Changes in Biochemical Profile of Superovulated Sahiwal Cows through Hormonal Manipulation at Mid Luteal Phase of Estrous Cycle

In the present study, insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) administered during mid-luteal phase of the estrous cycle and effect on biochemical profiles of Sahiwal donor cows was noted. Altogether eighteen cows (n=18) were selected and divided into 3 groups; control (n=6, untreated), T-I (n=6, Insulin-treated) and T-II (n=6, IGF-I treated). Superovulatory treatment was started on day 9th of the estrous cycle. With the 6th dose of FSH, prostaglandin was injected to induce superovulatory estrus. The superovulated cows were bred and superovulatory response of each animal was recorded. The collections of embryos were done non-surgically on the 7th day of superovulatory estrus. About 15 ml blood without anticoagulant was collected on days 5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19 and 21st or day of embryo recovery where day 0 of estrous cycle was taken as the day of estrus. Serum was separated, centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 15 minutes and transferred into sterilized serum vials. All samples were stored at -20 oC till analysis. Serum glucose, cholesterol, total protein, urea, and creatinine were estimated by Span Diagnostic Kits. The concentration of serum glucose increased significantly in insulin-treated and IGF-1 treated Sahiwal donor cows. It may be concluded that exogenous insulin and IGF-1 administration during mid-luteal phase may be helpful in follicular and embryonic development by increasing the level of serum glucose. The concentration of serum cholesterol, total protein, urea, and creatinine remains unaffected

A study of changes in homocysteine levels during normal pregnancy and pre-eclampsia.

To find out changes in homocysteine levels that occur during normal pregnancy and pregnancy with pre-eclamptic toxaemia and also to find out correlation between homocysteine concentration and preeclamptic toxaemia a study was carried out among 90 women of which 30 were control which included normotensive non-pregnant women and the study group I comprised 30 pregnant normotensive women and the study group II comprised 30 pregnant women with pre-eclamptic toxaemia. Serum homocysteine was measured in all subjects using fluorescence polarisation immuno-assay. Control group had highest mean homocysteine levels while the study group I had least mean homocysteine levels (p < 0.001). Levels were significantly higher in subjects with BP > 146/100 mm Hg as compared to subjects with BP >140/90 and <146/100 mm Hg (p=0.017). There was significant difference between study group I and II at same gestational age. Hyperhomocysteinaemia was observed in pre-eclamptic females, also it was found that homocysteine levels were directly correlated with severity of pre-eclampsia.

Laevonorgestrel intra-uterine system--a revolutionary intra-uterine device.

Laevonorgestrel intra-uterine system is a new hormone releasing long acting intra-uterine device. Besides being used as long acting contraceptive, it has multiple non-contraceptive benefits. It is the best choice for young women suffering from menorrhagia who want contraception along with preservation of fertility and for premenopausal women who want to avoid surgery. Moreover, it has been reported to be useful in patients with dysmenorrhoea, fibroids, endometriosis and adenomyosis and endometrial hyperplasia.

Haemodynamic effects of pan masala in healthy volunteers.

OBJECTIVES: We studied acute haemodynamic effects of pan masala (powdered mixture of areca nut, slaked lime, catechu, and condiments) in healthy volunteers. METHODS: Fifty one males (mean age 28.6 +/- 10 years) were evaluated. One pouch (4 g) of pan masala without tobacco was given to each subject under fasting state and effects on pulse and blood pressure (BP) recorded. RESULTS: At baseline the pulse rate was 75.1 +/- 9.0 per minute, systolic BP was 119.1 +/- 10.8 mm Hg, and diastolic BP was 78.0 +/- 7.5. The pulse rate increased to 87.5 +/- 11.4 at ten minutes (+16.9 +/- 12.6%, p < 0.001) and fell to 76.7 +/- 9.1 at 30 minutes (p = ns). Systolic BP increased to 122.3 +/- 11.7 mm Hg at 10 minutes (+2.73 +/- 5.1%, p < 0.001) and was 120.8 +/- 10.8 at 30 minutes; while diastolic BP was 80.8 +/- 7.3 at 10 minutes (+3.83 +/- 6.1%, p < 0.001) and 79.4 +/- 7.6 at 30 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Pan masala intake causes acute increase in pulse and BP.

