The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, on the immune system by analyzing the number of white blood cells (WBCs) over the course of hours and days of dexamethasone administration. Dexamethasone was given as either a single dosage [1.0 mg/kg body weight (BW); subcutaneous injection (s.c.)] or as a daily dosage (1.0 mg/kg BW per day; s.c.) for 10 days for the hourly and daily assessment of changes in the number of white blood cells, respectively. A single administration of dexamethasone markedly decreased the number of total WBCs, as well as the number of lymphocyte, monocyte, neutrophil and eosinophil subsets with a nadir at 8 hr post-injection. The number of these cells recovered to the control levels at 24 hr. The numbers of total WBCs, lymphocytes, monocyte, eosinophil and basophil were reduced by the daily administration of dexamethasone. However, the number of neutrophil was significantly higher at days 2 and 8 after the injection. These results suggest that glucocorticoid-mediated immunosuppressions are at least partly attributable to quantitative changes in the number of circulating WBCs.
Composition of mmen ciliate fauna in five Zambian, sassaby antelopes was determined. Six genera, 18 species, and four forms were identified. One new species and form, belonging to the subfamily Diplodiniinae, were found, then labeled Ostracodinium dumaliscus n. sp. and DipEodinium bubatidis f. aspinosurn n. f., respectively. Only ophryoscolecid species were present while isotrichids were absent. Twelve of 18 total species are commonly found in African antelopes. Three of those 12 species, Entodiniumfyferi, Enoploplastron garstangi and Opisthotrichum janus, are only found in African antelopes. Percentage composition was low in the genera Enoploplastron, Eudiplodinium and Entodinium. and high in the genus Opisthotrichum. The average density of ciliates was 3.1 X lo5/ ml of mmen fluid, and the average number of ciliate species per host was 17.2.
-Red peppers are used as a spice for enhancing the palatability of foods. Two major capsaicinoids, dihydrocapsaicin (DHC) and capsaicin (CAP) are responsible for up to 90% of the total pungency of pepper fruits. These capsaicinoids are known to enhance energy metabolism and thermogenesis. However, there is a little information on the effects of capsaicinoids on the lipolysis and carbohydrate metabolism. We studied the effects of DHC and CAP on plasma glucose, free fatty acid (FFA) and glycerol concentrations in rats. Male six-week-old Sprague Dawley rats were divided into the DHC, CAP and control groups. Each capsaicinoid (dose = 3 mg/kg BW/day) was subcutaneously administered to rats for 10 days. DHC increased markedly plasma glucose, FFA and glycerol concentrations on day 1-10 by 14-35%, 61-103% and 108-174%, respectively, as compared with those of the control group. CAP increased relatively plasma glucose concentrations on day 1-3 by 15-17%, as compared with the control group.groups. On the contrary, CAP did not change plasma FFA and glycerol concentrations on day 1-3. However, CAP increased markedly plasma FFA and glycerol concentrations on day 7-10 by 54-89% and 92-98%, respectively, as compared with the control group. DHC and CAP did not change the weights of white (perirenal and periepididymal) and brown (interscapular) adipose tissues. In conclusion, the effects of capsaicinoids on plasma glucose, FFA and glycerol concentrations were relatively higher in the DHC than in the CAP, and capsaicinoids did not change the weight of white and brown adipose tissues.
Smith-Magenis syndrome is characterized by multiple congenital anomalies and mental retardation caused by the heterozygous deletion of chromosomal region 17p11.2. We present a long-term follow-up study of a girl with Smith-Magenis syndrome and West syndrome. West syndrome became apparent at 7 months of age. Since then, mental retardation, particularly in terms of language development, became increasingly more obvious. The patient's spasms and hypsarrhythmia disappeared after a course of adrenocorticotropic hormone therapy, but focal seizures reappeared at the age of 3 years and 3 months. Her craniofacial dysmorphia and mental retardation became increasingly evident compared to her condition at the onset of West syndrome. Chromosome analysis detected the characteristic 17p deletion, which was then confirmed via fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis. This is the second report of a patient with Smith-Magenis syndrome and West syndrome; taken together, these results suggest that Smith-Magenis syndrome may be a further cause of West syndrome.
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