Effect of parbendazole and piperazine adipate on the activity of some enzymes of Ascaridia galli and Heterakis gallinae

Adult Ascaridia galli and Heterakis gallinae obtained from the fowl (Gallus gallus) were treated in vitro with 10(-2) to 10(-5) M parbendazole and piperazine adipate for 10-60 min at 38 degrees C. Both the compounds at 10(-2) M caused mortality of A. galli and H. gallinae after a maximum of 30 min exposure. The effect of the drugs on the homogenates of the treated worm was investigated. Parbendazole (10(-2) M) inhibited malate oxidation by 68% in A. galli and 62% in H. gallinae. Piperazine adipate (10(-2) M) inhibited malate oxidation by 78% in both parasites. In A. galli oxaloacetate reduction was inhibited by 41 and 26% by 10(-2) M parbendazole and piperazine adipate, respectively; with H. gallinae this inhibition was found to be 39 and 55%, respectively. Aldolase activity in both the parasites was also inhibited by 10(-2) M parbendazole and piperazine adipate. Both compounds caused an inhibition of acid phosphomonoesterase activity, but the activities of lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphomonoesterase were not affected significantly. Parbendazole (10(-2) M) had no significant effect on the cholinesterase activity of these parasites, but piperazine adipate (10(-2) M) caused an inhibition of 96% in A. galli and 93% in H. gallinae. The possible mode of action of the drugs is discussed.

Disseminated mucormycosis presenting with acute renal failure

An unusual presentation of disseminated mucormycosis as acute renal failure in a patient without any predisposing condition, is reported. The diagnosis was established at autopsy.

In vivo tuberculoma creation and its radioimmunoimaging

Since tubercular lesions form an important differential diagnosis in our country, tuberculoma models in mice have been created and imaged using iodine-125 radiolabelled antimycobacterial monoclonal antibodies for the aetiopathological diagnosis.

The PGE2 vaginal film: an alternative to conventional induction in multiparae with poor cervical scores

In a study involving 50 multiparous subjects with poor cervical scores (less than or equal to 3), induction of labour by conventional amniotomy and oxytocin was compared with preinduction cervical ripening using a single administration of prostaglandin E2 (850 micrograms) in a new vaginal film formulation. Indications for elective delivery, maternal characteristics and distribution of cervical scores in the two groups were similar. Significant changes in mean cervical score were achieved within 12 hours of film insertion. In this group, 11 subjects (45.8%) established labour within 12 hours and a further 8 (33.3%) did so before 24 hours so that only 5 cases required amniotomy and oxytocin. Instrumental delivery was less in this group and none of these subjects required Caesarean section for a failure of induction. No adverse maternal or fetal side effects were observed. Convenience, ease of administration and stability of this new prostaglandin formulation make it a useful alternative to conventional induction of labour in the multiparous patient with a poor cervical score.

Haemodynamic and blood gas changes in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in the supine position following thiopentone anaesthesia with premedication

Studies were undertaken on seven adult female buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) premedicated with triflupromazine hydrochloride (0.3 mg/kg) and chloral hydrate (30 mg/kg). Anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone sodium (10 mg/kg) and animals were kept under intermittent positive pressure ventilation. Measurements were made for 30 min in the lateral position, for 20 min in the supine position and subsequently for 40 min again in the lateral position. Regurgitation during anaesthesia was avoided by evacuation of the rumen by rumenotomy two days prior to the experiment. When animals were in the lateral position there were minimal changes in arterial pressure and heart rate but central venous pressure rose. These changes were related to intermittent positive pressure ventilation. In the supine position, increase in heart rate (28%) was associated with profound hypotension (56%) and decrease in central venous pressure (171%) in these animals. There was a fall in venous oxygen tension and a marked increase (91%) in oxygen extraction ratio. Restoration to the lateral position ameliorated all these changes rapidly. It was suggested that a 'low pressure-low flow' circulatory state exists in anaesthetised adult buffaloes in the supine position.

Mutilating palmo-plantar keratoderma

This is the sixth case of mutilating palmo-plantar keratoderma, which is characterized by extensive ichthyosis and thickening of skin with accentuated skin markings histologically resembling acanthosis nigricans.

Induction of specific transcription by RNA polymerase III in transformed cells

RNA polymerase III (pol III) transcripts of the highly repeated mouse B2 gene family are increased in many oncogenically transformed murine cell lines. In cells transformed by simian virus 40, the small, cytoplasmic B2 RNAs are present at 20-fold-higher levels than in normal cells (M. R. D. Scott, K. Westphal, and P. W. J. Rigby, Cell 34:557-567, 1983; K. Singh, M. Carey, S. Saragosti, and M. Botchan, Nature [London] 314:553-556). We found that transcripts of the highly repeated B1 gene family are also increased 20-fold upon simian virus 40 transformation and showed that these RNAs result from pol III transcription. In contrast, transcripts from less highly repeated pol III templates such as the 5S, 7SL, 7SK, 4.5SI, tRNAMet, and tRNAPro genes are unaffected. The expression of the B2 RNAs in isolated nuclei shows that the augmentation is due mainly to an increased rate of transcription by pol III. There is thus specific transformation-inducible pol III transcription. We developed an in vitro transcription assay which utilizes genomic DNA as a template to study the transcription of all members of a repetitive gene family in their native context. This assay reproduces the low cytoplasmic levels of B1 compared with B2 RNAs suggesting that this ratio is dictated by intrinsic signals in the DNA.

