Analysis Of Vipaka (METABOLIC Transformation) Of An Extra-Pharmacopoeial Drug-Bridelia Stipularis (L.) Blume

Objective: The objective of the present study is to explore the vipaka of an extra-pharmacopoeia drug Bridelia stipularis (L.) Blume belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. Methods: 12 Wistar strain albino rats were selected and divided into 2 groups; Group A-Control, Group B-Test group. Each rat was kept in separate metabolic cages provided with a constant amount of water and food per day. Assessment of vipaka was done based on the consumption of food, consumption of water, the quantity of faecal matter, urine output, and quantity of water content of expelled faecal matter per day. Assessment of Vipaka was done on the basis of consumption of food; consumption of water; the quantity of faecal matter, urine output and quantity water content of expelled faecal matter per day. Assessment of Vipaka was done on the basis of consumption of food; consumption of water; the quantity of faecal matter, urine output and quantity water content of expelled faecal matter per day. Results: Absolute values of Group B or test group exhibited significant increase in water consumption (p<0.01), wet faecal matter (p<0.05), dry faecal matter (p<0.001), and food conversion ratio (p<0.05), and non-significant increase in food consumption, urine output, faecal water, and body weight. Conclusion: Based on the preliminary analysis it may be concluded that the drug Bridelia stipularis (L.) Blume possess Madhura vipaka (Sweet metabolic transformation).

A novel ready-to-use dry-reagent polymerase chain reaction for detection of Escherichia coli & Shigella species

Background & objectives: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has wide acceptance for rapid identification of pathogens and also for diagnosis of infectious conditions. However, because of economic and expertise constraints, a majority of small or peripheral laboratories do not use PCR. The objective of the present study was to develop a dry-reagent PCR assay as an alternative to conventional PCR to assess its applicability in routine laboratory practice using malB gene for identification of Escherichia coli as a model. Methods: A total of 184 isolates were selected for the study comprising clinical isolates of E. coli and non-E. coli including Shigella sp. and a few other control strains. The DNA was isolated from all the isolates. The isolated DNA as well as the overnight grown bacterial cultures were subjected to both conventional wet PCR and dry-reagent PCR. Results: The genomic DNA isolated from E. coli showed amplification of malB gene in both conventional wet and dry-reagent PCR and the band was observed at 491 bp. In dry-reagent PCR, the overnight grown E. coli cells also showed positive result. The non-E. coli strains other than Shigella sp. showed negative in both conventional wet and dry-reagent PCR. Shigella sp. showed positive in both conventional wet and dry-reagent PCR. Interpretation & conclusions: Considering the elimination of genomic DNA isolation step, and similar results with the conventional wet PCR, dry-reagent PCR may be a good alternative for the conventional wet PCR.

Adverse drug reactions and cost effectiveness of non-steroidal antiinfl ammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, and neurotropic drugs in patients with low back pain.

Background: The objective was to evaluate the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and cost effectiveness of different classes of drugs in therapy of low back pain. Methods: A prospective observational study was carried out over a period of 12 months (November 2012 to November 2013) in which a total of 300 patients with low back pain were enrolled and divided equally into three groups – Group 1 (nonsteroidal anti-infl ammatory drugs [NSAIDs]), Group 2 (NSAIDs ± muscle relaxant), and Group 3 (NSAIDs ± muscle relaxant ± neurotropic drugs). Any ADR developed after the initiation of treatment at 3 weeks and 6 weeks was noted. Prescription cost per day was also calculated. Results: There was a male predominance in the study population with a mean age of 39.76±9.40 years. A total of 262 ADRs were noted among which most were seen in Group 3 (119 ADRs). Gastritis was the most common ADR in Group 1. Drowsiness was the most common ADR in Group 2 (30%) and 3 (46%). Prescription cost per day was highest in Group 3 (30.28±11.24 Indian Rupee [INR]) followed by Group 2 (25.92±8.66 INR) and Group 1 (12.22±3.38 INR). Conclusion: Patient on combination of three drugs (NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, and neurotropic agents) had maximum ADRs and their prescription cost per day was highest among the three groups.

Study of effect of Oligohydramnios on maternal and fetal outcome.

