Clinico-anesthetic changes following administration of propofol alone and in combination of meperidine and pentazocine lactate in dogs.

AIM: The aim of this study is to find out the effect of propofol and its combination with meperidine and pentazocine lactate on certain clinico-anesthetic profiles in dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 15 apparently healthy mongrel dogs of either sex of about 1 year of age were randomly divided into three groups of five dogs each. The animals of Group I were administered propofol intravenously alone "to effect," whereas meperidine at 2 mg/kgb.wt. and pentazocine lactate at 2 mg/kg b.wt. were injected intramuscularly 15 min before propofol "to effect" in Groups II and III, respectively. Atropine sulfate at 0.04 mg/kgb.wt. was injected intramuscularly 20 min before each treatment. Rectal temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, and anesthetic indices were recorded before and at 5, 10, 20, 30, and 60 min of induction. RESULTS: As compared to Group I, the animals of Groups II and III exhibited a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the level of rectal temperature, respiration rate, and heart rate. Duration of recumbency, time of standing, time of recovery as well as the duration of analgesia were longer in pentazocine lactate (Group III) followed by meperidine (Group II) as compared to propofol alone (Group I). Meperidine treated dogs showed defecation and muscle twitching during anesthesia. CONCLUSION: Meperidine and pentazocine are suitable opioids used in combination with propofol for achieving surgical anesthesia and helpful in reduction of propofol dose.

GOBF-ARMA based model predictive control for an ideal reactive distillation column.

This paper discusses the control of an ideal reactive distillation column (RDC) using model predictive control (MPC) based on a combination of deterministic generalized orthonormal basis filter (GOBF) and stochastic autoregressive moving average (ARMA) models. Reactive distillation (RD) integrates reaction and distillation in a single process resulting in process and energy integration promoting green chemistry principles. Improved selectivity of products, increased conversion, better utilization and control of reaction heat, scope for difficult separations and the avoidance of azeotropes are some of the advantages that reactive distillation offers over conventional technique of distillation column after reactor. The introduction of an in situ separation in the reaction zone leads to complex interactions between vapor-liquid equilibrium, mass transfer rates, diffusion and chemical kinetics. RD with its high order and nonlinear dynamics, and multiple steady states is a good candidate for testing and verification of new control schemes. Here a combination of GOBF-ARMA models is used to catch and represent the dynamics of the RDC. This GOBF-ARMA model is then used to design an MPC scheme for the control of product purity of RDC under different operating constraints and conditions. The performance of proposed modeling and control using GOBF-ARMA based MPC is simulated and analyzed. The proposed controller is found to perform satisfactorily for reference tracking and disturbance rejection in RDC.

Chikungunya virus infection amongst the acute encephalitis syndrome cases in West Bengal, India.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection from the acute encephalitis syndrome cases is an uncommon form and has been observed in the year 2010-11 from West Bengal, India. The case-1 and case-2 had the acute encephalitis syndrome; case-3 was of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis whereas the case-4 had the symptoms of meningo-encephalopathy with bulbar involvement. We are reporting four cases with neurological complications involving central nervous system (CNS) due to CHIKV infection from this state for the first time. The virus has spread almost every districts of this state rapidly. At this stage, these cases are public health threat.

Assessment of genotoxicity of some common food preservatives using Allium cepa L. as a test plant.

Food preservatives play important role in today's food supplies that are used to prolong the self-life of products by protecting them from deterioration caused by micro-organisms. In this study, investigations were carried out to study the impacts of food preservatives like butylated hydroxytoluene, butylated hydroxyanisole, sorbic acid, propyl gallate and sodium nitrate. The effects of these preservatives at concentration of 1000 ppm, 1500 ppm, 2000 ppm, 2500 ppm for 4 h, 8 h and 16 h of exposure period were studied on the root tips of Allium cepa. Cytological studies revealed statistically significant (p < 0.05) inhibition in mitotic index with an increase in concentration of the food preservatives when compared with the control. Most frequent cytological abnormalities observed were bridges, multipolarity, C-mitosis, stickiness and cell death. The total percentages of abnormalities were also increased with increasing concentration and time duration. The abnormalities (%) in root system caused by used preservatives were recorded as butylated hydroxytoluene < butylated hydroxyanisole < sodium nitrate < sorbic acid < propyl gallate.

