Desensitization of the adenylyl cyclase system in the rabbit corpus luteum

The corpus luteum in rabbits contains an adenylyl cyclase system that is responsive to both LH and catecholamines. Earlier studies have shown that exposure of corpora lutea to LH/hCG or catecholamines leads to desensitization of the adenylyl cyclase system, but the mechanism of desensitization by these hormones is unknown. Hormone receptors, G-proteins and the catalytic unit, are the primary components of the adenylyl cyclase system. In order to understand the mechanism of desensitization by LH and epinephrine, changes in luteal cyclase activity and components, after injection of either 100 IU hCG and or 2.5 mg/Kg epinephrine to pseudopregnant rabbits were studied. Adenylyl cyclase activity was determined in the presence or absence of oLH, ISO, NaF and forskolin. Both LH- and beta-adrenergic receptors were assayed by Scatchard analysis. Changes in G[subscript] s activity were assessed by the ability of cholate extracts of luteal membranes to reconstitute NaF- and ISO-stimulable adenylyl cyclase activity in S49 cyc-membranes. Changes in G[subscript] s and G[subscript] i-like protein were determined by utilizing the ability of cholera and pertussis toxins to specifically ADP-ribosylate these proteins. The results of these studies demonstrate that hormone-induced desensitization of rabbit luteal cyclase involves a loss in stimulable adenylyl cyclase activity, reduction in the number and or affinity of receptors, and G-protein alteration. hCG treatment results in homologous followed by heterologous desensitization, whereas epinephrine treatment results in heterologous desensitization. The present study demonstrates that hCG- and epinephrine-induced desensitization involves a complex series of interactions which results in altered receptor and G-protein function which in turn are responsible for the altered hormonal responsiveness observed after hormone treatment

Issues before the thirteenth finance commission.

The Thirteenth Finance Commission faces challenging times. Despite improvement, the fiscal situation continues to be a matter of concern when off budget liabilities and other fiscal risks are considered. In the changing situation of increasing oil prices on the one hand and surge in capital flows on the other, calibrating the transfer system in tune with counter-cyclical fiscal policy stance is a formidable challenge. The paper argues that irrespective of the wording of the Terms of Reference (ToR), the Commission would do well to focus on its primary task of recommending transfers to serve the objective of equity and incentives. While it is required to take into account a number of considerations, the focus should be on the transfer system. As an impartial body, the Commission should make a fair assessment of the union as well as state governments, ignoring the asymmetries in the wording of the ToR. As regards the transfer system itself is concerned, the paper argues that although it may be difficult to make drastic changes in the relative shares of the states, the Commission should give up the gap filling approach. Instead, after recommending the tax devolution, the Commission should recommend grants to fully equalise expenditures on elementary education and basic healthcare. It is also possible to incentivise the transfer system for even those states that have a better record of providing education and healthcare to improve quality of these services. If necessary, the tax devolution percentage can be appropriately adjusted to ensure equalisation of social services. The paper is a revised and edited version of one that was presented in the seminar on Issues before the Thirteenth Finance Commission held at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) on May 23-24, 2008.

Commodity Prices and Macroeconomic Variables in India: An Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Approach

This paper examines the relationship between commodities index prices and macroeconomic variables in India over the period of January 2001 to June 2012 using the time series techniques of ARDL model and ECM model. The ARDL test suggests that there is longrun cointegration between agriculture index price and macroeconomic variables, and also between energy index price and macroeconomic variables. But, there is no long-run cointegration between metal index price and macroeconomic variables. The results also indicate that IIP and Exchange rate have positive and significant effects on the agricultural index price. This implies that that IIP and Exchange rate are vital macroeconomic variables that influence the agricultural index price in the study period. Similarly, the aggregate demand (i.e. IIP) is the positive and significant effect on energy index price. This implies that that IIP is a vital macroeconomic variable that influences the energy index price in the study period. But, there is no such macroeconomic variable we found which have a significant effect on the metal index price

Chickenpox in Delhi In 2013

Seroprevalence studies in India have indicated that a significant proportion of the population remains susceptible to VZV infection well into adulthood. Further, a review of the hospital records shows that chickenpox cases are on the rise in Delhi. This article is an attempt to discuss about the recent rise in the number of cases of chickenpox in the city and the atypical presentation of the cases afflicted with the disease

Physician’s Preparedness for Tobacco Cessation Service in India

BackgroundA total of 275 million tobacco users live throughout India and are in need of tobacco cessation services. However, the preparation of physicians to deliver this service at primary care health facilities remains unknown.AimsThe study aimed to examine the primary care physicians’ preparedness to deliver tobacco cessation services in two Indian states.Method  Researchers surveyed physicians working in primary care public health facilities, primarily in rural areas using a semi-structured interview schedule. Physicians’ preparedness was defined in the study as those possessing knowledge of tobacco cessation methods and exhibiting a positive attitude towards the benefits of tobacco cessation counselling as well as being willing to be part of tobacco prevention or cessation program.ResultsOverall only 17% of physicians demonstrated adequate preparation to provide tobacco cessation services at primary care health facilities in both the States.  The findings revealed minimal tobacco cessation training during formal medical education (21.3%) and on-the-job training (18.9%). Factors, like sex and age of service provider, type of health facility, location of health facility and number of patients attended by the service provider, failed to show significance during bivariate and regression analysis. Preparedness was significantly predicted by state health system.ConclusionThe study highlights a lack of preparedness of primary care physicians to deliver tobacco cessation services. Both the curriculum in medical school and on-the-job training require an addition of a learning component on tobacco cessation. The addition of this component will enable existing primary care facilities to deliver tobacco cessation services

Quality control of marketed herbal products of Asparagus racemosus Willd. through high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis

Asparagus racemosus Willd. is a valuable medicinal plant which is used all over the world. There are several marketed products of A. racemosus. The high demand for this herb has increased the risk of adulteration in its commercial products. The adulterated herbal products might pose serious ill effects on health. Therefore, it is necessary to check the quality of marketed products in terms of the presence of their major bioactive compounds. The present study aimed to carry out the qualitative and quantitative analysis of Shatavarin IV in marketed products of A. racemosus through a validated high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) method. Ten marketed products were analysed and all of them had shown the presence of Shatavarin IV which was quantified. The identification and quantification were done by taking a standard Shatavarin IV as reference. The Shatavarin IV was detected at Rf 0.4±0.05 and showed maximum absorption at 425 nm. The Shatavarin IV was quantified using a 6-point calibration curve having a standard deviation of 3.89 % with an R2 value of 0.9968. The amount of Shatavarin IV varied between 1.47±0.25 to 2.69±0.51 mg/g on a dry weight basis which is a normal range in the raw plant materials. Thus, the present findings would be a simple, reliable and cost-effective method for the quality determination of herbal products of A. racemosus. The developed HPTLC chromatograms would serve as a reference for the quality assessment of commercial products of A. racemosus in future

Reforming India's Institutions of Public Expenditure Governance

The poor quality and effectiveness of much of government expenditure in India makes it important to analyze ways of improving effectiveness through institutional reform. Improvements in outcomes include better targeting of redistributive measures and more efficient spending on productive projects. Four potential areas of institutional reform are: (1) improved functioning of individual ministries and departments, at the central and state levels; (2) better coordination across individual ministries and between the center and states, through reform of the Planning Commission; (3) reassignment of expenditure responsibilities across levels of government (center to state and/or state to local); and (4) reassignment of tax authorities to provide improved incentives for expenditure governance through electoral accountability. The paper will discuss each of these four areas of potential institutional reforms, their likely impacts, and possibilities for implementing change