ABSTRACT
Aim: To explore the potential role of Punica granatum ethanolic extract (PGEE) in Cyclophosphamide (CP) induced testicular toxicity. Methods: Healthy male Wistar rats were allotted to 4 groups (N=6, each) Group I: Control, Group II: CP 15mg/kg twice a week, Group III: PGEE 100mg/kg, Group IV: CP and PGEE for 28 days. At the end of the treatment period, organ weight, body weight, epididymal sperm count, motility, morphology, SOD, catalase, GSH, ACP & testosterone level in the testis were evaluated. Results: The CP treated rats showed toxicity evidenced by decreased organ and body weight, decreased sperm quality and testosterone level also increase in MDA and decrease in antioxidants SOD, GSH indicating oxidative stress. In contrast PGEE co-treatment with CP resulted in significant restoration of the above mentioned parameters. Conclusion: These results indicate that PGEE attenuates CP induced testicular toxicity through its ROS scavenging activity.
ABSTRACT
Background: Parkinson’s disease is one of the most disabling chronic neurologic diseases and leads to a significant loss of quality of life. Electrical stimulation activate nerves innervating extremities affected by paralysis resulting from Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), head injury, stroke and hence is primarily used to restore function in people with disabilities. Methods: The study was performed after the institutional ethical clearance and informed consent from all the participants. The parameters assessed were time taken to complete 20 M walk with turn round, distance covered in the first 3 minutes of walking, gait dynamics like stride length, step length and cadence and number of falls with the help of video tape recorder, stop watch and measuring tape. Results: We observed a non-significant reduction (P = 0.471) of UPDRS, mean score of PDQ-39 was declined non-significantly (P = 0.36), time taken to complete 20 meters walk with turn was declined significantly (P = 0.017), The distances walked in 3 minutes by the patients were increased significantly (P = 0.000), number of steps during 20 meter walk was recorded and was found to be declined significantly (P = 0.088), stride length of the patients were increased significantly (P = 0.000), step length of the patients was increased significantly (P = 0.000), average number of falls reduced significantly (P = 0.00) during the stimulation period from week 0 to week 8. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the superior efficacy of electrical stimulation over best medical management in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease.
ABSTRACT
The heart is remarkably resilient even in the face of heavy parasite sequestration and other vital organ dysfunction, and deaths from cardiac arrhythmias in severe malaria are rare. Malaria may prove fatal for patients with pre-existing cardiac failure due to valvular stenosis or myocardial disease. High grade fever, parasitaemia, and fluid overload can all contribute to the problem. Cardiac arrhythmias are very rarely observed in severe falciparum malaria. An attempt has been made to evaluate the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in malaria infected patients. In the present study the levels of total cholesterol, low density lipoproteins, triglycerides were high and the levels of high density lipoproteins were low in malaria infected patients compared to controls. The markers of free radical induced injury i.e. malondialdehyde were high. The study therefore suggests the importance of assessing these markers of oxidative stress along with the other routine investigations in malaria infected patients for initiating therapy in addition to primary and secondary preventive measures to mitigate the devastating consequences hyperlipidemia in malaria infected patients leading to cardiovascular diseases.
ABSTRACT
In this study it was attempted to understand the effect of pyridoxine deficiency on the structural and functional development of the hippocampus. Hippocampus has been closely associated with complex neuroendocrine control of physiological activities as well as behavioural responses including learning process and memory retention. Prenatal, preweanling and weanling deficiency of pyridoxine was induced in the experimental rats by feeding dams with diet deficient in pyridoxine during pregnancy and lactation. The general growth profile for pyridoxine deficient (PD) rats is compared with control ones. The structural changes in the hippocampus of pyridoxine deficient rats was investigated using the histological techniques. Hippocampal electrical activity was recorded from in vitro brain slice preparation. The study clearly showed the structural impairment in the hippocampus of PD rats. These anatomic anomalies might be related to poor neurointegrative development and neurophysiological deficits that occur in young one. The electrical activity recorded from hippocampal slices of PD rats showed significant variation when compared to controls. Pyridoxine deficiency is common in pregnant women who used anovulatory steroids before pregnancy. The pyridoxine deficiency of the mother may result in permanent behavioural abnormality and intellectual deficit in the progeny.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Hippocampus/growth & development , Male , Pregnancy , Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Vitamin B 6 Deficiency/metabolismABSTRACT
In the present study the effect of preweaning pyridoxine deficiency indicates that the body weight and brain weight of pyridoxine deficient rats were significantly lower when compared to the control rats. Onset and stabilisation of reflex reactions were also delayed in the pyridoxine deficient rats. Maturation of neuromotor coordination in the vitamin deficient group was significantly slow as compared to the control groups. This suggests that the importance of maternal pyridoxine supplementation cannot be overlooked in pregnant women especially after prolonged use of anovulatory steroids.