Sowa-Rigpa (Amchi/Buddhist Medicine): A Review

Sowa-rigpa is known as Amchi or Buddhist medicine or Tibetan system of medicine which is primarily based on Buddhist philosophy. It is the fact that basic concepts of Sowa-Rigpa and Ayurveda are almost same and it seems that there is inter-relation among these two traditional systems of Indian Medicine. The description of Tridosha, Panchamahabhuta, seven Dhatus, three Malas, week wise embryological development are same. In Sowa-Rigpa, it has been mentioned that we all are sick due to ignorance as according to Buddhist philosophy, Ignorance is the cause of sufferings. The relation between ignorance and suffering as per the Sowa-Rigpa may be the unique concept which may show the path for human-beings to eradicate all human sufferings i.e., ultimately to walk on the path of Nirvana which is the goal of Buddhist philosophy and Moksha according to Ayurveda.

Decaf Score in Predicting Prognosis of Acute Exacerbation of Copd in Patient Required Hospital and ICU Admission

@#Introduction: Exacerbation refers to deterioration of patient’s respiratory indications and requires a robust scoring tool for subjects suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) undergoing acute exacerbation. The Dyspnoea, Eosinopenia, Consolidation, Acidaemia, and atrial Fibrillation (DECAF) score can be utilized bedside and predicts in-hospital mortality using indices. The study aimed at assessing the prognostic standards (of duration of ICU stay, hospital stay and mortality) and the sensitivity and specificity of acute exacerbation of COPD patients based on DECAF score. Methods: This prospective study was carried out in a tertiary hospital with 84 patients between October 2016 to September 2018. On admission, DECAF score of all patients with acute exacerbation of COPD was noted and admitted to ICU. The mean duration of stay in ICU and hospital were compared. Various components of APACHE II, BAP 65, CURB 65 were also noted on admission. Results: Mean age of population was 68.29±11.80 with male predominance (68%). The study observed mortality in 6% of patients with mean ICU stay of 3.65±2.21 days and mean hospital stay of 6.45±3.28 days. For a score of 5 and 6 mean DECAF score could not be calculated as the mortality rate was 100%. ROC of DECAF score was 0.81 which was more than APACHE II (0.72) and BAP 65 (0.69) (p-value 0.07 and 0.056 suggested significance). Conclusion: The DECAF Score has been observed to be a stronger predictor for hospital mortality. Higher the DECAF score, higher is the in-hospital death rate. The DECAF score also helps in forecasting the duration of ICU stay and hospital stay.

Chemical characterization of an Ayurvedic herbo-mineral preparation- Mahalaxmivilas Rasa

Background: To protect the massive trust of patient in Ayurveda, a need aroused for the researches toascertain the quality, safety & efficacy of herbo-mineral preparations on scientific lines. The rasa-aushadhis are having qualities such as instant effectiveness, requirement in very small dosage and ampletherapeutic utility. Mahalaxmi Vilas Rasa [AFI, 20:27] has been used for treatment of a variety of ailmentssince time immemorial.Objective: To prepare Mahalaxmi Vilas Rasa as per standard operating procedures (SoPs) mentioned inclassical text and to characterize it chemically using modern analytical techniques.Materials and Methods: The drug (Mahalaxmi Vilas Rasa) in three batches was prepared in GMP certifiedpharmacy. Physico-chemical analysis, HPTLC, Assay of elements by AAS & ICP-AES were carried out as perAyurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) was conducted using Rigaku UltimaIV X-ray diffractometer.Results: The elemental analysis shown the presence of Mercury, Sulphur, Calcium, Copper, Gold, Iron &Tin etc. and HPTLC revealed presence of organic constituents from plant material. The XRD had indicatedthat prepared drug contained free sulphur, cinnabar (mercury sulphide added as Kajjali), cassiterite (tinoxide, Vanga Bhasma), orpiment (Hartal, arsenic III sulphide) and mica (Leucite/ Zeolite, Abhrak Bhasma).The drug was also tested for residual pesticide and microbiological contamination which were foundwithin permissible limits.Conclusion: Classical pharmaceutical procedures of Mahalaxmi Vilas Rasa showed converting the macroelements into therapeutically effective medicines of micro form. Standards laid down in this study certainlyutilized as an important tool for standardization and quality assurance of this herbo-mineral formulation.© 2018 Transdisciplinary University, Bangalore and World Ayurveda Foundation. Publishing Services byElsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Physicochemical Characteristics Of Rasamanikya-An Ayurvedic Arsenical Formulation

