Infectivity and efficacy of Glomus aggregatum and growth response of Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. in flyash amended sterile soil.

In the present investigation a pot culture experiment was conducted using sterile, phosphorus deficient soil to study the effect of flyash at 3 different concentrations (10g, 20g and 30g flyash/kg soil) on the infectivity and effectiveness of VAM fungus Glomus aggregatum in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) cv Maruti. The flyash amendment in soil at all the 3 different concentrations was found to affect significantly the intensity of VAM fungal colonization inside the plant roots and also suppressed the formation of VAM fungal structure (vesicles and arbuscules) completely at higher concentration (30g flyash/kg soil). The response of the pigeonpea plants, as judged by their higher and dry weight, under the influence of flyash amendment in VAM fungus infested soils was found to be considerably less (though not significant enough) when compared to the control plants (without flyash) that have otherwise shown significant increase in growth over the plants without Glomus aggregatum inoculation. However, flyash amendment without VAM inoculation was also found to enhance the growth of plants as compared to control plants (without flyash and VAM inoculum).

Formation of reactive oxygen species in rat epithelial cells upon stimulation with fly ash.

Fly ash was used as a model for ambient particulate matter which is under suspicion to cause adverse pulmonary health effects. The fly ash was pre-sized and contained only particles < 20 microm including an ultrafine fraction (< 100 nm) that contributed 31% to the particle number. In our study, we investigated the influence of fly ash on the promotion of early inflammatory reactions like the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in rat lung epithelial cells (RLE-6TN). Furthermore, we determined the formation of nitric oxide (NO). The cells show a clear dose-response relationship concerning the formation of ROS with regard to the mass of particles applied. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) added as a co-stimulus did not increase the formation of ROS induced by fly ash. Furthermore, in LPS (0.1 microg/ml) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha; 1 ng/ml) pre-treated cells no increase in reactive oxygen species comparable to fly ash alone is observable. In presence of the metal chelator, desferrioxamine (DFO), ROS formation can be significantly reduced. Neither fly ash nor LPS induced a significant NO release in RLE-6TN cells.

In vitro effects of three metallic salts and soot on the growth of five species of the dermatophytes.

The antifungal effects of zinc chloride (znCl), Calcium chloride (CaCl), magnesium chloride (MgCl) as well as soot collected from a local kitchens were tested on five isolated species of the dermatophytes from cases of human dermatophytoses. Of these three metallic salts, ZnCl showed the highest inhibitory effect on the dermatophytes. At a concentration of 0.01 M it showed 100% inhibition on these fungi. Although the other two metallic salts showed some inhibitory effect CaCl at concentration between 0.01 M and 1 M showed only 50% inhibitory effect while MgCl at concentration between 0.1 M and 1 M showed less than 50% inhibitory effect on the fungi. Also soot inhibited the growth of all the dermatophytes tested at concentration between 0.1 and 2%. Trichophyton rubrum and Microspum audouinii appeared to be most sensitive to these compounds compared to the other three species which include T. mentagrophytes, T. tonsurans and M. gypseum.

Phagocyte inhibition in the rat liver, spleen and lung / Inibiçäo fagocitária em fígado, baço e pulmäo de ratos

The extent and duration of macrophage impairment was studied in the liver, spleen and lung of rats. This effect was obtained by intraveous infusion of sulfur colloid. The extent and duration of this impairment was evaluated by macrophage phagocytosis of carbon colloid pigments after intravenous injection of China ink. The results showed hepatic phagocytic inhibition lasting for 24 to 72 hours. In the spleen, phagocytic depression lasted seven days. In the lungs, depression of phagocytosis occurred only when the two types of particles were infused concomitantly. In conclusion, colloidal particles inhibited the phagocytic function of macrophages, and the end of this effect occurred earlier in the lung and later in the spleen. These data may be considered in studies related to depression of the mononuclear phagocytic system

effect of carbon-graphite fiber reinforcement patterns on the transverse strength of provisional crown and fixed partial denture resins

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of incorporating varying amounts [5, 10 and 15 wt%] of saline treated carbon-graphite fibers, in two different arrangement patterns, on the transverse strength of two provisional crown and fixed partial denture resins. Thirty five specimens of each resin were produced, 30 resin specimens were reinforced in linear and criss-cross fiber patterns with varying weight percentage of fiber contents. The mean transverse strength of the two resins increased significantly with 5 and 10 wt% fiber incorporation, but the differences in strength between 10 and 15 wt% were not statistically significant. The results obtained from this study showed promise of potentially practical techniques for strengthening provisional fixed partial dentures