Vitamin B12 and homocysteine status in asymptomatic Indian toddlers.

Low serum vitamin B(12) (V B(12)) and hyperhomocysteinemia have been reported in asymptomatic Asian Indian men. We studied the prevalence of V B(12) deficiency and hyperhomocysteinemia in 51 asymptomatic toddlers, from Pune, India. V B(12) levels were low and total serum homocysteine was high in 14% and homocysteine levels were significantly higher in boys. Programming for cardiovascular risk in adulthood possibly starts at a very young age through the homocysteine axis.

Ovarian and uterine ultrasonography in healthy girls between birth to 18 years.

The aim of our study was to determine the pattern of female reproductive organ growth in Indian girls from birth to 18 years of age and to correlate the uterine length, mean ovarian volume (MOV) and Fundo Cervical Ratio (FCR) with chronological age, bone age and pubertal breast staging. A cross sectional study was performed on 218 girls from birth to 18 years of age. Height, weight, stage of puberty, X-ray for bone age and transabdominal ultrasounds were performed on all girls. Higher chronological age, bone age and increase in breast stage significantly predicted higher MOV (P < 0.001) and higher uterine length (P < 0.001). The MOV, uterine length and FCR are positively correlated with chronological age, bone age, height, weight and breast staging. Data from present study may be useful in screening cases of precocious puberty and other disorders that may need further evaluation.

Subchronic oral hepatotoxicity of turmeric in mice--histopathological and ultrastructural studies.

Dietary administration of the whole spice turmeric (0.2%, 1.0%, 5.0%) or ethanolic turmeric extract (ETE, 0.05%, 0.25%) for 14 days, at doses reported to be cancer preventive in model systems, were found to be hepatotoxic in mice. Histopathological evaluation showed coagulative necrosis accompanied by a zone of regenerating parenchymal cells of liver. The ultrastructural changes in liver parenchymal cells were non-specific reaction to injury. Results suggest mouse to be a susceptible species for turmeric induced toxicity.

Leprosy survey in industries in Bombay.

Population surveys for leprosy in industrial cities like Bombay revealed that about 60% of adult subjects especially males could be examined. The fact that the prevalence rate of leprosy particularly multibacillary type is much higher in this segment of population as compared to other groups indicates the importance of examining this population at their workspot like industries. 22287 industrial workers were examined for leprosy by paramedical auxiliaries in their establishments and 270 leprosy cases were detected (P.R. 12/1000). However, only 13 multibacillary cases (P.R. 0.5/1000) could be unearthed. 12 patients were with grade II and above. 184 (83%) were untreated. 161 (60%) patients reported for treatment. With available resources, case holding of patients who are not within the control area of the project becomes a challenging job for paramedical workers though large number of leprosy cases are detected amongst industrial workers. If industrial management arranges treatment for leprosy patients without dislocating them from their service, the pool of infection in the urban community will be reduced and can contribute tremendously towards urban leprosy control programme.

Structure-activity relationship of reversible cholinesterase inhibitors: activation, channel blockade and stereospeceficity of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-ion channel complex

We have shown that alt cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitors, in addition to their well-known anti-ChE activity, have multiple effects on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-ion channel (AChR) macromolecule resulting from interactions with the agonist recognition site and with sites located at the ion channel component. Activation, competitive antagonism and different types of noncompetitive blockade occurring at similar concentration ranges and contributing in different proportions result in complex and somewhat unpredictable alterations inn AChR function. The question is now raised as to how each effect of these compounds contributes to their antidotal property against organophosphorus (OP) poisoning, and what set of actions makes one reversible ChE inhibitor a better antidote. Many lines of evidence support the importance of direct interactions with various sites on the AChR: 1) morphological and toxicological studies with (+) physostigmine showed that anti-ChE activity is not essential to protect animals against toxicity by irreversible ChE inhibitors; 2) (-) physostigmine is far more effective against OP poisoning; 3) open channel blockers such as mecamylamine with no significant anti-ChE activity enhance the protective action of (-) physostigmine; 4) neostigmine, pyridostigmine, (-) physostigmine and (+) physostigmine showed qualitatively and quantitatively distinct toxicity and damage to endplate morphology and function. In prophylaxis and during the very early phase of OP poisoning, carbamates, especially (-) physostigmine combined with mecamylamine and atropine, could protect almost 100% of the animals exposed to multiple lethal doses of OPs...