CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF POLYPHENOLIC FRACTION FROM RIVEA HYPOCRATERIFORMIS IN PARACETAMOL INDUCED LIVER DAMAGE IN WISTAR ALBINO RATS

Objective: This study was designed to chemical composition and hepatoprotective effects of a polyphenolic fraction of aerial parts of R. hypocrateriformis (PPFRH). It was shown to exhibit strong in vitro lipid peroxidation and scavenging activity against hydroxyl radical.Methods: The chemical composition of a polyphenolic fraction of R. hypocrateriformis was analyzed by High-performance liquid chromatography method. Hepatocellular injuries induced by paracetamol were assessed by liver damage in Wistar albino rat; the hepatoprotective effect was evaluated by biochemical parameters in rat serum, antioxidant hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation in liver tissue.Results: The polyphenolic fraction of aerial parts of R. hypocrateriformis for lipid peroxidation is significantly (p<0.05). In the hepatoprotective activity of liver enzymes and hepatic necrosis were significantly (p<0.001) closer to paracetamol. The correlation coefficient between the hydroxyl scavenging radical and total phenolic and flavonoid contents were found to be R² = 0.9045 and R² = 0.8876 suggesting the contribution of phenolic and flavonoid compounds of the polyphenolic fraction of aerial parts of R. hypocrateriformis by 90% and 88% to its radical scavenging activity.Conclusion: The polyphenolic fraction of aerial parts of R. hypocrateriformis possesses a significant protective effect against acute hepatotoxicity induced by paracetamol and which may be due to the phenolic and flavonoid components

Population dynamics of penaeid prawn Penaeus merguiensis off Mumbai coast

Stock dynamics of Penaeus merguiensis was studied using length composition data collected separately for males and females during the period 1995-1998, at New Ferry Warf landing, centre in Greater Mumbai. Food and feeding, sex ratio, fecundity and length-weight relationships were worked out on a representative sub-sample. Asymptotic length (Loo) and growth coefficient (K) were estimated to be 220 mm and 1.80 per annum respectively for males. These parameters were respectively 281 mm and 1. 72 per annum in the case of females. The instantaneous rate of total mortality coefficient (Z) was found to be 9.79 and 7.44 per annum for males and females respectively. The annual natural mortality coefficient (M) was estimated to be 2.80 for males and 2.60 for females. As the exploitation ratio exceeded 0.5 in the case of both the males and females, the study suggests the necessity for reduction in fishing pressure in order to achieve Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY)

Electrically modulated photoluminescence in ferroelectric liquid crystal

Electrical modulation and switching of photoluminescence (PL) have been demonstrated in pure deformed helix ferroelectric liquid crystal (DHFLC) material. The PL intensity increases and peak position shifts towards lower wavelength above a threshold voltage which continues up to a saturation voltage. This is attributed to the helix unwinding phenomenon in the DHFLC on the application of an electric field. Moreover, the PL intensity could be switched between high intensity (field-on) and low intensity (field-off) positions. These studies would add a new dimension to ferroelectric liquid crystal's application in the area of optical devices.Comment: 4 figure

A study on health profile of geriatric population in an urban slum of bijapur

Background: Advances in medical field have increased the longevity of people by reducing morbidity and mortality to a great extent. With the increase in longevity, problems related to old age have also increased. These problems are more confounded by social factors. Objective: To assess the various health problems faced by elderly people and suggest the remedial measures so that effective preventive and promotive measures can be implemented. Methodology: Community based cross-sectional study of the elderly persons residing in an urban slum of Bijapur. Results: Among acute health problems most common were arthritis (39%) and bronchitis (20.8%). Most common chronic illness observed was respiratory illness 19% (COPD and asthma) fallowed by visual impairment (11.5%), arthritis (11.1%), and hypertension (9.1%) Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) showed that majority of respondents 297 (60%) were having the normal score. Conclusion: The pattern of geriatric health problems have different characteristics and hence require a specific type of screening programme based on the finding of various geriatric health studies

The study of left ventricular relaxation and filling abnormalities in acute coronary syndrome by doppler echocardiography

