Rabeto plus: a valuable drug for managing functional dyspepsia.

The aim of the study was to evaluate and document the efficacy and tolerability of rabeto plus (FDC of rabeprazole and itopride) in management of functional dyspepsia. It was an open, prospective, non-comparative, multidose study. The patients with functional dyspepsia (NERD or non-erosive reflux disease) attending OPD of a leading, tertiary care, teaching hospital in West Bengal (BS Medical College, Bankura) were inducted in the study. A total of 46 adult patients of either sex with functional dyspepsia and a clinical diagnosis of NERD were given 1 capsule of rabeto plus before breakfast, for up to 4 weeks. Primary efficacy variables were relief from symptoms of heartburn, nausea, vomiting, waterbrash and fullness. Secondary efficacy variables were global assessment of efficacy and toleration by patients and treating physicians. The tolerability was assessed on the basis of record of spontaneously reported adverse events with their nature, intensity and outcome. Out of 55 patients enrolled in the study, 46 completed the study as planned, while 9 patients were lost to follow-up (dropped). Most patients reported near total symptom relief by the end of study. Total symptom score showed remarkable and significant improvement from baseline to end of the study. Importantly, none of the patients reported any side-effect. All participants tolerated the drug well. Moreover, response to study drug was rated as excellent or good by over 93% patients and their treating physicians. This means that 9 out 10 patients receiving rabeto plus reported desired symptom relief from dyspepsia. Thus it was concluded that rabeto plus is a valuable drug for treatment of functional dyspepsia or NERD.

Evidence for the involvement of exposed surface carbohydrates of Agrobacterium tumefaciens in relation to crown gall tumour induction.

The exposed carbohydrate residues on the cell surface of both tumourigenic and nontumourigenic strains of Agrobacterium have been investigated using lectins as probes. N-acetyl-D-galactosamine and β-D-galactose were found to be present as the exposed groups on the cell surfaces of he Agrobacterium strains. These carbohydrate residues are attached to lipids on the outer membrane of the bacteria as lipopolysaccharides. Fluorescently labelled lectins were used to observe bacterial agglutination in fluorescence microscope. The involvement of these exposed carbohydrate groups in host-pathogen interaction was demonstrated by actual inhibition of tumour initiation at wound sites on host plant.