Effect of Cooking on Proximate, Phytochemical Constituents and Hematological Parameters of Tetracarpidium conophorum in Male Albino Rats.

Aims: To determine the effect of cooking on proximate, phytochemical constituents and their changes in hematological parameters. Study Design: Determination of proximate and quantitative phytochemical constituents of the cooked and raw T. conophorum (CTC and RTC respectively) nut and the effect of the nut on the hematological indices on male albino rats fed with the cooked and raw diet formulations of the nut for 30 days period. Methodology: Rats were divided into six groups of five rats each. Each feed and walnut was weighed and mixed in the ratio of 1:1 before administration. Group A: Normal animal feed, Group B: Mixture of animal feed and cooked nut (ratio of 1:1). Group C: Mixture of animal feed and the raw nut (ratio of 1:1), Group D: 100% of the cooked nut, Group E: 100% of the raw nut while Group F: Mixture of raw nut and cooked (ratio of 1:1). Result: The result showed that crude protein, carbohydrate and crude fibre contents of RTC were significantly higher (P<0.05) than the CTC. While the percentage moisture, fat and ash content of the CTC were significantly higher than the RTC. The quantitative phytochemical analysis revealed that there was no significant difference (P>0.05) between the alkaloid and flavonoid contents of RTC and CTC. Tannin, saponin, glycosides, hydrogen cyanide and steroid contents of RTC were significantly higher (P<0.05) than the CTC while terpenoid content of the CTC was significantly higher (P<0.05) than of the the RTC. The hemoglobin values showed no significant difference between the test groups and control group. The neutrophil values of group E and F were significantly higher (P<0.05) when compared with the control group. Rats in group E had a significant decrease (P<0.05) in lymphocyte value as against the control. Total WBC levels in group B, C and F recorded a significant decrease (P<0.05) when compared with the control. Conclusion: The study suggests that processing cooking affects some nutrient constituents and some hematological parameters.

Antioxidant and Antitumor Activity of Plumeria acuminata in Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma Bearing Swiss Albino Mice.

Aim: This study was designed to determine the antitumor and antioxidant properties of crude methanol extract from the leaves of Plumeria acuminata (Apocynaceae) (MEPA) against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) bearing Swiss albino mice. Study Design: Study design is methodology, mentioned below. Place and Duration of Study: Division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Jadavpur, Kolkata, India between 2006 and 2007. Methodology: The extract was administered at the doses of 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg per day for 14 days, after 24 hr of tumor inoculation. After the administration of the last dose followed by 18 hr fasting, mice were then sacrificed for observation of antitumor activity. The effect of MEPA on the growth of transplantable murine tumor, life span of EAC bearing host, viable and non-viable cell count, packed cell volume, hematological profile and biochemical parameters such as lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione content (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were estimated. Results: MEPA caused significant (P<0.01) decrease in tumor volume, packed cell volume and viable count; and it prolonged the life span of EAC-tumor bearing mice. Hematological studies reveal that the Hb content and RBC count were decreased in EAC treated mice, whereas the restoration to near normal levels was observed in extract treated animals. MEPA significantly (P<0.05) decreased the levels of LPO and significantly increased the levels of GSH, SOD and CAT. Moreover the MEPA was found to be devoid of conspicuous short-term toxicity in the mice when administered daily for 14 days at the doses of 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg Conclusion: The results suggested that the methanol extract of Plumeria acuminata leaves exhibited antitumor effect by modulating lipid peroxidation and augmenting antioxidant defense system in EAC bearing Swiss albino mice.

Effect of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Acalypha wilkesiana on Hematological Parameters in Male Wistar Albino Rats.

