NADPH diaphorase activity in the posterior pituitary: relation to neuronal function

Magnocellular neurons of the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei, fibers of the medial basal hypothalamus, and the posterior pituitary gland all stain histochemically for NADPH diaphorase activity (NADPHd). Following 8 days of salt loading to stimulate the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system, NADPHd activity, as determined by a spectrophotometric assay, is markedly increased in the posterior pituitary gland but not in the hypothalamus of rats. Therefore, NADPHd activity in this system correlates with neuronal function and may provide a convenient method for the assessment of neuronal activity in selected neuronal populations.     

Podophyllum hexandrum Offers Radioprotection by Modulating Free Radical Flux: Role of Aryl-Tetralin Lignans

We have evaluated the effect of variation in aryl-tetralin lignans on the radioprotective properties of Podophyllum hexandrum. Two fractionated fractions of P. hexandrum [methanolic (S1) and chloroform fractions (S2)], with varying aryl-tetralin lignan content were utilized for the present study. The peroxyl ion scavenging potentials of S1 and S2 were found to be comparable [i.e. 45.88% (S1) and 41% (S2)] after a 48 h interval in a time-dependent study, whereas in a 2 h study, S2 exhibited significant (P < 0.05) antioxidant activity in different metal ion + flux states. In the aqueous phase, S2 exhibited non-site-specific reactive oxygen species scavenging activity, i.e. 73.12% inhibition at 500 mug ml(-1). S1 exhibited 58.40 +/- 0.8% inhibition (at 0.025 mug ml(-1)) of the formation of reactive nitrite radicals, comparable to S2 (52.45 +/- 0.825%), and also showed 45.01% site-specific activity (1000 mug ml(-1)), along with significant (P < 0.05) electron donation potential (50-2000 mug ml(-1)) compared to S2. Such activities of S1 could be attributed to the significantly (P < 0.05) higher levels of podophyllotoxin beta-d-glucopyranoside (16.5 times) and demethyl podophyllotoxin glucoside (2.9 times) compared with S2. Together, these findings clearly prove that aryl-tetralin lignan content influences the radiation protective potential of the Podophyllum fractions to a great extent.     

儿童颌骨骨髓炎的多层CT表现

目的探讨多层CT(MSCT)在诊断儿童颌骨骨髓炎中的价值。方法 10例儿童颌骨骨髓炎病例术前均实施MSCT扫描,对MSCT数据进行图像后处理,分析其MSCT征象。结果 10例患儿中男4例、女6例。病变均发生于下颌骨的下颌角、下颌支。MSCT影像学征象包括:10例中9例出现骨质破坏;均可见较广泛的骨质增生硬化;全部病例可见与颌骨平行的骨膜新生骨;2例追踪复查,病变颌骨可重新塑形;10例中8例合并了周围的蜂窝组织炎。结论 MSCT可在术前正确诊断儿童颌骨骨髓炎,对于选择合适的临床治疗方式至关重要。     

Sensitivity of protein and RNA synthesis to antiamoebic drugs in axenic Entamoeba histolytica (NIH-200)

The action of antiamoebic drugs on the incorporation of (14C) 1-DL-valine and (14C)-8 adenine in TCA insoluble fraction of axenic Entamoeba histolytica was investigated. Adenine showed greater sensitivity to all the drugs tested viz. camoquin, chloroquine, diodoquin, metronidazole, entobex and diloxanide furoate except enterovioform.     

The benign hypermobile joint syndrome

Benign hypermobility as defined by a modification of the Carter-Wilkinson criteria was found in 31 of 637 healthy blood donors, a prevalence of 5%. No increased prevalence of arthritis/arthralgia or characteristics suggestive of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome other than a possible familial predisposition were found when these 31 hypermobile subjects were compared to an age and sex matched two-for-one control group. Cardiac evaluation by auscultation, electrocardiogram, and echocardiogram showed no increased occurrence of mitral valve prolapse in hypermobile subjects. Thus the benign hypermobile joint syndrome appears to be one extreme of the range of normal joint motion and not a systemic connective tissue disorder.