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A four-month-old prepubertal female goat was presented to RVP IVRI Bareilly, with the history of an abnormal growth in the vulva. On clinical examination the growth was found as prominent clitoris, and two peanut sized soft structures were palpable at the subcutaneous in inguinal region. Transabdominal B mode real time ultrasound of inguinal region revealed testis like morphology and presence of uterus and ovaries structures subcutaneously. The case was subsequently diagnosed as hermaphrodism.
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Background & objectives: Obesity is a rising pandemic in childhood. There is scarcity of evidence on the efficacy of yoga in achieving weight loss in overweight/obese children. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of family-based comprehensive yoga intervention in the reduction of body mass index (BMI) in overweight/obese children, in comparison to standard dietary and lifestyle counselling and control group. Methods: This was an open-label randomized controlled study. Children aged 8-15 yr who were overweight or had obesity were randomized to one of the three arms for 18 wk; standard weight management (group 1), yoga with dietary modification (group 2) and control (no intervention; group 3). Reduction in BMI and improvement in physiological, biochemical and psychological parameters from baseline to 18 wk was compared between the three arms. Late follow up was also done at 6-12 months. Results: A total of 165 children with mean±standard deviation (SD) age of 11.6±1.8 yr and mean BMI 26.3±4.2 kg/m2 were enrolled. Outcome analysis at 18 wk was performed for 109 children. Improved diet quality and reduced intake were observed in both intervention arms. The median (IQR) reduction in BMI in standard and yoga arms was similar [?1.4 (?3.1, ?0.5) kg/m2 and ?1.2 (?2.3, ?0.6) kg/m2, respectively], while it increased by +0.3 (?0.3, 0.1) in the control arm. In the yoga arm, mean systolic BP reduced from 118 (10) to 114 (8) mmHg, (P=0.019). In the standard arm, significant improvement in psychological scores was noted. In group 3, the mean fasting glucose increased from 93±10 to 102±12 mg/dl (P<0.001). Interpretation & conclusions: The findings of the present study suggest that yoga in conjunction with dietary modification is equally effective as the standard weight management for BMI reduction in the paediatric age group.
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Climate change, along with current agricultural practices, is going to pose a significant challenge for futurefood security, especially in developing countries. Orphan crops can help mitigate this threat due to theirinherent properties of stress tolerance and nutrition content. Industrialization of agriculture has left these minorcrops behind in terms of domestication. As a result, the potential of these crops is underutilized. These cropscan be a game-changer in the long term if necessary steps are taken to improve the quality as well as quantity ofyield. Concerted efforts by many groups around the world have been taken for research and development ofthese crops. Besides, the unique properties of these crops have caught the media attention, which hails thesecrops as superfoods. Favourable government policies to promote these crops can help in the large-scaleadoption of these crops by the farming community. Besides, the stress-resilience of these crops can help boostthe sustainability of agriculture and ensure food security for future generations.
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Background: India has the maximum burden of both non MDR tuberculosis (TB) and Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) TB, as per data reported in Global TB Report 2018 and tuberculosis is remains one of the most common cause of pleural effusions.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Department of Respiratory Diseases and a total of 110 patients with pleural effusion were included in the study, which were enrolled for treatment from July 2018 to June 2019.Results: One hundred and ten patients with pleural effusion were enrolled during the study period. There were 65 males (59%) and 45 (40.9%) females. The overall mean age for males and females were 44.4±18.84 years (35-87 years) and 38.28±17.66 years (35-87 years) respectively. Tuberculous Pleural Effusion group (TPE) seen in 82 patients. Right sided pleural effusion (69.5 %) were more common than left sided (30.4 %). In TPE group the mean pleural fluid ADA level were 86.41±38.08 IU/L (range: 14-195 IU/L). The Malignant Pleural Effusion (MPE) group included 21 patients. In MPE group the mean pleural fluid ADA level were 34.10±32.88 IU/L (range: 8-144 IU/L). The difference in pleural fluid ADA levels between TPE and MPE group was statistically highly significant.Conclusions: Tuberculous pleural effusion was the most common cause of pleural effusion in present study and observed in 74.5% cases.
