A study on clinical correlation of EEG in neonates with perinatal asphyxia

Background: Perinatal asphyxia is the most common and important cause of preventable cerebral injury occurring in the neonatal period. The WHO has estimated that 4 million babies die during the neonatal period every year. According to WHO, perinatal asphyxia is defined as the failure to initiate and sustain breathing at birth. The objective is to study the electroencephalographic changes and correlation between severity of Perinatal asphyxia with EEG changes.Methods: It is prospective observational study, which includes 40 term neonates admitted in NICU with perinatal asphyxia in GMCH Aurangabad. EEG analysis focused on background activity and classified into four categories.Results: The EEG was normal in 45%, mild abnormal in 25%, intermediate in 15%, and severely abnormal in 15%.' Outcome at discharge was normal in 19(47.5%) and abnormal in 21(52.5%) including 1 death. Abnormal outcome was seen in 27% of newborns with normal EEG and 72% of abnormal EEG.Conclusions: Severity of perinatal asphyxia correlated well with abnormality of EEG. EEG changes and severity showed good correlation with immediate outcome of newborn in terms of duration of hospitalization and normal neurological examination.

Antihyperglycaemic activity of ethanolic extract of Cissus quadrangularis (L.) Leaves in alloxan induced diabetic rats.

The present study was performed to explore the antihyperglyceamic activity of ethanolic extract of leaves of Cissus quadrangularis against alloxan induced diabetic rats. Ethanolic extract of C. quadrangularis and glyburide were administered orally in alloxan induced diabetic rats. In the acute study, the serum glucose level was estimated at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 24 h after drug administration. The subacute study involved repeated administration of the drugs for 28 days, a serum glucose level estimated at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. In the OGTT, D-glucose (2.5 g/kg) was administered in diabetic rats half an hour after pre-treatment with EtCQ and glyburide. Serum glucose levels were estimated 30 min prior to glucose administration and at 0, 30, 60 and 120 min after glucose loading. In EtCQ (400 mg/kg), the onset was 4 h, the peak effect was 6 h but the effect waned at 24 h. In subacute study, repeated administration (once a day for 28 days) of the glyburide and EtCQ caused a significant reduction in the serum glucose level as compared to the vehicle treated group. EtCQ (400 mg/kg) treatment prevented a decrease in the body weight of the diabetic rats. In the OGTT, EtCQ (200 & 400 mg/kg) increased the glucose threshold at 30 min after the administration of glucose. The EtCQ (400 mg/kg) showed significant antihyperglyceamic activity than EtCQ (100 and 200 mg/kg). It can be concluded that ethanolic extract of C. quadrangularis has antihyperglyceamic activity.

Protective Effects of Thespesia populnea (L.) Sol ex. Correa in Inflammatory, Nociceptive and Arthritic Conditions on Experimental Animals.

Aims: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antiarthritis activities of methanolic extract of T. populnea flower (TPF) and root (TPR) extract; yet unreported. Study Design: Extraction and administration of bioactive extract. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmacology and Department of Pharmacognosy, R.V.S. College of Pharmaceutical Science, Sulur, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India, between June 2010 and July 2011. Methodology: Thespesia populnea flowers and roots were extracted by soxhlet extraction using methanol. Anti-inflammatory activity of TPF and TPR was studied by using acetic acid induced vascular permeability and cotton-pellet granuloma. The antinociceptive activity of TPF and TPR was evaluated using formalin-induced paw licking response and the hot-plate test. The antiarthritic activity was studied by using adjuvant-induced arthritis model in rat. In addition total flavonoid content was determined with spectrophotometric method. Results: Administration of TPF and TPR (400 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.01) decreased the formation of granuloma tissue induced by cotton pellet at a rate of 37.06% and 25.76% respectively. TPF and TPR inhibited acetic acid-induced vascular permeability in mice. In the adjuvant-induced arthritis test TPF and TPR inhibited 50.68% and 30.13% of paw thickness respectively. TPF and TPR also produced significant (P < 0.01) analgesic activity in formalin-induced paw licking response. In the hot-plate test, TPF and TPR have shown significantly (P < 0.01) increased in latency time when compared with control. Conclusion: Altogether, the present data demonstrate the anti-inflammatory antinociceptive and antiarthritis properties of flower and root of Thespesia populnea suggesting its potential role as adjuvant therapeutic tool for the management of inflammatory-related diseases.

Cholecystectomy for asymptomatic gallstones can reduce gall bladder cancer mortality in northern Indian women.

Gall bladder cancer (GBC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent. A majority of patients with GBC are middle-aged women, who normally would have substantial family responsibilities. Most patients are diagnosed with advanced cancer and are suitable for palliative care only. There is a strong association between long-standing gallstone disease and the development of GBC. Although randomized trials are lacking, prospective population-based data from low-risk and high-risk regions reveal that cholecystectomy reduces the mortality from GBC. Prophylactic cholecystectomy is recommended in populations with high incidence of GBC. The morbidity and mortality of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in uncomplicated gallstone disease is very low in India. Because of these reasons we argue that prophylactic cholecystectomy should be offered to young healthy women from high-risk regions of India whenever they are diagnosed to have asymptomatic gallstones. Simultaneously, population-based observational studies could be undertaken to generate more evidence.