SCREENING OF TEN HERBAL EXTRACTS TO COMPARE AND INVESTIGATE EFFECT ON GLUCOSE LOWERING AND ANOREXIC ACTIVITY IN WISTAR RATS

Objective: Metabolic disorders are of growing concern with increasing quest for herbal medicines as treatment option. The current study is planned to screen ten herbal extracts, prepared from parts of chosen six herbal plants, to compare and investigate their antihyperglycemic and anorexic potential.Methods: Qualitative phytochemical investigation was done as per standard procedures. Acute oral toxicity study performed as per OECD 420 guideline. Glucose Tolerance Test (method optimization) was performed to select appropriate glucose load to induce hyperglycemia. Antihyperglycemic activity was evaluated by Glucose Tolerance Test (single dose and multiple dose study) and anorexic potential was screened by food intake measurement using Wistar rats.Results: All herbs were found safe in acute oral toxicity study. Glucose Tolerance Test method optimization study signaled use of 3 g/kg glucose load for induction of hyperglycemia in single and multiple dose studies. In single dose study, L. acutangula fruit extract and in multiple dose study, S. melongena, M. oleifera & R. communis extracts were found to produce significant glucose lowering effect as compared to glucose control group. Results of food intake measurement showed significant appetite suppression with extracts of W. somnifera, S. melongena, M. oleifera & R. communis.  Conclusion: Present study throws light on the effectiveness of experimental herbal extracts as antihyperglycemic and anorexic agents. This also, helps in identifying potent indigenous herbs for further study.Â

Effect of Senna and Radish Extracts on Hepatic Function in High Fat Diet Fed and Diabetic Rats

Hyperlipidaemia and diabetes are widely associated with liver injury. Senna and radish leaves have been reported to possess anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, and anti-hyperlipidemic activities. However, there is not enough information of these herbal medicines on hepatic function of rats with metabolic disorders. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to screen herbal extracts of senna and radish leaves on hepatic function in high fat fed and diabetic rats. Qualitative phytochemical investigation was done as per standard procedures. Quantitative phytochemical investigation was done using gravimetric method and HPLC analysis. Sprague–Dawley rats were fed on their respective diet (high fat/ normal pellet diet) for 16 weeks and thereafter, all the rats were divided into seven groups for high fat diet model and into eight groups for streptozotocin and high fat diet-induced diabetes model. Treatment duration was 07 weeks for high fat diet models and 03 weeks for diabetes model. Parameters studied in these models were body weight, food intake, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, liver weight and liver histopathology. Qualitative phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, carbohydrates and saponins, while quantitative analysis revealed presence of rutin and myricetin in radish extract and presence of sennoside and rutin in senna extract. Treatment groups showed significant decrease in body weight, food intake, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Significant improvement was observed in liver histopathology in extract treated groups. It is concluded that senna and radish leaf extracts significantly ameliorated liver function. Keywords: Diabetes, High fat diet, Hepatic, Senna, Radis

Cytological spectrum of lymph node lesions in fine needle aspiration cytology

Background: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is becoming preoperative method of choice for diagnosis and management of various lumps and lesions since few decades. It helps clinician to decide mode of treatment in most cases in both non-neoplastic and neoplastic disorders. As cervical, axillary and inguinal lymphadenopathies are commonly encountered clinical problems, in this study, we evaluated the utility of FNAC for assessment of lymphadenopathy. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study done during the period between January 2016 to December 2019 in a private laboratory centre affiliated with private multispeciality hospital in Bhopal Madhya Pradesh. The FNAC procedure was done without radiological guidance for palpable lymph nodes of cervical, axillary, and inguinal regions. 10ml syringe and 23/24-gauge needles were used along with a plunger for FNAC procedure. Smears were made by standard smearing technique. Slides were stained with Papanicolaou (PAP), Lieshman and Giemsa stain and Diff-Quik methods. Ziehl-Neelson (ZN) staining for acid fast bacilli was done wherever required. Results: Total 128 cases of lymphadenopathy were assessed. Cervical lymph nodes were most commonly (77.3%) involved and reactive lymphadenitis (34.3%) was most common diagnosis on FNAC. Tubercular lymphadenitis was most common in young adults and reactive nonspecific lesions were most common in paediatric group. Metastatic carcinomas were most common after 50 years age group. Conclusions: Fine needle aspiration is simple, rapid and cost-effective method to know the cause of lymphadenopathy and also a reliable method to categorize the cause of lymphadenopathy into reactive, inflammatory, metastatic, and lymphoproliferative, avoiding the necessity of biopsy

Prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity in sporadic idiopathic hypoparathyroidism in comparison to type 1 diabetes and premature ovarian failure

