Evaluation of Parmotrema reticulatum Taylor for Antibacterial and Antiinflammatory Activities.

Lichens produce variety of secondary metabolites including depsides, depsidones and dibenzofurans having multifunctional activity in response to external environmental condition. Present study provides evidence for in vitro antibacterial and in vivo antiinflammatory activity of acetone and ethanol extracts of Parmotrema reticulatum. In vitro antibacterial activity was investigated against gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Cotton pellet-induced granuloma, xylene-induced ear swelling, carragennan-induced edema, histamine-induced and carboxymethylcellulose sodium-induced leukocyte emigration in mice models were used to quantify the antiinflammatory activity. Acetone and ethanol extracts were showed antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis (minimal inhibitory concentration: 100 and 150 µg/ml) and Staphylococcus aureus (minimal inhibitory concentration: 100 and 200 µg/ml), Escherichia coli (minimal inhibitory concentration: 200 and 250 µg/ml), and Pseudomonasa eruginosa (minimal inhibitory concentration: 200 and 300 µg/ml). Acetone extract was inhibited edema significantly at 200 mg/kg with xylene, cotton pellet, carragennan and histamine induced edema in vivo models. Ethanol extract was found effective at dose of 300 mg/kg with all in vivo antiinflammatory models. The results showed significant (P<0.01) antiinflammatory effects at 200 and 300 mg/kg dose of acetone and ethanol extracts, respectively, which can be concluded that significant activity may be due to presence of flavanoids in ethanol extract and usnic acid in acetone extract.

Omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease.

Cardioceuticals are nutritional supplements that contain all the essential nutrients including vitamins, minerals, omega-3-fatty acids and other antioxidants like a-lipoic acid and coenzyme Q10 in the right proportion that provide all round protection to the heart by reducing the most common risks associated with the cardiovascular disease including high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels and factors that contribute to coagulation of blood. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to significantly reduce the risk for sudden death caused by cardiac arrhythmias and all-cause mortality in patients with known coronary heart disease. Omega-3 fatty acids are also used to treat hyperlipidemia and hypertension. There are no significant drug interactions with omega-3 fatty acids. The American Heart Association recommends consumption of two servings of fish per week for persons with no history of coronary heart disease and at least one serving of fish daily for those with known coronary heart disease. Approximately 1 g/day of eicosapentaenoic acid plus docosahexaenoic acid is recommended for cardio protection. Higher dosages of omega-3 fatty acids are required to reduce elevated triglyceride levels (2-4 g/day). Modest decreases in blood pressure occur with significantly higher dosages of omega-3 fatty acids.

Pulmonary plasmacytoma with endobronchial extension: A rare presentation of solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma: A case report and brief review of literature.

Extramedullary plasmacytoma is the malignant proliferation of single clone of plasma cells arising outside the bone marrow. Solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma (SEP) are solitary lesion mostly located in upper respiratory tract and nasopharynx. Involvement of lower respiratory tract is rarely seen in case of SEP. Here, we report a rare case of pulmonary plasmacytoma in a 50-year-old male presenting as left lower lobe lung mass with endobronchial extension. Subsequent investigations, histological and immunohistochemical examination of tumor confirmed the diagnosis of plasmacytoma. Work-up for the multiple myeloma came out to be negative, thus confirming the diagnosis of SEP. Pulmonary plasmacytoma, a rare presentation of extramedullary plasmacytoma should be kept in mind by dealing with the patients of lung mass and endobronchial extension.

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis and acute allergic interstitial nephritis following ceftriaxone exposure.

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV), also known as hypersensitivity vasculitis is a small vessel inflammatory disease which mainly involves the postcapillary venules. A 17-year-old girl developed palpable purpura over lower limbs and acute allergic interstitial nephritis 5 days after exposure to ceftriaxone. Skin biopsy from the lesion over lower limbs confirmed the diagnosis of LCV. Discontinuation of drug and treatment with steroid resulted in resolution of skin lesions and normalization of kidney functions. Beta-lactams are commonly used antibiotics in various types of infection in day-to-day practice. LCV, a rare complication of ceftriaxone should be kept in mind while using this drug.

Mycobacterium avium bacteremia and dual infection with mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium wolinskyi in the gut of an AIDS patient--first case report.

An AIDS patient was admitted to a tertiary care hospital in central India with fever, weight loss, breathlessness, night sweats, diarrhoea, BMI 14 kg/m2, Hemoglobin 8 gm% and CD4 counts 120 cells/cumm. His blood culture by BACTEC 460 TB system revealed Mycobacterium avium bacteremia and stool culture grew Mycobacterium avium and mycobacterium wolinskyi.

Multiple cystic swelling: Initial presentation of multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma, a disease allied to malignancy of reticuloendothelial cells, is not an uncommon condition. However, the diagnosis is often made quite late because the disease has multiple modes of presentation. We are reporting a case of multiple myeloma in a 55-year-old male who presented with multiple cystic swellings on the chest.

Disseminated disease caused by Mycobacterium simiae in AIDS patients: a report of three cases.