Aims: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of aqueous leaf extract of Acalypha wilkesiana on hematological parameters in male wistar rats. Study Design: In_vivo. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma Nigeria, between August 2011 and October 2011. Methodology: Thirty two male wistar rats of average body weights 167.50g were grouped into four (I-IV), of eight rats each. Group I received distilled water (control), while constituted doses of 2500, 5000 and 10000 mg/kg body weight of the extract were administered once daily for 14 days to animals in group II, III and IV respectively. The effect of administration of this extract on hematological parameters was evaluated. Results: Results showed that the extract did not exhibit any significant effect (P>0.05) on packed cell volume, hemoglobin, red blood cell count, white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocytes, platelets, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate at all the administered doses of the extract. There was a significant reduction in mean corpuscular volume at all doses of the administered extract when compared with the control. Conclusion: The extract may be considered relatively hematotoxic at a dose of 2500 mg/kg due to its potentials to cause the formation of microcytic RBC’s.

Study of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy before and after treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid

To investigate bile acids patterns in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy [ICP] and to test the efficacy of ursodeoxycholic acid [UDCA] treatment. The study included a reference group comprised ten healthy pregnant women and 21 patients with ICP, who were randomly divided into 2 groups, one received UDCA for 21 days and followed until delivery [11 cases] and the other received vitamin B as a placebo and followed in time same manner [10 cases]. Bile acids were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in maternal serum at the start, 21 days later and after delivery. They were also analyzed in amniotic fluid and neonatal meconium after delivery. UDCA treatment improved bile acid levels after 21 days and markedly after delivery. Amniotic fluid levels of bile acids were lower in UDGA treated cases than placebo treated cases. Neonatal meconium bile acids were higher in placebo treated ICP cases than reference cases. After delivery, serum TBA and cholic acid in UDC'A treated cases were correlated with those in amniotic fluid [r = 0.91, r = 0.6], with positive correlations with neonatal meconium TBA [r= 0.39]. The obstetric and neonatal outcomes were better in UDCA treated cases tf compared to placebo cases. Ursodeoxycholic acid is effective and safe in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. It attenuates pruritus, corrects bile acid abnormalities in the mothers and improves fetal and neonatal outcomes

Peritoneal fluid and serum concentration of the cytokine rantes and its correlation with the severity of endometriosis

This study is aimed to measure the cytokine RANTES concentration in both the peritoneal fluid and serum of women with and without endometriosis, to test the potential utility of this cytokine as a non-invasive marker of endometriosis. This study includes 30 patients for whom laparoscopy was done for various indications, 15 of them were having endometriosis of various degrees of severity, were taken as group I [cases]. The other 15 patients were having normal laparoscopic findings and were classified as group II [control]. RANTES concentrations were measured in peritoneal fluid and serum of both groups using [ELISA] technique. It was found that there is a highly significant increase of RANTES concentration [P < 0.001] in both peritoneal fluid [2299.4 +/- 1417 pg/ml] and serum [93.1 +/- 29.1 pg/ml] of patients in group I than that in peritoneal fluid [6.50 +/- 289.8 pg/ml] and serum [45.56 +/- 22.27 pg/ml] of patients in group II. It is concluded from this study that peritoneal fluid and serum concentration of RANTES is significantly increased in patients with endometriosis with a significant positive correlation with the increased severity of the disease and its measurement in the serum could be used as a non-invasive marker in patients with endometriosis

Some serum biochemical changes as influenced by tartrazine

The role of synthetic orange color [tartrazine] on glucose, total lipids, total cholesterol, urea and bilirubin contents in blood serum of food additive color fed rats were studies. Results obtained revealed that, glucose, urea and bilirubin contents in serum were significantly increased by administration of tartrazine dose and time of expose. While, total lipids and total cholesterol contents were decreased. The decreased in total lipids was not significant according to tartrazine dose or time of administration, but in the case of total cholesterol, the decrease was significant according to dose and not significant in respect to time of expose

Estudio comparativo de dos sistemas de hemocultivos en micosis sistemicas asociadas al S.I.D.A. / Comparative study between two hemoculture systems in systematic mycosis related to AIDS

