Marketing Opportunities and Export Competitiveness of Indian Spices: An Econometric Analysis

The study intends to analyze the export competitiveness of Indian pepper. The variables that have been analyzed are Export, Real GDP, REER, Inflation, FDI, and Production. The results have been used to forecast the future of pepper by using advanced time series econometrics Vector Auto Regression Method. Keywords: Vector Auto Regression, Export, Real GDP, REER, Inflation, FDI, and Productio

EFFECT OF GANDHAKA KALPA INTERNALLY AND KSHEERABALA 101 AVARTI TAILA NASYA IN DRY AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION- A CLINICAL STUDY

Introduction: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a neurodegenerative disease which is one of the leading causes of vision loss affecting population above the age of 50 years. Of the two types wet and dry AMD, dry AMD constitute 90% of cases. Currently there is no effective treatment for AMD except for antioxidant supplementation which can delay the progression of AMD and its associated vision loss. In Ayurveda, it is a Vata Pitthadhika Drishtigata Roga compounded by Dhatukshaya in Vardhakya. The treatment should be Brimhana, Chakshushya and Rasayana to tackle the degenerative changes. Gandhaka Kalpa from Rasaratnasamucchaya and Ksheerabala 101 Avarti Taila has these properties to ameliorate the disease pathology. Hence a clinical study was planned with the objective to assess the effect of Gandhakakalpa internally and Ksheerabala 101 Avarti Taila Nasya in dry AMD. Methods: The study design was interventional, pre and post evaluation without control. After preparatory phase, patients were given Nasya with Ksheerabala 101 Avarti Taila followed by administration of Gandhaka Kalpa with concurrent administration of Ksheerabala 101 Avarti Taila as Pratimarsa Nasya. Study and follow up were done in 30 eyes. Results were documented and statistically analysed using Friedmains’s test, paired t test, Wilcoxon’s signed rank test and McNemar test according to type of variable. Result: The intervention is statistically significant while considering visual acuity (p < 0.001) and Daily Living Tasks Dependent on Vision questionnaire scores (p< 0.0001) and not significant for optical coherence tomography and Amsler grid findings. Conclusion: The intervention is an effective protocol to be followed in Ayurveda for dry AMD

Identification of CD4-Binding Site Dependent Plasma Neutralizing Antibodies in an HIV-1 Infected Indian Individual

Dissecting antibody specificities in the plasma of HIV-1 infected individuals that develop broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) is likely to provide useful information for refining target epitopes for vaccine design. Several studies have reported CD4-binding site (CD4bs) antibodies as neutralization determinants in the plasma of subtype B-infected individuals; however there is little information on the prevalence of CD4bs specificities in HIV-infected individuals in India. Here, we report on the presence of CD4bs antibodies and their contribution to virus neutralization in the plasma from a cohort of HIV-1 infected Indian individuals. Plasma from 11 of the 140 HIV-1 infected individuals (7.9%) studied here exhibited cross-neutralization activity against a panel of subtype B and C viruses. Analyses of these 11 plasma samples for the presence of CD4bs antibodies using two CD4bs-selective probes (antigenically resurfaced HXB2gp120 core protein RSC3 and hyperglycosylated JRFLgp120 mutant ΔN2mCHO) revealed that five (AIIMS 617, 619, 627, 642, 660) contained RSC3-reactive plasma antibodies and only one (AIIMS 660) contained ΔN2mCHO-reactive antibodies. Plasma antibody depletion and competition experiments confirmed that the neutralizing activity in the AIIMS 660 plasma was dependent on CD4bs antibodies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report specifically on the presence of CD4bs antibodies in the plasma of a cohort of HIV-1 infected Indian donors. The identification of CD4bs dependent neutralizing antibodies in an HIV-1 infected Indian donor is a salient finding of this study and is supportive of ongoing efforts to induce similar antibodies by immunization

Mitigation of quorum sensing mediated virulence factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: the role of Meldrum’s acid activated furan

The rapid emergence of drug resistant pathogens is a major threat which has warranted the development of alternative strategies to combat infectious diseases. In this work, we have tested the anti-virulent activity of Meldrum’s acid activated furan (MAF) and 1,3-dimethyl barbituric acid activated furan (BAF) against Chromobacterium violaceum and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It was found that MAF significantly reduced the violacein production and biofilm formation of C. violaceum at sub-inhibitory concentrations. The quorum sensing (QS) regulated virulence factors of P. aeruginosa including biofilm formation, motility, pigment production, and elastase activity were also found to be reduced considerably at sub-inhibitory concentrations of MAF. Additionally, MAF downregulated the expression of genes in the QS circuitry of P. aeruginosa, demonstrating the potential of MAF in lowering the pathogenicity of P. aeruginosa. In silico studies demonstrated the potential of MAF to compete with the signaling molecules of C. violaceum and P. aeruginosa for the QS receptor interaction. In vivo studies using Caenorhabditis elegans demonstrated the anti-pathogenicity of MAF by enhancing the survival of P. aeruginosa-infected C. elegans. These results suggest that activated furan compounds could be potential inhibitors of QS-mediated virulence factors in C. violaceum and P. aeruginosa, encouraging their use in combating multidrug-resistant pathogens

Antibiotics prescribing pattern in the in-patient departments of a tertiary care hospital

