Evaluation of adaptogenic activity profile of herbal preparation.

The herbal formulation, AVM is a proprietary formula that consists of extracts of herbs that have been used in Indian traditional medicine to promote physical and mental health, improve defense mechanisms of the body and enhance longevity. AVM (500 and 1000 mg/kg) was tested for its adaptogenic activity by determining antistress, anabolic and immunomodulatory effects. In antistress activity, pretreatment with AVM significantly attenuated the changes in ascorbic acid (from blood and adrenal), cortisol (from plasma and adrenal) and adrenal gland weights induced due to restrain stress (physical immobilization). Its antistress effect at 1000 mg/kg was comparable to that of diazepam (5 mg/kg) treated group. Leucopenia, and anemia induced by cyclophosphamide (CYP) was shown to reduce significantly by AVM. Treatment of AVM + CYP had increased spleen and thymus weights significantly as compared to CYP alone treated group. The anabolic activity was evaluated by weight gain of the levator ani muscle, ventral prostrate gland and seminal vesicles in rats as compared to untreated control.

Alteration of serum glucose level in infection and surgical stress.

The present study was conducted to see the alteration of serum glucose level in infection and surgical stress. For this purpose a total number of 37 subjects in the age range (18 - 55) years were selected from Mymensingh Medical College Hospital from July 2003 to June 2004. Subjects were grouped as follows: control (n=13), infection (n=14) and surgery (n=10). Fasting serum glucose levels were estimated from all subjects by enzymatic calorimetric (GOD-PAP) method. A distinct and statistically significant increase in serum glucose level was observed in infection and surgery group in comparison to control group (p< 0.001).

Effect of estrogen on plasma ceruloplasmin level in rats exposed to acute stress.

BACKGROUND: Plasma ceruloplasmin, a copper containing protein, belongs to a class called acute phase proteins. Reduced level of ceruloplasmin was associated with Wilson's disease and Menke's kinky hair disease in man, primarily affecting copper metabolism. Stress was known to increase Ceruloplasmin. Several stress associated changes were commonly observed in women at menopause and also those who underwent overiectomy. Present experiment investigated the effect of estrogen on ceruloplasmin level in acute stress. AIMS: To assess the estradiol induced changes in plasma ceruloplasmin concentration on exposure of the rats to acute stress. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Acute stress was induced by forcing the rats to swim till exhaustion. The rats were overiectomised bilaterally to remove the primary source of sex hormones. And hormone replacement was done later. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Wistar albino female rats were used. Acute stress was induced before overiectomy, following recovery from surgery, and again after Estradiol Valerate injection (for 10 days) in same group of rats. The plasma ceruloplasmin was estimated immediately after stress during each stage--that is preoperative control, stressed control, after overiectomy and then following treatment with Estradiol Valerate. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Paired sample T test was applied to analyze the findings. RESULTS: We found lowest ceruloplasmin level after stress in overiectomised animals, while on substitution of estradiol the trend appeared to be reversed. CONCLUSION: The result suggested a direct effect of estrogen on hepatic ceruloplasmin production/release and this could account for some of the beneficial effects of hormone replacement therapy.

Clinical profile and outcome of stroke in relation to glycaemic status of patients.

The present study was undertaken in 50 patients of acute stroke to assess the role of glycaemic status on clinical profile and outcome of stroke. Subjects were divided into two groups: Group 1--Comprising of 25 patients of acute ischaemic stroke; Group 2--Comprising of 25 patients of acute haemorrhagic stroke. Each group was subdivided into euglycaemics, stress hyperglycaemics, newly diagnosed diabetics and known diabetics subgroups (stress hyperglycaemics, newly diagnosed diabetics and known diabetics together were called hyperglycaemics). Hyperglycaemics of both the groups had larger sized stroke. Neurological assessment done at day 1 and day 10 by Gillory's scoring system showed statistically significant improvement (P < 0.01) in all neurological functions in the euglycaemic subgroup in both the groups while in the hyperglycaemic subgroup improvement in higher mental function and motor function was insignificant (P > 0.05). There was statistically significant mortality (P < 0.05) (up to 10th day) with the hyperglycaemic subgroup in both the groups as compared to the euglycaemic subgroup.

