Evaluation of antidiabetic potential of Syzygium kanarense (Talbot) Raizada in streptozotocin- nicotinamide induced diabetic rats.

Worldwide diabetes is the major killer disease and the antidiabetic drugs which are in use cause many side effects. Traditionally, some of the Syzygium spp. are in use for treating diabetes, and many species are being assessed for their antidiabetic property. This study is to assess the antidiabetic effectiveness of the bark of Syzygium kanarense (Talbot) Raizada. The antidiabetic efficacy of methanol and water extracts of the leaf (SKLM, SKLW) and the bark (SKBM, SKBW) were evaluated in vitro by the alpha-glucosidase- and alpha-amylase-inhibitory assays. The in vivo antidiabetic activity of the bark was assessed by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and streptozotocin- nicotinamide (STZ-NA)-induced non-obese type 2 diabetic rat model. The serum biochemical parameters and histopathology of the pancreas, liver and kidney were evaluated after 21 days of treatment. The total phenolics and flavonoids were quantified in all the extracts. The antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH assay. Administration of SKBM and SKBW to STZ-NA-induced diabetic rats at 300 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg orally for 21 days exhibited statistically significant (P < 0.001) and dose-related drop in blood sugar levels, serum lipid and hepatorenal parameters. The extract-treated rats showed rejuvenated islets and increased beta-cell density in the pancreas, improved liver architecture and glomerular regeneration without fat deposition. Bark extracts showed the strongest alpha –glucosidase- and alpha –amylase-inhibitory activity in contrast to the leaf extracts. Antioxidants, phytoconstituents and antidiabetic action, as well as protection against free radical damage, were proved to be significantly correlated

COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF STROKE

Objective: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disabilities worldwide. Cost-effectiveness analysis helps identify neglected opportunities by highlighting interventions that are relatively inexpensive, yet have the potential to reduce the disease burden substantially. In India, there are wide social and economic disparities. Socioeconomic environment influences occupation, lifestyle, and nutrition of social classes which in turn would influence the prevalence and profile of stroke. By reduction of delays in access to hospital and improving provision of affordable treatments can reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with stroke in India. This study is designed to measure and compare the costs (resources consumed) and consequences (clinical, economic, and humanistic) of pharmaceutical products and services and their impact on individuals, healthcare systems and society.Methods: The purpose of this study is to analyze and conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis for the treatment of stroke in Guntur City Hospitals. The patients were treated either with aspirin or clopidogrel. The health outcomes were measured using Modified Rankin Scale, A prominent risk assessment scale for stroke. The pharmacoeconomic data were computed from the patient data collection forms.Result: The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of aspirin and clopidogrel were calculated to be Rs. 8046.2/year.Conclusion: The study concludes that aspirin has the increased socioeconomic impact when compared to Clopidogrel and we can see that the earlier therapy has supported discharge, home-based rehabilitation along with reduced hospital stay and hence preferable

Floral biology and reproductive potential of Annona hybrid Arka Sahan

Annona hybrid Arka Sahan has become a commercially important fruit in recent times and it needs an assisted pollination to get good size. Studies on floral biology of Annona hybrid Arka Sahan revealed that major bloom occurs during March-April. Most of the flowers start opening during the afternoon and continued till 7.00 pm, while, pollen dehiscence mainly occurred in early morning in the following day. The maximum stigma receptivity was recorded on the day of anthesis. Completely pendulous petal was more common in Arka Sahan flowers resulting = improper pollination. The minimum number of beetles and bees were observed between 7.00 to 8.00 am. Pollen germination and viability were lower at anthesis (5.8% and 44%, respectively) and declined as the day progressed. The pendulous nature of petals eventually brings some un-pollinated stigmas potentially resulting in delayed selfing leading to misshaped fruits

Phytoremediation: green to clean environmental heavy metal pollution

Many natural processes and anthropogenic activities lead to the persistent accumulation of non-biodegradable heavy metals in the environment. This contamination further has the potential to enter the food chain by a process called bioaccumulation and further, the concentration of heavy metal raises exponentially from lower to higher trophic levels as it is consumed called biomagnification. With the perspective of the consequences associated with heavy metal toxicity including risks to ecosystem and human health (mutagenic, carcinogenic, and teratogenic), the reclamation of toxic accumulates in soil and water is of paramount importance. Presently, clean-up technologies for heavy metals primarily concentrate on mitigating toxicity using physicochemical and mechanical methods such as soil incineration, excavation, landfilling, soil washing, solidification, and the application of electric fields. However, these are expensive, time-consuming, and also result in destructive changes to soil's physicochemical and biological properties, causing secondary pollution to the soil ecosystem. Therefore, the use of the inherent plant’s ability to absorb ionic compounds even at low concentrations near the soil-root interface can be effectively employed as a strategy to extract and remove or lower the bioavailable toxic metals and this phenomenon is called phytoremediation

