An unusual bilateral variation of musculocutaneous nerve.

Musculocutaneous nerve arises from the lateral cord (C5,6,7) of brachial plexus. Communications between the branches of brachial plexus are not so common. During routine dissection, we observed bilateral variation in 60-year-old female cadaver. In the present case, median nerve represented as a musculocutaneous nerve which supplied biceps brachii and brachialis, further continued into forearm as lateral cutaneous nerve of forearm on the right arm. This branch did not pass through coracobrachialis muscle but the coracobrachialis was innervated by a branch from lateral cord of brachial plexus. We also observed an abnormal communicating branch between the musculocutaneous and median nerve on left side of the arm. These kinds of variations are important for surgeons while performing surgeries of axilla and upperlimb

Effects of Viscous and Joules Dissipation on MHD Flow, Heat and Mass Transfer past a Stretching Porous Surface Embedded in a Porous Medium

This paper investigates the influence of both viscous and joules dissipation on the problem of magnetohydrodynamic flow past a stretching porous surface embedded in a porous medium. Analytic solutions of the resulting nonlinear non-homogeneous boundary value problem in the case when the plate stretches with a velocity varying linearly with distance, expressed in terms of confluent hypergeometric functions, are presented for the case of prescribed surface temperature. Numerical calculations have been carried out for various values of suction parameter, magnetic field, Prandtl number, Eckert number and Schmidt number. The results show that increases in magnetic parameter decrease both the dimensionless transverse velocity, longitudinal velocity and also the skin friction coefficient. Also, formation of thin boundary layer is observed for higher value of magnetic parameter

Evaluation of Antiulcer Activity of Ethanol Extract of Leaves of Lactuca sativa

In this modern era, gastrointestinal disorders are the universal problem. Peptic ulcer is one of the major diseases affecting the human population. It develops due to the imbalance between aggressive factors like acid, pepsin, H. pylori and bile salts and defensive factors like mucous, bicarbonate, blood flow, epithelial cell restoration and prostaglandins. The anti-ulcer activity of Ethanol extract of leaves of Lactuca sativa (EELS) was estimated using the experimental models of acute gastric lesions induced by ethanol, pylorus ligation and cold restraint stress in Wistar albino rats. Animals pre-treated with doses of 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg of EELS were statistically analyzed and compared to the standard and control group with the parameters like volume of gastric secretion, total acidity and ulcer index. The results suggested that EELS significantly decreased volume of gastric acid secretion, total acidity and ulcer index in comparison with standard drug Omeprazole. EELS shown significant reduction in lesion index, total affected area and percentage of lesion in comparison with control group in Ethanol induced ulcer in experimental models. The gastric mucosal protective effect of EELS is brought by inhibiting the gastric secretion, which shows it may act like a proton pump inhibitor. Thus the present study indicates that EELS has anti-ulcerogenic potency in Ethanol induced, pylorus ligation and cold restraint stress induced ulcers in rats. Keywords: Antiulcer, ulcer index, cold stress, peptic ulcer, pylorus ligatio

Implications of combined endocrinopathy of diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism on pregnancy

Background: Hypothyroidism and diabetes are the endocrine disorders commonly observed in pregnancy and each has been associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Our objective was to study the implications of combined endocrinopathy of hypothyroidism and DM on pregnancy and its outcome.Methods: This prospective cohort study included 150 pregnant women with singleton gestation and who were screened for and diagnosed with DM and /or hypothyroidism. They were then divided into 3 groups: 1) Diabetes (n=69) 2) Hypothyroidism (n = 53) 3) DM and hypothyroidism (n=28). Perinatal and neonatal characteristics were compared among the 3 groups and statistically analysed.Results: Women with both DM and hypothyroidism had higher rates of first trimester abortions, preeclampsia, polyhydramnios, placental abruption, preterm deliveries, caesarean sections, postpartum haemorrhage and intrauterine fetal deaths when compared to other groups. On the contrary, rates of labour induction, fetal macrosomia and LBW new-borns were not statistically significant among the groups.Conclusions: Women with both DM and hypothyroidism are at high risk of developing perinatal complications and need intense surveillance for the same during their pregnancy for better outcome. Pregnant women diagnosed with one of these endocrinopathies should be screened for the other

Robust Bain distortion in the premartensite phase of platinum substituted Ni2MnGa magnetic shape memory alloy

The premartensite phase of shape memory and magnetic shape memory alloys (MSMAs) is believed to be a precursor state of the martensite phase with preserved austenite phase symmetry. The thermodynamic stability of the premartensite phase and its relation to the martensitic phase is still an unresolved issue, even though it is critical to the understanding of the functional properties of MSMAs. We present here unambiguous evidence for macroscopic symmetry breaking leading to robust Bain distortion in the premartensite phase of 10% Pt substituted Ni2MnGa. We show that the robust Bain distorted premartensite (T2) phase results from another premartensite (T1) phase with preserved cubic-like symmetry through an isostructural phase transition. The T2 phase finally transforms to the martensite phase with additional Bain distortion on further cooling. Our results demonstrate that the premartensite phase should not be considered as a precursor state with the preserved symmetry of the cubic austenite phase

