Effect of "HAART" on CD4+ T lymphocyte counts in HIV seropositive south-Indian individuals--a follow up study

Because of the drastic cut down in the prices of antiretroviral drugs, the antiretroviral therapy has become more affordable in India. 16 HIV-1 infected individuals who were on HAART were followed up for 12 months. The CD4 + T Cell count estimation was done at mean intervals of 6 months and 12 months. Antiretroviral therapy showed good response in 14(87.5%) and deterioration in 2 (12.5%) cases.     

Concordant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney in a set of identical twins with discordant outcomes

We report identical twin boys who each had stage IV rhabdoid tumor of the left kidney at the age of 5 months and 2 years, respectively. The 5-month-old boy, despite receiving chemotherapy, died of progressive disease at the age of 12 months. Following resection of the tumor, his twin brother was treated with 6 cycles of combination chemotherapy consisting of cisplatinum, doxorubicin, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and actinomycin-D alternating with ifosfamide and etoposide. After complete regression of lung and brain metastases, he received high-dose thiotepa, etoposide, and cyclophosphamide, followed by autologous peripheral stem cell rescue. The patient is presently alive and free of disease 6 years posttransplant. High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant may be an effective front-line therapeutic approach for patients with metastatic rhabdoid tumor of the kidney.     

In vivo evaluation of guar gum-based colon-targeted drug delivery systems of ornidazole in healthy human volunteers

The aim of the present study was to find the in vivo performance of guar gum-based colon-targeted tablets of ornidazole (dose 250 mg) in comparison with an immediate release tablet of ornidazole (250 mg) in human volunteers. Six healthy volunteers participated in the study, and a cross over design was followed. The plasma concentration of ornidazole was estimated by HPLC. The immediate release tablets of ornidazole produced peak plasma concentration (Cmax of 2171.33+/-278.15 ng/ml) at 2.91+/-0.14 h (Tmax) whereas colon-targeted tablets produced peak plasma concentration (Cmax of 1716.66+/-125.83 ng/ml) at 11.91+/-0.14 h. The delayed Tmax, decreased Cmax, and decreased ka of ornidazole from guar gum-based colon-targeted ornidazole tablets, in comparison with the immediate tablets, indicated that the drug was not released in stomach and small intestine, but targeted to colon. Slow absorption of ornidazole from the less absorptive colon might result in the availability of drug for local action in the colon.     

Differences in dengue severity in infants, children, and adults in a 3-year hospital-based study in Nicaragua

To investigate age-related differences in dengue severity, 114 infants, 1,211 children, and 346 adults with laboratory-confirmed dengue virus (DEN) infections presenting to three hospitals in major urban centers in Nicaragua were recruited from 1999 to 2001. The age distribution of dengue cases and the circulating serotype (predominantly DEN2) were representative of national data. Similar results were obtained when either dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome or its principal manifestations (vascular permeability, internal hemorrhage, marked thrombocytopenia, and/or shock) were analyzed in relation to age and immune status. The burden of disease and of severe dengue was found predominantly in infants 4-9 months of age and in children 5-9 years old, and secondary DEN infection was a risk factor for severity in children. Age-related differences were identified in the prevalence of specific clinical manifestations as well as in their association with a confirmed DEN diagnosis. This represents one of the few comprehensive studies to analyze characteristics of dengue in infants, children, and adults in the same population and highlights age-related differences in dengue severity.     

