Effect of 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin on the healing of intestinal anastomosis.

OBJECTIVE: Antineoplastic agents affect the healing of intestinal anastomosis. The aim was to evaluate the effect of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin on the healing of the intestinal anastomosis and their schedule of administration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty-nine male albino Charles Foster rats with a mean weight of 256.57 g were divided into six groups. Group A represents the control, while in others varying schedules of chemotherapy (5-FU and mitomycin) were administered. The sacrifices were made on days 7, 14 and 21 postoperatively and bursting pressure and hydroxyproline content were measured. RESULTS: Nine rats died before completion of the experiment and were excluded. Adhesions were noted in all rats on sacrifice. The mean bursting pressure of normal intestine (group A) was 252 mm Hg. The bursting pressure was lower on day 7 (208 mm Hg) and it subsequently increased by day 21 (230 mm Hg). The mean bursting pressure in groups B, C, D and E was 174, 194, 182 and 188 mm Hg and it subsequently increased to 232, 272, 244 and 286 mm Hg. There was no difference in the pattern of bursting pressure in colon and ileum. The mean hydroxyproline content of ileum (group A) on day 7 was 34.37 mg/g tissue. The hydroxyproline content of the ileum in groups B, C, D and E was 15.08, 27.03, 7.75 and 21.04 mg/g tissue. There was a significant decrease in hydroxyproline content following anastomosis and chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of chemotherapy was pronounced when administered on the day of surgery or in the immediate pre- or postoperative period. Hence administration of chemotherapy during this period may be harmful.

Hypolipidemic activity of aqueous extract of Withania coagulans Dunal in albino rats.

Administration of an aqueous extract of fruits of Withania coagulans (1 g/kg; p.o.) to high fat diet induced hyperlipidemic rats for 7 weeks, significantly reduced elevated serum cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoprotein levels. This drug also showed hypolipidemic activity in triton induced hypercholesterolemia. The histopathological examination of liver tissues of treated hyperlipidemic rats showed comparatively lesser degenerative changes compared with hyperlipidemic controls. The hypolipidemic effect of W. coagulans fruits was found to be comparable to that of an Ayurvedic product containing Commiphora mukkul.

Hypoglycemic activity of Withania coagulans Dunal in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

Administration of aqueous extract of fruits of Withania coagulans Dunal significantly lowered the blood sugar, serum cholesterol, serum LPO, and hepatic LPO levels at the highest concentration of 1g/kg; p.o. in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. In normal rats as well the blood sugar levels were significantly decreased following treatment with the above drug. Withania coagulans also exhibited free radical scavenging activity in an in vitro system using DPPH.

Healing process in the ureter: an experimental study in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: This study set out to describe the basic milestones in the pattern of healing in the ureter in order to understand why problems in healing arise when the ureter is severed, usually through anastomotic leakage or stricture formation. METHOD: Transection and anastomosis of the ureter were performed on dogs. The anastomotic segment was removed at days 6, 14, 21 and 42. Mucopolysaccharide levels, collagen content and breaking strength were measured on these samples and on anatomically similar segments from normal dogs. A minimum of five observations were carried out at each time point. The mean values of the estimations in various groups were compared. Differences were considered significant at p < or = 0.05. RESULTS: Mucopolysaccharide levels peaked at day 6 and then fell gradually to near normal (p > 0.05) by day 42. The collagen content rose to a maximum at day 14 and then fell to near normal levels (p > 0.05) by day 21. Breaking strength rose gradually to peak by day 21 and then fell to reach day 6 level (> 0.05) at day 42. At no time point did it reach anywhere near normal value. Full healing in the ureter takes at least six weeks. CONCLUSION: The healing process in the injured ureter is different to that in other tissues. It is probable that clues to anastomotic healing problems of the ureter lie in the paradoxical pattern of collagen formation.

Hepatoprotective activity of Annona muricata Linn. and Polyalthia cerasoides bedd.

The hepatoprotective effect of Annona muricata and Polyalthia cerasoides (Annonaceae) were monitored by estimating the serum transaminases (SGOT and SGPT), serum alkaline phosphatase (SALP), liver and brain lipid peroxidation (LOP) and their total protein content. Both drugs at a dose of 100 µg/kg significantly prevented the increase in serum transaminases, SALP, liver and brain LOP and decrease in liver and brain total protein content following carbontetrachloride (CCl) induced hepatoxicity in albino rats.

Pharmacological evaluation of some bioactive plant products on albino rats.

The study comprises the pharmacological trials with essential oils of Caesulia axillaris, Ocimum gratissimum and Mentha arvensis which have shown strong antifungal property. The biochemical analysis of blood and serum of albino rats fed with the oil treated diet for sixty days exhibited nonanimal toxic nature of the oils. The study reveals the possibility of further exploitation of the oils as safe antifungal agents of plant origin.

Antihyperglycemic activity of phenolics from Pterocarpus marsupium.

Glucose levels in rats with hyperglycemia induced by streptozotocin were determined after i.p. administration of marsupsin (1), pterosupin (2), and pterostilbene (3), three important phenolic constituents of the heartwood of Pterocarpus marsupium. Marsupsin and pterostilbene significantly lowered the blood glucose level of hyperglycemic rats, and the effect was comparable to that of 1,1-dimethylbiguanide (metformin).

