Bleeding from a Meckel's diverticulum after the use of ibuprofen

A Meckel's diverticulum is an unusual site of gastrointestinal bleeding in adults. Bleeding often results from ulceration of ileal mucosa that lies adjacent to ectopic gastric mucosa. We report on a 27-yr-old man who bled from a Meckel's diverticulum after receiving oral ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug. Examination of the resected diverticulum revealed fundal-type gastric mucosa with inflammation, submucosal hemorrhages, erosions and ulceration in the absence of Helicobacter pylori. The ileal mucosa was spared in this patient. These features suggest that oral ibuprofen caused damage to the ectopic gastric mucosa, precipitating significant hemorrhage. This is the first report in the English literature of such an occurrence.

Immunohistochemical studies on the innervation of human transplanted liver

The changing pattern of innervation in the human transplanted liver was studied from the day of transplantation to 5 years later. Seven liver biopsies from non-transplant controls, 37 liver biopsies from 22 transplant patients, and one of these biopsied livers removed at retransplantation, were available for the study. Sections were immunostained for protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5), neurone-specific enolase (NSE), S-100 protein, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. NSE and PGP 9.5 demonstrated nerves most successfully in our tissues. Staining for most small nerves was reduced by day 5 post-transplantation. Scanty fine nerves could be detected from day 13 to day 241 in occasional biopsies. Consistently identifiable immunostaining of PGP 9.5 and NSE nerve fibres was again apparent in portal areas after this time in all but one case. The findings indicate that in transplanted liver limited reinnervation can eventually take place. This could be due to either proliferation of intrinsic nerves, or regrowth of extrinsic nerves, or both.

Reset of the osmotic threshold for vasopressin in rats fed a low NaCl, K-free diet

Activation of the renin-angiotensin system induced by feeding a low NaCl, K-free (LS) diet is associated with polydipsia and a chronic reduction in effective plasma osmolality (efPosm). We have recently shown that converting enzyme inhibition with enalapril (EP) abolishes polydipsia. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that the osmotic threshold for vasopressin is reset in rats fed the LS diet and to examine the effect of EP on ambient and osmotically stimulated plasma vasopressin levels (PAVP). Animals were fed the LS diet or a control salt diet and treated with vehicle or the lowest dose of EP sufficient to prevent polydipsia (7.5 mg.kg-1.day-1) in rats fed the LS diet. PAVP and efPosm were measured under ambient conditions and after osmotic loading. Urine osmolality (Uosm) was measured under ambient conditions and after water loading. The chronic reduction in efPosm in LS rats was associated with the excretion of a Uosm 1-2 times greater than the corresponding Posm, PAVP similar to controls (LS, 2.27 +/- 1.08 vs. control, 1.19 +/- 0.22 pg/mL) and the ability to excrete a water load. Following osmotic loading, efPosm and PAVP increased significantly and similarly in both LS and control rats. EP administration had no effect on water intake, ambient efPosm and PAVP, and the AVP response to osmotic loading in rats fed the control diet. EP prevented polydipsia in LS rats, however it had no significant effect on ambient or osmotically stimulated PAVP or efPosm.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hepatitis B virus infection and its transmission in preschool children

In the present study, 2.5% of 367 preschool children has HBsAg positivity. Of 11 mothers who were HBsAg positive during the third trimester of pregnancy, 4 had babies (36.4%) who developed HBsAg positivity by 2.5-3 months of age (vertical transmission). Two babies born of HBsAg negative mothers, with history of jaundice during first trimester, were HBsAg negative. All the relatives of HBsAg positive cases screened were negative for HBsAg.

Poliomyelitis with special reference to immunization status

One hundred ninety one children below 5 years of age suffering from poliomyelitis were analyzed to find out the immunization status and its correlation with the incidence of poliomyelitis. Effects of age, sex, immunization status and seasonal variation on the morbidity and mortality status were studied. The maximum number of cases were admitted during the months of July (23.6%) and August (23.1%). Of 191 cases, 143 (74.9%) had no immunization and 48 (25.1%) were partially immunized. A total of 155 (81.2%) cases had spinal polio, 23 (12.01%) bulbo-spinal polio, and 13 had (6.8%) bulbar polio. Serious illness (bulbospinal and bulbar type) was more in partially immunized children (25%) as compared to unimmunized children (16.8%). The mortality rate was more than two times higher in the partially immunized (29.6%) as compared to unimmunized children (11.2%). The possible explanation for high mortality in partially immunized children could be due to the adverse effect of OPV which has not been studied so far.