Manganese induced changes in growth, chlorophyll content and antioxidants activity in seedlings of broad bean (Vicia faba L.).

The effect of manganese (Mn) on broad bean (Vicia faba L.) was studied with regard to growth, Mn accumulation in root and shoot, chlorophyll, proline content and peroxidase activity. Seeds were treated with Mn (10, 20, 40, 80,120,160 microM) and grown hydroponically up to 15 days. Manganese level in both root and shoot increased progressively in response to increasing concentration and it was high in roots (13 fold) overthe shoots (8 fold). The reductions in root (52%) and shoot (62.92%) development were evident for the maximum Mn concentration (160 microM). The chlorophyll amount gradually declined with increasing Mn concentrations and attained its maximum (42%) at 160 microM. By contrast, the guaiacol peroxidase activity was high (71%) along with the accompanying rise in proline content (75%) in shoots of the highest Mn concentration (160 microM). However, there was about 2 fold increase in total glutathione content at 40 microM than the basal level and further declined to 21.65 microg g(-1) fresh wt. at 160 microM Mn. The alterations in overall reflected Mn concentration-dependent changes in the parameters studied. The results suggest thatthe plant Vicia faba L. copes with Mn exposure through enhanced production of antioxidants.

Effect of chronic fenvalerate intoxication on tissue concentration of copper in goats and further exploration of its mechanism.

This experiment was designed to assess the effect of chronic fenvalerate toxicity on tissue Cu concentration in goats and to explore the pathways responsible for it. A significant decrease in tissue Cu concentration of kidney, heart, and brain while an increase in the liver were recorded in fenvalerate intoxicated goats at 15 mg/kg b.w. orally daily for 270 days. Concentration of total Cu, protein-free Cu, and protein-bound Cu in the wet intestine of fenvalerate-treated goats revealed a significant decrease in Cu concentration of the intestine due to the decrease in trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-insoluble Cu, while TCA-soluble Cu remained almost unaffected. Rabbit duodenal loop technique was used to assess the relative absorption of nonisotopic copper in a living animal. This technique enabled to compare Cu absorption from the lumen of three closely associated loops, each receiving 100 µg of copper along with different doses (0, 15, and 30 µg) of fenvalerate. A significant dose-dependent decrease in Cu absorption from the lumen due to fenvalerate treatment was recorded. A decrease in total copper (TCA-insoluble fraction) suggested an interference in active transport of copper due to the inhibition of absorption of protein-bound copper. It was concluded that fenvalerate interfered in copper absorption mostly by inhibiting its active or mediated transport.

Antidiabetic activity and phytochemical screening of crude extract of Stevia rebaudiana in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND: Stevia rebaudiana regulates blood sugar, prevents hypertension and tooth decay. Other studies have shown that it has antibacterial as well as antiviral property. METHODS: Preliminary phytochemical screening of aqueous, ether and methanolic extracts of S. rebaudiana was done. Acute and sub-acute toxicity were conducted on twenty four Albino rats, divided into one control (Group I) and three treatment groups viz. aqueous extract (Group II), ether extract (Group III) and methanolic extract (Group IV). For the study of antidiabetic effect of S. rebaudiana rats were divided into seven groups (n=6). Diabetes was induced by a single dose of 5% alloxan monohydrate (125 mg/kg, i.p.) after 24 hour fasting.Blood samples were analysed on day 0, 1, 5, 7, 14 and 28. RESULTS: Phytochemical tests showed presence of different kinds of phyto-constituents in aqueous, ether and methanol extract of Stevia rebaudiana leaves. Daily single dose (2.0 g/kg) administration of aqueous extract (A.E.) , ether extract (E.E.) and methanol extract (M.E.) for 28 days of S. rebaudiana could not show any significant change in ALT and AST levels in rats. Blood sugar level was found to be decreased on day 28 in groups of rats treated with A.E., E.E. and M.E. of S. rebaudiana. CONCLUSION: The extracts of Stevioside rebaudiana could decrease the blood glucose level in diabetic rats in time dependent manner.

