Lipopolysaccharide-induced leptin release is neurally controlled.

Our hypothesis is that leptin release is controlled neurohormonally. Conscious, male rats bearing indwelling, external, jugular catheters were injected with the test drug or 0.9% NaCl (saline), and blood samples were drawn thereafter to measure plasma leptin.

Activity of DNA polymerase alpha in aging human fibroblasts.

During the past decade intense investigation has focused on cellular aging with the expectation of discovering factors that regulate the replication complex and contribute to the onset and progression of cellular aging. The most striking feature of cellular aging is the failure of sensing diploid cells to enter or complete S phase of the cell cycle. The G1/S phase transition is an initial critical step in the regulation of proliferation in eukaryotic cells, and significant advances have been made toward understanding the basic mechanisms of aging by identifying components of the macromolecular assemblies participating in the G1/S transition.

Acute effects of ethanol on steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) in the prepubertal rat ovary.

Background: Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) is a 30 kDa mitochondrial protein that plays an essential role in steroid hormone biosynthesis by facilitating delivery of cholesterol across the mitochondrial membrane, where side chain cleavage occurs to initiate ovarian steroidogenesis. Because ethanol (EtOH) suppresses estradiol secretion in prepubertal female rats, we evaluated the effects of EtOH on prepubertal ovarian StAR.

Methods: At 0700 hr, 28-day-old female rats were gavaged with saline or a 3 g/kg dose of EtOH.

A multicentric study with arteether in patients of uncomplicated falciparum malaria.

Two hundred and sixty seven patients of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria completed study in a multicentric phase III clinical trial of Arteether. Arteether was given intramuscularly in a dose of 150 mg daily for three consecutive days.

Topical amiloride solution accelerates healing of mechanical skin ulcers in albino rats.

The present investigation was undertaken to explore the ulcer healing properties of three dosage schedules of various concentrations of topically administered amiloride solution in mechanically produced skin ulcers in albino rats. Four skin ulcers (two on either side of the midline) were made 2.5 cm apart on the preshaved back of each anesthetized rat with a round body skin biopsy punch (7 mm diameter) through the dermis to the depth of subcutaneous tissue.

Synthesis and anti-inflammatory activity of 1-acetyl-5-substituted aryl-3-(beta-aminonaphthyl)-2-pyrazolines and beta-(substituted aminoethyl) amidonaphthalenes.

The title compounds were prepared by reaction of beta-acetylamino-naphthalene with different aromatic aldehydes followed by cyclisation with hydrazine hydrate and with different primary or secondary amines (Mannich's reaction), respectively. The structures of new compounds were confirmed by 1H-NMR and IR spectral data. Anti-inflammatory and ulcerogenic activities in vivo were evaluated and compared with the standard drugs, phenylbutazone and indomethacin.

Newer substituted beta-aminonaphthalenes as potent anti-inflammatory agents.

beta-[2-(3'-Chloro-2'-oxo-4'-substituted aryl-1'-azetidinyl)-thiazol-4- yl]aminonaphthalenes 13-17 and beta-[2-(1',3'-disubstitutedphenyl-formazan-4'-yl)-thiazol-4-yl] aminonaphthalenes 8-12 were synthesized from beta-(2-arylideneamino-thiazol-4-yl)aminonaphthalenes 3-7 by diazotisation and by cycloaddition with monochloroacetyl chloride, respectively, on the azomethine group of the compounds 3-7. The newly synthesized compounds showed potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities and were less ulcerogenic than phenylbutazone.

Detection of mycobacterial antigen in circulating immune complexes in patients with childhood tuberculosis.

The presence of both components (antigen and antibody) in circulating immune complexes (CIC) were detected in tuberculosis in children. Fifty two patients with pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis showed the presence of either components or both. CIC--antigen was present in 92.

Aging and DNA polymerase alpha: modulation by dietary restriction.