Information processing deficits in acutely psychotic schizophrenia patients medicated and unmedicated at the time of admission

OBJECTIVE: In patients with schizophrenia, information processing deficits, such as those reported in studies that measured prepulse inhibition of the human startle response and habituation of startle magnitude, may be improved with atypical antipsychotic treatment. However, it remains unclear whether antipsychotic medication is directly responsible for the improvement or whether differences in prepulse inhibition reflect other factors, such as acuity status. The present study investigated the effects of antipsychotics on prepulse inhibition and startle habituation in acutely hospitalized patients with schizophrenia. METHOD: Forty-one acutely psychotic schizophrenia patients (21 who were unmedicated at the time of admission and 20 who had been receiving antipsychotic treatment) were tested within 72 hours of hospital admission. Thirteen healthy subjects were also studied for comparative purposes. Primary dependent measures were startle responsivity, reactivity, prepulse inhibition, and startle habituation. RESULTS: Schizophrenia patients, whether medicated or unmedicated at admission, showed prepulse inhibition deficits compared with healthy subjects and did not statistically differ from each other in startle magnitude, prepulse inhibition, or habituation. There was a higher number of startle "nonresponders" among those who had been receiving medication versus those unmedicated at the time of admission. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest that antipsychotic effects on prepulse inhibition may not be evident at a time when schizophrenia patients are acutely symptomatic. These results suggest that the neurobiological substrate underlying prepulse inhibition deficits may be dysregulated during acute psychotic states while the patients are in early phases of medication treatment.     

Prevalence of behavioral problems in school going children

The study was conducted on 957 school children using Rutter B scale which was to be completed by the class teachers in Ludhiana, India. One hundred and forty-one children (14.6%) scored more than 9 points and were included in the second part of the study. An equal number of sex matched children scoring less than 9 points served as controls. Both these groups were called for an interview with a child psychiatrist along with their parents. Only 117 and 124 children turned up and were included in the analysis. Based on the screening instrument results and parental interview, 45.6% of the children were estimated to have behavioural problems, of which 36.5% had significant problems. It was noticed that neither the screening instrument nor the interview was able to detect all the problems. Scholastic under-achievement was found to be associated with maximum problems. Scholastic under-achievement can be a useful starting point of identifying children with behavioural problems. Close cooperation between school teachers, parents, and health care providers is essential to ensure healthy development of children.     

Postnatal changes in the brain lipids, glycolipids and gangliosides of rats exposed to arrack/ethanol during gestation and lactation

Effects of exposure of an alcoholic beverage (arrack and its equivalent quantity of alcohol throughout pregnancy and lactation on brain lipids were investigated. Female rats were exposed to arrack (12.00 ml/kg body weigh/day) and ethanol (4.00 g/kg body weight day) before conception and throughout gestation and lactation. For 21 days pups were nursed by their own mothers, afterwards they were fed normal laboratory feed. We found that the level of cholesterol, phospholipids, triacylglycerols, free fatty acids, cerebrosides, ceramide dihexosides, ceramide polyhexosides, sulfatids,, mono and diglycosyl diglycerides and gangliosides were increased in the brain of 21st and 45th day pups. The alterations in the glycolipid profile of the brain persisted even when pups were not directly exposed to alcohol. These alterations in the glycolipid and ganglioside metabolism may be associated with the developmental abnormalities of the brain seen in FAS. The elevation produced in the glycolipid profile of arrack administered pups were more than that caused by its equivalent quantity of ethanol. This suggested an interaction of congeners in the arrack with the alcohol.     

Effects of neutral detergent fiber from blackgram (Phaseolus mungo) in rats and rabbits

The hypocholesterolemic action of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) from blackgram (Phaseolus mungo) in rats may be due to hemicellulose, since removal of hemicellulose resulted in the loss of cholesterol-lowering action. Blackgram NDF showed different binding affinities for different bile acids, with maximum binding observed with chenodeoxycholic acid, and minimum binding with deoxycholic acid. Fecal excretion of inorganic cations (Mn++, Mg++, Cu++, Fe , Zn++, Na+ and K+) was greater in rats fed blackgram NDF than in rats fed a fiber-free diet. Absorption of glucose and cholesterol was lower in rabbits fed blackgram NDF than in rabbits fed a fiber-free diet. In vitro studies revealed significant binding of inorganic cations and bile acids by blackgram NDF. Cholic acid may be adsorbed on the surface of blackgram NDF.