Hypoglycaemic property of shilajeet and yashada bhasma.

Hypoglycaemic activity of shilajeet and Yashada Bhasma was determined in normoglycaemic and alloxanized rats. Significant activity was observed in the treated groups. However, the activity was found to be comparatively milder in shilajatu treated rats compared to Yashada bhasma treated rats.

Fungitoxicity of essential oils against dermatophytes.

Sixteen essential oils were screened in vitro for their fungitoxicity against the two dermatophytes Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum gypseum. Five oils (from Artemisia nelagrica, Caesulia axillaris, Chenopodium ambrosioides, Cymbopogon citratus and Mentha arvensis) showed strong activity and were assessed for their fungitoxicity against eight other dermatophytes as well as against Aspergillus fumigatus and Cladosporium trichoides. These five essential oils by formulation of ointments were able to cure experimental ringworm in guinea pigs within 7 to 12 days. Artemisia oil was found to be the most effective essential oil.

Alterations in plasma sodium and potassium levels following chronic oral ingestion of lead, mercury and cadmium in male albino rats.

Adult male albino rats were orally administered 0, 25, 50 and 100 ppm of lead nitrate, mercuric chloride and cadmium chloride for 60, 120 and 180 days. The plasma sodium levels were decreased in rats exposed to varying doses of lead and mercury up to 180 days, while animals which consumed cadmium chloride showed an increase in sodium levels. In lead and mercury treated animals, plasma potassium levels were increased up to 180 days. The levels were decreased in cadmium exposed rats. These observations suggest that chronic exposure to these heavy metals considerably influences plasma sodium and potassium levels depending on the dose and duration of exposure.

Clinical variables and platelet mao in schizophrenia.

Platelet MAO activity was estimated in 60 male drug free schizophrenics and 26 controls matched for age. The paranoid group had significantly lower enzyme activity than the non-paranoid group and controls. Patients with premorbid schizoid personality had significantly lower enzyme activity than patients with non-schizoid premorbid personality and controls. A significant negative correlation between platelet MAO activity and severity and duration of illness was observed. Family history of schizophrenia, presence of auditory hallucinations and type and age of onset of illness were not related to platelet MAO activity.

Platelet mao activity in subgroups of schizophrenia.

Platelet MAO activity was estimated in 60 male drug free schizophrenics, 36 male drug free manics and 30 male normal healthy controls by Radio Isotopic Technique using (14)C Tryptamine Bisuccinate as substrate. There was no significant difference between the enzyme activity in the schizophrenic, manic and control groups. Platelet MAO activity in the disorganized catatonic and paranoid schizophrenics was significantly lower as compared to the enzyme activity in the manic and healthy control group. Platelet MAO activity appears to be related to subgroups of schizophrenia disorganized, catatonic and paranoid. Limitations and scope for future research have been outlined.

Blood bioamines, cortisol and aminoacid levels in leukemic patients.

In patients of chronic myeloid leukemia blood adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine and glutamate level were significantly elevated. The GABA levels were decreased along with no significant alterations in aspartate levels in these patients. In cases of acute myeloid leukemia only adrenaline and glutamate levels were enhanced with decreased GABA levels. However, plasma cortisol levels were significantly enhanced in both chronic and acute myeloid leukemia patients. These observations suggest that the circulating bioamines, cortisol and certain aminoacids level are considerably altered in chronic and acute myeloid leukemia. All these changes may possibly be attributed to the stress induced by the disease.

Role of histamine in traumatic brain edema. An experimental study in the rat.

The possibility that histamine plays a role in the formation of traumatic brain edema was investigated in the rat. A 3 mm deep and 3 mm long stab injury was performed in the right parietal cortex under urethane anaesthesia. The brain water content and histamine levels in plasma and brain were measured at the end of 1, 2 and 5 h periods after trauma. There was a 3.46% increase in brain water content in the traumatized hemisphere from the value in the control group at 5 h. The histamine content was increased by 107% in plasma and 51% in the traumatized brain hemisphere from the control value at this time period. The increased brain water content as well as the elevated plasma and brain histamine levels were prevented by prior treatment with the histamine H2-receptor antagonist cimetidine. Mepyramine (a histamine H1-receptor antagonist) failed to reduce the increased brain water content and the histamine levels in plasma and brain remained high. The results strongly indicate that histamine has a role in the formation of early traumatic brain edema and that this reaction can be influenced by pharmacological procedures.

Adrenocortical dysfunction in depression: response to dexamethasone suppression test - a comparative study.

Thirty patients of Major Depressive Disorder, Schizophrenia and normal healthy controls each, received an overnight dexamethasone suppression test. Plasma and urinary Cortisol measurements showed that depressed patients had increased adrenocortical activity before dexamethasone and they showed an abnormal early escape from suppression which had a relationship with severity of depression. An attempt has been made to differentiate depressives from schizophrenics by abnormally high Cortisol values. Post-dexamethasone urinary Cortisol as well as combined urinary Cortisol and plasma Cortisol abnormal values gave the best pointers of differentiation. A nonsignificant trend of higher values was observed in bipolar and retarded depressives. Schizophrenics did not differ from normals at any stage.