Comparisons between invasive and noninvasive determinations of embryonic heart rate in chickens

The embryonic heart rate (HR) of chicken eggs was determined by ballistocardiography, electrocardiography, impedance-cardiography and acoustocardiography. The effects of these different methods on the HR were examined for young (12-day-old) and late (16- and 18-day-old) embryos. Ballistocardiography is a non-invasive method. Nevertheless, the mean HRs determined using this method at 5-hr intervals were significantly different in many embryos. This difference was caused by the natural variability of embryonic HR. The statistical analyses indicated that any of these four methods did not influence the HR measurement and can be used as a simple means for determination of the embryonic HR.

Contact hemolysin production by strains of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli isolated from children with diarrhea

Forty-five strains of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli were tested for hemolytic activity with different culture media and erythrocytes from different species. Thirty-seven strains showed proteinase K-sensitive contact hemolysin activity with sheep erythrocytes when cultured in Casamino Acids-yeast extract broth supplemented with 1 mM calcium chloride and when cultured in nutrient broth media. The production of contact hemolysin was dependent on temperature, pH, and culture conditions.

Role of Shigella dysenteriae type 1 slime polysaccharide in resistance to serum killing and phagocytosis

Shigella dysenteriae type 1 produce a slime polysaccharide when cultivated in vivo in adult rabbit ileal loops or in vitro in casamino acid yeast extract broth medium which promotes hemagglutination of these bacteria. Seven strains of S. dysenteriae 1 grown in vitro and in vivo and possessing slime polysaccharides resisted killing by normal human serum as compared to bacteria grown under conditions which do not stimulate the production of capsular polysaccharide and did not resist serum killing (mean survival 72% for in vitro growth and 73% for in vivo growth conditions favoring capsule production vs < 2% for growth conditions which do not favor capsule production; P < 0.001 for both comparisons). Similar differences were observed when killing was assessed by phagocytosis (62-78% vs < 2%; P < 0.001). We conclude that capsular polysaccharide may be an additional virulence factor of S. dysenteriae 1.

Influence of reserpine and guanethidine on the responses of the isolated rat ileum to catecholamines

The sensitivity of the isolated ileum of the rat to catecholamines has been investigated using normal, reserpinized and guanethidine treated animals. Both reserpine and guanethidine treatment produces supersensitivity to adrenaline, noradrenaline and to a greater extent to isoprenaline.

Mechanical suture methods in thoracic and abdominal surgery

Mechanical suturing procedures on the bowel, lung, bronchi and pulmonary vessels have been used on 264 occasions in 180 thoracic and abdominal operations. The instruments proved simple to use and produced reliable good quality closures, for the most part without manual reinforcement. There were 2 technical failures, one ending fatally, after colo-colostomy. Two minor postoperative suture leaks were encountered in 122 operations on the alimentary tract, but no leakage or other problem has arisen in 58 pulmonary cases. The staple-suturing methods described are safe and straightforward, and it is believed that they represent a significant advance in the techniques of thoracic and abdominal surgery, which can usefully be applied in many situations.

Preponderance of beta adrenergic receptors in the gastric fundus of the rat

There are two kinds of adrenergic receptors in rat fundus (stomach), the alpha receptors are stimulated with adrenaline and noradrenaline and can be blocked effectively with azapetine and the beta receptors are stimulated with isoprenaline and adrenaline and can be blocked effectively with propranolol. Adrenaline, noradrenaline and isoprenaline all produce inhibition of acetylcholine induced contractions in both untreated and reserpinized tissues that can be antagonized with azapetine and propranolol on its specific receptors but propranolol has a greater capacity to decrease the sensitivity of both untreated and reserpinized tissues to isoprenaline and adrenaline than azapetine can in case of noradrenaline and adrenaline.

Effects of reserpine on the responses of the isolated rat fundus strip to catecholamines and specific adrenoceptor antagonists

The effects of reserpine on the sensitivity to catecholamines and adrenoceptor antagonists propranolol and azapetine were studied on the fundus strips of the rat. The results obtained in this study would support the view that reserpine may increase the sensitivity of beta receptor to isoprenaline and adrenaline by the mechanism which may be independent of the uptake of catecholamines in the sympathetic nervous system.

