A pharmacological perspectives of Musa sapientum peels against lung cancer: An in vitro and in silico study.

CONTEXT: The essential role of medicinal plants is studied over 5000 years against the life-threatening diseases such as cancer in developing countries. The more cognizance on molecular mechanism will engender trend to use them efficaciously. AIMS: To analyze the pharmacological activity of banana peel against lung cancer. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Banana fruit is a nutritious victuals with proven medicinal properties. The underlying molecular mechanism of phytochemicals present in the banana peel was studied using in vitro and in silico methods to explore an efficacious anticancer drug against lung cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The petroleum ether extract of Musa sapientum peel is analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, in vitro studies using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and lipid peroxidase assay, and the in silico studies by molecular docking. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Microsoft Excel 2010 is used to calculate the mean and standard deviation for the ABTS and lipid peroxidation assay. RESULTS: The antioxidant activity was found to be 20 µg/ml concentration in ABTS assay and 10 µg/ml concentration in lipid peroxidation assay. The in vitro anticancer activity was inspected using A549 cell lines by MTT assay. Tri cyclo [5,1,0,0 (2, 4) oct 5-ene 5 proponoic acid] 3,3,8,8 tetramethyl was selected as best lead against epidermal growth factor receptor of human based on the energy score calculated using the Auto-dock software. CONCLUSIONS: This study strongly supports that unexploited banana peels could be used to harvest promising lead molecules against non-small cell lung cancer.

Knowledge and attitude of dental students toward hepatitis B virus and its vaccination - A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To estimate the awareness of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and coverage of hepatitis B vaccination among dental students enrolled in dental colleges located in Andhra Pradesh. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a prestructured questionnaire to find out the awareness of HBV and coverage of hepatitis B vaccine among dental students. Results: A total of 2780 dental students were approached to participate in the study but only 2701 (97.1%) students (M = 900, F = 1801) gave response. Out of the total 2701 students, 79.45% were aware of HBV infection and only 51.50% of the participants received hepatitis B vaccine. 20.5% have come across HBV infected patients and 59.5% are unaware of postexposure protocol. Of all, 63.9%, 21.5% and 42% felt the mode of transmission is blood, sexual contact and oral fluids, respectively. 49.12% recommended for awareness programs on risks in HBV; 56.46% suggested mandatory Hepatitis B vaccination programs in dental colleges. Conclusions: Despite the availability and accessibility of a cost-effective hepatitis B vaccine, the vaccination coverage among dental students was low. Health education needs to be improved for all health care students especially for dental students.

Frequency of anemia and micronutrient deficiency among children with cleft lip and palate: a single-center cross-sectional study from Uttarakhand, India

Background@#Children with cleft lip and/or palate can be undernourished due to feeding difficulties after birth. A vicious cycle ensues where malnutrition and low body weight precludes the child from having the corrective surgery, in the absence of which the child fails to gain weight. This study aimed to identify the proportion of malnutrition, including the deficiency of major micronutrients, namely iron, folate and vitamin B12, in children with cleft lip and/or palate and thus help in finding out what nutritional interventions can improve the scenario for these children. @*Methods@#All children less than 5 years with cleft lip and/or cleft palate attending our institute were included. On their first visit, following were recorded: demographic data, assessment of malnutrition, investigations: complete blood count and peripheral blood film examination; serum albumin, ferritin, iron, folate, and vitamin B12 levels. @*Results@#Eighty-one children with cleft lip and/or palate were included. Mean age was 25.37± 21.49 months (range, 3–60 months). In 53% of children suffered from moderate to severe wasting, according to World Health Organization (WHO) classification. Iron deficiency state was found in 91.6% of children. In 35.80% of children had vitamin B12 deficiency and 23.45% had folate deficiency. No correlation was found between iron deficiency and the type of deformity. @*Conclusion@#Iron deficiency state is almost universally present in children with cleft lip and palate. Thus, iron and folic acid supplementation should be given at first contact to improve iron reserve and hematological parameters for optimum and safe surgery.

Undiagnosed chicken meat aspiration as a cause of difficult-to-ventilate in a boy with traumatic brain injury.

