High, not low-dose of stanozolol (Anabolic - androgenic steroid) impedes embryo implantation by attenuating endometrial receptivity in the mouse, Mus musculus

The present investigation is aimed at evaluating the efficacy of one of the anabolic -androgenic steroids, stanozolol (ST), on establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in mice. A total of 40 female mice were assigned to three experimental groups. Stanozolol was dosed subcutaneously (low-dose, 0.5 mg/kg bwt; high-dose, 5.0 mg/kg bwt or 1% alcohol-baseline control) for 30 consecutive days. On the 31st day, treatment was withdrawn. The estrous cycle was disrupted in both treatment groups and its resumption was dose dependent. Following estrous resumption, mice were allowed to mate. Results reveal that the low-dose ST-treated mice maintained gestation until term with reduced litter size, while high-dose-treated mice divulged vaginal plug at frequent intervals, indicating conception failure. Because pregnancy failure was noticed in high-dose-treated mice, they were autopsied on GD1.5 and 4.5. Interestingly, neither dose of stanozolol affected early embryonic development or blastocyst hatching. A decrease in the number of corpora lutea in both treated groups suggests it affects either ovulation or recruitment of follicles that occurs in each cycle for maturation. In high-dose-treated mice, decreased serum levels of estradiol, progesterone and increased testosterone along with downregulated endometrial expression of ERα and PR suggest the deficiency of steroid hormones and their respective receptors. Decreased ovarian expression of ERα, hyperexpression of PRLR, AR and abated progesterone secretion led to luteal dysfunction, consequently attenuating endometrial receptivity. Therefore, in high-dose-treated mice, decreased maternal estradiol and progesterone levels and their receptors during implantation hindered signaling to LIF and Hoxa-10, resulting in pragmatic implantation failure.

Microbiological biodiversity in poultry and paddy straw wastes in composting systems

Immense quantity of waste is generated in association with poultry meat egg and crop production. The potential risks due to disposal of these wastes are magnified as a result of dense refinement of poultry production and the decreasing amount of land available for waste disposal. The study aims at studying the microbiological biodiversity of poultry waste and paddy straw based co-composting system. The predominant microflora of the poultry manure were bacteria, fungi, enteric bacteria and spore forming bacteria whose population was high at the initiation of composting but decreased significantly as the compost approached maturity. The initial load of inherent enteric groups of bacteria in poultry waste, that also includes some pathogenic ones, is considerably reduced and some new vital groups contributed to compost quality as the microbiological biodiversity sets in the system and becomes stable. Major fraction of nitrogen of poultry waste was subjected to ammonia volatilization and a fraction of it conserved by co-composting it in conjunction with wastes having low nitrogen contents. In the treatment T₁ and T₅, where poultry manure and paddy straws alone were composted, 60 and 30 percent of organic carbon, respectively, was lost over a period of six months. Whereas in treatments T₂,T₃ and T_4, poultry manure and paddy straw were co-composted in the ratio of 3:1, 2:2 and 1:3, respectively, 51.4,45.0 and 37.0 percent of carbon, respectively, was lost during decomposition. The C: N ratio in all the treatments decreased significantly to 18.3 for T₁, 24.7 for T₂, 27.0 for T₃, 34.9 for T₄ and 38.5 for T₅ at the end of composting period.

Erythema Chronicum Migrans in Simla, Himachal Pradesh

Seven cases of erythema chronicum migrans are presented. An unusal case with acute course, purpurice and bullous reaction is highlighted. A terminology of acute erythema migrans is suggested for such cases. No organism or vector could be isolated.

Mebendazole in the Treaiment of Larva Migrans

Two cases of larva migrans which were treated with mebendazole are presented. The drug was found very effective in this condition and was well tolerated.

MTF of Proximity-Focused Image Tube in Polychromatic Light

The effect of different conditions of illumination and the spectral sensitivity of the detector on the performance of proximity-focused image tube has been evaluated in terms of the polychromatic modulation transfer function. The physical efficiencies of sources commonly used in the infrared image conversion system have been compared for a Corning glass 2540 glass filter and a GaAs filter having antireflection coatings on both sides.