Evaluation of DNA damage and cytotoxicity induced by three commonly used organophosphate pesticides individually and in mixture, in rat tissues.

Organophosphate pesticides are among the most widely used synthetic chemicals for controlling a wide variety of pests. Chlorpyrifos (CPF), methyl parathion (MPT), and malathion (MLT) are among the most extensively used organophosphate (OP) pesticides. The main target of action of OP compounds is the central and peripheral nervous system, although it has also been postulated that these compounds in both acute and chronic intoxication, disturb the redox processes and thus induce oxidative stress.

Pharmacokinetic profile of an intradeltoid diclofenac injection in obese Indian volunteers.

Background: A new propylene glycol-free and reduced-volume formulation of diclofenac sodium 75 mg/mL designed for intradeltoid administration has been found to be bioequivalent to a reference formulation of diclofenac sodium 75 mg/3 mL given via the intragluteal route in normal healthy volunteers. Standard needles may not reach the gluteus maximus muscle in many cases, especially in the obese. The objective of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of the new formulation and compare the bioavailability of intradeltoid diclofenac sodium 75 mg/mL with that of the intragluteal 75 mg/3 mL reference formulation in obese volunteers.

Comparative bioavailability study of a new formulation of injection of 75 mg diclofenac sodium in 1 ml with the conventional injection of 75 mg diclofenac sodium given in 3 ml volume.

Objectives: Diclofenac a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) is widely used for the management of various musculoskeletal conditions. An injectable test formulation of diclofenac sodium (75 mg/mL) was prepared to facilitate reduction in injection volume as compared to already marketed formulations of diclofenac sodium (75 mg/3 mL). The objective of this study was to compare the bioavailability of test formulation with the reference formulation given intramuscularly in healthy volunteers.

Causes of stillbirths and neonatal deaths in Dhanusha district, Nepal: a verbal autopsy study.

Background: Perinatal (stillbirths and first week neonatal deaths) and neonatal (deaths in the first 4 weeks) mortality rates remain high in developing countries like Nepal. As most births and deaths occur in the community, an option to ascertain causes of death is to conduct verbal autopsy.

Objective: The objective of this study was to classify and review the causes of stillbirths and neonatal deaths in Dhanusha district, Nepal.

Ambient air quality monitoring during the H1N1 influence period in Pune (India).

Ambient air quality in an urban area is directly linked with activity level in the city including transport, business and industrial activities. Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has established an ambient air quality network in the city including state-of-the-art continuous air quality monitoring stations which indicate short duration air quality variations for criteria and non-criteria pollutants. The influence of H1N1 outbreak in Pune hitting its worst pandemic condition, led the civic authorities to implement stringent isolation measures including closure of schools, colleges, business malls, cinema halls, etc.

Glucans from the alkaline extract of an edible mushroom, Pleurotus florida, cv Assam Florida: isolation, purification, and characterization.

Three different glucans (PS-I, PS-II, and PS-III) were isolated from the alkaline extract of the fruiting bodies of an edible mushroom Pleurotus florida, cultivar Assam Florida. On the basis of total acid hydrolysis, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, Smith degradation, and NMR experiments ((1)H, (13)C, DEPT-135, DQF-COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, ROESY, HMQC, and HMBC), the structure of the repeating unit of these polysaccharides was established as follows: [Formula: see text].

Comorbidities in pediatric patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

Objective: To investigate the frequency of various nonorthostatic complaints in children with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).

Study Design: We used our autonomic laboratory database to identify all pediatric patients with traditionally defined POTS who had completed the Ohio Dysautonomia Survey (ODYSA). The responses of the patients to questions targeting various autonomic complaints, including syncope, gastrointestinal symptoms, sleep disturbances, headaches, urinary symptoms, chronic pain, and Raynaud-like symptoms, were collected and analyzed.

Raman and DFT study of polar nu(CN) and non-polar nu(C-H) modes of acetonitrile in aqueous Ag nano-colloids.

