Hepatic and renal oxidative stress in acute toxicity of N-nitrosodiethylamine in rats

Nitrosoamines such as N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) produce oxidative stress due to generation of reactive oxygen species and may alter antioxidant defence system in the tissues. NDEA was administered ip as a single dose to rats in LD50 or in lower amounts and the animals were sacrificed after 0-48 hr of treatment. The results showed that lipid peroxidation in liver increased, however no significant increase in kidney LPO was observed after NDEA administration. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GSH-R) activity increased in liver, however, catalase (CAT) activity in liver was inhibited in NDEA treated rats. Kidney showed an increase in SOD activity after an initial decrease along with increase in GSH-R activity in NDEA treated rats. However, kidney CAT activity was not significantly altered in NDEA intoxicated rats. Serum transaminases, serum alkaline phosphatase blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine and scrum proteins were elevated in NDEA treated rats. The results indicate NDEA-induced oxidative stress and alteration in antioxidant enzymes in liver and kidney to neutralise oxidative stress.     

Design, synthesis and structure-activity relationships of 6-O-arylpropargyl diazalides with potent activity against multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae

A novel series of 6-O-arylpropargyl diazalides was synthesized and evaluated for their antibacterial activity. Members of this series exhibited potent activity against erythromycin-resistant respiratory tract pathogens.     

Molecular modeling,in silico screening and molecular dynamics of PfPRL-PTP of P. falciparum for identification of potential anti-malarials

Millions of deaths occur every year due to malaria. Growing resistance against existing drugs for treatment of malaria has exaggerated the problem further. There is an intense demand of identifying drug targets in malaria parasite. PfPRL-PTP protein is PRL group of phosphatase, and one of the interesting drug targets being involved in three important pathways of malaria parasite (secretion, phosphorylation, and prenylation). Therefore, in this study, we have modeled three-dimensional structure of PfPRL-PTP followed by validation of 3D structure using RAMPAGE, verify3D, and other structure validation tools. We could identify 12 potential inhibitory compounds using in silico screening of NCI library against PfPRL-PTP with Glide. The molecular dynamics simulation was also performed using GROMACS on PfPRL-PTP model alone and PfPRL-PTP-inhibitor complex. This study of identifying potential drug-like molecules would add up to the process of drug discovery against malaria parasite.     

Ethnic differences in general practitioner consultations.

OBJECTIVE--To examine the levels of general practitioner consultations among the different ethnic groups resident in Britain. DESIGN--The study was based on the British general household surveys of 1983-5 and included 63,966 people aged 0-64. Odds ratios were derived for consultation by ethnic group by using logistic regression analysis adjusting for age and socioeconomic group. SETTING--The results relate to people living in private households in England, Scotland, and Wales. RESULTS--After adjustment for age and socioeconomic class, consultation among adults aged 16-64 was highest among people of Pakistani origin with odds ratios of 2.82 (95% confidence interval 1.86 to 4.28) for men and 1.85 (1.22 to 2.81) for women. Significantly higher consultations were also seen for men of West Indian and Indian origin (odds ratios 1.65 and 1.53 respectively). Ethnic differences were greatest at ages 45-64, when consultation rates in people of Pakistani, Indian, and West Indian origin were much higher in both sexes compared with white people. CONCLUSIONS--The ethnic composition of inner cities is likely to influence the workload and case mix of general practitioners working in these areas.     

Influence of pH on butyrate uptake and solvent fermentation by a mutant strain of Clostridiumacetobutylicum

The effect of pH (between 4.4 and 6.6) on butyrate uptake by the mutant strain of Clostridium acetobutylicum was studied using the fermentation broth from fermentor-2 (solventogenic stage) of a two-fermentor continuous system. Low pH (?1 butyrate, under batch incubation at 30?°C, was not inhibited at pH?>?5.2, however, at pH??1. Batch incubation at relatively higher temperatures (35° and 37?°C) indicated a similar trend i.e., a pH of >5.5 was required for uptake of >8?g l^?1 butyrate. Optimization studies for butyrate uptake by C. acetobutylicum suggested a direct correlation between minimum pH and butyrate concentration or temperature. The role of undissociated butyric acid appears to be critical in regulation of butyrate uptake.     

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-thieno[3,2-c]pyridine quinolones

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of a number of substituted 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-thieno[3,2-c]pyridine quinolones is reported. The antibacterial activities were evaluated in standard in vitro MIC assay method. Some of the compounds showed in vitro (MIC) antibacterial activity comparable to those of Gatifloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, and Sparfloxacin.     

An ab initio and DFT study of structure and vibrational spectra of γ form of Oleic acid: Comparison to experimental data

Oleic acid (cis-9-octadecenoic acid) is the most abundant cis-unsaturated fatty acid in nature; it is distributed in almost all organisms. In this work, we present a detailed vibrational spectroscopy investigation of Oleic acid by using infrared and Raman spectroscopies. These data are supported by quantum mechanical calculations, which allow us to characterize completely the vibrational spectra of this compound. The equilibrium geometry, harmonic vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities and activities of Raman scattering were calculated by ab initio Hartree-Fock (HF) and density functional theory (DFT) employing B3LYP with complete relaxation in the potential energy surface using 6-311G(d, p) basis set. After a proper scaling the calculated wavenumbers show a very good agreement with the observed values. A complete vibrational assignment is provided for the observed Raman and infrared spectra of Oleic acid. In this work, we also investigate the deviation of vibrational wavenumbers computed with two quantum chemical methods (HF and B3LYP).     

Acceptability of Home-Assessment Post Medical Abortion and Medical Abortion in a Low-Resource Setting in Rajasthan,India. Secondary Outcome Analysis of a Non-Inferiority Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Studies evaluating acceptability of simplified follow-up after medical abortion have focused on high-resource or urban settings where telephones, road connections, and modes of transport are available and where women have formal education.

Objective

To investigate women’s acceptability of home-assessment of abortion and whether acceptability of medical abortion differs by in-clinic or home-assessment of abortion outcome in a low-resource setting in India.

Design

Secondary outcome of a randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial.

Setting

Outpatient primary health care clinics in rural and urban Rajasthan, India.

Population

Women were eligible if they sought abortion with a gestation up to 9 weeks, lived within defined study area and agreed to follow-up. Women were ineligible if they had known contraindications to medical abortion, haemoglobin < 85mg/l and were below 18 years.

Methods

Abortion outcome assessment through routine clinic follow-up by a doctor was compared with home-assessment using a low-sensitivity pregnancy test and a pictorial instruction sheet. A computerized random number generator generated the randomisation sequence (1:1) in blocks of six. Research assistants randomly allocated eligible women who opted for medical abortion (mifepristone and misoprostol), using opaque sealed envelopes. Blinding during outcome assessment was not possible.

Main Outcome Measures

Women’s acceptability of home-assessment was measured as future preference of follow-up. Overall satisfaction, expectations, and comparison with previous abortion experiences were compared between study groups.

Results

731 women were randomized to the clinic follow-up group (n = 353) or home-assessment group (n = 378). 623 (85%) women were successfully followed up, of those 597 (96%) were satisfied and 592 (95%) found the abortion better or as expected, with no difference between study groups. The majority, 355 (57%) women, preferred home-assessment in the event of a future abortion. Significantly more women, 284 (82%), in the home-assessment group preferred home-assessment in the future, as compared with 188 (70%) of women in the clinic follow-up group, who preferred clinic follow-up in the future (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Home-assessment is highly acceptable among women in low-resource, and rural, settings. The choice to follow-up an early medical abortion according to women’s preference should be offered to foster women’s reproductive autonomy.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01827995