ABSTRACT
Introduction Influenza virus is a significant human pathogen causing severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) associated with significant mortality worldwide. The H1N1 Influenza virus that caused a pandemic in 2009 continued to cause periodic epidemics worldwide, with new variants posing significant public health problems. The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence and characteristics of influenza at a tertiary care teaching hospital. Methods From 2017 to 2019, respiratory samples from suspected cases of influenza belonging to category C received at the microbiology laboratory were transported to Manipal Centre for Virus Research, Manipal, in the cold chain for testing of influenza virus by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) as per CDC guidelines. The microbiological reports were collected and evaluated. The details of patients positive for influenza were analyzed for demographic and clinical characteristics. Results During the study period, 172 samples from SARI patients were tested, out of which 44 patients were positive for the influenza virus, accounting for a prevalence of 25.58%; 84% (n=37) of the cases were infected with H1N1 influenza virus, and the other 11.36% (n=5) and 4.54% (n=2) cases yielded H1N2 and H1N3 influenza virus, respectively. Among 44 patients, 56.81% (n=25) were females and 43.18% (n=19) were males. Most of the patients, 65.9% (n=29), were between 40 and 60 years old. The predominant presenting symptoms were fever in 81.81% (n=36) patients, breathlessness in 56.8% (n=25) patients, and cough in 54.54% (n=24) patients. Twelve (27.27%) patients had acute severe respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A significant mortality rate of 22.72% (n=10) was noted in the study. Conclusion A significant prevalence of influenza was noted in the study at 25.58%. Along with the H1N1 Influenza virus, the new strains detected in our region were H1N2 and H1N3 influenza viruses. Regular surveillance is important in the early detection of cases, for timely management, to reduce mortality, and to take measures to prevent the spread of this important infectious disease.
ABSTRACT
Objective: In the recent years of research, the interest on herbal medicine is continuously increasing. Piperine is an alkaloid extracted from ripen fruits of Piper nigram and was proved in literature for its hepato protective and anti ulcer properties majorly through anti oxidant capability. Methods: In the present investigation gastro retentive, both floating and mucoadhessive microspheres are evaluated for the hepato protection in paracetamol induced model and gastric protection in rats and a comparison was done with conventional microspheres and pure form of piperine. Results: The results clearly showed the significant decrease in the serum levels of the marker enzymes in hepato protective study supported by histopathology along with reduced ulcer index in anti ulcer activity. Conclusion: This clearly indicates that there is an increase in both activities of floating microspheres, mucoadhessive microspheres when compared with the PP and conventional microspheres.
ABSTRACT
Objective: The main focus of the study is to determine antioxidant, free radical scavenging and cytotoxic effect of ethanolic extract of whole plant of Leucas indica var lavandulifolia and Leucas indica var nagalapuramiana using various in vitro assay methods as well as to estimate the amount of total phenol and flavonoid contents. Methods: Leucas indica var lavandulifolia and Leucas indica var nagalapuramiana were collected in February 2008 from Thirumala hills and standard procedure from the literature were used to estimate the antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity. Results: The results suggest that both the extracts can be considered as a valuable source of antioxidants products as the obtained values are more or less near to the used standard compound. Conclusions: The characterization of leucas for antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities are new to literature in this context this extensive in vitro study of the selected two species of leucas for antioxidant activity will be a valuable study for further in vivo activities.