Epstein Barr virus/complement C3d receptor is an interferon alpha receptor

Interferon alpha contains a sequence motif similar to the complement receptor type two (CR2/CD21) binding site on complement fragment C3d. Antibodies against a peptide with the CR2 binding sequence on C3d react with a peptide carrying the IFN alpha CR2 binding motif (residues 92-99) and with recombinant IFN alpha. The IFN alpha-derived peptide, as well as recombinant IFN alpha, inhibits C3bi/C3d interaction with CR2 on the Burkitt lymphoma Raji. The direct interaction of IFN alpha and CR2 is inhibited by polyclonal anti-IFN alpha, anti-CR2 and anti-C3d peptide antibodies as well as by C3bi/C3d, EBV coat protein gp350/220 and IFN but not by IFN gamma. [125I]IFN alpha binding to Raji cells is inhibited by polyclonal anti-IFN alpha and anti-CR2 antibodies, by peptides with the CR2 binding motif and partially by C3bi/C3d. Monoclonal anti-CR2 antibody HB5, but not OKB-7, blocks IFN alpha binding to Raji cells. CR2 or CR2-like molecules may therefore be the major IFN alpha receptors on B lymphocytes.

Antigenic differences between the endometrium of women with and without endometriosis

Serum and peritoneal fluid from 12 women with endometriosis, 4 women with uterine leiomyomata and 6 fertile women without endometriosis (controls) and serum from 4 women with adenomyosis were tested with a passive hemagglutination assay for antibodies against endometrium from all the controls, 8 patients with endometriosis and all patients with uterine leiomyomata and from implants from 8 patients with endometriosis. Serum antibody titers in patients with endometriosis or leiomyomata were significantly higher against endometrial or implant antigens from patients with endometriosis and 2 patients with leiomyomata than those against the controls' endometrium. Peritoneal fluid endometrial antibody titers failed to reflect these antigenic differences. Controls and patients with adenomyosis had low titers of endometrial antibodies in their serum or peritoneal fluid. Antigenic differences appear to exist between the endometrium of patients with endometriosis and that of controls.

Inhibition of acylcoenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase activity by PD128O42: effect on cholesterol metabolism and secretion in CaCo-2 cells

The regulation of cholesterol uptake and secretion by acylcoenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) was investigated in the human intestinal cell line, CaCo-2. A new ACAT inhibitor, PD128042 (CI-976), was first characterized. The addition of the fatty acid anilide to membranes prepared from CaCo-2 cells inhibited ACAT activity without altering the activities of HMG-CoA reductase, fatty acid Co-A hydrolase, or triglyceride synthetase. PD128042 was a competitive inhibitor of ACAT with 50% inhibition occurring at a concentration of 0.2 micrograms/mL. When added to the medium of CaCo-2 cells at a concentration of 5 micrograms/mL, PD128042 inhibited oleate incorporation into cholesteryl oleate by 92% and increased oleate incorporation into triglycerides and phospholipids by 51% and 38%, respectively. After incubating CaCo-2 cells with the ACAT inhibitor, the rate of newly synthesized cholesterol decreased by 75% and membranes prepared from these cells contained significantly less HMG-CoA reductase activity. PD128042 significantly decreased the basolateral secretion of newly synthesized cholesteryl esters without affecting the secretion of newly synthesized triglycerides or phospholipids. The inhibitor decreased the esterification of labeled exogenous cholesterol which was taken up by the cell from bile salt micelles. Moreover, after 16 hr of ACAT inhibition, less labeled unesterified micellar cholesterol was associated with the cell. The esterification of cholesterol in CaCo-2 cells plays an integral role in the uptake of cholesterol through the apical membrane and its eventual secretion at the basolateral membrane.

Radioprotection by MPG of mice ovaries exposed to sublethal gamma radiation doses at different postnatal ages

Female Swiss albino mice were exposed at 1, 3 or 6 weeks of age respectively to sublethal doses (0.6, 1.2 and 2.4 Gy) of gamma radiation in the presence or absence of 2-mercaptopropionylglycine (MPG). Ovaries were histologically examined at different intervals after irradiation and the follicles were counted. Most follicular depletion had occurred already at postirradiation day 1 and the depletion then gradually continued. At day 35 after irradiation a few follicles could still be found in mice exposed at 1 week of age while all follicles were eliminated in mice exposed at 3 and 6 weeks of age. In MPG-treated animals the depletion of follicles was significantly less pronounced and obviously MPG to some degree protected the ovaries from radiation damage.

