Genotoxic effect of smoke-dried meat extract in Swiss albino mice using sperm head shape abnormality test.

The genotoxic effect of an extract of smoke-dried meat was assayed by employing in vivo sperm head shape abnormality. A significant dose responsive mutagenic effect was observed using the sperm head shape abnormality test. The result indicates that higher doses i.e., 100 and 200 mg/kg body wt. of smoke meat extract, significantly induced sperm head shape abnormality as compared to lower doses i.e., 20 mg/kg body wt. and control.     

Thioredoxin regulation of ischemic preconditioning

Thioredoxins are a class of small redox-regulating proteins that appear to play a crucial role in many oxidative stress-inducible degenerative diseases. A recent study demonstrated a reduction of thioredoxin-1 (Trx1) protein in the ischemic reperfused myocardium. When the same heart was adapted to ischemic stress by preconditioning with repeated cyclic episodes of small duration of ischemia and reperfusion, there was an increased induction of Trx1 expression. Inhibition of Trx1 expression resulted in reduced postischemic ventricular recovery and increased myocardial infarct size in the preconditioned heart. Corroborating these findings, transgenic mouse hearts overexpressing Trx1 were resistant to ischemic reperfusion injury as compared with the hearts from wild-type mice. Thus, it appears that thioredoxin plays a crucial role in cardioprotection induced by preconditioning.     

A Comparison of Microdebrider Assisted Endoscopic Sinus Surgery and Conventional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Nasal Polypi

Nasal polyposis is often encountered in rhinology practice. Those who fail conservative management, a definitive surgery is essential to achieve sufficient ventilation and drainage of the affected sinuses by using either microdebrider or conventional instruments for functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). A prospective study was conducted on 40 cases of nasal polypi in a tertiary care hospital. 20 cases were operated by conventional endoscopic instruments and 20 using the microdebrider. The study aimed at comparing the intra operative (blood loss, duration of surgery) and post operative results (crusting, scarring, discharge, symptoms, recurrence) between the two groups using Lund–Mackay scoring system and the data was statistically analysed. There was no statistically significant difference in surgical outcome for patients when either conventional endoscopic instruments or microdebrider was used. However, there was a significant symptomatic improvement in cases undergoing microdebrider FESS. Microdebrider assisted polypectomy is precise, relatively bloodless surgery though the precision depends on the surgeon’s anatomical knowledge and operative skills. Study substantiates that these instruments are helpful but not a prerequisite for successful outcomes in FESS. The study re-emphasises the utility of the microdebrider to young learning FESS surgeons.     

Atypical presentation of tuberous sclerosis and obsessive compulsive disorder in an adult male

Tuberous Sclerosis (TSC) is clinically marked by a triad of adenoma sebaceum, epilepsy and mental retardation. It can however manifest as various neuropsychiatric disorders. We report a patient who presented with TSC and co-morbid Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.     

Ethanol induces hyperprolactinemia by increasing prolactin release and lactotrope growth in female rats

BACKGROUND: Alcohol drinking is known to cause hyperprolactinemia in both humans and laboratory animals. The mechanism by which alcoholism causes hyperprolactinemia is not known. This study investigated whether increased pituitary production of prolactin, which leads to alcohol-induced hyperprolactinemia, results from an increase in cell number and/or cell production of prolactin in the pituitary. METHODS: The effects of ethanol on lactotropes were determined in vivo using female rats as an animal model and in vitro using primary cultures of mixed rat anterior pituitary cells and enriched lactotropes. In vivo experiments involved administration of ethanol for 2 and 4 weeks using a liquid diet containing 8.7% ethanol (v/v), which provides 37% of the calories in cyclic, ovariectomized, and estradiol-17beta-treated ovariectomized Fischer-344 rats. The control group was pair-fed an isocaloric diet minus the ethanol or fed a normal diet ad libitum. These animals were used to determine ethanol's effects on plasma prolactin levels, pituitary wet weights, pituitary total protein levels, and the number of mitotic lactotropes. In vitro studies determined ethanol's effects in the presence and absence of estradiol on prolactin release and lactotropic cell proliferation. Prolactin levels in plasma and media samples were measured using radioimmunoassay. Mitotic lactotropes were determined using bromodeoxyuridine incorporation assay. RESULTS: Ethanol treatment increased in a time-dependent manner the plasma levels of prolactin in cyclic, ovariectomized, and estradiol-treated ovariectomized rats. Ethanol treatment also increased pituitary wet weight and/or pituitary total protein levels and DNA synthesis in lactotropes. Determination of ethanol's action on lactotropic cell proliferation and hormone secretion in vitro using primary cultures of mixed pituitary cells revealed that ethanol stimulated both basal and estradiol-induced prolactin secretion and lactotropic cell proliferation. When ethanol's actions were studied in isolated lactotropes, ethanol alone or in combination with estradiol stimulated prolactin secretion but failed to increase lactotropic cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that ethanol causes hyperprolactinemia by elevating prolactin release from lactotropes and by increasing the number of lactotropes in the anterior pituitary gland. The mitotic action of ethanol requires cell-cell communication between lactotropes and other pituitary cells. Furthermore, ethanol's mode of action on prolactin release and lactotrope growth is similar to that observed for estradiol.     

