Traditional Knowledge on few Medicinal Plants of Biligirirangana Hill, Karnataka, India

Biligirirangana hills (BR Hills) is located in Yelandur taluk, Chamarajanagar District, Western Ghats towards Tamilnadu. The ethno botanical plant survey was executed for the documentation of therapeutic plants. The tribal people have the inborn knowledge about the medicinal plants and their use. In this presentstudy, we have selected 90 plant species belonging to 48 families out of which 38 plant species are herbs, 16 shrubs, 27 treesand 9 climbers were identified with their appropriate information and reported in this paper with their medicinal uses according to tribal communities to cure different ailments. The most common illness treated by the traditional healers are jaundice, diabetes, asthma, fever, cold, cough, digestive problems, piles, paralysis, skin problems, diarrhoea, haemorrhage, kidney problem, gastrointestinal disorders etc

Hemoglobin, ferritin and thyroid profile in women with chronic telogen effluvium

Background:Chronic telogen effluvium (CTE) is a distinct disorder characterized by an excessive, alarming and diffuse shedding of hair in females. CTE has a major psychological impact on women impairing their quality of life. In the Indian context, rise in the number of CTE patients due to changing and stressful life style, necessitates systematic studies of contributing factors of CTE.Methods:A prospective study of premenopausal women in the age group of 18-50 years, presenting with diffuse hair loss of more than 100 hairs (clinical count) for more than 6 months, was conducted after obtaining an informed consent. General physical examination and a thorough dermatological examination of the scalp were carried out. Laboratory tests for blood hemoglobin, serum ferritin and thyroid hormone levels were performed. A subset of patients was also evaluated for stress levels using the Hamilton Anxiety Index and Hamilton Depression Index scales.Results:One hundred patients with a mean age of 29 years, of which 35% in the age group 18-25 years participated in the study. Prevalence of CTE was high (91%) in the age group 18-40 years. Most of the women (71%) presented with complaints of hair loss, within 12 months of occurrence. Hemoglobin levels were found to be significantly low in 66%, low serum ferritin in 76%, and hypothyroidism in 24% of patients. Out of the 66 women with altered blood hemoglobin levels, 72.7% has significant stress levels and 60.4% of them were working women. Ten patients had significantly low serum ferritin levels of < 40 μg/L, in spite of having normal hemoglobin levels. Nine patients had low serum ferritin and low thyroid levels. As many as eight patients had lower than normal levels of all the three markers.Conclusions:A significant number of patients had low hemoglobin, serum ferritin and thyroid levels, confirming a strong association of anemic conditions with CTE. Therefore, hemoglobin level, serum ferritin and thyroid levels need to be determined in CTE patients. Stress also plays a significant role in the causation of hair loss in women. Background:Chronic telogen effluvium (CTE) is a distinct disorder characterized by an excessive, alarming and diffuse shedding of hair in females. CTE has a major psychological impact on women impairing their quality of life. In the Indian context, rise in the number of CTE patients due to changing and stressful life style, necessitates systematic studies of contributing factors of CTE.Methods:A prospective study of premenopausal women in the age group of 18-50 years, presenting with diffuse hair loss of more than 100 hairs (clinical count) for more than 6 months, was conducted after obtaining an informed consent. General physical examination and a thorough dermatological examination of the scalp were carried out. Laboratory tests for blood hemoglobin, serum ferritin and thyroid hormone levels were performed. A subset of patients was also evaluated for stress levels using the Hamilton Anxiety Index and Hamilton Depression Index scales.Results:One hundred patients with a mean age of 29 years, of which 35% in the age group 18-25 years participated in the study. Prevalence of CTE was high (91%) in the age group 18-40 years. Most of the women (71%) presented with complaints of hair loss, within 12 months of occurrence. Hemoglobin levels were found to be significantly low in 66%, low serum ferritin in 76%, and hypothyroidism in 24% of patients. Out of the 66 women with altered blood hemoglobin levels, 72.7% has significant stress levels and 60.4% of them were working women. Ten patients had significantly low serum ferritin levels of < 40 μg/L, in spite of having normal hemoglobin levels. Nine patients had low serum ferritin and low thyroid levels. As many as eight patients had lower than normal levels of all the three markers.Conclusions:A significant number of patients had low hemoglobin, serum ferritin and thyroid levels, confirming a strong association of anemic conditions with CTE. Therefore, hemoglobin level, serum ferritin and thyroid levels need to be determined in CTE patients. Stress also plays a significant role in the causation of hair loss in women. Keywords: Hemoglobin, Ferritin, Thyroid profile, Chronic telogen effluviu

Anti-Müllerian hormone in health and disease: a review

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a homodimeric glycoprotein, member of the transforming growth factor β family of growth and differentiation factors. In the ovary, AMH has an inhibitory effect on primordial follicle recruitment as well as on the responsiveness of growing follicles to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). The ovary-specific expression pattern in granulosa cells of growing non-selected follicles makes AMH an ideal marker for the size of the ovarian follicle pool.  AMH levels accurately reflect the ovarian follicular reserve and could, therefore, be considered as an extremely sensitive marker of ovarian aging and a valuable tool in the diagnosis and the recognition of recurrence of granulosa cell tumors. Furthermore, AMH could be a surrogate diagnostic marker of polycystic ovary syndrome in cases in which ultrasonographic examination is not possible. Additionally AMH evaluation is of clinical importance in predicting the success of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Special reference is made to the possible implications of AMH in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome and the relationship between AMH and obesity. AMH also plays important role in evaluation of infants with ambiguous genitalia and other intersex conditions. This article is a review of the clinical usefulness of AMH evaluation in the fields of gynecological endocrinology, menopause, gynecological oncology and assisted reproduction and also in pediatric patients

