Studies on Ashwagandha Ghrita with reference to murcchana process and storage conditions

Background: Withania somnifera (L.) (family-Solanaceae), known as ‘Indian ginseng’ or ‘Ashwagandha’ isacclaimed as an effective adaptogen, immunomodulator, aphrodisiac and sedative. Ashwagandha ghrita isa recognized ghee based Ayurvedic formulation. Few ancient texts suggest murcchana process forpreparation of Ashwagandha ghrita.Objective: The study was undertaken to evaluate probable effects of murcchana process on ghritapreparation with reference to time and storage conditions.Materials and Methods: Ashwagandha ghrita samples were prepared separately using plain ghee (Indiancow's ghee) and murcchana ghee. These formulations were stored separately in different glass bottles atroom temperature and 400C/75%RH. Organoleptic characters (colour, odour, taste, texture and touch)and physicochemical parameters (acid value, peroxide value, iodine value, saponification value, unsaponifiable matter, refractive index and specific gravity) were determined after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months.Plain ghee and prepared ghrita were subjected for antioxidant evaluation by various in vitro methods.Results: Changes were observed in organoleptic characters and physicochemical parameters of plainghee and Ashwagandha ghrita formulations. Alterations in these parameters were more pronounced athigh temperature and on long storage. Ashwagandha ghrita prepared with murcchana process exhibitedbetter antioxidant potential in all in vitro methods.Conclusion: The murcchana process was found to be beneficial towards quality of ghrita. Hence, Ashwagandha ghrita may be prepared along with murcchana herbs and stored in a good quality glass bottleto ensure improved shelf life of ghrita.

Quality of life among people with epilepsy: A cross-sectional study from rural southern India.

Background. Epilepsy can be associated with profound physical, social and psychological consequences and it has an impact on a person’s quality of life. We assessed the quality of life and factors associated with a poor quality of life, among adults with epilepsy in a rural block of Tamil Nadu. Methods. We interviewed 91 epilepsy patients from 20 randomly selected villages using a structured questionnaire including World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), Patient Health Questionnaire 2 (PHQ-2) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) questionnaires. Results. The mean (SD) total score of the quality of life scale was 61.49 (12.56). Those who were single, separated or widowed (t statistic= –2.71, p<0.01), had not completed primary education (t statistic=–2.308, p<0.05), not currently going for work (t statistic=–2.748, p<0.01), had seizure in the past one year (t statistic=–4.068, p<0.01), had depressive symptoms (t statistic=–3.207, p<0.01), had higher anxiety scores (t statistic=–2.727, p<0.01), had low scores in the quality of life questionnaire. Multivariate analysis showed increasing age, education less than grade V, being unmarried, widowed or separated, lower per capita income, a high anxiety score and experiencing a seizure episode in the past one year to be significantly associated with a low score in the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire (adjusted R2=0.378, SE 9.90). Conclusion. The presence of anxiety, lack of primary education, being single, separated or widowed, increasing age, low per capita income and having a seizure episode in the past year are associated with lower quality of life among people with epilepsy.

Floating thromboembolism: a case report.

Medico legal autopsies are conducted in cases of sudden unexpected deaths, primarily to establish the cause of death. In cases where deaths have occurred in apparently healthy individuals, deaths under suspicious circumstances or who have sustained injuries, pulmonary embolism forms the principal cause of sudden unexpected death. Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is caused when thrombi are detached from the deep vein of the lower leg. The most important causes for incorrect diagnosis are failure to suspect Pulmonary Embolism, and the protean nature of the disease. Presentation is often “atypical”. Signs and symptoms are frequently vague and nonspecific and rarely “classic”. In more than 95% of cases, venous emboli originate from deep leg vein thrombi above the level of the knee. Most pulmonary emboli (60 to 80%) are clinically silent because they are small. Remarkable differences actually exist concerning the point of origin and the final localization, as well as the size and age of thromboemboli, the presence or absence of pulmonary infarction, and the underlying pathology. This paper highlights a rare case of a young individual with minor injuries who succumbed to pulmonary thromboembolism.

Supernumerary Fascicle of Abductor digiti minimi Muscle and Compression of Ulnar Nerve and Ulnar Artery: A Case Report / Fascículo Supernumerario del Músculo Abductor del dedo Mínimo y Compresión del Nervio y Arteria Ulnares: Reporte de Caso

The supernumerary fascicles of abductor digiti minimi muscle have been implicated in vascular and nerve compression. During routine dissection of an old male cadaver we observed an anomalous muscle was found to take it's origin from the antebrachial fascia and flexor retinaculum, traversed ulnar canal (Guyon's) superficial to ulnar vessels and nerves to reach the proximal part of abductor digiti minimi. The anomaly is one of a kind. Its course through Guyon's canal could be a cause for Guyon's canal syndrome. It was innervated by the ulnar nerve.

