RESUMEN
Micronutrients are essential elements needed in small amounts for adequate human nutrition and include the elements iron and zinc. Both of these minerals are essential to human well-being and an adequate supply of iron and zinc help to prevent iron deficiency anaemia and zinc deficiency, two prevalent health concerns of the developing world. The levels of zinc and, iron were measured in the Banana, Papaya, Rice, Finger millet, Soybean and Urdbean. Standard Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) method was also applied to all the samples for zinc and iron analysis and compared with inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). It was observed that there was no matrix interference affecting the determination of both elements interested in all the samples analyzed. Average concentration relative standard deviation and standard deviation were used for the statistical evaluation of the results for both elements. Correlation coefficient was used as statistical model to compare both the techniques.
RESUMEN
To characterize developmental and behavioral alterations induced by arsenic exposure, Albino rats were exposed to arsenic (0, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 mg/kg/day/po) from gestation day 8 to till parturition and the offspring were observed over the first 3 postnatal weeks, until they were weaned on post-natal day (PND) 21. Once the pups were delivered (PND0), the treatment was discontinued. All pups were assessed for physical development, reflex development, strength and motor coordination from standard neurobehavioural developmental test batteries beginning on PND1. Gestational administration of arsenic at tested dose levels, showed no significant changes in the day of appearance of eye opening, startle reflex, negative geotaxis and spontaneous alteration performance in comparison to the control group. The number of live fetuses, mean fetal body weight and percentages of resorptions or malformations per litter were not affected by arsenic exposure. No treatment-related malformations or developmental variations were noted at any exposure level, suggesting that arsenic exposure at this dose level did not adversely affect behavioural endpoints of developmental toxicity.
Asunto(s)
Arsénico/toxicidad , Conducta Animal/efectos de los fármacos , Exposición Materna , Sistema Nervioso/efectos de los fármacos , Sistema Nervioso/crecimiento & desarrollo , Efectos Tardíos de la Exposición Prenatal/patología , Pruebas de Toxicidad , Animales , Arsénico/administración & dosificación , Femenino , Fuerza de la Mano , Sistema Nervioso/fisiopatología , Embarazo , Ratas , Ratas Wistar , Reflejo/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
Nondestructive method of measuring curcuminoid content of turmeric powder was developed by fourier transform near infrared (FT-NIR) spectrometer. Also, the calibration models describing the relationship between curcuminoid content and the NIR spectra of the turmeric powder were developed and evaluated. To develop the model, NIR reflectance spectra were acquired for each turmeric powder sample. Spectra were pre-processed by applying different spectra correction algorithms. The relationship between spectrometric curcuminoid content and FT-NIR spectra of turmeric powder was examined through partial least square (PLS) regression method in the wave number range of 6102 to 4246 cm(-1). The root mean square error of cross-validation and test set validation were 0.104 and 0.201 whereas the determination coefficient (R(2)) for both the validations were 97.64 and 87.53, respectively. A low value of root mean square error and high value of R(2) indicates a high correlation between the concentration and spectral data. Thus the FT-NIR offers a viable alternative to spectroscopic procedures as well as the method is time and cost effective for determination of curcuminoid content of turmeric.
RESUMEN
The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the bronchodilator and bronchial hyperreactivity of the stem bark of Myrica sapida. Experimental models studied were histamine induced bronchospasm in guinea pigs, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in egg albumin sensitized guinea pigs, histamine release from the lung tissues of sensitized guinea pigs and histopathological studies. Ethanolic extract of M. sapida (75 mg/kg, p.o., for 7 days) showed significant protection against histamine aerosol induced bronchospasm. Significant decrease in the total and differential leukocyte counts in BALF and prevention of egg albumin induced histamine release from chopped lung tissues of sensitized guinea pigs was observed on chronic administration of ethanolic extract of M. sapida (75 mg/kg, p.o., for 15 days). Histological examination of the section of lung from sensitized guinea pigs treated with ethanolic extract of M. sapida (75 mg/kg, p.o., for 15 days) was comparable to that of the control group. These results suggest that M. sapida possesses not only bronchodilator activity but also decreases bronchial hyperresponsiveness by decreasing the infiltration of inflammatory mediators like eosinophils, neutrophils in BALF and inhibiting histamine release from lungs of sensitized guinea pigs.