Profile of cutaneous adverse drug reactions of carbamazepine

Background: Carbamazepine, a commonly used antiepileptic drug is known to produce adverse effects including dangerous reactions like cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions such as drug induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DHS), Stevens Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). The FDA released a warning that serious and potentially fatal skin reactions may occur after carbamazepine in patients positive for the HLA-B*1502 allele which occurs almost exclusively in patients with ancestry across broad areas of Asia, including South Asian Indians. This study profiles the cutaneous adverse drug reactions reported in this institute over a period of 3 years.Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital by analysing patient case records based on adverse drug reactions reported between August 2014 and July 2017 in the adverse drug reaction monitoring centre. The age, gender, diagnosis, type of cutaneous ADR, duration of treatment, seriousness of reaction and outcome were recorded and analysed.Results: Among the total 25 reactions 36% were benign and 64% were severe reactions. According to Pharmaco vigilance Program of India 80% of the reactions were serious and 20% non serious. The commonest benign skin reaction was maculopapular eruption. SJS and TEN were the two very serious reactions which affected 8 patients totally. Exfoliative dermatitis was reported in 7 patients and Drug Hypersensitivity Syndrome (DHS) in one patient.Conclusions: Severe cutaneous reactions occur after carbamazepine and prevention of ADR requires prediction of predisposition which requires special studies of HLA or genomic assessment. These are the issues of interest for future research

Detection of vancomycin susceptibility among clinical isolates of MRSA by using minimum inhibitory concentration method

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is considered as a major pathogen causing a diversity of infections including bacteremia, pneumonia, skin and soft tissue including osteoarticular infections. Since 1961, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococci aureus (MRSA) emerged has one of the major and common cause of hospital acquired infection. However, due to wide spread usage of vancomycin for MRSA infections resulted in reduced susceptibility of S. aureus to vancomycin has been identified as a serious public health concern. The aim of the study is to identify the Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from various clinical samples and to detect vancomycin susceptibility by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) method.Methods: This study was conducted over period of one year December 2013 to November 2014. Clinical samples like pus, blood, sputum, urine and cerebrospinal fluid were collected from various clinical departments in Narayana General Hospital for selective isolation of Staphylococcus aureus. A total of 100 Staphylococcal aureus isolates were isolatedby using standard laboratory procedures. MRSA were detected using Oxacillin Disc on Muller Hinton Agar with 4% NaCl. Sensitivity pattern for vancomycin (30 µg) disc and for other recommended antibiotics was determined by Kirby-Bauer’s disk diffusion method. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was done for vancomycin sensitive isolates by standard agar dilution method.Results: Out of 100 S. aureus isolates, all were susceptible to vancomycin (30 µg) by disk diffusion method. But, 82 isolates of MRSA were susceptible to vancomycin at the concentration of 0.5-2 μg/ml of agar. 17 isolates showed intermediate sensitivity to vancomycin, in which 13 isolates with MIC 4μg/ml and 4 isolates with MIC 8 μg/ml and one isolate was resistant to vancomycin even with MIC of 16 μg/ml.Conclusions: The present study reveals the emergence of Vancomycin Intermediate Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) and Vancomycin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA). Disc diffusion method should not be employed for detection of vancomycin sensitivity for MRSA stains. The major cause may be attributed to unawareness and irrational usage of broad spectrum antibiotics.

Pex7p translocates in and out of peroxisomes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Pex7p is the soluble receptor responsible for importing into peroxisomes newly synthesized proteins bearing a type 2 peroxisomal targeting sequence. We observe that appending GFP to Pex7p's COOH terminus shifts Pex7p's intracellular distribution from predominantly cytosolic to predominantly peroxisomal in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Cleavage of the link between Pex7p and GFP within peroxisomes liberates GFP, which remains inside the organelle, and Pex7p, which exits to the cytosol. The reexported Pex7p is functional, resulting in import of thiolase into peroxisomes and improved growth of the yeast on oleic acid. These results support the “extended shuttle” model of peroxisome import receptor function and open the way to future studies of receptor export

QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS AND ANTHELMINTIC ACTIVITY OF HYDRO-ALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF TABERNAEMONTANA DIVARICATA

Tabernaemontana divaricata is a common shrub found in the tropical regions and is often used for medicinal purposes, particularly the flowers of the plant. The present study is conducted to compare and identify the phytochemical constituents by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and Qualitative Phytochemical analysis and to determine the anthelmentic activity of fresh and dried flower extract of Tabernaemontana divaricata. The extract is obtained using two different methods like cold maceration and hot solvent extraction by using soxhlet apparatus, first with petroleum ether followed by hydroalcohol as solvents. The preliminary phytochemical analysis of the extract indicated the presence of Alkaloids, Flavanoids, Steroids, Proteins, Carbohydrates and Tannins. The Rf value of TLC is calculated and compared with standard values and analysis proved the presence of the phytochemical constituents. The anthelmentic activity studies are performed using Indian earth worms. For this, the concentrated extract is diluted to various concentrations, and the effect of each solution is studied by measuring the time taken for paralysis and death of the earth worms. It is found to show significant anthelmentic activity at various concentrations compared with that of the standard drug Metronidazole

Correlation between extrinsic electroresistance and magnetoresistance in fine-grained La0.7Ca0.3MnO3

We report our observation of a correlation between the extrinsic electroresistance (EER) and magnetoresistance (EMR) via grain size in fine-grained La0.7Ca0.3MnO3. The nature of dependence of EER and EMR on grain size (~0.2-1.0 micron) indicates that for finer grains with low-resistive boundaries both of them follow similar trend whereas they differ for coarser grains with high-resistive boundaries. This could be due to a crossover in the mechanism of charge transport across the grain boundaries - from spin-depedent scattering process to spin-polarized tunneling one - as a function of grain size.Comment: 19 pages including 4 figures; pdf onl