Therapeutic effect of propolis on Staphylococcus aureus induced oxidative stress in kidney of BALB/c mice. A biochemical and histopathological study

Due to emerging drug resistance in pathogenic organisms, most of the second generation antibiotics are not effective in controlling the disease. As a consequence, the dosage and duration of drug intake has increased leading to drug induced toxicity and various side effects. A large number of natural products are being reported to ameliorate the toxicity and oxidative stress caused by antibiotics. Here, we explored the antioxidative potential of honey bee product propolis alone as well as in combination with antibiotics in Staphylococcus aureus infected BALB/c mice. For experimental design, mice were divided in to seven groups and decapitated after experimental period. Kidney was excised, homogenized and then used for different biochemical and histopathological estimations. Results observed after treatment with propolis and antibiotics were compared with those of S. aureus infected group. Results showed increase in lipid peroxidation, decrease in reduced glutathione levels and antioxidant enzymes such as; catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase. On the contrary, treatment with propolis, led to reduction in levels of LPO and increase in activities of antioxidant enzymes. Also, histopathology of kidney and all kidney function enzymes were restored to near normal.

A study of etiological profile of acute confusional state

Background: ACS (Acute confusional states) are on the rise taking the shape of an epidemic. These states are common among the elderly, but young individuals are also not spared. Prompt diagnosis and management of these states can decrease the associated morbidity and mortality.Methods: In this prospective observational study, etiological profile of ACS was evaluated in a total 100 patients, selected over a period of one year, after they fulfilled the CAM (Confusion Assessment Method) criteria.Results: Among 100 patients of ACS, mean age was 54.77�.50 years, males were 66% and 34% were females. The most common diagnosis provisionally made on the basis of history and clinical examination was metabolic encephalopathy in 37% patients, meningoencephalitis (24%), CVA (Cerebrovascular accident) (18%), seizures (9%), sepsis (6%), poisoning (6%). Whereas the final diagnosis made after subjecting the patients to relevant investigations, was metabolic encephalopathy in 37% of patients, meningoencephalitis (20%), CVA (18%), sepsis (12%), unprovoked seizures (6%), poisoning (6%) and undetermined in 1%. The final diagnosis matched the provisional diagnosis in most of the patients except sepsis as a provisional diagnosis was underdiagnosed. The mean duration of hospital stay was 7.6�67days and the hospital stay was most commonly complicated by aspiration pneumonia and acute kidney injury.Conclusions: This study emphasizes that the ACS is an emergency medical situation, where prompt identification, workup and treatment should be done parallelly and urgently to prevent the morbidity and mortality.

New cell surface bound lectins with complex carbohydrate specificity from members of green algae

Lectins, algal in particular, have immense potential for biomedical applications such as anti-HIV, antitumoral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities. In this context, there is a growing interest among researchers on agglutinins from green algae. Here, we have made an attempt to catalogue lectins from various unexplored green algae species. Chlorophyceae members (Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorococcum infusiformis, Desmodesmus dimorphus, D. subspicatus and Scenedesmus quadricauda) were screened for lectin activity using human, pig, sheep, goat and rabbit erythrocytes. All of them showed surface bound lectin activity with highest agglutination titre towards human blood type B erythrocytes and rabbit erythrocytes. Neuraminidase and protease treatment to human blood type B erythrocytes considerably enhanced the agglutination titre of lectins from S. quadricauda, C. vulgaris and D. subspicatus. However, protease treatment of erythrocytes showed no effect on C. infusiformis lectin activity, and decreased the lectin activity of D. dimorphus. Lectins of members of chlorophyceae have shown unique glycoprotein binding specificities as their lectin activity was specifically inhibited by glycoproteins exhibiting complex O-glycans, such as bovine submaxillary mucin, porcine stomach mucin and fetuin. All the algal cultures expressed maximum lectin activity during stationary phase of growth except S. quadricauda which expressed maximum lectin activity during mid-log to stationary phase of cultivation. Possibly, it is a new report on cell surface bound lectins from unexplored members of chlorophyceae for lectin activity.

Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Bronchiolitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of nasal continuous positiveairway pressure (nCPAP) in decreasing respiratory distress inbronchiolitis.Design: Randomized controlled trial.Setting: Tertiary-care hospital in New Delhi, India.Participants: 72 infants (age <1y) hospitalized with a clinicaldiagnosis of bronchiolitis were randomized to receive standardcare, or nCPAP in addition to standard care, in the first hour afteradmission. 23 parents refused to give consent for participation. 2infants did not tolerate nCPAP.Intervention: The outcome was assessed after 60 minutes. IfnCPAP was not tolerated or the distress increased, the infant wasswitched to standard care. Analysis was done on intention-to-treatbasis Main outcome measures: Change in respiratory rate,Silverman-Anderson score and a Modified Pediatric Society ofNew Zealand Severity Score.Results: 14 out of 32 in nCPAP group and 5 out of 35 in standardcare group had change in respiratory rate ?10 (P=0.008). Themean (SD) change in respiratory rate [8.0 (5.8) vs 5.1 (4.0),P=0.02] in Silverman-Anderson score [0.78 (0.87) vs 0.39 (0.73),P=0.029] and in Modified Pediatric Society of New ZealandSeverity Score [2.5 (3.01) vs. 1.08 (1.3), P=0.012] weresignificantly different in the nCPAP and standard care groups,respectively.Conclusion: nCPAP helped reduce respiratory distresssignificantly compared to standard care.