Objective: The objective of this study was standardization and Chemical characterization of rasamanikya prepared as per standard operating procedures (SOP) mentioned in the classical text. Methods: Rasamanikya was prepared by putting churnodaka shodhita haratala (Orpiment-As2S3) between two abhraka (white mica) sheets which are heated for a while to obtain a red colored finished product. The Ayurvedic specifications for the analysis of rasamanikya were performed through qualitative and quantitative analysis. Physicochemical analysis, assay of elements by atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) were carried out and some other tests such as x-ray diffraction (XRD), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and energy dispersive x-ray analyzer (EDAX) were also performed to ensure the quality of the drug. Results: In the finished drug Arsenic and Sulphur are present in the form of As4S4, As2S3, As2S5. On the basis of XPS survey scans, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x-ray analyzer (SEM-EDAX) and carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur (CHNS) analysis the Arsenic to Sulphur (As to S) ratio is thus standardized as 39-47: 53-61. In addition to this powder, XRD shows a major conversion into an amorphous phase. Conclusion: The results could be used to lay down a new set of pharmacopoeial standards for the preparation of rasamanikya for getting optimal efficacy of medicine. Therefore, the information will help the Scientists and Researchers to build comprehensive standards, to screen the compounds responsible for different bioactivities, and to elucidate the molecular mechanism of action.

Fatal Group A Streptococcal meningitis in an adult.

Despite the recent resurgence in reports of invasive Group A Streptococcal (GAS) infections worldwide, it remains a rare cause of pyogenic meningitis both in children and adults. We report a case of fatal GAS meningitis in a healthy adult emphasizing the need for clinicians to be aware of its fulminant course, prompting early diagnosis and treatment. There is also a need to consider postexposure chemoprophylaxis in close contacts of such cases.

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli--a preliminary study.

Urinary isolates of Escherichia coli were studied for presence of haemolysin, adhesins, serum resistance and O serotype prevalence. Of the 144 isolates studied, 72 exhibited hemolysin, 7 were resistant to bactericidal effect of serum and 50 strains showed Mannose resistant Haemagglutination (MRHA). O101,O68,O04 and O25 were the commonest serotypes in this study.

References concerning birth control methods in Ancient Indian Classics: an exposition.

Reproduction is the basic phenomenon of Biological activity. Like other living beings man has a desire to reproduce. Unlike others he can control reproduction at his will. From early vedic periods belonging to several centuries prior to Christian era, we find references concerning methods of controlling the population over growth. Views of vedic sages, sexologists of ancient and medieval India regarding the birth control methods are expressed in this presentation.

A brief on Ayurvedic manuscripts preserved at Utkal University, Bhubaneswar.

Amongst different institutions, "Parija Library" of Utkal University, Bhubaneswar has about 101 palm-leaf manuscripts (mss.) on Ayurveda to its credit. Most of these mss. have not been reported earlier. Herewith a brief description of these mss. has been made with the intention of bringing it out for the Ayurvedic fraternity and to enrich the literary stock of Ayurveda.

Characterization of leprosy based on the nasal lipid profile.

While extracting the M. leprae from the nasal flushings of leprosy patients it was found that these organisms were trapped in the waxy layer, between the aqueous and the chloroform layers. Thin layer chromotography (TLC) analysis of this layer, using chloroform-methanol-water system, revealed different spots when sprayed with acid alcohol and heated at 160 degrees C. The TLC profile of lipids of lepromatous and borderline (MB according to the WHO terminology) leprosy patients was distinctly different from that of tuberculoid leprosy patients and normal human volunteers. A simple, economical and fast procedure to characterize patients belonging to different spectra has been developed.