Glutathione and cysteine biosynthesis in two varieties of Abelmoschus esculentus in response to mine spoil.

The extent of accumulation of some heavy metals and glutathione and cysteine levels in the roots and aerial plant parts in two genotypically different varieties of A. esculentus (KS404 and BO2) exposed to mine spoil were investigated. Glutathione (GSH) level in both the varieties on control sites increased from basal level to 155.15 nmol g(-1) dry weight (d.wt.), almost 1.5 fold on 30 day and attained a plateau within 60 day Mine spoil exposure of both the varieties decreased glutathione 1.13 fold (89.2 nmol g(-1) dry weight) during 60 day from its basal level. GSH concentration in shoots of these varieties increased accompanying growth contrary to roots where it finally declined 2 fold. Cysteine content in control plants increased 2 fold (31.6 nmol g(-1) dry weight) on 30 day and finally declined 1.38 fold (22.35 nmol g(-1) dry weight, at 60 day). Both the varieties, when exposed to mine spoil, showed enhanced cysteine content almost 2 fold during 30 day (50.95 nmol g(-1) dry weight) but failed to increase further Forshoots in both the varieties challenged with mine spoil, cysteine maxima reached late (15.2 nmol g(-1) dry weight, at 40 day) relative to control but the levels declined subsequently (11.85 nmol g(-l) dry weight). Contrary to GSH, cysteine content in roots of both the varieties responded positively to mine spoil as apparent from the 2.23 fold increase during 30 d than basal level although it lowered to a level of 12.85 nmol g(-1) dry weight finally at 60 day. Both the varieties accumulated almost maximum level of selected cations (Fe > Mn> Zn> Cu > Ni) during 30 day, but BO2 variety was significantly superior in this regard. Invariably high accumulation of such cations in roots over shoots indicated accumulation, retention or restricted translocation from root to shoot. The metal share of the edible part was just 6% of the plant load. Thus, present work reflects a genotypic differences in metal accumulation and that affected the major non-enzymatic traits or synthesis of sulthydryl compounds as well. The present results also indicate that metal tolerance is in part associated with anti-oxidant system activity.

Bilateral intracerebral haemorrhages: an atypical presentation of Japanese encephalitis.

Japanese encephalitis is common human endemic encephalitis seen over various parts of the world. Usual presenting features include an encephalitic syndrome, symptoms of frontal lobe, basal ganglia and thalamic involvement. Characteristic radiological picture is bilateral thalamic and basal ganglia hypo density in the CT scan and hypo-intensity in T1 and hyperintensity in T2 weighted image in MRI. Very rarely occurrence of bilateral hemorrhage may be seen in these regions. This radiological change may be early indicator of the disease before serological confirmation by the available diagnostic modalities. In this communication, we have reported a case of Japanese encephalitis presented with bilateral basal ganglia hemorrhages.

Body iodine status in school children and availability of iodised salt in Calcutta.

Success of Universal Salt Iodization (USI) programme depends on availability of iodised salt to consumers, which should be reflected in their body iodine status. From a monitoring study in Calcutta, it was found that all packed salts were iodised and most of them (98.1% at household level and 93.6% at retailers' outlets) had iodine at a level of > or = 15 ppm. Of the loose salts, 34.6% at household level and 19.9% at retailers' outlet had iodine level < 15 ppm. A few number (0.5% at household level and 1.0% at retailers' outlets) of salts had no iodine. To ascertain the impact of consumption of iodised salt iodine excreted in urine (UIE) was measured in school children of age between 8-12 years of south, east, west, north and central parts of Calcutta. 22.95% of male children and 31.81% of female children had urinary iodine level less than 50 micrograms/l, which is cut off figure of public health concern. Children from poor slum areas were found to be at greater risk.

