Effect of chitosan on lipid levels when administered concurrently with atorvastatin--a placebo controlled study

In a placebo controlled trialthe lipid lowering effects of chitosan, a unique dietary fibre, was assessed when given along with atorvastatin 10 mg in patients with chronic coronary heart disease. Altogether 100 patients were studied. They were randomly allocated in two groups of 50 patients each. Patients of group A received atorvastatin 10 mg before dinner plus 2 g/day chitosan in two divided doses. The groupB patients received atorvastatin 10 mg plus placebo. Patients were followed up for a period of 6 weeks. There was significant reduction in mean body weight in group A patients (3.14% versus 1,29% of body weight, p<0.05). There was also a significant rise in HDL cholesterol value (3.8% versus 1.07%, p=0.02) in group A patients. However, there was no significant reduction in the mean values of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride in the two groups, although group A patients showed marginally lower values.

Isolated tuberculosis of the pancreas diagnosed with needle aspiration: a case report and review of the literature

Pancreatic tuberculosis is very rare, especially in immunocompetent patients, and represents a diagnostic challenge. The clinical features in patients with pancreatic tuberculosis are usually non-specific. The radiological features mimic pancreatic malignancy or pancreatitis. We describe a case of pancreatic tuberculosis mimicking carcinoma on Computed tomography scan. Ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) showed caseating granulomatous inflammation. The diagnosis of pancreatic tuberculosis was made and the patient was put on anti-tubercular therapy. Five months later, a repeat CT scan of the abdomen revealed resolution of the pancreatic lesion. We emphasize that tuberculosis should now be included in the differential diagnosis of a pancreatic mass. Diagnostic indicators include the association of a pancreatic mass with fever, the presence of abdominal pain and a cystic pancreatic mass in a younger patient coming from a region where tuberculosis is endemic.

Elephantiasis Nostras Verrucosa: a rare thyroid dermopathy in Graves' disease

Elephantiasis Nostras Verrucosa (ENV) is a rare form of pretibial myxedema, which is nearly always associated with Graves' disease. A case is presented here of Graves' disease who had elephantiasis variety of pre-tibial myxedema (PTM).

Role of two toxin-producing plankton and their effect on phytoplankton–zooplankton system – a mathematical study supported by experimental findings

Plankton is the basis of the entire aquatic food chain. Phytoplankton, in particular, occupies the first trophic level. Plankton performs services for the Earth: it serves as food for marine life, gives off oxygen and also absorbs half of the carbon dioxide from the Earth's atmosphere. The dynamics of a rapid (or massive) increase or decrease of plankton populations is an important subject in marine plankton ecology and generally termed as a 'bloom'. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have adverse effects on human health, fishery, tourism, and the environment. In recent years, considerable scientific attention has been given to HABs. Toxic substances released by harmful plankton play an important role in this context. In this paper, a mathematical model consisting of two harmful phytoplankton and zooplankton system will be discussed. The analytical findings will be verified through our experimental observations which were carried out on the eastern part of Bay of Bengal for the last three years.

Variability pattern and correlation studies in Silybum marianum Gaertn

Phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variability, heritability in broad sense and genetic advance were determined investigating the characters of 15 accessions of Silybum marianum. Seed yield/plant and number of capsules/plant had highest estimates of genotypic variation, heritability and genetic advance which suggest that direct selection for these traits is suitable for the improvement of this crop. Number of capsules/plant had a significant positive correlation with the number of branches/plant and leaf length (r=0.3398, 0.7547), whereas seed yield/plant had a positive significant correlation with leaf length, stem diameter, capsule diameter and silymarin content (r=0.6830, 0.3140, 0.3484, 0.2925).

Evaluation of the possible role of five enzymes in the metabolism of IBA in mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.)

The enzymatic activity of five enzymes viz. Glutathione S-transferases, Esterases, NADH dehydrogenase, NADH oxidase and Glutathione reductase were assessed under the influence of Indole butyric acid (IBA) (400 ppm) in the nymphs (48-52h old) of mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi fed on radish plants treated for 13, 25 and 37h. The activity of Glutathione S-transferases, Esterases and NADH dehydrogenase increased compared to that found in the control of the same age group of nymphs and it was concluded that these enzymes might be involved in the metabolism of IBA. The other two enzymes, NADH oxidase and Glutathione reductase showed no significant increase in their activity compared to that in the control of the same age group. It was hypothesized that the latter enzymes do not play any significant role in the metabolism of IBA.

Polyphenolics and fat absorption

OBJECTIVES

To elucidate whether the acute consumption of red wine polyphenolic compounds regulates lipid and lipoprotein metabolism in dyslipidemic postmenopausal women.

DESIGN

Eight dyslipidemic postmenopausal women each consumed a mixed meal accompanied by either water, dealcoholized red wine or alcoholic red wine on three separate visits, in a random order, 2 weeks apart. One fasting and six hourly postmeal blood samples were taken and analyzed for plasma apolipoprotein B48 (apoB48; specific marker of chylomicrons (CM) and their remnants (CMR)); total-, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol; triglycerides (TAG); insulin and glucose at each time point.

RESULTS

There was a decrease in postprandial apoB48 levels after alcoholic and nonalcoholic red wine consumption compared to water.

CONCLUSION

Red wine attenuates postprandial CM and CMR levels in plasma, possibly by delaying the absorption of dietary fat, as suggested by a decrease in plasma apoB48 levels. The reduction of postprandial lipoproteins in circulation after red wine consumption may partly explain the low cardiovascular mortality rates among the French.