Context: Thyroid autoimmunity is the most common coexistent endocrinopathy in type 1 diabetes (T1D), Addison's disease, and premature ovarian failure (POF). Although the role of autoimmunity is being investigated in patients with sporadic idiopathic hypoparathyroidism (SIH), there is little information on coexistent thyroid autoimmunity. Objective: Our objective was to assess the prevalence of thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (TPOAb) and thyroid dysfunction in patients with SIH and its comparison with that in T1D, POF, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (for SIH). Design and Setting: We conducted a case control study in a tertiary care setting. Patients and Methods: Subjects were consecutive patients with SIH (n = 87), T1D (n = 100), POF (n = 58), and HT (n = 47) and healthy controls (100 females and 64 males). Serum free T3, free T4, TSH, and TPOAb (normal ≤ 34 IU/ml) were measured by electrochemiluminescence assay. Subjects with 1) serum TSH at least 5 μ U/ml along with TPOAb more than 34 IU/ml; 2) TSH at least 10 μ U/ml but normal TPOAb titers; or 3) Graves' disease were considered to have thyroid dysfunction. Results: TPOAb positivity (>34 IU/ml) in females was 14.6% in SIH, 24.1% in POF, and 42.1% in T1D compared with 76.6% in HT and 9% in healthy controls. The frequencies of TPOAb positivity and thyroid dysfunction in patients with SIH were comparable to those in control and POF groups, but significantly less than in T1D and HT groups. Conclusion: The frequencies of TPOAb and thyroid dysfunction were not significantly higher in patients with SIH than in healthy controls, unlike in patients with T1D and POF

Prevalence of multidrug resistance (MDR) and extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) among uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolates from female patients in a tertiary care hospital in North India

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common bacterial infection in women. It is very common during pregnancy and may present as asymptomatic bacteriuria. Escherichia coli is the primary urinary pathogen accounting for 74-90% of uncomplicated urinary tract infection. The aim of the study was to evaluate in-vitro antibiotic susceptibility among urine isolates of Escherichia coli and prevalence of resistance marker like ESBL producer and MDR status.Methods: Mid-stream urine samples of 205 female patients were processed for culture and sensitivity. All the samples were inoculated on culture media and growth showing significant bacteriuria (>105 cfu/ml) were subjected to identification and antibiotic sensitivity testing on Automated system BD Phoenix 100. ESBL status was detected by the system and MDR status was evaluated by standard guidelines.Results: Out of 205 urine samples, 47 samples (22.93%) showed growth of organism. Out of the 47 growth positive samples, 36 (76.60%) samples showed growth of Escherichia coli and out of which 13 (36.11%) were ESBL producer and 23 (63.89%) were ESBL non-producer. Escherichia coli was mostly isolated from younger age group (21-40 years) (61.11%). Antimicrobial susceptibility showed very good sensitivity towards Amikacin, Tigecycline, Carbapenems, Fosfomycin, Piperacillin-tazobactam and Nitrofurantoin. All the isolates of ESBL producer are MDR (100%) and 21.7% of ESBL non-producer are MDR. There is evidence of transfer of resistance genes for non-β-lactam antibiotics along with ESBL resistance marker.Conclusions: Escherichia coli was the predominant uropathogen isolated from female patients and Amikacin, Nitrofurantoin and Fosfomycin can be used as first line drug

Prevalence of Candida glabrata and its response to boric acid vaginal suppositories in comparison with oral fluconazole in patients with diabetes and vulvovaginal candidiasis

Objective: A large proportion of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) in diabetes is due to non-albicans Candida species such as C. glabrata and C. tropicalis. Observational studies indicate that diabetic patients with C. glabrata VVC respond poorly to azole drugs. We evaluated the response to oral fluconazole and boric acid vaginal suppositories in diabetic patients with VVC. Research Design And Methods: A total of 112 consecutive diabetic patients with VVC were block randomized to receive either single-dose oral 150-mg fluconazole or boric acid vaginal suppositories (600 mg/day for 14 days). The primary efficacy outcome was the mycological cure in patients with C. glabrata VVC in the two treatment arms. The secondary outcomes were the mycological cure in C. albicans VVC, overall mycological cure irrespective of the type of Candida species, frequencies of yeast on direct microscopy, and clinical symptoms and signs of VVC on the 15th day of treatment. Intention-to-treat (ITT; n = 111) and per-protocol (PP; n = 99) analyses were performed. Results: C. glabrata was isolated in 68 (61.3%) and C. albicans in 32 (28.8%) of 111 subjects. Patients with C. glabrata VVC showed higher mycological cure with boric acid compared with fluconazole in the ITT (21 of 33, 63.6% vs. 10 of 35, 28.6%; P = 0.01) and PP analyses (21 of 29, 72.4% vs. 10 of 30, 33.3%; P = 0.01). The secondary efficacy outcomes were not significantly different in the two treatment arms in the ITT and PP analyses. Conclusions: Diabetic women with C. glabrata VVC show higher mycological cure with boric acid vaginal suppositories given for 14 days in comparison with single-dose oral 150-mg fluconazole

Prediction of severe adverse maternal outcome in women admitted in obstetric ward using physiological and biochemical parameters

