Reduced nociceptive responses in mice with alloxan induced hyperglycemia after garlic (Allium sativum Linn.) treatment.

Administration of ethanol (95%) extract (45 mg/kg body wt/day for 28 days) of garlic (A. sativum) to alloxan induced diabetic (ALX-D) mice significantly lowered the serum glucose levels, nociceptive response in tail-flick, hotplate, allodynia, formalin test and relative thickness, weight of hind paw in formalin induced Paw oedema test, over 28 days, thus, showing the reversal trend in hyperglycemia and hyperalgesia compared to ALX-D mice. The reversal of hyperglycemia and hyperalgesia was progressive and more effective as duration of extract administration increased. The results suggest therapeutic potential of ethanol extract of garlic for anti-hyperglycemic and anti-nociceptive effects in diabetes.

Aniridia-Wilms' tumour syndrome--a case report.

Wilms' tumour is rarely associated with sporadic non-familial congenital aniridia. A child with sporadic aniridia has a 25% chance of subsequently developing Wilms' tumour. Unawareness of this association can lead to a delayed diagnosis of Wilms' tumour. One such case in a 2 year old is reported. Wilms' tumour, one of the common childhood malignancies, is associated with other congenital anomalies in about 15% of cases. These include hemihypertrophy, genitourinary abnormalities, mental retardation, aniridia etc. Sporadic non-familial aniridia was noted in only 1.1% of 547 children with Wilms' tumours evaluated by the National Wilms' Tumour study group. Unawareness on the part of a clinician about these associated anomalies can lead to an avoidable delay in diagnosing Wilms' tumour. One such case in a two year old girl is being reported.

Hydrogen production from glucose by Citrobacter freundii.

C. freundii, a member of Enterobacteriaceae was isolated from nearby sewage and characterised. With optimum conditions, its hydrogen production capacity and efficiency was tested in synthetic medium containing glucose as carbon and energy source. C. freundii was grown in a 51 fermentor under batch anaerobic conditions. The total production of gas was 8.91 in the volumetric ratio of 63% H2 and 37% CO2 in 11 hr from 30.8 g glucose. From 1 mole of glucose 1.286 mole of hydrogen was produced (YH2/s). The rate of gas production (rQ) and hydrogen production (rH2) was 0.71 and 0.45 1/hr respectively. The strain appears to be a better one for hydrogen production compared to the earlier Citrobacter spp reported.