Role of Asgand [Withania somniferd] in cadmium chloride induced nephrotoxicity in Rats

Asgand consists of roots of Withania somnifera [Family: Solanaceae], a well-famed drug in Indian system of medicine especially Unani and Ayurveda. The similarity in the restorative properties of Asgand and ginseng roots has led to Asgand being named as [Indian ginseng] Crude powder of Asgand was studied in rats for their ability to inhibit the nephrotoxicity induced by cadmium chloride. Cadmium is a well-known toxicant with the reported effect in mammal kidney tissue [Friberg, 1959, Funakoshi et al, 1995, Srivastava et al, 1996]. Crude powder of Asgand [Withania somnifera] significantly inhibited the toxicity produced by Cadmium chloride

comparison of the effect of breast feeding, mixed feeding and top feeding on weights of infants and children

A retrospective analysis of 503 patients admitted to diarrhoea ward between June to August 2003 was done regarding their weight and feeding practices. Out of them 36 children were excluded as they did not full fill the required criteria. So a total of 467 patients were studied. The patients were divided into three groups depending upon whether they were breast fed, mixed i.e. both breast and top fed, or top fed respectively. All patients between the ages of birth and 24 months were included. The number of patients in breast fed, mixed fed and top fed were 134,135 and 198 respectively. Male to female ratio was 1.4:1,1.5:1,1.4:1,with mean age in breast fed group for females 6.9 +/- 4.7 months and males 10.3 +/- 7.63,in mixed fed group 8.3 +/- 5.97 months and 8.4 +/- 6.4 months and in top fed group 8.25 +/- 7.35 months and 7.65 +/- 5.72 months respectively. Mean weight in each group was 6.1 +/- 1.9, 5.7 +/- 2.1 and 4.9 +/- 2.0 kg. When weight of breast fed children was compared with those of mixed fed the difference was not statistically significant with p value of 0.236 while the comparison with top fed was highly significant with p value of 0.000. Similarly babies on mixed feeding had significantly better weight than that of top fed with p value of 0.004. Although it has been stressed upon and a lot of effort has been put in to encourage breast feeding but still top feeding and mixed feeding are on the top resulting in malnourished and wasted children. From our study it is obvious that top fed children are grossly malnourished, and exclusive breast feeding is low. We need to take more steps to encourage breast feeding

comparison of brachial versus femoral approach for coronary angiography in coronary artery disease [CAD] patients with peripheral vascular disease [PVD]

Diagnostic left heart catheterization [LHC] and coronary angiography via Brachial Seldinger technique was compared to Femoral Seldinger technique with a view to determine its feasibility, efficacy and safety. 22 patients in the brachial group [Br] and 20 matched patients in femoral group [Fe] were retrospectively reviewed. The sources of information included hospital records of the patients [medical and nursing] and catheter laboratory data. The two groups were compared with respect to patient tolerance of the procedure, complications, time for radiation exposure, hemostasis, ambulation and procedure. The mean age of patients was 65.8 +/- 11.4 yrs. The reasons for performing LHC via brachial approach included known Peripheral Vascular Disease [PVD] in 72.7 percent, difficult access due to previously unrecognized aorto-iliac disease in 22.7 percent and tight coractation of aorta in 4.6 percent. Mean procedure time for Br group was 31.6 + 33.0 min and for Fe group was 12.6 + 5.2 [p = 0.004]. Mean ambulation time for Br pts was 2 hrs and that for Fe patients was 4.3 hrs + 0.9 hrs [p < 0.001]. The mean time to discharge for Br patients was 6.0 +/- 0.2 hrs and for Fe patients 7.6 +/- 0.9 hrs [p <0.001]. Br group was complicated by one significant hematoma [4.8 percent] and one arterial spasm [4.8 percent]. No complications occurred in Fe group. There was no significant difference between Fe and Br patients as far as tolerability was concerned. Hemoastasis time was significantly lower in patients who underwent Br angiography compared to Fe group [p-value = 0.003]. Conclusion we conclude that brachial approach for LHC is a very safe and equally effective alternative to femoral approach and even more so in patients with PVD. Br approach was similar to Fe in terms of tolerance, complication profile and technical feasibility but required longer laboratory time. Its advantages include lesser time for hemostasis, ambulation and discharge