Role of Glutathione monoester on age-related neurochemical alterations in rat brain

It is quite apparent that the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases in both men and women increases in a logarithmic fashion with age and begins to rise much more rapidly after the age of 60. Brain aging is accompanied by structural and functional changes at cellular and tissue levels such as increase in free radical generation, lowered antioxidant defenses, decrease in number of neurons, decrease in the activities of enzymes, (g) decrease in impulse transmission. The present study was aimed to assess the neuromodulatory role of Glutathione monoester (GME) when administered intraperitoneally (12 mg/kg body weight) for 20 days on acetylcholine esterase (AchE) activity, levels of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine and rotorod behavioral analysis in discrete brain regions of young and aged male albino Wistar rats. Age-related decrease (p < 0.05) in acetylcholine esterase activity, neurotransmitter levels and also decrease in sensorimotor performance was observed. GME administration was effective in restoring these neuronal parameters in aged rat brain regions. Thus GME act as a neuromodulator in discrete brain regions of aged rats.     

Nocturia, nocturia indices and variables from frequency-volume charts are significantly different in Asian and Caucasian men with lower urinary tract symptoms: a prospective comparison study

OBJECTIVE: To describe and compare the patterns of nocturia in Asian and Caucasian men presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), and to identify associations or correlations between LUTS and variables from a frequency-volume chart (FVC), as nocturia is common among men with LUTS, and analysis of FVCs shows nocturnal polyuria and reduced nocturnal bladder capacity (NBC) as the predominant causes in Western patients, but there are few comparisons with other ethnic groups. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive men aged > or = 40 years, presenting with LUTS and nocturia to an Asian and a Caucasian tertiary centre, were recruited prospectively. The men completed the International Prostate Symptom Score and a 3-day FVC. Men having had bladder outlet surgery and/or receiving anticholinergics were excluded. We computed the nocturia ratio, i.e. the nocturnal urine volume/ 24-h urine volume, nocturia index, predicted nocturnal voids and NBC index (NBCI), and analysed comparisons and correlations. RESULTS: In all, 93 Asian and 200 Caucasian men were recruited prospectively, with a similar age and overall severity of LUTS. The nocturia ratio was larger in the Caucasian men, whereas the NBCI was larger in the Asians (P < 0.001). The prevalence of nocturnal polyuria in men aged > or =60 years (nocturia ratio > or =0.3) was significantly higher in the Caucasian population. Conversely, the prevalence of reduced NBC appeared to be higher in the Asians (based on a NBCI of >2; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The patterns of nocturia and FVC variables differed significantly in age-matched Asian and Caucasian groups. There are also possible ethnic differences in the causes of nocturia, with nocturnal polyuria being more prevalent in Caucasians.     

Morel-Lavallee lesion

Morel-Lavallee lesions, or closed internal degloving injuries, are most common in the subcutaneous tissues of the proximal thigh and trochanter. Bilateral lesions are rare. These post-traumatic fluid collections can be isolated or associated with concomitant pelvic fractures. Morel-Lavallee lesions may present as a pseudotumor when not recognized in the early post-traumatic period. Magnetic resonance imaging is the modality of choice in the evaluation of Morel-Lavallee lesions. The identification of a capsule on MRI can have important management implications.     

A 20-year retrospective review of surgically treated liposarcoma at the Cleveland Clinic

The records of 63 patients surgically treated for liposarcoma at the Cleveland Clinic between 1975 and 1995 were examined. Both metastatic disease (Enneking stage IIl) and an abdominal location were found to be poor prognosticants for survival. Age, gender, or tumor size, setting, or grade did not have any prognostic significance. The 5-year disease-specific survival for extremity tumors was 92% (95% confidence interval [CI]; range: 84%-100%), while general 5-year survival for extremity tumors was 66% (95% Cl; range: 48%-85%).     

Telemetric recording of intrapleural pressure

BACKGROUND: Monitoring of intrapleural pressure (IPP) is used for evaluation of lung function in a number of pathophysiological conditions. We describe a telemetric method of non-invasive monitoring of the IPP in conscious animals intermittently or continuously for a prolonged period of time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After IACUC approval, six mongrel dogs were used for the study. After sedation, each dog was intubated and anesthetized using 0.5% Isoflurane. A telemetric implant model TL11M2-D70-PCT from Data Science International was secured subcutaneously. The pressure sensor tip of the catheter from the implant was inserted into the pleural space, and the catheter was secured with sutures. The IPP signals were recorded at a sampling rate of 100 points/second for 30 to 60 min daily for 4 days. From these recordings, the total mean negative IPP (mmHg), and the total mean negative IPP for a standard time of 30 min were calculated. In addition, the actual inspiratory and expiratory pressures were also measured from stable recording of the IPP waveforms. RESULTS: In six dogs, the total mean +/- SD negative IPP was -10.8 +/- 10.6 mmHg. After normalizing with respect to acquisition time it was -13.2 +/- 11.2 mmHg/min. The actual inspiratory pressure was -19.7 +/- 15.3, and the expiratory pressure was -11.0 +/- 12.9. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that telemetric monitoring of IPP can be performed reliably and non-invasively in conscious experimental animals. The values for IPP in our study are compatible with the results of other investigators who used different methods of IPP measurement. Further work may show this method to be helpful in understanding the pathophysiology of various breathing disorders.     

Chitosan Reduced Gold Nanoparticles as Novel Carriers for Transmucosal Delivery of Insulin

Purpose Colloidal metallic systems have been recently investigated in the area of nanomedicine. Gold nanoparticles have found themselves useful for diagnostic and drug delivery applications. Herein we have reported a novel method for synthesis of gold nanoparticles using a natural, biocompatible and biodegradable polymer; chitosan. Use of chitosan serves dual purpose by acting as a reducing agent in the synthesis of gold nanoparticles and also promotes the penetration and uptake of peptide hormone insulin across the mucosa. To demonstrate the use of chitosan reduced gold nanoparticles as carriers for drug delivery, we report herein the transmucosal delivery of insulin loaded gold nanoparticles. Materials and Methods Gold nanoparticles were prepared using different concentrations of chitosan (from 0.01% w/v up to 1% w/v). The gold nanoparticles were characterized for surface plasmon band, zeta potential, surface morphology, in vitro diffusion studies and fluorescence spectroscopy. The in vivo studies in diabetic male Wistar rats were carried out using insulin loaded chitosan reduced gold nanoparticles. Results Varying concentrations of chitosan used for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles demonstrated that the nanoparticles obtained at higher chitosan concentrations (>0.1% w/v) were stable showing no signs of aggregation. The nanoparticles also showed long term stability in terms of aggregation for about 6 months. Insulin loading of 53% was obtained and found to be stable after loading. Blood glucose lowering at the end of 2 h following administration of insulin loaded gold nanoparticles to diabetic rats was found to be 30.41 and 20.27% for oral (50 IU/kg) and nasal (10 IU/kg), respectively. Serum gold level studies have demonstrated significant improvement in the uptake of chitosan reduced gold nanoparticles. Conclusions The synthesis of gold nanoparticles using a biocompatible polymer, chitosan would improve its surface properties for binding of biomolecules. Our studies indicate that oral and nasal administration of insulin loaded chitosan reduced gold nanoparticles has led to improved pharmacodynamic activity. Thus, chitosan reduced gold nanoparticles loaded with insulin prove to be promising in controlling the postprandial hyperglycemia.