Strategic administration of antioxidant multiminerals and vitamins to transitional buffaloes augments antioxidant and udder defense mechanisms in early lactation

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of repeated administrations of antioxidant multiminerals and vitamins in transition buffaloes on udder defense mechanism, antioxidant activity and occurrence of intramammary infection (IMI) in early lactation period. Forty clinically healthy pregnant buffaloes were enrolled 45 days before expected date of calving and randomly allocated into five different supplementation groups (n = 8): only basal ration (control), vitamin E and selenium (VES), multiminerals (MM), ascorbic acid (AA) and chromium (Cr) picolinate in basal diet. The udder defense mechanism was monitored by measuring phagocytic activity (PA), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and nitric oxide (NO) productions in milk leukocytes, antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in plasma and occurrence of IMI was assessed by milk cytology, bacterial count in milk and visible clinical signs of udder until day 28 post-calving. The results showed that the VES and MM supplementations exhibited significantly higher PA, MPO and NO productions of milk leukocytes till first week of lactation whereas, elevated mean TAC in plasma was maintained from day -7 to 1 of calving in MM supplementation group as compared to control group. Statistically, no significant difference in occurrences of subclinical or clinical IMI was noted across the groups until four weeks of lactation. Taken together, it is concluded that repeated administrations of VES and MM to transition buffaloes could be an effective strategy to maintain good udder health by augmenting milk leukocyte functions and antioxidant status and preventing incidence of IMI in early lactation.

Development of potent non-carbohydrate imidazole-based small molecule selectin inhibitors with antiinflammatory activity

A novel series of non-carbohydrate imidazole-based selectin inhibitors has been discovered via high-throughput screening using a P-selectin ELISA-based assay system. The initial lead 1 had an IC(50) of 17 microM in the P-selectin ELISA; this potency was significantly improved via an extensive SAR exploration. One of the current lead compounds (29) has an IC(50) of 300 nM in a P-selectin ELISA; it also has good activity in P- and E-selectin cell adhesion assays and shows efficacy in vivo. These compounds represent a novel series of sLe(X) mimetics with antiinflammatory activity. Their unique profile supports our interest in their further evaluation as drug candidates for the treatment of inflammation. Herein we describe the syntheses, optimization, and SAR of this series of novel potent selectin antagonists.

Self-injurious behaviour: a kindling phenomenon?

Self-injurious behaviour continues to be a drain on the resources for rehabilitation of the children with developmental disabilities. Pathogenesis and therapy seems fragmentary, with virtually every major neurotransmitter system being identified as the putative substrate for self-injurious behaviour. This phenomenon as it cuts across the diagnostic boundaries, although it is suggestive of a heterogeneous neurochemical basis, should call for the exploration of the biological event preceding the neurochemical cascade resulting in the behaviour. The authors argue that kindling is the preceding neurophysiological event resulting in self-injurious behaviour and, thus, can be effectively prevented pharmacologically.

Psychological aspects of irritable bowel syndrome

Psychological aspects of Irritable Bowel Syndrome have been well investigated in Western countries, but there is a paucity of Indian studies focusing on this area. A series of fifty patients with the Irritable Bowel Syndrome were studied with respect to their depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and their personality traits. Patients had a mean score of 14.68 on Hamilton's depression rating scale and 11.22 on Hamilton's anxiety rating scale, and were more introverted and more neurotic than the general population. No association was found between psychological symptoms and severity of gastrointestinal symptoms. These findings suggest that psychological symptoms are a concomitant part of the Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Psychiatric morbidity among dermatology inpatients

BACKGROUND

Research on psychiatric morbidity among patients with dermatological diseases generally focuses on outpatients and questionnaire-based surveys. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and nature of psychiatric morbidity among dermatological inpatients with diagnosis being made by psychiatric interview, and ascertain whether demographic and clinical details in dermatological inpatients with psychiatric morbidity differed from those without it.

METHODS

Charts of all inpatients admitted by the dermatology department between 1 January 1991 and 31 July 1995 were analysed for socio-demographic data, clinical features, treatment and course in hospital. For those patients who were referred to a psychiatrist, all records of the psychiatric consultation were obtained and analysed.

