Time dependent immunomodulatory response of exogenous melatonin to killed Pasteurella multocida (P52 strain) vaccine in albino rats.

The effect of time of administration of exogenous melatonin (M) at the rate of 100 microg/Kg BW of rat/day for 14 days on immunomodulation to killed Pasteurella multocida (P52 strain) vaccine (KPMV) was investigated in male albino rats during spring season with photoperiod of LL 13: DD 11 h and 25 +/- 2.5 degrees C air temperature and 70 +/- 4% relative humidity. The experiment was conducted at an altitude of 172 mts above mean sea level at latitude 28.20 degrees north, longitude 79.24 degrees east (Bareilly, U.P. India). The experimental animals were divided in-groups of 8 rats each, as KPMV + M at 4.00 h; KPMV + M at 16.00 h; KPMV and their controls M4, M16, PBS respectively. Humoral immune response was monitored at weekly intervals by an indirect ELISA and cellular immunity by leukocyte migration inhibition test (LMIT) and delayed type of hypersensitivity (DTH). As evinced by in-vitro assays and in-vivo protection studies, both humoral and cellular immune responses to KPMV were augmented in rats receiving exogenous melatonin at 4.00 h as compared to slightly reduced responses in rats treated with melatonin at 16.00 h. It was concluded that the circadian timings of melatonin administration modulate immune response in rats.

High frequency resonant oscillations technique to improve nasal muco-ciliary transport.

A modified high frequency resonant oscillations (HFRO) technique was developed to improve the nasal muco-ciliary transport in patients with impaired ciliary functions due to various chronic diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Twelve healthy males (group I) and ten patients suffering from malignancy of the upper respiratory tract (group II) were exposed to HFRO in order of 200, 250, 300, 400, 500 Hz respectively. The muco-ciliary transport (MCT) was assessed by using saccharine clearance time technique. A significant improvement in MCT was observed in both the groups at all the frequency levels, more so in the range of 400 and 500 Hz. An overall relative improvement of 174 per cent (P less than 0.01) in group I and 145 per cent (P less than 0.001) in group II was observed. No significant side effects were noted.