Background: Amniotic fluid acts like a cushion and helps in growth of fetus, decrease in amniotic fluid volume may lead to increased risk of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), meconium aspiration syndrome, severe birth asphyxia, low APGAR scores and congenital abnormities. Objective: This study was done to see effects of Oligohydramnios on fetal outcome in the form of neonatal morbidity and mortality and maternal morbidity. Material and Methods: Present study was done in 100 patients who have completed 28 weeks of pregnancy and above with oligohydramnios, selected randomly after satisfying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Detailed examination done and oligohydramnios was confirmed by measuring AFI on ultrasonography. Associated complications, type of delivery conducted, and fetal outcome for perinatal morbidity & mortality studied. Results: Common causes for Oligohydramnios were idiopathic (56%) and PIH (24%). Most common reason to perform caesarean was fetal distress. Oligohydramnios was related to higher rate of growth retardation and neonatal intensive care unit admission. Conclusion: Oligohydramnios is frequent occurring condition. This condition requires antepartum and intrapartum care. Due to oligohydramnios intrapartum complications, perinatal morbidity and mortality are increasing. Decision between vaginal delivery and caesarean section should be well balanced. Unnecessary maternal morbidity can be prevented. Timely intervention can reduce perinatal morbidity and mortality.

Pre-Clinical Screening of Indigenous Medicinal Plant Phyllanthus Amarus for its Analgesic Activity.

Background: Phyllanthus amarus aqueous extract was investigated for its central and peripheral analgesic activities. Objectives: To evaluate the central and peripheral analgesic activities of aqueous extract of Phyllanthus amarus. Materials and Methods: The aqueous extract of Phyllanthus amarus was prepared using soxhlet apparatus. An in vivo study using Swiss albino mice was done to screen the central and peripheral analgesic activity of P.amarus extract. The extract was administered at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight I.P. The peripheral analgesic activity was assessed using acetic acid induced writhing test.The central analgesic activity was assessed using Eddy’s hot plate apparatus. Results: The aqueous extract of P.amarus showed significant (p<0.05) peripheral and central analgesic activity.Conclusion: This study demonstrated that P.amarus aqueous extract exhibited significant analgesic activities.

Hospitalisation due to infectious and parasitic diseases in District Civil Hospital, Belgaum, Karnataka.

To assess the burden of infectious and parasitic diseases on hospital services at District Civil Hospital (DCH) Belgaum, a retrospective study was carried out using discharge records concerning 8506 inpatients due to infectious and parasitic diseases among 95,655 patients admitted for all causes during the reference period 2000-2003. Out of the 21 causes of infectious and parasitic diseases, only 5 contributed maximally towards hospital admission. The most frequent cause was intestinal infections (44.0%) followed by tuberculosis (35.4%). 57.5% of these admissions were from the productive age group of 20-54 years. Tuberculosis is the most important disease in terms of hospital bed days (59.7%). Tuberculosis and intestinal infectious diseases represent more than three-fourth of the overall burden in terms of hospital bed days.

Endometrial stromal nodule with smooth muscle differentiation.

Uterine tumors composed of a prominent component of smooth muscle and endometrial stroma (so-called stromomyoma) are distinctly uncommon. This article describes the morphological features of one such tumor discovered as an incidental finding in a hysterectomy specimen of a 49-year-old lady with a clinical diagnosis of dysfunctional uterine bleeding. Morphological and immunohistochemical (IHC) evaluation were performed and a final diagnosis of endometrial stromal nodule with smooth muscle differentiation was rendered.

A duplicated coxI gene is associated with cytoplasmic male sterility in an alloplasmic Brassica juncea line derived from somatic hybridization with Diplotaxis catholica.

A cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) line of Brassica juncea was derived by repeated backcrossing of the somatic hybrid (Diplotaxis catholica + B. juncea) to B. juncea. The new CMS line is comparable to euplasmic lines for almost all characters, except for flowers which bear slender, needle-like anthers with aborted pollen. Detailed Southern analysis revealed two copies of coxI gene in the CMS line. One copy, coxI-1 is similar to the coxI gene of B. juncea, whereas the second copy, coxI-2 is present in a novel rearranged region. Northern analysis with eight mitochondrial gene probes showed altered transcript pattern only for the coxI gene. Two transcripts of 2.0 and 2.4 kb, respectively, were detected in the CMS line. The novel 2.4 kb transcript was present in floral bud tissue but absent in the leaf tissue. In plants where male sterility broke down under high temperature during the later part of the growing season, the 2.4 kb coxI transcript was absent, which suggested its association with the CMS. The two coxI genes from the CMS line showed two amino acid changes in the coding region. The novel coxI gene showed unique repeats in the 5' region suggesting recombination of mitochondrial genomes of the two species. The possible role of the duplicated coxI gene in causing male sterility is discussed.

Homeotic-like modification of stamens to petals is associated with aberrant mitochondrial gene expression in cytoplasmic male sterile Ogura Brassica juncea.

