Ascorbic Acid Ameliorates Nicotine Exposure Induced Impaired Spatial Memory Performance in Rats

Introduction:

The long lasting behavioural and cognitive impairments in offspring prenatally exposed to nicotine have been confirmed in animal models. In the present study, we investigated the effect of ascorbic acid on prenatal nicotine exposure induced behavioural deficits in male offspring of rats.

Methods:

The pregnant Wistar dams were divided into four groups of six rats: control, vehicle control, nicotine and nicotine+ascorbic acid groups. The nicotine group received daily dose of subcutaneous injections of 0.96 mg/kg body weight (bw) nicotine free base throughout gestation. Pregnant dams in nicotine+ascorbic acid group were first given nicotine free base (0.96 mg/kg bw/day; subcutaneous route) followed by ascorbic acid (50 mg/kg bw/day, orally) daily throughout gestation. The cognitive function of male offspring of all the experimental groups was studied using Morris water maze test at postnatal day 40.

Results:

Prenatal nicotine exposure altered spatial learning and memory in male offspring. However, treatment with ascorbic acid ameliorated these changes in rats.

Conclusion:

Ascorbic acid supplementation was found to be effective in preventing the prenatal nicotine exposure induced cognitive deficits in rat offspring to some extent.     

溃疡性结肠炎治疗的新进展及新策略

溃疡性结肠炎(UC)是主要侵犯大肠粘膜,常常引起糜烂或溃疡形成,原因不明的弥漫性非特异性炎症.活动期的肠粘膜中可见在慢性炎症细胞浸润的基础上淋巴细胞、巨噬细胞、中性粒细胞以及肥大细胞等混合存在的炎细胞浸润,常伴有肠上皮变性、坏死、脱落、隐窝脓肿、杯状细胞减少以及腺管结构紊乱等腺体异常.     

风轮菜中三萜皂甙的研究

从风轮菜[Clinopodium chinense(Benth)O.Kuntze]全草中分离得一个新三萜皂甙,根据化学方法和光谱分析确定其化学结构为3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖(1→6)-[β-D-吡喃葡萄糖(1→4)-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖-11,13(18)-二烯-3β,16β,23,28-四羟基齐墩果烷,命名为风轮菜皂甙A(clinodiside A)。     

Antibacterial activities of some Indian traditional plant extracts

ObjectiveTo evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of various solvent extracts of South Indian traditional medicinal plants Ocimum sanctum, Ocimum gratissimum, Aegle marmelos, and Adhatoda vasica leaves against clinical pathogens of human origin.MethodsThe antimicrobial activity of different solvents crude extract of four medicinal plants used in traditional Indian medicine was tested by disc diffusion method against five bacterial pathogens: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi and klebsiella pneumoniae.. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was determined for evaluating the potential plant extract.ResultsThe antibacterial results showed methanol extracts (0.4 g/ml) of Ocimum gratissimum and Ocimum sanctum showed maximum zone of inhibition (30 mm and 25.5 mm, respectively) against Salmonella typhi. MIC was tested at various concentrations from 0.625 mg/ml to 0.039 mg/ml for all the plant extracts. At the lowest concentration (0.039mg/ml) tested, methanol extracts of Ocimum gratissimum showed higher MIC against Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi where as the methanolic extracts of Ocimum gratissimum showed potent activity against Staphylococcus aureus at 0.078 mg/ml. Methanol extract (0.4 g/ml) of Aegle marmelos showed significant inhibitory activity of 22.5mm and MIC value of 0.156.mg/ml against E. coli strain. The Klebsiella spp was the most resistant strain of all and various concentrations Adhatoda vasica extract showed less activity against the tested pathogens.ConclusionsThe present screening result demonstrated that the Indian traditional medicinal plants Ocimum sanctum, Ocimum gratissimum, Aegle marmelos methanol leaf extract has potent antibacterial activity and the studied plants may be new source for novel antibacterial compound discovery for treating drugs resistant human pathogens.     

Posterior fossa hemangioblastomas: MR imaging

The magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings of 18 surgically proved posterior fossa hemangioblastomas (15 patients) were retrospectively analyzed and correlated with computed tomographic (ten patients) and angiographic (eight patients) findings. Thirteen tumors were located in the cerebellar hemisphere, three in the vermis, and two in the medulla with associated syrinxes. Three patients had von Hippel-Lindau disease, two of whom had multiple cerebellar hemangioblastomas. Seven hemangioblastomas appeared as solid tumors, six as solid masses with central cysts, and five as cysts with mural nodules. Abnormal tumor vessels, with characteristic signal void, were demonstrated in 13 tumors. Associated hemorrhage was present in four tumors. Although angiography is usually required for the diagnosis and preoperative assessment of this tumor, MR imaging demonstration of a posterior fossa mass with abnormal vessels should suggest the diagnosis of hemangioblastoma. Moreover, the combination of a peripheral posterior fossa cyst with a mural nodule supplied by enlarged vessels may be pathognomonic.     

Lancet子刊120万人研究:常出门运动的人,心理更健康

正33岁的阿甘,连续创业3次,最后在22层高楼上纵身一跳……一时间各种评论、哀悼、反思刷屏,所有的刷屏聚焦在一点:如何更好战胜心理困扰?近日,美国耶鲁大学学者发表在Lancet子刊一项对120万人进行的研究送来了"处方":只要走出房间去运动,就会让一个人心理更健康。该研究显示,一般人每个月总有那么三四天不开心,而那些积极锻炼的     

Bioshock: Biotechnology and Bioterrorism

In the recent past, the threat of a global bioterrorist attack has increased dramatically. In addition to the already existing microorganisms and techniques, the recent explosion in biotechnology has considerably added to the arsenal of the bioterrorist. Molecular technologies are now available which can be used by committed bioterrorist groups to manipulate and modify microorganisms so as to make them increasingly infectious, virulent or treatment resistant for causing maximum casualties. Infectious diseases which are likely to be used as bioweapons are Anthrax, Botulism, Plague, Smallpox and Brucella. Molecular techniques like immunoassays and nucleic acid amplification are now available to detect bioattacks. This article discusses the threat of bioterrorism. It also evaluates the molecular diagnostic methods and the future of early containment of a bioterrorist attack using molecular techniques.Key Words: Bioterrorism, Molecular techniques     

Study of disorders of visual acuity among adolescent school children in Pune

Background: Disorders of visual acuity are known to affect the learning abilities of school children. Various authors have reported varying prevalence in India and abroad.