Depletion of ovarian oocytes in sublethally exposed mice to gamma radiation and its modification by 2-mercaptopropionylglycine (MPG)

Adult female Swiss albino mice were exposed to 0.6, 1.2 and 2.4 Gy of 60Co gamma radiations in presence and absence of MPG. Quantitative studies were done in serial sections of ovary at 1, 3, 5, 7, 14 and 35 days after exposure. Primary follicles were found to be most radiosensitive. The depletion in the various types of follicles was checked to some extent by prior administration of MPG, but MPG could not prevent the complete elimination of all types of follicles by the last autopsy interval studied.

Changes in sperm antibody test results when spermatozoa are subjected to capacitating conditions

Cytotoxic and immunobead-binding antibody assays were used to document possible changes in antigenicity after the spermatozoa were subjected in vitro to capacitating conditions. Serum and seminal plasma immunobead-binding immunoglobulin (Ig)A, sperm surface IgG, and IgA, and seminal plasma cytotoxic antibody titers in 26 autoimmune infertile men were decreased against autologous spermatozoa under capacitating conditions. Cytotoxic antibodies and immunobead-binding IgG, IgA, and IgM against husbands' sperm undergoing capacitation, in the cervical mucus of these women, were less than those against uncapacitated sperm. Conversely, sperm antibody levels were increased against the capacitated husbands' sperm in the husbands' serum and wives' cervical mucus, originally testing negative for cytotoxic antibodies against uncapacitated sperm. Antibody levels were unaltered against donors' sperm undergoing capacitation, except for a reduction in titers in the serum of isoimmune wives. The differences in sperm antibody assay results, depending on whether or not spermatozoa are incubated under conditions favoring capacitation, are specific to the husbands' and not to the donors' spermatozoal antigens.

Effect of lovastatin on acyl-CoA: cholesterol O-acyltransferase (ACAT) activity and the basolateral-membrane secretion of newly synthesized lipids by CaCo-2 cells

Lovastatin, a potent competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase activity, was used to study the regulation of cholesterol metabolism and the basolateral-membrane secretion of triacylglycerol and cholesterol in the human intestinal cell line CaCo-2. At 0.1 microgram/ml, lovastatin decreased 3H2O incorporation into cholesterol by 71%. In membranes prepared from cells incubated with lovastatin for 18 h, HMG-CoA reductase activity was induced 4-8-fold. Mevalonolactone prevented this induction. In intact cells, lovastatin (10 micrograms/ml) decreased cholesterol esterification by 50%. The reductase inhibitor decreased membrane acyl-CoA:cholesterol O-acyltransferase (ACAT) activity by 50% at 5 micrograms/ml. ACAT inhibition by lavastatin was not reversed by adding excess of cholesterol or fatty acyl-CoA to the assay. Lovastatin, in the presence or absence of mevalonolactone, decreased the basolateral secretion of newly synthesized cholesteryl esters and triacylglycerols. Lovastatin also inhibited the esterification of absorbed cholesterol and the secretion of this newly synthesized cholesteryl ester. Lovastatin is a potent inhibitor of cholesterol synthesis in CaCo-2 cells. Moreover, it is a direct inhibitor of ACAT activity, independently of its effect on HMG-CoA reductase and cholesterol synthesis.

Peliosis hepatitis after liver transplantation

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A comparison of sperm antibody assays

Cytotoxicity and Immunobead-binding immunoglobulin G assays agreed in 81% of sera from infertile men (n = 173), 74% of sera from their wives, 75% of seminal plasma, and 82% of cervical mucous samples (p less than 0.001; chi 2 analysis of positive and negative results) when tested against sperm from the same donors. Cytotoxic and immunofluorescent IgG antibody results agreed in 79% of sera from men and women, 76% of seminal plasma, and 76% of cervical mucus (p less than 0.001; chi 2 analysis of positive and negative results). Titers or percent binding of sperm by cytotoxicity, hemagglutination, and IgG Immunobead-binding or immunofluorescence assays in serum and secretions of husbands and wives correlated (p less than 0.001). A significantly increased number of positive results was observed in cytotoxic and Immunobead-binding IgG assays when the husbands' and donors' sperm were used rather than donors' sperm alone. On the basis of this study we conclude: (1) that cytotoxicity, Immunobead-binding IgG, and immunofluorescent IgG sperm antibody assays correlate when sperm from the same source are used, (2) that women's isoimmunity to husbands' sperm is associated with their husbands' autoimmunity to sperm irrespective of the assay, and (3) that it is desirable to use sperm from the husbands and nonautoimmune fertile men in these assays.