Raman spectra of acetonitrile (Acn) in different millimolar (mM) concentrations adsorbed on Ag nano-colloids were recorded in the region 2100-3300cm(-1). The nu(CN) and nu(C-H) modes show blue shifts of approximately 3 and approximately 1cm(-1), respectively, when the concentration of Acn in the mixture is increased from 2 to 8mM. The blue shift of nu(CN) and nu(C-H) modes is predominantly because of adsorption of Acn molecules on Ag nano-colloids.

Temperature-dependent regulation of mycolic acid cyclopropanation in saprophytic mycobacteria: role of the Mycobacterium smegmatis 1351 gene (MSMEG_1351) in CIS-cyclopropanation of alpha-mycolates.

The cell envelope is a crucial determinant of virulence and drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Several features of pathogenesis and immunomodulation of host responses are attributable to the structural diversity in cell wall lipids, particularly in the mycolic acids. Structural modification of the alpha-mycolic acid by introduction of cyclopropane rings as catalyzed by the methyltransferase, PcaA, is essential for a lethal, persistent infection and the cording phenotype in M.

Enzymatic hydrolysis of trehalose dimycolate releases free mycolic acids during mycobacterial growth in biofilms.

Mycobacterial species, like other microbes, spontaneously form multicellular drug-tolerant biofilms when grown in vitro in detergent-free liquid media. The structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis biofilms is formed through genetically programmed pathways and is built upon a large abundance of novel extracellular free mycolic acids (FM), although the mechanism of FM synthesis remained unclear. Here we show that the FM in Mycobacterium smegmatis biofilms is produced through the enzymatic release from constitutively present mycolyl derivatives.

Orthostatic syndromes differ in syncope frequency.

Background: There are conflicting opinions on whether postural tachycardia syndrome predisposes to syncope. We investigated this relationship by comparing the frequency of syncope in postural tachycardia syndrome and orthostatic hypotension.

Methods: We queried our autonomic laboratory database of 3700 patients.

Plasmon coupling between gold nanorod and adsorbed organic molecule.

In this article, the dipolar response of gold nanorods on the adsorbed organic molecule, benzonitrile, has been investigated. We estimate the average aspect ratio of nanorods using TEM measurements. The longitudinal and transverse plasmon modes of nanorods are measured and analyzed using theoretical estimates.

Structural analysis of an immunoenhancing heteropolysaccharide isolated from the green (unripe) fruits of Solenum melongena (Brinjal).

A water-soluble polysaccharide (SMPS) isolated from the aqueous extract of the green (unripe) fruits of Solenum melongena (Brinjal) contains D-galactose, D-methyl galacturonate, 3-O-acetyl D-methyl galacturonate, and L-arabinose in a molar proportion of nearly 1:1:1:1. Structural investigation of the polysaccharide was carried out using total acid hydrolysis, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation study, and NMR studies ((1)H, (13)C, DQF-COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, ROESY, HMQC, and HMBC). On the basis of the above experiments the structure of the repeating unit of the polysaccharide (SMPS) was established as -->5)-alpha-L-Araf-(1-->4)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->2)-alpha-D-3-O-Ac-GalpA6Me-(1-->2)alpha-D-galpA6Me-(1--> This molecule showed splenocyte and thymocyte activations.

Chemical analysis of a polysaccharide of unripe (green) tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum).

A polysaccharide (PS-I) isolated from the aqueous extract of the unripe (green) tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) consists of D-galactose, D-methyl galacturonate, D-arabinose, L-arabinose, and L-rhamnose. Structural investigation of the polysaccharide was carried out using total acid hydrolysis, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation study, and NMR studies ((1)H, (13)C, DQF-COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, ROESY, HMQC, and HMBC). On the basis of above-mentioned experiments the structure of the repeating unit of the polysaccharide (PS-I) was established as: [structure: see text].

A protein containing glucan from an edible mushroom, Termitomyces microcarpus (var).

