Cardiac torsion after lobectomy with partial pericardectomy

Cardiac herniation and torsion after intrapericardial pneumonectomy without closure of the pericardium is widely recognized. However, such a complication occurring after lobectomy has been rarely discussed in the literature. We describe a case of cardiac torsion of late onset that developed in a woman who had undergone left upper lobectomy as part of a resection for a malignant thymoma.

Schistosoma mansoni: characterization and identification of calcium-binding proteins associated with the apical plasma membrane and envelope

Calcium-binding proteins (CaBPs) of Schistosoma mansoni were purified by hydrophobic affinity chromatography. Metabolically labeled CaBPs were characterized using SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by fluorography. A number of CaBPs were detected in total tissue extracts, apical plasma membrane, and soluble fractions of the apical bilayer complex, ranging from 15 to 205 kDa in their molecular masses. No CaBPs were discerned in the envelope of the apical bilayer complex. Two CaBPs were positively identified as calmodulin and gelsolin via immunoblot analyses. The possible role of CaBPs in surface signal transduction mechanisms has also been briefly discussed.

Isolation of a highly enriched plasma membrane fraction of Trypanosoma brucei by free-flow electrophoresis

A procedure is described whereby a highly enriched plasma membrane fraction was isolated from Trypanosoma brucei by the technique of preparative free-flow electrophoresis. The purity of the plasma membrane fraction was monitored by electron microscopy and by marker enzymology, and is compared to those obtained by previous methods. Proteins associated with plasma membrane fraction were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and phase separated in Triton X-114.

Radiolabeling of Necator americanus third stage larvae with 75Se-methionine

Third stage larvae of Necator americanus were radiolabeled with 75Se-methionine by two methods. Larvae labeled in aqueous cultures contained 188 and 25 cpm per sheathed and ex-sheathed larva, respectively. Larvae labeled in coproculture incorporated 25 and 18 cpm per sheathed and ex-sheathed larva, respectively. All of the label was decayed in 5 days from larvae labeled in aqueous cultures, whereas appreciable amounts of radioactivity were still detectable at day 7 of chase period in coproculture labeled larvae.

A simple method for the collection of Necator americanus larvae

A simple method for the collection of third-stage larvae of Necator americanus has been described. This technique provides repeated recovery of very clean larvae from cultures in moderate numbers.

Hypoglycemic effect of Allium sativum on oral glucose tolerance test in rabbits

The effect of crude garlic and its two organic extracts on blood glucose levels of rabbits have been studied. It was found that the petroleum ether extract and crude garlic juice had some hypoglycemic effect on the induced hyperglycemia in the experimental animals, whereas no effect was observed on the group fed on ethanol extract.

Hypocholesterolemic effects of garlic in cholesterol fed rabbits

Healthy male rabbits weighing about 1 Kg to 1.5 Kg were divided into 4 groups. Group-I fed on normal stock and 50 mg cholesterol per day. Blood cholesterol levels in different groups of male rabbits (controls, crude garlic treated, petroleum ether extract treated and ethanol extract treated) show a significant inhibitory effect on the rise of serum cholesterol level. Thus, it was found that the extracted oils which were believed to be in solvent extracts and crude garlic effectively prevent rise in serum cholesterol level. The crude garlic is more effective than petroleum ether and ethanol extracts. Ethanol was least effective in suppressing serum cholesterol concentration.

Developmental and immune regulation of gene expression in Hymenolepis diminuta

Gene expression and its regulation was studied in the rat tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta, during strobilization. RNAs extracted from the different developmental stages of the parasite were translated in vitro in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate system. Two-dimensional patterns of the translational products were compared with the 2-dimensional patterns obtained by metabolic labelling with [35S]methionine. The results indicated a post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression during strobilization in this parasite. Gene expression and its regulation was also studied in H. diminuta obtained from 'non-permissive' hosts (mice) and immune suppressed mice and compared with the parasites of the same age obtained from 'permissive' rats hosts. The 2-dimensional patterns of the in vitro translation products, obtained by translating the RNA of different groups of parasites, were compared with the patterns of gene products obtained from parasites using [35S]methionine metabolic labelling. The results indicated a massive post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, the latter inhibited in parasites obtained from normal mice, but not in immune suppressed mice.

5'-Nucleotidase activity and substrate affinity in digenetic trematodes

5'-nucleotidases of eight species of digenetic trematodes were studied using five different substrates. All species showed the following preferential order of substrate affinity; AMP greater than CMP greater than GMP greater than TMP greater than UMP. It was observed that different species occupying similar habitats possessed closely related levels of enzyme activities. The function of 5'-nucleotidases in trematodes is also suggested.

