Phytochemical analysis and antioxidant profile of methanolic extract of seed, pulp and peel of Baccaurea ramiflora Lour

Objective:To analyze the phytochemical constituents responsible for the plausible antioxidant effect of methanolic extract of the seed, pulp and peel of Baccaurea ramiflora Lour.Methods:Fresh seed, pulp, and peel of Baccaurea ramiflora fruits were extracted with methanol (MEBRse, MEBRpu, MEBRpe) and evaluated by phytochemical analysis for their content of innumerable metabolites (primary and secondary) viz. carbohydrates, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, phenols, terpenoids, flavonoids, proteins, and fixed oils. The antioxidant efficacy was assessed through different assay methods viz. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and reducing power capacity (RPC). Estimation of total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC) was also done to confirm the presence of these phytochemicals.Results:It was revealed from the phytochemical analysis of MEBRse that alkaloids, glycosides, carbohydrates, phenols, and flavonoids were present, while that of MEBRpu showed the existence of carbohydrates, proteins, alkaloids, glycosides, phenols, saponins, flavonoids, and fixed oils. Presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, and terpenoids were found in the MEBRpe. A significant antioxidant activity was revealed by the MEBRpu [ECConclusions:This study suggests that MEBRpu has a significantly higher antioxidant property than MEBRpe and MEBRse. These extracts might be advantageous in prevention or decelerating the progress of different diseases related to oxidative-stress/damage. Moreover, detailed analysis of these extracts is required to identify the presence of promising compound(s) responsible for their antioxidant activity.

In-hospital outcome of patients with cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction: results from Royal hospital percutaneous coronary intervention registry, Oman

Objectives: Cardiogenic shock [CS] is still the leading cause of in-hospital mortality in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction [AMI]. The aim of this study was to determine the in-hospital mortality and clinical outcome in AMI patients presenting with CS in a tertiary hospital in Oman

Methods: This retrospective observational study included patients admitted to the cardiology department between January 2013 and December 2014. A purposive sampling technique was used, and 63 AMI patients with CS admitted to [36.5%] or transferred from a regional hospital [63.5%] were selected for the study

Results: Of 63 patients, 73% [n = 46] were Omani and 27% [n = 17] were expatriates: 79% were male and 21% were female. The mean age of patients was 60 +/- 12 years. The highest incidence of CS [30%] was observed in the 51-60 year age group. Diabetes mellitus [43%] and hypertension [40%] were the predominant risk factors. Ninety-two percent of patients had ST-elevation MI, 58.7% patients were thrombolysed, and 8% had non-ST-elevation MI. Three-quarters [75%] of CS patients had severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction [defined as ejection fraction <30%]. Coronary angiogram showed single vessel disease in 17%, double vessel disease in 40%, and triple vessel disease in 32% and left main disease in 11%. The majority of the patients [93.6%] underwent percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI], among them 23 [36.5%] underwent primary PCI. In-hospital mortality was 52.4% in this study

Conclusions: CS in AMI patients presenting to a tertiary hospital in Oman have high in-hospital mortality despite the majority undergoing PCI. Even though the in-hospital mortality is comparable to other studies and registries, there is an urgent need to determine the causes and find any remedies to provide better care for such patients, specifically concentrating on the early transfer of patients from regional hospitals for early PCI

Design, characterization and in-vitro evaluation of different cellulosic acrylic and methacrylic polymers loaded aceclofenac microspheres

The aspire of this attempt was to design and evaluate aceclofenac loaded sustained release microspheres by emulsion solvent evaporation method, using different polymers like Ethyl cellulose [EC], Kollidon SR [KSR], Eudragit RS 100, Eudragit RL 100 and Hydroxypropylmethyl Cellulose [HPMC K100M]

Microspheres were prepared using different stirring rate [1200, 1500, 2000rpm] and larger microspheres were obtained with lower stirring rate. Performance of microspheres was evaluated in terms of in vitro dissolution study which was allowed according to USP paddle method using Phosphate Buffer [pH 6.8] for 8 hours. UV-spectrophotometric method was used to calculate the drug content and the maximum and minimum release of aceclofenac from microspheres was observed 96.08% and 46.41% for formulation F18 and F5 after 8 hours respectively

Dissolution data were fitted by different mathematical models such as the zero order plot, first order plot, Higuchi plot, Hixon-Crowel plot and korsemeyer plot. Korsemeyer model has found to best fitted with release data. Scanning electron microscopic technique was performed to obtain the particle size and morphological changes due to different polymers. Fourier Transform Infra-red [FT-IR] spectroscopy uas performed to find out any interaction of drug with the polymers. The drug might be released by both diffusion and erosion as data were best fitted with Korsemeyer model. So it has been demonstrated that aceclofenac microspheres containing different cellulosic, acrylic and methacrylic loaded polymers may be excellent candidates for consideration in drug delivery systems

Use of Arsenic contaminated sludge in making ornamental bricks

Arsenic contaminated sludge can be found from the treatment of arsenic contaminated ground water. Lake of management and reuse of this sludge can create further environmental problem as there is probability of mixing with soil and water. In this paper, an effort is taken for the use of such waste. Here, effectiveness of using this sludge in making ornamental brick has been analyzed and justified. The detailed study was made upon the suitability of sludge in making bricks. Results of different tests indicate that sludge proportion is the key factor for determining the quality of ornamental bricks/tiles. The compressive strength of ornamental bricks decreases with increase of sludge proportion. This study showed that arsenic contaminated sludge could be used safely up to 4% for making ornamental bricks. Because after that limit the quality of bricks or tiles fall markedly

