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Notes: To compare the efficacy and acceptability of conventional intravenous sedation with patient-controlled inhalational isodesox, 57 women undergoing outpatient oocyte recovery were randomly allocated to receive isodesox by face mask, while 55 women were given intravenous fentanyl and midazolam. Women's satisfaction with pain relief, peroperative pain, clouding of memory and the surgeons' assessment of operating conditions were evaluated. Thirty-eight women in the inhalation group (67%) and 41 (75%) women in the intravenous group were ‘very satisfied’ with their analgesia (p = 0.41). The mean (SD) pain score in women given isodesox was 46.8 (34.7), while in the intravenous group it was 34.1 (21.3) (p = 0.02). Oxygen saturation levels 〈 94% were recorded in one woman using isodesox and in 16 (29%) women given intravenous analgesia. Despite higher pain scores, in comparison with the conventional analgesia, patient-controlled isodesox offers a safer method of pain relief with comparable satisfaction rates.

Notes: Proteins secreted by Mycobacterium tuberculosis are targets of host immune responses and as such are investigated for vaccine and immunodiagnostics development. Computer-driven searches of the M. tuberculosis H37Rv genome had previously identified 45 novel secreted proteins. Here, we report the characterization of these antigens in terms of specificity for the M. tuberculosis complex and the ability to induce human immune responses. BLAST homology searches and Southern hybridization identified 10 genes that were either specific for the M. tuberculosis complex or found in only two nontuberculous mycobacterial species of minor medical significance. Selected recombinant proteins were purified from Escherichia coli cells and tested for the ability to elicit antibody responses in tuberculosis patients. Reactivity of the serum panel was ` 36% with at least one of five novel proteins (Rv0203, Rv0603, Rv1271c, Rv1804c and Rv2253), 56% with the 38 kDa lipoprotein, a M. tuberculosis antigen known to be highly seroreactive, and 68% with a combination of Rv0203, Rv1271c and the 38 kDa antigen. Thus, at least five novel secreted proteins induce antibody responses during active disease; some of these proteins may increase the sensitivity of serological assays based on the 38 kDa antigen.

Notes: Background:  Carica papaya L. is a fruit yielding tree, wildly grown or cultivated in the tropics and subtropics. Its pollen grain has been reported to be airborne and cause immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated hypersensitivity.Objective:  To conduct long-term aerobiological study on Carica pollen, along with aeroallergenic particles originating from it and to identify vis-à-vis characterize an important IgE-reactive component present in this pollen.Methods:  The seasonal and diurnal periodicities of airborne C. papaya pollen were recorded in a 5-year survey using a Burkard volumetric sampler. The allergenic potential was studied by skin prick tests, IgE-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and also by aeroallergen immunoblotting. The total pollen extract was fractionated by Sephacryl S-200 column, and out of the eluted five fractions, the maximum IgE-reactive fraction (as found in ELISA inhibition) was resolved into five major subfractions in reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The subfraction with optimum IgE reactivity was studied by activity gel, native and nonreducing sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The homogeneity of the isolated protein fraction was checked by crossed immunoelectrophoresis with rabbit antisera and IgE reactivity was confirmed by ELISA inhibition and immunoblotting using individual patient sera.Results:  The Carica pollen occurred in the air round the year with peaks during January and September–October. Among a patient population of 1000, skin-test results showed 27.8% +1 level and 5.6% +2/+3 level reactions. In aeroallergen immunoblotting of exposed Burkard tape segments, the detected allergen spots showed a significant correlation with airborne pollen count recorded. The pollen extract elicited loss of IgE reactivity when treated with reducing agent-like β-mercaptoethanol and heat, but showed six IgE-reactive components in nonreducing IgE-immunoblot. The fraction 1 eluted from Sephacryl S-200 column showed highest IgE reactivity and resolved into five major components in RP-HPLC. Out of these, the fraction showing optimum IgE reactivity in IgE-ELISA inhibition and immunoblotting with patient antisera, elicited esterase activity and found to be a homogenous protein of 100 kDa.Conclusion:  Carica papaya tree contributes significantly to the aeropollen and aeroallergen load of the suburban outskirts of Calcutta metropolis, India. The pollen extract contains an important IgE-reactive protein component of 100 kDa molecular weight with esterase activity.

