Biochemical studies on combined effects of garlic (Allium sativum Linn) and ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc) in albino rats

Adult male rats of wistar strain were fed diets containing (w/w) 2% garlic (group II), 0.5% ginger (group III) and a combination of garlic plus ginger (group IV) for 4 weeks to study their effects on serum biochemical parameters. A significant increase in body weight was observed in all groups except that fed ginger (group III). A significant decrease in blood glucose, serum total cholesterol and serum alkaline phosphatase were found in all groups, whereas serum triglycerides were decreased significantly only in group IV. Serum HDL-cholesterol was significantly increased only in groups III and IV. However, HDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol and atherogenic index were significantly decreased in animals fed with combination of the two, compared to garlic/ginger alone. Hence, a combination of garlic and ginger is much more effective in reducing blood glucose and serum lipids.     

The expression of voltage-dependent calcium channel beta subunits in human cerebellum

The beta subunits of voltage-dependent calcium channels, exert marked regulatory effects on the biophysical and pharmacological properties of this diverse group of ion channels. However, little is known about the comparative neuronal expression of the four classes of beta genes in the CNS. In the current investigation we have closely mapped the distribution of beta1, beta2, beta3 and beta4 subunits in the human cerebellum by both in situ messenger RNA hybridization and protein immunohistochemistry. To our knowledge, these studies represent the first experiments in any species in which the detailed localization of each beta protein has been comparatively mapped in a neuroanatomically-based investigation. The data indicate that all four classes of beta subunits are found in the cerebellum and suggest that in certain neuronal populations they may each be expressed within the same cell. Novel immunohistochemical results further exemplify that the beta voltage-dependent calcium channel subunits are regionally distributed in a highly specific manner and studies of Purkinje cells indicate that this may occur at the subcellular level. Preliminary indication of the subunit composition of certain native voltage-dependent calcium channels is suggested by the observation that the distribution of the beta3 subunit in the cerebellar cortex is identical to that of alpha(1E). Our cumulative data are consistent with the emerging view that different native alpha1/beta subunit associations occur in the CNS.     

Caring for the older patient, Part II: Age-related anatomic and physiologic changes and pathologies

This is the second article of a four-part series on gerontology and its applications to the care of elderly patients in nuclear medicine. This article reviews anatomic and physiologic changes and pathology associated with aging. It also discusses tailoring nuclear medicine procedures according to patients' needs and conditions, as well as adopting changes within the nuclear medicine department to better serve older patients. Upon completion of this article, the reader should be able to: (a) describe normal age-related anatomic and physiologic changes that are observed in older patients; (b) identify common age-related disorders; (c) discuss considerations in tailoring nuclear medicine procedures for older patients; and (d) identify changes in the nuclear medicine facility that would better accommodate older patients.     

RNA polymerase III interferes with Ty3 integration

Many cytological processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, transformation, apoptosis, etc., are accompanied by specific chromatin changes, usually identified on the basis of the relative content of euchromatin and heterochromatin. In order to achieve a quantitative, non-subjective evaluation of the chromatin pattern, two different approaches may be undertaken, one consisting in the analysis of the several morphological features of chromatin grains (size, shape, density, arrangement, and distribution), and the second consisting in the analysis of the chromatin globally considered as a coherent texture. Although the second approach appears to be simpler and more suitable, methods of texture analysis--including those specifically designed for the analysis of the chromatin pattern--are rarely applied due mainly to the unsuitability of sampling procedures and the excessive crypticism of results. As an alternative to traditional texture analysis, we suggest a method supported by a sound mathematical theory and approximately 30 years of applications in the field of geostatistics. The method, called variogram, analyzes the intrinsic structure of data sampled at different distance intervals and directions, and outputs easily understandable results. Recently, variogram analysis has successfully been exported from geostatistics to other fields (for example, ecology and epidemiology) that make use of spatially referenced variables. Based on the fact that pixels represent a perfect array of data ordered at regular distance intervals and directions, the variogram can be adopted to explore nuclear images and recognize chromatin patterns. Variograms of different nuclei can be summarized by multivariate methods without the need of previous standardization of data. This allows comparison and discrimination of chromatin patterns from mixed cell populations. Preliminary data obtained from young neurons undergoing massive apoptosis reveal a self-consistent map of nuclear changes correlated to the degenerative process.     

Water supplementation of infants in the first month of life

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of and risk factors associated with regular water supplementation of neonates. DESIGN: Evaluation of data from the Food and Drug Administration's Infant Feeding Practices Study, a panel study of US women of fairly high socioeconomic status who were followed up from late pregnancy through their infants' first year of life. The sample was drawn from a nationally distributed consumer mail panel. Each mother was asked whether she gave her neonate water at least 3 times per week. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1677 mothers of infants who were neonates in April through November 1993. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Percentages of mothers who gave their neonates water at least 3 times a week, considering infant feeding status, mother's education, and family income. RESULTS: About one fourth (24.7%) of the mothers reported giving their neonates water at least 3 times per week. Stratification by feeding practices and socioeconomic factors revealed that 41.6% of mothers who formula-fed their neonates, 47.4% of mothers with less than a high school education, and 35.4% of mothers with an annual family income less than $22,500 gave their neonates water at least 3 times per week. CONCLUSIONS: Water supplementation of neonates was a prevalent practice in this cohort of women. Feeding practices, maternal education, and family income were all significant risk factors associated with this behavior.     

Endovascular radiation and restinosis

Restenosis following coronary angioplasty is still the most vexing problem facing percutaneous coronary interventions, despite advances in stent designs and new antiplatelet therapies. Endovascular radiation has shown to limit the formation of neointimal tissue in the vascular wall in recent studies and it appears as a promising method to control the restenotic process. This article reviews the experimental and clinical data with the use of this form of radiation and analyses its potential role in Interventional Cardiology.