Antipyretic activity of azima tetracantha in experimental animals

In the present study, the ethanolic leaf extract of Azima tetracantha Lam (A. tetracantha) was investigated for antipyretic activity in rats using Brewer’s yeast induced Pyrexia. The leaves of A. tetracantha were collected from Ponnamaravathi and cut into small pieces and shade dried. The dried powdered leaves (100 gm) were extracted in a Soxhlet apparatus by using 95% ethanol. Albino rats weighing (200-250g) were taken for the experiment divided into four groups of six animals each. Group 1 received 3% aqueous suspension of gum Acacia (1 ml/200g) as vehicle orally, group 2 and group 3 received ethanolic leaf extract of A. tetracantha 100 and 200 mg/kg with 3% aqueous suspension of gum Acacia orally and the group 4 served as standard received paracetamol 25 mg/kg with 3% aqueous suspension of gum Acacia orally. The subcutaneous injection of yeast suspension markedly elevated the rectal temperature after 18h of administration. Treatment with A. tetracantha extract at a dose of 100, 200 mg/kg decreased the rectal temperature of the rats in dose dependent manner. This effect was maximal at dose of 200 mg/kg and it caused significant lowering of body temperature (P< 0.01) up to 4 hour after its administration. The antipyretic effect started as early as 1h and the effect was maintained for 4h, after its administration. Both the standard drug paracetamol 25 mg/kg and tested drug A. tetracantha extract were significantly reduced the yeast elevated rectal temperature, at 2nd, 3rd and 4th hour compared to control group

Myomectomy at the Time of Cesarean Section: A Prospective Multicentre Study

Objectives: To assess the safety and efficacy of myomectomy during cesarean section. Methods : The study design was a prospective multicentre study done in three tertiary care hospitals in Dhaka city. The subject were 30 pregnant women underwent elective or emergency myomectomy during cesarean section. All cesarean section myomectomy were performed by consultant. Intra-operative and post-operative complications such as change in haematocrit, length of operation, blood loss were estimated. Length of hospital stay was also recorded. Results : 50 Fibroid of various sizes (2-6cm) were removed from 30 women. Fibroid were on the anterior uterine wall with most being subserous and intramural. Four patients had one unit of whole blood transfusion in post-operative period. No hysterectomy was done at the time of cesarean section. There was no significant frequency of blood transfusion; incidence of post- operative fever and duration of operation. The mean duration of post operative hospital study was 7.3&plusmn;1.2 days. Two patients subsequently became pregnant, were also underwent repeated cesarean section in the study period. Conclusion : In selected cases myomectomy during cesarean section does not appear to result in an increased risk of intrapartum or short-term postpartum morbidity if performed by an experienced practitioner. Cesarean myomectomy is a safe surgical options with no significant complications. Keywords : Cesarean section; myomectomy; uterine myoma. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bsmmuj.v4i2.8639 BSMMU J 2011; 4(2):102-10

Myomectomy at the Time of Cesarean Section: A Prospective Multicentre Study

Objectives: To assess the safety and efficacy of myomectomy during cesarean section. Methods : The study design was a prospective multicentre study done in three tertiary care hospitals in Dhaka city. The subject were 30 pregnant women underwent elective or emergency myomectomy during cesarean section. All cesarean section myomectomy were performed by consultant. Intra-operative and post-operative complications such as change in haematocrit, length of operation, blood loss were estimated. Length of hospital stay was also recorded. Results : 50 Fibroid of various sizes (2-6cm) were removed from 30 women. Fibroid were on the anterior uterine wall with most being subserous and intramural. Four patients had one unit of whole blood transfusion in post-operative period. No hysterectomy was done at the time of cesarean section. There was no significant frequency of blood transfusion; incidence of post- operative fever and duration of operation. The mean duration of post operative hospital study was 7.3&plusmn;1.2 days. Two patients subsequently became pregnant, were also underwent repeated cesarean section in the study period. Conclusion : In selected cases myomectomy during cesarean section does not appear to result in an increased risk of intrapartum or short-term postpartum morbidity if performed by an experienced practitioner. Cesarean myomectomy is a safe surgical options with no significant complications. Keywords : Cesarean section; myomectomy; uterine myoma. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bsmmuj.v4i2.8639 BSMMU J 2011; 4(2):102-10

Diagnostic value of ferritin for the severity of dengue infection in children

Retracted by the Editor-In-Chie

Diagnostic value of ferritin for the severity of dengue infection in children

Retracted by the Editor-In-Chie

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE HEXANE EXTRACT OF LEAVES OF AZIMA TETRACANTHA (LAM)

Objective: In the present study, the phytochemical constituents of hexane extract from Azima tetracantha (AT) leaves were done by using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry analysis technique (GC-MS). Azima tetracantha has been an important medicinal herb being used in tribal medicines since long, but chemical constituents of its bark responsible for the activities are still not studied in depth.Methods: Azima tetracantha leaves were collected from Ariyalur District, Tamil Nadu. The dried leaf was powdered and was extracted with the solvent hexane by using a Soxhlet apparatus. One microlitre of the extract was subjected to analysis by GC-MS to detect the presence of bioactive compounds present in the leaves of the plant.Results: The results showed that the leaves of Azima tetracantha contained 47 compounds, of which the major is n-hexadecanoic acid (39.10%) followed by oleic acid (11.54%). Analysis and identification of the presence of the compound in the extract were done by using the database of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) library.Conclusion: In the present study, 47 chemical constituents have been identified from the hexane leaf extract of Azima tetracantha by GC-MS analysis. The hexane extract is mainly composed of terpenoids and sterols. Thus, Azima tetracantha is found to possess significant phytonutrients, which attribute to its medicinal worth.Â

Primary care treatment of insomnia: study protocol for a pragmatic, multicentre, randomised controlled trial comparing nurse-delivered sleep restriction therapy to sleep hygiene (the HABIT trial).

