Metal chelators/antioxidants: approaches to protect erythrocytic oxidative stress injury during Plasmodium berghei infection in Mastomys coucha

Desferal, N-acetyl penicillamine (metal chelators) and propylgallate, catechin, and reduced glutathione (antioxidants) suppressed the erythrocytic oxidative damage generated during Plasmodium berghei infection in Mastomys coucha. Superoxide anion and lipid peroxide levels were increased and on the contrary, superoxide dismutase activity was noticeably decreased in the infected erythrocytes. Metal chelators/antioxidant treatment to infected animals resulted in restoration of O(2)(-), LPO and SOD to near normal levels. Furthermore, treatment of the above mentioned agents displayed a controlled mortality/survival time and parasitaemia. In conclusion, metal chelators/antioxidants were found to be effective against oxidative stress injury and parasite growth resulting in prolonged survival time of the host during experimental malaria.

Evaluation of the SCOTI device for confirming blind nasal intubation

The sonomatic confirmation of tracheal intubation (SCOTI) is a new device used to confirm the correct placement of tracheal tubes. It utilises a sonic technique for recognition of a resonating frequency for detection of tracheal intubation. We compared its predictive value with that of the clinical auscultatory method and a capnograph to confirm 132 blind nasal intubations using three different tracheal tubes [red rubber (n = 82), polyvinyl chloride (n = 33) and RAE preformed nasal (n = 17)]. SCOTI correctly identified 70.8% of intubations and chest auscultation did so 99.2% of times. All results were confirmed using a capnograph. The SCOTI device gave a false-negative value in 37 patients (28%) and a false-positive result in two patients (1.5%). The response time for confirming intubations was 2.5 (1.5) s for the SCOTI, 4.1 (1.1) s for a capnograph and 40 (9.4) s for the auscultatory method. The erroneous results shown by the SCOTI device were highest when polyvinyl chloride tubes with a Murphy's eye were used for intubation. This study shows that this device is not very useful for ascertaining the correct placement of tracheal tubes after blind nasal intubation.

Analysis of tea shoot catechins: spectrophotometric quantitation and selective visualization on two-dimensional paper chromatograms using diazotized sulfanilamide

A highly specific and sensitive diazotized sulfanilamide reagent is synthesized for determination of tea catechins. The reagent is employed both as spray reagent for selective visualization of tea catechins on two-dimensional paper chromatograms (sensitivity <1 microg of d-(+)-catechin) and for their spectrophotometric quantification in the crude extracts of tea polyphenols isolated from fresh or dried tea shoots. The formation of yellow color (lambda(max) = 425 nm) between catechins and diazotized sulfanilamide was investigated and made the basis of a simple and sensitive spectrophotometric method for estimation of the total and individual catechins in different tea cultivars. At 425 nm, the absorbance was linear (r = 0.999) over the (0.4-8.0 microg/mL) concentration range of d-(+)-catechin.

Multiphoton near-infrared femtosecond laser pulse-induced DNA damage with and without the photosensitizer proflavine

The excitation of pBr322 supercoiled plasmid DNA with intense near-IR 810 nm fs laser pulses by a simultaneous multiphoton absorption mechanism results in single-strand breaks after treatment of the irradiated samples with Micrococcus luteus UV endonuclease. This enzyme cleaves DNA strands at sites of cyclobutane dimers that are formed by the simultaneous absorption of three (or more) 810 nm IR photons (pulse width approximately 140 fs, 76 MHz pulse repetition, average power output focused through 10x microscope objective is approximately 1.2 MW/cm2). Direct single-strand breaks (without treatment with M. luteus) were not observed under these conditions. However, in the presence of 6 microM of the intercalator proflavine (PF), both direct single- and double-strand breaks are observed under conditions where substantial fractions of undamaged supercoiled DNA molecules are still present. The fraction of direct double-strand breaks is 30 +/- 5% of all measurable strand cleavage events, is independent of dosage (up to 6.4 GJ/cm2) and is proportional to In, where I is the average power/area of the 810 nm fs laser pulses, and n = 3 +/- 1. The nicking of two DNA strands in the immediate vicinity of the excited PF molecules gives rise to this double-strand cleavage. In contrast, excitation of the same samples under low-power, single-photon absorption conditions (approximately 400-500 nm) gives rise predominantly to single-strand breaks, but some double-strand breaks are observed at the higher dosages. Thus, single-photon excitation with 400-500 nm light and multiphoton activation of PF by near-IR fs laser pulses produces different distributions of single- and double-strand breaks. These results suggest that DNA strand cleavage originates from unrelaxed, higher excited states when PF is excited by simultaneous IR multiphoton absorption processes.

N-acetyl penicillamine a protector of Plasmodium berghei induced stress organ injury in mice

N-acetyl penicillamine (NAP), a derivative of penicillamine and copper chelator has been employed as a potential protector of host stress organ injury during Plasmodium berghei infection in mice. Intramuscular injection of NAP (60 mg kg-1 body wt for 10 days) to P. berghei mice was able to restrict the hepato- and splenomegaly. The mortality rate of infected mice was decreased by 50% by NAP. The decreased protein and lipid peroxidation and increased copper contents during P. berghei were almost normalized after NAP treatment. The increased levels of erythrocytic superoxide anion and lipid peroxides due to infection were almost normalized after NAP treatment.