RESULTS

A total of 1073 patients were admitted during the study period. Ninety-eight patients (9%) were diagnosed to have a psychiatric illness. Patients with psychiatric illness were likely to have had more admissions and longer duration of hospital stay. The most common psychiatric diagnoses were depressive episodes (34%) and adjustment disorders (29%). The highest rates of psychiatric morbidity were found among patients with chronic urticaria, exfoliative dermatitis and sexually transmitted diseases, including human immunodeficiency virus infection. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was significantly higher in those who had received long term (more than six weeks) treatment with high-dose steroids (more than 1 mg/kg body weight of prednisolone).

CONCLUSION

Some dermatology inpatients have psychiatric morbidity, which affects the course of the dermatological condition as well as the duration of hospitalization. The availability of psychiatric consultation at dermatology clinics and regular liaison between psychiatrists and dermatologists are essential for appropriate management.

Reconstruction of mandible and surrounding soft tissues in patient with necrotizing fasciitis

Necrotizing fasciitis is rare in the orofacial region, with fewer than 20 cases reported in the literature. Extension of the disease process to involve the underlying bone has not been previously reported. A patient is presented in whom destruction of superficial skin and fascia, necrosis of a portion of the mandible, and involvement of the parotid gland complicated reconstruction.

Physical morbidity with unmodified ect - a decade of experience

Recent recommendations for the routine use of modified ECT prompted an audit to be undertaken to determine the incidence of musculoskeletal complications occurring in patients who received ECT at our centre from 1980 to 1990. Of the 13,597 treatments given, 98% were unmodified, due to the lack of availability of anesthetists. Musculoskeletal complications occurred in less than 1% of treatments and were of little clinical significance. However, modified ECT was associated with significantly greater frequency of potentially fatal complications such as cardiac arrest. The findings of this audit indicate that unmodified ECT administered by a trained team does not result in significant musculoskeletal morbidity and may be preferable to modified ECT in the absence of trained anaesthetic personnel. The decision to routinely recommend modified ECT in developing countries should await scientific debate with due consideration of the complications, resources, ethics, practicality and cost as well as the consequences of such a recommendation on clinical practice.

Development of a hybrid artificial pancreas with a dense polyurethane membrane

We have synthesized a series of strong, elastomeric polyurethaneureas and have used them to fabricate non-porous film and hollow fiber membranes. The solvent cast membranes are non cytotoxic, angiogenic, and permeable to gases, nutrients, secretagogues, and cell products via purely concentration driven transport. Permeability to water, glucose, and protein increases monotonically with membrane water absorption above a threshold value. Water absorption increases with soft segment hydrophilicity, soft segment molecular weight, and soft segment volume fraction of the (dry) segmented polyurethanes. Cell lines (RAJI and MOPC-31C) and primary cells (porcine islets) contained within our membranes have been maintained in culture for up to 6 months with nutrients supplied only by the external media. Cells within membrane devices were protected from immune rejection when implanted into murine hosts. Simple, compact devices containing porcine islets restored normoglycemia and near normal response to glucose tolerance tests in diabetic mice for at least 2 months. Explants had a high degree of vascularization adjacent to the membrane, with little or no fibrous tissue. These properties, and the material's ability to support cell function and protect xenogeneic cells from immunologic rejection, suggest that it would be useful in the construction of hybrid artificial organs and in in vitro cell culture.

Psychiatric morbidity in HIV infected individuals

Forty six subjects infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were followed up, for recording psychiatric morbidity if any, before and after the information regarding their HIV status was revealed to them. Among these, four patients had the AIDS syndrome, while 42 individuals were HIV carriers. The pre-information morbidity in the AIDS group included two individuals who presented with delirium and one with an adjustment disorder. The psychiatric diagnosis among the HIV carriers revealed one patient with major depression, four with adjustment disorders and four with alcohol dependence syndrome. The additional morbidity after the diagnoses was revealed included major depression and adjustment disorders which could be managed by psychological intervention and counselling in most cases. The individual who developed major depression later, committed suicide. The study though preliminary in nature, suggests that it may be beneficial to include psychiatric management as part of the general care of individuals with HIV infection.

Knowledge and attitude about psychiatric illness among interns

58 subjects doing their compulsory rotating internship were evaluated on their knowledge and attitude to psychiatric illness using a multiple choice questionnaire, case history vignettes and an open ended attitude questionnaire. All of them had had a series of lectures and 4 weeks clinical posting 3 years prior to evaluation and weekly ethics for 3 months in the year before.It is seen that they have an adequate knowledge of the theoretical aspects of psychiatry, including the ability to diagnose. Management skills are not however .satisfactory. Psychiatry tanked fifth in the overall order of importance in terms of interest and future applicability, and only 4(6.9%) had heard of the National Mental Health Programme or its objectives. The results are discussed.