Notes: The problem of growth rate and life span of Nummulites foraminifers, attaining giant sizes during the Eocene, has been addressed by analysing their Sr/Ca ratio across the Eocene/Oligocene Boundary (EOB) of Kutch, western India. The Eocene ratio (˜ 1) rapidly decreases during the Oligocene (˜ 0.5) and is coincident with the extinction of most of the Eocene Nummulites species, a rapid enrichment of δ18O and decrease in both test size and species diversity across the boundary. The high Sr/Ca ratio in Eocene foraminifers can be explained by their rapid growth under a favourable climatic condition. The climatic deterioration (e.g. δ18O cooling) across the boundary and during the early Oligocene possibly forced the Nummulites to adopt a slower growth rate (and stunted growth). The rapid growth of the Eocene Nummulites indicates that the giant sizes of these protists need not necessarily involve a large life span.

Notes: 1. Prostaglandin E1 (0·4 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly potentiated the antinociceptive action of morphine in albino rats.2. This potentiation was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with reserpine, p-chlorophenylalanine or methysergide but not by α-methyl-p-yrosine, phentolamine or propranolol.3. The results suggest that the potentiation of morphine by prostaglandin E1 is mediated by serotonin, since it is inhibited by pharmacological agents known to reduce central turnover of serotonin receptors.

Notes: 1. Five prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, indomethacin, diclofenac, mefenamic acid, ibufen and paracetamol, were found to inhibit the antinociceptive action of morphine without affecting the antinociceptive response of an equi-analgesic dose of prostaglandin E12. Diclofenac was found to be the most potent and longest acting, whereas paracetamol was the least potent and shortest acting. Indomethacin, mefenamic acid and ibufen occupied an intermediate position, both in potency and duration of action.3. The results suggest that prostaglandins may be involved in the antinociceptive action of morphine in albino rats.

Notes: 1. The antinociceptive effect of prostaglandins E1, E2 and F2α was studied in albino rats. Though all three prostaglandins produced similar degrees of sedation, only prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) produced a dose-related antinociceptive activity.2. The antinociceptive activities of equi-analgesic doses of morphine (7.5 mg/kg, i.p.) and PGE1 (2.0 mg/kg, i.p.) were inhibited to almost similar extents after pretreatment with drugs known to reduce central turnover of serotonin receptors, namely reserpine, fenclonine (p-chlorophenylalanine), methysergide and 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine.3. Prostaglandin F2α (2.0 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly inhibited the antinociceptive effects of both morphine and PGE1.4. The prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, indomethacin and diclofenac, significantly inhibited morphine analgesia.5. Probenecid markedly prolonged the duration of antinociceptive effect of morphine and the duration of PGE1-induced potentiation of subanalgesic dose of morphine.6. The results suggest that, in albino rats, PGE1-induced antinociceptive activity is serotonin mediated and that morphine analgesia is not only mediated through serotonin but also through prostaglandins (PGE1?) and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid, the serotonin metabolite.

Notes: Background : Helicobacter pylori infection is very common in India, as in other developing countries, but few data exist on the susceptibility of H. pylori to antimicrobial agents commonly used for eradication here.Aim : To determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of H. pylori strains from Kolkata, in eastern India.Methods : A total of 67 H. pylori strains isolated from gastritis and peptic ulcer patients of Kolkata were examined in the study. Minimum inhibitory concentration to the antibiotics was determined by the agar dilution method.Results : Most of the strains (85%) were resistant to at least 8 μg/mL of metronidazole and 7.5% strains were resistant to tetracycline, which was high when compared with other reports in India. All Kolkata strains were highly sensitive to clarithromycin, furazolidone and amoxicillin.Conclusions : Our results differed significantly from the few available reports on drug sensitivity profile of H. pylori from other parts of India, namely, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Lucknow. This finding supports the need for rigorous susceptibility testing as a guide to empirical treatment and more generally, to define the resistance patterns of H. pylori in particular geographical areas.