INTRODUCTION: Bronchoscopy is a commonly used procedure in the context of aspiration in the Intensive Care Unit setting. Despite its ability to remove mucus plug and undigested gastric contents, aspiration of gastric content into the trachea is one of the most feared complications among anesthesiologist. DISCUSSION: The scenario is made worst if the aspiration causes acute hypoxemic respiratory failure immediately post intubation. However, in the event of desaturation, the quick decision to proceed with bronchoscopy is a challenging task to the anesthesiologist without knowing the causes. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 12-year-old boy who had a difficult-to-ventilate scenario post transferring and immediately connected to ventilator in operation theatre (OT) from portable ventilator from the emergency department. She was successfully managed by bronchoscopy. CONCLUSION: Special attention should be given to the difficult-to-ventilate scenario post intubation of traumatic brain injury patient prior to operation. Prompt diagnosis and bronchoscope-assisted removal of foreign body was found to be a successful to reduce morbidity and mortality.

Argemone mexicana: A Boon to Medicinal and Pharmacological Approaches in Current Scenario.

Nature is God's gift to human beings. Natural products are a source of new chemical diversity and are the choice of today's world. Nature itself gives remedy to all our health problems. The sources of natural product are plants, animals and microorganisms. Among them plant and its products are more reliable for its renewability and therefore, considered as fortunate thing for human welfare. Our traditional system of medicine which has been followed by our ancestors has its own impact on human life. Due to the inadequate knowledge many plant derived products (drugs) has not yet been explored to the society. We are having many side effects and long term complications in synthetic drugs. Our aim is to mine the precious data about the plant Argemone mexicana. Now-a-days people prefer a drug which has no side effects. For that, the plant Argemone mexicana is a boon to the human being as it has a number of miraculous compounds to cure a various types of diseases. Single plant has a lot of uncountable benefits in drug discovery and which gives a base for new drug discovery. This plant is a weed, easily available and it does not require any special care which forms the base to develop a drug in socio economic form so that it could be made available to all people. This chapter provides an insight into various interesting pharmacological properties viz., Antidiabetic activity , Anti-Cancer activity, Anti-HIV activity, CNS related activities, Wound recovering action, Anti microbial activity, Antioxidant activity, Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic activity, Hepatoprotective activity, Anti-fertility activity, Antiallergic activity, Nematicidal activity, Allelopathic effect, Antihelmintic activity, Larvicidal activity, Antifeedant action etc., which has been reviewed from different literatures in scientific journals. This present review would kindle many of the young minds to turn towards the nature i.e., plant based novel drug discovery with in-depth and extensive studies in all relevant aspects. Hence the paramount importance of this review about Argemone mexicana will be very much useful to the society.

Opportunistic Screening for Hypertension and Selected Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Adults Attending a Primary Health Center in Puducherry, India.

BACKGROUND: India is currently suffering from an epidemic of noncommunicable diseases; it is thus imperative to screen for cardiovascular risk factors in people visiting Primary Health Centers (PHCs). The objective of the study was to measure the amount of undiagnosed hypertension and selected cardiovascular risk factors present among the adult population through opportunistic screening at the PHC. METHODS: A facility-based opportunistic screening program was carried out in a PHC in rural Puducherry. Patients and accompanying persons aged 30 years and above, who attended the daily outpatient department (OPD) were included. The OPD provides outpatient services and medical procedures or tests without requirement of an overnight stay, and functions for 4 h a day. Known hypertensive patients and pregnant women were excluded. Information on age, gender, diabetes status, and personal history of tobacco and alcohol use were collected using an interview schedule. Height, weight and waist circumference were measured, along with blood pressure and blood sugar using standard protocols. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥90 mm Hg was taken as hypertension. SBP of 120-139 mm Hg and/or DBP of 80-89 mm Hg were taken as prehypertension. RESULTS: A total of 324 participants were screened; 56.8% were females. The mean standard deviation (SD) age of the participants was 47.7 (SD 12.6) years. Hypertension and prehypertension were present in 17.9% and 37.7% of the participants respectively. 17.3% participants had diabetes. 22.2% and 21.3% of all participants were current users of tobacco and alcohol respectively. Generalized obesity was present in 31.8% of the participants; 19.1% were overweight. 45.1% participants had central obesity. CONCLUSIONS: A relatively large proportion of adults were found to have prehypertension and obesity, thus showing the need for early intervention.