Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy in Type II Diabetes Mellitus Patients and its Association with the Age of the Patient, Duration of Disease and Glycemic Control.

Objectives: Evaluation of association between age, duration of disease and glycemic control in type II diabetics with the incidence of cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN). Methods: Study includes 50 Type II diabetic patients of 40-60 years age of both the genders with different duration of disease. CAN was evaluated in terms of presence of resting tachycardia, loss of sinus arrhythmia and heart rate response to Valsalva maneuver by electrocardiogram (ECG). An R-R variation with respiration of >15 beats per minute was taken normal, while 10-15 beats and <10 beats per minute were taken as borderline and definitive CAN respectively. Valsalva ratio is 1.2 or more taken as normal; Values of 1 to 1.2 & values less or equal to 1 were taken as borderline and definitive CAN respectively. If any two of them found positive, then presence of CAN was confirmed. Correlation between age, duration of disease and glycemic control with incidence of CAN was assessed. Results: The incidence of CAN in diabetics based on above tests is 16%. There is a significant negative correlation between duration of disease and Glycated hemoglobin with deep breathing difference. (r = ­ 0.423**, p=0.002) (r = ­0.207*, p = 0.04). Conclusion: Poorer the glycemic control and longer the duration of the disease higher the incidence of CAN in type II diabetics.

Host-guest interaction of L-tyrosine with beta-cyclodextrin.

The inclusion complexes of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) with L-tyrosine (L-TYN) were investigated by using spectrophotometers. The absorption and fluorescence enhancement occurs with beta-CD and L-TYN forms 1:1 inclusion complex. The unusual blue shift of hydroxyl ion in the beta-CD medium confirms OH groups present in the interior part of the beta-CD cavity and -COOH group present in the upper part of the beta-CD cavity. A mechanism is proposed to explain inclusion process. The inclusion interaction was examined and the thermodynamic parameters of inclusion process DeltaG, DeltaH and DeltaS were determined. The results indicated that the inclusion process was an exergonic and spontaneous process. Stable solid inclusion complexes were established and characterized by FT-IR, scanning electron microscope (SEM) methods.

Female sex pheromone suppression and the fate of sex-peptide-like peptides in mated moths of Helicoverpa armigera.

Insect males produce accessory gland (MAG) factors that are transferred in the seminal fluid to females during copulation, and elicit changes in the mated female's behavior and physiology. Our previous studies showed that the injection of synthetic Drosophila melanogaster sex-peptide (DrmSP) into virgin females of the moth Helicoverpa armigera causes a significant inhibition of pheromone production. In this and other moth species, pheromone production, correlated with female receptivity, is under neuroendocrine control due to the circadian release of the neuropeptide PBAN. In this study, we show that PBAN, present in the hemolymph during the scotophase in females, is drastically reduced after mating. We also identify 4 DrmSP-like HPLC peaks (Peaks A, S1, S2, and B) in MAGs, with increasing levels of DrmSP immunoreactivity during the scotophase, when compared to their levels observed during the photophase. In H. armigera MAGs, a significant reduction in the pheromonostatic peak (Peak B) was already evident after 15 min of copulation, and depletion of an additional peak (Peak S2) was evident after complete mating. Peak A is also detected in female brains, increasing significantly 1 h after mating, at which time inhibition of pheromone biosynthesis also occurs. However, changes corresponding to the other MAG peaks were not detected in mated female tissues.

Contribution of kautilya arthasashtra towards dravyaguna, rasasastra and bhaishajyakalpana branches of ayurvedic medicine.

It is believed Kautilya, whose name was Vishnugupta and is popular as Chanakya (The son of Chanaka) wrote Arthasastra. This article is mainly based on Kautilya's Arthasastra, translated by R. Shamasastry. In the preface of 1(st) to 5(th) edition of this text, the translator Dr. R. Shamasastry tried to clarify the uncertainty regarding the name of the author and the time of the text. Kamandaka and Dandi quotation support the time of this treatise somewhere between 321 and 300 B.C. These quotations also support the authorship of Vishnugupta. According to Kadambari, the author of Arthasastra was Kautilya and according to Manu and Dharmasastras, Chanakya had written this Arthasastra. Though there are some controversies regarding the name of the author and time of this text, translator R. Shamasastry tried his level best in providing proper support for naming this text as Kautilya'sArthasastra as the original available manuscript contains the name of Kautilya at the end of each of the hundred and fifty chapters of the work. Still there is controversy regarding the exact time of this text. If views of many scholars is considered, time of the text can be placed between 3(rd) century B.C. to 3(rd) century A.D. This translated original text contains 15 books (Basic discussions of the text), 150 chapters, 180 sections and 6000 Slokas (Thirty two syllables are considered as one Sloka).

Inhibition of pheromone biosynthesis in Helicoverpa armigera by pheromonostatic peptides.

Male insect accessory glands contain factors that are transferred during mating to the female, some inducing post-mating behavior, including the cessation of pheromone production, non-receptivity and the initiation of oviposition. One such factor is the Drosophila melanogaster sex-peptide (DrmSP). A pheromone suppression peptide, termed HezPSP, was identified in the moth Helicoverpa zea, isolated by HPLC and the active peak sequenced, but the activity of the synthesized peptide has not been reported to date. HezPSP bears no sequence homology to DrmSP. However, both peptides contain a disulfide bridge separated by an equal number, but dissimilar, amino acids. We herein report on the pheromonostatic activity of HezPSP partial peptides in the moth Helicoverpa armigera.