Financial burden of stroke on family and caregiver in India: a literature review

As life expectancy increases, India will face enormous socioeconomic burden to meet the costs of integrated rehabilitation of subjects with stroke. Caring for stroke patients leads to caregiver (CG) strain and financial burden. The CG burden is perceived differently in the Indian background depending on the society and culture. Caregiving stress has the potential to hamper rehabilitation of the patients and is of vital importance both as a research topic and the focus of clinical care. Cost and burden of informal care giving are high rural Indian community. Financial stress was prominent and common among the socioeconomically weaker division. The financial costs associated with family caregiving were a significant factor in caregiving burden, both for the male and female caregivers. Despite the high financial burden, limited recent studies have focused on costs associated with stroke in the India. Establishing total stroke-related costs is essential to evaluate and support the health economic research on stroke systems of care. Stroke care giving studies may help to better understand care giving impact, and also to find the most effective interventions to improve the quality of life of stroke patients and their caregivers, reduce the burden and depression of caregivers. Policies and programs to alleviate the financial burden and to provide social and financial support for these family caregivers are equally important for both family caregivers and their care receivers.

Bivalent KDP Peptide to Enhance Neurite Growth for Traumatic Brain Injury

A silent epidemic of modern world and largely neglected field in drug development is traumatic brain injury. There is no treatment available for the patients suffering from brain trauma. Peptide is a naturally occurring biological alternative that could represent a new generation of future medications. In this study, we have designed and modified the C-terminal amino acids of KDI peptide responsible for neurite growth. The inclusion of a Cys (C), Gly (G), Cys and Pro (P) amino acids in the sequence leads to the possibility of better binding with the target receptor 3T1M as compared to the known KDI sequence for neurite growth. Studies on human SH-SY5Y cells for neurite outgrowth demonstrates that the CGCKDP could plausibly be useful in neuroregeneration in neurodegenerative disorders by neurite growth formation

A retrospective analysis comparing functional and radiological outcomes after treatment of unstable distal radius fractures using volar locked plate versus percutaneous fixation

Background: Distal radius fractures are one of the most routinely encountered injuries in an orthopaedic setting. Despite the wide variety of treatment options available there is still debate about the optimal way to treat these fractures. The aim was to evaluate and compare functional and radiological outcomes of unstable distal radius fractures treated by either by using volar locking compression plating (VLP) or by using percutaneous fixation augmented by Kirschner (K) wires (EF).Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out on all cases of acute unstable unilateral fracture distal radius who were admitted between January 2015 and December 2017 and were treated either by VLP or EF. QuickDASH score and PRWE were documented at every follow up in OPD at 6 weeks, 6 months and 1 year post-op along with serial X-rays at immediate post-op and 01 year which were then compared.Results: A total of 122 cases of fracture distal radius were selected for study which fulfilled the inclusion criteria out of which 49 were treated by VLP and 73 by EF. There was no statistical difference in QuickDASH, PRWE scores or wrist ROM between two groups at1 year follow up. However VLP group was better in maintaining palmar tilt, radial length and inclination at the end of 1 year.Conclusions: Both VLP and EF show comparable and predictable good outcomes in treating unstable distal radius fractures when measured in terms of ROM and clinically validated patient outcome scores at 01 year follow up with similar rate of complications.

Gene encoding γ-carbonic anhydrase is cotranscribed with argC and induced in response to stationary phase and high CO2 in Azospirillum brasilense Sp7

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is a ubiquitous enzyme catalyzing the reversible hydration of CO₂to bicarbonate, a reaction underlying diverse biochemical and physiological processes. Gamma class carbonic anhydrases (γ-CAs) are widespread in prokaryotes but their physiological roles remain elusive. At present, only γ-CA of <it>Methanosarcina thermophila </it>(Cam) has been shown to have CA activity. Genome analysis of a rhizobacterium <it>Azospirillum brasilense</it>, revealed occurrence of ORFs encoding one β-CA and two γ-CAs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>One of the putative γ-CA encoding genes of <it>A. brasilense </it>was cloned and overexpressed in <it>E. coli</it>. Electrometric assays for CA activity of the whole cell extracts overexpressing recombinant GCA1 did not show CO₂hydration activity. Reverse transcription-PCR analysis indicated that <it>gca1 </it>in <it>A. brasilense </it>is co-transcribed with its upstream gene annotated as <it>argC</it>, which encodes a putative <it>N</it>-acetyl-γ-glutamate-phosphate reductase. 5'-RACE also demonstrated that there was no transcription start site between <it>argC </it>and <it>gca1</it>, and the transcription start site located upstream of <it>argC </it>transcribed both the genes (<it>argC-gca1</it>). Using transcriptional fusions of <it>argC</it>-<it>gca1 </it>upstream region with promoterless <it>lacZ</it>, we further demonstrated that <it>gca1 </it>upstream region did not have any promoter and its transcription occurred from a promoter located in the <it>argC </it>upstream region. The transcription of <it>argC-gca1 </it>operon was upregulated in stationary phase and at elevated CO₂atmosphere.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study shows lack of CO₂hydration activity in a recombinant protein expressed from a gene predicted to encode a γ-carbonic anhydrase in <it>A. brasilense </it>although it cross reacts with anti-Cam antibody raised against a well characterized γ-CA. The organization and regulation of this gene along with the putative <it>argC </it>gene suggests its involvement in arginine biosynthetic pathway instead of the predicted CO₂hydration.</p

Properties and Applications of Ruthenium

Ruthenium (Ru) with atomic number of 44 is one of the platinum group metals, the others being Rh, Pd, Os, Ir and Pt. In earth’s crust, it is quite rare, found in parts per billion quantities, in ores containing some of the other platinum group metals. Ruthenium is silvery whitish, lustrous hard metal with a shiny surface. It has seven stable isotopes. Recently, coordination and organometallic chemistry of Ru has shown remarkable growth. In this chapter, we review the application of Ru in diverse fields along with its physical and chemical properties. In the applications part of Ru we have primarily focused on the biomedical applications. The biomedical applications are broadly divided into diagnostic and treatment aspects. Ru and their complexes are mainly used in determination of ferritin, calcitonin and cyclosporine and folate level in human body for diagnosis of diseases. Treatment aspects focuses on immunosuppressant, antimicrobial and anticancer activity

Effect of sitagliptin on depression in male wistar rats

Background: Growing evidence supports relationship between depression and inflammation. The hypothesis of involvement of inflammatory pathways in depression is supported by the findings of increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines. So, we decided to evaluate the effect of sitagliptin on depression using forced swim test (FST) and possible effects of sitagliptin on serum oxidative stress markers and cytokine gene expression in rat hippocampus.Methods: FST model was used to evaluate antidepressant effect in male wistar rats. Rats in group I (control group) were given normal saline, group II (standard group) were given fluoxetine, group III and IV (test groups) were given sitagliptin 5 mg/kg and sitagliptin 9 mg/kg respectively. All the drugs in all groups were given per orally. At the end, animals were sacrificed and blood was collected. Hippocampus of rat brain was dissected out. Serum oxidative stress markers and hippocampal pro inflammatory cytokine gene expression analysis was carried out.Results: Sitagliptin 5 mg/kg and 9 mg/kg showed reduction in depressive symptoms and hippocampal cytokine gene expression in comparison to control. In case of serum oxidative stress markers, there was statistically significant reduction in nitric oxide levels with stagliptin 9 mg/kg. Although there was a decrease in the levels of catalase and increase in the levels of glutathione with standard and test groups, the results were not statistically significant.Conclusions: The present study showed significant antidepressant effect activity of standard and test groups. Hence, further research should be carried out to substantiate above results