RESUMO
Background & objectives: Malaria affects around 228 million people all over the globe. Malaria causing parasite Plasmodium infection leads to activation of immune responses. The growth of parasite and immune activation requires semi essential amino acids like L-arginine. Malaria infection leads to condition of hyperargininemia and low availability of nitric oxide. However, the effect of L-arginine supplementation in malaria infected mice has not been explored in in-vivo studies. In this study we have compared the effect of oral supplementation of nitric oxide donor, L-arginine and L-citrulline, in malaria infected mice Methods: To examine the effect of oral supplementation of L-arginine and L-citrulline, Plasmodium berghei infected mice were divided in different groups and respective groups were fed with L- arginine and L-citrulline, parasitemia was measured on different days. Mice was sacrificed and immunophenotyping was done on 10 days post infection. Results: our results show that supplementation of L-arginine induces conducive environment for Plasmodium growth due to which the infected mice dies earlier than control wild type infected mice whereas L-citrulline supplementation inhibits parasite growth and mice survives for longer period of time. Flow cytometric analysis shows that supplementation of L-arginine increases cTLA-4 on T cell population, increases Treg cells leading to immunosuppression while supplementation of L-citrulline does not have effect on T cells population and number of Treg cell decrease compared to P. berghei infected mice. Interpretation & conclusion: our results show that L-citrulline can be a better alternative than L-arginine because of lower expression of inhibitory molecules and lower parasitemia as well as increased survival of infected mice.
RESUMO
Dhat syndrome is a culture bound syndrome originating in the Indian sub-continent. Various cultures or religions have discussed about ill effects of semen loss and anxiety related to semen loss is one of the core symptoms of Dhat syndrome. It is found to be most prevalent among young men coming from rural background with poor education. Further, Dhat syndrome has been associated with comorbid depression, anxiety and substance abuse. Management of Dhat syndrome includes combination of psychoeducation, sex education, medications and psychotherapy. This paper intends to provide and the place the origins of Dhat syndrome in culture context and discusses the socio-cultural factors that tends maintain it.
RESUMO
Macro and microscopic findings in developing brain of rat fetuses were observed after intraperitoneal injection with a single dose (30mg/kg) of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) in late phase of gestation. 5-FU induced more than 60.0% lethality with significant reduction (p<0.001) in weight and various dimensions of the developing brain. Macroscopic findings of the developing brain revealed microcephaly, regression or absence of the olfactory lobe and obliteration of the various fissures on the dorsal surface. Microscopic examination of the olfactory lobe of treated brain showed the obliteration of the olfactory ventricle, distortion of the cellular arrangement of various layers of the olfactory cortex with clumping of degenerated neurons and glial cells. Cerebral cortex of the treated brain revealed the distortion of normal cytoarchitecture of the various cortical layers. The neurons of the treated brain revealed the degeneration, deeply stained eccentric nucleus with loss of mitotic figures and pyknotic changes. Subcortical zone of the treated cerebrum showed the degenerative changes in the fibrous structure along with paucity of the glial cells. The hippocampus of the treated brain revealed the loss of normal cytoarchitecture and shrinkage of all the layers. Neuroembyopathic effect of 5-FU is severe, when given in late phase of pregnancy, so it is advisable that the drug should be avoid during the late period of pregnancy.