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Background: Diabetes mellitus is major public health issue facing the world in present century and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing explosively. There are various diabetes related complications, one of which is low testosterone levels in men. This study was designed to estimate the serum testosterone level in male patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods: The patients of type -2 diabetes mellitus were picked up from out-patient and in-patients section of the hospital at random.Results: Seventy male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were enrolled during the study period. The mean age of study population was 56.36±10.26 years (range 36-70), while that of control group patients was found to be 39.80±7.92years. Family history of diabetes was present in 14 (22.2%) patients. The mean HbA1c in study group was 8.83±1.95 %, which was significantly higher as compared to control group with HbA1c 4.82±0.40 %. Among study group, lower serum total testosterone level was observed in 85.7 % cases and normal level in 14.3 % cases. Among control group, lower serum total testosterone level was observed in 6.7 % cases and normal level in 93.3 % cases.Conclusions: The present study highlighted that significant difference in serum total testosterone level has been observed between cases and control groups (X2 =55.7, P=0.0001).
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Background: Undernutrition refers to a pathological state resulting from a relative or absolute deficiency of one or more essential nutrients. The term undernutrition encompasses wasting, stunting and underweight. As per National Family Health Survey IV (2015-16), prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight among under-five children in India is 38.4%, 21% and 35.7% respectively. Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted in an urban area of district Rohtak from July 2016 to June 2017 among 400 children (1-5 years of age) which were randomly selected from 14 anganwadi centers. The anthropometric measurement and nutritional status categorization among children was done using WHO guidelines. Results: The prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight to be 33.8%, 21.5% and 34.5% respectively. Undernutrition rates were found to be higher in children whose mothers were illiterate and working. Conclusion: It was revealed in this study that the prevalence of undernutrition was unacceptably high among the children. Every endeavor should be made to combat the undernutrition in children through multi-sectoral and multipronged approach.
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Background: The study was conducted to evaluate and compare the protective effects of spironolactone (alone) and its effects along with ACE inhibitor (ramipril) on diabetics (30-70year) in relation to proteinuria and state of diabetic nephropathy.Methods: A comparative, prospective, non-randomized, non-blinded experimental study was conducted on 56 patients (30-70year) of diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus showing proteinuria. Total duration of study was about one year from October 2017 to October 2018. Patients were divided in two groups, group A (n=28, spironolactone 25mg and ramipril 5mg) and group B (n=27, spironolactone 25mg). Subjects were followed over 12weeks and baseline and 12-week urine ACR being compared.Results: Both the group after receiving respective drug were followed for 3month duration and response were assessed by measuring urine ACR value at end of 3months. Mean values of baseline and follow up urine ACR for group A and group B were 471.5±465.62, 244.66±237.54 and 474.88±438.94, 268.42±268.16 respectively, P value found to be >0.05 at 95%C.I. It was observed that percentage reduction of urine ACR were 48% and 43.47% in group A and group B respectively.Conclusions: In the study, it was concluded that spironolactone had significant effect over proteinuria reduction over follow up period in patient with diabetic nephropathy though there was no additional statistically significant advantage of addition of spironolactone and ACE inhibitor over proteinuria reduction. Significant reduction of proteinuria occurred in both group A and group B over 12weeks follow up period, 48 % reduction in group A and 43.47% in group B. This difference proved statistically not significant after applying independent t-test.