Context: Antibiotic prescribing by physicians has gained due importance across the globe, mainly because of an increase in antibiotic usage, prevalence of infections, and drug resistances. Aims: The present study aimed to evaluate the prescribing pattern of antibiotics, their adherence to essential medicines list, disease conditions for which they were prescribed, and their adverse effects. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional prospective study was carried out in six inpatients departments (Surgery, Orthopedics, ENT, Ophthalmology, Medicine, and Pediatrics) of a 550-bed tertiary care hospital in Trivandrum, India for two months (July-August 2012). Institutional Research and Ethics Committee clearance were obtained prior to the study. Materials and Methods: The data were collected in a predesigned performa from the medical case sheets, drug charts, and laboratory investigations of 100 in-patients. The enrolled patients were observed from admission till discharge. Descriptive statistics were applied to the collected data and analyzed using Microsoft Excel software. Results: The mean duration of hospitalization among the study population was 5.48 (±4.28) days. Of the 410 medicines prescribed, antibiotics contributed 151 (36.8%). They were mostly indicated for respiratory infections, and the most common antibiotic was Beta-lactams (91 (60.2%). Interestingly, 89 antibiotics (60%) were administered as injections. About 70 (46%) of the antibiotics were prescribed without any combinations. The adherences to World Health Organization′s essential medicines list were 122 (81%). A total of seven adverse drug reactions were reported in the current study. Of which, none were serious, and five (70%) were cutaneous reactions. Conclusions: Of the 100 patients analyzed from six in-patient departments, it was observed that the hospital physicians prescribed antibiotics more rationally with no banned drugs and less newer drugs. Rational prescribing of antibiotics would help avoid polypharmacy and prevent drug resistances

Efficacy of a herbal mouthwash for management of periodontitis and radiation-induced mucositis – A consolidated report of two randomized controlled clinical trials

Background: Oral diseases like periodontitis and mucositis often require home care using topical agents in the form of mouthwashes. Many herbal mouthwashes are found to be beneficial; however lack proper scientific evidence to support their use. Objectives: Study 1 evaluated clinical efficacy of herbal mouthwash in the management of chronic periodontitis in comparison with chlorhexidine mouthwash. Study 2 aimed at assessment of herbal mouthwash in patients of radiation-induced mucosititis. Methods: The novel herbal mouthwash used in the present study wa prepared from extracts of five plants namely Emblica Officinalis, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellerica, Glycyrrhiza glabra, and Azadirachta indica. 50 periodontitis patients were randomly allocated to two groups. As per allocation, they were instructed to use either herbal mouthwash or chlorhexidine mouthwash twice daily for two weeks after nonsurgical periodontal therapy. Similarly, patients with radiation-induced mucositis were randomly given herbal mouthwash and soda saline mouthwash. Intergroup and intragroup comparisons of continuous variables were conducted using paired and unpaired t-tests. Categorical variables were compared using the chi-square test. Results: Significant reductions in gingival bleeding, plaque accumulation, and pocket depth were noticed in periodontitis patients in both groups. Patients reported acceptable taste, freshness, and satisfaction after the use of herbal mouthwash. The herbal mouthwash group noticed a significant reduction in the severity of radiation-induced mucositis and analgesic requirements. The intensity of pain, dryness of mouth, oral hygiene, and need for the use of antibiotic and antifungal during radiotherapy was not significant among the groups. Conclusion: The results of this preliminary clinical trial support the use of the tested herbal formulation mouthwash as an adjunct in the treatment of periodontitis as well as radiation-induced mucositis. Clinical trial registration Number: For Study 1: CTRI/2019/10/021574, Study 2: CTRI/2020/04/024851

ID50 values and percentage neutralization activity of plasma antibodies depleted using gp120 wild type and CD4bs-selective probes tested against different viruses.

<p>Plasma samples were adsorbed to BSA, HXB2gp120, HXB2gp120-D368R, RSC3, and ΔN2mCHO-coupled beads and then tested in TZM-bl neutralization assays. The final plasma dilution in the assay was 1:60. Reciprocal neutralization ID50 titres are shown. In cases where no neutralization was observed at 1:60, a value of 60 is noted.</p><p>^aID50 of untreated plasma, plasma adsorbed on BSA coupled beads; plasma absorbed on HXB2 gp120 coupled beads; plasma adsorbed on HXB2 gp120-D368R beads; plasma adsorbed on RSC3 coupled beads; plasma adsorbed on ΔN2mCHO coupled beads;</p><p>^b % reduction in ID50 by HXB2 gp120 adsorption relative to that of BSA coated beads; Percentage reduction in ID50 by HXB2 gp120-D368R relative to BSA-coupled beads; Percentage of gp120-directed neutralization contributed by CD4bs antibodies; Percentage reduction in ID50 by RSC3 adsorption relative to BSA coated beads; Percentage reduction in ID50 by ΔN2mCHO adsorption relative to BSA coated beads.</p><p>Values in bold italics are considered significant; i.e., cases where gp120 adsorbs >50% of the neutralizing activity and >25% of the activity is directed to the CD4bs. The calculations are shown in the Materials and Methods section.</p><p>ID50 values and percentage neutralization activity of plasma antibodies depleted using gp120 wild type and CD4bs-selective probes tested against different viruses.</p