected population (0.48–0.55 %).     

Heart-focused anxiety,illness beliefs,and behavioral impairment: Comparing healthy heart-anxious patients with cardiac and surgical inpatients

Psychological features and complaints of persons presenting to medical settings with heart-focused anxiety and noncardiac chest pain are poorly understood. Comparing 20 healthy heart-anxious patients to cardiac and surgical inpatients and nonpatient controls, we found that healthy heart-anxious patients (a) were as afraid of chest pain and heart palpitations as inpatients with heart disease, (b) were as incapacitated by symptoms and using medical services as much as both inpatient groups; and (c) reported higher levels of cardiac disease conviction, heart awareness, and behaviors designed to protect their heart than surgical patients and nonpatients. Compared to all other groups, healthy heart-anxious patients reported more panic and other anxiety disorders, hypochondriacal beliefs, physical symptoms, obsessive-compulsive concerns, and negative affect. Following a hyperventilation test, heart-anxious patients also indicated more distressing symptoms and thoughts, and felt less safe and in control than surgical patients and nonpatients. Results support efforts for a timely recognition, diagnosis, and behavioral treatment of persons with heart-focused anxiety.     

Growing problem of methicillin resistant staphylococci--Indian scenario

In the present study MRSA prevalence increased from 12% in 1992 to 80.83% in 1999. Indian literature shows that MRSA incidence was as low as 6.9% in 1988 and reached to 24% and 32.6% in Vellore and Lucknow in 1994 and was of the same order in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore in 1996 and in Rohtak and Mangalore in 1999. However, in some of the centres it was as high as 87%. All the MRSA isolates in India including in the present study were sensitive to vancomycin and resistance to netilmycin appears to be low among MRSA isolates in India. All the MRSA isolates were also found to be sensitive to teicoplanin in the present study. Like in other Indian studies, resistance to cotrimoxazole, erythromycin, gentamicin, other penicillins and cephalosporins appeared to be a common feature for MRSA isolates in the present study.