Analysis Of Fatty Acids From Oil Of Green Tea (CAMELLIA Sinensis L) By Gas Chromatography Coupled With Flame Ionization Detector And Its Anticancer And Antibacterial Activity In Vitro

Objective: Tea is a widely consumed beverage worldwide. The effect of green tea is mainly due to its high polyphenols-(-) epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) content in the culture of cancer cell and bacterial cells. The present work was carried out to investigate the efficacy of green tea oil (GTO) against cancer cells and bacterial cells. Methods: In this study green tea oil was prepared from green tea for different experiment and determination of fatty acids profile from green tea oil. In the present study, peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) was chosen as human peripheral blood lymphocytes and blood cancer MCF-7 cells were chosen as human cancer cells. To fulfill our aims and also to evaluate the activity of this phytomedicine against normal lymphocytes and cancer cells the cell samples were divided into 26 experimental groups in the following ways. Each Petri dish contains 2 X 105 cells. Results: GTO shows a potent anticancer agent but nontoxic to normal cells. The GTO decreases the reduced glutathione (GSH) level and increase the oxidized glutathione (GSSG) level significantly (P<0.05) in MCF-7 cells. But in lymphocytes the GSH level and GSSG level were almost the same with the control group but doxorubicin (DOX) significantly decreased the GSH and increase the GSSG level. Green tea oil treatment causes generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in MCF-7 cells revealed by DCFH2DA staining. Agar diffusion test shows the GTO is effective against multi-drug resistant bacteria. Conclusion: This phytomedicine has a potent anticancer activity without damaging the normal lymphocytes. So, this drug can be used for further treatment of anticancer and antibacterial.

Use of Point of Care Testing (POCT) in measurement of hemoglobin

Point of care tests (POCT) are critical to success of public health programs like anemia control program which involve measurement of biomarkers; as they help in prompt decision making during first (and in many scenario the only) contact with the targeted beneficiary. There are many methods currently in use for point of care testing for hemoglobin estimation and include manual methods like Sahli’s method, Indirect cyanmethemoglobin method, WHO Hemoglobin Color Scale method; digital hemoglobinometers including the newer non-invasive devices. The current background paper reviewed available published literature regarding performance of different POCT methods for hemoglobin estimation. Available literature indicates that invasive digital hemoglobinometers have shown a reasonable performance for use as POCT in facility and community settings both for clinical diagnosis as well as surveys. Adequate training of front line workers for use of digital hemoglobinometers and adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs) is essential to reduce errors/biases. Non-invasive digital hemoglobinometers seem to be promising new option for POCT which obviates the need for drawing blood sample (either by venous or capillary method) but further research and development is required before their use in programs.

Influence of Stent Length on Peri–Procedural Myocardial Injury after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background: About one-third of all elective PCI procedures are associated with significant myocardial injury termed peri-procedural myocardial injury (PMI), which has been associated with increased subsequent mortality. The stent length is one of the factors that can predict procedure related Troponon I release. Methods: This interventional study was carried out to evaluate the influence of stent length on peri– procedural myocardial injury by measuring post procedural release of Troponin I after percutaneous coronary intervention. Patients with e”70% stenosed single vessel disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with single stent were considered. Exclusion criteria were pre-procedural elevation of cardiac Troponin I above the 99th percentile of upper reference, severely ill patients. Total 90 consecutive patients were included. Among them 45 patients had d” 20mm long stent (group A) and rest 45 patients had > 20mm long stent (group B). Blood samples for Troponin I were collected before procedure and 12 hours after procedure. Results: Baseline characteristics including age, sex, risk factor for ischaemic heart disease and clinical diagnoses were almost similar between the two groups. During procedure no complications concurred 93.3% patients in group A and 68.9% patients in group B (p<0.05). Post procedural Troponin I level in group A was 0.47 ± 0.54 and in group B was 0.99 ± 1.09 (p<0.05). The stent length and post procedural Troponin I level had moderate correlation (r=0.41) (p<0.05). In hospital complications in two groups include persistent angina (6.7% vs. 11.1%), new ischaemic episode (0.0% vs. 4.4%) (p>0.05). There were no myocardial infarction, acute left ventricular failure, emergency CABG, arrhythmia and death in both groups. Durations of hospital stay were significantly higher in group B then group (4.53 ± 0.63 vs. 4.07 ± 0.65, p<0.05). Conclusion: The incidence of procedural myocardial injury and procedural complications are more in longer stent group. So limiting the stent length by spot-stenting the lesions rather than covering the entire vessel between lesions may reduce peri-procedural release of cTnI and improve post procedural prognosis.

