ABSTRACT
@#The bioactivity of R. nasutus leaf extracts was assessed on Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Proteus mirabilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Crude chloroform, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, ethanol and methanol extracts were screened by disc diffusion method. Promising crude extract was further subjected to the column fractionation followed by the screening of the antibacterial activity of individual fractions. Biologically active pure fraction was subjected to the advanced analytical studies like HPLC, LC-MS, IR and NMR for characterisation of the bioactive compound. Ethanolic extract exhibited the maximum antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae with the maximum of 35±0.42 mm zone of inhibition. The biologically potent column fraction from ethanol extract with 40±0.42 mm zone of inhibition upon subject to the HPLC, LC-MS, IR and NMR revealed that the active compound is rhinacanthin-C, a naphthoquinone.
ABSTRACT
Background: Axonal loss is thought to occur early in the course multiple sclerosis (MS) and is supposed to be associated with, and predictive of, neurologic deficits progressing to permanent disability.Axonal loss in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) is measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Material and Methods: A longitudinal observational study, conducted on 30 MS patients. All subjects underwent neurological examination, including expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scoring and OCT on two visits, minimum 2 months apart. Results: Total of 60 eyes of 30 patients were subdivided into 21 eyes having optic neuritis (ON) [‘MS – ON’] and 39 eyes without ON. The RNFL thickness (RNFLt) was found to be significantly reduced in all parameters except in temporal quadrant, as the duration of disease increases. Average RNFLt were found to have negative correlation (r = -0.450) with disease duration. Negative correlation (r=-0.657) was also found between EDSS score change and average RNFLt change. The eyes having ON showed statistically significant RNFL thinning as compared to the non – ON fellow eyes. The baseline EDSS score was found to be negatively correlated (moderate degree, r = -0.348) with baseline average RNFL thickness, with p-value of 0.006. Conclusions: The RNFLt is not only significantly thinner in those with history of ON, but it is also affected remarkably even in absence of prior ON, suggesting subclinical ongoing axonal loss in patients with MS. The EDSS score is inversely correlated with RNFL thickness.
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OBJECTIVE: To study the histological features of chronic active hepatitis C (CAH-C) and to compare these with those of chronic active hepatitis B (CAH-B). METHODS: Thirty-two liver biopsy specimens from patients with chronic active hepatitis and presence of antibodies to hepatitis C on second generation enzyme immunoassay were studied and compared with those in 34 patients with CAH-B. Seventeen of the 32 CAH-C patients had fully developed or developing cirrhosis of liver whereas the remainder had only chronic active hepatitis. RESULTS: Among 32 patients with CAH-C, fatty change (20), Kupffer cell hyperplasia (30), sinusoidal lymphocytosis (27) lymphoid follicles aggregates in portal tracts (26) and bridging necrosis (16) were regular features. Focal necrosis, bile duct necrosis, cholestasis and ground glass cells were however seen much less often. On the other hand, in patients with CAH-B, fatty change (no patient), sinusoidal lymphocytosis (one patient) and lymphoid follicles/aggregates in portal tracts (one patient) were rare. Also, Kupffer cell hyperplasia (22 patients) was seen less commonly in patients with CAH-B as compared to CAH-C. Focal necrosis (34 patients), bile ductular proliferation (9 patients), cholestasis (17 patients) and ground glass cells (15 patients) were more prominent in CAH-B. CONCLUSION: Presence of certain histological features can help in distinguishing between CAH-C and CAH-B.