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Introduction Neurocysticercosis (NCC) as cause of drug resistant epilepsy (DRE) is commonly reported from India. We reviewed the neuropathological findings in patients undergoing resective surgery for DRE due to NCC, to determine the pathomechanism of epileptogenesis. Methods Clinical, demographic and neuropathological findings of histologically confirmed cases of NCC causing DRE between 2005–2019 were reviewed. NeuN, GFAP, phosphorylated neurofilament, vimentin, CD34 for glial/ neuronal alterations, and Masson trichrome, Luxol Fast blue for evidence of fibrosis/ demyelination was used to determine cause of epileptogenesis. Results There were 12 cases of NCC associated with dual/ double pathology, which constituted 3.02 % (12/398) of all the operated DRE. [Age range: 17–37y, Male:Female = 1.4:1]. Seizure duration ranged from 3–32y, with seizure onset between 4–27y. On MRI, lesions were of variable signal intensity on T1 and isointense on T2 with blooming on GRE/ SWI, and CT revealed calcification. Majority (11/12) had associated hippocampal sclerosis (HS) type 1 (dual pathology), localised to the same side as cysticercal cyst, suggesting it may be involved in the pathogenesis of HS. Ten had single cysticercal lesion involving ipsilateral hippocampus in 6, parahippocampal gyrus in 2, amygdala and temporal lobe in 1 case each. One had multiple NCC located in bilateral frontal, parietal and ipsilateral hippocampus. Adjacent cortex around the NCC evaluated in 6 cases, revealed inflammation, gliosis, axonal disruption/ beading, and variable synaptic/ neuronal dystrophic changes. There was a single case of NCC with Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) type IIb (double pathology). In 11/12 cases Engel’s post-surgery outcome was available with all having class I outcome. Conclusion HS was most common pathology associated with cysticercosis (Dual pathology), localised ipsilateral to the cysticercal cyst, suggesting that HS is a secondary/ epiphenomenon. Perilesional changes such as inflammation, gliosis, dystrophic synaptic and axonal pathology play a role in inducing or perpetuating the epileptiform activity. The association of FCD IIb with NCC in one case is likely to be a chance occurrence.

A new simple, accurate, rapid, precise, reproducible and cost effective spectrophotometric method for the quantitative estimation of Metformin in bulk and pharmaceutical dosage form. The developed visible spectrophotometric method for the quantitative estimation of Metformin is based on measurement of absorption at maximum wavelength 242 nm using Methanol as a solvent. The stock solution of Metformin was prepared, and subsequent suitable dilution was prepared with methanol to obtained standard curve. The standard solution of Metformin shows absorption maxima at 242 nm. The drug obeyed beer lambert’s law in the concentration range of 0 - 60 μg/ml with regression 0.999 at 242 nm. The overall % recovery was found to be 100.04% which reflects that the method was free from the interference of the impurities and other excipients used in the bulk and marketed dosage form. The low value of % RSD was indicative of accuracy and reproducibility of the method. The % RSD for inter-day and intra-day precision was found to be 0.53 and 0.51respectively which is

Raffinose oligosaccharides (RO) are the major factors responsible for flatulence following ingestion of soybean-derived products. Removal of RO from seeds or soymilk would then have a positive impact on the acceptance of soy-based foods. In this study, alpha-galactosidase from Aspergillus oryzae was entrapped in gelatin using formaldehyde as the hardener. The immobilization yield was 64.3% under the optimum conditions of immobilization. The immobilized alpha-galactosidase showed a shift in optimum pH from 4.8 to 5.4 in acetate buffer. The optimum temperature also shifted from 50 degrees C to 57 degrees C compared with soluble enzyme. Immobilized alpha-galactosidase was used in batch, repeated batch and continuous mode to degrade RO present in soymilk. In the repeated batch, 45% reduction of RO was obtained in the fourth cycle. The performance of immobilized alpha-galactosidase was tested in a fluidized bed reactor at different flow rates and 86% reduction of RO in soymilk was obtained at 25 ml h(-1) flow rate. The study revealed that immobilized alpha-galactosidase in continuous mode is efficient in reduction of RO present in soymilk.

Freely ambulant wistar adult rats of both sexes when exposed to a hot water jet on the head (50 degrees C - 55 degrees C) for a period of 8-10 minutes, manifested seizure activity similar to the ones noted in 'hot-water epilepsy' (HWE) in humans. Depth electrode recording from the hippocampus revealed seizure discharges during the ictus lasting from 34 seconds to three minutes, followed by low voltage indeterminate activity and a quiescent resting phase. Seizure initiation was noted to be critically dependent on the rectal temperature of 41.5 degrees C and regional hippocampal temperature of 37 degrees C. There appeared to be no clear evidence for kindling phenomenon. Intervention of hyperthermia by cooling the body after the ictus prevented subsequent occurrence of spontaneous seizures. Pathological study of the brain revealed ischaemic changes in specific topographic areas like Sommer's sector in hippocampus, layer 4 and 5 neurons of the cerebral cortex and reticular neurons in the brain stem- a pathological feature reminiscent of the human epileptic brain. Seizure initiation by hyperthermic stimulation with hot water poured over the head, the progression and the EEG recording the seizure activity in these rats appears to resemble the HWE in human subjects and could thus serve as the first animal model for this form of "reflex' epilepsy. This has given new insight into the understanding of human HWE. Our preliminary observations in humans has suggested that HWE is a type of hyperthermic seizure similar to febrile convulsion but differs from it with respect to stimulus and rate of rise in temperature in a susceptible individual.

Heymann's nephritis (HN) in rats induced by injecting renal proximal tubule brush border protein gp330, is an animal model replicating human autoimmune membranous glomerulonephritis(1). Endogenous IgG gets deposited between the foot processes in the epithelial side of the glomerulus and causes complement-mediated membrane injury, leading to proteinuria and basement membrane thickening. We investigated the effect of a toxin, gelonin conjugated to gp330 and targetted against antigp330-producing cells in ameliorating immune injury and nephrotic state in rats. The groups of animals injected with purified gp330 revealed by immunofluorescence, characteristic granular deposits of IgG along the basement membrane. The rats intravenously injected with gelonin gp330 conjugate, four days after the antigenic challenge with gp330 in two doses, showed amelioration of the nephrotic state and appreciable reduction in glomerular IgG deposits against immune injury. This substantiates our earlier biochemical results and corroborates the possibility of using toxins conjugated to specific antigen in treating antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases.

One hundred and twenty four cases of Reye's syndrome admitted to Vanivilas Children's Hospital, Bangalore were investigated. Clinical, biochemical and epidemiological details were obtained. The median age was five years, with no difference in sex ratio. This disease was frequent in winter months. Cases clustered in certain congested localities of the city among lower socio economic strata. Aspirin and varicella could not be associated as preceding factors. The clinical and biochemical features of the patients were suggestive of Reye's syndrome. Histopathological evaluation was done in 104 liver biopsy specimens. Virological studies for influenza and arbovirus were negative. Mortality was high (78%).