Hydroxy-urea bearing albumin microspheres--preparation, characterization and evaluation

Hydroxy-urea bearing albumin microspheres were prepared using the polymer dispersion method. Glycerol was used successfully in place of water as an internal phase of w/o emulsion, to prepare HSA based albumin microspheres. Silicone coated magnetite of nanometeric size was incorporated in the drug bearing microspheres. The process variables which could affect the physical characteristics with respect to in vitro and in vivo performance of the prepared microspheres were studied. The in vitro release of the drug from the microspheres followed a linear relationship when commulative per cent drug release was plotted against square root of time. Microspheres of average size 1-4 microns were studied for in vivo distribution and localization. It was established that 67 per cent of the drug enveloped in magnetic albumin microspheres could be localized in a rat tail target segment, on applying an external magnetic field of strength 8000 Oe. A remarkable stabilization of hydroxy urea in the prepared microspheres was recorded when t10% drug degradation was compared with the albumin microspheres prepared by a conventional emulsion polymerization method using water as an internal phase.     

Behavioral training for mothers of mentally handicapped children: teaching of self-help skills.

Deficits in self help skills are an inevitable problem with the mentally handicapped. The acquisition of self-help skills, learned effortlessly by more intelligent children, is a crucial aspect of the overall development of the mentally handicapped child. In the present study, thirty seven mothers of mentally handicapped children aged between 3 1/2 and 8 years, with an IQ of less than 70, were trained in behavioral techniques such as shaping, task analysis, prompting, and modelling, to develop independent self-help functioning in their children. The self-help areas were toileting, feeding, bathing, washing, and dressing. Thirty two per cent of mothers reported complete skill learning. The problems encountered in the course of training and the subsequent evaluation of its efficacy are discussed.     

Structural analysis of a 64-kDa major structural protein of human cytomegalovirus (Towne): identification of a phosphorylation site and comparison to pp65 of HCMV (AD169)

The major 64-kDa structural protein of human cytomegalovirus (pp64) was isolated from a guanidinium chloride extract of the virions and dense bodies of HCMV (Towne) by reverse-phase HPLC. Purified pp64 was reduced and alkylated followed by digestion with trypsin. The molecular mass of each of the tryptic peptides was determined by fast atom bombardment/mass spectrometry and compared with the predicted molecular mass of the fragments deduced from the corresponding DNA-derived peptide sequence of pp65 from HCMV (AD169). Microsequence analysis was employed to confirm selected peptides. Results of protein sequence analysis of pp64 from HCMV (Towne) are in complete agreement with the DNA-derived protein sequence of pp65 predicted for HCMV (AD169) with the following exceptions and modifications. The protein isolated from HCMV (Towne) was found to contain an Ala at position 448 instead of Ser448 reported for the protein from HCMV (AD169). We also identified Ser472 as a site of phosphorylation in pp64 from HCMV (Towne). Finally, on the basis of the sequence of HCMV (AD169) DNA fragment encoding the matrix protein and on S1 nuclease protection analysis, it has been predicted that one version of the matrix protein (possibly the lower matrix protein, Mr 65K) is encoded by an mRNA that is formed through splicing of a short intron. However, we have obtained peptides that contain sequences spanning through the splice-junction region, suggesting that in HCMV (Towne), the matrix protein is encoded by an unspliced message.     

Incidence of abnormal haemoglobins and G-6-PD deficiency in school children of Udaipur (Rajasthan), India

Blood samples from 1198 school children (both sexes) of eight endomagous castes of Udaipur (Rajasthan) were investigated for the evidence of abnormal haemoglobins and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency. Abnormal haemoglobins were encountered in 10 children (0.83%); seven Hb-S and three Hb-D. G-6PD deficiency was found in 55 children (4.59%).