Effect of exercise during the follicular and luteal phases on indices of oxidative stress in healthy women

PURPOSE: Eleven healthy nonsmoking women (24+/-1.1 yr) exercised for 30 min at 75-80% VO2max during the follicular (F) and luteal (L) phases of their menstrual cycle to determine whether menstrual phase influenced indices of oxidative stress. METHODS: Subjects completed the exercise in a randomized order. Subjects reported between 0800 and 0900 in a postabsorptive state, rested for 15-30 min, and had a venous blood sample obtained by Vacutainer before and after exercise. RESULTS: Resting estradiol was 54.4+/-12.0 pg.mL(-1) for F phase and was significantly higher in L phase (147.2+/-25.5 pg.mL(-1)). Plasma malondialdehyde and thiobarbituric acid substances were no different before and after exercise independent of menstrual cycle phase. No differences in resting blood total glutathione (TGSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and reduced glutathione (GSH) were evident comparing the F and L phases. After exercise, TGSH decreased (P = 0.03) but reached significance only in the F phase = 8.1 %(P = 0.04), L phase = 2.5% (P = 0. 15). Exercise increased GSSG 10.5% in F (P = 0.15) and 27.8% in L phases(P = 0.01). GSH decreased after exercise independent of menstrual phase (F = 17%, L = 16%, P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that 30 min of moderate-intensity exercise in female subjects can result in mild oxidative stress as indicated by blood glutathione status and that menstrual cycle phase has minimal influences on these exercise responses.     

Intraventricular tuberculous abscess: a case report

Ventricles can be involved in different ways in neurotuberculosis, however, the occurrence of intraventricular abscess has been rarely reported. We report a young woman who had intraventricular tubercular abscess. Cranial computed tomographic scan showed hypodense ring enhancing lesion in the right lateral ventricle with unilateral hydrocephalus. She underwent parasagittal craniotomy with total excision of the lesion. The pus obtained from the lesion was teeming with acid fast bacilli.     

Reticulocytopenia and "absence" of red cell autoantibodies in immune haemolytic anaemia

A raised reticulocyte count is common in patients with immune or autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, and the result of the direct antiglobulin test (DAGT) is usually positive because of IgG or IgG and complement components on the red cells. We report on three patients who had low reticulocyte counts when they were most anaemic, and in whom no red cell autoantibodies could be detected by the DAGT. We postulate that reticulocytes may be selectively destroyed if antibodies are directed against antigenic sites on these young red cells, thus giving rise to a population of cells whose antigenic sites are poorly expressed. This theory might explain the low reticulocyte counts and the "absence" of antibodies (as tested by the DAGT) in such patients. Radioisotopic studies with 51Cr and 59Fe may provide useful information on the rate and sites of red cell destruction.     

PROP test: prediction of caries risk by genetic taste perception among the visually impaired children

The study sample consisted of 100 children with visual impairment aged 6–14 years. 6‐n‐propylthiouracil (PROP) sensitivity test was carried out. The Caries experience was recorded, estimation of Streptococcus mutans done and their taste likes and dislikes assessed through a food preference questionnaire. The Caries experience and S. mutans levels were highest in the non‐tasters, comparatively low in medium tasters and the least in the supertasters. Dietary preferences indicated tasters were sweet dislikers and non‐tasters, sweet likers. PROP test can be a useful tool in determining genetic taste sensitivity levels amongst the visually impaired children and thus used as a screening tool in those children who are at a high risk of developing dental caries.     

The Impact of Hot Melt Extrusion and Spray Drying on Mechanical Properties and Tableting Indices of Materials Used in Pharmaceutical Development

The impact of melt extrusion (HME) and spray drying (SD) on mechanical properties of hypromellose acetate succinate (HPMCAS), copovidone, and their formulated blends was studied and compared with that of reference excipients. Tensile strength (TS), compression pressure (CP), elastic modulus (E), and dynamic hardness (H_d) were determined along with Hiestand indices using compacts prepared at a solid fraction of ～0.85. HPMCAS and copovidone exhibited lower H_d, lower CP, and lower E than the reference excipients and moderate TS. HPMCAS was found to be highly brittle based on brittle fracture index values. The CP was 24% and 61% higher for HPMCAS after SD and HME, respectively, than for unprocessed material along with a higher H_d. Furthermore, the TS of HPMCAS and copovidone decreased upon HME. Upon blending melt-extruded HPMCAS with plastic materials such as microcrystalline cellulose, the TS increased. These results suggest that SD and HME could impact reworkability by reducing deformation of materials and in case of HME, likely by increasing density due to heating and shear stress in a screw extruder. A somewhat similar effect was observed for the dynamic binding index (BI_d) of the excipients and formulated blends. Such data can be used to quantitate the impact of processing on mechanical properties of materials during tablet formulation development.