Changes in the virulence of Mycobacterium bovis (BCG Phipps) in carbon tetrachloride treated mice.

Mild grade of liver damage was produced in mice by repeated subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride. These mice along with saline treated mice were challenged with an avirulent vaccine strain of BCG (Phipps), intravenously. The CCl4 treated, BCG challenged mice developed disease and died much earlier than the controls, indicating an increased susceptibility to the avirulent strain in mice with mild hepatitis.

Evaluation of diversified antigens for detection of Mycobacterium leprae antibodies from leprosy patients and contacts.

A comparative evaluation of diversified antigens in ELISA has been made for detection of M. leprae antibodies in the sera of leprosy patients and their contacts. Out of the four antigens, namely M. leprae sonicate (ML), phenolic glycolipid I (PGL-1), M. habana sonicate (MH) and its arabinomannan (AM), the cross reactive antigens (MH,AM) have comparatively detected more number of leprosy cases. Homologous antigens (ML, PGL-1) have lower detection level. Use of MH and AM for detection of mycobacterial antibodies have been discussed and advocated for epidemiological studies of leprosy/tuberculosis.

Coronary heart disease and coronary risk factor prevalence in rural Rajasthan.

To determine the prevalence of coronary risk factors and coronary heart disease (CHD) in rural Rajasthan, 1150 randomly selected individuals in a cluster of villages in central Rajasthan have been studied. These included 805 men and 345 women. The prevalence of various coronary risk factors in the whole group were: Smoking 488 (42.4%); Diabetes (history): 5(0.4%); Alcohol intake: 146 (12.7%); Sedentary lifestyle: 797 (69.3%); Stressful life events: 48 (4.2%); Hypertension (BP > or = 140/90) 152 (13.2%); obesity (BMI > or = 27 Kg/M2): 194 (10.9%); and Truncal obesity (waist:hip > or = 0.93): 20.8%. The overall prevalence of CHD was 46.1/1000. Patients with CHD had a higher prevalence of male sex (67.9 vs 51.5%); educated persons (30.2 vs 28.8%); businessmen (13.2 vs 10.2%); smoking (47.2 vs 40.5%); sedentary lifestyle (75.5 vs 62.3%); stressful life events (7.5 vs 4.8%); and hypertension (26.4 vs 14.8%). On the other hand, persons without CHD had higher prevalence of alcohol intake (10.8 vs 7.5%); regular prayers (23.1 vs 22.6%); physically active lifestyle (37.7 vs 24.5%); obesity (13.6 vs 6.9%), and truncal obesity (21.0 vs 20.0%). The following risk factors emerged significant on statistical analysis (Odds ratio, 95% confidence intervals): male sex (1.99, 1.04 to 3.7); hypertension (2.04, 1.01 to 4.09); male smokers (1.80, 1.28 to 4.09); and sedentary lifestyle (1.86, 1.01 to 3.59). This study shows a low prevalence of CHD in rural population which is however more than previously reported studies from India.

Mitral valve prolapse: two dimensional echocardiography reveals a high prevalence in three to twelve year old children.

The prevalence of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) appears to be age related, MVP being commoner in children as compared to adults. This suggests that asymptomatic MVP may be most frequent in children who are very young. In this study, to better define the prevalence of MVP in young children, we used two dimensional echocardiography and prospectively surveyed 213 healthy urban school children between 3 and 12 years of age. MVP was diagnosed when prolapse of mitral leaflet/s was demonstrated by both two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography at parasternal long-axis views. Overall, MVP was found in 28 of 213 (13.1%) children. MVP was similarly prevalent in all age groups studied (3-5.9 years: 13 of 83 (13.5%); 6-8.9 years: 9 of 71 (11.2%); and 9-12 years: 6 of 31 (16.2%) children; Chi square = 0.57, p greater than 0.5). Univariate analysis showed that the prevalence of MVP was independent of sex, birth weight, resting heart rate and systolic or diastolic blood pressure. A mid systolic murmur was present in 50.6% of the children although it correlated with echocardiographic diagnosis of MVP in only 39.3%. The left ventricular size or wall thickness and mitral EF and DE slopes were similar in children either with or without MVP. Our results indicate that asymptomatic MVP is frequent in children upto 12 years of age. As a diagnostic test of MVP, presence of apical systolic murmur is considerably inferior to echocardiography. No morphological left ventricular correlates were identified in MVP.