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Bridelia ferruginea Benth. (Fam. 'Euphorbiaceae) is known to possess potent anti-inflammatory activity. Here, we investigated its vasomodulatory effect, as anti-inflammatory therapy that beneficially impact the cardiovascular system. Extracts (Bf1, Bf-HA) and fraction (Bf2) of B. ferruginea (Bf), were prepared from the bark of Bf to study their vasomodulatory effect using rat aortic rings. The vasorelaxant effect of Bf1 and Bf2 was mediated by the activation of nitric oxide synthase/endothelial isoform (NOS3) as confirmed by EA.hy926 endothelial cells, real-time PCR and Western blotting. Mass spectral analysis of these extracts and fraction was performed to understand the profile of compounds present in them. Mass spectral analysis showed the presence of similar ions in both Bf1 and Bf2 while Bf-HA showed different patterns. Vasorelaxant effect of Bf1 and Bf2 in phenylephrine (PE) pre-contracted endothelium intact aortic rings was blocked significantly in the presence of both N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor (1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo-[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one [ODQ]). However, cyclo-oxygenase (COX) inhibitor (indomethacin) did not exert any change. In contrast, Bf-HA significantly inhibited ACh-induced vasorelaxation, but had no effect on sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-mediated relaxation, thereby suggesting NOS inhibitory activity in the extract. Studies with Bf1 and Bf2 on EA.hy926 cells demonstrated NOS3 mediated nitric oxide (NO) generation. Purified fractions of Bf, thus possess vasorelaxant compounds, which remain to be identified.
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Mahonia leschenaultia (ML) and Mahonia napaulensis (MN) are less known and unexplored medicinal plants of the family Berberidaceae. They are used by the Todas of Nilgiris in their religious and medical practices but chemically less identified. Hence, we decided to do extensive phytochemical analysis to explore the potential of these plant extracts. An ultrahigh performance electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–ESI–MS/MS) method was successfully developed for qualitative analysis of the bioactive components in Mahonia species using Orbitrap Velos Pro mass spectrometer. Sixteen compounds were identified by comparison of their retention times and mass spectra (MS) with authentic standards and reported literature. Multi-stage mass spectra (MS2–8) for the identification of protoberberine and aporphine alkaloids showed the sequential expulsion of all the substituents attached with their basic skeleton followed by CO loss. Eight of the identified compounds (berberine, jatrorrhizine, palmatine, magnoflorine, isocorydine, glaucine, tetrahydropalmatine and tetrahydroberberine) were simultaneously determined by another UHPLC–ESI–MS/MS method under the multiple reactions monitoring (MRM) mode quantitatively using triple quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometer. The analytical method was validated for 8 bioactive compounds with overall recovery in the range 98.5%–103.6%(RSD≤2.2%), precise (RSD≤2.07%) and linear (r≥0.9995) over the concentration range of 0.5–1000 ng/mL and successfully applied in ML and MN roots, which suggests the suitability of the proposed approach for the routine analysis of Mahonia species and their quality control.
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Phyllanthus species plants are a rich source of phenolics and widely used due to their medicinal properties. A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method was developed using high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS) for the identification and characterization of quercetin, kaempferol, ellagic acid and their derivatives in ethanolic extracts of Phyllanthus species. The chromatographic separation was carried out on Thermo Betasil C8 column (250 mm×4.5 mm, 5 μm) using 0.1% formic acid in water and 0.1% formic acid in methanol as the mobile phase. The identification of diagnostic fragment ions and optimization of collision energies were carried out using 21 reference standards. Totally 51 compounds were identified which include 21 compounds identified and characterized unambiguously by comparison with their authentic standards and the remaining 30 were tentatively identified and characterized in ethanolic extracts of P. emblica, P. fraternus, P. amarus and P. niruri.