Subcellular fractionation of Hymenolepis diminuta with special reference to the localization of marker enzymes

A method for subcellular fractionation of Hymenolepis diminuta using whole worm homogenization and differential centrifugation is presented. Different fractions obtained in this study were screened for the presence of enzymes that serve as markers for plasma membrane, brush border, mitochondria, Golgi complex, endoplasmic reticulum, peroxisomes, lysosomes and cytosol. The purity of fractions was also monitored by transmission electron microscopy. The purity of fractions, particularly the brush border membranes, are compared to those obtained by previous methods for H. diminuta or other tissues.

The purification of alpha 1-antichymotrypsin from human serum using DNA-cellulose chromatography

By exploiting its capacity for binding to DNA, the protease inhibitor alpha 1-antichymotrypsin has been isolated from human serum by ammonium sulfate fractionation and successive chromatography on QAE-Sephadex, DNA-cellulose, and Sephacryl S-300. This experimental procedure compares favorably with existing methods for preparing alpha 1-antichymotrypsin in terms of overall yield and practical convenience. The purified alpha 1-antichymotrypsin was homogeneous as judged by electrophoretic and immunoelectrophoretic criteria. From its inhibition of the fluorimetric titration of chymotrypsin with 4-methylumbelliferyl-p-trimethylammonium cinnamate it was shown to combine with chymotrypsin in a 1:1 molar ratio and thus to retain its biological activity.

Chronic toxic effects of the carbamate pesticide sevin on carbohydrate metabolism in a freshwater snakehead fish, Channa punctatus

The effect of exposure to a sublethal concentration of the carbamate pesticide, sevin (1.05 mg/l), on biochemical parameters of blood, liver and muscle, and enzyme activities in liver, kidney, intestine, brain, gills, and muscles of the freshwater teleost fish, Channa punctatus, was studied after 15, 30 and 60 days. The alterations produced were more marked after 30 and 60 days of exposure than after 15 days; fish were hyperglycaemic and hyperlactacidemic. Glycogen content of liver and muscles decreased, but lactic acid levels of the two tissues increased. In liver, muscles, brain and gills the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was higher in pesticide-exposed fish in comparison to control fish, but the same enzyme activity was inhibited in kidney and intestine. Decreased pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activity occurred in all six tissues. Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity decreased in muscle at the three time periods and after 30 and 60 days in liver and brain. However, in kidney and intestine the latter enzyme activity was elevated. The results suggest that anaerobic metabolism was favoured and aerobic oxidation of pyruvate was impaired in fish exposed to sevin.

Effect of endosulfan and quinalphos on intestinal absorption of glucose in the freshwater murrel, Channa punctatus

The effect of four concentrations of two agricultural pesticides, endosulfan and quinalphos (100 ppm, 10 ppm, 1 ppm, 0.1 ppm) on the rate of uptake of glucose by the intestine of a teleost fish, Channa punctatus after 1 h at 23 degrees C has been studied. The rate of absorption of glucose by the intestine was also examined in fish exposed to LC50 for 96 h (endosulfan 2 micrograms/l, quinalphos 0.25 mg/l) and to a sublethal concentration of the two pesticides for 15 and 30 days by bath. All the four concentrations of the two pesticides decreased the rate of intestinal glucose transport. Increase in the concentration of the pesticides decreased the uptake of glucose to a greater extent but the decrease was not proportional to the increase in the concentration of the pesticides. The rate of glucose absorption was also reduced by exposure of fish to the pesticides by bath. The decrease in intestinal glucose transport was greater in fish exposed for 96 h than after either 15 or 30 days. Of the two pesticides, endosulfan was more effective in reducing the glucose transport rate.

Ocular hypertension and systemic responses to the water-drinking test

Osmolal, electrolyte, and other responses in peripheral blood were recorded after water loading of patients with ocular hypertension and chronic simple glaucoma, and with a small group of younger normal subjects. The osmolal responses of the ocular hypertensive group were significantly greater than for the glaucoma group, and further differences in plasma potassium concentration were also found. Drinking habits may exert a significant influence in ocular hypertension. The relative contributions to the diagnostic category of the variables recorded was evaluated by discriminant analysis, and the application of this retrospective approach to the assessment of new patients is discussed.

The effect of thiazide diuretics on carbohydrate-induced calciuria in patients with recurrent renal calculi

Thiazide diuretics could have a beneficial effect in the prevention of recurrent renal calculi by decreasing the exaggerated calciuria which follows carbohydrate ingestionin patients who form calcium oxalate stones. The calciuric response to 100Gm. or oral glucose was studied in 21 patients with recurrent calcium stones before and after 6 months of hydrochlorothiazide therapy...