Evaluation of anti-oxidant activities and total phenolic content of Chromolaena odorata

The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro potential of chloroform extract of Chromolaena odorata leaves. The DPPH activity of the extract (0.1–5 mg/ml) was increased in a dose dependent manner, which was found in the range of 23.48–91.61% as compared to ascorbic acid (33.69–94.10%). The IC50 values of chloroform extract in DPPH radical, hydroxyl radical, nitric oxide, ABTS radical were obtained to be 0.31, 0.43, 0.28 and 1.32 mg/ml, respectively. However, the IC50 values for the standard ascorbic acid were noted to be 0.24, 0.41, 0.23 and 1 mg/ml, respectively. Measurement of total phenolic content of the chloroform extract of C. odorata was achieved using Folin–Ciocalteau reagent containing 242.2 mg/g of phenolic content, which was found significantly higher when compared to reference standard gallic acid. The results obtained in this study clearly indicate that C. odorata has a significant potential to use as a natural anti-oxidant agent.     

Effects of chronic imipramine and haloperidol treatment on apomorphine-induced motility in rats

Locomotor behavior was studied with the use of automated devices in chronic imipramine- and haloperidol-treated Sprague Dawley rats. The biphasic response to apomorphine was only preserved in the control rats. The response to low dose apomorphine challenge was attenuated by chronic imipramine and haloperidol administration. There were no significant changes in motility responses to high dose apomorphine challenges between the control and experimental groups. The results suggest the involvement of postsynaptic Dopamine receptors (D2) in the loss of response to low dose apomorphine.     

Attenuation of morphine withdrawal syndrome by macromolecular synthesis inhibitors in rats

Attenuation of the morphine withdrawal syndrome by the combination treatment of morphine and protein/nucleic acid synthesis inhibitors was investigated in rats. Groups of rats were treated twice daily with gradually increasing doses of morphine (4–28 mg/kg) in combination with a protein/nucleic acid synthesis inhibitor (actinomycin D, chloramphenicol, cycloheximide, cytarabine, or tetracycline) for 14 days. Withdrawal was precipitated by naloxone on day 15 and the withdrawal manifestations were scored on a weighted basis for mild, moderate, and severe signs. The mild withdrawal signs were significantly decreased by cytarabine and tetracyline whereas the other combination-treated groups were only slightly decreased. The moderate and serve withdrawal signs for all combination-treated groups were significantly suppressed compared to the morphine-treated group. Therefore, attenuation of the morphine withdrawal syndrome by these protein/nucleic acid synthesis inhibitors supports an involvement of macromolecules in the development of physical dependence.     

Metabolism of some drugs by intestinal lactobacilli and their toxicological considerations

The bacterial metabolism of three drugs (sulphasalazine, phthalylsulphathiazole and chloramphenicol palmitate) and two dyes (tartrazine and methyl red) has been studied using a resting culture technique. The strains used were isolated intestinal lactobacilli, E. coli and mixed cultures of faeces of mice. As high as 94.3% degradation of sulphasalazine was found with a strain of Lactobacillus acidophilus. The highest degradation of phthalylsulphathiazole and chloramphenicol palmitate was found to be 17.6% and 8%, respectively. A kinetic study was conducted on the rate of degradation of sulphasalazine, phthalylsulphathiazole and methyl red. The toxicological aspects of degradation products in relation to the use of lactobacilli as dietary supplement or therapeutic aid are discussed.     

Extracardiac rhabdomyoma: a report of two cases

Two case reports of extracardiac rhabdomyoma (adult type) are presented. The rare occurrence of extracardiac rhabdomyoma and its relatively benign nature makes a histological diagnosis very necessary, though often difficult to make. In both cases reported here, a diagnosis of extracardiac rhabdomyoma was given and treatment with local excision yielded good results. The importance of a histological diagnosis and treatment by only a local excision is stressed.     

Secretin-receptor and secretin-receptor-variant expression in gastrinomas: correlation with clinical and tumoral features and secretin and calcium provocative test results

CONTEXT/OBJECTIVES: The diagnosis of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome requires secretin testing in 60% of patients. Even with secretin, the diagnosis may be difficult because variable responses occur, and 6-30% have negative testing. The basis for variability or negative responses is unclear. It is unknown whether the tumor density of secretin receptors or the presence of a secretin-receptor-variant, which can act as a dominant negative, is important. The aim of this study was to investigate these possibilities. PATIENTS/METHODS: Secretin-receptor and variant mRNA expression was determined in gastrinomas using real-time PCR from 54 Zollinger-Ellison syndrome patients. Results were correlated with Western blotting, secretin-receptor immunohistochemistry, with gastrin-provocative test results and tumoral/clinical/laboratory features. RESULTS: Secretin-receptor mRNA was detectible in all gastrinomas but varied 132-fold with a mean of 0.89 +/- 0.12 molecules per beta-actin. Secretin-receptor PCR results correlated closely with Western blotting (r = 0.95; P < 0.0001) and receptor immunohistochemistry (P = 0.0015; r = 0.71). The variant was detected in all gastrinomas, but levels varied 102-fold and were 72-fold lower than the total. Secretin-receptor levels correlated with variant levels, Deltasecretin, but not Deltacalcium and with tumor location, but not growth, extent, or clinical responses. Variant levels did not correlate with the Deltasecretin. Detailed analysis provides no evidence that variant expression modified the secretin-receptor response or accounted for negative tests. CONCLUSIONS: Secretin-receptor and secretin-receptor-variant expressions occur in all gastrinomas. Because the expression of the total, but not variant, correlated with the secretin results and no evidence for dominant negative activity of the variant was found, our results suggest that the total secretin-receptor density is an important determinant of the secretin test response.