Se realizo un estudio comparativo de dos metodos de hemocultivos para hongos en pacientes VIH positivos que presentaban fiebre prolongada o una micosis sistemica confirmada. La tecnica convencional consistio en sembrar 5-10 ml de sangre venosa en frascos con caldo tripteina-soya y polianetol sulfonato de sodio como anticoagulante. A los 7 y 14 dias de incubacion a 37 grados C se realizaron repiques en medios de agar-miel de Sabouraud y agar-infusion de cerebro y corazon. El metodo de centrifugacion-lisis se llevo a cabo con 5 a 10 ml de sangre venosa heparinizada, se separo el plasma por centrifugacion, el sedimento fue tratado con una solucion de saponina al 0,5 por ciento despues de obtenida la lisis, la muestra fue nuevamente centrifugada y el material restante se sembro en agar-miel de Sabouraud y agar-infusion de cerebro y corazon, la incubacion se realizo a 28 y 37 grados C. Fueron estudiadas 288 muestras, que se procesaron simultaneamente por los dos sistemas. La tecnica convencional permitio el aislamiento de Cryptococcus neoformans en el 7,9 por ciento de los materiales, en tanto que el Histoplasma capsulatum, fue aislado en el 1 por ciento . El sistema de centrifugacion-lisis recupero el C. neoformans en el 7,3 por ciento de los hemocultivos y el H. capsulatum en el 3,8 por ciento . El lapso medio para el aislamiento e identificacion de ambos hongos fue 7 dias mas corto con el metodo de centrifugacion-lisis. Esta ultima tecnica resulto ser mas simple, mas rapida y mas sensible que el procedimiento convencional. Se comprobaron funguemias en el 86,2 por ciento de los casos de criptococosis y en el 70,5 por ciento de las histoplasmosis asociadas al S.I.D.A.

Sepsis por corynebacterium equi: reporte del primer caso en Cuba / Corynebacterium equi sepsis: first case report in Cuba

Se reporta el primer caso en Cuba de sepsis por Corynebacterium equi, bacteria reconocida como patógena en animales, y oportunistas en pacientes inmunodeprimidos, nombrada por diversos autores Rhodococcus equi. Due ailada en repetidas ocasiones de la sangre de una paciente con trasplante renal, la cual presentó una evolución tórpida y falleció posteriormente en el curso de una necrosis del riñón trasplantado

Efecto inhibidor del plasma seminal humano sobre la proliferación linfocitaria in vitro inducida por fitohemaglutinina (PHA) / Inhibite effect of human seminal plasma on in vitro lymphocytic proliferation induced by phytohematogglutinin (PHA)

Se estudió el efecto de diferentes muestras de plasma seminal de hombres infértiles a diferentes concentraciones y de fracciones de diferente peso molecular de un pool de plasma seminal sobre la proliferación linfocitaria inducida por PHA. Los experimentos se realizaron en presencia de suero humano AB y los resultados mostraron un efecto el cual fue reproducible y dependiente de la concentración de plasma seminal. Varias fracciones mostraron efecto inmunosupresor, la de peso molecular entre 1 000 y 5 000 fue la de mayor potencia inhibidora

Aplicación de la microscopia electrónica al estudio de la sangre periférica en el síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida (SIDA) / Aplication of the electronic microscopy to peripheral blood study in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

El síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida (SIDA), es producido por los virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH 1 y VIH 2), los cuales inducen en los pacientes trastornos progresivos de la inmunidad celular. A los fines de detectar si ocurren alteraciones a nivel ultraestructural de los leucocitos, que ayuden a clarificar la patogenia del SIDA, se procesó sangre periférica de 10 pacientes seropositivos sintomáticos, 15 seropositivos asintomáticos y 9 personas sanas, según los métodos de Watanabe y Donahue modificado por Pirela y col. para su estudio con el microscopio electrónico de transmisión (MET), y de Boyum y col. y Nakstad y col. para ser estudiados con el microscopio electrónico de barrido (MEB). Se detectaron en linfocitos y monocitos estructuras tubuloreticulares (TRS) en el interior del retículo endoplasmático rugoso en el 72,7% de los pacientes seropositivos sintomáticos y en 20% de los asintomáticos, y cisternas cilíndricas confrontadas (CCC) en un paciente seropositivo sintomático y en uno asintomático. Estas estructuras estan relacionadas con interferon tipo I y nuestros hallazgos coinciden con los reportados por la mayoría de otros autores. La presencia de estas inclusiones ha sido asociada con la evolución y pronóstico de los pacientes con SIDA