Factors associated with the course and outcome of schizophrenia in India. Results of a two-year multicentre follow-up study

The paper describes the two-year follow-up results from 323 out of 386 patients fulfilling a modified version of Feighner's criteria for diagnosis of schizophrenia, in Lucknow, Vellore, and Madras. There was remission in 66% of cases. Short duration of illness, consistent compliance with medication, positive attitudes of relatives and neighbours, absence of economic difficulties, increase in religious activities on the part of patients, a rural background, and a non-schizoid pre-morbid personality were associated with good outcome. Features of depression, dangerous behaviour, and absence of agitation were associated with poor outcome.

The fear of AIDS: psychiatric symptom or syndrome?

The clinical characteristics of 13 patients who presented with the fear of AIDS are documented. The common features included anxiety traits in premorbid personality, a past history of promiscuous heterosexual behaviour, signs and symptoms of an anxiety state. The current controversies regarding the diagnostic status of patients presenting with the fear of AIDS and its clinical significance are discussed.

Flow cytometric analysis of lymphocyte activation in the mixed lymphocyte response

Interleukin 2 receptor (IL2R) expression may be a useful parameter for assessing lymphocyte activation in the mixed lymphocyte response (MLR). However, the contribution of irradiated stimulator (S*) cells to the levels of IL2R+ cells recovered must first be defined. We have used a flow cytometric parameter termed the sip count to assess this potential contribution of S* cells. This parameter, which is the number of cells within a defined cell gate, is a reflection of the viable cell number per culture well, since (a) a constant number of cells were plated per well on day 0, (b) cells recovered from a well were resuspended in a constant volume, (c) the flow cytometer aspirated (sipped) a constant volume of cell suspension, and (d) nonviable cells were not included in the gate. Sip count assessment showed that only 5% of S* cells were recoverable by day 4 of culture; in contrast, 70% or more of unstimulated responder cells were recoverable. Sip counts of MLR cultures identified an increase in cell number beginning on day 5, reflecting DNA synthesis and cell division. We then used the sip count to assess changes in the levels of IL2R+ cells in MLR cultures. The number of IL2R+ cells continued to increase up to day 7, even though maximal DNA synthesis occurred on day 5. Further, dual color analysis revealed that the proportion of CD4 cells expressing IL2R was maximal on day 5, whereas the proportion of CD8 cells expressing IL2R continued to increase until day 9. These findings show that flow cytometry can be used to study lymphocyte activation by alloantigens.

Abnormalities of interleukin 2 receptor expression associated with decreased antigen-induced lymphocyte proliferation in patients with AIDS and related disorders

Several parameters of lymphocyte interleukin 2 receptor (IL-2R) expression in response to tetanus toxoid (TT) were monitored using a receptor-specific monoclonal antibody and flow cytometry in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS, n = 6), AIDS-related complex (ARC, n = 8), or lymphadenopathy syndrome (LAS, n = 9). These parameters, measured on days 6 and 7 of culture, included (a) the percentage of recovered lymphocytes expressing IL-2R, (b) the number of IL-2R-positive cells/lymphocyte trigger region (a relative measure of the number of IL-2R-positive cells per culture), and (c) mean fluorescence intensity of IL-2R-positive cells. Data were then assessed in relation to DNA synthesis on day 7 of culture. Normal DNA synthesis was observed in nine patients (Pt-N group), and the mean values for all three IL-2R expression parameters in this group did not significantly differ from those of the healthy control group (n = 20). In contrast, 14 patients exhibited low proliferation (Pt-L group) and mean values for all three parameters were significantly lower in this group compared to both the Pt-N and control groups. When considering individual patient values, day 7 IL-2R+ cell number proved the best predictor of DNA synthesis results: all 14 patients in the Pt-L group exhibited low IL-2R+ cell number, while seven of nine patients in the Pt-N group exhibited normal IL-2R+ cell number. Thus, low TT-induced lymphocyte proliferation in AIDS and related disorders is associated with defective IL-2R expression. Further, assessment of IL-2R+ cell number appears to be a valid alternative assay for monitored antigen-induced T cell proliferation in vitro.