Background: To study physiological and biochemical parameters to predict serious adverse maternal outcomes and to develop risk score using above parameters.Methods: This prospective study was conducted in 500 high risk pregnant women attending tertiary care teaching hospital. We noted physiological and biochemical parameters as soon as they were available .The primary outcome measures was “severe adverse maternal outcome(SAMO)” in form of one or more among  mortality, near miss morbidity and ICU admissions.Results: Out-off 500 women, severe adverse maternal outcomes were seen in 158 (31.6%) women. Most common cause of near miss maternal morbidity was hypertensive disease of pregnancy (62.7%) followed by major obstetric hemorrhage (18.9%). There were 33(6.6%) ICU admission, 23 (4.6%) maternal death and 153 (30.6%) near miss maternal morbidity. The most common cause of maternal death in our study was obstetric hemorrhage. The significant variables after multivariate analysis [temp, pulse, urine protein] were used  to devise a Maternal early warning score (MEWS) based on physiological parameters at score value of  ≥1/6 was found to have  sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 82% in predicting SAMO with AUROC of 0.76. The significant laboratory parameters after multivariate analysis were blood urea, serum creatinine, serum bilirubin and liver enzymes. The obstetric risk score (Maternal risk prediction score MRPS) which incorporated of these laboratory parameters in addition to physiological parameters has sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 75% with AUROC 0.79 value ≥ 2/18.Conclusions: The addition of laboratotory parameters to physiological variables improves performance of risk score to predict SAMO

The Indian COSMOS Network (ICON): validating L-band remote sensing and modelled soil moisture data products

Availability of global satellite based Soil Moisture (SM) data has promoted the emergence of many applications in climate studies, agricultural water resource management and hydrology. In this context, validation of the global data set is of substance. Remote sensing measurements which are representative of an area covering 100 m2 to tens of km2 rarely match with in situ SM measurements at point scale due to scale difference. In this paper we present the new Indian Cosmic Ray Network (ICON) and compare it’s data with remotely sensed SM at different depths. ICON is the first network in India of the kind. It is operational since 2016 and consist of seven sites equipped with the COSMOS instrument. This instrument is based on the Cosmic Ray Neutron Probe (CRNP) technique which uses non-invasive neutron counts as a measure of soil moisture. It provides in situ measurements over an area with a radius of 150–250 m. This intermediate scale soil moisture is of interest for the validation of satellite SM. We compare the COSMOS derived soil moisture to surface soil moisture (SSM) and root zone soil moisture (RZSM) derived from SMOS, SMAP and GLDAS_Noah. The comparison with surface soil moisture products yield that the SMAP_L4_SSM showed best performance over all the sites with correlation (R) values ranging from 0.76 to 0.90. RZSM on the other hand from all products showed lesser performances. RZSM for GLDAS and SMAP_L4 products show that the results are better for the top layer R = 0.75 to 0.89 and 0.75 to 0.90 respectively than the deeper layers R = 0.26 to 0.92 and 0.6 to 0.8 respectively in all sites in India. The ICON network will be a useful tool for the calibration and validation activities for future SM missions like the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR)

Cosmic-ray soil water monitoring: the development, status & potential of the COSMOS-India network

Soil moisture (SM) plays a central role in the hydrological cycle and surface energy balance and represents an important control on a range of land surface processes. Knowledge of the spatial and temporal dynamics of SM is important for applications ranging from numerical weather and climate predictions, the calibration and validation of remotely sensed data products, as well as water resources, flood and drought forecasting, agronomy and predictions of greenhouse gas fluxes. Since 2015, the Centre for Ecology and Ecology has been working in partnership with several Indian Research Institutes to develop COSMOS-India, a new network of SM monitoring stations that employ cosmic-ray soil moisture sensors (CRS) to deliver high temporal frequency, near-real time observations of SM at field scale. CRS provide continuous observations of near-surface (top 0.1 to 0.2 m) soil volumetric water content (VWC; m3 m-3) that are representative of a large footprint area (approximately 200 m in radius). To date, seven COSMOS-India sites have been installed and are operational at a range of locations that are characterised by differences in climate, soil type and land management. In this presentation, the development, current status and future potential of the COSMOS-India network will be discussed. Key results from the COSMOS-India network will be presented and analysed

Primary Ovarian Insufficiency: The Paradox of Menopause in Young Women

Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) refers to the loss of ovarian function in young women. It can lead to primary or secondary amenorrhea. The loss of ovarian function is usually permanent akin to menopause. Resultant hypoestrogenemia has systemic adverse effects particularly on the bone health. POI is diagnosed on the basis of raised serum follicle stimulating hormones levels. Most of the cases are idiopathic. Hypothyroidism is the most common associated disorder suggesting autoimmune etiology in some of the cases. Karyotypic abnormalities (mostly monosomy X-Turner syndrome) should be excluded in cases presenting with primary amenorrhea or early onset secondary amenorrhea. Treatment involves long-term estrogen-progesterone replacement therapy which provides regular withdrawal bleed and prevents systemic effects of hypoestrogenemia