Absent coronary venous sinus: a rare anomaly.

A 42-year-old man, presenting with dyspnea on exertion and ST segment depression on treadmill test, was found to have absent coronary venous sinus on coronary angiography. We report this case of isolated congenital absence of coronary venous sinus because of its rarity.

Effect of Convolvulus pluricaulis Chois on gastric ulceration and secretion in rats.

Convolvulus pluricaulis is an indigenous plant commonly mentioned in Ayurveda, an ancient system of Indian medicine, as a rasayana which is mainly advocated for use in rejuvenation therapy. The present study was conducted to evaluate the potential anti-ulcerogenic effect of juice of fresh whole plants of C. pluricaulis (CPJ) against various experimental gastric ulcer models induced by ethanol, aspirin, 2 hr cold restraint stress and 4 hr pyloric ligation in rats.

Effect of Centella asiatica Linn on physical and chemical factors induced gastric ulceration and secretion in rats.

Centella asiatica is commonly mentioned as a Rasayana in Ayurveda, an ancient system of Indian medicine for various ailments including abdominal disorders. Rasayanas have been advocated for use in rejuvenation therapy. The present study was conducted to evaluate the possible anti-ulcerogenic activity of fresh juice of C.

Control motifs for intracellular regulatory networks.

A number of technological innovations are yielding unprecedented data on the networks of biochemical, genetic, and biophysical reactions that underlie cellular behavior and failure. These networks are composed of hundreds to thousands of chemical species and structures, interacting via nonlinear and possibly stochastic physical processes. A central goal of modern biology is to optimally use the data on these networks to understand how their design leads to the observed cellular behaviors and failures.

The presence of functional luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin receptors in human sperm.

The functional receptors that bind human CG (hCG) and LH have recently been identified in a number of nongonadal human tissues. The current experiments tested the hypothesis that human ejaculated sperm may also contain them. The data revealed that they, indeed, do as determined by the presence of receptor messenger RNA and receptor protein that can bind (125)I-hCG.

Use of the rat model to study hCG/LH effects on uterine blood flow.

Luteinizing hormone (LH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) share a common receptor. LH/hCG receptors, located in the vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells of uterine blood vessels, are most numerous in smaller intramyometrial vessels and are cyclic in nature. There is a correlation between hCG levels and decreased uterine vascular resistance in humans, and in pseudopregnant rats, hCG decreases uterine blood flow.

An overview of the past, present, and future of nongonadal LH/hCG actions in reproductive biology and medicine.

Even though there were hints, it was not until 1986 that a number of laboratories worldwide began to demonstrate unequivocally the presence and functions of luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin (LH/hCG) receptors in various female and male nongonadal tissues. There was no species specificity but there was tissue specificity in the nongonadal LH/hCG receptor distribution. Nongonadal receptor levels were lower but they were regulated and processed and used signaling mechanisms similarly to gonadal receptors.

A proposed role for hCG in clinical obstetrics.

The role of human chorionic gonadatropin (hCG) in the maintenance of early pregnancy is well known. Recent data suggests that hCG may play a role in the maintenance of the later stages of pregnancy as well, by directly and indirectly promoting uterine quiescence. If hCG acts as an endogenous tocolytic in normal pregnancy, then it may be an ideal candidate for therapy of preterm labor as well.

Neural actions of luteinizing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin.

Luteinizing hormone (LH) and its homologue, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), are able to elicit multiple effects in the central nervous system (CNS) through binding to their receptors. Specific receptors for LH/hCG have been identified in the hippocampus, dentate gyrus, hypothalamus, cortex, brain stem, area postrema, cerebellum, choroid plexus, ependymal cells, glial cells, neural retina, pituitary gland, and neuron processes of the spinal cord. Neurotropic effects of LH and hCG have been demonstrated in fetal rat brain, where the expression of LH/hCG receptors is developmentally regulated.

Determinants of Transcription of the Chorionic Gonadotropin /Luteinizing Hormone Receptor Gene in Human Breast Cells.

Epidemiological evidence suggests that the earlier in life a woman becomes pregnant, the lower her chances for developing breast cancer later in life. This protective effect appears to be due to pregnancy hormone hCG inducing the nonreversible differentiation of proliferative terminal end buds into secretory type lobules. Perhaps this and other actions of hCG are mediated by newly discovered hCG/LH receptors in human breast cells.

A subtoxic interactive toxicity study of ethanol and chromium in male Wistar rats.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the interactive toxicity of ethanol with potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7-chromium). Young, male Wistar rats (100-120 g) were divided into four groups of five or six animals each and were dosed, through water, with 10% ethanol (vol./vol.

Chemoprevention of colon cancer by a glutathione conjugate of 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)selenocyanate, a novel organoselenium compound with low toxicity.

