ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY OF KALANCHOE PINNATA IN ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Objective: The main purpose of the present study was to analyze the antidiabetic activity of methanolic extract of the leaf of Kalanchoe pinnata in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic and endocrine disease regarded as a serious global public health problem. Albino Wistar rats were divided into four groups. Group I (normal) received drinking water throughout the course till 20 days. Groups II-IV received alloxan (120 mg/kg b.w) i.p on the 1st day of the study period. Group III animals received glibenclamide (10 mg/kg p.o) and Group IV received K. pinnata (200 mg/kg b.w p.o) for 20 days. The body weight, blood glucose level, serum urea, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, cholesterol, total protein (TP), uric acid, and tissue (liver) antioxidant parameters: Malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) were measured. Results: K. pinnata treated rats showed the percentage increase in the body weight, decrease in the blood sugar level, creatinine, TP level, urea, uric acid, and BUN, MDA, and GSH when compared to alloxan-induced diabetic mellitus control rats. Thus, K. pinnata could be possibly employed to treat DM. Conclusion: This preliminary analysis tested the most promising profile. It seems that methanolic extract of the leaf of K. pinnata improved general, blood serum, and liver antidiabetic agent. However, further studies confirming its potential is certainly warranted

Influence of soil grading on the characteristics of cement stabilised soil compacts

The paper deals with experimental investigations aiming at specifying optimum soil grading limits for the production of cement stabilised soil bricks (CSSB). Wide range of soil grading curves encompassing both fine and coarse grained soils were considered. Strength, durability and absorption characteristics of CSSB were examined considering 14 different types of soil grading curves and three cement contents. The investigations show that there is optimum clay content for the soil mix which yields maximum compressive strength for CSSB and the optimum clay content is about 10 and 14 % for fine grained and coarse grained soils respectively. Void ratio of the compacted specimens is the lowest at the optimum clay content and therefore possesses maximum strength at that point. CSSB using fine grained soils shows higher strength and better durability characteristics when compared to the bricks using coarse grained soils

Foramen of Vesalius: Prevalence, Morphology, Embryological Basis and Clinical Implications

Abstract The objectives of the present study were to find the prevalence of foramen of Vesalius and to discuss its morphology. The embryological basis of this foramen and its surgical highlights are emphasized. The study comprised 78 human adult dried skulls, which were obtained from the anatomy laboratory of our institution. The greater wing of the sphenoid bone was macroscopically observed for the presence of foramen of Vesalius. It was observed that the foramen was present in 29 skulls (37.2%). It was seen bilaterally in 13 (16.7%) skulls and unilaterally in 16 (20.5%) specimens.Anatomical literature has explained the variation of this foramen by the developmental considerations. We believe that the details of this foramen are known to have significant implications for the medical and surgical literature. The details are also enlightening to the clinical anatomists and other broad specialties of medicine.This sphenoidal emissary foramen contains a bridging vein, which connects the pterygoid venous plexus with the cavernous sinus. This communication is clinically important, since an extra cranial infection may sometimes reach the cavernous sinus through this foramen, which may lead to cavernous sinus thrombosis. Foramen of Vesalius can get injured during the trigeminal nerve block technique performed for the trigeminal neuralgia. In this procedure, the foramen can get hurt by a displaced instrument, which would end up in intracranial bleeding, which can spread the extracranal infection into the cavernous sinus. This may lead to serious disorders like Tolosa Hunt and Gradenigo syndromes

Aetiology and Laboratory Diagnosis of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome with Special Reference to India

Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) which encompasses infections of the central nervous system (CNS), such as encephalitis, meningitis, and meningoencephalitis, is quite commonly encountered in clinical practice and contributes to significant mortality and morbidity in the community. Several organisms including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites are known to cause AES in humans. The cardinal clinical and laboratory findings are largely similar regardless of the causative agent and consist of fever, headache, and altered mental status, which are often accompanied by seizures and focal neurological abnormalities. Therefore, identification of the causative pathogen is paramount in AES, as rapid detection and confirmation of aetiological agent will have a tremendous impact on the management of outbreaks as well as patient’s illness. This article reviews the aetiological and laboratory diagnostic aspects of AES with special reference to the Indian context

