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Biomedical subjects

N Das

Publications and source records attributed to N Das.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Anti-inflammatory effect of intraventricularly administered histamine in rats.

Intracerebroventricularly (icv) administered histamine (5, 10 and 20 micrograms) produced a dose-related anti-inflammatory effect against carrageenin-induced pedal edema in rats. The effect of histamine was mimicked by the H1 receptor agonist, 2-methylhistamine, but not by the H2 receptor agonist, 4-methylhistamine. The anti-inflammatory effect of centrally administered histamine was antagonised by mepyramine, a H1 receptor antagonist, but not by cimetidine, a H2 receptor antagonist. The anti-inflammatory effect of icv histamine was inhibited in bilaterally adrenalectomised rats but was unaffected by peripheral chemical sympathectomy induced by 6-hydroxydopamine.

Animals↗

Effect of carrageenin-induced pedal edema on rat brain prostaglandins.

Carrageenin-induced pedal inflammation in rats, was found to significantly enhance brain levels of prostaglandin (PG) E2 and PGF2 alpha. PG levels increased after 30 min of induction of the inflammation, peaked at 1 h, and attained normal levels by 4 h. Bilateral adrenalectomy had little effect on carrageenin-induced increase in rat brain PGs. The pattern of elevation of central PGs and the time course of carrageenin inflammation were at variance, the latter peaking between 3 and 4 h. The findings lend credence to the postulate that inflammatory hyperalgesia involves participation of central pain circuits, and that fever accompanying inflammation is caused by the central release of PGs. The central nociceptive and hyperthermic actions of PGs are well documented. However, the increase in central PG levels may well be caused by stress induced by the peripheral inflammation, since the pattern of elevation in either case is qualitatively similar.

Adrenalectomy↗

Effect of central prostaglandins on carrageenan-induced pedal oedema in rats.

The possible modulatory effect of central prostaglandins (PGs) on carrageenan-induced pedal inflammation, was investigated in rats. Intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) administered arachidonic acid, the PG precursor, produced a statistically insignificant increase in the inflammatory response, though PG synthesis inhibitors, administered by the same route, markedly attenuated the oedema. Centrally administered PGE2 had a significant pro-inflammatory effect, whereas PGF2 alpha exerted an anti-inflammatory action. The results indicate that central PGs may modulate peripheral inflammation and that, at least partly, the anti-inflammatory activity of PG synthesis-inhibiting non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents may involve central PGs, as has been proposed for their analgesic effect.

Animals↗

Donovanosis affecting cervix, uterus, and adnexae.

Donovanosis (granuloma inguinale), a disease often related to sexual contact, has been a clinical problem in Papua New Guinea for more than 9 decades. It is a common cause of anogenital lesions in females in this country. Lesions on the cervix or vaginal vault, and extension of the disease process from the external genitalia to the uterus, tubes and ovaries, are thought to be rare. In this study an attempt was made to discover the frequency of involvement of cervix, uterus and adnexae, with or without external genital involvement, by retrospectively analyzing the histological and clinical records of patients with anogenital donovanosis for a period of 8 years (1975-1982). In 35 of 351 patients (10%), donovanosis involved the cervix. The clinical profile of these cases, certain unusual features in a few cases, and the pathological findings are discussed.

Adnexal Diseases↗

Enhancement of detrusor reflex activity by naloxone in patients with chronic neurogenic bladder dysfunction. Preliminary report.

An intravenous injection of 0.4 mg. naloxone enhanced detrusor reflex activity in 5 patients with chronic neurogenic bladder dysfunction caused by incomplete suprasacral spinal lesions. The intravesical volume at which detrusor reflex occurred showed a decrease from 498.2 to 346.2 ml. The naloxone-induced effect was short-lived, being absent 1 hour after the injection. In the same dosage naloxone did not induce detrusor reflex in 2 patients with areflexic bladder caused by complete suprasacral spinal lesions.

Adolescent↗

Endosulfan intoxication: Blood glucose, electrolytes, Ca levels, ascsorbic acid and glutathione in rats.

Endosulfan-induced changes in blood glucose, plasma electrolytes, and blood and brain ascorbic acid, hexokinase and glutathione have been investigated following acute and subacute administration in 12 h fasted male rats. After a single oral dose of endosulfan (40 mg/kg) a significant increase in blood glucose, blood ascorbic acid, and blood and brain glutathione was observed. The maximum increase in blood was observed at 2 h (36%). Increase in blood and brain glutathione was highly significant at 4 h (50 and 43%, respectively). The blood ascorbic acid slowly increased by 19% over control during the treatment period. No significant change in brain hexokinase was observed. Repeated oral administration of endosulfan (0.625 to 20 mg/kg) for 7 weeks had no effect on plasma sodium and potassium. At the highest dose (20 mg/kg), blood glucose was slightly increased (16%). Plasma Ca was significantly decreased, the maximum fall (35%) being observed at 4 h.

Animals↗

Lung function in Indian twin children: comparison of genetic versus environmental influence.

The relative contributions of genetic and environmental components in the variability of lung function measurements were studied in 54 twin pairs. Thirty pairs of monozygote (MZ) twins and 24 pairs of dizygotic (DZ) twins were examined. All measurements were made with 9-litre closed-circuit-type expirographs using standard spirometric techniques, except for peak expiratory flow rate (PFER) which was recorded with a Wright peak flow meter. Within-pair variances for inspiratory capacity (IC), vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced mid-expiratory flow (FEV25-75%), forced end-expiratory flow (FEF75-85%), maximum expiratory flow (FEF200-1200ml), forced maximum voluntary ventilation MVVF) and PEFR were significantly smaller (p < 0.01) in MZ twins than in DZ twins. Tidal volume (VT), inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), expiratory reserve volume (ERV), forced expiratory volume in 1 second as a percentage of forced vital capacity (FEV1%), and forced expiratory time (FET) were not significantly different. Within-pair correlations were all higher in MZ than DZ twins. All measurements except for VT and PEFR showed high levels of heritability (23-99%). All measurements were positively and significantly correlated with physical characteristics such as weight, standing height, surface area, arm-span, chest circumference and age, except FEV1% and FET. Residual values adjusted for physical characteristics showed similar results to unadjusted values in most cases. These data indicate that major lung function measurements are possibly influenced more by genetic than environmental factors. Genetically influenced measurements show higher levels of heritability estimates and suggest that genetic determination of lung function is possibly independent of the influence of physical characteristics.

Adolescent↗

Targeting of liposomal andrographolide to L. donovani-infected macrophages in vivo.

Despite the rapid development in medicinal and pharmaceutical technology, the targeting of drugs to phagocytic cells in macrophage-related diseases still remains a major unsolved problem. By using the mannosyl-fucosyl receptors on macrophages, attempts were made to target antileishmanial drugs encapsulated in mannosylated or fucosylated liposomes to treat experimental leishmaniasis in the hamster model. Mannosylated liposomes were found to be more potent in delivering antileishmanial drugs to phagocytic cells. Liposomes loaded with an indigenous drug, andrographolide, a labdane diterpenoid isolated from Indian medicinal plant Andrographis paniculata, were prepared and tested against experimental leishmaniasis in a hamster model. Mannosylated liposomes loaded with the drug were found to be most potent in reducing the parasitic burden in the spleen as well as in reducing the hepatic and renal toxicity. In addition, mannosylated drug-loaded liposome-treated animals showed a normal blood picture and splenic tissue histoarchitecture when compared with those treated with free drug or regular liposomal drug. Such a drug-vehicle formulation may be considered for clinical trials.

Animals↗