Effect of methonolic extract of Vitex negundo on haloperidol induced catalepsy in albino mice

Background: Plants are being used in traditional medicine since history of mankind. The knowledge of these medicinal plants has accrued in the course of many centuries leading to medicinal systems in India such as Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha. Objective: In the present study, we evaluated the anticataleptic efficacy of Vitex negundo, a polyherbal formulation in haloperidol induced catalepsy in mice.Methods: Five groups (n=6) of male albino mice were used in the study. Catalepsy was induced by i.p. administration of haloperidol (1 mg/kg). The degree of catalepsy (cataleptic score) was measured as the time the animal maintained an imposed posture. We compared the anticataleptic efficacy of Vitex negundo (50, 100, 200 mg/kg) with standard received Pheniramine maleate 10 mg/kg, i.p.Results: In vehicle treated animals, haloperidol (1 mg/kg. i.p.) produced the maximum catalepsy at 180 min (46.78�78 min). Standard treated as Pheniramine maleate 10 mg/kg, i.p. shows maximum at 120 min. 19.24�32. Test herb, i.p. Methanolic extract of Vitex negundo (50, 100, 200 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly potentiated haloperidol induced catalepsy at each time interval, in a dose dependent manner. At dose 50, 100 and 200mg/kg, extract of Vitex negundo (Linn.) roots showed maximum cataleptic score 12.34�78, 14.43�43 and 15.43�67 min, respectively at 120 minutes in haloperidol treated animals.Conclusions: The present study indicates that the methanolic extract of Vitex negundo reduces haloperidol-induced catalepsy in mice.

Neonatal sepsis in a tertiary care hospital in Delhi, India: study of microbial profile and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern

Background: Sepsis is one of the most common cause of neonatal deaths globally more so in low and middle-income countries. The key to management is high degree of clinical suspicion and prompt initiation of empirical antibiotic therapy pending investigations' results. Knowledge of one's own NICU flora and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern guides in choosing correct antibiotic therapy to pediatrician. If this data is standard and comparable across different sites, then it also helps in formulating regional and National treatment guidelines. Present study was therefore undertaken to study microbial flora of present NICU and analyze their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern and formulate antimicrobial policy.Methods: Data of blood culture isolates sent from suspected cases of neonatal sepsis received from January 2017 to July 2018 was analysed by 'WHONET'.Results: One hundred ninety-three non-repeat isolates were obtained from 992 blood culture samples. Coagulase negative Staphylococcus and K. pneumoniae were the most common isolates. Non albicans Candida were responsible for majority of fungal infection. There was an outbreak of C. pelliculosa for six months. Most of the bacteria were multidrug resistant (MDR). However, except one all other Candida isolates were sensitive to antifungal drugs.Conclusions: WHO guidelines suggest use of penicillin and gentamicin for neonatal sepsis. But in present study, they were not found useful, instead amikacin, netilmicin and piperacillin-tazobactam were found useful and changes were made in antibiotic policy. Authors therefore recommend regular monitoring of antimicrobial susceptibility pattern followed by necessary changes in antibiotic policy for reasonable empirical therapy.

Pre and per operative prediction of difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy using clinical and ultrasonographic parameters.

Background: Cholecystectomy is the procedure of choice for symptomatic gall stones. Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC) may be rendered difficult by various problems encountered during surgery. Several factors have been implicated with a difficult case, but no reliable criteria are available yet to identify patients preoperatively with a difficult LC. Preoperative prediction of a difficult LC can help the patient as well as the surgeon prepare better for the intraoperative risk and the risk of conversion to open cholecystectomy. The present study was undertaken to evaluate role of various factors responsible for conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy and also to study the intraoperative problems faced by the surgeon responsible for conversion in order to make the procedure safer for the patient as well as the surgeon. Methods: In 50 consecutive patients who underwent LC during 2013 to 2014 patient’s characteristics, clinical history, laboratory data, ultrasonography results and intraoperative details were prospectively analyzed to determine predictors of difficult LC. Results: Of 50 patients 3 (06%) required conversion to open cholecystectomy. Significant predictors of conversion were obscured anatomy of Calot’s due to adhesions, sessile gall bladder, male gender and gall bladder wall thickness >3 mm. Conclusions: With preoperative clinical and ultrasonographic parameters, proper patient selection can be made to help predict difficult LC and a likelihood of conversion to open cholecystectomy.

Long QT syndrome manifesting as pulseless epilepsy.

A-10-year-old child admitted with repeated seizures due to the long QT syndrome is described. The cardiac origin of the epilepsy was suggested by the fact that during the episode of convulsions his peripheral pulses were not palpable.