Obesity attenuates formalin-induced tonic pain in British Angora Rabbits.

Obesity is known to alter various physiological parameters including the pain sensitivity. There are conflicting reports on the pain sensitivity in obesity. In this context, the present study was aimed to investigate the tonic pain response in obese rabbit model. To achieve this aim, two groups of adult male British Angora rabbits were used. One of the groups was fed with standard rabbit chow and served as control. The other group was fed high fat diet (HFD) for 10 weeks to produce obesity. The standard formalin test was performed at the start and after 10 weeks of dietary regimen in both the groups. Timed behavioral responses (limping, elevation of paw, licking, biting, grooming etc.) were categorized and quantified with the help of standard pain rating scale. The total average pain rating score decreased significantly from 2.01 ± 0.02 to 1.47 ± 0.08 (P<0.05) in HFD group after 10 weeks of dietary regimen, whereas there was no change in the control group. A significant negative correlation was observed between body weight and pain rating score in HFD group of rabbits (P<0.05, r=–0.62). Results suggest that obesity attenuates the tonic pain responses induced by formalin in British Angora rabbits.

High fat diet induces obesity in British Angora Rabbit : A model for experimental obesity.

A reliable and cost-effective animal model for human obesity with its manifested disorders is yet to be established in the context of increased morbidity and mortality due to obesity and its related problems. Therefore, an attempt was made to produce obesity in locally available British Angora Rabbits (BAR) and examine the effect on metabolic and cardiovascular parameters. Adult male BARs weighing nearly 2 kg were randomly divided into two groups, one of the groups was fed with high fat diet (HFD) ad libitum for 10 weeks and the control group received standard normal rabbit chow for same period. Body weight, skinfold thickness, serum cholesterol, serum glucose and resting heart rate were measured before and after the dietary regimens. After 10 weeks, HFD group of rabbits demonstrated significant (P<0.05) increase in body weight (+24%) and skinfold thickness (+37%). The gain in body weight was positively correlated to skinfold thickness (r=0.61). Serum cholesterol, serum glucose and resting heart rate were also increased by 46%, 52% and 15%, respectively. Whereas no such increases in any of these parameters were observed in control group of rabbits. Our results suggest that obesity can be produced in BARs by feeding HFD. The obesity manifests with cardiovascular and metabolic changes. It is proposed that this may serve as a valid and reliable model of experimental obesity.

Decline in respiratory performance of Varanasi population in 22 years: a cross-sectional study.

Lung function tests were performed on apparently healthy, non-smoking male volunteers aged 16-50 years normally staying in Varanasi city area. The volunteers were divided into five groups according to their age (16-19 yr, 20-25 yr, 26-30 yr, 31-35 yr, 40-50 yr). Anthropometric determinants (height and weight) and respiratory performance (vital capacity and peak expiratory flow rate) were recorded in the year 1982 and 2004. No significant (P>0.05) difference in height, weight and body mass index was detected between the age matched groups in the year 1982 and 2004. The Vital capacity (VC) was measured in 483 and 387 volunteers in the year 1982 and 2004 respectively; peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was measured in 200 and 388 subjects in the year 1982 and 2004 respectively. Both VC and PEFR were found to be reduced in the year 2004 as compared to those measured in 1982 from the similar population matched for age groups. They were significantly (P<0.001) lower (20-23% less for VC and 4-14% less for PEFR) in the 20-30 years age group. There was also significant (P<0.05) decrease in PEFR for the population of 16-19 years age group studied in 2004 compared to that of 1982. Significant (P<0.001) deterioration in VC per meter of height was observed in the population above 20 years of age. The mean values of VC (ml/m height) ranging from 2119.27 +/- 316.64 (20-25 years age group) to 1923.29 +/- 225.43 (40-50 years age group) in 1982 have dropped to 1896.54 +/- 289.50 and 1593.64 +/- 419.36 for the respective age groups in 2004. Similarly, mean value of PEFR (L/ min) was found to be reduced from 523.67 +/- 64.69 in 1982 to 471.44 +/- 85.25 in 2004 for the same age groups of 20-25 years. Similar reduction was also recorded for 16-19 yr group and 26-30 yr group of population. Air-pollution and sedentary lifestyles in the population of this city may be probable reasons for the decline in respiratory performance.

