A study of placenta in relation to birth weight and gestational age

Summary A study on 469 placentae was undertaken. The mean weight of the placenta was found to be higher for males as compared to females. The placental weight increased with the increase in birth weight and gestational age. The macroscopic placental abnormalities were detected only in 21 (4.4%) cases and included infarction, retroplacental haematomas, calcification, yellow stained placentae, friable and degenerated placentae and battle-dore placentae. No correlation between the birth weight and macroscopic abnormalities of the placentae was detected in either of the gestational groups. From the Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Medical Sciences, Varanasi-5.     

The isolation from human parotid saliva and partial characterization of the protein core of a major parotid glycoprotein

A protein was isolated from stimulated human parotid saliva which appears to be the core protein of a major parotid glycoprotein. This molecule was isolated by sequential chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, Sephadex G-200, and Sephadex G-25 from the parotid saliva of a single individual. The core protein had an amino acid composition similar to that of the protein moiety of the parotid glycoprotein and cross reacted immunologically with this glycoprotein. Immunoelectrophoretic analyses of both stimulated and unstimulated parotid saliva revealed that the core protein was not detectable in the unstimulated secretion. These data indicated that gustatory stimulation resulted in the secretion of incompletely synthesized molecules.     

New method of quantifying ligand binding based on measurement of an induced response.

A new general method is proposed for quantifying ligand-receptor interactions using the biological response induced by the ligand as an index of ligand binding. With this method the binding of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), several hCG derivatives, and luteinizing hormone (LH) to rat Leydig cells was measured by analysis of the ability of these materials to stimulate testosterone formation. As applied here, hormone dose-response curves were generated in the presence of increasing numbers of cells incubated in vitro in a successful attempt to alter the concentrations of bound and free hormone in the incubation mixture. Measurements of testosterone synthesis as a function of the total amounts of hormone and numbers of cells enabled us to evaluate the concentrations of both bound and free hormone at any constant fractional response (i.e. quarter-, half-, or three-quarter-maximal). We were thus able to measure hormone binding at the extremely low hormone concentrations (1 pM) within the steroidogenic dose-response range under conditions that would not have been possible using currently available radioiodinated hCG preparations. The results obrained confirmed the presence of spare functional receptors. Specific quantitative results are discussed in the text.     

Clinical Evaluation of an Indigenous Paclitaxel-Eluting Stent in De NovoCoronary Artery Stenosis

BACKGROUND, Drug-eluting stents have enabled considerable reduction in restenosis in patients subjected to angioplasty. However, in view of high cost of drug-eluting stents, efforts to develop medicated stents at reduced cost using alternative polymers in Indian setting are imperative. Hence a multi-center study was undertaken to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the indigenously developed paclitaxel-eluting RELEASE-T stent. METHODS, The study included 100 patients (male:86, Female:14) who were undergoing angioplasty for various indications at four centres viz. Delhi, Hyderabad, Pune and Warangal. The age range was 29 - 76 years; 37 patients were diabetic. All patients were pre-treated with aspirin 150-325 mg plus clopidogrel 75 mg daily four days before procedure or clopidogrel alone. Aspirin was continued indefinitely. RESULTS, Direct stenting ws done in majority of patients. One patient, in whom stent could not be delivered, received only baloon angioplasty. Sixty-four patients had stenting of left anterior descending artery. The stent diameter ranged from 2.5 to 3.5 mm, and the length, 15 to 20 mm. All patients were followed up at 1,3 and 6 months. There was two deaths: one had subacute thrombosis on both stents, and the other (who was HIV positive) had sudden cardiac death. The 6-month rate of major adverse cardiac events was 4% and target lesion revascularization rate ws 2%. CONCLUSION, This ulti-locational study brings out that the use of indigenously developed paclitaxel-eluting stent is safe and clinically efficacious.