Clinical Symptoms of Arboviruses in Mexico

Arboviruses such as Chikungunya (CHIKV), Dengue (DENV), and Zika virus (ZIKV) have emerged as a significant public health concern in Mexico. The existing literature lacks evidence regarding the dispersion of arboviruses, thereby limiting public health policy’s ability to integrate the diagnosis, management, and prevention. This study seeks to reveal the clinical symptoms of CHIK, DENV, and ZIKV by age group, region, sex, and time across Mexico. The confirmed cases of CHIKV, DENV, and ZIKV were compiled from January 2012 to March 2020. Demographic characteristics analyzed significant clinical symptoms of confirmed cases. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the association between clinical symptoms and geographical regions. Females and individuals aged 15 and older had higher rates of reported significant symptoms across all three arboviruses. DENV showed a temporal variation of symptoms by regions 3 and 5, whereas ZIKV presented temporal variables in regions 2 and 4. This study revealed unique and overlapping symptoms between CHIKV, DENV, and ZIKV. However, the differentiation of CHIKV, DENV, and ZIKV is difficult, and diagnostic facilities are not available in rural areas. There is a need for adequately trained healthcare staff alongside well-equipped lab facilities, including hematological tests and imaging facilities

Assessment of immunization coverage in an urban slum of bangalore city

Introduction: Prophylactic primary immunization given in the first year of life against the vaccine preventable diseases (VPD’s) is an effective primary mode of prevention, wherein nearly 2-3 million lives are saved annually[1]. Post-National Immunization Programme era has witnessed a dramatic decrease in the incidence of the VPD’s.Albeit active implementation of the programme, illiteracy, fear, lack of transportation and many other reasons has resulted in drop outs and partial immunization cases. The present paper was conducted to assess the coverage of immunization in the children in an urban slum and to know reasons for being a dropout. Objectives: To estimate the coverage of primary immunization in an urban slum in Bangalore city and to determine the reasons for partial immunization or non-immunization. Methodology: A cross sectional study done among children who have completed one year of age in an urban slum in Bangalore city between the period of August to December 2013.Results: In the study conducted among 210 children 198 (94.3%) were completely immunized and 12 (5.7%) were partially immunized of which 6(50 %) abstained due to AEFI. Lack of faith, myth and contraindications contribute to 8.3% each. Conclusion: The prime reason behind partial immunization as per our study is the fear of AEFI and abstinence due to the same. Time constraints and contraindications were other factors. Immunization status of the child is also seen to be affected by the mother’s literacy status

Biopolymeric nanoparticles

This review on nanoparticles highlights the various biopolymers (proteins and polysaccharides) which have recently revolutionized the world of biocompatible and degradable natural biological materials. The methods of their fabrication, including emulsification, desolvation, coacervation and electrospray drying are described. The characterization of different parameters for a given nanoparticle, such as particle size, surface charge, morphology, stability, structure, cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, drug loading and drug release, is outlined together with the relevant measurement techniques. Applications in the fields of medicine and biotechnology are discussed along with a promising future scope

Development of sesbania mosaic virus nanoparticles for imaging

The capsids of viruses have a high degree of symmetry. Therefore, virus nanoparticles (VNPs) can be programmed to display many imaging agents precisely. Plant VNPs are biocompatible, biodegradable and non-infectious to mammals. We have carried out bioconjugation of sesbania mosaic virus (SeMV), a well characterized plant virus, with fluorophores using reactive lysine-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester and cysteine-maleimide chemistries. Monitoring of cellular internalization of labelled SeMV nanoparticles (NPs) by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry showed that the particles have a natural preference for entry into MDA-MB-231 (breast cancer) cells, although they could also enter various other cell lines. The fluorescence of SeMV NPs labelled via the cysteines with Cy5.5 dye was found to be more stable and was detectable with greater sensitivity than that of particles labelled via the lysines with Alexa Fluor. Live-cell imaging using SeMV internally labelled with Cy5.5 showed that it could bind to MDA-MB-231 cells in less than 5 minutes and enter the cells within 15 minutes. The particles undergo endolysosomal degradation by 6 h as evidenced by their co-localization with LAMP-1. Far-western blot analysis with a HeLa cell membrane protein fraction showed that SeMV interacts with 54-, 35- and 33-kDa proteins, which were identified by mass spectrometry as vimentin, voltage-dependent anion-selective channel protein (VDAC1), and annexin A2 isoform 2 (ANXA2), respectively, suggesting that the particles may bind and enter the cell through these proteins. The results presented here demonstrate that the SeMV NPs provide a new platform technology that could be used to develop in vivo imaging and targeted drug delivery agents for cancer diagnosis and therapy