Diagnosis of glomerular haematuria: role of dysmorphic red cell, G1 cell and bright-field microscopy

Differentiation between glomerular and non-glomerular haematuria by observation of the changes in red cell morphology using phase-contrast microscopy is a well established technique. However, the method is not widely accepted in clinical practice because of controversy regarding the minimum percentage of dysmorphic red cells required to diagnose glomerular aetiology, as well as the need for specialized microscopes. Recently, a glomerular-specific morphological alteration of red cells has been described, which has the form of a doughnut shape with one or more blebs and which is termed the "G1" cell. In the present double-blind prospective study 250 urine samples were examined without any knowledge of diagnosis. Haematuria was detected in 122 cases. The type of haematuria was characterized by counting dysmorphic cells and G1 cells separately, in each case using a phase-contrast microscope as well as an ordinary bright-field microscope with and without staining of urinary sediments. The results were later correlated with the confirmed diagnosis. The study showed that the G1 cell is more specific than the dysmorphic cell for the diagnosis of glomerular haematuria. Evaluation of both dysmorphic red cells and G1 cells can be done using bright-field microscopy with 100% specificity and sensitivities of 82 and 100%, respectively. It has been concluded that the ordinary bright-field microscope can be used for the diagnosis of glomerular haematuria with an efficiency similar to that of a phase-contrast microscope.

Solvation, water permeation, and ionic selectivity of a putative model for the pore region of the voltage-gated sodium channel

This paper describes a molecular dynamics and molecular mechanics study of the solvation and selectivity of the narrow pore and vestibule region of a model-built structure for the voltage-gated sodium channel. The particular structure used was one proposed by Guy and Durell. However, many of the features we saw would likely be shared with other possible models for this channel, such as the one proposed by Lipkind and Fozzard. It was found that the water mobility was reduced in the channel and the water orientations were significantly ordered by the channel environment. Water mobility depended on protein mobility; in a computer experiment in which the protein was artificially frozen, channel water at 300 degrees K was immobilized. Water motions were defined in significant part by a series of discrete moves from one pattern of hydrogen bonding with particular amino acids to another. However, there are so many different hydrogen bonding patterns that a description of the motion in terms of transitions among a small number of discrete states is not appropriate. In the model whose solvation we explored, several charged residues seem to play a particularly significant role in determining solvation and water motions. Based on energy minimization studies, the structure clearly shows selectivity for univalent cations over anions.

Expression of p68 in human colon cancer

p68 is an interferon-inducible protein kinase which is a key factor in the regulation of both viral and cellular protein synthesis. Since p68 plays a central role in cellular protein synthesis, we hypothesized that it would parallel translational activity, and thereby correlate with cellular differentiation in both normal and neoplastic cell types. Using the anti-p68 monoclonal antibody, TJ4C4, we have previously noted a correlation of p68 expression with the degree of cellular differentiation in the human upper aerodigestive tract and lung. During normal human fetal development, p68 is abundantly expressed in the upper aerodigestive tract and lungs, but considerably less so in the colon. In order to determine if this fetal expression pattern correlated with the pattern seen in adult colon and colonic adenocarcinomas, we analyzed the expression pattern of p68 in 80 patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon. Using light microscopic evaluation of immunoperoxidase-stained tissue sections, a spectrum of p68 expression was noted among the tissue samples. Increased p68 levels were noted in the majority of tumors with increased cellular differentiation, and those tissues with decreased p68 were, in general, less differentiated. These data are consistent with the concept that the expression of p68 parallels the degree of cellular differentiation, and are consistent with previously reported studies using this antibody. The limited fetal expression pattern of p68 in the colon and the variable correlation of p68 with differentiation suggests that p68, as well as other translational regulators, can be important in assessing the biological potential of tumors arising in the colon.

Blood and placental lead levels in an Indian city: a preliminary report

A preliminary investigation was carried out in a hospital in the city of Lucknow, India, to provide information on the possible range of lead (Pb) exposure in pregnant women and fetuses, to correlate high Pb levels with various socioenvironmental factors, and to examine any possible association between reproductive outcome and Pb levels in this population. The results indicate that maternal blood lead levels were higher in those who experienced abnormal deliveries and in those who ate nonvegetarian diets or drank groundwater compared with the respective control groups. Placenta, cord blood, and fetal membranes from both normal and abnormal delivery cases showed no significant differences in their Pb content. Other socioenvironmental factors did not influence these Pb levels. However, incidence of higher Pb levels in maternal blood (17% and 38% with Pb > 25 micrograms/dl in normal and abnormal deliveries, respectively) and cord blood (> 10 micrograms/dl) reflect a need for regular monitoring and lowering of environmental Pb exposure.

Study of root canals and their configuration in maxillary second permanent molar

The present in-vitro study was undertaken to know root canals and their configuration (type, curvature, number of apical foramen etc) in maxillary second permanent molar. Separately, fifty teeth by radiographic method and by decalcification method were studied. Radiologically in mesiobuccal root, two root canals were found in 78% and 20% of the specimens in mesiodistal and buccolingual direction respectively. In the distobuccal root, 2 root canals were seen in 4% and 6% of the specimen in mesiodistal and buccolingual direction respectively. Two root canals also varied in both radiological as well as decalcification methods. It is concluded from the present study that mesiobuccal roots of maxillary second molar exhibited anatomical variations and aberrant findings in the root canals. More care should always be exercised to locate the extra canal in these roots.