Isolation of emetine resistant clones of Entamoeba histolytica by petri dish agar method.

Emetine resistant clones of Entamoeba histolytica strain HM1:IMSS were isolated by using petri dish agar method after mutation with ethyl-methanesulphonate. Two emetine resistant clones were obtained and both were resistant to emetine at a concentration of 24 micrograms/ml of emetine. The 50 per cent inhibitory concentration (IC50) for both emetine sensitive and resistant clones was 5 and 14 micrograms/ml respectively. The colony forming efficiency of E. histolytica strain HM1:IMSS varied from 44 to 54 per cent. This method is useful for isolating clones from different strains of the parasite for molecular and immunological studies.

"Dr. P. C. Sen Memorial Best Paper Presentation Award on rural health practice". Physical and mental community health: what are the obstacles!

The present work aims to study the cultural concepts of the health in general and mental health in particular from six villages of Sundarban region, West Bengal, India, by using field research methodology, viz, participants observation, focus group discussion and in depth interview. A qualitative data was collected from the field. Analysis of the data shows that there is a clear difference of conception among the people of the region according to their socio-economic status. Poor and non-educated segment stressed much more on the physical ability and lack of economic resources in relation to health, whereas educated and comparatively economically stable segment with some urban influence, stressed more on both physical and emotional stability as a measure of good health. The pattern of help seeking also reflects different preferences towards traditional and modern treatment facilities available in the region. Results on the study promoted to take intensive community awareness programme for effective health coverage of the population.

Release of iron from haemoglobin--a possible source of free radicals in diabetes mellitus.

Increased blood glucose in diabetes mellitus stimulates nonenzymatic glycosylation of several proteins, including haemoglobin. Although iron is tightly bound to haemoglobin, it is liberated under specific circumstances yielding free reactive iron. Studies with purified haemoglobin from normal individuals and diabetic patients revealed that concentration of free iron was significantly higher in the latter cases and increased progressively with extent of the disease. In vitro glycosylation of haemoglobin also led to increase in release of iron from protein. This increase in free iron, acting as a Fenton reagent, might produce free radicals, which, in turn might be causing oxidative stress in diabetes.

Fluconazole in the management of neonatal systemic candidiasis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of Fluconazole in the management of neonatal systemic candidiasis. DESIGN: Descriptive, retrospective analysis. SUBJECTS: 23 neonates diagnosed as systemic candidiasis based on clinical suspicion with blood and/or urine culture positive for candida were treated with Fluconazole (5 mg/kg/day) for > 7 days. RESULTS: Babies had mean birth weight 1590 + 533 g, mean gestation 32.3 + 3.1 wks and fungal sepsis was diagnosed at a mean age of 14.3 + 7.9 days. Candida albicans (43.5%), C. tropicalis (21.7%), C. guillermondii (13%), C. parapsillosis (13%) and C. krusei (8.7%) were the species isolated. Fluconazole was effective in 82.3% cases with no side effects. Four resistant cases were C. parapsillosis (n = 2), C. albicans (n = 1) and C. guillermondii (n = 1) and there were three deaths, all in resistant cases though one death was unrelated to candidemia. CONCLUSION: Fluconazole is a safe and effective drug for neonatal systemic candidiasis.

Comparative studies on the interaction of protoporphyrin with hemoglobin and myoglobin.

The binding parameters of protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) with hemoglobin (Hb) were studied spectrofluorimetrically and the results were compared with those of PPIX interacting with myoglobin (Mb). Two concentration ranges of PPIX (0.3 microM-1.5 microM and 1.5 microM-3.0 microM) were used. For both hemoglobin and myoglobin, the binding affinity constant (K) decreased while the number of binding sites (p) increased as the concentration range of PPIX increased. The interactions occurred in non-cooperative mode. Over a particular PPIX range, the interaction of PPIX with hemoglobin decreased significantly with increasing NaCl molarity indicating a trend in electrostatic interaction, whereas PPIX binding with myoglobin did not change significantly indicating mostly non-electrostatic mode of interaction. Total bound charge (z psi) decreased significantly with increased PPIX concentration range in case of hemoglobin-PPIX interaction, but remained almost same in case of myoglobin-PPIX interactions. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that binding of PPIX to hemoglobin was mostly electrostatic at lower concentration range of PPIX but became less electrostatic at higher concentration range and myoglobin-PPIX interaction, predominantly hydrophobic in nature, became more hydrophobic with increased range of PPIX concentration. The difference in binding modality between PPIX-Hb and PPIX-Mb has been discussed in relation to the state of aggregation of porphyrin as well as the subunit interaction property present and absent in hemoglobin and myoglobin, respectively.

