Pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies on Ayurvedic drugs Ativisha and Musta

The study include the establishment of pharmacognostic and phytochemical characters of Ativisha (Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex Royle, Ranunculaceae) and to compare them with its substitutes, Cyperus rotundus L. (Musta), C. scariosus R. Br., Cyperaceae, and Cryptocoryne spiralis (Retz.) Fisch. ex Wydler, Araceae (Country Ativisha). Morphology of the four species was compared in authentic samples collected from the field. We performed histological, histochemical, phytochemical tests, using standard protocols. HPLC studies were done on aqueous extracts of samples in a Shimadzu HPLC system and the peaks were observed at 254 nm. Pharmacognostic characterization of Ativisha and others was done as completely as possible. On basis of histochemical analyses revealed the presence of alkaloid, terpenoid-alkaloid complex, lipids and calcium oxalate majorly. There was less than 50% similarity between Ativisha and the other three species in microscopic characters. There was greater similarity (87%) between the two Cyperus species. The phytochemical studies, on the other hand, showed less similarity (79.2%) between the two Cyperus species. There was greater phytochemical similarity (84.6%) between Aconitum and Cryptocoryne, which justifies the name "Country Ativisha" for the latter. Based on anatomical and histochemical analysis, structural as well as chemical parameters helpful in distinguishing Ativisha from the other three species were established. The phytochemical profiles showed that A. heterophyllum and Cyperus species have five common HPLC peaks which may explain some of their common therapeutic activities. Ativisha and Cryptocoryne show greater phytochemical similarities to one another and this explains why the latter is used in Siddha system of medicine as country Ativisha.

Boerhaave's syndrome: a differential diagnosis of acute chest pain following a vomiting illness / Síndrome de Boerhaave: un diagnóstico diferencial de dolor torácico, agudo tras enfermedad acompañada de vómitos

Spontaneous oesophageal rupture (Boerhaave's syndrome) is extremely rare in children. Presentation is usually in middle aged men as a result of vomiting following heavy food or alcohol consumption. We describe an unusual case of a 12-year old boy without significant past medical history presenting with acute chest pain following gastroenteritis.

La ruptura esofágica espontánea (síndrome de Boerhaave) es extremadamente rara en niños. Por lo general se presenta en hombres de mediana edad como resultado vómitos tras la ingestión de alcohol o alimentos pesados. Describimos un caso inusual de un niño de 12 años de edad sin antecedentes clínicos significativos, que acudió con dolor torácico agudo tras una gastroenteritis.

Rehabilitation needs and disability in persons with Schizophrenia and the needs of the care givers.

Background: In India, Families are primary care givers of individuals with chronic mental illness such as Schizophrenia, However these caregivers needs to be assessed along with their ill relative to understand the care giving process. Aim: To get acquainted with the rehabilitation needs of persons diagnosed to have Schizophrenia and their care givers while correlating with disability quantified. Specific Objectives: (i) To assess the level of disability in the area of self care, interpersonal activities communication and understanding, work in persons with schizophrenia. (ii) To assess the rehabilitation needs of the persons with schizophrenia and their care givers. (iii) To evaluate the rehabilitation needs based on the level of disability of persons with schizophrenia. Method: Thirty individuals diagnosed to have schizophrenia as per DSMIV\ICD-10 criteria who fulfil inclusion and exclusion criteria were taken up for the study. The data was collected by administering the standardized research instruments such as IDEAS and RNAS. Results: 100 percent of the sample had a need in some area or the other. Majority of the sample (76.66%) had less than 40% disability. Among the need assessment, we found help for the family in terms of family education, group meetings, family burden and distress reduction interventions, interventions to deal with expressed emotion of the family member, were given priority by the majority (96.66%). Conclusion: Psycho social interventions to deal with family burden and distress should go hand in hand while reducing the disability of the patient. Impact on the family should be taken care for better care giving process and all the care givers require family interventions despite of variation in level of disability in their ill relative.

Granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor augmented hepatitis B vaccine protocol for rapid seroprotection in voluntary kidney donors.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Conventional hepatitis B vaccine protocols do not provide rapid seroprotection against hepatitis B. This randomized controlled trial was carried out to investigate the efficacy of granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) augmented double-dose vaccine protocol in voluntary kidney donors prior to donor nephrectomy. METHODS: A total of 54 kidney donors, who had no history of hepatitis B infection, hepatitis B vaccination and tested negative for anti-HBs and anti-HBc antibodies were randomly allocated to the control or test groups. GM-CSF (300 microg) was administered subcutaneously on day 0, followed by 40 microg of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine intramuscularly on the same deltoid on day 1. The control group received only 40 microg of intramuscular hepatitis B vaccine. Anti-HBs titres were measured at the end of 4 wk. RESULTS: Of the 54 donors studied, there was a significant (P<0.003) seroconversion in the GM-CSF group (82%) compared to the control group (37%), after a single immunization with double-dose recombinant hepatitis B vaccine by 4 wk. Minor side effects such as fever in four patients and myalgia in three were noticed. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: GM-CSF augmented double-dose hepatitis B vaccine could be used in unvaccinated patients when a rapid response is desired.

A study of leprosy affected beggars in Aska.

A study conducted among beggars in and around Aska, Orissa revealed 41 of them to be leprosy patients. Almost all had taken treatment and had been released from control. Only 2 of them were mildly positive in their skin smears for AFB. All of them had disabilities and deformities. It is evident that at least in this area beggar leprosy patients cannot be contributing to the transmission of the disease. Their treatment regularity record was also very good.