Driving activity has become more important as this medium being practical, it is also cheaper and faster in connecting human from one to another place. However, in some occurrence, it can cause accidents as they become fatigued while driving. Driver fatigue is one of the top contributors to the road accidents and can be dangerous as other road safety issues such as drink driving. Worst is, there are no laws regulating driver fatigue. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to develop the regression model of apsychophysical factor for drivers’ fatigue which can predict the relationship between the process input parameters and output responses. The study was participated by ten subjects. The heart rate was taken and recorded using heart rate monitor. Design Expert 8.0.6 software was used for the regression analysis. The modeling validation runs werewithin the 90% prediction intervals of the developed model and the residual errors were less than 10%. The R 2 value is 0.9400 whichmeans that the linear regression line passed exactly through all points. The significant parameters that influenced the heart rate were also identified.The parameters are time exposure, type of road, and gender.
Psychophysical ; fatigue ; regression modeling ; heart rate

Smoking has been positively associated with hearing loss in human. However, its effect on the cochlea has not been previously evaluated. Aim of work is to investigate the effect of nicotine, which is the primary pharmacological component of tobacco, on the structure of the cochlea of adult male guinea pigs. Fifteen male guinea pigs were classified into two groups: group I (control) and group II (nicotine treated group). Group II was further subdivided into two subgroups; IIA and IIB according to the dose of nicotine (3 mg/kg and 6 mg/kg, respectively). The cochlea was harvested and processed for light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Nicotine administration induced damage of outer hair cells which were distorted in shape with vacuolated cytoplasm and heterochromatic nuclei. Topography revealed damage of the stereocilia which included disorganization, bent and limp or complete loss and expansion of the surrounding supporting cells. These changes were more pronounced in the basal turn of the cochlea and mainly involved the outer hair cells. High dose induced more damage and resulted in protrusion of the apical poles of hair cells (blebing), particularly the outer two rows. Nicotine is proved to be harmful to the cells of the cochlea, particularly the outer hair cells of the basal turn. High doses induce blebing of hair cells.
Adult ; Animals ; Cochlea* ; Cytoplasm ; Guinea Pigs* ; Hair ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Male ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nicotine* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stereocilia ; Tobacco

OBJECTIVEToxic metal ions have been implicated in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO). Metallothionines (MT) and plant flavonoids have been reported in the intervention against oxidative damage. We investigated the effect of zinc induced MT and green tea polyphenol (GTP) in reducing the oxidative responses induced by nickel and platinum.

METHODSZinc (10 mg/kg b. wt, sc) was administered to rats twice at a gap of 24 hrs and GTP (10 mg/100 mL in drinking water) was fed ad libitum for 8 days. Nickel chloride (150 umol/kgb.wt, ip) and cisplatin (50 mumol/kg b.wt, sc) was administered to rats 24 h after Zn or GTP pre-treatment. Animals of all the groups were sacrificed 16 hrs after treatment and biochemical markers for toxicity were monitored.

RESULTSZinc or GTP pre-treatment caused significant protection against nickel or cisplatin enhanced mortality in rats, and reduction in lipid peroxidation and NO.

CONCLUSIONIt is proposed that inhibition of ROS and NO by GTP and zinc may prove useful as a selective pharmacological agent in the amelioration of metal toxicity.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Biomarkers ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Flavonoids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Metallothionein ; metabolism ; Mortality ; Nickel ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Phenols ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Polyphenols ; Rats ; Tea ; chemistry ; Time Factors ; Zinc ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the alterations in auditory brainstem evoked responses (ABRs) and the changes of carboplatin-induced ototoxicity in the cochlear oxidant/antioxidant systems and otoprotection by an antioxidant lipoate.

METHODSMale wistar rats were divided into four groups and treated as follows: 1) vehicle (saline) control, 2) carboplatin (256 mg/kg, i.p.), 3) lipoate (100 mg/kg, i.p.), 4) lipoate + carboplatin. Post-treatment ABRs were performed after four days and rats were sacrificed with their cochleae harvested and analyzed.

RESULTSCarboplatin significantly elevated ABR threshold above the pretreatment thresholds. Lipoate+carboplatin treated rats showed decreased elevation of hearing threshold. Carboplatin significantly depleted cochlear reduced to oxizized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio, whereas lipoate+carboplatin treatment increased GSH/GSSG ratio. Carboplatin significantly decreased cochlear copper zinc-superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities and enzyme protein expressions and a significant increase in Mn-SOD activity, protein expression and malondialdehyde (MDA) level. Cochlear antioxidant enzyme activities, enzyme protein expressions and MDA level were partially restored in lipoate+carboplatin treated rats, compared to carboplatin alone.

