Polychromatic action spectrum for the induction of a mycosporine-like amino acid in a rice-field cyanobacterium, Anabaena sp.

A polychromatic action spectrum for the induction of an ultraviolet-absorbing/screening mycosporine-like amino acid (MAA) has been determined in a filamentous and heterocystous nitrogen-fixing rice-field cyanobacterium, Anabaena sp. High-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) studies revealed the presence of only one type of MAA, which was identified as shinorine, a bisubstituted MAA containing both glycine and serine groups having a retention time at 2.8 min and an absorption maximum at 334 nm.

Bacopasaponin C: critical evaluation of anti-leishmanial properties in various delivery modes.

Bacopasaponin C, an indigenous glycoside, was isolated from Indian medicinal plant Bacopa monniera (b. brahmi) and was tested for antileishmanial properties both in free and in various delivery modes, e.g.

Bone marrow necrosis and refractory HELLP syndrome in a patient with catastrophic antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.

We describe a 22-year-old woman who developed extensive and fatal bone marrow necrosis along with involvement of liver, lung, and central nervous system during pregnancy in the background of very high titers of antiphospholipid and anti-beta2 glycoprotein antibodies. This case illustrates a rarely recognized, potentially fatal complication of aPL in the setting of pregnancy.

Mechanism of action of combined short-term CTLA4Ig and anti-CD40 ligand in murine systemic lupus erythematosus.

Short-term combination therapy with the costimulatory antagonists CTLA4Ig and anti-CD40 ligand induces prolonged suppression of disease onset in New Zealand Black/New Zealand White F(1) systemic lupus erythematosus-prone mice. To determine the mechanism for this effect, 20- to 22-wk-old New Zealand Black/New Zealand White F(1) mice were treated with six doses each of CTLA4Ig and anti-CD40 ligand Ab over 2 wk. Combination-treated mice, but not mice treated with either agent alone, had prolonged survival and the production of pathogenic IgG anti-dsDNA Ab was suppressed.

Changes in morphology of Paecilomyces japonica and their effect on broth rheology during production of exo-biopolymers.

The influence of Paecilomyces japonica pellet morphology on fermentation broth rheology and exobiopolymer production was investigated in a 5-1 jar fermenter. Rapid formation of pellets was observed after the first day of fermentation; and these slowly increased in size and roughness. This, together with the increase in biomass concentration, altered the transport characteristics and broth rheology towards a pseudoplastic nature which, in turn, influenced cell growth and exo-biopolymer production.

Liposomal antioxidants in combating ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat brain.

Liposome-encapsulated antioxidants have been tested in vivo to prevent oxidative attack during cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. Oxidative stress is a causal factor in the neuropathogenesis of ischemic-reperfusion injury. From the therapeutic point of view free chemical antioxidants were almost ineffective to protect cerebral tissues from those oxidative attacks.

Biologically active substituted benzodiazepines and their effect on cardiovascular and central nervous system.

Some substituted 1,5-benzodiazepine derivatives (including a spirocyclopentane moiety) were synthesized (Table I) and evaluated for their hypotensive and CNS activities respectively. The compounds which showed promising cardiovascular activity also exhibited marked anti-depressant action (Table II,III,IV). All the compounds showed higher ALD50 value.

Production of inulooligosaccharides from chicory extract by endoinulinase from Xanthomonas oryzae No. 5.

Inulooligosaccharides (IOS) production from chicory extract was carried out using endoinulinase obtained from a new isolate, Xanthomonas oryzae No. 5. The IOS production from chicory extract was maximum when 50 g/liter of chicory extract was utilized as the substrate.

Targeting of liposomal andrographolide to L. donovani-infected macrophages in vivo.

Despite the rapid development in medicinal and pharmaceutical technology, the targeting of drugs to phagocytic cells in macrophage-related diseases still remains a major unsolved problem. By using the mannosyl-fucosyl receptors on macrophages, attempts were made to target antileishmanial drugs encapsulated in mannosylated or fucosylated liposomes to treat experimental leishmaniasis in the hamster model. Mannosylated liposomes were found to be more potent in delivering antileishmanial drugs to phagocytic cells.

Aqueous two-phase: the system of choice for extractive fermentation.

