Portal hypertension changes following selective splenorenal shunt surgery. Evaluation by percutaneous transhepatic portal catheterization, venography, and cinefluorography

A series of ergot alkaloids, together with the DA agonists apomorphine and piribedil, were tested for protective effects against audiogenic seizures in an inbred strain of mice (DBA/2) and for induction of circling behaviour in mice with unilateral destruction of one nigrostriatal DA pathway. The order of potency against audiogenic seizures was apomorphine greater than ergocornine greater than bromocryptine greater than ergometrine greater than LSD greater than methysergide greater than piribedil while that observed in the rotating mouse model was apomorphine greater than ergometrine greater than ergocornine greater than bromocryptine greater than piribedil. LSD caused only weak circling behaviour even when administered in high doses (greater than 1 mg/kg). Methysergide was ineffective. Prior administration of the neuroleptic agent haloperidol blocked the effect of DA agonists and of ergot alkaloids in both animal models. The possible action of ergot alkaloids as DA agonists is discussed.     

Indicine-N-oxide: the antitumor principle of Heliotropium indicum

Extracts of Heliotropium indicum Linn. (Boraginaceae) showed significant activity in several experimental tumor systems. The active principle is isolated and shown to be the N-oxide of the alkaloid, indicine, previously isolated from this plant. Supporting structural data and anti-tumor data are provided.     

Optimization of prestressed concrete solid and voided slabs

A methodology is presented for the minimum cost optimization of prestressed concrete solid and voided slabs. Apart from the rationale imparted to the design process, the method is shown to yield considerable savings in prestressing steel and therefore savings in energy. Computer programs developed for the implementation of the methodology have facilitated the speedy running of the procedure a myriad of times over a wide range of design parameters such as span, live load, material and erection cost ratios, concrete and strand strengths, prestress effectiveness etc. Qualitative and quantitative conclusions regarding the behavioural characteristics of the parameters and the manner of their interplay in the optimal picture are advanced.     

Starch urea formaldehyde matrix encapsulation of solid agrochemicals. II. Release mechanism and release modeling

Based on experimental observation, a mechanism is proposed to describe the release of carbofuran from a starch-UF matrix. A simple mathematical model is developed to describe the diffusion-controlled release of a solid insecticide from a porous starch-UF matrix undergoing both volume and surface erosions. The model is tested with the release data collected for different matrices and with different pH values of the environmental liquid. The comparison between the model predictions and data is found to be reasonably good. The model describes the release process at different pH values by accounting for the influence of pH on the erosion rates.     

In search of novel water soluble forskolin analogues for positive inotropic activity

Using the novel lead from hydroxy acetyl substituted forskolin analogues, such as 7 beta-hydroxyacetyl-7 beta-deacetyl forskolin or 6 beta-hydroxyacetyl forskolin, a number of water soluble omega-amino acyl derivatives were synthesized. Two such compounds 6 and 18 showed better in vitro activity but failed to show in vivo activity.