RESUMO
Background: As per Ayurvedic classics, Ras?yana is a term used for unique therapeutic measures intended to improve cognition, memory, physical strength and delay the degenerative processes. Ayush Rasayana A & B are developed from extracts of herbs pertaining rasayana property. Aims & Objectives: To assess the safety and effectiveness of ‘Ayush Rasayana A and B’ in improving physical endurance, quality of life and cognition of elderly. Materials and Methods: This is an open label, single arm, multi-centre study among 256 apparently healthy elderly between 60?75 years. Ayush Rasayan A was given for 6 days and Ayush Rayana B for 180 days. The effect of the trial drug was seen on functional capacity, quality of life and cognitive function and, safety of the intervention was assessed through haematological and biochemical tests, clinical examination and incidence of adverse events. Results: Significant improvement in 6 minute walk test and HMSE score was observed at 187th as compared to baseline (p<0.0001). Quality of life of the participants especially in domains of physical health, social relationship and environment also improved at the end of intervention period (p<0.0001). The haematological and bio-chemical parameters showed no significant changes as compared to baseline and no adverse events were observed during the study. Conclusion: Ayush Rasayana A and Ayush Rasayana B, both were well tolerated by all the participants. This ayurvedic intervention can be safely given to apparently healthy elderly to improve their functionality, quality of life and cognition. However, a randomized controlled trial is warranted to substantiate the efficacy of this drug.
RESUMO
Celiac disease is an important cause of chronic diarrhea, failure to thrive, and anemia in children. Mode of presentation of celiac disease has changes in last few years. Study was conducted to determine the mode of clinical presentation of a large group of patients with celiac disease and whether there has been a change in the presentation with the time. A prospective study was conducted on 134 children diagnosed to be having celiac disease in the Pediatric Gastroenterology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, from July 1st 2006 to December 31[st] 2007. Their detailed clinical profile was recorded on pretested proforma and all patients underwent hemogram, liver function tests, IgA Anti tTg, and upper GI endoscopy. Major symptoms at presentation were diarrhea [54.5%], failure to thrive [52.2%], abdominal distension [41%], anemia [40%], pain abdomen [19.4%], vomiting [15.7%] and constipation [2.2% of cases]. 60.4% of patients had short stature. Anemia was microcytic hypochromic in 79.1% of patients, and dimorphic in 20.9%. Serum transaminases were raised in38.8% of cases. The mean serum anti tTG level was 164.24U/ml [Range 0-749 U/ml] and levels correlated with the severity of small intestinal damage on biopsy. 15 patients were negative for the serology but 8 out of them had IgA deficiency and all had histopathology suggestive of celiac disease. Classical presentation of celiac disease is less commonly encountered these days probably related to the more widespread use of serologic testing and early recognition of atypical manifestations of celiac disease