Non-nutritive suckling and use of pacifiers

One hundred and sixteen infants and children with normal development were studied for their non-nutritive suckling habit with special reference to pacifier suckling. The use of pacifier was more common among the lower socio-economic group (83.6%) and those residing in slums (58.6%). In 88.7% of cases it was the mother, family member, friend or relative who was responsible for introduction of pacifier to the baby with the aim to soothe the child. The other indications for use of pacifier were to facilitate dentition (60.0%) and nutritive function (18.1%). The use of pacifier in most of the cases was associated with chronic diarrhea (86.2%), respiratory illnesses (52.5%) and pica (10.2%). Defective dentition was noted only in 5.1% of children. The medical/paramedical staff were against the use of pacifiers.

Options for elective treatment of portal hypertension in cirrhotic patients in the transplantation era

We review herein our experience in the management of bleeding esophageal varices in cirrhotic patients and consider our findings in light of the dramatic changes in the treatment of cirrhosis resulting from the more widespread use of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). It does not seem realistic, at present, to propose OLT as the only effective treatment of variceal bleeding for a variety of reasons, and there remains a large group of patients who are noncompliant or unsuitable for liver transplantation. We propose that initial bleeding be controlled by endoscopic sclerotherapy, thereby allowing careful evaluation to be made electively. Grade A patients appear to be managed best by a reduced-size portacaval shunt (RPS) with prospects of good survival and few complications. Grade B patients can be managed by either sclerotherapy, RPS, or OLT, depending upon individual circumstances. Grade C patients are best managed by liver transplantation, again with excellent survival. In those grade C patients not deemed suitable for OLT (especially alcoholic patients), long-term endoscopic sclerotherapy is the best option. Changes in patient status may sometimes require revision of the treatment decision.

Prothrombin time in first week of life with special reference to vitamin K administration

Prothrombin time was estimated in 100 neonates (80 full term and 20 preterm). Among the full term infants 50 were healthy and 30 sick. Prothrombin time was altered in neonates with birth hypoxia and prematurity (p less than 0.001). Vitamin K administration to anoxic babies resulted in improvement in prothrombin time after 48-72 hours (p less than 0.001). Four newborns has bleeding, 2 had anoxia and 2 were only in preterms who did not receive vitamin K after birth. It is concluded that vitamin K should be given to all preterms and those with difficult deliveries; term, healthy newborns do not need it.

Endometrial autoantigens eliciting immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgA, and IgM responses in endometriosis

Endometrial antigens from patients with endometriosis and fertile controls were tested against immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgA, or IgM in endometrium, serum, and peritoneal fluid (PF) of the patients and controls by Western blot analysis. Endogenous IgG was detected in 78% of the endometria or endometriosis implants from the patients and 22% of the endometria from the controls. Endometrial IgA and IgM were detected in few controls and patients. Immunoglobulin G in the serum and/or PF of patients with endometriosis was specifically directed against antigens with molecular weights of 34, 42, 82, 94, 110, 120, and 140 kd found in the patients' endometrium or endometriosis implants. Immunoglobulin A and IgM in the serum or PF of the patients and controls were nonspecific in their reactivity. Endometrial antigens found in endometrium or implants of patients with endometriosis, and eliciting IgG responses, may be relevant to autoimmunity in endometriosis.

Humoral immunity to Candida albicans (anti-candida antibody titers) in premature infants

Although the role of humoral and cell mediated immunity in neonatal defense against candida infections is not precisely defined, one of the contributing immunologic factors may be a lack of decreased specific passive humoral immunity. Thus, serum samples from the umbilical veins of 98 term gestation and 105 premature neonates (majority less than 33 wk gestation) and their mothers (n = 100) were tested for the presence of hemagglutinating antibodies to commercially available candida antigen. The titers of candida antibodies (mean log2 +/- SEM) were significantly higher in 11 term neonates (4.73 +/- 0.69) of mothers with high antibody titers (5.18 +/- 0.40, less than 0.001) as contrasted with 87 normal term (2.38 +/- 0.15) and 105 premature (2.87 +/- 0.15) infants with normal mothers (1.96 +/- 0.13 and 3.31 +/- 0.26, respectively). Contrary to our belief 81% of term infants and all of the preterm infants (majority less than 33 wk gestation) had passive specific anti-candida antibody titers less than 1:16.

