The evaluation of skin prick test in house dust mite allergy in Calcutta, India.

Immediate type allergy towards house dust and house dust mites was measured in 188 dust-sensitive asthmatic patients in and around Calcutta by using the skin prick test. Of the 131 positive patients, 82% reacted to Dermatophagoides mites, 80% to D. farinae, 46% to D. pteronyssinus, and 43% to both species of mites. Sixty-two per cent of the positive patients showed strong skin reaction to D. farinae as compared to 32% to D. pteronyssinus. Skin reaction (positive/strong) was highest in D. farinae as compared to other allergens tested in the present study. Skin test results were also analysed in relation to patients' age, sex and duration of disease.

Clinical significance of IgE in bronchial asthma.

Total mean serum IgE levels of 63 patients (aged 16-49 years) suffering from bronchial asthma and 64 control subjects (aged 19-40 years) were estimated by RIA method. Mean serum IgE level of patients and control subjects was 1132 +/- 643 units/ml and 43 +/- 26 units/ml respectively. The difference between the two values was statistically significant (p less than 0.001). Four per cent of the patients had serum IgE levels within normal limits. No significant correlation was found between mean serum IgE level of the patients and the duration of the disease. Differences in mean serum IgE level of male and female patients and control subjects was not statistically significant. The mean serum IgE level of patients in the age group of 21-40 years was highest (F = 1.33, p less than 0.05). Significantly elevated levels of serum IgE were observed in patients with both personal and family history of atopic disease in comparison to patients with only personal or family history only (p less than 0.05). As such the estimated raised level of IgE was significant in view of the severity of atopic asthma.

Effect of pyrethrum on CNS and haemolymph monovalent (Na(+), K(+)) cations and also on the level of CNS acetylcholine and activities of esterase and choline acetyltransferase in the insect Schizodactylus monstrosus drury.

The organic compound pyrethrum is recognised as a highly neurotoxic insecticide. Experiments were conducted to see whether the substance influences the central nervous system and haemolymph cationic (Na(+), K(+)) concentrations and also to examine changes in acetylcholine concentration and the activities of esterase and choline acetyltransferase. Pyrethrum treatment exhibits dissimilar changes in respect of sodium and potassium ion concentrations in the haemolymph and CNS of the carnivorous, orthopteran insect Schizodactylus monstrosus. Application of pyrethrum insecticides decreased the activities of esterase and choline acetyltransferase but increased the concentrations of acetylcholine. The release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine is related to the ionic balance in the nerve membrane. The changes in the level of both sodium and potassium when exposed to pyrethrum impair the ionic balance in the nerve membrane, and for that matter the nerve conductor is blocked due to non release of acetylcholine ultimately causing paralysis of the insect concerned.

HG (II)-induced changes in some biochemical parameters in the freshwater fish Clarias batrachus.

The data on the effect of Hg(II) on changes of biochemical parameters in the freshwater fish, Clarias batrachus L. showed an increased protein content in the liver, kidney, stomach, intestine, testis and ovary, and a decreased content of it in the muscle over control data. A decrease in DNA, RNA and dry weight and an increase in free amino acids, tissue permeability and the activities of protease and RNase were recorded in all the organs by the treatment with Hg(II). In general, the effect of Hg(II) was maximum in the liver and kidney, followed by the intestine, stomach, muscle, testis and ovary of this species.

Role of corpora-allata and brain of adult female Lohita grandis gray.

Removal of the corpora allata from the emerging female adults of L. grandis caused a rapid and significant increase in the contents of total carbohydrate, glycogen, total lipids, cholesterol, total proteins and RNA in the fat body, and a significant drop in the contents of trehalose free fatty acids (FFA), phospholipids, free amino acids (FAA) and also in the activity of acid and alkaline phosphatase, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and exterase in the fat body, in comparison with the sham-operated controls. Treatment with juvenile hormone analogue (JHa) of the allatectomized insects significantly reverses the effects produced by allatectomy (P less than or equal to 0.01). Similarly, removal of the brain produced similar responses in the fat-body but with some exceptions such as the decrease of total protein and RNA and increase significant of FAA as compared to the sham-operated controls. Simultaneous removal of corpora-allata and brain produces a rapid increase in the contents of total carbohydrate, glycogen, total lipid, cholesterol, FAA and the activity of acid phosphatase in comparison with all other treatments performed in this study, while the contents of trehalose, phospholipid, FFA, total protein, RNA and the activity of GOT, GPT, general esterase and alkaline phosphatase in the fat-body decreased compared to all other treatments. The results obtained are discussed in relation to the neuro-endocrine control of metabolism in insects.

Heavy metal pollutant induced changes in some biochemical parameters in the freshwater fish Clarias batrachus L.

The data on the effects of Hg(II), As(V) and Pb(II) on the biochemical parameters of the freshwater fish. Clarias batrachus L., showed an increased protein content in the liver, kidney, stomach, intestine, testis and ovary, and a decreased content of it in the muscle as compared to control values. A decrease in dry weight and an increase in free amino acid and tissue permeability were recorded in all the organs after treatment with Hg(II), As(V) and Pb(II). In general, the organs were affected by the treatments in the order: Pb(II) greater than As(V) greater than Hg(II) and their effects were pronounced in the liver and kidney, followed by intestine, stomach, muscle, testis and ovary of the species.

Biochemical changes in testis and ovary of Chrysocoris stolli Wolf. after the application of juvenoid and ecdysterone.

The changes in the metabolic status of both testis and ovary of Chrysocoris stolli following the treatment with juvenile hormone analogue (JHa) and ecdysterone were studied. After the exogenous application of JHa in selective dose, total carbohydrate, glycogen, trehalose, cholesterol, ascorbic acid and inorganic phosphorus increased significantly whereas free fatty acid (FFA), phospholipid, total protein, RNA and DNA decreased significantly in comparison to control of both testis and ovary. Total lipid significantly decreased in testis and significantly increased in ovary after JHa injection. The activities of cellular enzymes like alkaline phosphatase, 5' nucleotidase, catalase and peroxidase significantly decreased while acid phosphatase and GPT significantly increased after the JHa application in comparison to control both in testis and ovary. Activities of GOT and general esterase significantly decreased in testis and increased in ovary after JHa application. The exogenous application of ecdysterone also brought about the similar kind of responses as was noticed in case of JHa treatment but these two treatments differed in some cases such as ecdysteroid that produced some results which were just the reverse of what was produced by JHa treatment. The results obtained here were explained in terms of mode of action of these two hormones.

Quantification of acetylcholinesterase, acid and alkaline phosphatases in the central nervous system of Schizodactylus monstrosus, D. (schizodactylidae:orthoptera). Effect of topical application of the pyrethrum.

The newly emerged adult male and female Schizodactylus monstrosus D. were treated with an insecticide, pyrethrum or with petroleum ether in the case of controls. At selected intervals of 6 h, 12 h and 18 h after treatment, the brain and ventral nerve cord and ganglia were homogenized to estimate the activity of acetyl-cholinesterase, and acid and alkaline phosphatase. The resultant activities of these three enzymes showed that: acetylcholinesterase decreased rapidly, and acid and alkaline phosphatase increased significantly after pyrethrum treatment in both brain and ventral nerve cord with ganglia compared with the controls. The activities of alkaline phosphatase showed a marked fluctuation at different post-treatment periods in both the tissues. The results have been discussed in relation to the impact caused by the treated insecticide and its metabolism.