A study on the effectiveness of Guggulu based Karanja Ksharasutra in comparison with Apamarga Ksharasutra in the management of Shalyaja Nadivrana with special reference to Pilonidal Sinus

Shalyaja Nadivrana is an Agantuja variety of Vrana. Nidana Panchaka and treatment is extensively described in Sushruta Samhita - Nidhana and Chikitsa Sthana. Presence of Shalya in the tract is an obstacle to its healing. Management of Nadivrana includes Ksharasutra therapy. The pilonidal sinus is an acquired sinus that develops in young, hirsute men, usually in the intergluteal cleft caused by the intrusion of hair into the skin, causing an abscess and gradually forming a sinus. The study was conducted on 40 randomly assigned patients at SJAUM Hospital, Bengaluru by dividing them into 2 groups - Group A and Group B. These groups were treated with Guggulu-based Karanja Ksharasutra and Apamarga Ksharasutra respectively. Assessment of pain, discharge, LOT, tenderness, and induration in Group A showed 91.67%, 91.3%, 99.9%, 85.19%, 95% and 75.6% improvement and Group B showed 87.5%, 86.96%, 100%, 78.6% and 97.37% improvement respectively. Group A’s overall result was 89.5% and Group B’s overall result was 89.9%. The mean UCT of Group A was 8.3 days/cm and Group B was 7.9 cm/day with p -value <0.05 which is significant. The study showed that the trial drug was as good as the control drug in the management of Shalyaja Nadi Vrana

Two new black mildews from Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra, India

This paper gives an account of two new black mildews, namely, Asterina prataparajii and Meliola mahamulkarii, infected the leaves of Tylophora dalzelli and Osyris arborea, respectively, were found new and are described and illustrated here in detail

PARTIAL AMORPHIZATION OF POORLY-SOLUBLE SIMVASTATIN USP USING MEDIA MILLING IN SYNERGISM WITH SPRAY-DRYING

Objective: The objective of the current study was to explore top down methods of size reduction like high speed homogenisation and media milling in synergism with spray drying in amorphization and solubility enhancement of BCS Class II antilipidemic drug Simvastatin USP. Methods: Spray-dried micronized simvastatin USP was formulated by homogenisation and media milling of drug suspension in optimized stabilizer solution. Stabilizer combination, duration of homogenisation and ball milling and drug: stabilizer ratio was optimized. The obtained dispersion was transformed into solid powder using spray drying. The obtained Spray-dried micronized Simvastatin USP was evaluated for visual morphology, Infrared spectroscopy, Differential scanning calorimetry, in vitro drug release studies, X-Ray diffractometry, Scanning electron microscopy, contact angle measurement, solubility studies, dispersibility studies and intrinsic dissolution rate testing. Results: Spray-dried micronized simvastatin USP was found to show amorphization of crystalline Simvastatin USP as confirmed by the absence of drug peak in Differential scanning calorimetry and lowered signal intensity in X-Ray diffraction studies. Spray-dried micronized Simvastatin USP was found to show enhanced drug hydrophilicity and solubility as confirmed by lowering in contact angle and increase in solubility and ease of dispersibility observations. In vitro dissolution testing and intrinsic dissolution rate testing were found to show an increase in drug release from 11% to 79% and 4 mg min-1 cm-2 to 17 mg min-1 cm-2 for drug and Spray-dried micronized Simvastatin USP respectively. Conclusion: Media milling in synergism with spray-drying was found to be a prospective solubility enhancement technique for poorly-soluble Simvastatin USP

Up-gradation of Conventional Control Panel with PLC for the Total Utilization of Machine

In the beginning of industrial revolution, especially in 1960 to 1970, automated machines wear controlled by electromechanical relays. These relays wear hardwired together inside the control panel. Many of the times the control panel was so huge that it would cover entire wall. Every connection in the relay logic must be connected. Wiring is not always perfect; it takes time to troubleshoot the system. This is very time consuming Process. On top of that the relays have limited contacts. If modification is required, the machine has to be stopped, the space may not be available and wiring has to be traced again to accommodate changes. The control panel can only be used for the particular process. It cannot be changed immediately to a new system. It has to be redone. In terms of maintenance, an electrician must be well trained and skilful in troubleshooting the control system. In short, the conventional relay control panel is very inflexible. DOI: 10.17762/ijritcc2321-8169.15020

EVALUATION OF IN VITRO CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY OF PETROLEUM ETHER AND METHANOL EXTRACT OF MENTHA ARVENSIS (WHOLE PLANT) ON HUMAN CANCER CELL LINES