Radiation response of plasma protein and albumin of peripheral blood and its modification by MPG (2-Mercaptopropionylglycine) in mice

Changes in the total protein and albumin level in the blood of six week and three week old Swiss albino mice exposed to a sublethal dose of 2.2 Gy of gamma rays after an intraperitoneal injection of 20 mg/kg body weight of the radioprotector drug MPG (2-Mercaptopropionylglycine) were studied. The results were compared with those obtained from animals irradiated with the same dose of gamma rays in the absence of the drug. Animals were sacrificed at one, three, five, seven and 14 days after irradiation. The drug has been found to modify the levels of plasma protein and albumin in the blood of the irradiated animals. The depletion observed was less marked in the drug treated animals than their respective controls. The observations have been discussed in light of relevant literature.

Quinine induced granulomatous hepatitis and vasculitis

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White cell subpopulations in autoimmune infertile men and their wives with cytotoxic sperm antibodies

Sixty six infertile men with cytotoxic sperm antibodies had fewer and lower percentages of OKT4-positive helper/inducer T lymphocytes p = 0.004 and 0.003, respectively), than the fertile (n = 14) and infertile (n = 12) antibody-negative controls. Ratio of OKT4/OKT8 was decreased (p less than 0.01), while numbers of OKDR and BD-Leu12 positive predominantly B lymphocytes were increased (p less than 0.0001) in infertile men with sperm antibodies. T lymphocytes positive for OKT3, OKT11 and OKT4 and the OKT4/OKT8 ratio were decreased in infertile women with sperm antibodies, while B lymphocytes positive for OKDR and BD-Leu12 were increased in infertile women with or without sperm antibodies (p less than 0.0001, versus fertile controls). Lymphocyte responses to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (ConA) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM), however, were similar in 20 fertile and 136 infertile couples. Lymphocytes from infertile men with sperm antibodies had an enhanced stimulatory response to autologous sperm and seminal plasma. It is concluded that sperm antigens from autoimmune infertile men stimulate heightened immune responses to sperm antigens and altered distribution of white cell populations in both partners.

Time-related decline in sperm motility patterns in men with cytotoxic antibodies

Sperm motility patterns in semen from 10 fertile nonautoimmune men (fertile control group) and 33 infertile men with various titers of cytotoxic sperm antibodies in their seminal plasma (group 1: titers less than or equal to 16, n = 6; group 2: titers 64 to 512, n = 12; group 3: titers greater than or equal to 1024, n = 15) were evaluated every 2 hours for 12 hours and finally at 24 hours. A significant decline in sperm swimming speed and linearity was observed at 6 hours in semen from 27 infertile men with sperm antibodies. Beginning at 8 hours, semen from sperm antibody-positive men in group 2 showed a significant decline in percentage motile sperm (p less than 0.001) compared to the fertile controls. The percentage motility in semen of donors in groups 1 and 3 was significantly lower than that in semen of fertile donors at 10 hours (p less than 0.05), 12 hours (p less than 0.01), and 24 hours (p less than 0.001). The mean velocity in groups 2 and 3 was significantly less than that in fertile controls at 10 and 12 hours (p less than 0.05). The linearity of sperm motility started to decline 4 hours after semen samples were obtained from sperm antibody-positive groups 2 and 3 in contrast to sperm antibody-negative fertile or infertile groups (p less than 0.05). It is concluded that the presence of cytotoxic sperm antibodies in the seminal plasma adversely affects sperm linearity as early as 4 hours after semen collection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparison of two sperm preparation techniques using automated sperm motion analysis: migration sedimentation versus swim-up

Migration sedimentation and spermatozoa swim-up techniques were used for obtaining spermatozoa from the semen samples of 39 infertile men. Concentration, percentage of motile sperm, velocity, linearity, and motility index of the sperm preparations obtained by both methods were compared using the CellSoft automated sperm motion analyzer. The mean velocity of the spermatozoa obtained after the migration sedimentation technique was significantly higher than that with swim-up technique. Since it is not necessary to centrifuge spermatozoa with the migration sedimentation technique, this method may be more desirable than other techniques using centrifugation.

