Efficacy of dexmedetomidine as adjuvant to ropivacaine in paravertebral block for post-operative analgesia in breast cancer surgery

Background: Paravertebral block can be given for pain management after modified radical mastectomy (MRM). Although many additives to ropivacaine in PVB have been tried for post-operative analgesia, none has been found ideal. Aims and Objectives: We have compared the duration of analgesia in PVB using adjuvant like dexmedetomidine with ropivacaine after MRM. Materials and Methods: Sixty female patients posted for MRM and axillary dissection were split into two groups. Group R administered ultrasound-guided PVB with 20 ml ropivacaine 0.5% and Group RD administered 20 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine with dexmedetomidine 1 mcg/kg. After confirming PVB, surgery was done under general anesthesia in all patients. Time for 1st analgesia requirement was the main objective of our trial. Other objectives were to record visual analog scale scores and total analgesic need. Results: Post-operative analgesia duration was increased in the group RD (7.11 ± 1.42 h) in contrary to Group R (3.68 ± 1.85 h). Total paracetamol consumption post-operative 24 h was decreased in Group RD (1.63 ±0.89 g) in contrary to Group R (2.74 ± 0.76 g). Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine in PVB provides prolonged pain relief after MRM.

Amelioration of Acrylamide Induced Neurotoxicity in Wistar Rats

Present study was undertaken to study the neurotoxicity of oral acrylamide (ACR) and its amelioration using α-tocopherol, reduced glutathione (GSH) and hot aqueous extract (HAE) of Ocimum sanctum. Forty five male Wistar rats were divided into 12 groups. The study showed a significant reduction in the body weight of the rats fed with ACR in comparison to the other groups while body weight was restored in the rats fed with α-tocopherol and HAE. Neurotoxicity in rats fed with ACR was evident with the results of histopathology and oxidative stress (high MDA and decreased activities of GSH, SOD, GST and CAT in brain). Co-administration of α-tocopherol and HAE lowered these changes however, there was no marked improvement seen in neural damage but improvement was evident in behavioral as well as physiological changes at a marked point. Histopathology of brain in ACR alone fed group showed extensive neural degeneration and massive deposition of fibrin which was substantially decreased and ameliorated with the co-administration of α-tocopherol and HAE. These results support the oxidative stress results as well. Our results suggests that α-tocopherol and HAE can be useful for protecting brain tissue against ACR induced neurotoxicity through minimizing the free radical mediated oxidative stress

Endocannabinoid Signaling in Spermatozoa: A Mini-Review

Spermatozoa undergoes array of signaling and intracellular pathways and ultimately become competent enough to accomplish fertilization. Hormones, ion channels and signaling molecules in both male and female reproductive tract show bidirectional cross play. The recent discovery of endocannabinoids and their receptors in male and female reproductive system opened new vistas for their research in regulating sperm function. Interestingly, endocannabinoids regulate sperm motility, capacitation, hyperactivity and eventually acrosome reaction. However, their complex intracellular pathways are still to be understood in regulating spermatozoa function. The present review highlights the major breakthrough research in the area of endocannabinoids in male reproduction and in more specific in sperm cells, and their association with regulation of sperm fertilizing competence

Obstetric fistula: A challenge to public health

Obstetric fistula (OF) is one of the most important consequences of a prolonged obstructed labor, a big issue for low-income countries (LICs) like India. The objective is to identify and explore the knowledge regarding OF as a public health problem in LICs from peer review literature. The PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct databases were searched to identify the prevalence, risk factors, and management of OF in LICs. Quantitative evidence-based paper reviewed. Twenty-seven articles met the inclusion criteria. The 15 provided population-based OF prevalence data of OF and 12 provided risk factors and social causes of OF rates associated with the birth that caused an OF. OF has one of the big public health problems. There is a lack of scientific research on the prevalence and risk factors of OF in LICs. This review helps to eradicate or alleviate the problem of OF in LICs like India.

Evaluations of allelopathic effect of Echinochloa colona weed on rice (Oryza sativa L. ‘Vandana’).

Echinochloa colona (L.) Link is a very problematic weed in up land and medium land rice causing significant reduction in yield. In the present investigation, laboratory and field experiments were conducted to evaluate the nature of interaction E. colona on germination and growth of the up land rice cultivar ‘Vandana’. The effects of decomposing and decomposed aqueous leachates (1-10%w/v) obtained from the dried biomass of 20, 30, 40 and 60 days old E.colona plants were studied on rice using petridish bioassay technique with three different types of culture media like filter paper, soil, and soil + activated charcoal. The decomposing leachates of E. colona showed strong toxic effect on root and shoot growth of rice, the highest being noted with 10% leachates of 60 days old plant residue. It inhibited root and shoot growth by 100% and 43.9% respectively as compared to control. The corresponding decomposed leachates inhibited rice germination by 90% and root and shoot growth by 70 and 25% respectively. These toxic effects of leachates showed in filter paper medium were significantly reduced in soil and soil plus activated charcoal media proving their allelopathic nature. In a field experiment, E. colona and rice were grown in proportions of 1:1, 1: 2 and 1:4, the total plant density being maintained at 100 pants m-2. The height and dry matter of rice were adversely affected with increasing in E. colona population. From another similar field trial, data on dry matter of 20, 30, 40, and 60 days old plants were taken and their plant relative yield (PRY) and relative yield total (RYT) values were calculated. The PRY and RYT values were found to be less than unit (<1) throughout the growth period studied which suggested the presence of severe antagonistic interspecific interaction between rice and E.colona due to allelopathy.