Metabolic and stress responses of the body to trauma: produced by the laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is regarded as gold standard therapy for symptomatic gall stone disease. This study was done to compare the metabolic and stress responses between open and lapraroscopic cholecystectomy and to evaluate their significance in postoperative recovery. Thirty patients with symptomatic gall stone disease were treated with open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy on elective basis (14 versus 16). Three samples of blood were collected from each patient to investigate serum cortisol, adrenaline, nor-adrenaline, C-reactive protein and blood glucose level. The mean age of patients was 41.86+/-10.13 blood glucose and stress hormones (cortisol, adrenaline, nor adrenaline) and C-reactive protein all were found significantly raised in the postoperative period in open cholecystectomy than laparoscopic cholecystectomy group. The postoperative recovery was also prolonged in the open group. The obvious clinical advantages of laparoscopic cholecystectomy over open cholecystectomy is mainly because of less metabolic and stress response.

Metabolic markers following beta-adrenoceptor agonist infusion in footshock-stressed rats

Stress hormones can alter metabolic functions in adipose tissue and liver, as well as the sensitivity of rat white adipocytes and rat atrial responses to ß-adrenergic agonists. In this study, we examined the effects of three daily footshock stress sessions on the plasma corticosterone, glucose, glycerol and triacylglycerol levels of fed, conscious male rats, and on the plasma glucose, glycerol and triacylglycerol levels of the same rats following iv infusions of ß-adrenergic agonists (isoproterenol: 0.4 nmol kg-1 min-1, noradrenaline: 5.0 æg kg-1 day-1, and BRL 37344 ([+ or -]-[4-(2-[(2-[3-chlorophenyl]-2-hydroxyethyl)amino]propyl)phenoxy]acetic acid), a selective ß3-adrenoceptor agonist: 0.4 nmol kg-1 min-1). Plasma corticosterone levels increased significantly after each stress session, while triacylglycerol levels increased after the first session and glucose increased after the second and third sessions. Glycerol levels were unaltered after stress. These results suggest that repeated footshock stress may induce a metabolic shift from triacylglycerol biosynthesis to glucose release by hepatic tissue, with glycerol serving as one of the substrates in both pathways. Stressed rats were more sensitive to infusion of noradrenaline plus prazosin and to infusion of isoproterenol, with elevated plasma glucose, glycerol and triacylglycerol levels. The higher sensitivity of stressed rats to isoproterenol and noradrenaline was probably related to the permissive effect of plasma corticosterone. Only BRL 37344 increased plasma glycerol levels in stressed rats, probably because ß3-adrenoceptors are not involved in hepatic triacylglycerol synthesis, thus allowing glycerol to accumulate in plasma

Serum cortisol and prolactin response to surgical stress in infants and children.

In a prospective study on 40 infants and children undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia, serum cortisol and prolactin levels were compared to assess hormonal response to stress as regards to age, sex, length of surgery and anaesthetic techniques. The rise in serum cortisol was independent of age, sex, length of surgery and anaesthetic techniques while percentage rise in serum prolactin were more in females compared to males and significant post-induction surge irrespective of sex.

Development of differential tolerance to the sedative and anti-stress effects of benzodiazepines.

Differential degree of tolerance has been reported to develop for anticonvulsant, sedative and skeletal muscle relaxant effects of benzodiazepines (BZDs). Acute treatment with BZDs reportedly reduces the formation of gastric stress ulcers and attenuates stress-induced immunosuppression. The present study investigates whether tolerance develops to these antistress effects of BZDs by using diazepam and chlordiazepoxide as representative drugs. A single dose of diazepam (5 mg/kg, i.p.) or chlordiazepoxide (20 mg/kg, i.p.) produced a significant reduction in locomotor activity, a measure of sedative effect and antagonized the effect of restraint stress (RS) on gastric mucosal lesions and anti-sheep red blood cell (SRBC) antibody titre. With chronic treatment (X 7 d), there was a marked tolerance to the sedative effect of both the studied BZD drugs, while much less tolerance developed to their ulcer protective action. However, no tolerance was observed to the attenuating effect of diazepam and chlordiazepoxide on RS-induced immunosuppression. Thus, the results of the present study indicate that different mechanisms may be involved in the development of tolerance to the sedative, antiulcer and immunomodulatory effects of BZDs.

Effects of stress and food deprivation on catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch).

No significant changes in plasma cortisol and plasma osmolarity (the indicators of primary and secondary response respectively) were observed when the blood samples were obtained from unanaesthetized, anaesthetized and stressed catfish, H. fossilis. The results suggest that the catfish is fairly hardy and not easily susceptible to stress by routine laboratory handling. The sustained plasma glucose levels and decreased liver and muscle glycogen concentrations during cessation of feeding of the catfish suggest that during period of food deprivation, it draws its energy through glycogenolysis. Hence, in any study dealing with carbohydrate metabolism, the catfish needs to be fed during acclimation and experimental periods.