A water-soluble protein containing glucan was isolated from an edible mushroom, Termitomyces microcarpus (var). It was found to contain 55% of carbohydrate and 40% of protein. The protein part was found to consist of glutamine, arginine, isoleucine, leucine and phenylalanine.

Quantification of 4-methylaminoantipyrine, the active metabolite of dipyrone, in human plasma.

Background: Dipyrone (metamizole) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used as an analgesic and antipyretic in both pediatric and adult patients. Dipyrone hydrolyses to 4-methylaminoantipyrine (MAA) in the stomach before absorption. There are several HPLC methods available for analysis of MAA from human plasma but no method has yet been developed on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) or LC tandem MS (LC-MS/MS), which are much more specific and sensitive techniques.

Simultaneous HPLC-UV determination of rhein and aceclofenac in human plasma.

Diacerein and aceclofenac are prescribed for reducing the symptoms associated with osteoarthritis. We present a simple HPLC method with UV detection for simultaneous determination of rhein (the immediate metabolite of diacerein) and aceclofenac from human plasma samples. Sample preparation was accomplished through liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate and chromatographic separation was performed on a reversed-phase ODS column.

Structural identification and cytotoxic activity of a polysaccharide from the fruits of Lagenaria siceraria (Lau).

A water-soluble polysaccharide, isolated from fruiting bodies of Lagenaria siceraria, is composed of methyl-alpha-d-galacturonate, 3-O-acetyl methyl-alpha-d-galacturonate, and beta-d-galactose in a ratio of nearly 1:1:1. Compositional analysis, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, and NMR studies ((1)H, (13)C, 2D-COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, HMQC, and HMBC) revealed the presence of the following repeating unit in the polysaccharide: [carbohydrate structure: see text] This polysaccharide showed cytotoxic activity in vitro against human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7).

Pharmacokinetic profile of a new formulation of injection diclofenac designed for intradeltoid use.

Objective: Injection diclofenac sodium available at present as a 3-ml formulation is administered intragluteally. Standard needles may not reach the gluteus maximus muscle in many cases, especially in obese patients. Alternative sites like the deltoid have been suggested to be more suitable for these patients.

Effect of dental students as instructors on preclinical performance in prosthodontics.

Dental schools continue to have difficulty recruiting and retaining faculty. One approach to augment student learning would be to train and utilize senior dental students as instructors in preclinical courses. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of using senior dental students as instructors on the performance of second-year students in two preclinical prosthodontic courses.

NMR and MALDI-TOF analysis of a water-soluble glucan from an edible mushroom, Volvariella diplasia.

A polysaccharide (Fr. II) has been isolated from the hot aqueous extract of the fruit bodies of an edible mushroom, Volvariella diplasia. The polysaccharide contains glucose only.

NMR and MALDI-TOFMS analysis of a heteroglycan isolated from hot water extract of edible mushroom, Volvariella bombycina.

A water-soluble polysaccharide, isolated from the hot aqueous extract of an edible mushroom, Volvariella bombycina, consists of d-glucose, d-mannose, and d-galactose in a molar ratio 2:1:1. On the basis of total hydrolysis, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, and NMR studies ((1)H, (13)C, TOCSY, DQF-COSY, NOESY, ROESY, HMQC, and HMBC), and MALDI-TOFMS analysis, the repeating unit of the polysaccharide is established as [table in text].

Growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis biofilms containing free mycolic acids and harbouring drug-tolerant bacteria.

Successful treatment of human tuberculosis requires 6-9 months' therapy with multiple antibiotics. Incomplete clearance of tubercle bacilli frequently results in disease relapse, presumably as a result of reactivation of persistent drug-tolerant Mycobacterium tuberculosis cells, although the nature and location of these persisters are not known. In other pathogens, antibiotic tolerance is often associated with the formation of biofilms--organized communities of surface-attached cells--but physiologically and genetically defined M.