We have previously reported correction of severe leaf chlorosis in the cytoplasmic male sterile Ogura (also called Ogu) Brassica juncea line carrying Ogura cytoplasm by plastid substitution via protoplast fusion. Two cybrids obtained from the fusion experiment, Og1 and Og2, were green and carried the plastid genome of B. juncea cv. RLM198. While Og1 displayed normal flower morphology comparable to that of its euplasmic B. juncea counterpart except for sterile anthers, Og2 retained homeotic-like floral modification of stamens to petal-like structures and several other floral deformities observed in the chlorotic (Ogu) B. juncea cv. RLM198 (or OgRLM). With respect to the mitochondrial genome, Og1 showed 81% genetic similarity to the fertile cultivar RLM while Og2 showed 93% similarity to OgRLM. In spite of recombination and rearrangements in the mitochondrial genomes in the cybrids, expression patterns of 10 out of 11 mitochondrial genes were similar in all the three CMS lines; the only exception was atp6, whose expression was altered. While Og1 showed normal atp6 transcript similar to that in RLM, in Og2 and OgRLM weak expression of a longer transcript was detected. These results suggest that the homeotic-like changes in floral patterning leading to petaloid stamens in Og2 and OgRLM may be associated with aberrant mitochondrial gene expression.

Bilateral prehilar multiple branching of renal arteries: a case report and literature review.

Proper knowledge of variations of the arteries supplying the kidney is essential not only to the anatomists but also to the surgeons. In the present paper we are reporting a case of bilateral early and multiple branching of the renal arteries. The origin of the 2 renal arteries was normal but soon after their origin they ended by giving rise to multiple branches. Most of these branches entered the kidney through the hilum. However, on both sides, one of the branches (superior polar artery) passed superolaterally to reach the upper pole of the kidney. The superior polar artery also gave rise to the inferior suprarenal artery. Further, related literature review is done and the urological implications of these variations in renal surgeries are discussed.

Incontinentia pigmenti.

Incontinentia pigmenti or Bloch-Sulzberger syndrome, is a rare X linked dominant disorder with characteristic skin, hair, eye, dental and neurological abnormalities commonly affecting females. This article reports the clinical features and management of a 11 year old girl diagnosed with Incontinentia pigmenti.

Absence of inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery compensated by dorsal pancreatic artery: a case report.

Consideration of new aspects of vascular anatomy of the pancreaticoduodenal region is required for further improvement of surgical procedures. Awareness of variations in arteries supplying the duodenum and pancreas can help in minimizing the blood loss during surgery. We report the absence of inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery, which was compensated by a large dorsal pancreatic artery arising from proximal part of the splenic artery. This artery replaced inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery and formed a large loop of anastomosis with the gastroduodenal artery.

Estimation of salivary bacteria capable of inhibiting and stimulating Streptococcus mutans and its correlation to dental caries and untreated carious teeth.

Bacteriocins are bacteriocidal proteinaceous molecules produced by the Gram-positive bacteria not active against the produced strain. Many investigations have revealed that certain bacteria using antibacterial or the inhibitory substance inhibit some other bacteria. A study was conducted in a group of 60 children to ascertain whether any correlation exists between the proportion of salivary bacteria inhibiting and stimulating Streptococcus mutans and the oral health indices (DMFT, deft and Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs). A definite inverse correlation was observed between the percentage of salivary inhibiting S. mutans and untreated carious teeth (UCT).

Vesicocutaneous fistula arising from a bladder diverticulum.

A 55-year-old man presented with intermittent episodes of urinary leak through the left groin following an abscess drainage at that site at the age of 5 years. Since then he had been suffering from recurrent urinary tract infections and urinary leak, which used to be treated symptomatically. Intravenous urogram (IVU), voiding cystourethrogram (VCU), and cystoscopy done in our institution revealed a bladder diverticulum with a stone in situ, which was communicating with the fistulous opening located in the left groin. Diverticulectomy and excision of the fistulous tract cured the patient. A long-standing fistula arising from a bladder diverticulum at relatively distant site is of extreme rarity. Vesicocutaneous fistula from an iatrogenic injury to vesical diverticulum resulting from a groin surgery has not been reported so far.

Taurodontism in deciduous Molars - A Case Report.

Taurodontism has a very low incidence in deciduous dentition and very few cases are reported in the literature, it stands a challenge when it requires pulp therapy. This case report presents a case of Taurodontism in deciduous molars of a five year old male child which required pulp therapy. A clinical and radiographic follow up of the patient is discussed.