22 research outputs found
Gamma decays of isobaric analog states relevant to neutrino detection
Measurements have been made of the gamma ray branching ratios for the decay of the lowest isobaric analog states of Ge71 and Kr81. These states could be populated by high-energy neutrinos in gallium- and bromine-based detectors. Although these states are unbound to particle decay, all channels with significant penetrabilities are isospin forbidden, so that gamma decay is a possibility. Our results indicate that these states decay mainly by neutron emission and therefore contribute very little to detection sensitivities for Ga71 and Br81
Combination of Ascorbate and a-Tocopherol as a Preventive Therapy against Structural and Functional Defects of Erythrocytes in Visceral Leishmaniasis
The redox unbalance in erythrocytes has been found to
contribute significantly in the development of anemia in
visceral leishmaniasis (VL). The present study revealed
enhanced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS)
and gradual depletion of a-tocopherol and ascorbate in
the erythrocytes of infected animals. The response of
erythrocytes to chronic treatment with antioxidants was
studied in hamsters during leishmanial infection. Treatment
with a combination of a-tocopherol and ascorbate
proved to be the most effective preventive for the
proteolytic degradation of erythrocyte membrane.
Erythrocytes from infected animals were thermally more
sensitive compared to the control ones. Combination of
both antioxidants was most successful in resisting heat
induced structural defects in the cells. Cross-linking of
membrane proteins subsequent to oxidative damage in
the red cells was accompanied by the formation of high
molecular weight protein band at the top of the resolving
gel in the presence of the cross-linking agent dimethyladepimidate
(DMA). Marked inhibition of cross-linking
was observed with combination of both antioxidants.
Treatment with a-tocopherol and ascorbate together could
withstand osmotic lysis of erythrocytes in the infected
animals very efficiently. Decreased hemoglobin (Hb) level
was successfully replenished and was coupled with
significant increase in the life span of red cells after
treating the animals with both antioxidants. Results
indicate better efficacy of the combination therapy with
a-tocopherol and ascorbate in protecting the erythrocytes
from structural and functional damages during leishmanial
infection