Neuropharmacological studies on Panax ginseng.

Panax ginseng root powder is extensively used in the Far East for a wide variety of clinical ailments and to improve general physical and mental wellbeing. It is now also being used in the Occident because of the adaptogenic activity of the plant. The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the neurophamacological profile of activity of P. ginseng (ginseng), since the available data were meagre and often controversial. Ginseng had a complex profile of activity, sometimes difficult to reconcile on the available neurochemical reports on the plant. Thus, it did not appear to affect pentobarbitone sleep induction or spontaneous motor activity but potentiated amphetamine-induced increase in motility. However, ginseng attenuated the other effects of amphetamine, namely, stereotypy and lethality in aggregated mice. The drug exhibited antinociceptive activity and potentiated the antinociceptive effects of both pentazocine and aspirin. Haloperidol catalepsy was potentiated while the behavioural responses of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) and L-DOPA were both attenuated. Ginseng had no anticonvulsant action, nor did it potentiate the anticonvulsant effects of phenobarbitone and diazepam. The drug had per se hyperthermic effect and attenuated the hypothermic response of reserpine and 5-HTP induced hyperthermia. Ginseng exhibited significant aggression-inhibiting effect in doses which had no significant effect on spontaneous motility. The results have been discussed on the neurotransmitter function basis of the experimental paradigms and the likely effect of ginseng on these actions.

Effects of aspirin and paracetamol on ATPases of human fetal brain: an in vitro study.

In vitro effects of aspirin and paracetamol at the doses 200, 400, 600, 800 nmole/mg protein on ATPases activity were studied in the cerebrum and cerebellum of human fetus covering the age range from 10 weeks to 32 weeks of gestation. Both aspirin and paracetamol inhibit Na+K+ ATPase and Mg2+ ATPase in a dose dependent manner. The inhibition of Na+K+ ATPase and Mg2+ ATPase activity which may affect the release and uptake of biogenic amines in CNS, hinders the maturation of human fetal brain.

Reactivity of glycoconjugate in membrane system II: can a neutral glycolipid function as lectin receptor in the presence of gangliosides in plasma membrane.

To examine how surface potential controls the reactivity of glycoconjugates at cell surface, the interaction of galactose-specific lectins e.g. peanut agglutinin, Ricinus cummunis agglutinin with liposomes bearing asialo GM1 were studied in the presence of varying amount of ganglioside mixture, GMn. The presence of 5% GMn causes complete slowing down of precipitin reaction and thereby make carbohydrate moiety of asialo GM1 completely inaccessible i.e. ‘cryptic’. In contrast the presence of 1–2% GMn enhances the apparent rate and amplitude of the precipitin reaction as surface potential becomes more negative. The relevance of the findings has been discussed in relation to the expression and involvement of the cell-surface sialic acid residues during development and differentiation.

A comparative study of 5'nucleotidase and alkaline phosphatase in human placenta during development.

Activities and a few properties of alkaline phosphatase and 5′-nucleotidase were compared in the developing human placenta. Both the enzymes were mostly membrane-bound and displayed similar developmental patterns with the highest activities at 24/26 weeks of the placenta. L-Phenylalanine, L-tryptophan and L-leucine were inhibitors of alkaline phosphatase, whereas they had no effect on the 5′-nucleotidase. Alkaline phosphatase from a late stage of gestation appeared to be almost heat-stable. An appreciable part of 5′-nucleotidase was also resistant to heat inactivation and this fraction varied with gestational age of the tissue. For both the enzymes, Vmax changed without altering Km values with periods of gestation. Ca2+ , Mg2+ and Mn2+ ions stimulated the alkaline phosphatase activity and Hg2+ , Zn2+ , Cu2+ ,Ni2+ were inhibitory. 5′-Nucleotidase was not activated by any of these cations. EDTA and Concanavalin A inhibited both the enzymes, although the extent of inhibition was different and also varied with gestation.