Alleviation of nickel-induced biochemical alterations by chelating agents

The effect of 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (Cyclam), triethylenetetramine (TETA), reduced glutathione (GSH), ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), cyclohexanediamine tetraacetic acid (CDTA), diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA), and hydroxyethylenediamine triacetic acid (HEDTA) on the alleviation of nickel-induced biochemical and trace-metal alterations in serum, liver, and kidney of nickel-treated rats was studied. The lipophilic chelating agents Cyclam and TETA exhibited a higher order of effectiveness in alleviating nickel-induced alterations compared to EDTA, CDTA, DTPA, and HEDTA, the hydrophilic chelating agents. The higher efficacy of lipophilic agents may be due to their ability to bind to nickel present in extracellular fluid as well as in intracellular fluid, while the hydrophilic agents may bind only to nickel present in extracellular fluid. Our data also suggest that the efficacy of Cyclam to ameliorate nickel-induced alterations is exceptionally high.

Studies on the effects of the antiandrogen cyproterone acetate on social encounters between pairs of male mice

An attempt was made in two experiments to reinvestigate the effects of the antiandrogen cyproterone acetate (CA) on mouse social behavior in a variety of ethologically-assessed paired encounters. The data confirm that CA reduces offense (threat and attack) in animals when both subjects receive the material but that CA has no such action in other pairings. This suggests that CA's major suppressive effect on "hostility" is expressed in mice via a reduction in "attack-promoting" pheromone production. Indeed, there was evidence in the more chronic study that CA, could augment (via a central mechanism?) offense in subjects paired with docile anosmic opponents. Changes in defense were largely responses to variations in the degree of attack to which animals were subjected. The antihormone also had actions on other aspects of behavior including sexual activity, social investigation and immobility in such tests. CA had a potent suppressive action on the weights of sex accessory glands. The data do not suggest that CA can be used as a specific antihostility agent.

The potential of antiestrogens as centrally-acting antihostility agents: recent animal data

Recent studies suggest that motivations for certain forms of masculine behavior including social aggression are mediated by central estrogen receptors. Two studies using antiestrogens in rodent species were performed. Intact male LH rats were given Tamoxifen or vehicle for 4 or 8 days. The three possible pairings were videotaped for 60 min. Intact male OF1 mice were given CI-680 or vehicle over 25 days. Similar pairings were carried out but some CI-680 or vehicle animals were paired with anosmic opponents. Encounters were videotaped for 10 min. In both experiments evidence was obtained that the antiestrogen markedly reduced time allocated to offense. Any variations in defense were a consequence of the level of attack to which animals were subjected. Neither compound greatly influenced the androgen-dependent sex accessory glands. Antiestrogens consequently have potential as antihostility agents in some forms of attack.

A validation of a scoring system to evaluate the condition of transported very-low-birthweight neonates

A scoring system was developed to objectively evaluate the condition of transported preterm infants. The "transport score" used five variables: blood glucose, blood pressure, pH, pO2, and temperature. Each variable was scored 0, 1, or 2, with a total achievable score from 0 to 10. Twenty-one matched pairs of infants included one infant who lived and one who died. The transport scores upon admission of infants who lived was significantly greater than the scores of those who died (P less than 0.01). Scores less than eight were predictive of death (sensitivity 62%, specificity 81%). The system was then applied prospectively to 106 different infants after stabilization by the hospital-of-origin (pre-transport) and upon admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (post-transport). Although 75 (76%) of the 99 surviving infants had both stabilization and admissions scores of eight or more, only 2 (29%) of the 7 infants who died had both scores of eight or more. Of 85 infants with a stabilization score of eight or greater, only 3 (3.5%) died, while of 21 infants with stabilization scores less than eight, 4 (19%) died. Similarly, of 90 infants with an admission score of eight or more, only 4 (4.4%) died, while of 16 with an admission score of less than eight, 3 (19%) died. We conclude that transport scores provide a valid indication of the condition of preterm infants and may be used to provide quality assurance for stabilization and transport efforts.