Los fascículos supernumerarios del músculo abductor del dedo mínimo han sido implicados en la compresión neurovascular. Durante una disección de rutina de un cadáver masculino adulto, se observó un músculo anómalo que se originaba en la fascia antebraquial y en el retináculo flexor, atravesaba el canal ulnar, superficial a los vasos y nervio ulnares para llegar a la parte proximal del músculo abductor del dedo mínimo. La anomalía es única en su tipo. Su curso a través del canal ulnar puede causar el síndrome del canal ulnar. El músculo estaba inervado por el nervio ulnar.

Pattern of nontyphoid ileal perforation over three decades in Pondicherry.

Two hundred and twelve cases of ileal perforation due to different causes (excluding typhoid) were treated in 3 phases in the Department of Surgery, JIPMER Hospital, Pondicherry, during the periods 1966-78 (phase I), 1981-88 (phase II) and 1990-1998 (Phase III). Forty per cent of the patients were in the second and third decades of life. Male-to-female ratio was 2.2:1. The majority of the perforations (52.8%) were due to non-specific causes. Trauma (19.3%) and mechanical factors (12.7%) were the other principal aetiologies. Pain abdomen (92.3%), constipation (63.6%) and fever (44.3%) were the principal presenting features. Abdominal guarding and rigidity (89%) were the main physical signs. Pneumoperitoneum was present in 66.8% of cases on plain X-ray abdomen. Widal and blood culture for Salmonella typhi were negative in all. Laparotomy was done in most of the cases after adequate resuscitation. Simple closure of the perforation, wedge resection and resection anastomosis were the different procedures of management. Histology of the margin of perforation/excised gut gave added evidence of a non-typhoid etiology. Broad-spectrum antibiotics in different combinations with metronidazole were administered postoperatively. Mortality was 28.2% in Phase I, and 9.4% and 11.9% in phases II and III respectively. The lag period (advent of symptoms and hospitalization) showed definite relationship with mortality and morbidity. Wound infection, wound dehiscence, enterocutaneous fistula and septicaemia were the principal postoperative complications.

Rapid assay for detection of chloramphenicol acetyl transferase in Haemophilus influenzae.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Haemophilus influenzae causes a variety of life threatening infections in humans. Early detection of antimicrobial resistance is of importance in the treatment and management of infection. The modified Slack's method, a simple assay, has been evaluated in this study for the early detection of chloramphenicol resistance. METHODS: Fifty isolates of H. influenzae from invasive and non-invasive sites were included. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done by disc diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination was performed for chloramphenicol only. Modified Slack's method was used to test for the production of chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT). RESULTS: Invasive isolates showed higher degree of resistance to chloramphenicol (72%) compared to non-invasive ones (28%). One hundred per cent association was found between results of disc diffusion, MIC and CAT production amongst strains resistant to chloramphenicol. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The findings suggested that chloramphenicol still remains the drug of choice for treatment for non-invasive infection caused by H. influenzae. Modified Slack's method is a simple, rapid, inexpensive and reliable method for the detection of chloramphenicol resistance amongst H. influenzae.

Changing trends in outcome of typhoid ileal perforations over three decades in Pondicherry.

Two hundred and forty eight cases of proved typhoid ileal perforation were admitted and treated in three phases in the department of surgery during 1966-1998. Of these, 71% patients belonged to second and third decades of life. Male female ratio was 4:1. Abdominal pain (100%) fever (95%) and constipation (87%) were the main presenting symptoms. Abdominal guarding and rigidity (84%) were the principal physical signs. Plain radiograph of abdomen showed evidence of pneumoperitoneum in 57% of cases. The Widal test was positive for S. typhi in 74% of cases. Blood and bone marrow culture were positive for S. typhi in 9% and 30% respectively. Histology of the excised edges of perforation confirmed typhoid pathology in 62% of specimens. Many of the patients were treated conservatively in the first phase. In phase two and three vigorous resuscitation and early surgery was resorted to. Simple closure in two layers and wedge resection were the treatment of choice in most of the cases. Bypass, ileostomy and resection were done on few occasions. Chloramphenicol was the only drug used in the first phase. Other broad spectrum antibiotics were added to chloramphenicol with metranidazole in the second phase. Ciprofloxacin and metronidazole were the drugs of choice in the third phase. The mortality rate showed a dramatic improvement from 47.2% (first phase) to 17.7% (second phase) and as low as 7% in the last phase. The lag period (advent of symptoms to time of admission to hospital) showed definite correlation with mortality. Septicemia, wound infection, dehiscence, enterocutaneous fistula were the principal postoperative complications.

Expression of Mycobacterium tuberculosis genes in Escherichia coli.

Two Escherichia coli clones expressing Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens were isolated from a gene-bank in the plasmid vector pBR 325. 'Western blot' analysis revealed the presence of a unique protein band of molecular weight 68,000 and 38,000, respectively in cellextracts from each clone. The 68,000 dalton antigen was found to be expressed on Escherichia coli outer surface. Plasmid DNA from a third clone could confer leucine independence on two different leu Β mutants of Escherichia coli but not on mutants in other leu genes, pointing to the possibility ofgenetic complementation. Thus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA is capable of expression in Escherichia coli.