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Background: Erectile dysfunction is a prevalent health problem among diabetics. Presence of erectile dysfunction in diabetics mandates evaluation for coronary artery disease risk factors. Methodology: This case control hospital based study involved 102 patients evaluated for coronary artery disease risk factors by using IIEF-5 questionnaire at Upgraded P.G. Department of Medicine, M.L.N. Medical College, and SRN Hospital, Allahabad after taking informed consent and intuitional ethical committee permission. Suitable statistical tests were applied. Results: Seventy (68.3%) patients were found to have erectile dysfunction. Percentage of mild, mild to moderate, moderate and severe erectile dysfunction was 11.42, 25.71, 31.43 and 31.43 percent respectively. Age was found to be a significant determinant of erectile dysfunction in diabetics. Prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher among the cases as compared to controls. Conclusion: All diabetic males with erectile dysfunction should be intensively investigated for coronary artery disease and its risk factors.
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Rauwolfia species (Apocynaceae) are medicinal plants well known worldwide due to its potent bioactive monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIAs) such as reserpine, ajmalicine, ajmaline, serpentine and yohimbine. Reserpine, ajmalicine and ajmaline are powerful antihypertensive, tranquilizing agents used in hypertension. Yohimbine is an aphrodisiac used in dietary supplements. As there is no report on the comparative and comprehensive phytochemical investigation of the roots of Rauwolfia species, we have developed an efficient and reliable liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method for ethanolic root extract of Rauwolfia species to elucidate the fragmentation pathways for dereplication of bioactive MIAs using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–ESI–QTOF–MS/MS) in positive ion mode. We identified and established diagnostic fragment ions and fragmentation pathways using reserpine, ajmalicine, ajmaline, serpentine and yohimbine. The MS/MS spectra of reserpine, ajmalicine, and ajmaline showed C-ring-cleavage whereas E-ring cleavage was observed in serpentine via Retro Diels Alder (RDA). A total of 47 bioactive MIAs were identified and characterized on the basis of their molecular formula, exact mass measurements and MS/MS analysis. Reserpine, ajmalicine, ajmaline, serpentine and yohimbine were unambiguously identified by comparison with their authentic standards and other 42 MIAs were tentatively identified and characterized from the roots of Rauwolfia hookeri, Rauwolfia micrantha, Rauwolfia serpentina, Rauwolfia verticillata, Rauwolfia tetraphylla and Rauwolfia vomitoria. Application of LC–MS followed by principal component analysis (PCA) has been successfully used to discriminate among six Rauwolfia species.
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Berberis petiolaris Wall. ex G. Don, an unexplored medicinal plant belonging to the family Berberidaceae, is a large deciduous shrub found in Western Himalaya between 1800-3000 m. Chemical profiling of fruit, leaf, root and stem was done by direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry followed by multivariate analysis for discrimination among the plant parts. The bioactive compounds, including magnoflorine, berberine, jatrorrhizine, thalifendine/berberrubine, demethyleneberberine, reticuline, 8-oxoberberine, N-methyltetrahydroberberine, tetrahydropalmatine, tetrahydroberberine and palmatine, were identified by their exact mass measurement and the corresponding molecular formula of each compound. A comparative study of distribution pattern for all these bioactive alkaloids showed qualitative and quantitative variations in different parts of B. petiolaris. Principal component analysis clearly dis-criminated each part of B. petiolaris plant.
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Piper betle is a dioecious pan-Asiatic plant having cultural and medicinal uses. It belongs to the family Piperaceae and is a native of the tropics although it is also cultivated in subtropical areas. Flowering in P. betle occurs only in tropical regions. Due to lack of inductive floral cycles the plant remains in its vegetative state in the subtropics. Therefore, due to lack of flowering, gender distinction cannot be made the in the subtropics. Gender distinction in P. betle in vegetative state can be made using Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectroscopy (DARTMS), a robust highthroughput method. DARTMS analysis of leaf samples of two male and six female plants showed characteristic differences in the spectra between male and female plants. Semi-quantitative differences in some of the identified peaks in male and female landraces showed gender-based differences in metabolites. Cluster analysis using the peaks at m/z 151, 193, 235 and 252 showed two distinct clusters of male and female landraces. It appears that male and female plants besides having flowers of different sexes also have characteristic differences in the metabolites representing two metabolic types.