Cyclosporine inhibits the expression of receptors for interleukin 2 and transferrin on mitogen-activated human T lymphocytes

The effect of cyclosporine A (CsA) on the mitogen-induced expression of Interleukin 2 receptor (IL2R) and transferrin receptor (TR) was monitored using receptor-specific monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry. For all mitogens tested (PHA, Con A, OKT3, and Leu 4), expression of IL2R and TR, as well as DNA synthesis (3H-thymidine incorporation), were significantly reduced in the presence of CsA (0.5 microgram/ml). Titration experiments in the OKT3 system, the mitogen system most profoundly affected by CsA, revealed that CsA concentrations as low as 0.05 microgram/ml inhibited IL2R and TR expression and DNA synthesis, and that changes in DNA synthesis reflected changes in IL2R and TR expression. The addition of exogenous IL2 partially abrogated the CsA-mediated inhibition of all three activation parameters (IL2R, TR, DNA synthesis) in response to PHA, OKT3, and Leu 4. In contrast, exogenous IL2 did not reverse CsA-mediated reductions in Con A-stimulated activation parameters. These findings indicate that CsA inhibits mitogen-induced expression of IL2R and TR, and for some mitogen systems, this inhibition appears, at least in part, to be secondary to decreased IL2 production.

Social and personality factors in dapsone resistant patients

A preliminary study in which a sample of 25 patients registered with SLR and TC, Karigiri, with proved secondary DDS-resistant leprosy were compared, with 25 patients not suspected to be DDS-resistant, for social and personality factors, which could have lead to non-compliance in treatment. A structured interview schedule enquiring into factors leading to irregular treatment and the psycho-social background of the patient was used. The Eysank's Personality Inventory (EPI) and Personality traits assessment on a linear analogue was also administered to them. Statistical analysis showed that DDS-resistant leprosy patients were as a group more irregular for treatment, showed personality traits of being casual and uncontrolled and scored high on the neuroticism scale of the EPI.

Interaction of rat liver glucocorticoid receptor with adenosine 5'-triphosphate. Characterization of interaction by use of ATP-sepharose affinity chromatography

An interaction between rat liver glucocorticoid--receptor complex and immobilized ATP was identified. Rat liver cytosol preparations were incubated with [3H]triamcinolone acetonide for 4 h at 4 degrees C and partially purified by precipitation with (NH4)2SO4 before use. The resulting glucocorticoid--receptor complex could be selectively adsorbed on to columns of ATP--Sepharose. The freshly prepared cytosol [3H]triamcinolone acetonide--receptor complex had very little affinity for binding to the ATP--Sepharose column, but acquired this ability on temperature- or salt-activation. The presence of 10 mM-sodium molybdate during this salt- or temperature-dependent activation blocked the binding of the receptor complex to ATP--Sepharose. The interaction is reversible, since it can be disrupted by high-salt conditions. A competitive binding assay, using free nucleotides in samples to be chromatographed, revealed a preferential interaction between ATP and the glucocorticoid--receptor complex. Buffer containing ATP was also used to elute the glucocorticoid--receptor complex from ATP--Sepharose columns successfully. When ATP was added to the preparations containing [3H]triamcinolone acetonide--receptor complexes, the steroid specificity or sedimentation properties of the complex remained unaltered. Our results demonstrate an interaction between rat liver glucocorticoid--receptor complex and immobilized ATP and suggest a role of this nucleotide in receptor function.

ATP-dependent activation of glucocorticoid receptor from rat liver cytosol

The glucocorticoid--receptor complex from freshly prepared rat liver cytosol is in a non-activated form, with very little affinity to bind to isolated nuclei. When such preparations were incubated with 5--10 mM-ATP at 4 degrees C, the receptor complex acquired the properties of an 'activated' transformed form, which readily bound to nuclei, ATP--Sepharose, phosphocellulose and DNA--cellulose. This transformation was comparable with the activation achieved by warming the steroid--receptor complex at 23 degrees C. The effect of ATP was specific, as it was more effective than ADP, whereas AMP had no such effect on activation. The process of receptor activation was sensitive to the presence of 10 mM-sodium molybdate; the latter blocked activation by both ATP and heat. Bivalent cations had no observable effect on the receptor activation at low temperature, but they decreased the extent of activation by ATP. The steroid-binding properties of glucocorticoid receptor remained intact under the above conditions. However, a significant increase in steroid binding occurred when ATP was preincubated with cytosol receptor before the addition of [3H]triamcinolone acetonide. ATP also stabilized the glucocorticoid--receptor complexes at 23 degrees C. These results suggest a role for ATP in receptor function and offer a convenient method of studying the activation process of glucocorticoid receptor under mild assay conditions.