Role of Jaloukavacharana in Management of Raktharshas (Thrombosed Hemorrhoids)

Arsha's is one among the Astamahagada, and a commonest ano-rectal disease with a wide range of symptoms. It affects all economic groups of the population. In Ayurveda, Arsha's is a growth of Mamsa with obstructs the anal opening. Anatomically anal canal is 51/2 Angula's length. A faulty lifestyle and dietary habits along with occupational and physical stress triggers the pathology of Arsha's. Doshic involvement includes Rakta along with Mamsa dhatu at Rakthavaha Dahmanis of Guda, which forms as Mamsa Ankura. Acharya Susrutha mentioned 4 curative measures for the treatment, they are Bhesaja, Kshara karma, Agni karma, Shastra karma. Hemorrhoids are dilated rectal veins. Thrombosed piles occur where there is high venous pressure, which is associated with severe pain, which hampers their daily routine, thereby they avoid defecation which leads to hardening of stool, constipation and rectal bleeding. The treatment includes the surgical excision of the thrombosed pile mass. A case study of thrombosed pile treated with Jaloukavacharana (leech therapy) has been recorded which has reduced the mass, pain, bleeding per rectum

A Comparative Study to Evaluate Efficacy of Fentanyl Transdermal Patch VS Ketoprofen Patch in Pain Control after Mandibular Third Molar Surgery

Background: Surgical removal of impacted lower third molars is a common oral surgical procedure, generally followed by moderate to severe postoperative pain. Transdermal drug delivery as a concept offers interesting possibilities for postoperative pain control. Aims and Objectives: to evaluate and compare the degree of post-operative analgesia, patient compliance and frequency of adverse events between transdermal ketoprofen patch and transdermal fentanyl patch following third molar extraction. Methods: Total 7 patients aged 18-65 years with impacted mandibular third molar teeth were included in the study. The study drugs transdermal patches of fentanyl and ketoprofen was applied one hour before the surgical procedure on the skin, preferably in an area devoid of any hair. The selected mandibular third molar tooth of either of the side was extracted in the first appointment using an aseptic protocol. Every patient was given a Verbal Pain Intensity and Pain Relief chart ( both 5- point scales with values 0-4 ) for assessing pain intensity and pain relief for all the three post-operative days. Results: During the first four hours of operative day, the difference observed between the two groups was not found to be statistically significant (p=0.881). Whereas during the first eight hours of operative day the difference observed between the two groups was not found to be statistically significant (p=0.141). During the first twelve hours of operative day, the difference observed between the two groups was not found to be statistically significant (p=0.276). At the end of operative day, the difference observed between the two groups was found to be statistically significant (p=0.048). Conclusion: Transdermal fentanyl patch was more effective for immediate pain relief than transdermal ketoprofen patch for pain control following removal of mandibular impacted third molars.

Screening Of Wound Healing Activity Of Madayantika (lawsonia Inermis Linn.) In Albino Wistar Rats

Madayantika (Lawsonia inermis Linn.) is a miracle medicinal plant used in the treatment of various skin diseases especially in wound healing activity in the Indian system of medicine. Aim and Objective: The objective of the study presented in this article was to evaluate the wound healing potential of aqueous extract. The models usually used for evaluation of wound healing activity are Excision wound model, Incision Wound Model and Dead Space model. Among those excisions wound model is selected for the study. Healthy wistar strain Albino rats of either sex weighing 150-200gm were used for the study. Animals are acclimatized in a laboratory and then it were anaesthetized and then dorsal surface of rats were shaved to about an area of 500mm2 and then it was cut carefully with sterilized forceps and left undressed for open environment, then extracts of test drugs, Scaffolds containing aqueous extract and standard drug were applied and then observed and noted. Results: The extract of Madayantika (Lawsonia inermis Linn.) treated wounds were found to epithelize faster and rate of wound contraction was significantly (p<0.0001) increased as compared to control group (p< 0.01). The extract treated animals showed from 502 �364 to 25.1�252 reduction in wound area when compared with control groups from 502� 0.538 to 40.71� 0.166. Conclusion: Madayantika (Lawsonia inermis Linn.) possess significant wound healing effect which may beneficial in treating wounds. This drug showed extremely significant results in wound healing activity.

Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Secondary to Morquio Syndrome (Mucopolysaccharoidosis IV): A Case Report.