PIP: This paper presents a monitoring study on the availability of iodized salt at retailers' outlets and at the household level in Calcutta, as well as the impact of its consumption among school children aged 8-12 years. The children were physically examined for 3 grades of goiter. Urine samples were collected to estimate iodine excretion. Various types of salts were gathered from retailers' outlets located within a 0.5 km radius of the school that the children attended. Spot test kit and iodimetric titration methods were used in monitoring the availability of iodized salt. Results showed that all packed salts were iodized and that a majority of them (98.1% at the household level and 93.6% at the retailers' outlet level) had iodine levels of 15 ppm or higher. Only a small percentage of salts (0.5% at the household level and 1.0% at the retailers' outlet level) had no iodine content. As to the urinary iodine content among school children, 22.95% of males and 31.81% of females had urinary iodine level less than 50 mcg/l. 77% of male children and 69% of female children had satisfactory urinary iodine levels (50 mcg/l). The results confirmed the success of the Universal Salt Iodization (USI) program with regard to the availability of iodized salt.

The effect of induced fever on the biokinetics of norfloxacin and its interaction with probenecid in goats.

The kinetic profiles of norfloxacin were evaluated in afebrile, febrile and probenecid pre-treated (70 mg/kg orally) febrile goats after a single intravenous (i.v.) dose (5 mg/kg). Fever was induced and maintained for 12 h by injecting Escherichia coli endotoxin (0.2 microgram/kg, i.v.) and repeating it in half the dose (0.1 microgram/kg) 5 h later. The plasma pharmacokinetic values for norfloxacin were best represented using a two-compartment open model. The peak norfloxacin plasma level of 90.52 +/- 3.18 micrograms/ml attained in the probenecid pre-treated febrile goats was higher than that in the febrile (75.46 +/- 0.72 micrograms/ml) or afebrile goats (62.25 +/- 1.23 micrograms/ml). ClB and Kel values were significantly (p < 0.01) decreased in febrile compared with afebrile goats. These values were further reduced in febrile goats after probenecid pre-treatment. However, t1/2 beta was not affected by the fever-probenecid interaction. Norfloxacin may be used as an infusion with probenecid in caprine diseases where very high plasma levels are required to combat resistant organisms such as Bacteroides.

Urban growth in India and its contemporary relevance.

"The paper deals with...urban growth in India in general with relevance to urban agglomerations of major significance on the basis of [the] Census of 1991. In addition the urban growth during 1981-91 is viewed in accordance with the projected population and the actual count as undertaken in the 1991 Census operations. Some of the questions arising out of the contemporary trends in these areas...may be of concern for academic and planning processes. More elaborate synthesis is obviously required when the detailed tables on socio-economic parameters are given by the Census in due course to cross-classify and examine more aspects of population at various levels."

On the questions of migration in India: challenges and opportunities.

PIP: The author examines migration trends in India using data from the 1971 and 1981 censuses. The focus is on place of birth and place of last residence as factors affecting migration. The need for appropriate migration policies is emphasized.^ieng

Water in India with reference to agriculture and population: some issues and patterns -- dynamic approaches needed for development.

PIP: Population growth is increasing the demand for water in India, especially for agricultural purposes. Yet, the government of India has not included an assessment of water needs for an expanding population into its development strategy. The leading obstacle to such an assessment is lack of quality data. In fact, the latest data comes from the 1981 Census. A government official proposes to transform climate and water balance synthesis into crop regions as a means to evaluate the national or macro level effects on agriculture. Rice is the dominant crop of the eastern and coastal regions of India which have a humid and rainy climate. The acute to marginally dry crop regions grow jowar, maize, bajra, and ragi and face a water shortage. In dry northwestern India, developed irrigation systems sustain the wheat crop. Agricultural water needs depend on sufficient monsoon rain and/or irrigation. India has 5 microclimates: perhumid, humid, dry, semiarid, and arid regions. 40.7% of all of India which comprises 33.4% of the population is prone to drought. Rural-urban migration since 1960 has increased the urban population size in India, yet most cities' master plans for provision of safe drinking water for urban dwellers are only advisory rather than mandatory. In fact, 460,000 urban dwellers and many rural dwellers still depend on rivers, canals, or tanks which often are contaminated with sewage, toxins, and radioactive materials. Further, only 0.53% of the rural population has sanitation facilities. 5-level zoning (population-hydrological regions) for India would provide distributional aspects of water by major and minor surface water plans and groundwater, which in turn would bring about a practical infrastructure to different areas for agricultural and population needs. Much of the baseline data needed to develop these regions and to research this system already exists.^ieng

Redistribution of population in India: some reflections.

