Blood zinc levels in children hospitalized with severe pneumonia: a case control study.

A case control study was conducted in a referral and teaching hospital in North India on children aged 2 months to 5 years, to compare blood zinc levels in 50 cases of severe pneumonia and 50 age,sex and nutritional status matched controls. Mean blood Zinc levels in cases and controls was 376.1 ug/dL + 225.73 and 538.52 microg/dL +/- 228.0 respectively ( P value 0.0003). In logistic regression model severe pneumonia was associated with lower blood zinc level, use of biomass fuel and isolation of H. Influenzae from nasopharyngeal swab. Cotrimoxazole resistant S. pneumoniae were isolated from 95% of cases and 41.2 % of controls (P = 0. 0004). Therefore, the role of zinc in treatment of severe pneumonia should be investigated.

Synergistic effects in enzymic reactions.

It has been shown that when two enzymes showing similar actions act in close proximity of each other they influence each other synergistically. The phenomenon of synergism is, however, not observed if the two enzymes are of dissimilar action type. The condition of closest proximity has been simulated by conducting the enzymic reactions inside the reversed micelles. In the present study we have experimented with alpha-amylase and invertase both hydrolysing enzymes and also with peroxidase and invertase which do not show similar actions.

Mimicking sensing mechanism of smell-oscillations of electrical potential difference across a bipolar liquid membrane induced by olfactory agents.

Electrical potential oscillations across a bipolar liquid membrane, induced by olfactory agents have been reported. The data indicate that the bipolar liquid membrane system can be a good candidate for mimicking biological olfactory transduction.

Fungitoxic action of dithanes in presence of surfactant micelles.

A rationale of arriving at the concentration of surfactant additives in the pesticidal formulations has been discovered. Fungitoxic activity of each of the two dithanes, Dithane M-45 (maneb) and Dithane Z-78 (zineb) has been estimated in the presence of various concentrations of three surfactants namely sodium lauryl sulphate, cetyl pyridinium chloride and Tween 80. Data reveal that the concentration of the surfactant additives in the pesticidal formulations should be at least equal to its critical micelle concentration (CMC) for enhanced biological activity. This rationale for the concentration of surfactant additives in the pesticidal formulation has so far not been clearly brought out in the literature. Since biological activity of the pesticides is enhanced in the presence of surfactant additives the present study is relevant to the reduction of environmental pollution due to pesticide residues.

Liquid membrane phenomenon in the actions of digitalis.

The liquid membrane phenomenon in the actions of digitalis glycosides (digitoxin, digoxin and ouabain) has been studied. Formation of liquid membranes, in series with a supporting membrane, by digitalis alone and by digitalis in association with lecithin and cholesterol has been demonstrated. The results obtained on the transport of relevant permeants, viz. sodium, potassium and calcium ions and dopamine, adrenaline, noradrenaline and serotonin, in the presence of the liquid membrane generated by digitalis in association with lecithin and cholesterol indicate that the liquid membrane barrier to transport may have a relevance with the biological actions of digitalis.

Role of liquid membrane phenomenon in the biological actions of prostaglandins: studies on prostaglandin E1 and prostaglandin F2 alpha.

Modifications in the transport of relevant permeants to their respective sites of action due to the liquid membranes formed by prostaglandins in association with lecithin and cholesterol have been discussed in the light of biological actions of prostaglandins. It has been shown that the phenomenon of liquid membrane formation is likely to make a significant contribution to the biological actions.

Liquid membrane phenomenon in the biological actions of benzodiazepines.

The liquid membrane phenomenon in benzodiazepines has been studied. Transport of glycine, GA-BA, noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin in the presence of the liquid membranes generated by the benzodiazepines in association with lecithin and cholesterol has been studied. The data indicate that modification in permeabilities in the presence of the liquid membranes is likely to make a significant contribution to several biological actions of the benzodiazepines.