Extractive fermentation in aqueous two-phase systems is a meaningful approach to overcome low product yield in a conventional fermentation process, and by proper design of the two-phase system it is possible to obtain the product in a cell-free stream. The characteristics of an aqueous two-phase system, various polymers used for forming an aqueous two-phase system, the physicochemical parameters of the aqueous two-phase system, partitioning of biomolecules and cell mass and the effect of individual phase forming polymers on cell growth and product formation are reviewed in this article. The various extractive fermentation processes are also summarised here.

Extractive fermentation for improved production of endoglucanase by an intergeneric fusant of Trichoderma reesei/Saccharomyces cerevisiae using aqueous two-phase system.

Extractive aqueous two-phase fermentation of endoglucanase, a key enzyme for the conversion of cellulosic substances to fermentable sugars, from an intergeneric fusant of Trichoderma reesei/Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a meaningful approach for better production and simple recovery of this enzyme. A phase composition of 6.5% (w/w) dextran and 7.

Extensive facial damage caused by a blast injury arising from a 6 volt lead accumulator.

Low-voltage electrical injuries are relatively uncommon. Injury caused by flow of heavy current due to short-circuiting a low-voltage battery has not been described in the English literature. A 9-year-old boy connected two thin household electrical wires to the two terminals of a 6 volt (lead accumulator) battery and pressed the other two ends between his teeth.

Quantitative structure-activity relationship study on some nonpeptidal cholecystokinin antagonists.

A quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis has been performed on a series of 1,4-benzodiazepine derivatives, which were found to act as antagonists of cholecystokinin (CCK), a gastrointestinal peptide hormone. The CCK acts with three different receptor subtypes termed as CCK-A, CCK-B, and gastrin receptor, which can be found in peripheral system, brain, and stomach, respectively. With all the three subtypes, the binding of the compounds is found to significantly depend on the lipophilicity of the compounds and their ability to form the hydrogen bonds with the receptor.

Cardiovascular effects of novel imidazoline congeners.

2-Aryl-4,5-bis(diphenyl)-1-(N-acetyl hydrazide)-1,3-imidazoline (IIb1-4) was prepared by the reaction of ethyl chloro acetate and hydrazine hydrate with 2-Aryl-4,5-bis (diphenyl)-1H-imidazoline (I a1-4), which on further substitution with aryl/heterocyclyl aldheyde gave 2-Aryl-4,5-bis (diphenyl)-1-(4-substituted hydrazone)-1,3-imidazoline (III Ca-i). This was again cyclised to oxadiazole in the presence of ferric chloride and glacial acetic acid yielded 2-Aryl-4,5-bis(diphenyl)-1-(2-substituted-1,3,4-oxadizole)-1,3-imi dazoline (IV da-i). These compounds were screened for hypotensive activity and an attempt were made to get the site of action of these compounds.

Evidence for antiaggressive property of some calcium channel blockers.

The effect of calcium channel blockers on foot shock induced (aggression (FSA) were studied in mice. Verapamil, (10, 20 and 40 mg kg-1 i.p.

Local steroid therapy in cutaneous hemangiomas.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of intralesional triamcinolone in enhancing regression in various type of hemangiomas.

Setting: Outpatients department of a teaching hospital Subjects: One hundred and five patients with rapidly growing surface hemangioma. The age ranged from 1 month to 15 months (mean 7 months).

Modification of reserpine-induced emetic response in pigeons by alpha 2-adrenoceptors.

In the present study, an attempt has been made to elucidate the role of alpha 2-adrenoceptors in reserpine-induced emesis in pigeons. Reserpine was found to induce dose-dependent emesis and a 500 micrograms kg-1 dose was found to be the 100% emetic dose. alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists clonidine and alpha-methylnoradrenaline inhibited the reserpine induced emesis.

Evidence for a central component in the cardiovascular effects of calcium channel blockers.

The possibility of a central component in the cardiovascular effects of peripherally administered calcium channel blockers has been explored through a comparison of the effects observed after intravenous (i.v.) and intracisternal (i.

Protection against gastric ulcer by verapamil.

The effect of verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, was studied against stress (cold restraint), aspirin and pylorus ligation induced gastric ulcers in rats. Verapamil inhibited ulcerogenic response and ulcer index in all the three types of ulcers. Verapamil also decreased total and free gastric acidity without changing gastric secretory volume.

Opioid and non-opioid central cardiovascular effects of ketamine.

The cardiovascular responses to ketamine injected intracisternally were examined in chloralose anaesthetized cats. Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded at different time intervals after intracisternal injection of drug or saline vehicle. The low doses of ketamine (0.