Effect of L(+)-tartrate on some biochemical and enzymatic parameters in normal and glycollate treated rats

Some biochemical and enzymatic constituents were determined in the small intestinal tract tissues of normal and sodium glycollate treated adult male rats. Alterations were observed with respect to certain lipids and carbohydrate fractions in the glycollate fed rats. DNA content was also elevated in this group. The functions of the cell membrane is likely to be affected as reflected in the levels of transport ATPases and orthophospho-hydrolases. The activities of the two marker enzymes in the intestinal brush border, namely alkaline phosphatase and leucylnaphthylamidase were reduced in the glycollate administered group. Administration of L(+)-tartrate, which is a mild laxative and has a regulatory influence on oxalate metabolism, lowered the activities of Na+, K(+)- and Ca(2+)-ATPases. There was a distinct lowering in the level of acid phosphatase in the tartrate treated rats.     

Leukoerythrophagocytosis by sinus histiocytes: case report

Leukoerythrophagocytosis by sinus histiocytes in the lymph nodes is a rare cytological observation. Though often seen in lymph nodes draining malignancies, one may occasionally encounter them in vascular lesions. We report a case of leukoerythrophagocytosis by sinus histiocytes of the right supraclavicular lymph nodes in a 35-yr-old male. He presented with a painful soft tissue mass in the right anterior region of the chest wall extending into the axilla of 6 mo duration. Bilateral radial pulsations were absent. The patient had received treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis 1 yr ago. FNAC of the soft tissue mass revealed only blood. Radiological evaluation revealed a vascular lesion, with smooth borders, extending into the upper zone of right lung and displacing the second rib inferiorly. Doppler evaluation confirmed it to be a right subclavian aneurysm with arteritis.     

Collaborative study of antibiotic medium 3 and flow cytometry for identification of amphotericin B-resistant Candida isolates

Center 1 used the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards M27-A2 method and antibiotic medium 3 (AM3) test to determine amphotericin B resistance in 5 of 30 Candida isolates. These isolates were tested at center 2 by AM3 test and flow cytometry (FC). The agreements (C1-C2) were 90% for AM3 test and FC and 73% for the AM3 tests.     

Diblock Copolymers Based on 1,4‐Dioxan‐2‐one and ε‐Caprolactone: Characterization and Thermal Properties

Summary: Various poly(ε‐caprolactone‐block‐1,4‐dioxan‐2‐one) (P(CL‐block‐PDX)) block copolymers were prepared according to the living/controlled ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of 1,4‐dioxan‐2‐one (PDX) as initiated by in situ generated ω‐aluminium alkoxides poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) chains in toluene at 25 °C. 1 ¹H NMR, PCS and TEM measurements have attested for the formation of colloids attributed to a growing PPDX core surrounded by a solvating PCL shell during the polymerization of PDX promoted by ω‐Al alkoxide PCL chains in toluene. The thermal behavior of the P(CL‐block‐PDX) copolymers was studied by DSC; showing two distinct melting temperatures (as well as two glass transition temperatures) similar to those of the respective homopolyesters. Finally, the thermal degradation of the P(CL‐block‐PDX) block copolymers was investigated by TGA simultaneously coupled to a FT‐IR spectrometer and a mass spectrometer for evolved gas analysis (EGA). The degradation occurred in two consecutive steps involving a first unzipping depolymerization of the PPDX blocks followed by the degradation of the PCL blocks via both ester pyrolysis and unzipping reactions.

TEM observation of P(CL‐block‐PDX) block copolyesters ( = 11 600 and = 22 100) as formed by vaporization starting from a diluted suspension in toluene/TCE mixture solvent (50/50 v/v).     

Asbestos exposure in lung carcinoma: a necropsy-based study of 414 cases.

BACKGROUND: The prerequisites necessary for attributing lung carcinoma to asbestos, represent a controversial issue. METHODS: Three parameters (occupational history, pleural plaques, and lung asbestos bodies) were investigated in 414 consecutive cases of lung carcinoma, examined at necropsy at the Hospital of Monfalcone, Italy. Occupational data were obtained from the patients' relatives by personal or telephone interviews. Pleural plaques were classified into three classes (small, moderate, large). Routine lung sections were examined for asbestos bodies in all cases; isolation and counting were performed in 408 cases. RESULTS: The series included 353 men, and 61 women, aged between 38 and 97 years. The male patients had worked in industries in 74% of cases (60% in shipbuilding). Men showed pleural plaques in 82% of cases (moderate or large plaques in 58.7%). Asbestos bodies were observed in routine lung sections in 34.8%, and in 31% exceeded the value of 5,000 bodies per gram of dried tissue. Among women the principal features were: history or domestic exposure to asbestos in 36% of the cases, prevalence of pleural plaques 34% (moderate or large plaques 15%), asbestos bodies in routine lung sections in 3.3% and there was no case with an asbestos body burden over 5,000/g. The fraction of asbestos-related carcinomas among male patients varied between 24.7 and 61%, depending on the criteria used for attribution. CONCLUSIONS: Different criteria indicated about 60% of the present lung carcinomas among men as plausibly attributable to asbestos.     

Antileishmanial action of Tephrosia purpurea linn,extract and its fractions against experimental visceral leishmaniasis

Tephrosia purpurea (family: Fabaceae), which is used in traditional remedies for the treatment of febrile attacks, enlargement and obstruction of liver, spleen, and kidney, was found to have significant antileishmanial activity, and has been extensively fractionated to locate the abode of activity. A fraction (F062) obtained from N‐butanol extract of T. purpurea showed consistent antileishmanial activity at 50 mg/ kg × 5 days by oral route against Leishmania donovani infection in hamsters. Activity was further confirmed in a secondary model, i.e., Indian langur monkeys (Presbytis entellus). Thus, the fraction F062 from this plant possesses potential to produce significant antileishmanial activity by oral route without producing any toxic side effects. Drug. Dev. Res. 60:285–293, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.