PIP: This article examines some aspects of population redistribution on the basis of internal migration data provided by the 1971 census. Its scope in India is limited to the assessmentof the quantum and proportion of the redistribution at the national and state levels and to the change in internal migration during 1961-71 on the basis of birthplace statistics. A comparison of place of birth and place of last residence migrants is also referred to in the discussion. A brief analysis of types of migration streams in the intradistrict, interdistrict, and interstate levels are assessed to indicate the composition of migration. Certain characteristics of migrants in urban areas are also presented which may be useful for further investigations at the levels of cities and towns. The gamut of the above considerations may provide a view on the redistribution of population.^ieng

Population regionals--a perspective in geographic space of India.

"This paper is concerned with the issue of delimiting population [regions] in India on the basis of selected and basic population variables." Types of regions are defined in two ways: by measuring 16 population variables at the district level and by measuring selected blocks of variables at the state/union territory level. "A defined method of score assessment has been employed which displays characteristic and clear grouping of districts in each [case]." Data are from the 1971 census.

Internal migration in India. An evaluation of 1971 census data.

PIP: The main purpose of this paper was to bring out certain facts about internal migration according to the 1971 census. The data have been classified to interpret the characteristics of regional distribution from the point of immigrant's age and marital status, urban migration, and to examine therural-urban industrial structure of migrants. An attempt has also been made to analyze migratory areas in specific cases of rural-to-rural, rural-to-urban, urban-to-urban, and urban-to-rural migrations. About 30.4% (166.7 million) of total population of the country (548 million) is involved in a move within the country as recorded on the census of April 1, 1971, according to birthplace. At the outset, the large rural migration arriving at destinations (often unplanned) creates a sociological imbalance in the region. There is a clear indication of the higher proporation of male migrants as opposed to female migrants in the labor force. Considering the overall picture of sex ratio among migrants, rural females contribute 55% and urban contribute 12% to total migration. This is a reflection of the short distance movement and marriage migration. On the contrarhy, at anational level, and among a different occupational structure, both working and nonworking males predominate. It indicates that the country is at a development stage in which the dominance of males in migration is evident. The gap between literate and illiterate migrants points to a lack of information on the part of jobseekers. There is also a gap in resource development. In general, the pull to large human agglomerations in the country is important bothin structure and manpower. It is worthwhile to assess population growth and migration at all levels in order to find guidelines to mobilize the manpower and reduce the stress and burden of nonworking migrants in particular.^ieng

Insulin release in response to calcium in the diagnosis of insulinoma.

A calcium infusion (4 mg Ca++/kg/hr) significantly increased plasma insulin levels and reduced blood glucose in 4 patients with insulin-secreting pancreatic islet cell tumors. These parameters were not altered by a similar infusion of calcium in normal volunteers, 2 patients with alimentary hypoglycemia, and 2 with functional hypoglycemia. No difference in response was observed between patients with benign and malignant beta-cell tumors. Infusion of diazoxide (600 mg) with calcium blocked the stimulation of the latter on insulin secretion. The results indicate the usefulness of calcium infusion in the diagnosis of insulin-secreting tumor.

A testosterone-secreting adrenal adenoma.

A third case of a testosterone-secreting adrenal adenoma is presented. It differs from the other 2 cases in additionally having glucocorticoid abnormalities. Clinically, the patient had been considered as having polycystic ovaries and did show some improvement with estrogen therapy. In fact, were it not for enlarging uterine leiomyomata on this therapy which prompted a more in depth investigation to look for alternative therapy, this potentially malignant adrenal lesion may never have been discovered.