Mental/ psychological disorders in children and their therapy as per Ayurveda.

Mental disease has been recognized throughout history in every civilization of the world though its significance is understood and its treatment has evolved in significantly different directions. Psychological and mental disorders involve physiological and/or genetic components in children but the etiology of some psychological disorders in children is unknown. Mental retardation, learning disorders, communication skills disorders and pervasive developmental disorders (such as autistic disorder) etc. comes under these category. The treatment of psychological and mental disorders requires special attention. Ayurveda involve various treatment component as part of kaumarabhria for such conditions like; herbs, yoga, panchkarma and use of various traditional formulation like; Medhya Rasayanas. Ayurveda enhances mental ability, learning disorders, behavioral therapy through natural techniques etc. This article shares some traditional approaches of treating mental disorders in children.

A review on some common diseases in children and their treatment with traditional system of medicine.

There are so many diseases specially classified for children come under Kaumarabhria treatment as per Ayurveda. Recently many researchers’ works to explore development of treatment of diseases related with childhood. The utilization of traditional system of treatment is well known but now it has been well proved and established also on the basis of scientific study and evidences. Further more research investigation need to be required for the establishment and modernizing of traditional therapy for children disease. This review article summarizes advanced research work of this area. Article involve discussion of traditional Ayurveda text related to the childhood disorders like; Rickets, asthma, constipation, Jwara and krimi etc. Further research and new concepts are utilizing for exploring Kaumarabhria.

Modulatory effects of salmonella lap-lps on murine macrophages.

PURPOSE: To study the modulatory effects of Salmonella lipid associated protein - lipopolysaccharides (LAP-LPS) on murine macrophages as the intracellular survival within the host macrophages is an important feature for a number of gram-negative pathogens like S.typhi. METHODS: Macrophage functions were studied in two groups of mice immunized with either LPS or LAP-LPS. RESULTS: Comparison of protective efficacy of mice preimmunized with LPS based preparations, against challenge infectious doses, showed higher protection in LAP-LPS complex immunized mice group as compared to the mice group immunized with LPS alone. Aggregation of S.typhi cells was lesser with intestinal mucus extracted from LAP-LPS immunized mice as compared to LPS immunized challenged group. A significant increase in the number of macrophages in LAP-LPS immunized mice was also observed in comparison to control and LPS immunized mice groups. Nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) production were also more in macrophages derived from LAP-LPS immunized mice group. Phagocytic uptake studies showed that there was enhanced uptake of bacteria in the LAP-LPS immunized animals in comparison to LPS immunized and controls. Similar trend was observed in intracellular killing of bacteria by the macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated the involvement of protein moiety in LAP on modulation of effects of LPS on macrophages.

Purification & characterisation of haemolysin from Serratia marcescens B-91.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Serratia marcescens an opportunistic human pathogen, is frequently encountered in a variety of debilitating diseases. Relatively little is known about its virulence traits though most clinical isolates secrete a distinct haemolysin which is considered as a useful marker for pathogenicity of Serratia. In this study purification and characterisation of S. marcescens B-91 haemolysin have been attempted. METHODS: S. marcescens B-91 haemolysin was purified to homogeneity from the growth medium using ammonium sulphate fractional precipitation and gel filtration through Sephadex G-75 column. Homogeneity was determined by gel electrophoresis and purified haemolysin was tested for its stability and other characteristics. RESULTS: The haemolysin was characterised to be a 45 kDa molecular weight protein on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It was inactivated at 60-100 degrees C within 30 min, and on overnight treatment with 2 per cent formaldehyde. It was also susceptible to the action of pronase, protease and trypsin. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the fragile stability of S. marcescens haemolysin is dependent on the storage temperature. The purified haemolysin can be used for understanding the role of haemolysin in the pathogenesis of S. marcescens and also for evaluation of immunoprophylactic activity.

Salmonella. typhi OMPs induced immunomodulation in peritoneal macrophages.

The immunomodulatory properties of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) from S. typhi Ty2 were studied in mouse model at 72 hr and 20 days post-infection. Inspite of reduction in the number of macrophages and their protein content observed in the immunized group vis-à-vis infected group, OMPs activated macrophages showed significant upregulation of NO. At 20 days post infection, the level remained almost the same suggesting the prolonged cytotoxic and cytostatic activity due to the long lasting effects of OMPs activated macrophages. Higher activity of SOD in these aged cells pointed out towards the protective efficacy of OMPs to keep the macrophages themselves away from the noxious effects of O2-. Lower level of acid phosphatase in the macrophages from immunized mice group indicated the involvement of oxygen dependent rather than oxygen independent killing process. The enhanced uptake of organisms and their killing could be related to the production of oxygen and nitrogen radicals in the OMPs immunized group.

Modification of glutamine synthetase in Bacillus brevis AG 4.

The various forms of glutamine synthetase obtained from Bacillus brevis have been found to be antigenically identical. Alkaline phosphatase treatment of the fast moving form (GS4) reduced the electrophoretic mobility of the enzyme. Radiolabelling and autoradiographic studies have also indicated that 32P-incorporation is high in the form depicting high Rm value. Thus, it appears that these forms arise due to covalent modification of the enzyme involving a phosphate group.

Multiple forms of glutamine synthetase in Bacillus brevis AG 4.

Glutamine synthetase in Bacillus brevis AG 4, a Gram-positive spore forming bacteria, has been found to exist in multiple molecular forms. It was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by single-step Blue Sepharose affinity chromatography. The native enzyme has a molecular weight of 600,000 with subunits of 50,000. The enzyme samples purified from different stages of growth differed in Mg2+ sensitivity and other kinetic properties. Four different enzyme samples selected on the basis of Mg2+ sensitivity showed distinct mobilities at pH 6.3 on PAGE using discontinuous buffer system. A correlation amongst Mg2+ sensitivity, electrophoretic mobility, and kinetic properties was highly suggestive of multiple forms of glutamine synthetase in Bacillus brevis arising due to modification.

Mechanism of action of aflatoxin B1.

The inhibitory effects of aflatoxin B1 were found to be related to the gram character in procaryotes, used in this study. Ethylene diamine tetra chloroacetic acid (0·05 % w/v) or Tween-80 (0·05 % v/v) addition accentuated the aflatoxin B1 growth inhibition in Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli at different pH values. The inhibition of lipase production was only 5–20 % in Pseudomonas fluorescence ca. 25–48% in Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus at different aflatoxin B1 concentrations (4–16 μg/ml).However, inhibition of α-amylase induction was complete in Bacillus megaterium whereas the inhibition was partial in Pseudomonas fluorescence (27–40%) at 32 μg aflatoxin B1 concentration. An increase in leakage of cell contents and decreased inulin uptake were observed in toxin incubated sheep red blood cell suspension (1 %) with increased aflatoxin B1 concentration.