Morphology of Nutrient Foramina in Human Metatarsals and Their Clinical Importance

Mercu tanda anatomi foramen nutrien penting dalam prosedur pembinaan semula kaki yang melibatkan penggunaan tulang metatarsal. Objektif kajian ialah untuk mengkaji morfologi foramina nutrien di tulang metatarsal dan mendapatkan indeks foramina. Kajian ini melibatkan 271 metatarsal manusia yang bukan berpasangan. Umur dan jantina metatarsal tidak diketahui. Foramina nutrien setiap tulang diperiksa untuk menentukan topografi dan nombor. Pengindeksan foramina dilakukan menggunakan formula Hughes. Morphometri kajian ini telah dijalankan dengan penggunaan ‘Vernier caliper’ digital. Hasil pemerhatian mendapati 79.3% daripada metatarsal mempunyai foramen nutrien tunggal, 9.2% mempunyai dua foramen, 1.1% mempunyai tiga foramen dan 10.4% metatarsal tidak ada foramen. Min indeks foramina daripada metatarsal pertama, metatarsal kedua, metatarsal ketiga, metatarsal keempat dan metatarsal kelima ialah 65.3, 43.6, 44.4, 45.3 dan 47.5 masing-masing mengikut turutan. Dapat diperhatikan bahawa kebanyakan metatarsal mempunyai foramen nutrien tunggal. Lokasi foramen nutrien berubah dari metatarsal 1 hingga 5. Foramina metatarsal 1 dan metatarsal 5 diperhatikan di sebelah sisi mereka dan pada metatarsal yang lain; ia lazim diperhatikan di permukaan medial. Pengagihan morfologi tentang foramina nutrien adalah amat diperlukan dalam sesetengah pembedahan seperti penggunaan tulang metatarsal dalam pembinaan semula kaki. Data morfologi juga amat penting dalam pembedahan plastik seperti kes operasi mikrovaskular tisu tulang

In vivo morphometry of menisci of the knee in South Indians: A preliminary study

Background: Since the in vivo morphometric data on the menisci of the knee joint of Indian subjects are scarce, we hereby studied the width and thickness of the menisci using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to establish standard dimensions of the normal medial and lateral meniscus as an aid to orthopaedic surgery. Methods: Eighty menisci from 40 knee joints were analysed in each of three regions, the anterior horn, the mid body and the posterior horn. The thickness and width of the menisci were measured in sagittal and coronal T1-weighted and T2-weighted MRI images and analysed statistically. Results: The mean thickness of medial meniscus at the anterior horn, mid body, and posterior horn were 6.3 ± 1.1 mm, 5.2 ± 1.3 mm, and 6.9 ± 1.1 mm, respectively. The respective values for the lateral meniscus were 4.8 ± 0.7 mm, 6.4 ± 1.1 mm, and 7.0 ± 0.9 mm. The mean width of medial meniscus at the anterior horn, mid body, and posterior horn were 10.5 ± 1.2 mm, 7.8 ± 1 mm and 13.9 ± 0.9 mm, respectively. The widths of lateral meniscus at the same regions were 11.8 ± 1.4 mm, 8.6 ± 1.2 mm, and 12.0 ± 0.9 mm, respectively. The lateral meniscus was significantly wider than medial at the anterior horn and mid body (p = 0.00). In contrast, the posterior horn of medial meniscus was significantly wider than lateral meniscus. Both menisci were significantly wider at their posterior horn, followed by the anterior horn and were significantly narrower at their mid body. Conclusion: The present study provides new information on the meniscal thickness and width in South Indians that can be used in planning of orthopaedic and arthroscopic surgeries of the knee joint. However, the study needs to be analyzed with a large sample size for the better interpretation