Prediction of tubulo-interstitial injury by Doppler ultrasound in glomerular diseases: value of resistive and atrophic indices.

BACKGROUND: Doppler ultrasound is increasingly used in Nephrology for diagnosis of renovascular hypertension and evaluation of allograft dysfunction. However, its utility in glomerular disease remains controversial. OBJECTIVES: Using Doppler Ultrasound, we prospectively tested the role of resistive and atrophic indices in predicting tubulointerstitial lesions in patients with glomerular disease as demonstrated by renal biopsy. METHODS: Seventy one patients with primary or secondary glomerular diseases were examined by Doppler ultrasonography immediately before renalbiopsy. The resistive and atrophic indices (RI & AI) were calculated and compared with histologic changes in biopsy specimen. RESULTS: Receiver Operator Characteristics analysis showed RI of 0.60 as an optimal value for discriminating tubulointerstitial changes with sensitivity of 82.7% and specificity of 92%. An AI of 0.65 was shown to be optimal for discriminating tubulointerstitial injury with sensitivity of 69.2% and specificity of 85%. The combination of the two indices had not been found to be superior to either index alone. There was a significant correlation between atrophic and resistive indices. (r=0.358, p< 0.01). It was observed that older age, smoking, elevated AI and RI, low GFR, high serum cholesterol and Hypertension were found to be significantly associated with the presence of tubulointerstitial injury in the univariate analysis whereas only elevated AI and RI were found to predict tubulointerstitial injury in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Measurement of RI by Doppler ultrasound can be considered as a supplementary diagnostic tool in glomerular diseases to predict the severity of tubulointerstitial injury.

Effect of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) and ethanol on the Albino rat testis: a scanning electron microscopic approach.

The effects of sildenafil citrate with ethanol on the rat testis was studied using scanning electron microscopy. Male Albino rats were divided into 8 groups, each being treated for a maximum of 45 days as follows. In the 4 short-term treatment groups, control rats were administered normal saline orally, whereas experimental animals were fed sildenafil citrate (Viagra) 1 microg/g with 18% ethanol (5 g/kg body weight), which was given orally as a single dose. After 1, 2.5, 4 and 24h the rats were killed. In the 4 long-term treatment groups, daily continuous doses of drug and ethanol with a single dosage were given for 15, 30 and 45 days and the animals killed 4h after the last dosage. Changes in the testis were compared with the normal healthy rat testis. The use of a scanning electron microscope for evaluation of the changes in the testis is more suitable for observation of the surface and morphological shapes of the tissue structures.

Mineral and biochemical analysis of various parts of cissus quadrangularis linn.

Ash, minerals and biochemical contents were determined in various parts of root, stem and leaf of Cissus quadrangularis. The maximum ash content was observed in the root. The maximum concentration of carbohydrate and protein in the root and phosphorus, iron, calcium and lipids in the stem were observed.

Phytochemical and antimicrobial studies of extracts of solanum xanthocarpum.

Antibacterial activity of various parts (stem, leaf and fruits) of solvent extracts (Petroleum ether, alcohol and acetone) of Solanum xanthocarpum against Escherichia coil, Klebsiella of Solanum xanthocarpum showed high sensitivity to Escherichia coil & less sensitivity and resistance to Bacillus cereus. In control, no inhibitory zone was observed.

Phytochemical and antimicrobial studies of extracts of solanum xanthocarpum.

Antibacterial activity pf various parts (stem, leaf and fruits) of solvent extracts (petroleum ether, alcohol and acetone) of Solanum xanthocarpum against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi and Bacillus cereus were detected by zone of inhibition. The extracts of Solanum xanthocarpum showed high sensitivity to Kiebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella typhi, moderate sensitivity to Escherichia coli and less sensitivity and resistant to Bacillus cereus. In control, there is no inhibitory zone observed.

Specific activities of seminal vesicular phosphomonoesterases and Mg2+-,Ca2+- and Na+/K(+)-adenosine triphosphatases in hypo- and hyperthyroid albino rats.

Hypothyroidism (surgical thyroidectomy) inhibited the activities of acid phosphatase and Mg(2+)-ATPase in seminal vesicular tissue and fluid and that of Ca(2+)- and Na+/K(+)-ATPases in fluid alone, and T4 supplementation restored normalcy in all, except acid phosphatase. Hyperthyroidism (T4 25 micrograms/100g body weight/day for 60 days, im) enhanced the activities of alkaline phosphatase and ATPases in seminal vesicular tissue and fluid, and decreased acid phosphatase activity in tissue alone. Withdrawal of T4 treatment from hyperthyroid rats (after 30 days) augmented the activity of ATPases in tissue and impaired the same in fluid, while phosphomonoesterases remained at hyperthyroid level. The results suggest specific responses of various seminal vesicular phosphatases to altered thyroid hormone status. Modification in the specific threshold of androgen/estrogen action on different phosphatases in seminal vesicles appears to be the plausible mechanism underlying these changes in hypo- and hyperthyroid conditions.