ABSTRACT
Abstracts: Background: Retinal vein occlusion is a commonly encountered vascular disorder affecting the retina. Systemic diseases have been implicated in the pathogenesis of branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Many systemic risk factors of BRVO are reported from studies done in various countries. However, there is scarcity of reports of systemic associations of BRVO in Indian population. Purpose: To find the systemic associations of BRVO. Materials and Methods: Medical records of patients of BRVO visiting the tertiary eye care center of a medical college during the past two years were retrieved. Their demographic presentations and systemic associations were analyzed. Results: One hundred and fourteen patients of BRVO with male:female ratio of 2.3:1 and having a mean age of 58 + 9.5 years were analyzed. Seventy-five (65.8 %) patients were hypertensive, 32 (28.1 %) had hyperhomocysteinemia, 26 (22. 8 %) were suffering from diabetes mellitus and 20 (17.5 %) were dyslipidemic. Twenty (17.5 %) patients were addicted to tobacco in some or the other forms whereas 18 (15.8 %) patients were smokers. Conclusion: The first step in the management of BRVO is to identify the risk factors associated with the disease in order to correct them. A joint effort is needed between the ophthalmologist and the physician to treat this sight-threatening retinal condition.
ABSTRACT
Terminalia catappa (almond) is a combretaceous plant whose leaves are widely used as a folk medicine for treatments of dermatitis, hepatitis, inflammatory disease, diabetes and other disease. This investigation was conceded out to evaluate the safety of aqueous extract of Terminalia catappa Linn. by determining its potential toxicity in rats. Study on acute toxicity of extract found to be safe at the doses 2000mg/kg body weight orally as per OECD guidelines No.423. General behavior, sign of tremors, adverse effects and mortality activity were determined for up to 14 days. In the chronic toxicity study, the aqueous extract of Terminalia Catappa linn. was administered orally at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg once in a week for 6 weeks to rats. Biochemical and hematological parameters were determined after 6 weeks. In the acute study in rats, there was no toxicity/ death was observed at the dose of 2000mg/kg b.w. The onset of toxicity and signs of toxicity also not there. In the chronic toxicity study, no significant treatment-related changes in the levels of hematological, hepatic and renal parameters such as SGOT, SGPT, cholesterol, creatinine, urea, uric acid, protein and glucose, and serum ALP activities were observed at the termination of the study. It suggests that the aqueous extract of Terminalia catappa linn. does not have significant toxicity. In view of the dose of Terminalia Catappa linn. devoted in traditional medicine, there is a broad margin of safety for the beneficial use of the aqueous extract of Terminalia catappa linn. leaves.