Dynamical scaling of surface growth in simple lattice models

We present extensive simulations of the atomistic Edwards-Wilkinson (EW) and Restricted Edwards-Wilkinson (REW) models in 2+1 dimensions. Dynamic finite-size scaling analyses of the interfacial width and structure factor provide the estimates for the dynamic exponent z=1.65+/-0.05 for the EW model and z=2.0+/-0.1 for the REW model. The stochastic contribution to the interface velocity U due to the deposition and diffusion of particles is characterized for both the models using a blocking procedure. For the EW model the time-displaced temporal correlations in U show nonexponential decay, while the temporal correlations decay exponentially for the REW model. Dynamical scaling of the temporal correlation function for the EW model yields a value of z, which is consistent with the estimate obtained from finite-size scaling of the interfacial width and structure factor.

Dynamics of nutrient-phytoplankton interaction in the presence of viral infection

The present paper deals with the problem of a nutrient-phytoplankton (N-P) populations where phytoplankton population is divided into two groups, namely susceptible phytoplankton and infected phytoplankton. Conditions for coexistence or extinction of populations are derived taking into account general nutrient uptake functions and Holling type-II functional response as an example. It is observed that the three component systems persist when the infected phytoplankton population is not able to consume nutrient.

The Parkinson's disease sleep scale: a new instrument for assessing sleep and nocturnal disability in Parkinson's disease

BACKGROUND

No formal instruments are available for quantifying sleep problems in Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a new sleep scale to quantify the various aspects of nocturnal sleep problems in Parkinson's disease, which may occur in up to 96% of affected individuals.

METHODS

Employing a multidisciplinary team approach, a visual analogue scale was devised addressing 15 commonly reported symptoms associated with sleep disturbance in Parkinson's disease-the Parkinson's disease sleep scale (PDSS). In all, 143 patients with Parkinson's disease completed the PDSS, covering the entire spectrum of disease from newly diagnosed to advanced stage. As controls, 137 age healthy matched subjects also completed the scale. Test-retest reliability was assessed in a subgroup of subjects. The Epworth sleepiness scale was also satisfactorily completed by 103 of the patients with Parkinson's disease.

RESULTS

PDSS scores in the Parkinson group were significantly different from the healthy controls. Patients with advanced Parkinson's disease had impaired scores compared with early/moderate disease. Individual items of the scale showed good discriminatory power between Parkinson's disease and healthy controls. Relevant items of the PDSS correlated with excessive daytime sleepiness. The scale showed robust test-retest reliability.

CONCLUSIONS

This appears to be the first description of a simple bedside screening instrument for evaluation of sleep disturbances in Parkinson's disease. A combination of subitems may help identify specific aspects of sleep disturbance, which in turn may help target treatment.

Effect of amitriptyline on gastric ulceration

Amitriptyline significantly inhibited alcohol, aspirin, indomethacin and cold-restraint stress-induced ulceration. Secretory studies conducted in pyloric-ligated rats revealed that the drug, at the doses employed, significantly reduced total acidity and protein content. However, significant reductions of the gastric volume were only observed at the highest dose of the drug. In another set of experiments, when 50% alcohol (v/v) was administered to the pyloric-ligated rats pretreated with amitriptyline, it was observed that the drug significantly reduced the pH, total acidity and protein content.

Psychopharmacological studies on Tragia involucrata root extract

The methanol fraction of the root extract of Tragia involucrata was investigated for psychopharmacological activity in rodents. It produced an alteration of behavioural pattern and a reduction in spontaneous motility. A significant potentiation of pentobarbitone-induced sleep, a decrease of body temperature, suppression of the aggressive behaviour pattern and of the conditioned avoidance response (CAR) were observed with the fraction. These suggest that the methanol fraction of the T. involucrata root extract possesses significant central nervous system depressant action.

Antioxidant activity of the methanol fraction of Pluchea indica root extract

Studies were carried out to evaluate the influence of the methanol fraction of Pluchea indica Less root extract (PIRE), the dual inhibitors (BW 755C and phenidone) and vitamin on both in vivo and in vitro free radical-scavenging activities, CCl(4)-induced lipid peroxidation and the metabolism of arachidonic acid by lipoxygenase. PIRE produced significant antiinflammatory activity against glucose oxidase-induced paw oedema (in vivo), inhibited hydroxyl radical and superoxide generation, lysis of erythrocytes induced by hydrogen peroxide, CCl(4)-induced lipid peroxidation and also dioxygenase activity of lipoxygenase (both in the presence and absence of hydrogen peroxide). Significantly higher free radical-scavenging activity was observed with BW 755C and phenidone compared with PIRE. However, both BW 755C and phenidone stimulated hydroxyl radical generation compared with the observed inhibitory effects of PIRE and vitamin E.

Achieving 24-hour control of Parkinson's disease symptoms: use of objective measures to improve nocturnal disability

Sleep-related problems are common in Parkinson's disease (PD) and may occur due to the disease process, alteration in sleep architecture or nocturnal motor problems such as akinesia and dystonia. Neuropsychiatric problems and nocturia can also cause significant sleep disruption in PD. Poor sleep may lead to daytime consequences such as excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue. As there are no PD-specific sleep scales, we have devised a simple visual analogue scale - the Parkinson's disease sleep scale (PDSS) which is aimed at formal quantification of various aspects of nocturnal sleep disturbance in PD. In this paper, we discuss the development of this scale, its clinical use and how the scale could be used to devise targeted treatment strategies for nocturnal problems in PD.