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N G Rao

Publications and source records attributed to N G Rao.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Metabolic aspects of the toxicology of mixtures of parathion, toxaphene and/or 2,4-D in mice.

The effects of mixtures of parathion (PA;5 mg kg-1), toxaphene (TOX; 50 mg kg-1)and/or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D; 50 mg kg-1) on the hepatic mixed-function oxygenase (MFO) system were studied in ICR male mice (21-24 g) by oral intubation daily for 7 days. In general, TOX and TOX-containing mixtures were found to induce the metabolism of amidopyrine (21-52%), aniline (58-72%), phenacetin (239-307%), pentobarbital (104-148%) and benzo[a]pyrene (143-304%) in the 9000 g liver supernatants and to increase the hepatic cytochrome P-450 contents (57-80%). Furthermore, the TOX pretreatment was effective in enhancing the biotransformation of PA or paraoxon (PO) in the supernatants. This enhancement was not altered significantly by 5 mM EDTA. Although TOX increased the aliesterase activity in the serum and liver homogenates and supernatants by 31-158%, the activity of paraoxonase was not affected in these preparations. The TOX-induced increase in the metabolism of PA or PO was, at least in part, associated with the MFO system, and paraoxonase did not have significant involvement in the increase. These findings suggest that the toxicity of the PA + TOX mixture would be lower than that of PA, as TOX has the ability to increase the biotransformation of PA, as well as of PO, and the levels of aliesterase, thereby providing a pool of noncritical enzymes for the binding of PO. Because of these properties of TOX, it is anticipated that the toxicity of the PA + TOX + 2,4-D mixture also would be lower than that of PA.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗
PubMed1990

Toxicity of mixtures of parathion, toxaphene and/or 2,4-D in mice.

The toxicity of the mixtures of parathion (PA), toxaphene (TOX) and/or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was studied in ICR male mice (21-24 g) by oral intubation, in corn oil, daily for up to 14 days. On Day 15, the exposure was discontinued, and animals were monitored for an additional period of 7 days for the possible reversibility of the toxicity. The body weight gain decreased with the mixtures, as well as with the individual agricultural chemicals (ACs), during the 14-day period. The cholinesterase (ChE) activity in the serum and brain was inhibited in the animals of the groups of PA (1-10 mg kg-1) and PA (5 mg kg-1)-containing mixtures. TOX (50-200 mg kg-1) caused initial inhibitory effects of 20-65% on the serum ChE (Day 1) before producing increases of 53-64% in the enzyme activity by Day 15, with little effects on the brain ChE levels. 2,4-D (50-200 mg kg-1) resulted in significantly elevated levels of the serum ChE, with substantial decreased in the brain ChE activity. The serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase level was up (38-630%) in TOX (50 mg kg-1), 2,4-D (50 mg kg-1) or their mixture group. No pathological changes at the light microscopic level in the brain and liver were noticed. TOX and TOX-containing mixtures significantly increased the liver/body weight ratio and decreased the pentobarbital (60 mg kg-1, i.p., in saline)-induced sleep.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗
PubMed1989

Mandibular canine index--a clue for establishing sex identity.

A preliminary study for establishing sex identity by Mandibular Canine Index is described. Seven hundred and sixty six individuals from a South Indian population of either sex, ranging in age from 15 to 21 years, with fully errupted, healthy and non-worn mandibular permanent canines were studied. The data collected was analysed statistically. Accurancy of sex determination identity was found to be 84.3% in the male and 87.5% in the female. The method is simple and inexpensive to conduct and therefore can be applied in Forensic Odontology, as a method for establishing sex identity.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Toxicological evaluation of a poisoning attributed to ingestion of malathion insect spray and correlation with in vitro inhibition of cholinesterases.

A 24-year-old Caucasian male was found dead from unknown causes at his farm home. At the scene, partially filled bottles of ORTHO Malathion 50 Insect Spray and CLOROX bleach were found. At the time of autopsy, a strong odour of a petroleum based product was prominent in the small intestine and in the liquid stool. A similar odour was also present in the liquids of both bottles. Generalized visceral and vascular congestion with oedema in various tissues was markedly present. Toxicological analysis of the gastric contents, intestinal contents, bile and liquid samples from the malathion and bleach bottles revealed the presence of malathion in the concentrations of 2.1 g/kg, 98 g/kg, 570 mg/l, 54% and 11%, respectively. In the blood and urine, malathion was not detected. Xylenes and other common volatile components of the spray were detected in the liquids from the bottles and in the gastric and intestinal contents. The ability of the blood and bile samples to inhibit, in vitro, rat serum cholinesterase and electric eel acetylcholinesterase was consistent with their malathion concentrations as the bile inhibited both enzymes, while the blood did not. These findings conclude that the death was associated with the ingestion of a commercial malathion insect spray.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1988

Costal cartilage calcification pattern--a clue for establishing sex identity.

Radiological study of costal cartilage calcification patterns in establishing the sex identity is conducted in Southern Indians. Three major patterns of calcification capable of establishing sex identity were noticed. Calcification was not observed below the ages of sixteen years in the female and twenty years in the male. This, though seriously limits the applicability of the method to age groups of sixteen and twenty years and above in the female and male sexes respectively, the ease, rapidity and relative inexpensiveness of the procedure in both living as well as dead and decomposed, requiring little expertise, recommends its use especially where a forensic expert is readily not available.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Two tricyclic antidepressant poisonings: levels of amitriptyline, nortriptyline and desipramine in post-mortem biological samples.

