Polaron hopping in some biomolecular solids and their charge transfer complexes.

The solid state spectroscopy of charge transfer complexes of biomolecules such as fatty acids, tripalmitin, lysozyme. folic acid, beta-carotene, cytochrome c, valinomycin and gramicidin has been carried out. The absorption coefficient is related with electronic conductivity. A half-power beta density is found common among these macromolecular solids, indicating photon-induced polaron hopping or hopping of a charge carrier between two branches of a polariton. Band gap vs full width at half-maximum of the mid-IR peak also reveals a linear relation.

Separation of thoraco-omphalopagus Siamese twin.

A pair of female thoraco-omphalopagus twins, with two pairs of lungs, common diaphragm and separate pleural cavities was separated at the age of 5(1/2) months after a parasitic relationship had developed between them. Before separation both the babies developed recurrent respiratory tract infection and frequent diarrhea. They were treated with medical therapy and made fit for anesthesia. The combined weight of the twins was 4(1/2) kg at birth and the combined weight at the time of separation was 9(1/2) kg. One baby was smaller in growth compared to the other baby. The closure of anterior abdominal wall was difficult in both babies. However, we could close it without use of any biodegradable patches or tissue expander. Both the babies survived and are doing well after 3 months of separation.

Post PSRRP anorectol manometry--experience of 115 cases of imperforate anus.

The conventional treatment of high and intemiediate anomalies of anorectal malformations is proximal pelvic colostomy in neonate (day 1) followed by PSARP (postsagittal anorectoplasty) by the age of 4-6 months and closure of colostomy when adequate dilatation of neo-anus has been performed using Nol 2 or 13 Hegar's dilator or No4 St Mark's anal dilator, It is usually done 3 months after the PSARP operation (anorectal pull through), ie, around 9 months. So the child born without anus in the perineum should be able to pass stool via his or her neo-anus by the age of 9 months and they should ideally be penneally continent. The present study, between August 1993 and December 1999, on the anorectal continence evaluation by doing anorectal manometry was carried out in 115 babies who underwent PSARP operation and subsequent closure of the colostomy. The study showed intermediate anomalies dominated the picture in both males and females (103 babies belonging to intermediate anomalies and 12 babies having high anomalies). In all these children the results of continence have been studied both clinically (Kiesewetter criteria) and by anorectal manometry.

A case of primary mucus secreting adenocarcinoma of the appendix.

Primary mucus secreting adenocarcinoma of the appendix is a rare finding, one in 2500 cases of intestinal malignancies. This is a report of a young man with vague abdominal symptoms for about two years followed by appendicitis. Interval appendectomy revealed a neoplasm of the appendix. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of mucus secreting adenocarcinoma and right hemicolectomy was done.

Effect of estradiol-17beta on cell area, lumen area and trehalase activity of posterior silk gland of Bombyx mori L.

Estradiol-17beta (E2) at the dose of 1 microg/g caused an increase in cell area, lumen area and the total (cell + lumen) area of posterior silk gland (PSG) in Bombyx mori indicating that exogenously applied estradiol-17beta has a regulatory influence on silk gland activity. A dose-dependent variation in trehalase activity of PSG was found on the 5th day after topical administration of estradiol on 1st and 2nd day of the fifth larval instar. Of all the doses of E2 used, 1 microg/g dose had maximum stimulatory effect on trehalase activity. Co-administration of each of a specific receptor antagonist for estradiol, the ICI-182780 and a protein biosynthetic blocker, cycloheximide with E2 suppressed the E2-induced increase in silk gland activity. The results suggest some specific metabolic action of E2 on silk gland and offer a promising way for future investigations regarding the physiological significance of vertebrate steroids in insects.

Role of light in the mediation of acute effects of a single afternoon melatonin injection on steroidogenic activity of testis in the rat.