Prevalence of psychiatric ailments among patients with sexually transmitted disease.

A cross-sectional descriptive study conducted on 250 sexually transmitted disease patients was carried out in two teaching institutes and their tertiary hospitals. These subjects constitute a special group of population for psychiatric diagnosis by using Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IIIR. The study was done in the dermatology and venereology outpatient department of two tertiary hospitals of Dhaka, between January 1998 and January 1999. The findings show that 34% of total sexually transmitted disease patients had psychiatric disorders. Anxiety disorders (11.2%) were found to be the most common disorder among these psychiatric patients; this was followed by depressive disorder (8.4%), psychoactive substance use disorder (6.8%), sexual dysfunction (6.8%), bipolar mood disorder (0.4%), and schizophrenia (0.4%). Four percent of anxiety disorder was associated with psychoactive substance use disorder and sexual dysfunction. Similarly 3.6% of depressive disorder was found with psychoactive substance use disorder and sexual dysfunction while 1.6% of sexual dysfunction was associated with substance use disorder. Most of the patients in the sexually transmitted disease population recruited in the present study had both anxiety disorder and depressive disorder though majority of them were undetected and untreated. These findings underscore that special attention needs to be given to the mental health component of our health care delivery system.

Antibiotic resistance of Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi A in India: emerging and reemerging problem.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic resistance pattern and R-plasmid of Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi A isolates from Kolkata, India are not well documented. AIMS: To determine the trend of antibiotic resistance of S. paratyphi A isolates. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A retrospective study was carried out using blood culture isolates of S. paratyphi A (1991 to 2005) obtained from patients of enteric fever from Asansol and Kolkata and its suburbs (India). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antibiotic susceptibility pattern, using seven antibiotics, for the isolates was determined following agar dilution and disk diffusion methods. Transferability of multidrug resistance to ampicillin (Am), chloramphenicol (Chl), cotrimoxazole (Cot) and tetracycline (Tet) among the isolates was determined by in vitro conjugation. The multi-drug resistant (MDR) and antibiotic susceptible S. paratyphi A strains and the trans-conjugants were screened for the presence of plasmid. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The t test was used to compare the difference between mean minimum inhibitory concentration values of ciprofloxacin (Cp) for nalidixic acid (Nx)-resistant and Nalidixic acid (Nx)-susceptible isolates. RESULTS: Among 13 outbreak causing isolates in 1991, 9 (69.23%) showed AmChlCotTet-resistance, while 4 (30.77%) Cot-resistance only. During 1992-1994, all 13 isolates were susceptible to Am, Chl, Cot and Tet. During 1995-2005, isolates demonstrated different resistance patterns and emergence of nalidixic acid (Nx)-resistance. A transferable plasmid conferring AmChlCotTet-resistance was detected among MDR isolates. All the isolates were susceptible to ceftriaxone (Ctx) and ciprofloxacin (Cp). Association between Nalidixic acid (Nx)-resistance and reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (Cp) among 59 S. paratyphi A isolates was noticed (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Vigilance for R-plasmid and surveillance of antibiotic susceptibility among S. paratyphi A isolates in and around Kolkata, India, are mandatory in order to combat antibiotic resistance of the isolates in this part of the world.

Reduced minimum inhibitory concentration of chloramphenicol for Salmonella enterica serovar typhi.