Study of current management of community acquired pneumonia and strategies for improvement

To see that the patients admitted with community acquired pneumonia [CAP] are managed in accordance with British Thoracic society recommendations and guidelines. All patients admitted with Community-Acquired Pneumonia in medical wards admitted in large district general hospital setting in UK, were audited. The study period was between September and October 2002. Permission for the study was taken from the local hospital trust audit department. Seventy one sets of notes were reviewed leaving 38 patients appropriate for inclusion into the study. The findings observed in the record revealed that, Respiratory rate was not recorded in 36.8% [n=14] patients, level of confusion not recorded in 47.4% [n=18], Blood cultures not sent in 42.1% [n=16] patients, sputum not sent for culture in 47.4% [n=18] cases. Inappropriate antibiotics used 18.4% [n=7], treatment time of senior review not documented in 36.8% [n=14], radiographic findings not documented in 13% [n=5] cases. No follow up arrangements were made in 13.2% [n=5]. Average time of senor review was 6 hours and average time of antibiotic given after admission was 2 hours. This audit shows that even in a developed country with well-established guidelines for management of different diseases, guidelines for management of community-acquired pneumonia are not strictly adhered to. More efforts need to be made for dissemination and implementation of these guidelines

Phytochemical and biological investigations of erythrina variegata

Five compounds were isolated from the n-hexane and chloroform soluble fractions of a methanol extract of the stem bark of Erythrina variegata. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated as alpinum isoflavone [1], epilupeol [2], 6-hydroxygenistein [3], 3beta 28-dihydroxyolean-12-ene [4] and stigmasterol [5] by extensive spectroscopic studies, including high field NMR analyses. Different partitionates of the methanol extract exhibited mild to moderate antimicrobial activity and varying degrees of cytotoxicity. Although, alpinum isoflavone [1] has previously been reported from E. variegata, this is the first report of isolation of compounds 2-4 and stigmasterol from this plant species

Iodine supplementation in iodine-deficient hypothyroidism and sub-clinical hypothyroidism

To see the effect of iodine supplementation in iodine-deficient hypothyroidism and sub-clinical hypothyroidism. This is a cross sectional prospective study. Thyroid Clinic of Centre for Nuclear Medicine and Ultrasound, Khulna [CNMU, Khulna] run jointly by CNMU, Khulna and Medicine department of Khulna Medical College, Khulna for a period of 3 years from January 2001 to December 2003. Patients were selected from the Thyroid Clinic. Inclusion criteria were [1] presence of goitre, [2] normal or low T4 and high TSH level and [3] high two hours and 24 hours radioactive iodine uptake. Percentage of euthyroidism with iodine supplementation in iodine-deficient hypothyroidism and sub-clinical hypothyroidism. Changes in goitre grade, thyroid volume, serum T4 and TSH. Out of fifty-seven patients, 42 [73.7%] resumed euthyroidism with iodine supplementation alone and 15 [26.3%] needed thyroid replacement along with iodine supplementation. Regarding the goitre grade and thyroid volume, out of 6 goitre grade 1B, two [33.3%] remained goitre 1B, three [50%] had grade 1A and one [16.7%] had goitre grade 0 respectively and out of 51 goitre grade2, six [11.8%] remained grade 2, 32 [62.7%] had grade 1B and 13 [25.5%] had grade 1A goitre respectively with overall reduction of thyroid volume from 24.60 +/- 6.07 ml to 16.86 +/- 3.23 ml i.e., reduced by 31.5%. Regarding the biochemical status, mean T4 increased from 65.65 +/- 27.32 to 89.59 +/- 21.69 nmol/L and mean TSH decreased from 24.28 +/- 15.90 mIU/L to 3.59 +/- 1.24 mIU/L. Iodine supplementation in iodine-deficient hypothyroidism and sub-clinical hypothyroidism reverses abnormal thyroid function as well as reduces the goitre size

Sickle cell hemoglobin C disease in Saudi Arabia

Sickle cell hemoglobin C [HbSC] is a disease confined to people of West African ancestry and it has not been reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [KSA]. We are reporting 2 patients with HbSC disease from the western province of KSA [Madinah]; one patient presented with severe form of the disease which include transient hypertension

Glomerulonephritis presented as acute severe renal failure [ASRF]

To investigate the aetiology, clinical features, histological diagnosis and response to treatment of patients with glomeulonephritis presenting as acute renal failure [ARF] or rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis [RPGN]. Of the 66 patients with ARF, admitted in the Nephrology department of BSMMU, Dhaka in the period January 1998 to June 1999, 19 presented clinically as RPGN. They were evaluated for histological diagnosis and clinical outcome. There were 11 males and 8 females with a mean age of 31 +/- 4.62 years. The mean arterial B.P. was 103 +/- 6.8 mmHg, urinary total protein 2.7 +/- 1.9 gm/24 hours, urinary RBC 12 +/- 3.8 per high power field. Mean blood urea was 118.9 +/- 11.76 mg% and S.creatinine 7.78 +/- 4.3 mg%. Immunohistological findings revealed crescentic GN in 8 [42.11%], glomerulonephritis without crescent 11[57.89%] and granular deposition of the immunoglobulin and complement in 11 [73.33%] cases. Patients were treated with methyiprednlsolone for 3 days followed by oral prednisolone and cyclophosphamide as per schedule protocol along with acute haemodialysis through temporary venous catheter. Nine [47.37%] patients died, 6 [31.57%] improved and 4 [21.10%] developed CRF. The study showed that among the patients with ARF, 28% presented with RPGN. The prognosis was uniformly had, although 1/3rd improved with appropriate and early treatment