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Hepatic fibrosis constitutes a serious insult to the liver, with a substantial negative impact on the quality of life of such patients worldwide. It is a consequence of severe liver damage and occurs as the result of several factors. Chronic alcoholism is the most common cause. Fibrosis also results from chronic viral hepatitis and autoimmune hepatitis. Prolonged exposure to environmental toxins such as carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) can also lead to fibrosis. In the present study, the hepato-protective effects of green tea extract (GTE) on hepatic fibrosis in a rat liver CCl(4)-induced fibrosis model were examined histologically, 3-dimensionally and biochemically. GTE was prepared from dried green tea leaves and lyophilized. Male albino rats (n=20) weighing 200-250 g were divided into four groups: GI, control; GII, administered 50 mg/kg GTE dissolved in physiological saline daily for four weeks; GIII, administered 40% CCl(4) (1 ml/kg body weight) by subcutaneous injection daily for four weeks; and GIV, treated as GIII, followed by 50 mg/kg GTE dissolved in physiological saline daily for 4 weeks. Histology and 3-dimensional scanning electron microscopy showed hepatic fibrosis with intermingled fibers located between cells in the liver tissues of the CCl(4)-treated rats. Fibrotic lesions virtually disappeared after four weeks of treatment with GTE, returning the architecture of liver tissue back to its normal state. Also, the levels of the hepatic enzymes alanine aminotranferase and aspartate aminotransferase returned to their normal levels after treatment with GTE. The rats were found to regain their normal body weight and their fur color, which had faded due to weight loss. The autopsy results showed the animal liver returning to normal shape and color. Thus, green tea extract is a potent treatment for hepatic fibrosis caused by CCl(4) in this animal model.

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BACKGROUND AND THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Biodegradable Poly(caprolactone fumarate) (PCLF) has been used as bioresorbable sutures. In this study, doxorubicin HCl (Dox) loaded PCLF nanoparticles were prepared and characterized. MATERIAL AND METHODS: PCLFs were synthesized by polycondensation of PCL diols (Mws of 530, 1250 and 2000) with fumaryl chloride. The degradation of PCLF in NaOH, water and phosphate buffer saline (PBS), was determined in terms of changes in Mw. Nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by two methods. In microemulsion polymerization method, dichloromethane containing PCLF and photoinitiator were combined with the water containing surfactants and then the mixture was placed under light for crosslinking. In nanoprecipitation method, the organic solvent containing PCLF was poured into the stirring water. The effect of several variables including concentration of PCLF, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), Dox and Trypan blue (Trb) and the Mw of PCLF and PVA on NP size and loading were evaluated. RESULT: PCLF 530, 1250 and 2000 in PBS or water were not degraded over 28 days. Nanoprecipitaion method gave spherical (revealed by SEM images) stable NPs of about 225 with narrow size distribution and a zeta potential of -43 mV. The size of NP increased significantly by increase in Mw or concentration of PCLF. Although PVA was not necessary for formation of NPs, but it decreased with NP size. Dox loading and EE were 2.5-6.8% and 15-20%, respectively. Increasing the drug concentration increased the drug loading (DL) and NP size. The entrapment efficiency (EE) for Trb ranged from 1% for PCLF530 to 6% for PCLF2000. An increase in PCLF concentration resulted in an increase in EE. Dox and Trb release showed a burst followed by 80% and 78% release during 3 and 4 days respectively. CONCLUSION: PCLF possessed suitable characteristics for preparation of nanoparticulate drug delivery system such as desired NP size, stability and degradation time. Although PCLF530 NPs were the smallest, but their DL were lower than PCLF1250 and 2000 NPs.

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Increased gastric acidity is common when fasting during Ramadan. Our study aimed to develop a regression equation to predict fasting serum gastrin levels using parameters commonly analysed in clinical laboratories. Fasting blood samples from six men were taken on days 1, 10, 19, 26 and 28 of Ramadan. Serum gastrin, total cholesterol, urea and uric acid were analysed. All 5 samples from each man were included in multiple regression analysis and the prediction equation obtained was: serum gastrin, pg/mL = 198.27-0.199 total cholesterol (mg/dL) + 2.525 urea (mg/dL)--103.238 uric acid (mg/dL) + 10.923 uric acid (mg/dL)2 + 3.683 body mass index, r2 = 0.75, P < 0.001. This equation might be used to estimate gastrin levels and plan dietary and medicinal measures to avoid high gastric acidity during Ramadan.