Incense stick ash as a novel and sustainable adsorbent for sequestration of Victoria Blue from aqueous phase

The present investigation assessed the applicability of incense stick ash, a novel and sustainable adsorbent for remediation of Victoria Blue dye from wastewater. Incense stick ash, without any physical and chemical treatment has been applied to investigate the influence of various experimental parameters as pH, loading of adsorbent, concentration, shaking time, temperature and ionic strength on Victoria Blue remediation in a batch operation. Incense stick ash was characterized using BET, DLS, SEM-EDS, FTIR and XRD techniques. BET surface area, pore volume and pore diameter of incense stick ash are obtained as 2.245 m² g^?1, 0.0118 cm³ g^?1 and 21.02 nm, respectively. Average particle size of the adsorbent is obtained as 293.2 nm. Goodness of the fit of isotherm and kinetic model to the reported data was identified based on chi squared and coefficient of determination values. Isotherm and kinetic behavior was best represented by Freundlich and pseudo 2nd order equation, respectively. Boyd model confirmed involvement of film diffusion mechanism along with intra-particle for adsorption of Victoria Blue on incense stick ash. Maximum dye uptake was reported as 105.57 mg g^?1. Thermodynamic study revealed spontaneous and favorable adsorption of Victoria Blue on incense stick ash at higher temperature. The performed elution and subsequent regeneration study implied desorption capability of incense stick ash and its applicability as a fresh adsorbent for further cycle of adsorption. The overall study implied scavenging potential of incense stick ash, a novel and sustainable adsorbent available at zero cost towards Victoria Blue removal.     

Safety and Efficacy of Oral Mifepristone in Pre-induction Cervical Ripening and Induction of Labour in Prolonged Pregnancy

Objective(S)

To study the safety and efficacy of oral mifepristone in pre-induction cervical ripening and induction of labour in prolonged pregnancy.

Method(S)

This is a single blind randomized control trial. 100 women with prolonged pregnancy beyond 40 weeks and Bishop score <6 were recruited, and randomly allocated into two groups. Women who received Tab. Mifepristone 200 mg orally were assigned in Study Group (n = 50) and who received placebo orally were assigned in Control Group (n = 50) At the end of 24 h, change in the Bishop’s score was assessed and Tab. Misoprostol 25 μg was administered intravaginally every 4 h, maximum 6 doses for induction/augmentation of labour. Analysis regarding safety and efficacy of the drug was done with regards to maternal and perinatal outcome.

Result(S)

Among 100 subjects, 50 received mifepristone and 50 received placebo. Mean induction to delivery interval was 1,907 ± 368.4 min for Study Group versus 2,079 ± 231.6 min for Control Group. The improvement in mean Bishop score was 5.0408 ± 1.90 for Study Group compared with 3.26 ± 1.15 was for Control Group after 24 h. Mean dose of misoprostol in Study Group was 40 ± 27.2, while the same in Control Group was 52 ± 19.46. Eight (16 %) women in Study Group and two (4 %) women in Control Group delivered vaginally within 24 h without any need of augmentation. There were 6 (12 %) cesareans and 2 (4 %) instrumental deliveries in Study Group and 8 (16 %) cesareans and 5 (10 %) instrumental deliveries in the Control Group. There was no statistically significant difference in perinatal outcomes between two groups.

Conclusion(S)

Mifepristone had a modest effect on cervical ripening when given 24 h prior to labour induction and appearing to reduce need for misoprostol compared with placebo.