Assessment of homeopathic medicine Aconitum napellus in the treatment of anxiety in an animal model / Avaliação do medicamento homeopático Aconitum napellus no tratamento da ansiedade em modelo animal / Evaluación del medicamento homeopático aconitum napellus en el tratamiento de la ansiedad en un modelo animal

Aconitum napellus is a classic resource of complementary medicine for the treatment of patients exhibiting neurological symptoms of anxiety. Aim: To assess the action of homeopathic medicine Acon in the treatment of generalized anxiety in an experimental model using rats. Methods: 48 adult (two to three months old) male Wistar rats (Rattus rattus) were randomly divided in six groups (n= 8/treatment) and given the following treatments by gastric tube along 10 days: 1) control (diazepam 1 mg/kg/day); 2) negative control (0.15 mL saline solution/day); 3) ACH6 (0.15 mL Acon (6cH/day); 4) ACH12 (0.15 mL Acon 12cH/day); 5) ACH30 (0.15 mL Acon 30cH/day); and 6) ALC30 (0.15 mL 30% cereal alcohol/day). Behavioral effects were blindly and randomly assessed in elevated plus maze (EPM) and open test. Results: Acon in dilutions 12cH and 30cH exhibited possible anxiolytic effects on the central nervous system (CNS) since they increased the number of entries in the EPM open arms (12cH and 30cH) and the permanence time in the EPM open arms (30cH only). In the open test the homeopathic preparations did not show effects on the locomotor system of rats. Conclusion: Dilutions 12cH and 30cH of Acon exhibited anxiolytic effects on the CNS in an animal experimental model.

Introdução: O Aconitum napellus é uma das soluções clássicas utilizadas na medicina complementar para tratar pacientes que apresentam sintomas neurológicos de ansiedade. Objetivo: Avaliar a ação do medicamento homeopático Aconitum napellus no tratamento da ansiedade generalizada em um modelo experimental com ratos. Material e Métodos: 48 ratos (Rattus rattus) machos, adultos de 2 a 3 meses da linhagem Wistar foram divididos randomicamente em 6 grupos (n=8/tratamento) e receberam o tratamento por gavagem no período de 10 dias: 1) grupo controle (Diazepam 1mg/kg/dia); 2) controle negativo (0.15 mL solução salina/dia); 3) ACH6 (0.15 mL Aconitum napellus 6cH/dia); 4) ACH12 (0.15 mL Aconitum napellus 12cH/dia); 5) ACH30 (0.15 mL Aconitum napellus 30cH/dia); e 6) ALC30 (0.15 ml álcool de cereais 30%/dia). Os efeitos comportamentais foram avaliados no teste do Labirinto em Cruz Elevado (LCE) e Campo Aberto, ambos de forma cega e randomizada. Resultados: As potências 12cH e 30cH apresentaram um possível efeito ansiolítico sobre o sistema nervoso central (SNC), visto que foram capazes de aumentar a frequência de entrada nos braços abertos do LCE (12cH e 30cH) e o tempo nos braços abertos do LCE (apenas CH30). No teste do Campo Aberto observou-se que as potências homeopáticas não foram capazes de afetar o sistema locomotor. Conclusão: As potências 12cH e 30cH do Aconitum napellus demonstraram efeito ansiolítico sobre o SNC em modelos experimentais.

Follow-up study of bone mineral density and C-terminal telopeptide marker as predicators of fracture risk

Osteoporosis is a major health problem in many countries. Osteoporotic fractures are the main consequence of osteoporosis. Our aim was to identify the usefulness of bone mineral density and C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen as predictors of fracture risk. We evaluated both BMD and serum carboxy-terminal pyridinoline cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen [ICTP] in 212 subjects recruited from the community. This included healthy postmenopausal women and males over 60 years. Subjects were followed up for the occurrence of fractures jar one year. X-ray radio graphs of thoracic and lumber regions were done to detect silent vertebral fractures at baseline, and at the end of 1 year. Male gender was associated with a higher level of serum ICTP. BMD was insignificantly higher in males compared with females. Age, weight, BMI were significantly correlated with BMD. Age was significantly correlated with ICTP levels. BMD proved to be a strong predictor of incident fracture specially vertebral and hip fractures. Serum levels of ICTP were also predictors of incident fracture and this observation was more evident in females compared to males. Advancing age and low weight were predictors of increased incidence of fractures. Coffee was found to increases bone resorption, accordingly has a detrimental effect on bone strength. Other caffeine containing beverages [tea, cola] were not fond to have a significant effect on bone resorption

Bacteriocin production by indigenous marine catfish associated vibrio Spp

Fifty strains of genus Vibrio were isolated [identified] from healthy and diseased marine catflsh[es]. The isolates were screened for bacteriocin [vibriocin] production. About 32% isolates were found bacteriocin producers. The best producer was identified as Vibrio anguillarum AVP10. The maximum production of vibiiocin AVP10 was manifested at 29°C at pH 7, after 18-20h of incubation. Vibriocin activity was enhanced in the presence of citrate-phosphate buffer. The vibriocin AVP10 withstands autoclaving temperature and showed activity even after prolonged chloroform treatment. Proteolytic enzymes inhibited its activity, while lipolytic enzyme had no effect, It was found bioactive only against intrageneric bacterial strains. Mode of action of vibriocin AVP10 varies with the indicator [sensitive] culture used i.e. bactericidal effects was exerted against V. anguillarum AVS9 while bacteriostatic effect was shown against entero-toxigenic E. coil

Antimicrobial spectrum, production and mode of action of staphylococcin 188 produced by staphylococcus aureus 188

Staphylococcus aureus 188 has been shown to produce bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance known as staphylococcin188. It has a broad-activity spectrum against Micrococcus luteus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus faecalis, Streptococcus viridans, Corynebacterium diphtheriae and several staphylococcus species. The arbitrary unit of staphylococcin 188 against Micrococcus luteus was 1280AU/mL. Its production with simultaneous measurement of activity was monitored and was found to produce maximum amount of staphylococcin after 7 hours of incubation. Mode of action of the staphylococcin 188 on the sensitive cells was bactericidal rather than bacterioloytic