BACKGROUND: Ciprofloxacin replaced chloramphenicol (C), the best choice of antibiotic in the treatment of enteric fever, when C-resistant enteric fever emerged and caused outbreaks in different parts of the world. C-sensitive S. enterica serovar Typhi emerged again due to withdrawal of the antibiotic pressure. AIMS: To assess the in vitro efficacy of C against Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi isolates (1991-2003). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 464 blood culture isolates of S. enterica serovar Typhi were subjected to C susceptibility by disc diffusion and agar dilution methods using Mueller-Hinton agar. The antibiotic susceptibility of S. enterica serovar Typhi isolates obtained in the year 2002 and 2003 was determined using ampicillin, cotrimoxazole, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, ceftriaxone and cefotaxime, in addition to C. Escherichia coli strain ATCC 25922 was used as the control. Changes in C sensitivity of the isolates were analyzed using chi2 test with Yates correction. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: All the isolates of 1991 were C-resistant with minimum inhibitory concentration values (MICs) of 2000-5000 mg/ml. In the following years decrease in frequency of C resistance was noticed: 1992 (50%), 1993 (32%), 1994 (27%) and 1995 (05%). The isolates of 1996-99 and 2001 were 100% C-sensitive. In 2000, sensitivity was also high (79%). The strains isolated in the year 2002 and 2003, showing reduced susceptibility of ciprofloxacin, were nalidixic acid resistant, but sensitive to the third-generation cephalosporins (ceftriaxone and cefotaxime). The MICs for C-sensitive isolates (1991-2003) ranged 0.1-5 mg/ml. Results suggest the necessity for re-evaluation of C therapy in typhoid fever.

R-factor in Proteus vulgaris from ulcerative disease of fish, Channa punctatus.

A Proteus vulgaris isolated from external ulcers of the fresh water fish Channa punctatus showed multidrug resistance and heavy metal tolerance. The isolate from the ulcer showed resistance to chloramphenicol (Ch), nalidixic acid (Nx), streptomycin (Str) and tetracycline (Tet) with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 750, 150, 75 and 125 microg/ml, respectively. The isolate showed growth in medium containing cadmium (Cd2+), up to a concentration of 2.5 mM indicating its heavy metal tolerance. Resistance to Ch, Str, Tet and Cd2+ of the isolate was lost after plasmid curing. Presence of plasmid DNA in the wild type and its absence in the cured P. vulgaris suggested that the resistance were plasmid mediated.

A study on the activities of a few free radicals scavenging enzymes present in five roadside plants.

The road side plants are continuously exposed to the high levels of oxides of nitrogen and sulphur dioxide, emitted from automobile. Resistance to automobile exhaust pollution was studied with Nerium indicum Mill, Boerhaavia diffusa L., Amaranthus spinosus L., Cephalandra indica Naud., and Tabernaemontana divaricata L., growing on the edges of Delhi Road, National Highway 2 (NH 2) near Dankuni, West Bengal. By analysing the activities of a few enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase and phenolic peroxidase, it appears that among the five plants examined,Amaranthus and Cephalandra are equipped with a very good scavenging system to combat effects of air pollution.

Hypertension, insulin resistance and atherosclerosis.

Hypertension, in a sizable number of patients, though not all, is associated with and possibly caused by insulin resistance. The later is also associated with a cluster of other risk factors of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease, namely, obesity, glucose intolerance with or without overt diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, low high density lipoprotein (HDL), hypertriglyceridaemia, hypercoagulability, etc. Currently, all these disorders are together called insulin resistance syndrome (IRS) as insulin resistance is the common denominator of these abnormalities. The clinicians should identify the individuals who are at risk or already have manifestations of IRS, especially among the hypertensives, and direct their antihypertensive therapy to improve insulin sensitivity and to minimise atherosclerotic coronary heart disease.

Effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on growth and proteolytic activity of different muscles in rats.