Effect of Panax ginseng and diazepam on brain 5-hydroxytryptamine and its modification by diclofenac in rat.

Wistar male rats pretreated with anti-stress agents like, Panax ginseng (Pg) and diazepam (Diaz) were stressed by restraining for 1 h and 5-HT content of brain and hypothalamus as well as plasma corticosterone were measured spectrophotoflurometrically. Diclofenac (DICLO), a prostaglandin (PG) synthesis inhibitor was used to confirm the role of prostaglandin in restraint stress-induced elevation of central 5-HT correspondingly confirmed by elevation of plasma corticosterone and modification of the above anti-stress agents. Pg, Diaz and DICLO per se did not modify brain and hypothalamic 5-HT in control rats. But they attenuated stress-induced elevation of brain and hypothalamic 5-HT. Anti-stress action of both Pg and Diaz reflected by inhibition of stress-induced elevation of brain and hypothalamic content of 5-HT as also stress-induced concurrent elevation of plasma corticosterone were further diminished by DICLO. The mediatory action of 5-HT in anti-stress effects of Pg and Diaz may be modulated through prostaglandins.

The effect of acute noise stress on neutrophil functions.

The effect of acute noise stress on albino rats was studied by estimating the plasma corticosterone level, total leukocyte count and differential leukocyte count. Neutrophil function was assessed by Candida phagocytosis and Nitroblue tetrazolium reduction test. The total leukocyte count was significantly decreased. No significant changes were observed in the differential count of the leukocytes. A significant increase in the plasma corticosterone level, Candida phagocytosis and Nitroblue tetrazolium reduction was observed indicating acute noise to be a potent stressor in albino rats.

Sistema nervioso autónomo y estres gástrico, en ratas / Autonomic nervous system and gastric stress in rats

En grupos diferentes de ratas Wistar (n=10), se estudió el efecto fisiopatológico del sistema nervioso autónomo en el estrés gástrico, en el modelo experimental de estrés, por inmovilización e inmersión en agua a 15 grados Celsius durante 6 hs., en el que se tabuló el por ciento lesional macroscópica de la mucosa gástrica y en sangre se midió el cortisol, malatonina, nor-adrenalina, adrenalina, dopamina y serotonina. En estrés testigo se encontró un área necrótica gástrica de un 80 por ciento en sangre solo se halló aumento de nor-adrenalina y adrenalina. Se estudiaron fármacos en dosis dependientes, agonistas y antagonistas de los receptores Beta adrenérgicos, antagonistas alpha adrenérgicos postinápticos; colinérgicos y anticolinérgicos, de los receptores endorfínicos y de los GABA. Se encontró que Isoproterenal, Prazosim, Doxazosina, Tramadol y Vgabatrin dieron marcada protección de la mucosa gástrica en el estrés, con un área necrótica cercana al 0 por ciento (P<0.001); en contraste, Propanolol, Acetilcolina, Atropina, Naloxona y Flumazenil no se diferenciaron del estrés testigo (P>0.5). Todos los fármacos estudiados dieron similares aminas vasoactivas que el estrés testigo. Se concluyó que el sistema nervioso autónomo en su vinculado a sus receptores con incremento de la microcirculación esplácnica.

Toxicología ambiental: metalotioneínas y metabolismo celular / Environmental toxicology: metallothioneins and cellular metabolism

Las metalotioneínas (MT) constituyen una familia de proteínas de bajo peso molecular (6-8 kDa), presentes en procariotes y eucariotes, con elevado contenido en cisteína (30-35 por ciento) y marcada capacidad para combinarse con iones metálicos. dentro del metabolismo celular, se le han asignado múltiples funciones, desde un papel central en la homeostasis celular de ciertos metales pesados esenciales ("pool" citosólico de Zn y/o Cu), la detoxificación de metales pesados no esenciales, hasta su participación en ciertos procesos inflamatorios y la inactivación de radicales libres. La variación en el nivel de MT es indicador de exposición a xenobióticos, de situaciones ambientales adversas así como de situaciones de estrés fisiológico. Como tal, esta respuesta puede utilizarse tanto a nivel de la toxicología laboral, clínica y en estudios ecotoxicológicos. A este respecto, se encuentra en fase experimental su utilización con fines de diagnóstico ambiental. Esta revisión tiene como objeto constituir una breve reseña sobre los principales conocimientos reunidos hasta la fecha. Se ha avanzado significativamente en los aspectos básicos y metodológicos de la inducción de metalotioneínas en situaciones de estrés. Sin embargo, y a pesar de contarse con un número importante de estudios específicos, y a diferencia de otras proteínas menos estudiadas, queda aún sin precisar su función básica dentro del metabolismo celular

Examination stress: changes in serum cholesterol, triglycerides and total lipids.

