Evaluation Of Anti-Cataract Activity Of The Siddha Formulation Muthu Parpam Using Isolated Goat Lens Model

Siddha system recommends a number of herbal and herbomineral ophthalmic formulations as both internal and external therapeutic measures. Muthu parpam (MPM) is one such therapeutic measure that has been indicated in several eye formulations as an ingredient. While Muthuchippi parpam (Calcined shell of pearl oyster)) has been previously evaluated for its antioxidant profile, till date no study has been performed on anticataract activity of Siddha formulation Muthu parpam (Calcined Pearl). In the present study, the Aldose reductase  inhibitory activity of Muthu parpam (MPM) were studied along with their effect on sugar-induced cataractogenic changes in sheep lenses in vitro. Goat eye lenses were divided into 4 groups; Group I served as normal control, Group II as cataract control, Group III (100μg/ml of MPM) and Group IV(200 μg/ml of MPM). Group II, III and IV were incubated in 55 mM glucose in artificial aqueous humor to induce lens opacification. Freshly prepared aldoreductase enzyme was allowed to react with different volume of test drug at 100, 200,300, 400 and 500µg/and the formation of NADP was observed and the results were expressed as percentage inhibition and were calculated as follows. A dose dependent action of the drug was observed in two groups (III & IV) incubated with 100 μg and 200 μg of the test drug with a visibility scoring of 13.8 ± 3.34 and 22.2  ± 6.14 respectively. It was observed from the results of the present investigation that the Siddha formulation MPM shown significant inhibition of aldose reductase enzyme with the maximum inhibition of about 45.41± 1.761 % and the corresponding IC50 is 558.1 ± 29.79 μg /ml

Severe Thrombocytosis in a Newborn with Subcutaneous Fat Necrosis and Maternal Chorioamnionitis

Background. Subcutaneous fat necrosis (SFN) is a form of transient panniculitis that presents commonly in infants with a history of perinatal insult, particularly hypothermia. It is characterized by subcutaneous nodules and plaques that appear over bony prominences on cheeks, shoulders, buttock, and thighs. SFN is usually associated with various complications including hypercalcemia, thrombocytopenia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperglycemia. Case Presentation. We present a unique case of a female infant with a history of maternal chorioamnionitis who presented with SFN at 11 days of life with thrombocytosis. The platelet count decreased during the hospital stay, and thrombocytosis resolved over the course of the next two weeks. She did not have any other hematological or metabolic abnormalities associated with SFN. Conclusion. Infants with perinatal stress are at increased risk of developing SFN during the first month of life. Infants with a diagnosis of SFN should be monitored closely for various hematological and metabolic abnormalities that can have serious consequences.</jats:p

Severe Thrombocytosis in a Newborn with Subcutaneous Fat Necrosis and Maternal Chorioamnionitis

Background. Subcutaneous fat necrosis (SFN) is a form of transient panniculitis that presents commonly in infants with a history of perinatal insult, particularly hypothermia. It is characterized by subcutaneous nodules and plaques that appear over bony prominences on cheeks, shoulders, buttock, and thighs. SFN is usually associated with various complications including hypercalcemia, thrombocytopenia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperglycemia. Case Presentation. We present a unique case of a female infant with a history of maternal chorioamnionitis who presented with SFN at 11 days of life with thrombocytosis. The platelet count decreased during the hospital stay, and thrombocytosis resolved over the course of the next two weeks. She did not have any other hematological or metabolic abnormalities associated with SFN. Conclusion. Infants with perinatal stress are at increased risk of developing SFN during the first month of life. Infants with a diagnosis of SFN should be monitored closely for various hematological and metabolic abnormalities that can have serious consequences

Evaluating the frequency of English language requirements in clinical trial eligibility criteria: A systematic analysis using ClinicalTrials.gov

Background A number of prior studies have demonstrated that research participants with limited English proficiency in the United States are routinely excluded from clinical trial participation. Systematic exclusion through study eligibility criteria that require trial participants to be able to speak, read, and/or understand English affects access to clinical trials and scientific generalizability. We sought to establish the frequency with which English language proficiency is required and, conversely, when non-English languages are affirmatively accommodated in US interventional clinical trials for adult populations. Methods and findings We used the advanced search function on ClinicalTrials.gov specifying interventional studies for adults with at least 1 site in the US. In addition, we used these search criteria to find studies with an available posted protocol. A computer program was written to search for evidence of English or Spanish language requirements, or the posted protocol, when available, was manually read for these language requirements. Of the 14,367 clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov between 1 January 2019 and 1 December 2020 that met baseline search criteria, 18.98% (95% CI 18.34%–19.62%; n = 2,727) required the ability to read, speak, and/or understand English, and 2.71% (95% CI 2.45%–2.98%; n = 390) specifically mentioned accommodation of translation to another language. The remaining trials in this analysis and the following sub-analyses did not mention English language requirements or accommodation of languages other than English. Of 2,585 federally funded clinical trials, 28.86% (95% CI 27.11%–30.61%; n = 746) required English language proficiency and 4.68% (95% CI 3.87%–5.50%; n = 121) specified accommodation of other languages; of the 5,286 industry-funded trials, 5.30% (95% CI 4.69%–5.90%; n = 280) required English and 0.49% (95% CI 0.30%–0.69%; n = 26) accommodated other languages. Trials related to infectious disease were less likely to specify an English requirement than all registered trials (10.07% versus 18.98%; relative risk [RR] = 0.53; 95% CI 0.44–0.64; p &lt; 0.001). Trials related to COVID-19 were also less likely to specify an English requirement than all registered trials (8.18% versus 18.98%; RR = 0.43; 95% CI 0.33–0.56; p &lt; 0.001). Trials with a posted protocol (n = 366) were more likely than all registered clinical trials to specify an English requirement (36.89% versus 18.98%; RR = 1.94, 95% CI 1.69–2.23; p &lt; 0.001). A separate analysis of studies with posted protocols in 4 therapeutic areas (depression, diabetes, breast cancer, and prostate cancer) demonstrated that clinical trials related to depression were the most likely to require English (52.24%; 95% CI 40.28%–64.20%). One limitation of this study is that the computer program only searched for the terms “English” and “Spanish” and may have missed evidence of other language accommodations. Another limitation is that we did not differentiate between requirements to read English, speak English, understand English, and be a native English speaker; we grouped these requirements together in the category of English language requirements. Conclusions A meaningful percentage of US interventional clinical trials for adults exclude individuals who cannot read, speak, and/or understand English, or are not native English speakers. To advance more inclusive and generalizable research, funders, sponsors, institutions, investigators, institutional review boards, and others should prioritize translating study materials and eliminate language requirements unless justified either scientifically or ethically. </jats:sec

Incidental finding of a huge ovarian serous cystadenoma in an adolescent female with menorrhagia

Pelvic tumors in adolescent females are very uncommon. While the most common presentation is pelvic discomfort, we report the case of a 14-year-old female presenting with menorrhagia which is an unusual initial complaint for a large pelvic tumor. Adolescent females who present with heavy menstrual bleeding initially undergo assessment to rule out a bleeding disorder. In this case, careful history and physical examination helped in making a quick diagnosis and management. Ultrasound of abdomen showed a huge cystic mass due to serous cystadenoma of the ovary

Language requirements in clinical trials by therapeutic area.

Language requirements in clinical trials by therapeutic area.</p

Language requirements in clinical trials.

Language requirements in clinical trials.</p

Key phrases used to code language requirements in clinical trials.

Key phrases used to code language requirements in clinical trials.</p