Assessment of Psychiatric Disorders in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder commonly associated with psychosomatic illness Eighty six patients of IBS who met the clinical Rome-II criteria were enrolled in this prospective study. Necessary laboratory investigations were done to exclude organic diseases. All patients were subjected to psychiatric assessment by clinical psychiatrist using DSM-IV criteria. 96.5% of the studied patients actually had different psychiatric illness. Among them generalized anxiety disorder (24.4%), depressive illness (27.8%), somatoform disorder (12.7%) and hypochondriasis (10.4%) were the predominant abnormalities. New onset of IBS patients exhibited higher prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder (42.8%) in comparison to longer duration of illness. Depressive illness (44.4%) was substantially higher in constipation-predominant IBS than other forms.   doi: 10.3329/taj.v18i1.3296 TAJ 2005; 18(1): 10-13

Effect of different host plants on growth and development of epilachna beetle

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of four different host plants viz., teasel gourd, bitter gourd, sponge gourd, and yard long bean on the growth and development of Epilachna dodecastigma Wied under laboratory condition. The number of eggs laid by female beetle was significantly highest feeding on teasel gourd leaves and lowest on yardlong bean leaves. Egg hatching was faster on yardlong bean and delayed on bitter gourd. The host plant, such as sponge gourd produced the large sized larvae, while large pupa and adult were developed by feeding teasel leaves. The smallest larvae, pupae, and adults were found on the consumption of yardlong bean leaves. Highest larval duration was found on sponge gourd followed by bitter gourd and yardlong bean. Both larval and adult food consumption was highest on teasel gourd and lowest on yardlong bean. Considering the biological characteristics and leaf consumption, the plant teasel gourd appeared to be the best host plant for E. dodecastigma. Key Words: Host plant, growth and development, Epilachna dodecastigma, leaf consumption. DOI: 10.3329/bjar.v34i3.3965 Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 34(3) : 403-410, September 2009

Comparative efficacy of powdered form of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) leaves and glimepiride in induced diabetic rats

Now a day, various medicinal plants are becoming popular for the treatment of different diseases. Some medicinal plants are being used for the treatment of diabetes all over the world. The study was conducted to investigate the effects of powdered form of Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) leaves on blood glucose concentration and body weight in Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats and for its efficacy study with a patent drug, Glimepiride. The effects of powdered form of Stevia leaves was evaluated in the Streptozotocin (STZ; 55 mg/kg body weight as single intraperitoneal injection) induced diabetic rats and for this, powdered form of Stevia leaves was orally administered at three different dose rates of 150 mg/kg, 200 mg/Kg and 250 mg/Kg body weight, respectively once a day for 3 weeks. Changes in the blood glucose levels and body weights were measured and the data obtained were compared with that of Glimepiride statistically by using Student's unpaired t-test. The powdered form of Stevia leaves produced significant (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05) hypoglycemic effects on Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats in comparison with that of the standard drug, Glimepiride. Powdered form of Stevia leaves at a dose rate of 250 mg/Kg decreased body weight significantly (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05) in STZ-induced diabetic rats. From this study, it was observed that powdered form of Stevia leaves possessed both hypoglycemic and body weight reducing effects. Key words: Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, glimepiride, streptozotocin, diabetic rat doi: 10.3329/bjvm.v6i2.2338 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2008). 6 (2): 211-215

Serum triglyceride level in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with or without Frozen shoulder

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders are very common among the diabetic patients and frozen shoulder is one of the disabling conditions. The present study was conducted to compare the serum triglyceride level among the patients of type 2 diabetic presented with and without frozen shoulder.Methodology: This case control study was conducted from January 2008 to December 2009, in the department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka with an aim to compare the serum triglyceride level among diabetic patients presented with, and without frozen shoulder. Thirty types 2 diabetic patients with frozen shoulder were selected as cases and similar number well matched type 2 diabetic patients without frozen shoulder were selected as control.Results: We prospectively studied 30 diabetes mellitus (type 2) patients with the diagnosis of frozen shoulder. The blood sugar both fasting and 2 hours after breakfast, HbA1c and serum triglyceride levels were measured in all patients and compared with those in 30 diabetic patients without frozen shoulder. The blood sugar, fasting and 2 hours after breakfast, HbA1C and serum triglyceride levels were significantly elevated in the frozen-shoulder group (fasting blood sugar p = 0.012; blood sugar 2 hours after breakfast p<0.01; HbA1C p<0.05; and triglyceride p < 0.001).Conclusion: Diabetic type 2 patients presented with frozen shoulder had higher serum triglyceride level compare to the diabetic type 2 patients without frozen shoulder. DOI: 10.3329/bmrcb.v36i2.6990Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2010; 36: 64-67