Young adult male rats, maintained either in an LD 12 : 12 or in continuous illumination (LL) for one week, were given a single injection of 25 microg melatonin/100 g body wt or ethanolic-saline (control) at 17.00 h. Animals from each group were sacrificed at 11.00 h on the following day. The activity of two important steroidogenic enzymes, 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17 beta-HSD) and delta(5)-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (delta(5)-3 beta-HSD), and serum concentrations of testosterone, were measured following highly specific and sensitive spectrophotometric techniques and RIA, respectively. A significant decrease in the activity of both the steroidogenic enzymes was noted in the testes of melatonin-treated rats maintained under normal light-dark schedules, but this response was found to be lacking in the LL rats. However, no significant changes in the level of serum testosterone were noted in either group of melatonin-treated rats from the values in respective groups of ethanolic saline-administered LD and LL rats. Exposure of ethanolic saline-injected rats to continuous light also did not cause any change in the steroidogenic activity of the testis from those in LD rats. The study indicates that continuous light as such does not affect the endocrine function of testis but abolishes suppressive effects of melatonin on the steroidogenic activity of the testis in rat.

Chronic exercise alters EEG power spectra in an animal model of depression.

The EEG from frontal cortex, EMG and EOG were recorded from rats exposed to only exercise (Treadmill), only stress, exercise + stress and neither (control). In comparison with the control group, the percent of Delta activity in the awake was significantly increased in the depressed group and significantly decreased in the exercised groups, while for Beta-2, the reverse occurred; Theta increased and Beta-2 decreased in the NREM sleep state of the depressed group and the opposite happened for the exercised groups. Delta and Alpha-2 activity significantly increased in the depressed group, and they were significantly decreased in the exercised groups whereas the Beta-2 activity showed contrary changes in the REM sleep state. These findings indicate that exercise has the opposite effect from what stress has on qEEG and concomitant physical exercise reduces the effects of stress. Behavioral tests were done by Open Field (OF) and High Plus Maze (HPM). Slow EEG activity (Delta, Theta, Alpha) was significantly positively correlated with immobilization in the OF and defecation in both OF and HPM and negatively with the food intake, transfer latency in HPM; rearing, grooming and total ambulation in OF Whereas, fast activity (Beta-2) was significantly negatively correlated with immobilization in OF and defecation in OF and HPM, while positively with ambulation in the central squares of OF and time spent at the central cross and number of times arms crossed in the HPM.

Influence of industrial pollutants on thyroid function in Channa punctatus (Bloch).

A 30 day exposure of C. punctatus to sublethal levels of phenol, ammonia, mercuric chloride, cadmium chloride and a mixture of the four resulted in an overall activation of guaiacol peroxidase and depression of iodide peroxidase (IPOD) activity and blood T4 titre. Interestingly enough, in case of 15 day ammonia and 1 day mercury exposures, an increase of IPOD activity was accompanied by a decrease in T4 titre. In general, phenol, mercury, cadmium and the mixture of pollutants were found to inhibit LP activity by 56% to 85% while ammonia inhibited lysosomal protease (LP) activity by 70%. Alterations in acid phosphatase (AP) activity indicate changes in the lysosomal membrane characteristics caused by these toxicants. Considering the concomitant alterations in IPOD, T4, LP and AP it is surmised that thyroid function in C. punctatus is influenced by the pollutants by two pathways, one via IPOD pathway affecting T4 synthesis and the other via lysosomal pathway affecting T4 release.

Anterior cerebellum as a site for morphine analgesia and post-stimulation analgesia.

The microinjection of 10 micrograms Morphine into culmen region of anterior cerebellum produced profound analgesia in rats, and this was antagonised with intraperitoneal administration of naloxone. On the other hand, the same injection of morphine into lobus simplex and declive region of posterior cerebellum was without any effect on nociception. Further it was observed that chronic surgical ablation of culmen-centralis region of anterior cerebellum markedly diminished the duration of analgesia elicited with systemic administration of morphine, though ablation per se had no influence on nociception. Also, the focal electrical stimulation of culmen region for brief period exhibited post-stimulation analgesia. These findings indicate that anterior cerebellum specifically plays some role in the modulation of physiological mechanisms of pain relief.

Cerebral oedema and blood-brain and blood-CSF barriers in experimental brain trauma: effect of indomethacin-A prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor.

Cerebral oedema often occurs following trauma to the brain. Recently several biogenic amines have been suggested for their possible mediation in the pathophysiology of traumatic brain oedema. The present investigation indirectly indicates that prostaglandins of E series are also involved in the etiology of cerebral oedema, since administration of a potent PG synthetase inhibitor, indomethacin significantly diminished oedematous swelling of traumatised rat brain.