Phyto-pharmacological review of Portulaca quadrifida Linn.

Portulaca quadrifida Linn. (Family: Portuleacea), commonly known as “Chicken Weed”, a traditional medicinal plant has been used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries, valued for its benefits in the management of urinary and inflammatory disorders. The juice of leaves is applied to abscesses and decoction is given in dysentery. The decoction of the plant can act as anthelminthic and used in the treatment of stomach complaints and gonorrhoea. Portulaca quadrifida has been reported to possess antifungal activity. The effect of ethanolic extract of Portulaca quadrifida on central and peripheral nervous system were studied by using spontaneous motor activity, in vivo muscle relaxant activity (Grip strength) and anticonvulsant activity and it is also found to have good effect on central nervous system. In this review, we have explored the Phyto-pharmacological properties of the Portulaca quadrifida plant and compiled its vast pharmacological applications to comprehend and synthesize the subject of its potential image of multipurpose medicinal agents

Antimicrobial activity study of ethanolic extract of Alternanthera sessilis linn. aerial parts

The ethanolic extract of Alternanthera sessilis Linn. was evaluated for antimicrobial activity study against medically important gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus polymexia & Streotococcus faecalis, gram negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aerugenosa, Salmonella typhii, Shigella dysenteriae & Escherichia coli and fungi like Penicillum notatum, Aspergillus niger & Candida albicans. The in-vitro antimicrobial activity, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ethanolic extract was performed by broth dilution method and the zone of inhibition was studied by agar disc diffusion method at concentrations of 2, 5 and 10mg/ml in DMSO. Ciprofloxacin (5µg/ml) and Cotrimazole (25µg/ml) were used as reference control for the antibacterial and antifungal studies respectively. The results of MIC study revealed the antimicrobial activity of the extract against the tested strains of microorganisms between concentration range of 50 and 400 µg/ml. The results of zone of inhibition study revealed concentration dependant nature of the extract with better effectiveness against gram-positive bacteria than gram-negative bacteria. The present study indicates the potential usefulness of Alternanthera sessilis Linn. aerial parts in the treatment of various pathogenic diseases as mentioned in the ayurvedic literature

Elucidating the Association of Key Socio-demographic Factors Underlying Happiness and Well-being in the Eastern Indian Bengali Population

Background: Subjective happiness or well-being is an important aspect of positive psychology and is determined by several external factors, based on several of which, the World Happiness Report ranks the countries annually. India’s happiness ranking has consistently declined over the years compared to the neighboring countries. Methods: The present study considered relevant socio-demographic factors and assessed their association, if any, in subjective happiness using multiple linear regression analysis among the eastern Indian Bengali population. A total of 191 participants were recruited for the study and their subjective happiness scores were measured using a well validated Subjective Happiness Scale. Results: The result showed a significant association of 3 factors viz. individual’s ‘choice to stay or work in a group or alone’ (p ≤ 0.0001); ‘frequency of feeling sad in daily life (p ≤ 0.0001); and ‘personal relationship satisfaction’ (p ≤ 0.0001) with subjective happiness scores in both males and females. Eight other variables showed a gender-specific association with happiness (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: These three socio-demographic factors might thus be the key determinants in regulating subjective well-being in this section of the world population. This information might  thus be helpful  in future counselling of  individuals suffering from  distress or  severe depression and keep their better mental health

Temperature sensor based on fluorescence measurement of Cerium Ytterbium doped fiber

An investigation of the characteristics of temperature-dependent fluorescence of a Cerium Ytterbium (Yb(3+))- doped silica fiber (CYDF) is presented. A 0.3-m long CYDF is diode-pumped at 976 nm and the fluorescence intensity is measured against the fiber temperature. It is observed that the fluorescence intensity decreases linearly with the increase in temperature due to the enhancement of non-radiative transition as well as the quenching of the Ytterbium luminescence. The sensitivity of the sensor is obtained at 0.0024 mW/A degrees C with a linearity of more than 98% in the range of room temperature to 250A degrees C. The proposed sensor is compact, low-cost and has long-life. It can also be combined with a wide range of existing fiber-optic multiplexing schemes that can simultaneously detect multiple physical parameters

