trans-4,4'-Dihydroxystilbene (DHS) protects PC12 cells from oxidative damage but induces reactive oxygen species-mediated apoptosis in SHSY-5Y cell line.

Polyphenols can exert both, antioxidant and pro-oxidant properties, depending on cell types as well as their concentrations. Hence, it was of interest to examine if the naturally occurring resveratrol analog, trans-4,4'-dihydroxystilbene (DHS) also exert both these activities in a biphasic or cell-specific manner. In this study, we established the cytoprotective action of DHS against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced apoptotic death of the PC12 cells. DHS reduced mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and deactivated reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated caspase-3 activation in the H2O2-treated PC12 cells. However, it induced apoptosis in the human neuroblastoma SHSY-5Y cell line by destabilizing mitochondrial membrane, augmenting ROS and activating caspapse-3. DHS showed better activity than resveratrol in both the chosen models.

Case Based Learning in Undergraduate Pathology A Study to Assess its Efficacy and Acceptability as Teaching-Learning Tool

Background: An innovative paradigm, of teaching-learning (TL) method, like Case Based Learning (CBL) in a paraclinical subject like Pathology is considered essential, which would bring about learning of pathological and clinical features of diseases in an integrated easy manner, resulting in growing of interest in undergraduate medical students to learn pathology with better retention of knowledge. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of CBL as a TL method in Pathology and to assess perception of students and teachers to CBL. Materials and methods: Study involved 86 students from 2 nd professional MBBS course. Two common diseases viz. microcytic hypochromic anemia and pulmonary tuberculosis were taught in two phases respectively. Students were equally divided into two large groups of 43 each – Didactic lecture (DL) and CBL groups. DL group was taught with conventional DL by Pathology-faculties and CBL group was taught with CBL tool jointly by pathology and relevant clinical faculties. Teaching method was interchanged between large groups for two diseases. Pretest and post-test were conducted before and after intervention (DL/CBL) respectively. In addition, to test for knowledge retention one late post-test was also conducted in 2nd phase. Lastly, students’ and teachers’ feedbacks on perception to CBL were obtained

Effects of hydrogen sulphide on the isolated perfused rat heart

Hydrogen sulphide has been identified as a gas signaling molecule in the body, and has previously been shown to have vasorelaxant properties. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of sodium and hydrosulphide [NaHS], a hydrogen sulphide donor, on heart rate [HR], left ventricular developed pressure [LVDP] and coronary flow [CF] in the isolated perfused rat heart. A Langendorff isolated heart preparation was used to investigate the effect of a dose range of sodium hydrosulphide, in the presence and absence of inhibitors, on heart rate, left ventricular developed pressure and coronary flow. Sodium hydrosulphide caused a significant decrease in heart rate at a concentration of 10-3 M [P<0.001]. This decrease was partially inhibited by glibenclamide, a K [ATP] channel blocker [P <0.05]; L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor [P <0.01], and methylene blue [P <0.001], but not by H-89, a protein kinase A inhibitor. Sodium hydrosulphide significantly increased coronary flow at concentrations of 10-4- 10-3M [P <0.05]. This response was significantly increased in the presence of L-NAME [P< 0.001] and methylene blue [P <0.001], whereas H-89 inhibited the increase in coronary flow due to sodium hydrosulphide [P <0.001]. Sodium hydrosulphide significantly decreased LVDP at all concentrations [P <0.001]. In the presence of glibenclamide and H-89, the time period of the decrease in LVDP due to sodium hydrosulphide was extended [P <0.001], whereas methylene blue and L-NAME caused a significant reduction in the response to sodium hydrosulphide [P <0.05, P <0.01 respectively]. Sodium hydrosulphide reduced heart rate and LVDP, and increased coronary flow in the isolated perfused rat heart; however, the mechanisms of action could not be fully elucidated

Quality of life in Parkinson's disease--Indian scenario.

The subjective sense of well being is central to the concept of quality of life (QoL) and a good QoL should be the ultimate goal to any therapeutic measure. In Parkinson's disease (PD), several rating scale are in vogue to measure the QoL, namely PDQ-39, PDQ-8, SF-36, Likert scale etc. Parkinson's Impact Scale (PIMS) has been used in this study to assess the QoL which includes 10 items. METHODOLOGY: Thirty two patients of Parkinson's disease satisfying the UK Parkinson's disease brain bank diagnostic criteria, ranging from HY stage I to IV have been recruited. UPDRS was also administered to them. Statistical analysis was performed using Spearman rank correlation and multivariate stepwise regression analysis using SPSS for windows. RESULT: Seventy two percents were male, all getting levodopa, 72% got anticholinergics. Monthly income varied from Rs.800 (US dollars 17.10) to Rs.15,000 (US dollars 320) pm. Eighty eight percent belonged to HY II-III. UPDRS score ranged from 3-85 (40.4 +/- 18.6). PIMS total score ranged from 1-22 (10.4 +/- 6.1). DISCUSSION AND CONSLUSION: The QoL deteriorates with H-Y staging, the UPDRS score, not with advancing age as seen in other studies. It is also significantly influenced by duration of the disease and financial security. Surprisingly, the family and community relations were not significantly affected with advancing disease, perhaps due the close family and social tie up among Indians. So, measurement of QoL should be made an essential part to the routine assessment of PD patients to get a complete scenario of the problem. PIMS can serve as a comprehensive tool for the same suitable for use in the OPD.