Níveis de hemoglobina no sangue periférico materno e no sangue da veia umbilical / Hemoglobin levels in both mother peripheric and umbilical vein blood

Em grávidas a partir do primeiro trimestre, atendidas no Ambulatório de Pré-natal do Departamento de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeiräo Preto da Universidade de Säo Paulo, por ocasiäo da primeira consulta, foram feitos história clínica, exame físico geral e obstétrico e entrevista destinada à obtençäo de dados com respeito à alimentaçäo e ao nível sócio-econômico. As gestantes äo receberam orientaçäo alimentar, suplementaçäo de ferro ou transfusäo de sangue. Os valores de hemoglobina, glóbulos vermelhos e hematócrito foram determinados no sangue periférico materno, nos três trimestres da gestaçäo e no parto e no sangue da veia umbilica. Correlacionamos os níveis de hemoglobina materna nos diferentes trimestres da gestaçäo e no parto com os níveis do sangue da veia umbilical. Concluímos que as gestantes estudadas tinham ingestäo alimentar precária; os valores médios de hemoglobina, glóbulos vermelhos e hematócritos, durante a gestaçäo e parto, estavam dentro da normalidade; no decorrer da gestaçäo houve diminuiçäo dos valores de hemoglobina e elevaçäo por ocasiäo do parto; os valores de hemoglobina do segundo e terceiro trimestres da gestaçäo mostraram correlaçöes com os valores de hemoglobina do primeiro trimestre da gestaçäo,, os valores de hemoglobina do sangue da veia umbilical näo mostraram correlaçäo com os valores do sangue periférico materno

Estudio de 3 actividades sanguíneas de la enzima adenosina desaminasa (ADA) en un grupo de individuos aparentemete sanos y en pacientes afectados de algunas hemopatías malignas / Study of three blood activities of adenosine deaminase enzyme in a healthy growp and a growp with malignant hematologic diseases

Un procedimiento desarrollado en este trabajo para la cuantificación de la actividad en sangre total de la enzima Adenosina Desaminasa; ADA, utilizando la técnica de Gisuti. Tres actividades sanguíneas de ADA fueron estimadas y estudiadas en un grupo de individuos sanos y en pacientes afectados de hemopatías malignas. Dos de las actividades obtenidas directamente mediante la técnica, ofrecen en los individuos normales valores más altos en los varones; mientras que la tercera actividad, estimada a partir de las dos primeras por un tratamiento aritmético, no es afectado por el sexo. Los incrementos de la actividad de ADA son explicados en base a un aumento del metabolismo purínico como respuesta a una estimulación eritropoyética por aumento de las urgencias aerobio-oxidativas

Estudio de algunas variables hematológicas en ancianos institucionalizados y ambulatorios / Study of some hematologic variables in institucionalized and ambulatory old age individuals

Se realizó un estudio hemático en 2 grupos de sujetos mayores de 60 años; uno institucionalizado y otro ambulatorio, que incluyó diferentes parámetros. Se hace un breve análisis de la relación entre varios indicadores en estos grupos de edades

Comparison of serum GT, ASAT, ALAT, and ALP levels in hepatic diseases

The purpose of this study was to determine a simple and sensitive test for clinical diagnosis of various hepatic diseases. Therefore y-glutamyltranspeptidase [y-GT], aspartate aminotransferase [ASAT], alanine aminotransferase [ALAT] and alkaline phosphatase [ALP] levels were measured in 29 healthy adults and 88 sera with various liver diseases. Table I represents the results, according to which y-GT activity increases in all of studied patients, especially in alcoholic liver disease and hepatobiliary dysfunction [13, 5, 3,10, 4]. The data suggest that in liver disease it is better to estimate y-GT level in serum prior to other related enzymes