In vitro propagation of Withania somnifera and isolation of withanolides with immunosuppressive activity

Withania somnifera plantlets were produced in vitro from the shoot-tip of aseptically germinated seedlings. Culture conditions were optimized using different plant growth regulators which gave rise to 120 shoots from a single bud. The plantlets were then transferred to pots and maintained in greenhouse for 4 months. 90% of these in vitro propagated plantlets survived and showed normal growth. Leaves from these plants were used for isolation of the withanolides. Methanolic extract of leaves from plantlets growing in tissue culture and those transferred to the greenhouse were evaluated for immunomodulatory activity. While the extract from greenhouse samples showed potent immunosuppressive activity, those from tissue cultures samples did not show any activity. Fractionation and characterization of withanolides, using HPLC, NMR, MS methods revealed the presence of withaferin A in the greenhouse samples. Our results indicate that Withania species may require longer time and better differentiation and also natural environment for the production of withaferin A.     

Effect of phenolic compounds on in vivo activity of glucose-6-phosphatase in certain tissues of Notopterus notopterus

The effects of phenol (P), dinitrophenol (DNP), pentachlorophenol (PCP), and their three combinations--(PCP + DNP)/P (highly antagonistic), (DNP + P)/PCP (additive) and (P + DNP)/PCP (highly synergistic)-- on glucose-6-phosphatase activity in liver, brain, kidney and gills of Notopterus notopterus were studied at three sub-acute concentrations (1/10, 1/15 and 1/20 the fraction of the 96-h LC50) after 15 and 30 days of exposure. When these chemicals were used separately, PCP exerted more effect than DNP and P. Maximum (71.56%) and highly significant (P less than 0.001) inhibition was observed in liver at the highest concentration of (P + DNP)/PCP combination after 30 days exposure, and lowest (3.64%) and insignificant inhibition in kidney at 1/20 of the (PCP + DNP)/P combination after 15 days exposure. Significant (P less than 0.05, P less than 0.01) stimulation in kidney or no effect in other tissues was observed in lower concentrations of P, DNP and (PCP + DNP)/P.     

Control of infection in a neonatal nursery

Excretion ofEscherichia coli 04 affecting babies with diarrhea, was investigated in a neonatal nursery. Two episodes of infection occurred separated by a period of about three months. In the second outbreak of 21 babies excretingE. coli 04, 11 had diarrhea and 10 appeared to be healthy. Diarrhea occurred more frequently in preterm infants fed by means of nasogastric tubes than in those who were bottle and breast fed. Washings from the feeding tubes in culture showedE. coli 04 in two tubes andPseud monas andStaphylococcus aureus in others. Measures taken to control the spread of infection are described. Hand hygiene was considered to be particularly important.     

Psychiatric comorbidity and the prevalence of HIV infection in a sample of patients in treatment for substance abuse

This article compares the differences in HIV prevalence and risk behaviors in singly diagnosed patients with substance abuse problems and dually diagnosed patients with comorbid psychiatric and substance abuse problems. The National Treatment Improvement Evaluation Study (NTIES) was used to conduct a cross-sectional study on 6593 persons treated for substance abuse disorders. Logistic regression using hierarchal linear modeling (HLM) was utilized to compare risk behaviors of singly and dually diagnosed persons. Compared with singly diagnosed patients, dually diagnosed patients were more likely to share a needle, have sex for money or gifts, have sex with an intravenous drug user, and report being raped. Patients dually diagnosed with psychiatric and substance abuse disorders are an especially high-risk group for HIV infection, in part due to a higher likelihood of engaging in high-risk behavior, and should be targeted for more intense HIV interventions.     

Hydatid cyst presenting as a breast lump

We report a 33-year-old woman who presented with a breast lump which, on pathological examination, was found to be a hydatid cyst. There was no evidence of any coexistent lesion elsewhere. To our knowledge, this represents the first case of hydatid disease of the breast reported from Nepal.     

Effect of nicotinamide on 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate exposed mouse skin endonuclease activity and DNA synthesis

Nicotinamide(NA),a relatively nontoxic compound,has been shown to inhibit tumor development,induce differentiation,increase the sensitization of the anticancer drug resistant cancer cells and is being used in different skin ailments.But there are not many reports on its mechanism of action.Here we report that NA induced endonuclease activity.This endonuclease induction by NA appeared to be dose dependent and a function of time.As evident by the use of modifiers of DNase1,this endonuclease appeared to be like DNase type 1,Increased[3H] thymidine incorporation in DNA in the presence of NA is possible a consequence of increased 3-OH nicks due to increased DNA fragmentation by increased endonulease activity,The present results would be of help in the better understanding of the mechanism of NA action and its imporved use in cancer control.