Objective: Mentha arvensis (MA) commonaly known as Mint or Pudina, belongs to the Lamiaceae family. It is an aromatic herb traditionally used as an antiseptic, antihelmintic, diuretic, digestive, expectorant and cardio tonic. The objective of the present investigation was to examine in vitro cytotoxic activity of crude whole plant extracts of MA. Methods: Crude extracts were prepared from whole dried plant of MA by Soxhlet apparatus, using solvents petroleum ether (60°- 80°) and methanol successively. In vitro cytotoxic activity of crude extracts was evaluated by Sulforhodamine B assay on three human cancer cell-lines of different tissues i.e. A-549 (lung), MCF-7 (breast) and COLO-205 (colon). Hemolytic activity of crude extracts of MA on human RBCs was also checked. Results: Methanol extract of MA was observed to be significantly more cytotoxic in dose dependent manner than Petroleum ether extract of MA with IC50 ranging from 120-165µg/ml for selected cell lines. Methanol and petroleum ether extracts of MA were found to have no hemolytic effect on RBCs suggesting membrane destabilization is not the mechanism of action for their cytotoxic activity. Conclusion: This study suggests potential anti-tumor activity of Mentha arvensis and a need for further studies to identify the active component/s and to understand their mechanism/s of action

Association of umbilical cord blood lead with neonatal behavior at varying levels of exposure

BACKGROUND: In the light of the ongoing debate about lowering the cut-off for acceptable blood lead level to <5 μg/dL from the currently recommended level of <10 μg/dL, we considered whether prenatal exposure to varying levels of lead is associated with similar or disparate effects on neonatal behavior. METHODS: Using Brazelton's Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS), an epidemiological approach and robust statistical techniques like multivariate linear regression, logistic regression, Poisson regression and structural equations modeling analyses we estimated the simultaneous indirect effects of umbilical cord blood lead (CBL) levels and other neonatal covariates on the NBAS clusters. RESULTS: We observed that when analyzed in all study subjects, the CBL levels independently and strongly influenced autonomic stability and abnormal reflexes clusters. However, when the analysis was restricted to neonates with CBL <10 μg/dL, CBL levels strongly influenced the range of state, motor and autonomic stability clusters. Abnormal walking reflex was consistently associated with an increased CBL level irrespective of the cut-off for CBL, however, only at the lower cut-offs were the predominantly behavioral effects of CBL discernible. CONCLUSION: Our results further endorse the need to be cognizant of the detrimental effects of blood lead on neonates even at a low-dose prenatal exposure

Matrix tablet: a review

In order to achieve the therapeutic purpose, the choice of the most suitable delivery route is of indisputable importance. Therefore, certain factors must be taken into consideration when delivering a active substance, namely its own properties, the disease to be diagnosed and the desired beneficial time. The active substances can be directly to the target tissue or organ or can be delivered by systemic routes

Targeting strategies and nanocarriers in vaccines and therapeutics

In the past few decades, remarkable advances have been made in the field of immunology and molecular biology. Even though the efficacy level, protein binding capacity and other pharmacological parameters are extraordinary, formulations have become more challenging in terms of making drugs or antigens reach specific sites of action, the release rate of a drug at the site of action, proper presentation of an antigen by antigen-presenting cells or dendritic cells and other pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters of finished drug products and vaccines. The purpose of this review is to present a brief overview of the challenges to drug targeting, especially vaccines, as well as of different approaches designed to overcome these barriers

Evaluating the effect of care around labor and delivery practices on early neonatal mortality in the global network\u27s maternal and newborn health registry

Background: Neonatal deaths in first 28-days of life represent 47% of all deaths under the age of five years globally and are a focus of the United Nation\u27s (UN\u27s) Sustainable Development Goals. Pregnant women are delivering in facilities but that does not indicate quality of care during delivery and the postpartum period. The World Health Organization\u27s Essential Newborn Care (ENC) package reduces neonatal mortality, but lacks a simple and valid composite index that measures its effectiveness.Methods: Data on 5 intra-partum and 3 post-partum practices (indicators) recommended as part of ENC, routinely collected in NICHD\u27s Global Network\u27s (GN) Maternal Newborn Health Registry (MNHR) between 2010 and 2013, were included. We evaluated if all 8 practices (Care around Delivery - CAD), combined as an index was associated with reduced early neonatal mortality rates (days 0-6 of life).Results: A total of 150,848 live births were included in the analysis. The individual indicators varied across sites. All components were present in 19.9% births (range 0.4 to 31% across sites). Present indicators (8 components) were associated with reduced early neonatal mortality [adjusted RR (95% CI):0.81 (0.77, 0.85); p \u3c 0.0001]. Despite an overall association between CAD and early neonatal mortality (RR \u3c 1.0 for all early mortality): delivery by skilled birth attendant; presence of fetal heart and delayed bathing were associated with increased early neonatal mortality.Conclusions: Present indicators (8 practices) of CAD were associated with a 19% reduction in the risk of neonatal death in the diverse health facilities where delivery occurred within the GN MNHR. These indicators could be monitored to identify facilities that need to improve compliance with ENC practices to reduce preventable neonatal deaths. Three of the 8 indicators were associated with increased neonatal mortality, due to baby being sick at birth. Although promising, this composite index needs refinement before use to monitor facility-based quality of care in association with early neonatal mortality. Trial registration The identifier of the Maternal Newborn Health Registry at ClinicalTrials.gov is NCT01073475