Azadirachta indica - cow urine extract, a novel controlling agent towards Clinically significant Multi Drug Resistant Pathogens.

Azadirachta indica have been widely used in traditional systems of medicine for a variety of diseases. In the present study, Cow urine extract of Azadirachta indica was evaluated for its antimicrobial activity against MDR Clinical isolates. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated towards five MDR pathogenic strains of bacteria. The results indicated that Cow urine extract of A.indica more antibacterial activity in comparison of its organic fraction for MDR E.coli and, Klebseilla pneumonia . The phytochemical test suggests that constituents for all the 20 days were positive for flavonoids, alkaloids, quinine, coumarin, tannin, saponin and phenol. Antimicrobial activities were correlated with chemical compositions of both organic extracts and Cow urine extract of A. indica.

Pressurised Air Injury in a Child.

We report the case of a 7 year old girl, who sustained accidental injury following injection of pressurized air from a bicycle tyre air nozzle. She presented with generalized subcutaneous emphysema along with pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, pneumoperitoneum, pneumoretroperitoneum and pneumorrachis. The child was recovered completely on conservative management.

A Study on the Resting Preference of Mosquito Species in Wells 27-31in Vellore in Tamilnadu, South India.

The resting preferences of mosquito species was investigated in domestic wells. In addition to the routine adult surveys in human dwellings, adult collections were also made in domestic wells using an innovated equipment operating on the principles of spray sheet collections. Above the water surface, wells provide humid and dark microclimate along the inner walls. It has been observed that this microclimate provides very congenial resting place for few mosquito species; specially for the males and for the females between their gonotropic cycles. Larval collections in the wells did not reveal breeding of majority of the mosquito species collected by this technique. Investigations were conducted in 87 wells in 11 localities during 2005. A total of 4969 mosquitos were collected of which 69.1 % (3441) were males and 30.9% (1528) were females. From among the mosquitos collected 96.5% were Cu.quinquifasciatus, 0.26% All stephensi, 3.0% Aedes agypti and 0.24% Armegeres sp. The results of the analysis of the physical and chemical parameter of water samples of the study wells before and after the surveys endorsed the utility of this technique for entomological investigations in outbreak situations, for monitoring the liquidation of outbreak foci and for other research purposes.

Effect of chloroquine on rat liver mitochondria.

Chloroquine causes an increase in phospholipid and a decrease in cholesterol in liver mitochondria. A significant decrease in the activities of mitochondrial inner membrane enzymes such as NADH dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome c oxidase is observed. Decrease in cytochrome contents and respiratory control ratio, shown by a decrease in state 3(+ADP) and an increase in state 4 (-ADP), implies decreased ATP synthesis following chloroquine administration. The results confirm drug-induced inhibition of mitochondrial respiration, thereby impairing availability and utilisation of energy.

Hypolipidemic activity of tincture of Crataegus in rats.

Tincture of Crataegus (TCR), an alcoholic extract of the berries of Crataegus oxyacantha, when administered to rats fed a hyperlipidemic diet (HLD), could prevent the elevation in plasma lipid levels. A significant decrease in lipid deposits in liver and aorta was also observed. Analysis of the plasma lipoprotein profile showed that TCR produced remarkable reduction in the increased levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids in the low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) fractions in hyperlipidemic rats. Histological examination showed severe fatty vacuolation and degeneration of liver of HLD fed rats. TCR administration had an ameliorating effect on these changes. Agarose gel electrophoretic pattern of plasma lipoproteins also indicated that the drug brought down the raised levels of the atherogenic beta-lipoproteins in hyperlipidemic rats.

Lung injury by furanoterpenoids isolated from Fusarium solani infected sweet potato, Ipomea batatas.

Intraperitoneal administration (1 mg/kg body/wt./day for 21 days) of crude extract of furanoterpenoids, isolated from F. solani damaged I. batatas caused pulmonary oedema in albino rats. The elevated broncho alveolar lavage (BAL) angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and protein levels indicated lung damage. The estimation of pulmonary extracellular surfactant phospholipids showed an alteration in various phospholipid fractions.