Anticonvulsant activity of nitrendipine in albino mice.

Background: The objective is to evaluate the anticonvulsant activity of nitrendipine in seizure-induced mice. Methods: Albino mice (25-30 g) of either sex were randomly selected and divided into four groups of six mice each. After overnight fasting, Group I received 0.25 ml of propylene glycol and served as the control, Group II received valproic acid (110 mg/kg orally) as standard, Groups III received 5 mg/kg of nitrendipine and 100 mg/kg of valproic acid, Group IV received 5 mg/kg of nitrendipine and 75 mg/kg of valproic acid, and Group V received 5 mg/kg of nitrendipine and 50 mg/kg of valproic acid all of which were administered orally 60 mins prior to the test in this acute study. The anticonvulsant activity was screened using maximal electroshock (MES) model and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) model. Results: The nitrendipine showed a considerable reduction in the duration of hindlimb extensor phase in MES model and also delayed the latency of seizures induced by PTZ when compared with control group. The probable mechanism of anticonvulsant action of nitrendipine could be due to its interference with the gamma amino butyric acid type aminergic mechanism, modulation of nicotinic, and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. Conclusion: Nitrendipine possesses the anticonvulsant activity and has a beneficial role in epilepsy.

Sterculia guttata seeds extractives--an effective mosquito larvicide.

The larvicidal activity of ethanol, chloroform and hexane soxhlet extracts obtained from S. guttata seeds was investigated against the IVth instar larvae of Dengue fever vector, Aedes aegypti and filarial vector, Culex quinquefasciatus. All extracts including fractions of ethanol extract exhibited 100% larval kill within 24 hr exposure period at 500 ppm concentration. Fraction A1 of ethanol was found to be most promising; its LC50 was 21.552 and 35.520 ppm against C. quinquefasciatus and A. aegypti respectively. Naturally occurring S. guttata seed derived fractions merit further study as potential mosquito larval control agents or lead compounds.

Body proportions in Fanconi anemia heterozygotes.

To study the anthropometric ratios in parents (heterozygotes) of children with Fanconi anemia. The study was carried out in the Department of Hematology, Institute of Child Health & Hospital for Children, Chennai. Parents of children with Fanconi anemia were the subjects of the study. Applying standard instruments and methods, various body measurements were recorded. 31 fathers and 37 mothers were included in the study. A hundred male and female controls of the same ethnic group were also studied for the same parameters. The ratios were calculated and statistically analyzed. It was observed that fathers (male heterozygotes) had shorter forearms, the ratio of upper arm: forearm was significantly increased compared to male controls. In mothers (female heterozygotes) the inter-pupillary distance was increased, the ratio of head circumference to inter-pupillary distance was decreased compared to female controls.

Cell mediated immunity in childhood malaria.

Children with malarial infection, due to P. Vivax and P. falciparum, were tested for cell mediated immunity (CMI) by lymphocyte proliferative response to mitogens PHA (phytohaemagglutinin) and PWM (poke weed mitogen) and antigen PPD (purified protein derivative). This was done during the period of parasitemia and after treatment, and compared to 19 normal matched controls. There was no significant difference between the patients and the control group with regard to PHA (patients 57.4 +/- 50.5; controls 61.3 +/- 54.9); PWM (patients 27.4 +/- 19.9, controls 29.9 +/- 24.5); PPD (patients 2.2 +/- 1.2, controls 1.9 +/- 1.4). There was also no significant difference in the lymphocyte responses during the period of parasitemia and after treatment. Hence, there does not seem to be any depression of CMI as shown by lymphocyte proliferative responses during childhood malaria.