Amelioration of Acrylamide Induced Neurotoxicity in Wistar Rats

Present study was undertaken to study the neurotoxicity of oral acrylamide (ACR) and its amelioration using α-tocopherol, reduced glutathione (GSH) and hot aqueous extract (HAE) of Ocimum sanctum. Forty five male Wistar rats were divided into 12 groups. The study showed a significant reduction in the body weight of the rats fed with ACR in comparison to the other groups while body weight was restored in the rats fed with α-tocopherol and HAE. Neurotoxicity in rats fed with ACR was evident with the results of histopathology and oxidative stress (high MDA and decreased activities of GSH, SOD, GST and CAT in brain). Co-administration of α-tocopherol and HAE lowered these changes however, there was no marked improvement seen in neural damage but improvement was evident in behavioral as well as physiological changes at a marked point. Histopathology of brain in ACR alone fed group showed extensive neural degeneration and massive deposition of fibrin which was substantially decreased and ameliorated with the co-administration of α-tocopherol and HAE. These results support the oxidative stress results as well. Our results suggests that α-tocopherol and HAE can be useful for protecting brain tissue against ACR induced neurotoxicity through minimizing the free radical mediated oxidative stress

Impact of CO2 Enhancement on Photosynthesis and Protein Profile - Response Studies with a CO2 Responsive Black Gram Genotype.

Black gram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper) var. IC-282009 - a highly CO2 responsive genotype for biomass and seed yield was grown in Open top chambers (OTCs) under three levels of CO2 i.e. ambient (390 ppm) and two elevated levels 550ppm and 700ppm to assess photosynthetic acclimation to elevated CO2. Net photosynthetic rate (PN), change in leaf soluble protein profile and leaf carbohydrate constituents such as total soluble sugars, reducing sugars and starch content in leaves was quantified at all three CO2 concentrations. Photosynthetic rate was enhanced by 78% and 30% at flowering stage with 550ppm and 700ppm CO2 as compared with ambient control. It was also observed a higher accumulation of starch, total soluble sugars and reducing sugars in leaves at elevated CO2 levels. However, the leaf protein content recorded a decrease and altered the profile of ploy peptides with enhanced CO2 levels. At elevated CO2 concentrations significant differences were observed in ploy peptide profile at vegetative and flowering stages, the intensity of 260 kDa poly peptide increased at vegetative stage, whereas 72 kDa polypeptide increased at flowering stage, while 52 kDa poly peptide decreased at both stages. Enhanced CO2 concentrations improved the PN though certain polypeptides of leaf protein are down regulated and necessitate further experimentation to confirm their involvement in responsiveness of the selected black gram genotype.

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD): an appraisal of different tests for diagnosis.

Fifty symptomatic patients with GERD, 20 each of non ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) & duodenal ulcer (DU) and 10 healthy controls were subjected to various tests employed for diagnosis of GERD. Among these endoscopy and histology had highest sensitivities (92% & 91% respectively) followed by Bernstein's test (overall 88%; early positivity 72%) and oesophagography (70%). The specificities of various tests were: endoscopy (86%), histology (82%) and Bernstein's test (overall 80%; early positive 94%). The false positivity was mainly in DU subjects where majority (greater than 84%) had two or more of these tests offitive. Any two of the three tests (endoscopy, histology & Bernstein's test) in combination had a sensitivity of 80-91% and a specificity of 90-92%. Our observations suggest that these tests, particularly in combination, are useful in establishing the diagnosis of GERD and that subclinical oesophagitis in DU might be responsible for the false positivity of these tests.

Comparison of stool microscopy and serology (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) in epidemiology of amebiasis.

Stools from 634 individuals from Varanasi were examined for Entamoeba histolytica (EH). Serology was done in these subjects by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) employing filter paper technique. Stools were positive for EH in 16.9%, and serology in 15.9%. Both the tests were positive in only 5.2%. In 72.4% both the tests were negative. In 11.7% of stool positive cases, serology was negative, and in 10.7% with positive serology stool examination did not reveal EH. A majority (92.5%) of stool positive subjects had only cysts. Additional parasites were detected in 15.3%.

Neuroticism in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Employing a Hindi adaptation of the Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire (MHQ), neuroticism level was assessed in 133 subjects with irritable bowel syndrome and compared with that in patients with organic bowel disease (33), healthy population (140) and known neurotics (110). Compared with healthy controls and patients with organic bowel disease, significantly higher scores were found among irritable bowel syndrome patients in all the subscales except obsession. The total of scores was midway between those of the normal population and known neurotics. Neurotic disorder was detected in 51% of irritable bowel syndrome patients compared to 24% of organic bowel disease subjects (P less than 0.05) and 7.8% of the healthy population. Cut-off points, calculated as mean + 2 SD of scores in the healthy population, were found to be reliable as shown by clinical interview.

Irritable bowel syndrome: therapeutic evaluation of indigenous drugs.

Among 169 patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), standard therapy (with clidinium bromide, chlordiazepoxide and isaphaghulla), a compound Ayurvedic preparation (with Aegle marmelos correa plus Bacopa monniere Linn) along with a matching placebo were given in a double blind randomised trial for 6 wk. The Ayurvedic preparation in 57 patients was found effective in 64.9 per cent, while standard therapy (60 patients) was useful in 78.3 per cent. Patients on placebo (52 patients) showed improvement in 32.7 per cent only. Ayurvedic therapy was particularly beneficial in diarrhoea predominant form as compared to placebo. The standard therapy was more useful in the painful form of IBS as compared to placebo and Ayurvedic preparation. In gas predominant form the effect of standard as well as Ayurvedic therapy, was similar to placebo. Long-term follow-up (greater than 6 months) showed that both forms of therapy were no better than placebo in limiting the relapse.

Medical myotomy for achalasia cardia. Long term results.

Pneumatic dilatation was effective in relieving dysphagia in 16/17 subjects with achalasia cardia. It was also effective and safe in those with sigmoid oesophagus, although dilatation persisted in them. Recurrences were noted in one quarter of cases which were managed satisfactorily with subsequent dilatations. There were no complications. Pneumatic dilatation appears very useful in the management of achalasia cardia.