Serum Zinc, Copper, Magnesium & Phosphorus Level in Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).

Malnutrition is widely prevalent among hospitalized children in most developing countries including Bangladesh. Though malnutrition accounts for the high rate of under 5 mortality sometimes it is overlooked. Keeping in this in mind A comparative cross sectional study was done in Mymensingh Medical College Hospital from 1st October 2009 to 31st May 2011. Children aged 1-5 years with presence of one or more criteria WHM <70%, WHZ-score <-3SD, Bipedal edema & Mid upper arm circumference <110mm were taken as study group and children aged 1-5 years with normal growth allowable normal range of variation is between 3rd and 97th centile curve or median (50th centile) ±2SD of weight for age growth chart (CDC growth chart, USA, 2000) were taken as reference group. Persistent diarrhea, Patients taking medications containing zinc, copper, magnesium, phosphorus & calcium, PEM with shock were excluded from study group. Nutritional assessment was done according to WHO criteria of SAM. Serum Zinc, Copper Magnesium and Phosphorus level were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry using UNICAM - AA Spectrometer, model no. 969, Spain. Total 120 study populations were taken. Ninety Out of 120 were taken as a study group (SAM) & 30 were reference group. In reference group serum Zn, Cu, Mg, P value was 103.80±8.86µg/dl, 135.92±13.57µg/dl, 2.31±0.18mg/dl, 3.96±0.22mg/dl respectively. In study group serum Zn, Cu, Mg, P value was 60.33±11.08µg/dl, 80.60±15.46µg/dl, 1.47±0.22mg/dl, 2.00±0.52mg/dl respectively. All these results show that there is significant difference between study group & reference group. Considering the decreased level of these parameters, close biochemical monitoring and follow up should be emphasized for the children with SAM.

Synthesis and bronchodilatory activity of four new derivatives of deoxyvasicine.

As part of a continuing effort aimed at the development of efficacious antihistaminic and bronchodilator agents for the treatment of asthma and related respiratory diseases, a series of novel trisubstituted deoxyvasicine derivatives was designed and synthesized. Bronchodilatory activity of pure samples of ligands 17a-d, and DL-8-chlorovasicine hydrochloride is investigated and compared with isoprenaline and aminophylline. These studies confirm the activity of ligands 17a-d and the potentiating effect of 17c on aminophylline.

Clausenol and clausenine--two carbazole alkaloids from Clausena anisata.

Two new carbazole alkaloids, designated as clausenol and clausenine, were isolated from an alcoholic extract of the stem bark of Clausena anisata. Their structures were established as 1-hydroxy-6-methoxy-3-methylcarbazole and 1,6-dimethoxy-3-methyl carbazole, respectively, from physical and chemical evidence and synthesis. Clausenol was found to be active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi.

Effect of zinc administration on cadmium-induced suppression of natural killer cell activity in mice.

Natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in immune surveillance against viral infections and neoplasms. The effect of cadmium with or without zinc on mouse spleen NK cell activity was studied. Six-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were given drinking water containing either 50 ppm cadmium, 50 ppm cadmium together with 500 ppm zinc, or 500 ppm zinc. A fourth group receiving no additional cadmium or zinc served as control. After 3 weeks of treatment, the mice were killed, splenic lymphocytes isolated and cultured with 51Cr-labelled YAC-1 target cells for 4 and 12 h in a ratio of 50:1. The percentage of target cell lysis was measured to assess NK cell activity. In the 12-h assay, cadmium-treated animals had significantly lower NK cell activity than controls. Concurrent zinc administration prevented the suppression. In the 4-h assay, a similar trend was observed. Between 4 and 12 h, NK cell activity increased significantly in control and zinc-treated groups, but not in those receiving cadmium. The results suggest that a relatively low dose of cadmium suppresses NK cell activity, which can be prevented by a moderately large dose of zinc.

Antiviral activity of (+)-odorinol1.

A phytochemical investigation of AGLAIA ROXBURGHIANA var. Beddomei (Meliaceae) resulted in the isolation of the active principle and its characterisation as (+)-odorinol exhibiting strong antiviral activity against Ranikhet disease virus (RVD) in chick embryo.

Biological and health implications of toxic heavy metal and essential trace element interactions.

Human civilization and a concomitant increase in industrial activity has gradually redistributed many toxic metals from the earth's crust to the environment and increased the possibility of human exposure. Among the various toxic elements, heavy metals cadmium, lead, and mercury are specially prevalent in nature due to their high industrial use. These metals serve no biological function and their presence in tissues reflects contact of the organism with its environment. They are cumulative poison, and are toxic even at low dose. Studies of metabolism and toxicity of these elements have revealed important interactions between them and some essential dietary elements like calcium, zinc, iron, selenium, copper, chromium, and manganese. In general, a deficiency of these essential elements increases toxicity of heavy metals, whereas an excess appears to be protective. While most of the observations are on laboratory animals, limited human data are in agreement with the results of animal experiments. These suggest that the dietary presence of the essential elements may contribute to the protection of man and animal from the effects of heavy metal exposure, while their deficiency may increase toxicity. Appropriate dietary manipulation thus may be valuable in the prevention and treatment of heavy metal toxicity.

Preliminary phytochemical, pharmacological and antibacterial studies of the alkaloidal extracts of the leaves of Synclisia scabrida Miers.

Preliminary phytochemical investigation of the leaves of Synclisia scabrida indicated the presence of two alkaloids in the water extracts and five alkaloids in the ethanol extracts. The alkaloidal fraction obtained from the cold ethanol extract furnished on column-chromatography, a homogeneous amorphous solid which has been designated as alkaloid C. Alkaloid C showed positive test for alkaloids. The UV and IR spectra and colour reactions of alkaloid C indicated that the compound may be a phenolic bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid. All the extracts delayed the onset and shortened the duration of apomorphine-induced stereotyped behaviour in chicks. In addition, 40 mg kg-1 i.p. of the ethanolic extract induced catalepsy in rats. The cold water extract (CWE) synchronized the EEG of the hyperstriatum, optic tectum and the reticular formation while the EMG activity was slightly enhanced. The hot ethanol alkaloidal extract (HEE) inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The minimum inhibitory concentration of HEE on Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains I and II were 5 and 2.5 micrograms/ml while for Staphylococcus aureus strains I and II were 5 and 10 micrograms/ml, respectively. Up to 1 g kg-1 i.p. of the extract failed to induce any lethal effect in chicks and rats. These effects of the leaf extracts of Synclisia scabrida Miers support some of the local uses of the plant by traditional medical practitioners.