Fibre and non-fibre components and proteolytic activity of fore- and hindlimb muscles with different fibre composition and functions were examined in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. From hindlimb, extensor digitorum longus (EDL), medial gastrocnemius (MG) and soleus (SOL) were selected to represent muscles rich in fast oxidative-glycolytic, fast glycolytic and slow oxidative fibres, respectively. The biceps brachii (BB) and extensor carpi radialis longus (ECRL), represented forelimb muscles having similar fibre composition but performing flexor and extensor functions respectively. Among the five muscles studied, all but SOL showed decrease in muscle weight and protein in diabetic rats indicating the atrophy of these muscles. Atrophy was greater in EDL and MG as compared to ECRL and BB. This differential atrophy could be negatively correlated to the percentage of slow oxidative fibres. Despite the loss of fibre mass in diabetic group, elevated fibre protein concentration was observed in BB (flexor) but not in ECRL (extensor). There was a significant reduction in non-fibre protein concentration with markedly enhanced alkaline proteolytic activity in EDL of diabetic rats. Non-protein solid concentration was also increased in EDL and MG. These observations showed that fast muscles are more susceptible to diabetes induced atrophic changes and diabetes affected various muscle components differently in muscles with different fibre composition and functions. Therefore, fibre composition and function of a muscle may be the factors in determining muscle growth in diabetes.

Prevalence of Bancroftian filariasis in Burdwan District, west Bengal: a comparative study between colliery and non-colliery areas.

The present study reports results of a survey of bancroftian filariasis in Burdwan district West Bengal. 85,974 persons were examined of which 46,221 were inhabitants of the colliery areas of the district and rest 39,753 were from non-Colliery areas, including urban and rural areas of the district. The clinicopositivity, endemicity, microfilaria(mf)-positivity, mf-clinicopositivity, and mf-density were determined. It was found that all these epidemiological and parasitological parameters were significantly higher in the colliery area as compared to non-colliery area. The high vector density in the colliery area may account for such significantly higher prevalence of filariasis in this area. From a differential count of neutrophils, eosinophils and lymphocytes in the mf-positive cases, it was revealed that neutrophil percentage was significantly (P < 0.01) decreased while eosinophils and Lymphocytes increased. The decrease of neutrophils was correlated ((Correlation co-efficient, r = -0.78) with the increase of lymphocytes, indicating an imbalance in the immune-system of the infected persons. The geographical and geological factors resulting in high vector density are considered responsible for the significantly higher rate of bancroftian filariasis in the Colliery area.

Neutralization potency of Russell's viper venom toxoid antivenom, as compared with standard antivenom.

Rabbits were immunized with gamma (gamma) irradiated Russell's viper venom toxoid, adsorbed to aluminium phosphate adjuvant. Antibody (raised against toxoid inoculation) titer was compared to a commercial antivenom on the basis of its ability to neutralize hemorrhagic, necrotic and lethal effects of viper venom. Toxoid immunization (on day 0, 15 and 30) produced antivenom which showed approximately one-third antilethal, half antihemorrhagic and antinecrotic titers as compared to those of the commercial hyperimmunized, concentrated horse antivenom.

Epidemiology of snake bite in the district of Burdwan, West Bengal.

An epidemiological field survey on snake bite was conducted on 26 randomly selected villages with a population of 18,892 in the district of Burdwan, West Bengal to assess the magnitude of the problem in a decade (1980-1989). Total number of snake bite, number of presumably poisonous snake bite and deaths due to snake bite poisoning were 307, 48 and 31 respectively. The death rate among snake bite victims was 10.09%. Males (54.72%) were bitten more than females (45.23%) and highest incidence of snake bite was found in the age group of 21-30 years and during the months of July and August. Majority of the snake bites (53%) were encountered in the lower extremities. Among the snake bite patients 201 (65.47% went to the traditional healers (ozhas) and 68 (22.14%) persons received hospital treatment, while 12 (3.09%) people neither went to the ozhas nor to hospital and 26 (8.46%) persons went to hospital after consulting the ozhas. If the present data are extrapolated for the total population of the district, average number of snake bite and death per year would be 7,857 (0.16%) and 793 (0.016%) respectively. Deaths due to snake bite per 100,000 population varied from 5.28 to 31.75 (average 16.4) over 10 years.