Broad targeting of resistance to apoptosis in cancer

Apoptosis or programmed cell death is natural way of removing aged cells from the body. Most of the anti-cancer therapies trigger apoptosis induction and related cell death networks to eliminate malignant cells. However, in cancer, de-regulated apoptotic signaling, particularly the activation of an anti-apoptotic systems, allows cancer cells to escape this program leading to uncontrolled proliferation resulting in tumor survival, therapeutic resistance and recurrence of cancer. This resistance is a complicated phenomenon that emanates from the interactions of various molecules and signaling pathways. In this comprehensive review we discuss the various factors contributing to apoptosis resistance in cancers. The key resistance targets that are discussed include (1) Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 proteins; (2) autophagy processes; (3) necrosis and necroptosis; (4) heat shock protein signaling; (5) the proteasome pathway; (6) epigenetic mechanisms; and (7) aberrant nuclear export signaling. The shortcomings of current therapeutic modalities are highlighted and a broad spectrum strategy using approaches including (a) gossypol; (b) epigallocatechin-3-gallate; (c) UMI-77 (d) triptolide and (e) selinexor that can be used to overcome cell death resistance is presented. This review provides a roadmap for the design of successful anti-cancer strategies that overcome resistance to apoptosis for better therapeutic outcome in patients with cancer

Forest landscape and its ecological quality: A stepwise spatiotemporal evaluation through patch-matrix model in Jhargram District, West Bengal State, India

Landscape conversion becomes a continuous process in a natural landscape for any strategic development. In a forest landscape mosaic, the conversion from non-forest land to forest land implies a constructive approach. Various bio-geographic processes are enriched and developed when the land was converted to forest land in a given landscape matrix. The present study evaluated how the increased forest cover improves the ecological quality of forest in Jhargram District of West Bengal State, India, from 1985 to 2015. The quality of forests includes dominance, fragmentation and connectivity, which are the basis ecological indicators of habitat structure. To address this issue, we extracted forest cover maps of 1985 and 2015 from land use/land cover classification. A grid framework was overlaid on these forest cover maps for patch-matrix model analysis. Reliable landscape ecological indices were used for the measurements of forest landscape quality in 1985 and 2015. Then a simple linear regression model was used to compare the results. Temporally, forest cover increased in Jhargram District from 1985 to 2015. The comparison of measurement indices depicts that although only a small amount of land was changed into forest land in the study area, this small change has greatly improved the structural compositional quality of the forest land. Compared with 1985, the forest land area increased by about 6930.56 ​hm2 in 2015. This increased forest cover improved the basic landscape ecological characters, such as inter patch connectivity, forest core area, forest habitat dependence, forest habitat dominance and forest edge effect. As a result, the ecosystem function in Jhargram District has been improved, which again attracts wildlife and enriches biodiversity

Spatial alteration of fragmented forest landscape for improving structural quality of habitat: a case study from Radhanagar Forest Range, Bankura District, West Bengal, India

Anthropogenic pressures create a complex pattern of forest habitat shape structure in Radhanagar Forest Range (RFR) in Bankura district. Habitat landscape design controls existing bio-geographical process. High fragmented and more complex habitat make imbalance in ecological process in the study area. Therefore, a measure is very urgent to control fragmentation process. Spatial alteration is one of the best methods to improve habitat quality which reduces habitat shape complexity. Fragmentation and structural composition of habitat will be understood through the interpretation of several geometric indices like perimeter area ratio (PAR), shape index (SI), and fractal dimension (FD). These indices are used to know the nature of habitat fragmentation in Radhanagar Forest range. The main objective of the study is to reduce habitat shape complexity by spatial alteration. Therefore, two types of map, one is existing forest land cover and another is selected areas altered forest land cover of Radhanagar Forest Range are prepared using ERDAS 9.3 and ArcGIS 10.3 version software. Then these maps are analyzed through FragStat 4.2 version software to get above mentioned indices. The study compares the indices values to know the structural quality of forest shape from both maps. The comparison address that altered forest habitat structural quality is better than existing forest landscape habitat quality. Therefore, landuse alteration in a forest matrix is obviously area specific in respect of its shape structure

PSYCHIATRIC MORBIDITY IN CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC MEDICAL ILLNESS: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY IN KALAWATI SARAN CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, NEW DELHI

Psychiatric morbidity is common in the medically ill children, although it is frequently unrecognized and untreated. This study was conducted to determine the nature and extent of psychiatric morbidity in children with chronic medical diseases. 100 children attending the different follow-up clinics at a tertiary care pediatric referral Centre were evaluated using Childhood Psychopathology Measurement Schedule (Malhotra et.el.1988). Thirty one percent children showed abnormally high levels of emotional and behavioral problems indicative of a possible psychiatric disorder. Attendance at Pediatric OPD was associated with an increased risk of common type of childhood psychiatric problems with about 21% children scored abnormally high in factor III (Anxiety) & VII (Physical illness with Emotional problems) suggestive of a definitive psychological disorder. The result indicates that about 1/3 rd children attending pediatric follow-up clinics with chronic medical illness need a formal psychiatric evaluation for certain psychological disturbances. This also advocates the provision of a hospital based pediatric psychiatric liaison service that would help to address this need and create opportunities for pediatricians to train in child psychiatry. Key Words: Psychiatric morbidity; children; chronic medical illness