Effect of some anthelmintics on malate dehydrogenase activity and mortality in two avian nematodes Ascaridia galli and Heterakis gallinae

Cambendazole and tiabendazole at 10(-4) M concentrations caused mortality in both the parasites after 10 min and 20 min, respectively. H. gallinae was killed by 10(-4) M haloxon but A. galli remained alive even after 60 min exposure. The effect of these drugs was found to be irreversible since no resumption of activity was observed when the parasites were returned to normal saline solution. The ratio of oxaloacetate reduction to malate oxidation in the homogenates of A. galli and H. gallinae was 4.38:1 and 3.17:1 respectively. Cambendazole at 10(-3) M inhibited the enzymic activity in both directions by 100% in both A. galli and H. gallinae. 10(-3) M tiabendazole, however, inhibited the malate oxidation by 82.8 and 60.8% and oxaloacetate reduction by 76.6 and 92% in A. galli and H. gallinae, respectively. Haloxon had little effect on malate dehydrogenase activity of any of the parasite. Assay of malate dehydrogenase, following the in vitro drug treatment cambendazole and tiabendazole, exhibited moderate inhibition of the activity in both the parasites.

Specific circulating immune complexes in amoebic liver abscess

A micro enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the presence of amoebic antigen in polyethylene-glycol-precipitated circulating immune complexes (CIC). A cutoff dilution of greater than 1:160 for the precipitates was taken to be of clinical significance. Among the patients with amoebic liver abscess, 93% (14 of 15 confirmed cases) had indications of amoebic antigen in CIC. In 57% of the suspected cases of amoebic liver abscess, amoebic antigen could be detected in CIC. The specificity of the technique for the demonstration of specific amoebic antigen is indicated by the undetectable levels of amoebic antigen in CIC in serum samples from nine cases of nonamoebic hepatic diseases and 10 apparently healthy subjects. It is thus believed that the specific diagnosis of an individual case of amoebic liver abscess can be made by demonstrating specific amoebic antigen in CIC.

Complementation of a bovine papilloma virus low-copy-number mutant: evidence for a temporal requirement of the complementing gene

We identified a bovine papilloma virus function encoded by the E6/E7 gene, which is required for both BPV high-copy-number replication and maintenance of transformation of cultured cells. A cDNA copy of this gene was isolated and expressed from a retrovirus vector. We found that complete complementation of a BPV low-copy-number mutant (dl576) by the cDNA encoding the E6/E7 gene was temporally dependent. When both the E6/E7 cDNA and dl576 were introduced together into cells, wild-type replication and stable transformation resulted. In contrast, introduction of the complementing cDNA into cells already carrying dl576 led to only partial amplification of the resident mutant DNA accompanied by a restoration of the transformed phenotype. These results, along with other findings, suggest that the establishment of BPV plasmid replication occurs in two stages: an initial amplification of the incoming DNA followed by stable homeostatic replication which maintains the existing copy number.

Preinduction cervical priming in high risk pregnancy--experience with a new sustained release PGE2 vaginal film

Experience with a new sustained release PGE2 formulation is presented. 111 high risk primiparae with very poor cervical scores (less than 3) were studied. In 59 patients, labour was induced by forewater amniotomy and I.V. oxytocin. In the remaining 52 patients, film containing 850 ug of PGE2 was inserted into the vagina to ropen the cervix 24 hours prior to induction of labour. Indications for elective delivery and maternal characteristics were similar in both groups. There were significant changes in the cervical state within 12 hours of vaginal insertion. By 24 hours, 19 patients receiving vaginal film (36.5%) had established labour of whom 13 proceeded to vaginal delivery. Significantly fewer patients in the priming group required Caesarean delivery. No untoward maternal or fetal side effects were observed. Safety, ease of administration and efficacy make this new PGE2 formulation a useful agent for priming of the very poor primiparous cervix prior to induction of high risk labour.

Intrauterine responses to nipple stimulation in late pregnancy

Characteristics of intrauterine activity in response to nipple stimulation were studied in 9 healthy pregnant subjects at term. All patients showed an increase in uterine activity varying from 10 to 730%. In 1 subject, marked uterine hypertonus was noted which resulted in profound fetal bradycardia. This response was transient, lasting 5.5 min, and fetal outcome unaffected. We believe that nipple stimulation is associated with a higher incidence of increased uterine activity in terms of frequency, intensity and basal tone, than has been previously recognized. This uterine hypertonus may affect the fetal heart rate adversely indicating the need to exercise caution when adopting this manoeuvre in late pregnancy, particularly when there is already evidence of fetal compromise.