Corneal epithelial wound healing.

One of the important functions of the cornea is to maintain normal vision by refracting light onto the lens and retina. This property is dependent in part on the ability of the corneal epithelium to undergo continuous renewal. Epithelial renewal is essential because it enables this tissue to act as a barrier that protects the corneal interior from becoming infected by noxious environmental agents. The renewal process also maintains the smooth optical surface of the cornea. This rate of renewal is closely maintained by an integrated balance between the processes of corneal epithelial proliferation, differentiation, and cell death. Attempts to understand this complex cascade make it evident that the appropriate integration and coordination of corneal epithelial renewal depends on the actions of a myriad of cytokines. We have attempted in this review to collate the receptor and cell signaling events and cytokine studies that are responsible for mediating corneal wound healing.

Photorefractive keratectomy for moderate myopia with the VISX and Summit excrimer lasers: a retrospective study

Objetivo: Apresentar os resultados obtidos com ceratectomia fotorrefrativa (PRK) para a correção de miopia variando de -4,0 a -6,0 dioptrias realizadas com os excimer lasers VISX e Summit. Métodos: Para o estudo foram avaliados os resultados de PRK realizados em pacientes com idade entre 20 e 45 anos, miopia entre -4,0 e -6,0 diotropias e astigmatismo até 1,0 diotropia .O grupo operado com o laser da marca Summit era composto de 51 olhos. O equivalente esférico médio pré-operatório era de -5,22ñ0,17 diatropias e as cirurgias foram realizadas com o Excimed UV 200 LA Excimer Laser. O grupo operado com o laser VISX, era composto de 53 olhos e o erro refrativo preoperatório era de -4,85ñ0,16 diatropias e as cirurgias foram realizadas com o Twenty/Twenty Excimer Laser.

Primary duodenal tuberculosis diagnosed by endoscopic biopsy.

Tuberculosis involves the duodenum very rarely and is usually secondary to lymph node involvement. Endoscopic biopsy usually shows nonspecific changes necessitating laparotomy for confirmation of diagnosis and relief of obstruction. We report a case of duodenal tuberculosis diagnosed by endoscopic biopsy and treated successfully.

Role of weaning in the nutritional status of infant--a longitudinal study in the rural area of Aligarh.

Influences of weaning practices on nutritional status were studied in a cohort of 200 infants over a period of one year in the rural area of Aligarh. Weaning was late in most of the infants under study. The nutritional status of infants up to 6 months was significantly better than that of infants more than 6 months of age. Most of them used the family-type food as weaning food.

Parenteral ciprofloxacin in persistent diarrhoea in children.

In a controlled trial of 30 cases of persistent diarrhoea in infants, ciprofloxacin was used parenterally for systemic antibiotic therapy. Group A cases (15 in number) were treated with parenteral ciprofloxacin and group B control cases (remaining 15) were treated with parenteral ampicillin and chloramphenicol or ampicillin/amikacin along with treatment of dehydration and malnutrition. All group A cases had excellent response and 9 infants of group B had no response up to day 4. After stopping all other drugs and with parenteral ciprofloxacin they responded favourably. Follow-up of all the cases was done regularly every 2 weeks for 6 months after discharge. No toxicity of ciprofloxacin was noted.

Pneumocystis carinii infection in patients of AIDS in India.

This is the first report of Pneumocystis carinii infection seen in patients with AIDS in India. Two of the three patients were of Indian origin while the third was an American tourist. This report indicates that the technical problem of demonstrating P carinii may be an important factor underlying the diagnosis of PCP.

Water-induced precipitation of cholesterol dissolved in organic solvents in the absence and presence of surfactants and salts.

The precipitation of cholesterol dissolved in organic solvents, viz. methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, acetone and 1,4-dioxane, by the addition of water has been studied. The effects of the solvents towards the precipitation follow the order: methanol greater than ethanol greater than acetone greater than dioxane greater than n-propanol greater than iso-propanol, the solvent dioxane however exhibits a change in the order at higher concentration. Additives like Triton X-100, sodium cholate, sodium deoxycholate, sodium dehydro cholate, sodium salicylate and sodium chloride have some protective action against precipitation, the maximum protection being that of Triton X-100. The additives have shown better protective action in propanols and dioxane than in methanol, ethanol and acetone. Analysis of solvent composition and dielectric constant has revealed specific solvent effects on the water-induced precipitation of cholesterol. Thermodynamic analysis of the precipitation phenomenon and the unique role of solvent structure on cholesterol precipitation has been discussed.