The effect of sulphur mustard (0.5 LD50, percutaneous) on antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)) in blood cells (erythrocytes (RBC), leucocytes (WBC) and platelets) and body tissues (liver, kidney, spleen and brain) of rats has been investigated 24 h post exposure. The SOD activity was significantly decreased in WBC, platelets, spleen and brain as compared to control. The CAT activity was significantly inhibited in RBC, WBC and spleen as compared to control. The GSH-Px activity was signficantly depressed in WBC, spleen and liver as compared to control. It is concluded that sulphur mustard at a sublethal dose inhibited antioxidant enzyme activities in WBC and spleen. Thus, antioxidant enzymes in lymphatic tissues may be used as suitable models for assessing mustard toxicity. The study suggests the formation of reactive oxygen species in sulphur mustard intoxication.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Dexamethasone modulation of gestation length and parturition in rats.

Dexamethasone blocks aromatase and phospholipase A2 enzyme activities that are essentially involved in the formation of oestrogens and prostaglandins, the key chemicals to initiate parturition. The present study was undertaken to determine whether dexamethasone, a potent glucocorticoid, could prolong gestation and/or delay parturition in rats. Dexamethasone at 0.5 mg/rat/day from Day 19 through Day 21 of pregnancy consistently prolonged gestation. Only 36% of the pregnant rats had labour with an extended parturition time. Foetal mortality rate was also high. The remaining 64% pregnant rats that did not deliver showed intrauterine foetal death and resorption. Concomitant injection of oestradiol cyclopentylpropionate or prostaglandin F2 alpha on Day 19 effectively reversed the deleterious effects of dexamethasone. 100% of the pregnant rats had successful labour at term. The parturition time and foetal mortality rate were not different from controls. The results, therefore, indicate that an excess glucocorticoid that initiates parturition in sheep conversely prolongs gestation and delays parturition in rats.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Medulloblastoma--a retrospective analysis.

A retrospective review of 45 patients was undertaken at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences to assess the outcome and prognostic factors for these patients who received post operative radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy for medulloblastoma. The median age at diagnosis was 11 years, with 34 males and 11 female patients. Thirty four tumours were confined to midline structures, and 11 were localised to one cerebellar hemisphere or involved midline and lateral structures. Complete macroscopic removal was achieved in 24 patients and subtotal removal in 21 patients. Forty one patients underwent craniospinal irradiation and 27 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Median overall and disease free survival was 57 and 31 months respectively and 3 year overall survival was 76%. The addition of adjuvant chemotherapy was a significant factor for disease free survival (p = 0.01) whereas extent of surgery (total vs subtotal, p = 0.01) was a significant factor for overall survival only. Eleven patients developed recurrent disease, with ten relapsing first in the posterior fossa.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Unusual presentation of tuberculosis in an infant.

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Abdomen↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Current status of cryptorchism.

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Cryptorchidism↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Epidemiology of chronic suppurative otitis media and deafness in a rural area and developing an intervention strategy.

Of 613 children evaluated in a village in Haryana 94 (15.3%) were observed to have chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM). Fifty eight (61.7%) children had hearing impairment. CSOM contributed to 71.6% of the hearing impaired (58/81). On analysis of association of CSOM with literacy and socio-economic status of mothers, and age, sex, and upper respiratory tract infections (URI) in children positive correlation was observed only with URIs (P < 0.001). Literacy and socio-economic status of the mothers did not correlate significantly with knowledge about treatment seeking, and ear cleaning practices, probably due to the narrow range of incomes and literacy levels. An intervention program consisting of play, demonstrations, health charts and slogans, and aural cleaning and antibiotic drops was introduced.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

De-Sanctis cacchione syndrome.

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Dermatoglyphics↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Aging of human segmental oligosynaptic reflexes for control of leg movement.

A heteronymous group I oligosynaptic reflex from the common peroneal nerve to vastus medialis muscle was compared with a group I homonymous monosynaptic reflex to soleus, using electrical stimulation of peripheral nerve trunks in two groups of healthy men, mean ages 22 and 65 years. The oligosynaptic reflex was still elicitable with age, its magnitude decreasing similarly to the monosynaptic reflex. A further group of older subjects, mean age 75 years, showed similar results. Clearly, the oligosynaptic reflex is not lost with healthy aging. The motor interneuronal pool may at least partially avoid the age-related cell loss of motoneuronal pools, with consequent maintenance of segmental participation for movements such as gait. The slowing of conduction velocities, for these proprioceptive reflex arcs, may reduce the effectiveness of autoregulation of the gait.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Age-related decline in multiple unit action potentials of CA3 region of rat hippocampus: correlation with lipid peroxidation and lipofuscin concentration and the effect of centrophenoxine.

Changes in lipid peroxidation, lipofuscin concentration, and multiple unit activity (MUA recorded in conscious animals) in the CA3 region were studied in the hippocampus of male Wistar rats aged 4, 8, 16, and 24 months. The lipid peroxidation and lipofuscin concentration were increased with age. The MUA, however, declined with age. Correlational analyses were performed for the four age groups to determine the relationship between the age-associated decline in MUA with the age-related alterations in lipid peroxidation and lipofuscin concentrations. The age-related increase in lipid peroxidation correlated positively with the age-associated increase in lipofuscin concentration. The age-related increases in lipid peroxidation and lipofuscin concentration correlated negatively with the changes in MUA. Since lipid peroxidation may affect neuronal electrophysiology, our data suggested that age-related increase in lipid peroxidation may contribute to an age-associated decline in neuronal electrical activity. Centrophenoxine effects were studied on the three above-mentioned age-associated changes in the hippocampus. The drug had no effect on all three parameters in 4- and 8-month-old rats. In 16- and 24-month-old rats, however, the drug significantly increased the MUA but concomitantly decreased lipofuscin concentration and lipid peroxidation. Correlational analyses of the data on MUA, lipid peroxidation and lipofuscin concentration from the centrophenoxine-treated animals showed that the drug-induced diminution in both lipofuscin and lipid peroxidation was significantly correlated with the drug-induced increase in MUA. The differential effect of the drug in younger (4-8 months) and older (16-24 months) animals indicated that the stimulation of MUA was clearly associated with concomitant decrease in lipid peroxidation and lipofuscin concentration.

Action Potentials↗