Evidence for the involvement of hydroxyl radicals in nickel mediated enhancement of lipid peroxidation: implications for nickel carcinogenesis

The administration of nickel to rats resulted in enhanced hepatic lipid peroxidation, levels of glutathione and iron with a concomitant decrease in glutathione peroxidase activity. These effects were dose dependent. Enhanced lipid peroxidation was found to be inhibited by the exogenous addition of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), benzoate and ethanol while catalase and superoxide dismutase were ineffective in this regard. Our data strongly suggest the involvement of hydroxyl radicals in the nickel mediated enhancement of lipid peroxidation which may have their implications in the carcinogenicity of nickel compounds.

Role of glutathione metabolizing enzymes in nickel mediated induction of hepatic glutathione

The administration of nickel to rats resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the level of hepatic glutathione and in the activities of glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase with a concomitant decrease in the activities of glutathione peroxidase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. The increase in hepatic glutathione may be due to the decrease in the activities of glutathione utilizing enzymes and increase in the activity of glutathione reductase leading to the increased turnover of glutathione.

An evaluation of a computer program to predict the outcome of hyaline membrane disease

A computerized model was developed to predict the severity of hyaline membrane disease. This study compared the program's predictive ability with that of three neonatologists. Blood gas and respiratory support data of 33 infants were entered into the computer which then predicted the severity of disease. The computer predicted 18 outcomes correctly. The neonatologists, provided with the same data, predicted 24 outcomes correctly. Both sets of predictions--computer and physician--found that patients predicted to have mild outcomes had the shortest oxygen requirements, duration of mechanical ventilation, and length of hospitalization, and infants predicted to have severe outcomes had the greatest oxygen requirements, duration of mechanical ventilation, and length of hospitalization. While actual severity was linked to birth weight, the model did not utilize birth weight in its predictive algorithm. Consequently, although the computer program predicted the outcomes with moderate success, it was less accurate than the neonatologists.

The action of a dopamine (DA1) receptor agonist, fenoldopam in human vasculature in vivo and in vitro

This study was designed to investigate dopaminergic mechanisms in human vasculature using the selective vascular dopamine receptor agonist fenoldopam in vivo and in vitro. In vivo, forearm blood flow was measured plethysmographically and in vitro isolated rings of human blood vessels from a variety of sites were used for tissue bath studies. Intra-arterial fenoldopam markedly increased forearm blood flow, this effect was antagonised by (R) sulpiride, a vascular dopamine (DA1) antagonist, but not by metoclopramide, a neuronal (DA2) antagonist, or by guanethidine, an adrenergic neurone blocking agent. In vitro, fenoldopam relaxed preconstricted human renal, mesenteric and lumbar arteries, but not saphenous vein in a concentration dependent manner. (RS) sulpiride and SCH 23390 competitively antagonised this effect. These studies demonstrate the presence of a vasodilatory vascular dopamine receptor in man both in vivo and in vitro.

The prenatal diagnosis of ventral abdominal wall defects

Ventral abdominal defects are frequently diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography. This review of 47 infants with ventral defects was designed to determine the effect of prenatal diagnosis on neonatal outcome. All nine infants with prenatal diagnosis were delivered by cesarean section at tertiary level hospitals. Only 13 (34%) of 38 infants with unsuspected defects were delivered by cesarean section and 15 (39%) were delivered at tertiary level hospitals. There was no difference in mortality between infants with prenatal diagnosis (44%) and those with unsuspected defects (37%). Increased mortality correlated with the presence of other major anomalies (79% mortality), with birth weight less than 1500 gm (80%), and with omphaloceles (65%). We conclude that infants with other associated defects or with birth weight less than 1500 gm have poor outcomes and cesarean section may not be justifiable. However, in larger infants without other anomalies, prenatal diagnosis was followed by cesarean section and a good prognosis.

Importance of using standardized birth weight increments to report neonatal mortality data

Neonatal mortality statistics are frequently reported in 100-g increments of birth weight. We tabulated our mortality statistics using two methods of incrementation: 500 to 599 g, 600 to 699 g, 700 to 799 g, etc. (method A) and 501 to 600 g, 601 to 700 g, 701 to 800 g, etc (method B). In each 100-g weight group, the mortality was less using method B. The average reduction in mortality using method B was 4.1%. Use of the two different methods creates difficulty in making meaningful comparisons of various published reports. We recommend that all future studies use method A, as that method is more consistent with previous recommendations of the World Health Organization.