Serum cholesterol, triglycerides and total lipids were estimated in twelve students exposed to varying degree of examination stress. Serum cholesterol and triglycerides exhibited a rise proportional to degree of examination stress whereas total lipids exhibited an initial rise followed by a fall. Values of all these parameters attained control level when the stress was over. The rise in serum cholesterol and triglycerides seems to be due to stress induced changes in hormonal levels and peripheral lipolysis respectively.

Is the throughbred race-horse under chronic stress?

Thoroughbred fillies were divided into three groups according to age: group 1, 7 fillies aged 1 to 2 years (G1) starting the training program; group 2, 9 fillies aged 2 to 3 years (G2) in a full training program; group 3, 8 older fillies 3 to 4 years of age (G3) training and racing. Blood samples were collected weekly from July to December. Cortisol was quantified using a solid phase DPC kit. The intra- and interassay coefficients of variation were 12.5 percent and 15.65 percent and sensitivity was 1.9 + 0.2 nmol/1. The semester average of cortisol levels varied between groups: G1 = 148.8 + 6.7, G2 = 125.7 + 5.8, G3 = 101.1 + 5.44 nmol/l, with G3 differing statistically from the other groups. The lower cortisol levels observed in the older fillies leads us to propose that the stress stimulus, when maintained over a long period of time, may become chronic and result in a reduction of hypophyseal corticotropin-releasing hormone receptors. The secretion of endogenous opioids may also lead to low serum cortisol levels.

Metoclopramide enhances labetalol-induced antihypertensive effect during handgrip in hypertensive patients / La metoclopramide y el labetalol producen efectos antihipertensivos durante el manejo en pacientes hipertensivos

The effects of metoclopramide, labetalol and metoclopramide plus labetalol treatment on baseline cardiovascular parameters and isometric handgrip induced changes, were evaluated in eleven hypertensive subjects. Although all treatments were effective in reducing resting systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures, the combination of metoclopramide and labetalol appeared to provide a greater decrease (changes in SBP/DBP: 15/11 mmHg, p<0.05; from 149 + 4/95 +4 mmHg to 134 + 5/84 ñ 3 mmHg) than did labetalol alone (changes in SBP/DBP: 10/9 mmHg p<0.05; from 149 ñ 4/95 ñ 4 to 139 ñ 486 ñ 3 mmHg). At 2 minutes, handgrip increased blood pressure on placebo (changes in SBP/DBP: 34/7 mmHg, p<0.001). However, in the presence of metoclopramide and metoclopramide plus labetalol, handdrip induced lesser increases in blood pressure (changes in SBP/DBP: 23/7 mmHg, p<0.01 and 18/4 mmHg, p<0.01, for metoclopramide and metoclopramide plus labetalol treatment, respectively. We conclude that: 1.- Metoclopramide lowers blood in hypertensive patients; 2.- Metoclopramide attenuates blood pressure response to isometric handgrip and; 3.- Both compouds, labetalol and metoclopramide, seem to have a pharmacological interaction conceming blood pressure decrease. It is suggested a clinical significance for the metoclopramide effect

The influence of surgical stress on the psychoneuro-endocrine-immune axis.

Stress is known to depress the immune system severely. This study was done to evaluate whether surgical stress influenced polymorphonuclear (PMN) and monocyte functions in association with serum cortisol and the anxiety score as measured on the HARS Rating Scale. We found that surgery (irrespective of whether it was major or minor) significantly depressed PMN and monocyte functions and increased serum cortisol levels. PMN phagocytosis correlated significantly (p < 0.05) with the rise in serum cortisol. In spite of these changes, postoperative clinical recovery was uneventful. No major alterations in the HARS scores were noted pre and post operatively. This study demonstrates that surgical stress depresses the immune system with a concomitant rise in cortisol.

Clinical profile of stroke in relation to glycaemic status of patients.

Present study was undertaken in fifty consecutive patients of acute stroke to assess the role of glycemic status on clinical profile of stroke. Majority of patients (76%) were in age group of 41-70 years. The patients were classified into four groups: euglycemics (33), known diabetics (8), newly diagnosed diabetics (6) and stress hyperglycemics (3). Diabetics as well as stress hyperglycemics had higher prevalence of larger sized severe haemorrhagic stroke with poor outcome and there was positive correlation between them.