Medicinal Plants Diversity in Muthathi Wild Life Sanctuary, Karnataka, India

Muthathi is a dense and dry deciduous forest, which is the home of Cauvery Wild Life Sanctuary. In this study the outcome documentation of medicinal plants and its diversity uses in Muthathi Wild Life Sanctuary (MWLS) and inclusive forest is reported. Conventional medicines or traditional medicines are very important part of an Indian culture. Information related to different plants which are used by confined community in the treatment of many common diseases in the area was collected. Records on the use of medicinal plants are collected using structured interview of about local healers and thorough observations and conversations with local communities. The most frequent ailments described are anti-cancer, anti-diabetes, anti-inflammatory, peptic ulcer, jaundice, skin and urinary problems. This study presents new research determinations and perceptions on the search for new drugs based on local uses of medicinal plants

Elevated levels of serum adenosine deaminase in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by an absolute or relative deficiency of insulin and insulin resistance or both. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is an enzyme, that catalyses the irreversible hydrolytic deamination of adenosine to uric acid. Since ADA activity is associated with T-lymphocyte activity and insulin resistance, in the present study, we measured serum ADA activity in type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients to evaluate the relationship between serum ADA activities with glycemic status.Methods: A total of 100 T2DM patients and controls were recruited for the study. Estimation of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial plasma glucose (PPG), HbA1c and fasting lipid profile was done. Serum ADA level was estimated by Colorimetric method. Statistical analysis of data was performed using the SPSS version 15.Results: ADA level was significantly higher (p<0.001) in patients with T2DM (45.5+4.6 U/L) than controls. A significant positive correlation was observed between serum ADA and HbA1c (r=0.585), FPG (r=0.495), PPG (0.387) and serum triglycerides (r=0.375) among subjects with T2DM but not among non-diabetic controls.Conclusions: In the present study, serum ADA activity in T2DM patients has been increased. High ADA activity reduces the glucose uptake into cells; therefore, insulin resistance is related to ADA activity

An uncommon variant of rare type of muscular dystrophy

The muscular dystrophies are a group of hereditary degenerative diseases characterised by progressive myopathy. Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) is a rare genetically heterogenous type of muscular dystrophy characterized by early contractures (especially in the neck, elbows and ankles), slowly progressing muscle weakness more prominent in humeroperoneal region, onset in early childhood and cardiac problems. Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy is commonly inherited in an X linked recessive pattern and rarely autosomal dominant inheritance or autosomal recessive fashion. Here we report a case of autosomal recessive type of Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy from our hospital

5'PPP-RNA induced RIG-I activation inhibits drug-resistant avian H5N1 as well as 1918 and 2009 pandemic influenza virus replication

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Emergence of drug-resistant strains of influenza viruses, including avian H5N1 with pandemic potential, 1918 and 2009 A/H1N1 pandemic viruses to currently used antiviral agents, neuraminidase inhibitors and M2 Ion channel blockers, underscores the importance of developing novel antiviral strategies. Activation of innate immune pathogen sensor Retinoic Acid Inducible Gene-I (RIG-I) has recently been shown to induce antiviral state.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the present investigation, using real time RT-PCR, immunofluorescence, immunoblot, and plaque assay we show that 5'PPP-containing single stranded RNA (5'PPP-RNA), a ligand for the intracytoplasmic RNA sensor, RIG-I can be used as a prophylactic agent against known drug-resistant avian H5N1 and pandemic influenza viruses. 5'PPP-RNA treatment of human lung epithelial cells inhibited replication of drug-resistant avian H5N1 as well as 1918 and 2009 pandemic influenza viruses in a RIG-I and type 1 interferon dependant manner. Additionally, 5'PPP-RNA treatment also inhibited 2009 H1N1 viral replication <it>in vivo </it>in mice.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our findings suggest that 5'PPP-RNA mediated activation of RIG-I can suppress replication of influenza viruses irrespective of their genetic make-up, pathogenicity, and drug-sensitivity status.</p

Compared to Subcutaneous Tenofovir, Oral Tenofovir Disoproxyl Fumarate Administration Preferentially Concentrates the Drug into Gut-Associated Lymphoid Cells in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Macaques

ABSTRACT To compare tissue-based pharmacokinetics and efficacy of oral tenofovir disoproxyl fumarate (TDF) versus subcutaneous tenofovir (TFV), macaques were treated for 2 weeks starting 1 week after simian immunodeficiency virus inoculation. Despite lower plasma TFV levels in the oral TDF arm, similar TFV diphosphate levels and antiviral activities were measured in lymphoid cells of most tissues. In intestinal tissues, however, oral TDF resulted in higher active drug levels, associated with lower virus levels and better immune preservation