Cancer incidence in the islands of the Pacific

The South Pacific Commission Cancer Registry has been operational since 1977, and reasonably complete cancer incidence rates are available for New Caledonia, Fiji, Micronesia, the Cook Islands, and Niue. In addition, less complete reporting is available from American Samoa, Papua New Guinea, and French Polynesia. Cancers of the lung, oral cavity, esophagus, liver, and cervix are potentially preventable but prevalent in many Pacific island countries. Unusually low rates of many cancers were observed in Fiji, the most notable being lung and colon-rectum. Thyroid cancer rates are elevated in some but not all female populations. These and other variations in cancer by site are important areas for further research.

Lymphocytic infiltration of skin of Jessner-Kanof masquerading as borderline leprosy

A case of pseudolymphoma from India is being reported which had been masquerading for quite some time as a case of borderline leprosy. The patient has been having for the past 16 years, recurrent, occasionally pruritic, multiple, bilateral, erythematous papules and plaques, which on casual examination elsewhere had suggested leprosy.

Isolation of cellular genes differentially expressed in mouse NIH 3T3 cells and a simian virus 40-transformed derivative: growth-specific expression of VL30 genes

We constructed and screened a cDNA library made from simian virus 40 (SV40)-transformed NIH 3T3 cells, and we isolated cDNAs representing genes that are differentially expressed between the parental cell and its SV40-transformed derivative. We found only a small number of cDNAs representing such genes. Two isolated cDNA clones represented RNAs expressed at elevated levels in the transformed cell line in a manner relatively independent of growth conditions. The expression of two other cDNAs was growth specific because transformed cells and nonconfluent parental cells contained higher levels of the homologous RNAs than did confluent, contact-inhibited parental cells. Another cDNA was well expressed in confluent parental and confluent transformed cells, but not in nonconfluent cells. The expression of some of these cDNAs varied strikingly in different mouse cell lines. Thus the genotype or histories of different cell lines can also affect the expression of certain genes. Interestingly, the only cDNA isolated that was expressed exclusively in the transformed cell was from an SV40 message. We focused on a growth-specific cDNA which we show is derived from a mouse endogenous retrovirus-like family called VL30. We sequenced the 3' long terminal repeat (LTR) of this transcriptionally active VL30 gene. This LTR has good homology with other VL30 LTR sequences, but differences occur, particularly upstream of the VL30 promoter. We found that VL30 gene expression varied in different mouse cell lines such that C3H cell lines had very low levels of VL30 transcripts relative to NIH 3T3 cell lines. However, Southern analysis showed that both cell lines had about the same number of VL30 genes homologous to our probe and that the position of the majority of these genes was conserved. We discuss possible explanations for this difference in VL30 expression.

Expression of enhanced levels of small RNA polymerase III transcripts encoded by the B2 repeats in simian virus 40-transformed mouse cells

Although specific viral genes are known which are sufficient to transform certain types of cells, viral transformation has been shown to be accompanied by a change in the level of expression of cellular genes. Assuming that this latter class of genes is involved in some way in the establishment of the transformed state, we and others have sought to characterize them. To this end, we constructed a complementary DNA library from a simian virus 40 (SV40)-transformed mouse cell line and screened this library for induced genes. Here we focus on the characterization of a specific cDNA clone called 10 lambda 5. We show that the clone 10 lambda 5 contains a B2 repeat, and that the levels of the small heterogeneously sized B2 cytoplasmic RNAs homologous to 10 lambda 5 are enhanced in transformed cells. Our studies show that these RNAs are a specific class of polymerase III transcripts containing a highly conserved 5' end. SV40 transformation results, therefore, in the activation of specific polymerase III transcripts as well as specific polymerase II transcripts.

Resting heat production in Bos indicus and their F1 crosses with exotic breeds at a thermoneutral environment

Resting heat production, 18 h post-feeding, was studied in Hariana cattle (Bos indicus; Zebu) and in their F1 crosses with Jersey, Brown Swiss and Holstein Friesian, at 18.5 degrees ambient temperature in a psychometric chamber at different ages. There was no significant change in the resting heat production on a per kg body-weight (W) 0.75 per 24 h basis from 16-19 to 37-40 months of age in any of the genetic groups. The daily resting heat production, however, increased with increases in body-weight and age. The resting heat production in all three F1 crosses was higher than that in Hariana cattle. Among the crosses, the resting heat production was highest in the Holstein Friesian X Hariana and lowest in the Jersey X Hariana. Metabolizable energy (ME) intake per 24 h was significantly different between genetic groups and in different age groups. However, ME intake per kg W 0.75 was not significantly different between genetic groups.

Serial ultrasound in amoebic liver abscess

Serial ultrasound examinations were conducted in 93 patients with amoebic liver abscess. The initial size of the abscesses ranged from 3 to 17 cm. The time taken for complete healing to occur varied from 10 to 300 days and correlated directly with the initial size of the abscess cavity. As healing progressed, the abscess cavity became increasingly hypoechoic and assumed a smoother margin. In uncomplicated cases, complete healing occurred and, on ultrasound, no residual lesions were seen in the liver. There were two cases each of delayed healing and recurrence of amoebic liver abscess and the value of ultrasound in these situations is discussed. Ultrasound examination of the liver appears to be very suitable for assessing satisfactory progress of healing in amoebic liver abscess.