Morquio syndrome an autosomal recessive mucopolysaccharoidosis (MPSs) including Type IVA, a deficiency of N-acetylgalctosamine-6- sulfatase and Type IVB a deficiency of β-galactosidase. Plain films of the entire spine, pelvis, chest, knees, hip, and knees demonstrated the characteristic skeletal changes of this disease. The main abnormalities were platyspondyly, genu valgum deformity. Radiographs are crucial to provide substantial information about evolution of the skeletal and joints changes, and the rehabilitation strategies to be followed. From detailed history, physical examination, investigations, and treatment, different clinical, radiographic and biochemical studies it is clear that Morquio’s disease is an inherited error of MPS metabolism characterized by deficiency of galactose 6-sulfate sulfatase activity.

Clinical Characteristics and Pathophysiological Features of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS): Recent Advances and Future Challenges.

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)/Willi’s-Ekbom disease (WED) or Jimmy Legs is a neurological sensory-motor disorder that causes intense restlessness and unpleasant creepy-crawly feelings inside the lower legs at rest. It can be primary (idiopathic) or secondary (symptomatic) and affects 7-10% of general population with a significant female predominance. RLS is generally associated with conditions like iron deficiency, low serum ferritin levels, pregnancy, menopause, chronic renal disease, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis etc, however, the relationship is not completely understood. In this review, I discussed recent developments on epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and clinical management of RLS.

Studies on safety aspects of contraceptive Magainin-A in rabbits.

We have previously reported the contraceptive potential of Magainin-A in rats and rabbits under in vitro and in vivo condition. In this report we evaluated the effect of Magainin-A on the structural organisation of vaginal epithelium in rabbits. The effect of this compound on the erythrocytes and its rate of absorption and clearance from systemic circulation was also studied. The effective contraceptive dose of Magainin-A (1 mg) when administered intra-vaginally for five consecutive days did not induce any structural or morphological abnormalities in vaginal epithelial cells. No adverse effect was observed on the erythrocytes. The rate of Magainin-A absorption and clearance from the circulation was found to be rapid. These results suggest that Magainin-A may be used as a safe intra-vaginal contraceptive compound in future.

Integrins and disintegrins: the candidate molecular players in sperm-egg interaction.

Fertilization includes sperm-egg recognition, adhesion, binding, fusion and egg activation. Integrin (ITG) receptors which are adhesion molecules are expressed on mouse, hamster and human gametes and their potential ligands also have been identified. Role of ITGs during fertilization is supported by inhibition of sperm-egg adhesion and/or fusion by means of anti-ITG mAbs, Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) or disintegrin-like peptides. This review includes the current understanding of the molecular mechanism that regulates sperm-egg interaction and implications of this knowledge for assessing the fertility potential of men and immunocontraceptive method.

Spectrophotometric analysis of resazurin reduction test and semen quality in men.

The resazurin reduction test (RRT) was performed on semen samples obtained from 225 untreated subfertile and 10 pregnancy confirmed fertile males. The results of RRT were determined visually using resazurin colour chart and again the extent of resazurin reduction in each sample was additionally read by spectrophotometer to assess the quality of samples. Absorption spectra was scanned for resazurin and resorufin and two most sensitive wavelengths (572 and 600 nm) were selected. The ratio of the two optical densities was used as a probe to discriminate the various grades of semen samples. In azoospermic samples, RRT ratio ranges from 0.7 to 1.16, in oligoasthenozoospermic samples from 1.10 to 1.35, in oligozoospermic samples from 1.5 to 2.0 (characterised visually as grades from 1-4) in normozoospermic and proven fertile samples from 2.25 to 5.9 (characterized visually as grades from 5 to 11). The highest correlation of RRT ratio was observed with sperm motility (r = 0.889, P < 0.001), followed by concentration (r = 0.848, P < 0.001) morphology (r = 0.660, P < 0.001) and viability (r = 0.544, P < 0.01). The test ratio had a positive predictive value of 95% for a sperm concentration of > 20 x 10(6)/ml and motility > 40% and a negative predictive value of 90% for a sperm concentration of < 20 x 10(6)/ml and motility < 40%. Therefore the evaluation of RRT results using spectrophotometric ratio method may provide a tool for obtaining a wider range of seminological diagnosis more accurately than the routine semen analysis. It is suggested that the method is simple and reliable, it can be performed in any andrology laboratories.

Integrin cell adhesion molecules in endometrium of fertile and infertile women throughout menstrual cycle.