CONCLUSIONCarboplatin-induced ototoxicity is related to impairment of cochlear antioxidant system and otoprotection conferred by lipoate is associated with partial sparing of the cochlear antioxidant defense system.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Auditory Threshold ; drug effects ; Carboplatin ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Cochlea ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; drug effects ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Glutathione Disulfide ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Glutathione Reductase ; metabolism ; Glutathione Transferase ; metabolism ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; chemically induced ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Thioctic Acid ; pharmacology

Objective: To evaluate a novel polyherbal formulation (BSVT) containing the standardized extracts from the leaves of Boerhavia diffusa, Solidago virgaurea, Vitex negundo, and thymoquinone in CCl4 induced hepatorenal toxicity in rats. Methods: A total of 36 rats were divided into six groups including normal control, CCl4 (2 mL/kg, i.p.), CCl4 (2 mL/kg, i.p.) + Cystone? (750 mg/kg p.o.), CCl4 (2 mL/kg, i.p.) + BSVT (25 mg/kg, p.o.), CCl4 (2 mL/kg, i.p.) + BSVT (50 mg/kg, p.o.), and CCl4 (2 mL/kg, i.p.) + BSVT (100 mg/kg, p.o.). All treatments were given for four weeks. Serum levels of aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol, total protein, serum urea, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were assessed. Superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, and glutathione peroxidase were evaluated in tissue homogenate. The histopathological study of liver and kidney tissues was also done. Results: Aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol, serum urea, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were significantly elevated (P<0.001) while total protein was considerably reduced in the CCl4 group as compared to the normal control (P<0.001), which indicated hepatorenal toxicity. In addition, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly decreased (P<0.001) while malondialdehyde levels were increased markedly (P<0.001). Treatment with BSVT formulation recovered these parameters towards a normal level in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: BSVT formulation ameliorates the hepatorenal toxicity in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, clinical studies are required to confirm its efficacy.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Lead (Pb) acetate exposure on Semliki forest virus (SFV) pathogenesis in mice.

METHODSDifferent doses (62.5, 125, 250 and 500 mg/Kg body weight) of Pb dissolved in normal saline were given to mice by oral intubation in a sub-acute (28 days) and sub-chronic (90 days) regimen followed by SFV infection. Morbidity, mortality, clinical symptoms, mean survival time (MST), changes in body and organ weight, accumulation of lead in soft tissues, virus titre in brain and histopathological alterations were compared between lead exposed and infected groups.

RESULTSEarly appearance of virus symptoms, increased mortality, decreased MST, enhanced SFV titre and greater tissue damage were observed in lead exposed-SFV-infected mice.

CONCLUSIONPre-exposure to lead increases the susceptibility of mice towards SFV infection. Further studies are suggested in view of the persistence of lead in the environment and the possibility of infection by microbial pathogens.

Alphavirus Infections ; etiology ; veterinary ; Animals ; Brain ; pathology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Kidney ; pathology ; Lead ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Liver ; pathology ; Mice ; Semliki forest virus ; pathogenicity

PURPOSE: In the present study booster efficacies of Ag85 B, Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), and Ag85B peptides were evaluated using prime boost regimes in BALB/c mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were primed with BCG vaccine and subsequently boosted with Ag85B, BCG and cocktail of Ag85B peptides. RESULTS: Based on analysis of immune response it was observed mice boosted with Ag85B peptides showed significant (p < 0.001) cytokines levels (interferon gamma, interleukin 12) and BCG specific antibodies (anti-BCG and anti-purified protein derivative titre) compared to booster dose of BCG, Ag85B and BCG alone. CONCLUSION: Our pilot results suggest that prime boost regimes with Ag85B peptides can boost waning BCG induced immunity and may improve immunogenicity of BCG vaccine. However, lot of work is further needed using experimental model of tuberculosis infection to justify the result.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Bacillus ; BCG Vaccine ; Cytokines ; Interleukins ; Mice* ; Models, Theoretical ; Mycobacterium bovis* ; Peptides* ; Pilot Projects* ; Tuberculosis ; Vaccines*

Evaluation and screening of vaccines against tuberculosis depends on development of proper cost effective disease models along with identification of different immune markers that can be used as surrogate endpoints of protection in preclinical and clinical studies. The objective of the present study was therefore evaluation of subcutaneous model of M.tuberculosis infection along with investigation of different immune biomarkers of tuberculosis infection in BALB/c mice. Groups of mice were infected subcutaneously with two different doses : high (2x10(6) CFU) and low doses (2x10(2) CFU) of M.tuberculosis and immune markers including humoral and cellular markers were evaluated 30 days post M.tuberculosis infections. Based on results, we found that high dose of subcutaneous infection produced chronic disease with significant (p<0.001) production of immune markers of infection like IFNgamma, heat shock antigens (65, 71) and antibody titres against panel of M.tuberculosis antigens (ESAT-6, CFP-10, Ag85B, 45kDa, GroES, Hsp-16) all of which correlated with high bacterial burden in lungs and spleen. To conclude high dose of subcutaneous infection produces chronic TB infection in mice and can be used as convenient alternative to aerosol models in resource limited settings. Moreover assessment of immune markers namely mycobacterial antigens and antibodies can provide us valuable insights on modulation of immune response post infection. However further investigations along with optimization of study protocols are needed to justify the outcome of present study and establish such markers as surrogate endpoints of vaccine protection in preclinical and clinical studies in future.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Biomarkers* ; Chronic Disease ; Hot Temperature ; Lung ; Mass Screening ; Mice* ; Shock ; Spleen ; Tuberculosis* ; Vaccines