We have consistently shown that several synthetic Organoselenium compounds are superior cancer chemopreventive agents and less toxic than selenite or certain naturally occurring selenoamino acids. 1,4-Phenylenebis(methylene)selenocyanate (p-XSC) is the lead Organoselenium compound in that it has been shown to be the most effective and the least toxic agent in several experimental cancer models. It is not known whether p-XSC or one of its metabolites is responsible for its chemopreventive efficacy.

Effect of Piper longum Linn, Zingiber officianalis Linn and Ferula species on gastric ulceration and secretion in rats.

Use of Dipaniya Mahakasaya, a group consisting of 10 herbal drugs, has been suggested in Charaka Samhita to improve digestion. Out of these 10 plants, three, viz. P.

Modulation of experimental colon tumorigenesis by types and amounts of dietary fatty acids.

Epidemiological studies and laboratory animal model assays suggest that a high intake of dietary fat promotes colorectal cancer. Several in vivo and in vitro studies support the hypothesis that omega-6 fatty acids promote colon tumorigenesis, whereas omega-3 fatty acids lack promoting activity. Fat intake in the United States traditionally includes high amounts (30% of total caloric intake) of saturated fat rather than omega-6 fatty acids.

Total synthesis of heliannone A and (R,S)-heliannone B, two bioactive flavonoids from Helianthus annuus cultivars.

The total synthesis of heliannone A (1) and (R,S)-heliannone B (2), two bioactive flavonoids originally isolated from Helianthus annuus cultivars, is described.

Perceptions on effects of environmental pollutants in Hyderabad City.

Five hundred twenty adults were interviewed on the perceptions of effects of the environmental pollutants in Hyderabad city of Andhra Pradesh. The information was gathered on polluted water, polluted air, solid wastes, food contamination and readiness to participate in corrective actions. Both initial response and response after probing were recorded.

Experimental evaluation of Bocopa monniera on rat gastric ulceration and secretion.

The anti-ulcerogenic effect of fresh juice from the whole plant of Bocapa monniera Wettst. (BMJ) commonly known as Brahmi in Hindi was examined using gastric ulcer models induced by ethanol, aspirin, 2 h cold restraint stress and 4 h pylorus ligation. Bocapa monniera juice (BMJ) at doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg and sucralfate at a dose of 250 mg/kg were given orally, twice daily for 5 days.

Targeted disruption of luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin receptor gene.

LH/hCG receptors were disrupted by gene targeting in embryonic stem cells. The disruption resulted in infertility in both sexes. The gonads contained no receptor mRNA or receptor protein.

Chemoprevention of colonic aberrant crypt foci in Fischer rats by sulforaphane and phenethyl isothiocyanate.

Epidemiological studies have linked consumption of broccoli to a reduced risk of colon cancer in individuals with the glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) null genotype. GSTs are involved in excretion and elimination of isothiocyanates (ITCs), which are major constituents of broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables and have cancer chemopreventive potential, so it is speculated that ITCs may play a role in protection against human colon cancer. However, there is a lack of data from animal studies to support this.

Modulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in rat intestinal cells by colon tumor promoters.

Metabolic epidemiological studies in humans and laboratory animal models demonstrate that consumption of diets high in fat and low in fiber excrete increased levels of 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerol (DAG) and secondary bile acids such as deoxycholic acid (DA) and lithocholic acid that have been shown to promote colon carcinogenesis. The secondary bile acids and DAG have been shown to activate protein kinase C (PKC) and induce colonic cell proliferation. A large body of evidence indicates that iNOS, an inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase, is over-expressed in human colon adenomas and in chemically-induced colon tumors of laboratory animals.

Does full-term pregnancy at a young age protect women against breast cancer through hCG?

Recent studies found that human and animal breast tissues and human breast cell lines contain low levels of receptors that bind hCG and its structural and functional homologue, LH. Those gonadotropins exert numerous anticancer effects in breast cancer models and cells, which might explain decreased breast cancer incidence in women who complete full-term pregnancies at a young age. The new findings also imply that premature chronic elevations of LH levels might contribute to decreased breast cancer incidence in women with early menopause, and elevated LH levels might contribute to a better prognosis after ovariectomy.

Preventive potential of wheat bran fractions against experimental colon carcinogenesis: implications for human colon cancer prevention.

Epidemiological studies suggest an inverse relationship between the intake of dietary fiber, particularly fiber from cereal grains, and colon cancer risk. Animal model assays have demonstrated that the protective effects of dietary fiber on colon cancer development depend on the nature and source of the fiber. Wheat bran (WB) appears to inhibit colon tumorigenesis more consistently than do oat bran or corn bran.