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Increased gastric acidity is common when fasting during Ramadan. Our study aimed to develop a regression equation to predict fasting serum gastrin levels using parameters commonly analysed in clinical laboratories. Fasting blood samples from six men were taken on days 1, 10, 19, 26 and 28 of Ramadan. Serum gastrin, total cholesterol, urea and uric acid were analysed. All 5 samples from each man were included in multiple regression analysis and the prediction equation obtained was: serum gastrin, pg/mL = 198.27-0.199 total cholesterol [mg/dL] + 2.525 urea [mg/dL]--103.238 uric acid [mg/dL] + 10.923 uric acid [mg/dL]2 + 3.683 body mass index, r2 = 0.75, P < 0.001. This equation might be used to estimate gastrin levels and plan dietary and medicinal measures to avoid high gastric acidity during Ramadan

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Heavy metals (zinc, lead, cadmium, iron, chromium, copper, manganese, nickel and cobalt) were found to leach from the glazed surfaces of tea mugs collected from 13 different pottery units of Khurja (U.P.) and one each from Ghaziabad (U.P.) and Calcutta (West Bengal) determined under different conditions. The leachates used were: tea at 80 degrees C, orange juice at room temperature and 4% acetic acid at room temperature, 40 degrees C and 60 degrees C, respectively. The volume (capacity) of mugs ranged between 200 and 250 ml. The duration for leaching was 24 h in each case without stirring. The concentrations of metals leached in tea at 80 degrees C were found in the range (in microgram/l): Zn, 236-730; Fe, 98-925; Cr, 62-119; Cu, 63-299; Mn, 710-2670; and Ni, 70-80 micrograms/l. The concentrations of metals leached in orange juice at room temperature were in the range (in microgram/l): Zn, 393-1262; Cd, 25-349; Fe, 122-342; Cr, 66-945; Cu, 135-853; Mn, 166-424; and Ni, 70-134 micrograms/l. The concentrations of heavy metals extracted by 4% acetic acid at room temperature were found in the range (in microgram/l): Zn, 18-192; Fe, 143-372; Cu, 51-190; and Mn, 0-48 micrograms/l; at 40 degrees C (in microgram/l): Zn, 118-837; Fe, 124-639; Cu, 230-722; and Mn, 30-63 micrograms/l and at 60 degrees: Zn, 33-900; Fe, 83-576; Cu, 90-685; and Mn, 43-778 micrograms/l, respectively.

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Forty-four water samples from eleven sampling points were collected from four highly polluted rivers of northern India once in each four seasons during 1988-1989. The samples were analyzed for phenol, chlorophenols, a few bromophenols and other organics. Phenol was found to be absent in all the analyzed samples. Trichlorophenol and pentachlorophenol were frequently detected. Comparatively, the Ganges river was most polluted at Kannauj followed by Narora, Kachala and Fatehgarh. Maximum phenols were found at Mathura downstream of the Yamuna river followed by Mathura upstream, Okhla, ITO and none at Wazirabad. No phenols were detected in the water of the rivers Hindon and Kali at Ghaziabad and Aligarh, respectively. Some other organic pollutants were also identified by their mass spectra and supported by data from the computerized library, but, not quantified.

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The concentration of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn metals in water and sediments of Yamuna river were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in the year 1981. The data showed that there was considerable variation in the concentration of elements from one sampling station to the other which may be due to the variation in the quality of industrial and sewage wasters being added to the river at different sampling stations. The sediment samples collected from different sampling stations were also analysed for calcium carbonate, organic matter, potassium, and phosphorus.

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The distribution of cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in the plants and fish of Yamuna river from Delhi to Allahabad, a distance of about 840 km, at five sampling stations was determined in the year 1981. The results have shown wide variations in the heavy metal levels from one sampling station to the other. The concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the plants (Eicchornia crassipes) were found to be 0.02-0.12, 2.7-21.3, 4.6-64.8, 9.8-114.0, 193.0-1835.0, 380.0-1443.0, 4.4-83.0, 4.8-30.2, and 22.1-356.5 µg g(-1) respectively whereas in the fish (Heteropnuestes fossilis) were found to be ND-0.40, 2.3-13.7, 3.7-26.9, 8.33-58.1, 278.3-1108.0, 81.3-213.8, 2.8-32.7, 1.4-12.8 and 101.8-364.8 µgg(-1) respectively on dry weight basis.

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The present communication deals with the isolation of acetyl salicylic acid (aspirin complexes with Bi+3 Zn+2 and UO2+2. The characterization of 1:2 complexes have been carried out with the help of conductometric, pH met;ric, elemental analysis and IR spectral studies. Spectrophotometric studies in case of UO2+2 (the only colored complex) in range of 4.2 to 5.5 pH show absorption at 490 nm and complex obey Beers Law at the concentration range of 0.01 M to 0.1 M.

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