Pavonia odorata Derived Phytochemicals against Entamoeba histolytica Causing Dysentery

Phytochemicals from Pavonia odorata plant extract are traditionally used to cure Dysentery. It is caused by Entamoeba histolytica. Molecular docking method applied using “Biovia Discovery Studio”. “High positive values of -CDOCKER energy and -CDOCKER interaction energy” suggested that palmitic acid can effectively deactivate the Alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme thereby interrupting the life cycle of the organism

Documentation of Medicinal Plants from the Undivided Area of Puri District, Odisha, India

The present study was done to record the ethnobotanical information from hill -dwelling aboriginal tribes of the undivided Puri district (Khurda and Nayagarh), Odisha, India. The aim was also to gather the information on medicinal uses of plants by conducting personal interviews with socio-economically backward tribals and to record the accumulated knowledge with the snowball technique. Plants were identified by the users on forest floor and were botanically classified. This study recorded the use of different parts of 52 plant species belonging to 51 genera of 28 different flowering plant families, against 61 human ailments, with special reference to Asthma, Stomach disorder, and Fever. The healers use these plants to cure several diseases like asthma, stomach disorder, skin diseases, piles, constipation, diabetes, fever, cough, toothache, wound healing, headache, leucorrhea, infertility in women, mouth ulcer, heart pain, pimples, indigestion, snake bites, ring worms, thirst, eczema, dysentery, diarrhoea, blood purification, high blood pressure and sore throat. These plants are used as herbal healing sources as a part of cultural practice of local traditional healers down the ages. Among these plants, many are specific to the climate identified zone of the hilly forest patches of the district. The present record of ethnomedicinal data indicated that the backward local ethnic people use plants from their surroundings, as healing sources for all possible ailments. It was revealed from the study that the commonly used plants for the treatment of asthma and malaria, are A. vasica, A. marmelos, A. galangal, C. crista, C. sepiaria, N. arbor-tristis, R. dumentorum, S. indicum and V. negundo.

Development of a Modified Disability Questionnaire for Evaluating Disability Caused by Backache in India and Other Developing Countries

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational study. PURPOSE: To evaluate the disability domains relevant to Indian patients with low backache and propose a modified disability questionnaire for such patients. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is a self-reported measurement tool that measures both pain and functional status and is used for evaluating disability caused by lower backache. Although ODI remains a good tool for disability assessment, from the Indian perspective questions related to weight lifting and sexual activity of ODI are questioned in some of the earlier studies. Activities of daily living in Indian patients vary substantially from those in other populations and include activities like bending forwards, sitting in floor and squatting which are not represented in the ODI. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, a seven-step approach was used for the development of a questionnaire. Thirty patients were interviewed to identify the most challenging issue they faced while performing their daily activities (by free listing) and understand how important the questionnaire items were in terms of the standard ODI. Thus, a comprehensive disability questionnaire comprising 14 questions was developed and administered to 88 patients. Both qualitative (interviews) and quantitative methods (to establish the validity, reliability, and correlation with the Visual Analog Scale [VAS] and Rolland Morris disability questionnaire) were used to identify the 10 questions that best addressed the disability domains relevant to Indian patients. RESULTS: According to free listing, four new questions pertaining to bending forward, sitting on the floor, walking on uneven surfaces, and work-related disabilities were included. In the second phase, wherein the questionnaire with 14 items was used, 56.8% patients did not answer the questions related to sexual activity, whereas 23.8% did not answer those related to walking on uneven surfaces. The modified questionnaire demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.892) and correlation with the Rolland Morris questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha=0.850, p>0.05), as well as with the VAS score for disability (Cronbach's alpha=0.712, p>0.05) and pain (Cronbach's alpha=0.625, p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A modified disability questionnaire that was designed by adding two questions related to bending forward and work status and removing questions related to sexual activity and weight lifting or traveling (depending on the occupation) can help evaluate disability caused by back pain in Indian population.

Evaluation of Xpert MTB/RIF assay performance in the diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The use of genetic probes for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) has been well described. However, the role of these assays in the diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis is unclear. We therefore assessed the diagnostic utility of the Xpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis/rifampicin (MTB/RIF) assay, and estimated the prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB in the Indian population. METHODS: Of 99 patients recruited, 37 had intestinal TB; two control groups comprised 43 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 19 with irritable bowel syndrome. Colonoscopy was performed before starting any therapy; mucosal biopsies were subjected to histopathology, acid-fast bacilli staining, Lowenstein-Jensen culture, and nucleic acid amplification testing using the Xpert MTB/RIF assay. Patients were followed up for 6 months to confirm the diagnosis and response to therapy. A composite reference standard was used for diagnosis of TB and assessment of the diagnostic utility of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay. RESULTS: Of 37 intestinal TB patients, the Xpert MTB/RIF assay was positive in three of 37 (8.1%), but none had MDR-TB. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay was 8.1%, 100%, 100%, and, 64.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Xpert MTB/RIF assay has low sensitivity but high specificity for intestinal TB, and may be helpful in endemic tuberculosis areas, when clinicians are faced with difficulty differentiating TB and CD. Based on the Xpert MTB/RIF assay, the prevalence of intestinal MDR-TB is low in the Indian population.

Role of random biopsies in surveillance of dysplasia in ulcerative colitis patients with high risk of colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent data suggest that the incidence of ulcerative colitis (UC) related colorectal cancer (CRC) in India is similar to that of West. The optimum method for surveillance is still a debate. Surveillance with random biopsies has been the standard of care, but is a tedious process. We therefore undertook this study to assess the yield of random biopsy in dysplasia surveillance. METHODS: Between March 2014 and July 2015, patients of UC attending the Inflammatory Bowel Disease clinic at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences with high risk factors for CRC like duration of disease >15 years and pancolitis, family history of CRC, primary sclerosing cholangitis underwent surveillance colonoscopy for dysplasia. Four quadrant random biopsies at 10 cm intervals were taken (33 biopsies). Two pathologists examined specimens for dysplasia, and the yield of dysplasia was calculated. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients were included. Twenty-six of these had pancolitis with a duration of disease greater than 15 years, and two patients had associated primary sclerosing cholangis. No patient had a family history of CRC. The mean age at onset of disease was 28.89±8.73 years and the duration of disease was 19.00±8.78 years. Eighteen patients (64.28%) were males. A total of 924 biopsies were taken. None of the biopsies revealed any evidence of dysplasia, and 7/924 (0.7%) were indefinite for dysplasia. CONCLUSIONS: Random biopsy for surveillance in longstanding extensive colitis has a low yield for dysplasia and does not suffice for screening. Newer techniques such as chromoendoscopy-guided biopsies need greater adoption.