Immunological aspects of surgically induced experimental endometriosis: variation in response to therapy

Elevated endometrial antibody titers were detected in serum and peritoneal fluid of rabbits with experimentally induced endometriosis. Surgical extirpation of implants or suppression with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist resulted in decreased endometrial antibody titers, whereas the antibody titers in untreated rabbits with endometriosis increased significantly. Endometrial implants and normal endometrial tissue had similar proteins by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. However, the serum and peritoneal fluid from rabbits with experimentally induced endometriosis had gamma G immunoglobulin antibodies to an endometrial protein with molecular weight of approximately 40 kD. These antibodies were absent in rabbits without endometriosis. Isolation of endometrial antigens eliciting the humoral immune response in endometriosis may aid in the development of a specific antibody marker for endometriosis.

Oral immunization with sperm antigens: possible therapy for sperm antibodies?

Young adult male CD-1 mice were given intraperitoneal injections (IP) of saline (controls) and pooled sperm or seminal plasma of two autoimmune infertile men and two nonautoimmune fertile men (n = 40 per treatment). Other mice received only an oral challenge with the same antigens (oral controls; n = 20 per treatment). Three weeks after the booster challenge (day 36), 20 mice in each group were orally immunized with the antigens, whereas the other 20 were not (IP controls). Cytotoxic antibody titers (immunoglobulin M) to human sperm were significantly higher in mice IP immunized with sperm or seminal plasma from autoimmune infertile men or orally immunized with autoimmune men's sperm, in contrast to the controls. Oral challenge with sperm or seminal plasma of autoimmune infertile men after the IP immunization with the same resulted in significantly decreased cytotoxic sperm antibody titers (P less than 0.001 versus oral or IP controls in sperm immunization; P less than 0.001 versus IP controls in seminal plasma immunization). Fertility was unaffected by any mode of immunization. It is concluded that, in mice, sperm and seminal plasma antigens from autoimmune infertile men are more immunogenic than those from nonautoimmune fertile men, and oral challenge with the former after an IP establishment of cytotoxic sperm immunity desensitizes the immune mice. These findings may have practical implications in the diagnosis and immunotherapy of infertile men with cytotoxic sperm antibodies.

Mortality patterns in low birth weight babies in ICDS urban slum area

There were 920 live-births over the period of one year in urban slums (covering 40 anganwadi centres) of Gorakhpur city. Incidence of low birth weight (LBW) babies weighing 2.5 kg or less and those weighing 2 kg or less were 40.7% (19.8% preterm LBW and 80.2% term LBW) and 24% (25.3% preterm LBW and 74.7% term LBW) respectively. Incidence of preterm babies was 8.5%. Infections and respiratory distress were found to be the major killers of LBW babies. The neonatal mortality rate was observed to be significantly high in LBW and preterm babies. Again, babies weighing 2 kg or less and preterm were at greater risk and should be referred to specialised neonatal centres while those weighing 2.001-2.5 kg could be looked after at home by trained personnel in domiciliary newborn care.

Liv-52 protection against beryllium toxicity in female albino rats

Toxic effects of beryllium salts on the reproductive organs of cyclic adult female albino rats have been studied. An attempt was made to overcome these effects using an Ayurvedic medicine Liv-52 (Himalaya Drug Co., Bombay). Liv-52-primed rats (1 mL/rat/day for 15 days) were exposed to beryllium nitrate intravenously and were sacrificed at different time intervals. At autopsy ovary, uterus, cervix, and vagina were processed for biochemical and histopathologic examination. Histoarchitecture of the ovary, uterus, cervix, and vagina revealed severe necrotic changes with beryllium nitrate treatment. Tissue glycogen content and the activity of alkaline phosphatase were inhibited significantly after beryllium treatment. Total and esterified cholesterol levels increased significantly in these organs when exposed to beryllium salts. However, a significant improvement was observed in the biochemical parameters and histoarchitecture of these organs when beryllium was injected into Liv-52-primed animals.

Synthesis of iodine-125 labeled 3-quinuclidinyl 4'-iodobenzilate

Iodine-125 labeled 3-quinuclidinyl 4'-iodobenzilate has been prepared via the reaction of the corresponding boronic acid with sodium [125I]iodide in the presence of a mild oxidant.