Two deaths due to amitriptyline and desipramine overdoses are reported. The first case deals with a 20-year-old Caucasian male who was found dead at his residence. Toxicological analysis of the blood, urine, liver and kidney revealed the presence of amitriptyline (1.7 mg/l, 0.13 mg/l, 36.0 mg/kg and 98.0 mg/kg) and nortriptyline (0.66 mg/l, 0.74 mg/l, 12.0 mg/kg and 37.0 mg/kg). The gastric content contained only 220 mg of amitriptyline. The urine also contained norverapamil, which was consistent with previous verapamil therapy. The second case involved a 19-year-old Caucasian male who attempted suicide earlier and was on desipramine medication. The blood, urine, liver and gastric content disclosed the presence of desipramine in the concentrations of 14.2 mg/l, 33.7 mg/l, 112.5 mg/kg and 180 mg, respectively. The levels of these tricyclics analyzed by high pressure liquid chromatography were in agreement with the levels reported in the literature. Though with the amitriptyline poisoning no significant anatomic changes were noted, the desipramine-caused death was further supported by the multisystem vascular congestion and ischemic changes consistent with cardiopulmonary failure.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Poisoning associated with potassium.

A suicidal poisoning by intravenous administration of concentrated solution of potassium (K+) (chloride) is described in the study. A 30-year-old Caucasian female health professional was found dead in a motel. An intravenous needle was found inserted in the antecubital area in a right arm vein of the deceased. Attached to the needle, by a flexible tubing, was a 50 ml syringe four-fifths full of a clear liquid. Autopsy on the victim revealed pulmonary oedema and congestion. A routine toxicological analysis of biological samples ruled out the possibility of a drug overdose. However, the liquid from the syringe contained 1468 mmol of K+/l. Chloride ions were also present in high concentration in the liquid. The concentrations of K+ in the clear plasma and vitreous humour were 54 and 9.2 mmol/l respectively. It is suggested that the elevated level of K+ in the plasma or vitreous humour does not indicate necessarily a death due to the electrolyte. The evidence in this case is circumstantial and apparently can be expected to be so in any case where death is due to the intravenous infusion of a concentrated K+ solution.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Isolation and identification of a cannabinoid-like compound from Amorpha species.

The petroleum ether extracts from several plants have been screened on the plates with the chromogenic reagent Fast Blue B. salt. Extracts from different plant parts of Amorpha fruticosa, A. nanna, and A. canescens gave several spots with color and Rf values similar to those of Cannabis sativa extract. The major compound, amorphastilbol (1), was isolated by column chromatography, purified, and characterized by mp, elemental analysis, uv, ir, mass, prm, and cmr spectroscopy. Further information was obtained by analyzing the oxidation products of the compound. The evidence indicates that amorphastilbol is a phenolic stilbene terpenoid with a molecular formula of C24 H28 O2 and structural formula: (E,E)-2-(3',7'-dimethyl-2'-6'-octadienyl)-5-(2-phenylethenyl)-1,3-benzenediol. This is the first report of the isolation of a naturally-occurring stilbene derivative possessing a terpenoid moiety.

Cannabinoids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A death due to self-administered fentanyl.

A fatality resulting from the self-administration of fentanyl is described. The decreased was a health care professional with a known history of drug abuse. At the scene, a syringe partly filled with red fluid was found. Pathological findings disclosed pulmonary congestion, hemorrhage, and aspiration of gastric contents and passive congestion in the liver and kidneys. Initial drug screening revealed the presence of fentanyl in the fluid from the syringe and diazepam/oxazepam in the urine. Fentanyl, diazepam, nordiazepam, and oxazepam in the submitted samples were simultaneously quantitated using a gas chromatograph equipped with a nitrogen-phosphorus detector. The fentanyl concentrations (micrograms/L or micrograms/kg) in serum, blood, urine, bile, liver, kidney, brain, lung, and stomach tissue were 17.7, 27.5, 92.7, 58.2, 77.5, 41.5, 30.2, 83.4, and 31.6, respectively. The tissue levels of diazepam and its metabolites were lower than the reported lethal concentrations. The fentanyl concentration in the syringe contents was 2,800 micrograms/L. The toxicological findings and circumstantial evidence of the case indicate that the death resulted primarily from fentanyl overdose.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A user-oriented validation method for clinical data.

The patient data in hospitals is prone to many errors during computerization because of the large human element involved during the processes concerned. A user-oriented validation method, which has been found to be practical and acceptable, is suggested. A non-statistical approach is adopted in this regard. The qualitative requirements of all users for validation have been taken as the guidelines to achieve maximum user acceptability. A user-oriented data code sheet, whose format changes for different disease groups, has been devised to prevent most of the typographical errors. These code sheets have also been found to be of considerable help to doctors in keeping a check on any missed or incomplete investigations, examinations and history recording. The validation program detects all errors of a typographical nature and all commonly possible logical errors. In addition, the program outputs data values, whose accuracy is doubtful, in the form of warning messages like WARNED DATA and ERRONEOUS DATA. The data fields which do not contain any data are also output to help the clinicians to take note of investigations and clinical tests not done or whose results are awaited. The logical errors, if any, also help them in detecting and identifying atypical cases in any given disease group at the earliest possible stage of a patient's hospitalization. In this paper, the need for a user-oriented and non-statistical approach to the validation of clinical data has been discussed in detail and its advantages enumerated.

Electronic Data Processing↗