ABSTRACT
A detection method of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts from soil was evaluated using the sucrose flotation technique with modification involving addition of 0.1% gelatin into washing and floating solutions. PCR was performed on untreated samples and after treatment with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), heating and cooling, and NaCl. The addition of gelatin in the sucrose solution yielded a higher number of oocysts. A very thin band was observed when DNA extract was diluted to 1:1024, indicating the presence of PCR inhibitor in the soil. PCR performed on untreated DNA, on PVP-treated, and on PVP-treated with heating and cooling without added bovine serum albumin (BSA) showed a band only at higher dilutions (1:1024 and 1:512) but at a much lower dilution (1:8) with BSA. In contrast, DNA treated with all three agents showed a band at a much lower dilution (1:64), even without added BSA, and no dilution was required when BSA was added. The PCR inhibitors present in the soil were removed by employing various treatment procedures during DNA extraction, and BSA in PCR. Furthermore, the detection limit with the method was 1 oocyst/g of soil, indicating that this method is useful in epidemiological studies.
Subject(s)
Animals , Cats , Cell Fractionation/methods , Centrifugation , DNA, Protozoan/analysis , Feces/parasitology , Japan , Oocysts/genetics , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Silicon Dioxide/analysis , Soil/parasitology , Solutions/diagnosis , Sucrose/diagnosis , Toxoplasma/geneticsABSTRACT
The study was undertaken to assess the efficacy guargum, Acarbose and their combination in modifying the sucrose absorption in patients of non Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Fifty patients of NIDDM were randomly distributed in three groups. Group A had 20 patients who received 20 grams of guargum, Group B had 10 patients who received 100 mg of Acrabose, Group C had 20 patients who received 10 grams of guargum and 50 grams of Acrabose. All the patients underwent 50 grams sucrose tolerance test with and without the trial drugs. Blood glucose levels were determined at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after sucrose loading. With the drugs, there was a significant decrease in the blood glucose levels at all time intervals (p < 001) in all the three groups. In all the three groups the blood glucose levels with the trial drugs was significantly lower (p < 001) than without the drug. It was seen that acarbose alone and guargum alone did not differ significantly in reducing the blood sugar level whereas combination of two produced significantly greater reduction in blood glucose levels than either of the drug used alone. Thus both guargum and acarbose are equally effective in modifying the absorption of sucrose. When combined in half the dosage they have synergistic effect and the reduction in blood glucose level is greater than either of the drug used alone.
Subject(s)
Acarbose , Adult , Blood Glucose/metabolism , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Drug Administration Schedule , Drug Therapy, Combination , Female , Galactans/adverse effects , Humans , Hypoglycemic Agents/adverse effects , Male , Mannans/adverse effects , Middle Aged , Plant Gums , Sucrose/diagnosis , Trisaccharides/adverse effectsABSTRACT
Urinary excretion of fructose during three hours following the ingestion of 100 g of hydrolysed sucrose (in 200 ml) was studied in 85 normal men. This solution was better tolerated than a solution of 50 g of pure fructose and gave higher urinary excretion of fructose than with 100 g of unhydrolysed sucrose. The mean fructose excretion was 54.0 mg (S.D. 40.6 MG). The majority of subjects (63) excreted between 1 and 75 mg and the highest value was 187mg. This suggests a relatively inexpensive method for assessing the existence of porta-systemic shunts beyond normal.