ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a short course of oral prednisolone on disappearance of lesion and seizure recurrence in newly diagnosed patients with single small enhancing CT lesion. METHODS: In this open-label, randomized, prospective follow-up study, 100 patients of new-onset seizures and a cysticercus granuloma presenting as single enhancing computed tomography detected lesion were randomly divided in two groups to receive either antiepileptic monotherapy (Group A) or antiepileptic drugs with oral prednisolone in a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight for 7 days and tapering off dose in next 3 days (Group B). Repeat CT scan was performed on 8th-12th week to know radiological state of lesion. The patients were followed up for 1 year for seizure recurrence. RESULTS: The majority of patients were in second decade. Male: female ratio 1.56:1. Mean number of seizure episodes was 4.33 +/- 3.50 in group A and 4.23 +/- 3.97 in group B. Partial seizure were the most common presentation (85%). 72% patients presented with single seizure or seizure in cluster. Solitary ring lesion was the commonest (69%) CT finding, most of them were located in parietal lobe (52%). Follow up CT scan showed complete resolution of lesion in 60.86% of total [group A (n = 47), 32 patients, 68.08%; group B (n = 45), 24 patients, 53.33%]. Significant difference in group A and B regarding lesion resolution was observed (chi2 = 5.926, d.f. = 1) p < 0.05. Clinical follow up showed seizure recurrence in group A - 5 patients (10.63%), in group B - 12 patients (26.66%). Statistically significant higher number of seizure recurrences were noted in group B as compared to group A (chi2 = 3.93, d.f. = 1) p < 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term oral prednisolone along with antiepileptic drugs helps in rapid resolution of single small enhancing lesions in patient with newly diagnosed seizure disorder with good clinical outcome.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/administration & dosage , Anticonvulsants/administration & dosage , Child , Contrast Media , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Drug Administration Schedule , Drug Therapy, Combination , Epilepsy/drug therapy , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Granuloma, Foreign-Body/drug therapy , Humans , India , Male , Neurocysticercosis/complications , Paralysis/drug therapy , Prednisolone/administration & dosage , Prospective Studies , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Column chromatographic fractionation of essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from the flowering tops of S. ixiocephala resulted in the isolation of beta-caryophyllene, fenchyl acetate, T-cadinol and a new sesquiterpene alcohol for which a name ixiocephol has been proposed. The beta-caryophyllene and fenchyl acetate were identified by Co-TLC with authentic samples whereas T-cadinol and ixiocephol were structurally elucidated by UV, IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and Mass spectral data. The GC-MS analysis of the essential oil has also revealed the presence of various monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids. The essential oil of S. ixiocephala demonstrated a dose dependant anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema. It has also revealed good activity in cotton pellet granuloma and adjuvant induced arthritis model in rats.
Subject(s)
Acanthaceae/chemistry , Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/isolation & purification , Arthritis, Experimental/drug therapy , Disease Models, Animal , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Female , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry , Granuloma, Foreign-Body/drug therapy , Male , Oils, Volatile/isolation & purification , Phytotherapy , Rats , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
A standardised 50% aqueous ethanolic extract of the Indian variety of Hypericum perforatum (IHp) was examined for its putative anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, po. The experimental paradigms used were carrageenan induced pedal edema and cotton pellet induced granuloma for anti-inflammatory activity, whereas the tail flick, hot plate and acetic acid induced writhing methods were used to asses analgesic activity. Indomethacin (20 mg/kg, ip) was used as the standard anti-inflammatory drug. Pentazocine (10 mg/kg, ip) and aspirin (25 mg/kg, ip), both clinically used analgesics, were used as standard analgesics for comparison. IHp extract showed significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity at both dose levels, in all the paradigms used. Additionally, IHp potentiated the anti-inflammatory activity of indomethacin and analgesic activities of pentazocine and aspirin.