Diacerein, its beneficial impact on chondrocytes and notable new clinical applications

Diacerein (DCN) was obtained by diacetylation of an anthraquinone derivative rhein and was approved by FDA in 2008, in the treatment of osteoarthritis due to its inhibitory effect on proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-6 and IL-1ß. It was synthesized in 1980s and marketed as a tablet in some European Union and Asian countries from 1994. Along with its great potential in the treatment of osteoarthritis, its other applications are also being explored day by day, such as in the treatment of psoriasis, epidermolysis bullosa, breast cancer, type 2 diabetes and periodontitis. The main aim of this review is to explore mechanism of action, various applications and side effects associated with DCN. This has been reviewed that apart from the risk of diarrhea on long-term administration of DCN, various clinical studies has also shown its modest benefits in treatment of various pathological conditions. Hence, DCN is emerging as a new and potentially safe derivative with maximum therapeutic efficacies and minimum side effects which can results in improving the living status of patients suffering from various inflammatory diseases

A randomised comparative study of dexmedetomidine and midazolam for sedation during awake fiberoptic intubation in laproscopic cholecystectomy patients.

Fiberoptic nasotracheal intubation is an effective method for the management of patients with difficult airways. An ideal sedation regimen would ensure patient’s comfort, attenuation of airway reflexes, patient’s co-ordination, haemodynamic stability and amnesia. It is critical for both the surgeon and the anesthesiologist to understand the physiologic consequences of laparoscopy and to work in cooperation to achieve a good surgical outcome. Methods: Patients were randomly allocated to midazolam (MDZ) group (group 1) and dexmedetomidine (DEX) group (group 2). DEX patients received dexmedetomidine 1μg/kg, followed by an infusion of dexmedetomidine 0.1μg/kg/hr titrated to 0.7μg/kg/hr to achieve RSS ≥2. MDZ subjects received IV midazolam 0.05mg/kg with additional doses given to achieve a RSS ≥ 2. Measurements: Pulse rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures and SpO2 recorded during pre-oxygenation, one minute prior to introduction of fiberscope and then every minute for the following five minutes and beginning one minute before endotracheal intubation and then every minute until the endotracheal tube was secured, patient’s tolerance assessed on 5 point fiberoptic intubation score during fiberscopy and endotracheal intubation, total comfort score values assessed during pre-oxygenation, fiberscopy and endotracheal intubation and patient’s response to 24 hour post op questionnaire assessment were measured. Results: DEX group patients were significantly more quiet and more harmonius during awake fiberoptic intubation (AFOI) than were the MDZ group patients. The DEX group patients were found to have a lower mean Heart Rate than the MDZ patients. Conclusions: Both dexmedetomidine and midazolam are effective for fibreoptic intubation. Dexmedetomidine allows better endurance, stable haemodynamic status and a patent airway.

Prevalence of specific developmental disorder of scholastic skill in school students in Chandigarh, India.

Background & objectives: Several studies have been conducted in India to determine the prevalence of learning disabilities in school children which has been reported to be 3-10 per cent among students population. The present study was conducted to find out prevalence of specific developmental disorder of scholastic skills in students of classes VII to XII and to find out feasibility of screening tool in Chandigarh, India. Methods: A cross-sectional study on school students was carried out in two phases. The students were drawn from classes VII to XII from 10 schools of Chandigarh, India. Details of academic performance of all the students was taken, subjectively from class teachers and objectively from the marks obtained in the last academic session. In phase I, 2402 students were assessed. In phase II, 108 students were randomly selected for evaluation for assessing sensitivity and specificity of screening proforma for teachers. A total of 124 students from phase I and all students in phase II were assessed in detail. Tests of intelligence (Malin’s Intelligence Scale for Indian Children and Standard Progressive Matrices), and NIMHANS Index for specific learning disability (SLD) battery were administered. Results: A total of 38 students were found to be having specific developmental disorder of scholastic skills in phase I, that gave a prevalence of 1.58 per cent. Majority had mixed type of errors on SLD battery. There were more boys diagnosed with specific learning disability. Teacher’s screening instrument had high sensitivity (90.385) and specificity (94.68). Interpretation & conclusions: The findings of our study conducted in community, showed that specific learning disability was not identified even till later age. The screening instrument thus could be used by teachers to suspect students with specific learning disability.

In vitro translation of RNA to lactase during postnatal development of rat intestine.

mRNA levels encoding lactase were detected by Northern blot analysis using two different probes in developing rat intestine. Probe I and probe II corresponding to second half of prolactase gene showed a 6.8 kb mRNA transcript in 7, 14, 21 and 30 day old rat intestine. There was no change in quantity of lactase mRNA detected using probe II, but hybridization with probe I showed a progressive decrease in mRNA transcript encoding lactase with age. At day 7 and 14 of postnatal development, the lactase mRNA was quite high, but it reduced upon weaning. The in vitro translation products of RNA detected by Western blot analysis using brush border lactase antibodies showed several isoforms of lactase antigen with molecular weight ranging from 100-220 kDa. Analysed at days 7 and 30 of postnatal development, lactase isoforms of molecular weight 130 kDa and 220 kDa were similar to those found in purified brush border membranes. The translation of RNA to 220 kDa lactase protein was high in 7 and 14 day old pups, but it was markedly reduced in 30 day old animals. These findings support the contention that translation of mRNA to lactase is impaired in weaned animals, which may also be responsible for the maturational decline in lactase activity in adult rat intestine.