Brain-pituitary-adrenal interrelationship in closed loop intestinal obstruction in man. Effects of stepwise removal of brain, midbrain section and frontal leucotomy in dogs after the same type of stress

Volvulus shows high plasma 17-OHCS level and after operation there is a progressive fall. Brain-pituitary-adrenal interrelationship has been studied in experimental dogs using a different type of stressor i.e. closed loop intestinal obstruction. Midbrain section blocks the adrenocortical response. Frontal leucotomy leads to increased response after acute distension of the closed loop. Acute hypothalamectomy does not lead to blocking of the adrenocortical response to stress.     

Isolation of a multi-enzyme complex of fatty acid oxidation from Escherichia coli.

A multi-enzyme complex of fatty acid oxidation has been isolated from E. coli B cells and has been purified to near homogeneity by a simple two-step procedure. The complex exhibits thiolase (EC 2.3.1.9), enoyl-CoA hydratase (EC 4.2.1.17), and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.35) activities towards short-, medium-, and long-chain substrates. The complex has been estimated to have a molecular weight of approximately 300,000 and is apparently composed of two types of subunits with molecular weights of 78,000 and 42,000.     

Transcutaneous gamma benzene hexachloride absorption and toxicity in infants and children.

A premature, malnourished infant had seizures and abnormal neurological function associated with topical gamma benzene hexachloride (lindane) therapy. The level of gamma benzene hexachloride in his blood was 17 times greater than expected after a single topical application of 1% gamma benzene hexachloride. Significant levels developed in another child's blood after repeated applications of small amounts to areas of dermatitis and excoriations on the skin. The use of topical gamma benzene hexachloride in pediatric patients is reviewed because of increased evidence of unpredictable absorption and toxicity.     

Persistence of Acetamiprid in/on Mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

No abstract available.     

Are Childhood and Adult Medulloblastomas Different? A Comparative Study of Clinicopathological Features,Proliferation Index and Apoptotic Index

Childhood medulloblastomas have been suspected to be biologically different from adult tumors, though comparative studies are sparse in the literature. The present study aims to establish any differences or nexus in the biological characteristics between childhood and adult medulloblastomas. A total of 181 medulloblastomas were studied with respect to clinical and histological characteristics, MIB-1 labeling index (MIB-1 LI), apoptotic index (AI), ratio of apoptotic to LI, p53 and Bcl-2 protein expressions. Two-thirds (112) of the 181 medulloblastomas occurred in children (15 years) and 69 in adults (>15 years). Childhood tumors were more commonly of classical histology and midline location while the desmoplastic variant and lateral location occurred more frequently in adults. Adult medulloblastomas were biologically less aggressive, having lower growth rate parameters (mean MIB-1 LI 19.1 ± 15.7; AI 3.73 ± 2.71 and AI:LI 0.207 ± 0.162) as compared to childhood tumors (mean MIB-1 LI 28.3 ± 20.4; AI 2.86 ± 2.14 and AI:LI 0.108 ± 0.111). p53 and Bcl-2 protein expressions were infrequent in all groups of tumors. No difference was noted in any of the parameters when classical and desmoplastic medulloblastomas were compared as a whole. But when compared between the age groups, an interesting observation (hitherto unreported in English literature) was that both classical and desmoplastic variants of childhood medulloblastomas had higher LI, lower AI and lower AI:LI ratio than their counterparts in adults, indicating that differences in growth rates cannot be attributed to differences in the frequency of occurrence of the histological variants in the two age groups. Thus, this study conclusively shows that there is a biological difference between childhood and adult medulloblastomas which is independent of standard histology and appeared to be associated more with age-related factors. This also warrants less-aggressive therapy for adult medulloblastoma.     

Isolation and characterization of novel oligosaccharides related to Ziracin

Five novel oligosaccharide antibiotics, Sch 58769 (1), Sch 58771 (2), Sch 58773 (3), Sch 58775 (4), and Sch 58777 (5), were isolated from the fermentation broth of Micromonospora carbonacea var africana. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, including MS and (1)H and (13)C NMR experiments. A comparison of the obtained data with that for Ziracin (Sch 27899) revealed that these oligosaccharides belong to the same everninomicin family of compounds. Ziracin demonstrates potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria both in vitro and in vivo including multiply resistant strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci faecalis.     

Evaluation of antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of hydromethanol extract of Cocos nucifera L.

Cocos nucifera L. (family: arecaceae) is generally straight unbranched plant, traditionally cultivated for its fruit (coconut) in home gardens. In the present study, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive (analgesic) activity of hydromethanol extract of Cocos nucifera L. (HECN) was evaluated in animal models. HECN showed significant (p < 0.05) and dosedependent anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan induced paw oedema models of inflammation and the result was comparable with the standard drug diclofenac. In addition, the extract also showed highly significant (p < 0.01) antinociceptive activity. HECN treated group showed increase in the reaction time in hot plate method and decrease the writhing induced by acetic acid in mice when compared with control group animal. The anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity observed in the present study could be attributed largely to the presence of its antioxidant phytoconstituents such as flavonoid, saponin and polyphenols.     

Differential distribution of intravenous curcumin formulations in the rat brain

BACKGROUND: The neuropathic side-effects of trauma, stroke or therapeutic radiation of the brain for life-threatening neoplastic diseases are the result of damage to normal tissues resulting in defects in cognition and memory. Based upon published preclinical data of curcumin activity application of parenteral curcumin formulations may prove to be to be promising chemotherapy for disorders following neuropathic insults. Studies in in vitro and animal models suggest curcumin may be an effective remediative agent for brain damage. The initial steps in curcumin development for clinical applications to neuropathic disorders are formulating it for intravenous administration, determining the formulated product passes the blood-brain barrier and reaches therapeutic amounts in damaged areas in the brain with tolerable safety. Following intravenous administration of liposomal curcumin, polymeric nanocurcumin and polylactic glycolic acid co-polymer (PLGA)-curcumin in rats, these formulations were observed to cross the blood-brain barrier using a sensitive HPLC assay. All three formulations localized in specific sites in the brain without observable adverse events. One hour following intravenous injection of 5 mg/kg nanocurcumin, or 20 mg/kg PLGA-curcumin, or liposomal curcumin, up to 0.5% of the injected material localized in the brain stem, the striatum, and the hippocampus with varied accumulation and clearance rates. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that curcumin does localize in putative damaged brain tissues and suggest therapeutic trials be explored with all three formulations in animal models with pre- and post traumatic states.