Disseminated disease caused by Mycobacterium simiae, a slowly growing nontuberculous mycobacterium, has been rarely reported in the literature. We report on three AIDS patients who were found to suffer from mycobacteraemia caused by M. simiae in a rural tertiary-care hospital in central India.

Medicinal mushrooms: Towards a new horizon.

The arising awareness about functional food has created a boom in this new millennium. Mushrooms are widely consumed by the people due to their nutritive and medicinal properties. Belonging to taxonomic category of basidiomycetes or ascomycetes, these mushrooms possess antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. They are also one of the richest source of anticancer and immunomodulating agents. Thus these novel myochemicals from these mushrooms are the wave of future.

Effect of amitriptyline vs. physiotherapy in management of fibromyalgia syndrome: What predicts a clinical benefit?

CONTEXT: Fibromyalgia is a chronic disabling condition, and physicians treat it using a number of different treatment modalities. It is not known if one or more of such modalities are better than the others. We compared the efficacy of physiotherapy and amitriptyline in disability reduction in patients of fibromyalgia syndrome in a rural tertiary care hospital in Central India. DESIGN: Open-label alternate patient treatment allocation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A six-month follow-up was done to assess the benefit of amitriptyline and physiotherapy for disability reduction in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. Primary outcome measure was improvement in fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ) score. Statistical Analysis Used : Predictors of benefit were determined using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 175 outpatients were assigned to either amitriptyline (n=87) or structured physiotherapy (n=88) treatments. There was a significant but similar (P=0.82) improvement in disability in both groups. High FIQ score at baseline and low socioeconomic status scores were significant predictors of benefit. CONCLUSIONS: Therapy with amitriptyline or physiotherapy is equally effective in improving outcome in patients of fibromyalgia over a period of six months.

Chronic subdural hematoma leading to fatal cavernous sinus thrombosis.

Presented is a case of cavernous sinus thrombosis in a young female with fatal outcome. There were not any septic focus, no history of head trauma, no relation with pregnancy. Computed tomography scan of brain showed chronic subdural hematoma. An attempt is made to correlate the aetiopathology with the clinical features of this rare case presentation.

Rheumatic mitral stenosis with epistaxis as an initial symptom.

Epistaxis is a frequent presentation in the emergency department and often causes significant anxiety among patients and their relatives. We report a 30-year-old man with mitral stenosis presenting with epistaxis as the initial symptom. He had no other symptoms related to mitral stenosis prior to this episode. Epistaxis is a very unusual initial presentation of rheumatic mitral stenosis.

Portal hypertension associated with sickle cell disease.

We report a 12-year-old girl with sickle cell disease who presented with pain in abdomen, fever, joint pain and hematemesis. On examination she had mild jaundice and splenomegaly. Upper GI endoscopy showed esophageal varices. She was treated with variceal band ligation and is well on folic acid supplements and propranolol.

Acute pancreatitis: rare complication of chicken pox in an immunocompetent host.

Chicken pox is a highly contagious infection, caused by the varicella zoster virus. Although generally a benign, self-limited disease, varicella may be associated with serious complications especially in adults. We present acute pancreatitis- a rare complication, in otherwise healthy patients suffering from chicken pox. The presence of pancreatitis in association with chickenpox in immunocompetent patients can influence the outcome of the latter. This interesting case will hopefully increase awareness about this complication and its fatality in chicken pox.

Central retinal artery occlusion: an unusual complication of snakebite

Snakebites are endemic in some parts of India, being associated with a number of complications. Ocular disturbances are rare, except for injury to the cornea or conjunctiva when the eye is directly exposed to the venom. In this work, we present a case of central retinal artery occlusion caused by snakebite.(AU)

Leptospirosis--a case report.

Outbreaks of Leptospirosis have been reported from various parts of India including Maharashtra. We report a case of leptospirosis from Wardha District, Maharashtra from where the disease has not been reported so far.

Role of oxygen free radicals in causing endothelial damage in acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: This work was done in order to study the oxidant and anti-oxidant status in a disease resulting from endothelial injury. The disease selected for study was acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: Sixty patients of acute myocardial infarction were selected after being diagnosed in accordance to the guidelines laid down by the WHO. Thirty subjects were included as controls. Plasma levels of certain markers of oxidative stress and anti oxidant activity were measured in all the subjects. Malonaldehyde (MDA) and nitrite (NO2) were measured as markers of free radical mediated endothelial injury, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme as an indicator of antioxidant activity. RESULTS: It was found that the plasma levels of MDA and nitrite were significantly elevated in the patients of acute myocardial infarction compared to the control group (7.29 +/- 3.28 v/s 4.57 +/- 0.63 nmol/ml and 12.85 +/- 8.71 v/s 0.97 +/- 0.25 microM respectively), thereby indicating that oxygen free radicals cause endothelial damage in them. The superoxide dismutase levels were also found to be elevated in these patients (5.57 +/- 1.47 v/s 3.91 +/- 0.66 U/ml). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that acute myocardial infarction is a state of enhanced free radical activity, which causes endothelial damage. The elevated SOD levels may imply that the body attempts to combat this oxidative stress by raising it's level of anti-oxidants.