Acute necrotizing gastritis.

A 17-year-old man presented with signs of peritonitis. Laparotomy revealed gangrene of the stomach without obvious cause. The patient underwent total gastrectomy with esophago-jejunal anastomosis with formation of jejunal pouch. Bacterial culture of the peritoneal fluid grew Strept. pyogenes and E. coli. The patient was discharged on day 21 after a stormy postoperative course.     

Antiproliferative, cytotoxic and apoptogenic activity of Indian toad (Bufo melanostictus, Schneider) skin extract on U937 and K562 cells.

The antiproliferative, cytotoxic and apoptogenic activities of Bufo melanostictus (Indian common toad) skin extract (TSE) on U937 and K562 leukemic cell line has been investigated. TSE significantly (P<0.001) reduced the time-dependent cell proliferation and decreased MTT values in U937 and K562 cells. TSE (IC50 doses) suppressed the proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression in both the cells. It was demonstrated that, TSE (IC50 doses) primarily arrested the U937 and K562 cells at G1 phase of the cell cycle. Confocal microscopy showed the altered fragmented nuclei and apoptotic bodies formation in TSE (IC50 doses) treated U937 and K562 cells. Membrane blebbing, cell surface shrinkage and perforation were observed through scanning electron microscope. TSE-induced DNA fragmentation in U937 and K562 cells was reflected in single-cell gel electrophoresis. TSE significantly (P<0.001) increase the length-width ratio of DNA mass as compared to control in comet assay. The flow cytometric analysis of annexin-V binding to the cancer cells further supported the apoptotogenic activity of TSE. The effect of TSE on normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells viability and cytotoxicity was studied in culture and found to be less cytotoxic than on the U937 and K562 cells. The findings from the present study suggested that TSE might possess potent antineoplastic agent having antiproliferative, cytotoxic and apoptogenic activity against U937 and K562 myeloid leukemic cells.     

Brain Death Further Promotes Ischemic Reperfusion Injury of the Rabbit Myocardium

Background. Little is known about preload-dependent cardiac function after brain death (BD) and subsequent graft preservation.

Methods. A validated model of BD in rabbits was developed and myocardial performance was studied after BD induction and 1 hour of subsequent global hypothermic ischemia using a validated rabbit model and an isolated work-performing heart preparation.

Results. Significant decreases in stroke work, left ventricular contractility, and left ventricular relaxation were observed 2 hours after BD. After global hypothermic ischemia, significant decreases in stroke work, left ventricular contractility, and left ventricular relaxation were observed in the BD group compared with controls. Cardiac output and coronary flow were also significantly decreased in BD hearts compared with controls. Creatine kinase release was increased by 32.5% in BD hearts compared with controls.

Conclusions. In a rabbit model, BD combined with global hypothermic ischemia causes a significant decrease in left ventricular function compared with global hypothermic ischemia. This dysfunction may be attributed to a significant decrease in coronary flows in BD hearts.     

Size Dependent Tolerance of Indian Cat Fish Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) to Toxicity of Cadmium and Composted Vegetation

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology - Indian catfish Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch), commonly known as “Singhi” in India, is an air breathing fish with a slender,...     

Vector control through environmental management with special reference to India--approach prospectives

The introduction of different types of pollutants like those from industrial effluence, bye-products from petro-chemical industries, pesticidal application, wastages of nuclear power industries, etc. is viewed seriously by the society. For the control of vectors of disease the adoption of environmental management is, therefore, imperative. The physical methods like drainage of excess and waste water, making water unsuitable for vector breeding by adopting various indigenous methods in vogue, the intra and inter-sectrol coordination and community based activities are identified as the basic approaches for achieving this goal. Minimising the potentiality of vector breeding through source reduction and water management is thought to be the simplest, cheapest and most permanent method. For the society having varying types of habitation and varying degree of habitational facilities like planned housing, water supply and disposal, sanitation and organized anti-vector measures, the adoption of environmental management to exercise check over vector population is a promising proposition. The suitability of such an approach has already been demonstrated by MRC, (ICMR), Delhi and V.C.R.C., Pondicherry. The implementation of these methods is to be initiated right from Primary Health Centre and district level onwards and community is to be motivated to the extent that the various methods of environmental management for vector control are adopted in the routine way of life. In the present article these ideas have been touched upon and various methods of environmental management described in brief. In addition what other Governmental agencies are required to do in order to effectively implement environmental management methods are briefly enlisted.