Objectives: To study the left ventricular relaxation and filling abnormalities by doppler echocardiography and prognosis of acute coronary syndrome. Methods:  Fifty patients of acute coronary syndrome were included in the study. The left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was studied using doppler transmitral velocities within the apical 4- chambers view (1st study-on the day of admission and 2nd study- after one week). The various parameters studied were peak E (peak rapid filling velocity), peak A (atrial contraction wave), E/A ratio, E-DT (E- deceleration time), IVRT (isovolumetric relaxation time), S-wave (systolic forward flow wave), D-wave (diastolic forward flow wave) and AR-wave (atrial reversal wave). Results: Of 50 patients studied 3 had normal, 36 patients had impaired relaxation, 5 patients had pseudo-normalization, 4 patients reversible and 2 patients irreversible restrictive filling on the day of admission (1st study). In the 2nd study (after one week) 16 were normal, 20 patients had impaired relaxation, 5 patients had pseudo-normalization, 6 patients had reversible and 2 patients had irreversible restrictive filling. Conclusion: Doppler echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in the setting of acute coronary syndrome helps in the management and provides independent noninvasive prognostic information

A comparative study of manual vaccum aspiration (MVA) & electric vaccum aspiration (EVA) for pregnancy termination of upto 10 weeks gestation

Background: Induced abortion in first trimester is one of the commonly performed operations in obstetrics. Unsafe abortions kill about 70,000 women annually. So, methods of early pregnancy termination commonly used like, Manual Vaccum Aspiration (MVA) & Electric Vaccum Aspiration (EVA) are compared in this study. The objective was to compare the safety and efficacy of MVA and EVA in early pregnancy termination.Methods: Two hundred pregnant women of gestation upto 10weeks wanting first trimester pregnancy termination were subjected to either MVA or EVA. Age of the patient, gravidity, period of gestation, time taken for the procedure, blood loss, complications and duration of hospital stay were studied.Results: 37% patients in MVA had grade I pain and 54% patients in EVA had grade IV pain. 72% cases in MVA had grade I bleeding & 48% in EVA had grade II bleeding. The bleeding after MVA procedure was less as compared to EVA. Common complications noted were incomplete abortion (1% in MVA & 4% in EVA), and cervical laceration (none in MVA and 3% in EVA). Cervical laceration was common in EVA during insertion of rigid metallic cannula. In MVA, mean average time taken is less by 5-6 minutes and average blood loss is also less by 8ml as compared to EVA. Women were discharged in 6-8 hours and 12-16 hours in MVA & EVA respectively.Conclusions: Women undergoing MVA had overall satisfaction with relation to pain, blood loss, & duration of hospital stay. MVA had 99% success rate. So, MVA is safe and effective in abortions upto 10weeks gestation with less complication than EVA

Human resources development in fisheries

Human resources development is an important part of fisheries development. Keeping this in view, the Government of India established the Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE) at Bombay In 1961. The Institute during Its eventful 25 years of service has provided the requisite trained manpower at different levels for fisheries development, industry, research, education, training and extension. In addition to regular courses, a large number of short term training programmes on selected topics have also been conducted at national and Inlernational levels to meet specific demands. The Institute is today recognised as the centre of excellence in higher education in fisheries

Indian Shrimp Trade: Reflections and Prospects in the Post-WTO Era

Indian fisheries sector in view of its potential contribution to national income, nutritional security, employment opportunities, social objectives, and export earnings plays an important role in the 50cio~economic development of the country. The marine products exports contributed a whopping 7245 crofes of foreign exchange to the exchequer during 2005- 2006, which is onethird of the total agricultural exports and 1.5 percent of the total GDP. Shrimps continue to be the predominant item in our. marine export claiming about 29 and 67 percent in quantity and value tenns share, respectively. Until recently, India depended heavily on one product (shrimp) and one market (Japan) for its marine products export and thus there is a need for product and market diversification

Fisheries Project Formulation and Management

Project formulation is an important part of entrepreneurship development. Fisheries sector, hosting a gamut of entrepreneurship venture, requires technical know-how in project formulation and management. Keeping this in mind, my colleagues Mr. Shyam S. Salim, Scientist and Dr. R. S. Biradar, Principal Scientist of Fisheries Informatics, Technology Evaluation and Transfer Division of this Institute have written a course manual on "FISHERIES PROJECT FORMULA TlON AND MANAGEMENT' in a simple and systematic manner to cater to the requirements and expectations of students of fishery science. The manual contains basic concepts and applications, which are necessary to understand and practice the subject

Si(IV) Complexes with Schiff Bases

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