Abolition of feeding intolerance following ophthalmologic examination of neonates

Administration of mydriatic medication and ophthalmologic examination have previously been associated with feeding intolerance, characterized by large retained gastric aspirates and abdominal distention. In an attempt to eliminate this problem, we instituted a policy of withholding feedings for four hours following ophthalmologic examination. A prospective series of 50 consecutive patients was then followed to determine the incidence of feeding intolerance 24 hours prior to and 24 hours following the examination. All infants had received cyclopentolate hydrochloride and phenylephrine hydrochloride prior to the examination. A critical review of the nursing notes revealed no increased incidence in feeding intolerance during the 24-hour period following examination. There were no cases of necrotizing enterocolitis during either period. This study provides evidence that the incidence of feeding intolerance following ophthalmologic examinations might be reduced by withholding feeding for four hours after the examinations.

The aims and methods of physiotherapy in field conditions in the National Leprosy Control Programme

The main aim of physiotherapy in field conditions in National Leprosy Control Programme is preventive rehabilitation which can be achieved by systematic recording and reporting on the individual deformity status of all the patients followed by standardized methods of preventive management at peripheral clinics run single handedly by para-medical workers. The few patients in acute conditions and still fewer in need of surgical rehabilitation etc, require special reporting and special attention afforded by collective efforts of all the categories of workers engaged at a control unit. The system of reporting on deformity based on the W.H.O. Classification of deformities (1960) and of preventive management introduced at the Leprosy Control Unit, West, Hyderabad is found to be appropriate, statistically appreciable and sound in principle. The idea to avoid surgeon's knife and sophisticated methods of physical rehabilitation in field work as much as possible, and yet achieve the objectives of preventive rehabilitation of leprosy patients is feasible and successfully maintainable.

Effect of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) on the distribution of manganese-54 in rats

The effect of single dose of NTA on the removal of radio-manganese in various organs and in plasma has been studied in rats which received single i.v. injection of 54Mn(II). The lowered value of radio-manganese in NTA treated rats as compared to control animal indicates that NTA binds rapidly and forms stable and diffusible complex resulting in the fast excretion of the injected 54Mn(II).

The distribution of manganese-54 in fetal, young and adult rats

The distribution of 54Mn in various organs of pregnant rats and of their 19-day-old fetuses and in non-pregnant female rats of various ages has been studied 18 h after an i.v. injection of 54MnCl2. The results indicate that early neonates are more susceptible to manganese (Mn) than the growing rats. The localization of 54Mn in liver and brain of the embryo was highly significant.

A survey of leprosy deformities among the patients of Hyderabad city

Neuropathic deformity is a major problem among the patients of Hyderabad city. Nearly 44.3% of the patients have one or the other kind of deformity of the hand, foot or face. 29.1% of the upper limbs, 30.7% of the lower limbs and 5.2% of the faces were affected. The patients with Lepromatous Leprosy showed greater tendency to deformity (66.4%). Patients with simply anaesthesia in hands and feet formed the majority among the deformity cases, a total of 41.6%. Education of the patients in the hand and foot care is an essential feature of the clinic physiotherapy technician.

The mechanism of the degradation of DNA by streptonigrin

The production of single strand cleavage in covalently-closed circular-DNA by the antitumour agent streptonigrin (reduced in situ by NADH) is demonstrated using the ethidium bromide fluorescence assay described previously. The degradation dependent on oxygen is completely inhibited by superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) suggesting the intermediacy of the superoxide radical anion in the degradation. However similar complete inhibition of DNA strand breakage by catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) indicates that the hydroxyl radical (formed by interaction of superoxide with hydrogen peroxide) is the primary reactive species. Cupric ion stimulates the cleavage reaction and cobaltous ion has no effect in keeping with model studies using quinolinequinones.

Host specialization of powdery mildew, Erysiphe cichoracearum, from Chondrilla juncea

The host specialization of Erysiphe cichoracearum from skeleton weed, Chondrilla juncea, was studied in Europe. Plant species comprising a number of cichoriaceous plants closely related to Chondrilla, and cultivated plants belonging to 23 families particularly including the cultivated Compositae, Cucurbitaceae, Solanaceae, and Leguminosae, on which forms of this fungus have been recorded, were inoculated with conidia of the mildew. Moreover, three cultivars of all cultivated species recorded as hosts of any form of E. cichoracearum were tested. The powdery mildew from C. juncea did not develop on any of these plants.