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Histological classification and grading are prime procedures in the management of patients with astrocytoma, providing vital data for therapeutic decision making and prognostication. However, it has limitations in assessing biological tumor behavior. This can be overcome by using newer immunohistochemical techniques. This study was carried out to compare proliferative indices using proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), extent of p53 expression and micro vessel morphometric parameters in patients with low grade and anaplastic astrocytoma. Twenty-five patients, each of grade II and grade III astrocytoma were evaluated using monoclonal antibodies to PCNA, p53 protein and factor VIII related antigen. PCNA, p53-labeling indices were calculated along with micro vessel morphometric analysis using Biovis Image plus Software. Patients with grade III astrocytoma had higher PCNA and p53 labeling indices as compared with grade II astrocytoma (29.14 plus/minus 9.87% vs. 16.84 plus/minus 6.57%, p 0.001; 18.18 plus/minus 6.14% vs. 6.14 plus/minus 7.23%, p 0.001, respectively). Micro vessel percentage area of patients with grade III astrocytoma was also (4.26 plus/minus 3.70 vs. 1.05 plus/minus 0.56, p 0.001), higher along with other micro vessel morphometric parameters. Discordance between histology and one or more IHC parameters was seen in 5/25 (20%) of patients with grade III astrocytoma and 9/25 (36%) of patients with grade II disease. PCNA and p53 labeling indices were positively correlated with Pearson′s correlation, p less than 0.001 for both). Increased proliferative fraction, genetic alterations and neovascularization mark biological aggressiveness in astrocytoma. Immunohistochemical evaluation scores over meet the challenge of accurate prognostication of this potentially fatal malignancy.

Background: Some patients with focal cerebral calcification (FCC) have no seizure or a benign course of epilepsy, whilst others with a similar lesion have uncontrolled epilepsy. Aims: To look for [...]

Development and survival of tobacco caterpillar Spodoptera litura larvae and pupae were studied at each of seven constant temperatures, 15±1, 18±1, 21±1, 24±1, 27±1, 30±1 and 33±1°C, in incubators. Oviposition, incubation, larval and pupal periods were recorded at each of the temperatures. The survival from 1st instar to adult emergence ranged between a maximum of 60% at 24°C and 30% at each of 18°C and 33°C. Developmental duration of different larval instars and pupae declined with an increase in temperature from 15 to 33°C. The optimum temperature for larval and pupal survival in S. litura on artificial diet was observed to be 24°C. On the other hand, optimum temperature range for oviposition was observed to be 27-33°C. The relationship between temperature (T) and development rate (r) was established using linear regression to estimate the thermal constant (K) and development threshold (T0). Thermal constant for 1st to 6th larval instars were computed as 76.9, 90.9, 125, 83.3, 62.5, 90.9 and 200 degree days (DD), respectively, with corresponding development thresholds as 12.8, 11.7, 9.8, 10.3, 10, 10.9 and 13.2oC. Single developmental threshold for larval stage was computed as 13°C.These thermal constants and development thresholds can be used in developing mechanistic population simulation model, which in turn will facilitate the assessment of climate change impact on the pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Plant derived mucilage has been explored as a drug, pharmaceutical excipient, and in cosmetics. Several mucilage and mucilage-containing drugs are being utilized in Unani medicine. These are to be standardized for authentications owing to immense utilization. A mucilage-containing drug obtained from root of Althaea officinalis L. (AO) – family Malvaceae, an important Unani drug, has been subjected to physicochemical studies for standardization. Materials and Methods: Mucilage of roots of the drug was isolated by classical and reference method. The physicochemical method included determination of ash values, moisture content, viscosity, swelling index (SI), and pH value. Powder characterization study included bulk density, tapped density, Hausner's ratio, and angle of repose. For preliminary phytochemical analysis, qualitative tests for organic constituents and test for mucilage were carried out. Analytical methods, namely Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) and high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) were also applied. Results: The yield percentage taken by acetone method was 36.80 ± 1.25 whereas that of classical method was 42.93 ± 1.35. Values of pH, loss on drying, viscosity, and SI were 4.08 ± 0.032, 14.46 ± 0.13, 34.40 ± 0.61, and 334.36 ± 23.77, respectively. Data for ash value and powder characterization (Micromeritic Properties) were set in. Preliminary confirmative test confirmed that the isolated polysaccharide is mucilage. HPTLC fingerprinting of aqueous extract gave 6 and 4 peak at 254 nm, 4 and 5 peak at 366 nm and 5 and 6 peaks at 550 nm in mobile phase chloroform (90): methanol (10): acetic acid (2). FTIR data for the mucilage were also set in. Conclusion: Physicochemical standardization data/monograph for AO root mucilage were developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]