A simple end-point assay for calcium channel activity.

Cellular calcium signaling events are transient. Hence they are observed in real time using fluorescence imaging or electrophysiological methods that require sophisticated instrumentation and specialized skills. For high throughput assays simple and inexpensive techniques are desirable.

A protein-dye hybrid system as a narrow range tunable intracellular pH sensor.

Accurate monitoring of pH variations inside cells is important for the early diagnosis of diseases such as cancer. Even though a variety of different pH sensors are available, construction of a custom-made sensor array for measuring minute variations in a narrow biological pH window, using easily available constituents, is a challenge. Here we report two-component hybrid sensors derived from a protein and organic dye nanoparticles whose sensitivity range can be tuned by choosing different ratios of the components, to monitor the minute pH variations in a given system.

Free radical toxicity and antioxidants in Guillain-Barre syndrome, a preliminary study.

Background: The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a vast array of disease processes including some neurological disorders.

Method: Ten patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and 10 age and sex-matched controls were included in this study. The erythrocyte glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, as well as plasma antioxidant vitamins C and E and serum glutathione-S-transferase (GST) levels were estimated spectrophotometrically.

Clinical evaluation of sahacharadi and nirgundi tailas in saisaveeyavata (poliomyelitis).

A research trial was conducted at in-patient level to compare the efficacy of Sahacharadi taila with that of Nirgundi taila in Saisaveeyavata (Poliomyelitis). Forty cases were selected for the trial and grouped into two at random and treated with Sahacharadi taila and Nirgundi taila respectively. Results in both groups were highly encouraging and statistically significant.