Asunto(s)
Hiperreactividad Bronquial/tratamiento farmacológico , Broncoconstricción/efectos de los fármacos , Myrica/química , Administración por Inhalación , Aerosoles , Animales , Bronquios/patología , Hiperreactividad Bronquial/patología , Espasmo Bronquial/inducido químicamente , Espasmo Bronquial/tratamiento farmacológico , Espasmo Bronquial/patología , Líquido del Lavado Bronquioalveolar/citología , Recuento de Células , Diferenciación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Etanol , Femenino , Cobayas , Histamina , Liberación de Histamina/efectos de los fármacos , Masculino , Metanol , Extractos Vegetales/administración & dosificación , Extractos Vegetales/farmacología , Extractos Vegetales/uso terapéutico , SolventesRESUMEN
176 chromium-exposed and 30 control subjects were selected for this study. Blood samples (3 ml) were collected for the estimation of chromium. The data on chromium concentration indicated a significant higher level of chromium in the blood of the exposed workers as compared to the control. There was no significant correlation between the mean blood and environmental chromium level. This study suggests that exposure to chromium may have some effect on the health of workers, even though the dose response relationship could not be established between blood chromium and environmental chromium levels. This study suggests that exposure to chromium may have some effect on the health of workers, even though the dose response relationship could not be established between blood chromium and environmental chromium levels. Study also indicates that the environmental levels to Cr are well below the permissible levels at all the sites of the industry at the time of survey even though the blood Cr levels were observed high in 14.8% of workers and some of them were having Cr related morbidity. Therefore, preventive and engineering control measures are suggested to minimize the chromium exposure in the chromium based industry located in Gorwa industrial estate at Baroda, Gujarat. About three months period was taken to complete this study.
Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Ocupacionales del Aire/sangre , Cromo/sangre , Exposición Profesional/análisis , Contaminantes Ocupacionales del Aire/análisis , Contaminantes Ocupacionales del Aire/normas , Industria Química , Cromo/análisis , Cromo/normas , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Humanos , Exposición Profesional/prevención & control , Valores Limites del UmbralRESUMEN
The authors examined 100 carbon disulphide (CS2) exposed male workers who had been employed ten years prior to study were selected for the study. They were virtually obliged to participate in the study by the Medical Labor Inspector and all of them participated voluntary. The aim was to assess the effects of occupational exposure to carbon disulphide concentrations below the threshold limit value (31 mg/m3) on the reproductive functions with special emphasis on miscarriages. Specially, workers history records were build up on number of children, miscarriages and general weakness, mental fatigue etc. It was found that the incidences of number of miscarriages against number of living children correlated well with environmental concentration of CS2. Where the average CS2 levels were 1.695 ppm, the incidences of miscarriages was 5.71% (group 1). Where as in group 2 environmental concentrations were 12.28 ppm and the incidences of miscarriages were 18.91%. It was also found that in the spinning department the exposure exceeds many times the Threshold Limit Values (TL V).
Asunto(s)
Aborto Espontáneo/inducido químicamente , Aborto Espontáneo/epidemiología , Disulfuro de Carbono/toxicidad , Celulosa , Exposición Profesional/efectos adversos , Exposición Paterna/efectos adversos , Textiles , Disulfuro de Carbono/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente/estadística & datos numéricos , Monitoreo Epidemiológico , Humanos , India/epidemiología , Masculino , Exposición Profesional/normasRESUMEN
Directed neuronal, astroglial, and oligodendroglial cell migrations comprise a prominent feature of mammalian brain development. Because molecular motor proteins have been implicated in a wide spectrum of processes associated with cell motility, we initiated studies to define the pool of myosins in migrating cerebellar granule neurons and type-1 neocortical astrocytes. Our analyses identified two isoforms of a novel unconventional myosin, which we have cloned, sequenced, and designated myr 8a and 8b (eighth unconventional myosin from rat). Phylogenetic analysis indicates that myr 8 myosins comprise a new class of myosins, which we have designated class XVI. The head domain contains a large N-terminal extension composed of multiple ankyrin repeats, which are implicated in mediating an association with the protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) catalytic subunits 1alpha and 1gamma. The motor domain is followed by a single putative light-chain binding domain. The tail domain of myr 8a is comparatively short with a net positive charge, whereas the tail domain of myr 8b is extended, bears an overall neutral charge, and reveals several stretches of poly-proline residues. Neither the myr 8a nor the myr 8b sequence reveals alpha-helical coiled-coil motifs, suggesting that these myosins exist as monomers. Both immunoblot and Northern blot analyses indicate that myr 8b is the predominant isoform expressed in brain, principally at developmental time periods. The structural features and restricted expression patterns suggest that members of this novel class of unconventional myosins comprise a mechanism to target selectively the protein phosphatase 1 catalytic subunits 1alpha and/or 1gamma in developing brain.