Integrins (ITGs) are ubiquitous cell adhesion molecules that undergo dynamic alterations during the normal menstrual cycle in human endometrium. The distribution of four different subunits, viz. alpha 4, alpha 6, beta 3 and beta 4 in human endometrial tissue at different stages of the menstrual cycle was studied using immunohistochemical, enzyme immunoassay and SDS-PAGE/Western blot techniques. The specificity of each mAb to their respective ligands viz., laminin (Ln), fibronectin (Fn) and vitronectin (Vn) was done by cell adhesion assays. Both alpha 6 and beta 4 subunits (Ln receptors) expressed primarily on the glandular epithelium, while glandular, stromal and luminal cells expressed predominantly alpha 4 (Fn receptor) and beta 3 (Vn receptor). The appearance of alpha 4 and beta 3 ITG subunits was found to be cell and cycle specific. The levels of both alpha 6 and beta 4 increased throughout the menstrual cycle, while beta 3 subunit appeared abruptly on cycle day 19/20. The immunostaining for alpha 4 and beta 3 was absent in 90% of infertile women. The timing of expression of alpha 4 and beta 3, the two cycle--dependent ITGs framed the putative window of implantation and suggests a role in the diagnosis of infertility. In conclusion, the absence of alpha 4 and beta 3 ITG expression in the endometrium of infertility subjects during mid luteal phase may be associated with defects in uterine function. The defective uterine receptivity may be an unrecognised cause of infertility in these group of women.

Integrin cell adhesion molecules on human spermatozoa.

The expression of integrin cell adhesion molecules (ITG-CAMs) by human ejaculated spermatozoa (fresh, capacitated and acrosome reacted) was evaluated by immunocytochemical, immunofluorescence and cell-ELIS methods, using monoclonal antibodies against alpha-6 and beta-3 subunits. Both the subunits were expressed on the acrosome region in fresh spermatozoa and post acrosomal region after acrosome reaction induced by calcium ionophore. The spermatozoa of the fertile men showed significantly (P < 0.001) higher expression of alpha-6 and beta-3 ITG subunits than the subfertile men. The percentage of spermatozoa reacting with alpha-6 and beta-3 mAbs increased significantly after the loss of acrosome when compared with fresh spermatozoa. Moreover, 35-40% of spermatozoa with normal shape and none of the spermatozoa with pathological shape showed a positive reaction. The quantitative analysis carried out by ELISA suggests that the levels of these ITG subunits decreased significantly (P < 0.001) in the subfertile subjects when compared with the fertile and the difference was more for alpha-6 than the beta-3. Hence our result suggests that alpha-6 subunit may be used as a clinical marker to evaluate the sperm quality in men.

Resazurin reduction test to evaluate semen quality.

The resazurin test (REZ TEST) was performed on semen samples obtained from 75 untreated subfertile and 10 pregnancy confirmed fertile males. The results were compared with other sperm parameters to assess the quality of semen. The highest correlation of REZ grade was with motile sperm (r = 0.90, P < 0.001), sperm viability (r = 0.80, P < 0.001) and sperm concentration (r = 0.71, P < 0.001). The REZ grade indicated significant difference in the rate of positive tests between samples from fertile males and patients exhibiting abnormal semen parameters. The RES TEST had a positive predictive value of 93.75% for a progressives motile sperm concentration of > 20 x 106/ml and a negative predictive power of 88.7% for the same variable at a criterion value of 10 x 106/ml. It is suggested that REZ TEST can be performed with a relatively small volume of semen, it is easy to perform and requires no technical equipments.

Effect of prolactin on accessory sex organs of prepuberal male albino rats: an in vitro study.

The in vitro studies on the effect of hypophysial gonadotropins (PRL, FSH, LH) on the maturation events of accessory sex organs in prepuberal male rats revealed that prolactin (PRL) alone has both direct as well as androgen mediated effect on the maturation activities. The effect of PRL is age dependent and it had higher activation on the gland system than the duct system.

Effect of prolactin and bromocriptine administration on epididymal function--a biochemical study in rats.

The pattern of androgen dependent enzyme activities of epididymis was studied after the administration of prolactin and bromocriptine in albino rats. Prolactin activated the glycogenolysis and hexose mono and diphosphate pathways, which would be essential for sperm maturation. But bromocriptine inhibited these activities of epididymis. Hence role of bromocriptine in decreasing epididymal function has been suggested.

Effect of bilateral vasectomy on testicular metabolism in albino rats.

The adult Wistar strain albino rats were vasectomised by conventional method and maintained for six months. The vasectomized rat testis had elevated water content with depleted dry matter. Glycogen content was increased with indication of mobilization of hexoses into HMP pathway. The vasectomized rat testis showed preferential utilisation of triglycerides. In view of increased 3 beta-HSD and 17 beta-HSD activities, accelerated androgenesis was envisaged in vasectomized rat testis.