The efficacy of an ayurvedic preparation of yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra) on radiation-induced mucositis in head-and-neck cancer patients: A pilot study

Background: Oral mucositis is a common and debilitating painful side effect of many forms of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Mucositis may lead to dose reductions and unplanned interruptions of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy (RT) and often affects patients' quality of life. Aim: The objective of the study was to assess the efficacy of the ayurvedic preparation in decreasing the severity of mucositis in head-and-neck cancer patients receiving concomitant chemoradiotherapy. Materials and Methods: In this prospective randomized study, the patients were divided into three groups. Group 1 patients received conventional mucositis treatment, whereas Group 2 patients received ayurvedic preparation Yashtimadhu in addition to conventional treatment. Group 3 patients received honey for local application in oral cavity as well as one tea spoon of honey twice daily orally in addition to routine conventional treatment. All the patients were assessed for mucositis at the end of every week during the RT for a period of 6 weeks. Results: A significant difference was observed between the groups at each time point. Nearly 42.85% of patients in conventional treatment arm developed Grade 3 mucositis, 20% of patients developed Grade 3 mucositis in group where honey was given, and only 15.5% of patients developed Grade 3 mucositis in Yastimadhu group. Unplanned treatment breaks and hospitalization of patients were reduced with the use of yashtimadhu as compared to other two groups. Conclusion: Yashtimadhu was observed to be effective and delayed the development of severe form of mucositis. The drug appeared to be more efficient in the management of radiation-induced mucositis

Evaluation of the antimicrobial and physical properties of an orthodontic photo-activated adhesive modified with an antiplaque agent: An in vitro study.

Introduction: This study was designed to investigate the antimicrobial and physical properties of orthodontic composite resin modified by the addition of an antimicrobial agent. Materials and Methods: Transbond XT (3M Unitek), a photo‑activated, light‑cured composite resin, modified by the addition of chlorhexidine, in concentrations 2.5 wt% was formed into a uniform disc and also used for direct bonding of the brackets on the freshly extracted premolars for testing. The tablets of each group and a control group were subjected to the agar plate diffusion test to measure the zone of bacterial inhibition. In addition, they were incubated for 24 h in brain heart infusion medium inoculated with Streptococcus mutans and examined for antimicrobial action. A total of 80 extracted premolars were collected and divided into two sets of 40 teeth each. Stainless steel preadjusted edgewise appliance (PEA) brackets were bonded by using control and experimental composites. A universal testing machine was used to determine the shear bond strength. The first set of teeth was tested after 24 h and the second set after 25 days of storage in distilled water. Time‑dependent release of antimicrobial agents from the modified composites was also monitored spectrophotometrically. Results: The findings indicated that (1) addition of chlorhexidine to the orthodontic composite resin enhanced its antimicrobial properties, (2) there was no significant difference between the bond strengths of the control and the experimental resins tested after 24 h and 25 days and (3) maximum release of chlorhexidine from the modified resin was much higher than the minimum inhibitory concentration level.

A review on plants of genus polygonatum.

Plants of genus Polygonatum (Ruscaceae) are widely used in traditional medicine to cure many diseases such as ageing, antioxidative action, insecticidal, antiherpetic, antinociception and aphrodisiac. A variety of phytoconstituents has been isolated from the Polygonatum species which include lignans, flavonoids, coumarins, steroids, terpenes, fatty acids and aliphatic long chain compounds. Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antidiarrhoeal, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antimalarial and insecticidal activities have been reported in the extracts of these plants and their phytoconstituents. An overview of the ethnobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological investigations on the Polygonatum species is presented in this review.

Assessment of Respiratory Muscle Endurance in Type 1 & 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV) test is an objective dynamic method of measuring the working capacity of respiratory muscles. Therefore, we designed the present study to determine the effect imposed by diabetes mellitus (Type 2) on respiratory muscle endurance in Jammu diabetic patients. In the present study, 100 diabetic patients of 50 Type I and 50 Type 2 and 50 healthy control. MVV showed significant decrease in male diabetic patients on oral medication. The findings suggest that there is significant decrease of respiratory muscle endurance in male diabetics on oral medication.

Assessment of Pulmonary Functions in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus.

The present study was carried out on already diagnosed 150 subjects, comprising of 50 patients each of Type 1 and 2 and 50 healthy controls. The subjects were made to undergo pulmonary function assessment by comupterized spirometer. The study revealed a significant decrease in FEV in patients with Type 1 and Type 2 compared with normal healthy controls. However, FEV1 showed a significant decrease only in male patients on oral medication. The ratio of FEV1 / FVC was found to be statistically insignificant. The findings suggest that alterations in pulmonary functions are a consistent feature in patients with DM.