Use of non-conventional antigen: M. habana in detecting M. leprae antibodies from leprosy patients and contacts in FLA-ABS test.

An indirect immunofluorescent (FLA-ABS) test has been developed to detect M. leprae specific antibodies in the active and subclinical cases of leprosy. An antigenically related mycobacterium, M. habana, was used as an antigen to detect M. leprae specific antibodies in the sera samples of leprosy patients. A comparison was made with M. leprae antigen using same set of sera samples. M. habana is capable of detecting anti-M. leprae antibodies in the serum samples of leprosy patients, previously absorbed with various mycobacterial antigens, cardiolipin and lecithin, almost to the same percentage as M. leprae. Possible use of M. habana antigen as an alternative to M. leprae, in the serodiagnosis of leprosy, has been discussed.

Relative cross reactivity of habanin, lepromin and tuberculin in guinea pigs sensitized with homologous and heterologous mycobacteria.

An atypical strain Mycobacterium habana has been studied for its antigenic cross reactivity with delayed type of hypersensitivity responses in guinea pigs. Guinea pigs sensitized with M. habana, M. leprae and M. tuberculosis when challenged with habanin, lepromin and tuberculin in criss-cross fashion have demonstrated strong cross reactivity with each other. Possibilities of developing M. habana as a vaccine against tuberculosis and/or leprosy has been discussed.

Patterns of immunoglobulins in the serum of leprosy patients.

There have been considerable variations in the levels of immunoglobulins in the serum of leprosy patients which needed elucidation. An attempt has been made in this direction to find out the levels of IgG, IgM and IgA in the serum samples of 145 cases of various grades of leprosy. The patients were selected in the age group of 11 to 60 years and have received treatment with DDS from a period ranging from 6 months to 5 years. A constant increase in the levels of immunoglobulins has been noted and the effect of treatment over variation in the levels has been discussed.

Draining lymph node enlargement produced by immunogenic strains of cultivable mycobacteria.

Lymphnode enlargement produced by strains of mycobacteria have a direct bearing on the immunogenicity characteristics. Two strains of mycobacteria namely M. habana TMC 5135 and M. marinum (SATO) have been studied for their property to produce enlargement of draining lymphnodes besides other cell-mediated immune responses. Both the strains are capable of producing the enlargements of inguinal and popliteal lymphnodes which is very significant. The enlargements of lymphnodes have been produced by these strains both in the live as well as killed state. Possibility of developing these strains as vaccine against leprosy has been discussed.

Immunological potential of a cultivable mycobacterial strain M. habana against leprosy bacillus in mouse foot pad.

A strain of a typical mycobacteria M. habana originally afforded protection against M. tuberculosis challenge in mice, was tested for its immunological potential against leprosy bacillus in the mouse foot pad. The vaccine strain M. habana has arrested the growth of M. leprae into the mouse foot pad better than BCG (Phipps) and unvaccinated control.

Leucocyte migration inhibition response of Mycobacterium habana with sensitized animals and cells from leprosy patients.

Response of Mycobacterium habana sensitized mouse cells against habanin (sonicated extract) lepromin (Dharmendra) and tuberculin has been studied in the leucocyte migration inhibition test. The homologous antigenic response has evoked maximum inhibition as compared to heterologous antigens but close antigenic association has also been observed with lepromin and tuberculin. With human cells from leprosy patients these antigens have evoked analogous response indicating cross immunogenicity of M. habana with leprosy sensitized cells.

Increased virulence of Mycobacterium avium Kirschberg in thioacetamide treated rabbits.

An attempt has been made to determine the correlation between liver damage and the virulence of mildly pathogenic Mycobacterium avium in thioacetamide treated rabbits. Liver damage increased the susceptibility of rabbits to infection even with a moderately virulent organism.