Aging is an inevitable characteristic of biological processes in living organisms. For the last several years, investigators have proposed numerous mechanisms to explain the basic understanding of aging and its intervention and have provided many insights into the molecular bases and the biological events that contribute to the progressive decline in function observed during cellular aging. It is probable that a number of interacting factors, such as increased somatic mutations, changes in genetic expression, and decreased efficiency of protein synthesis, may contribute to the age-dependent deterioration of physiological processes.

Toxic effect of synthetic pyrethroid permethrin on the enzyme system of the freshwater fish Channa striatus.

Treatment with 40% and 80% of the LC50 (24h) of the pyrethroid permethrin after 24h exposure causes significant reduction in the activity of lactate dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase and enhanced the succinate dehydrogenase activity in the tissues of the freshwater fish Channa striatus. The results indicate that permethrin blocks aerobic as well as anaerobic metabolism in the exposed fishes.

Effects of ethanol on intraovarian nitric oxide production in the prepubertal rat.

Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to contribute to ovarian development and function. In non-ovarian tissues NO can be altered by ethanol (ETOH), a drug considered to be a gonadal toxin in men as well as male and female rats. The present study was undertaken to determine if some of the detrimental effects of chronic ETOH exposure on prepubertal ovarian function could be due to ETOH-induced alterations in the intraovarian NO system.

Effects of ethanol on the intraovarian insulin-like growth factor-1 system in the prepubertal rat.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is considered to play an important role during ovarian development and function. Because ethanol (ETOH) is a gonadal toxin in men, as well as male and female rats, we hypothesized that this drug may be having detrimental effects in the ovary by altering the intraovarian actions of IGF-1. In support of this notion, the present study was undertaken to examine the chronic effects of ETOH on the ovarian IGF-1 system in prepubertal female rats.

Synthesis and anti-inflammatory activity of some potential cyclic phenothiazines.

Some new schiff's bases (IVa-IVe), thiazolidinones (Va-Ve), delta 2-triazolines (VIa-VIe) and formazans (VIIa-VIIe) of 2-chlorophenothiazine have been synthesized and screened against Carrageenin induced oedema in albino rats. Some compounds of the series have shown promising activity. The most active compound is 2-chloro-10[5-(2-fluorophenyl-2-oxo-4 thiazolidin-1-yl)-amino acetyl] phenothiazine was found to be most potent.

Benign osteoblastoma mimicking malignancy of the spine.

A case of osteoblastoma of the spine in a sixty year old female is presented. These lesions usually get misdiagnosed as tuberculosis or malignancy of the spine. Salient diagnostic features have been discussed.

Biting behaviour and biting rhythm of potential Japanese encephalitis vectors in Assam.

Studies on biting behaviour and biting cycles of medically important mosquitoes were carried out in Madhupur village and Tarajan tea estate of upper Assam. Collections were made off human baits outdoors and indoors and off cattle bait outdoors from August 1991 to July 1992. Human bait collections were performed using the 'stationary direct bait' technique.

Injury to anterior optic pathways.

Fourteen patients with injury to the anterior optic pathways have been presented and analysed. Their clinical profile, radiological data and problems involved therein have been discussed. Since an expectant policy has been the rule so far, an attempt has been made to define the role of surgery in such cases.

Effect of arteether alpha/beta on uncomplicated falciparum malaria cases in Upper Assam.

Thirty patients of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria completed a clinical trial of arteether alpha/beta conducted in a malaria endemic tea garden of district Dibrugarh, Assam. Arteether was given intramuscularly in once a day dose of 150 mg for three consecutive days. The cure rate was 100 per cent with mean fever and parasite clearance time of 42.

Correlation between degree of protection and humoral antibody response in hamsters immunized with somatic and excretory secretory antigens of Ancylostoma ceylanicum.

Correlation between the degree of protection and induced serum antibody response in hamsters immunized with somatic and excretory-secretory (ES) antigens of adult. A. ceylanicum was investigated.

Albendazole therapy in orbital cysticercosis.

A patient with orbital cysticercosis is being presented, where albendazole therapy was successfully used. Serial CT scans of the lesions showed definite signs of resolution. The role of albendazole therapy in cysticercosis has been discussed.