Introduction Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder that negatively affects quality of life. Multicomponent cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is the recommended treatment but access remains limited, particularly in primary care. Sleep restriction therapy (SRT) is one of the principal active components of CBT and could be delivered by generalist staff in primary care. The aim of this randomised controlled trial is to establish whether nurse-delivered SRT for insomnia disorder is clinically and cost-effective compared with sleep hygiene advice. Methods and analysis In the HABIT (Health-professional Administered Brief Insomnia Therapy) trial, 588 participants meeting criteria for insomnia disorder will be recruited from primary care in England and randomised (1:1) to either nurse-delivered SRT (plus sleep hygiene booklet) or sleep hygiene booklet on its own. SRT will be delivered over 4 weekly sessions; total therapy time is approximately 1 hour. Outcomes will be collected at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months post-randomisation. The primary outcome is self-reported insomnia severity using the Insomnia Severity Index at 6 months. Secondary outcomes include health-related and sleep-related quality of life, depressive symptoms, use of prescribed sleep medication, diary and actigraphy-recorded sleep parameters, and work productivity. Analyses will be intention-to-treat. Moderation and mediation analyses will be conducted and a cost-utility analysis and process evaluation will be performed. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval was granted by the Yorkshire and the Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee (reference: 18/YH/0153). We will publish our primary findings in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals. There will be further outputs in relation to process evaluation and secondary analyses focussed on moderation and mediation. Trial results could make the case for the introduction of nurse-delivered sleep therapy in primary care, increasing access to evidence-based treatment for people with insomnia disorder

Clinical and cost-effectiveness of nurse-delivered sleep restriction therapy for insomnia in primary care (HABIT): a pragmatic, superiority, open-label, randomised controlled trial

Background Insomnia is prevalent and distressing but access to the first-line treatment, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), is extremely limited. We aimed to assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of sleep restriction therapy, a key component of CBT, which has the potential to be widely implemented. Methods We did a pragmatic, superiority, open-label, randomised controlled trial of sleep restriction therapy versus sleep hygiene. Adults with insomnia disorder were recruited from 35 general practices across England and randomly assigned (1:1) using a web-based randomisation programme to either four sessions of nurse-delivered sleep restriction therapy plus a sleep hygiene booklet or a sleep hygiene booklet only. There was no restriction on usual care for either group. Outcomes were assessed at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. The primary endpoint was self-reported insomnia severity at 6 months measured with the insomnia severity index (ISI). The primary analysis included participants according to their allocated group and who contributed at least one outcome measurement. Cost-effectiveness was evaluated from the UK National Health Service and personal social services perspective and expressed in terms of incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. The trial was prospectively registered (ISRCTN42499563). Findings Between Aug 29, 2018, and March 23, 2020 we randomly assigned 642 participants to sleep restriction therapy (n=321) or sleep hygiene (n=321). Mean age was 55·4 years (range 19–88), with 489 (76·2%) participants being female and 153 (23·8%) being male. 580 (90·3%) participants provided data for at least one outcome measurement. At 6 months, mean ISI score was 10·9 (SD 5·5) for sleep restriction therapy and 13·9 (5·2) for sleep hygiene (adjusted mean difference –3·05, 95% CI –3·83 to –2·28; p<0·0001; Cohen's d –0·74), indicating that participants in the sleep restriction therapy group reported lower insomnia severity than the sleep hygiene group. The incremental cost per QALY gained was £2076, giving a 95·3% probability that treatment was cost-effective at a cost-effectiveness threshold of £20 000. Eight participants in each group had serious adverse events, none of which were judged to be related to intervention. Interpretation Brief nurse-delivered sleep restriction therapy in primary care reduces insomnia symptoms, is likely to be cost-effective, and has the potential to be widely implemented as a first-line treatment for insomnia disorder. Funding The National Institute for Health and Care Research Health Technology Assessment Programme

Nurse-delivered sleep restriction therapy in primary care for adults with insomnia disorder: a mixed-methods process evaluation

Background Sleep restriction therapy (SRT) is a behavioural therapy for insomnia. Aim To conduct a process evaluation of a randomised controlled trial comparing SRT delivered by primary care nurses plus a sleep hygiene booklet with the sleep hygiene booklet only for adults with insomnia disorder. Design and setting A mixed-methods process evaluation in a general practice setting. Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted in a purposive sample of patients receiving SRT, the practice nurses who delivered the therapy, and also GPs or practice managers at the participating practices. Qualitative data were explored using framework analysis, and integrated with nurse comments and quantitative data, including baseline Insomnia Severity Index score and serial sleep efficiency outcomes to investigate the relationships between these. Results In total, 16 patients, 13 nurses, six practice managers, and one GP were interviewed. Patients had no previous experience of behavioural therapy, needed flexible appointment times, and preferred face-to-face consultations; nurses felt prepared to deliver SRT, accommodating patient concerns, tailoring therapy, and negotiating sleep timings despite treatment complexity and delays between training and intervention delivery. How the intervention produced change was explored, including patient and nurse interactions and patient responses to SRT. Difficulties maintaining SRT, negative attitudes towards treatment, and low self-efficacy were highlighted. Contextual factors, including freeing GP time, time constraints, and conflicting priorities for nurses, with suggestions for alternative delivery options, were raised. Participants who found SRT a positive process showed improvements in sleep efficiency, whereas those who struggled did not. Conclusion SRT was successfully delivered by practice nurses and was generally well received by patients, despite some difficulties delivering and applying the intervention in practice