Asunto(s)
Encéfalo/metabolismo , Miosinas/biosíntesis , Proteínas del Tejido Nervioso/biosíntesis , Fosfoproteínas Fosfatasas/metabolismo , Subunidades de Proteína , Animales , Animales Recién Nacidos , Astrocitos/citología , Astrocitos/metabolismo , Encéfalo/embriología , Dominio Catalítico/fisiología , Movimiento Celular/fisiología , Células Cultivadas , Cerebelo/metabolismo , Clonación Molecular , ADN Complementario/genética , ADN Complementario/aislamiento & purificación , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Miosinas/clasificación , Miosinas/genética , Proteínas del Tejido Nervioso/clasificación , Proteínas del Tejido Nervioso/genética , Neuronas/citología , Neuronas/metabolismo , Especificidad de Órganos , Filogenia , Isoformas de Proteínas/biosíntesis , Isoformas de Proteínas/genética , Proteína Fosfatasa 1 , Ratas , Análisis de Secuencia de ADN , Homología de Secuencia de AminoácidoRESUMEN
1. Adult male albino rats (CF Strain) were administered i.p. CS2 dissolved in cotton seed oil at doses of 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg b. wt. for a period of 60 days. Effect of CS2 on epididymis, adrenal weight, sperm count and sperm head shape abnormality was studied. 2. Epididymal weight remained unaltered in 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg CS2 treated groups, whereas in highest dose of CS2 treated (200 mg/kg) group a non-significant reduction in epididymis weight was observed. A slight increase in adrenal weight was observed in lower doses groups (25 and 50 mg/kg) while a considerable decrease in adrenal weight was noted in highest dose (200 mg/kg) of CS2 treated group in the present study. 3. An increase in sperm head shape abnormality and decrease in sperm count was observed in all the CS2 treated groups. However, the changes were statistically significant only after higher dose of CS2 treatment as compared to control. 4. This study suggests that CS2 may have the potential to induce adverse effects on male reproductive system of rats. Sperm head shape abnormality assay used in this study also elicits germ cell genotoxic potential of carbon disulphide.
Asunto(s)
Disulfuro de Carbono/toxicidad , Células Germinativas/efectos de los fármacos , Cabeza del Espermatozoide/efectos de los fármacos , Glándulas Suprarrenales/efectos de los fármacos , Glándulas Suprarrenales/patología , Animales , Relación Dosis-Respuesta a Droga , Epidídimo/efectos de los fármacos , Epidídimo/patología , Masculino , Pruebas de Mutagenicidad , Tamaño de los Órganos/efectos de los fármacos , Ratas , Ratas Endogámicas , Recuento de Espermatozoides/efectos de los fármacos , Cabeza del Espermatozoide/patologíaRESUMEN
Three groups of rats (n = 10) were subjected to intraperitoneal treatment of formaldehyde daily at doses of 5, 10 and 15 mg/kg body weight over a period of 30 days. Gradual diminution in body and testicular weight was observed in all treated groups. Leyding cell impairement was conspicuous in those given doses of 10 and 15 mg/kg. Inhibition of 3 beta-delta 5-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase and accumulation of sudanophillic materials in testicular tissue of formaldehyde treated rats was recorded histochemically. Significant decline of serum testosterone was also observed in the same groups. Structural and functional impairement of Leydig cells after formaldehyde treatment caused steroidogenic inhibition.
Asunto(s)
Formaldehído/farmacología , Testículo/efectos de los fármacos , Testosterona/biosíntesis , Animales , Peso Corporal/efectos de los fármacos , Formaldehído/administración & dosificación , Hidroxiesteroide Deshidrogenasas/antagonistas & inhibidores , Inyecciones Intraperitoneales , Células Intersticiales del Testículo/efectos de los fármacos , Masculino , Tamaño de los Órganos/efectos de los fármacos , Ratas , Espermatogénesis/efectos de los fármacos , Testículo/patología , Testosterona/sangreRESUMEN
Semen qualities were studied in workers with an average age of 30 years and occupationally exposed to lead in a printing press. Another sample with the same average age but not exposed to lead were taken as control subjects. The average lead content in blood and seminal plasma of the exposed group were 42.5 mcg/100 ml and 14.80 mcg/100 ml, respectively. Their sperm counts and percentage of motile sperm were significantly affected. Significantly higher percentages of abnormal spermatozoa were also observed in these semen samples. The levels of seminal acid phosphatase, succinic dehydrogenase, and fructose in them were also significantly found to be low compared with those from the unexposed subjects. Cytochemical study of sperm head DNA in the exposed groups showed a low surface reaction.
Asunto(s)
Técnicas de Laboratorio Clínico , Diagnóstico , Genitales Masculinos , Genitales , Compuestos Inorgánicos , Plomo , Metales , Fisiología , Semen , Vesículas Seminales , Recuento de Espermatozoides , Sistema Urogenital , Asia , Biología , Fenómenos Químicos , Química , Países en Desarrollo , IndiaRESUMEN
Experiments were performed to investigate the effect of calcium on percent motility of cauda epididymal spermatozoa in vitro. Epididymal luminal contents collected by micropuncture were immediately diluted with different concentrations of calcium chloride in KRB buffer. Percent motility was recorded at different time intervals at room temperature. Results revealed that there was an immediate effect of calcium on sperm motility. The maximum motility was attained only on addition of 10(-5)M calcium chloride in the buffer, whereas a higher or lower concentration than the above in the medium was inhibitory. Higher calcium levels maintained the sperm motility for a longer duration with a slow, time-dependent decrease than the lower concentrations where a faster depression in motility occurred. It is concluded that calcium at an appropriate level in the medium is essential for optimal sperm motility.