Maternal serum levels of pregnancy—associated murine-l (PAMP—l) during pregnancy in the rabbit

An ELISA was developed to measure for the first time serum levels of Pregnancy—Associated Murine Protein- 1 (PAMP—l) throughout pregnancy in the rabbit. In rodents serum levels of PAMP-l are regulated by growth hormone Unlike the pregnancy-assoeiated rise in serum levels in pregnant mice and rats, PAMP-l did not increase significantly during pregnancy in the rabbit

Comparison of stress induced in rats by four different anaesthetic regimens as recorded by urinary concentrations of corticosterone and testosterone

Glucocorticoid levels in body fluids are frequently used as indicators of stress. Corticosterone is the major glucocortieosteroid secreted in laboratory rodents. Urinary concentrations of eorticosterone were measured as indicators of stress induced in rats by four different anaesthetic regimens. Testostemne levels were also measured, as a potential stress parameter.Three of the four anaesthetic regimens used resulted in increased urine levels of eorticosterone. Elevated levels of testosterone were only observed in one of the treatments.In conclusion, eorticosterone may be a useful indicator of stress associated with anaesthetic regimens in rats. However testosterone does not seem to be as sensitive a parameter as eorticosterone but it may prove to be a useful supplement

Fatty acid composition of serum and tissue lipids in male Indian desert gerbils (Meriones hurrianae; Jerdon) and Wistar rats

Serum lipids and fatty acid composition of total lipids, phospholipids and cholesterol ester fractions of serum, liver, heart and testes of male Indian desert gerbils (Marianas hurrianae; Jerdon) were analysed and compared with Wistar rats.Triglycerides in serum and liver were similar in gerbils and rats, Significant differences in the distribution of polyunsaturated fatty acids in different lipid fractions were observed between gerbils and rats. Total lipids, phospholipids and cholesterol  ester fractions in rats contained higher levels of arachidonic acid than in gerbils

Multiple Antibiotic Resistance pattern of Vibrio harveyi from Luminous Vibriosis affected cultured Tiger Shrimp, Penaeus monodon in Andhra Pradesh, India

An investigation was undertaken to determine the extent of antibiotic resistance exhibited by Vibrio harveyi, isolated from diseased Penaeus monodon, collected from culture ponds located in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. A total of 159 isolates of Vibrio harveyi, of which 110 are from four Modified-Extensive ponds (ME1, ME2, ME3, ME4) and 49 are from four Semi-Intensive ponds (SIA, SIB, SIC, SID), were screened for their susceptibility to 22 antibiotics. All the isolates from ME and SI ponds were resistant to penicillin G and 100% susceptibility was observed in the case of all the isolates of ME ponds towards Ciprofloxacin and Norfloxacin. The isolates from ME ponds were more resistant than those from SI ponds and the isolates of ME 1 pond exhibited 100% resistance towards eight antibiotics, whereas those of SI ponds were 100% resistant to only one antibiotic. A significant difference was observed in the Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) of the isolates from ME ponds, whereas the difference was not significant in the case of isolates from SI ponds. MAR against 4 - 10 antibiotics was highest in the isolates from pond ME 4 (90.5%), followed by those from ME 3 (76.7%) and ME 2 (11.4%) and it was highest with 40 % in the isolates from SI D pond. The study revealed the occurrence of highly virulent strains of Vibrio harveyi in shrimp culture ponds, which developed resistance to many antibiotics due to indiscriminate usage of antibiotics

Influence of dietary fats on plasma cholesterol and body weight in Indian desert gerbils (Meriones hurrianae Jerdon)

Two groups of Indian deseit gerbils (Mertones hurrianae; Jordon) were fed diets containing different fats of plant origin for a period of 10 weeks. The control gerbils had 5 % peanut oil (PNO) whereas the experimental groups were fed with 5% Rice bran 011 (R30). After feeding for 10 weeks, the growth of the female gerbils fed RBO was significantly lower (p < 0.01) than that of RNO fed female gerbils. The growth difference between the male and female gerbils with respect to PNO was not however significant. There was no significant difference between the male and female groups with respect to liver weight. The RRO fed gerbils seemed to have low cholesterol level in the serum with significantly different levels between the males and females (1) < 0.01). T hus, the present studies suggest that Indian desert gerbils are sensitive to a cholesterol lowering effect ofvegetable oils and that these animals could be used as an experimental animal model instead of rats for evaluating the effect ofvarious dietary fats

Zinc status and its association with the health of adolescents: a review of studies in India

Background: Zinc is important in adolescence because of its role in growth and sexual maturation. Adolescents from developing countries such as India may be at high risk of zinc deficiency because of unwholesome food habits and poor bioavailability of zinc from plant-based diets. Objectives: (1) to study zinc status and its association with profile of other micronutrients, (2) to construct a simple tool in the form of Adolescent Micronutrient Quality Index (AMQI) to assess quality of diets of the girls and (3) to examine the effect of zinc supplement on health of adolescent girls. Methods: Girls (10–16 years) from two secondary schools of Pune, Maharashtra state, in Western India were enrolled in a cross-sectional study (n = 630). Data were collected on dietary intake, cognitive performance, taste acuity, haemoglobin, erythrocyte zinc and plasma levels of zinc, vitamin C, β-carotene and retinol. AMQI was developed using age–sex-specific Indian dietary guidelines and healthy foods and habits described in the recent US dietary guidelines. Zinc-rich recipes were developed considering habitual diets of the girls and vegetarian sources of zinc. An intervention trial (n = 180) was conducted to assess the effect of zinc-rich dietary supplements and ayurvedic zinc (Jasad) supplementation. Results: Prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies was high in these girls. Poor cognitive performance was seen in half of the girls, and salt taste perception was affected in 45%. AMQI was correlated with nutrient intakes and blood micronutrient levels (p < 0.01), indicating the potential of AMQI to measure micronutrient quality of diets of adolescent girls. Results of the intervention trial indicated that supplementation of zinc-rich recipes vis-a-vis ayurvedic Jasad zinc has the potential to improve plasma zinc status, cognitive performance and taste acuity in adolescent girls. Conclusion: Review of the studies on Indian adolescent girls demonstrates the necessity of adopting zinc and micronutrient-rich diets for positive health building in adolescents

A plan for cooperation and networking among engineering and technological libraries in India

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Method development and Validation of RP-HPLC method for the Determination of Olanzapine in Bulk and Tablet Dosage form

Objective: To develop and validate reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatographic method for estimation of olanzapine in bulk and tablet dosage form.Methods: Chromatographic analysis was performed on XTerra C18 (150×3.5 mm inner diameter, 5 μm) column using a mobile phase consisting of buffer (potassium dihydrogen phosphate) and methanol (45:55% v/v) with a flow rate of 0.6 ml/minutes. The detection was carried out at 247 nm.Results: The calibration curve of olanzapine was linear in the range of 30-70 μg/ml. The mean % assay of marketed formulation was found to be 100.2%, and % recovery was observed in the range of 98-102%. Relative standard deviation for the precision study was found <2%.Conclusion: The developed method is simple, precise and rapid, making it suitable for estimation of olanzapine in bulk and tablet dosage form.Â