Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and anti-diarrheal activities of the hydroalcoholic extract of Lasia spinosa Linn. (Araceae) Roots

Various parts of Lasia spinosa (Linn.) are widely used in many Asian countries to manage a wide range of diseases but so far no scientific study was done to find out its pharmacological properties which may support its uses in traditional medicine. The present study was carried out to evaluate the possible anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diarrheal activities of hydroalcoholic extract of root of Lasia spinosa in rodents. Anti-nociceptive activity was investigated using acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate-induced pain in mice; anti-inflammatory activity using carrageenan-induced paw edema model rats and xylene-induced ear edema mice and anti-diarrheal activity using castor oil-induced diarrhea model mice. In acetic acid-induced writhing model mice, the extract caused a maximum of 50 % (p -1 body weight, which was comparable with standard drug, diclofenac sodium 60.71 % (p -1 and at 500 mg kg-1 also significantly increased pain threshold in hot-plate method in a dose dependent manner compared to the standard drug, nalbuphine. A dose dependent significant inhibitory effect on edema formation was found in xylene-induced ear edema model mice [17.0 5% at 250 mg kg-1 (p -1 (p -1 (p -1 (p < 0.001)]. In case of castor oil-induced diarrheal mice model, both standard drug (loperamide) and extract significantly reduced the number of stools and enhanced the latent period of diarrhea induction dose dependently. These findings indicate that the extract has significant anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and also antidiarrheal activity that supports its use in traditional medicine.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and anti-diarrheal activities of the hydroalcoholic extract of Lasia spinosa Linn. (Araceae) Roots

Various parts of Lasia spinosa (Linn.) are widely used in many Asian countries to manage a wide range of diseases but so far no scientific study was done to find out its pharmacological properties which may support its uses in traditional medicine. The present study was carried out to evaluate the possible anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diarrheal activities of hydroalcoholic extract of root of Lasia spinosa in rodents. Anti-nociceptive activity was investigated using acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate-induced pain in mice; anti-inflammatory activity using carrageenan-induced paw edema model rats and xylene-induced ear edema mice and anti-diarrheal activity using castor oil-induced diarrhea model mice. In acetic acid-induced writhing model mice, the extract caused a maximum of 50 % (p -1 body weight, which was comparable with standard drug, diclofenac sodium 60.71 % (p -1 and at 500 mg kg-1 also significantly increased pain threshold in hot-plate method in a dose dependent manner compared to the standard drug, nalbuphine. A dose dependent significant inhibitory effect on edema formation was found in xylene-induced ear edema model mice [17.0 5% at 250 mg kg-1 (p -1 (p -1 (p -1 (p < 0.001)]. In case of castor oil-induced diarrheal mice model, both standard drug (loperamide) and extract significantly reduced the number of stools and enhanced the latent period of diarrhea induction dose dependently. These findings indicate that the extract has significant anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and also antidiarrheal activity that supports its use in traditional medicine.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

INFLUENCE OF ALKALI TREATMENT ON CREEP PROPERTIES AND CRYSTALLINITY OF JUTE FIBRES

In this work, the effect of the alkali-treatment and its variables viz., time and concentration of alkali, on the creep properties of jute fibre were studied. It was demonstrated that this kind of treatment leads to several changes in fine structure, such as voids creation and fibre fibrillation. The creep behaviour was measured for the alkali treated as well as the dewaxed fibres. Creep value was much higher in the 17.5% NaOH treated fibres compared to the dewaxed fibres. In the 8 hrs treated fibres, the creep was slightly more than the 20 mins treated fibres. XRD study revealed that experimental alkali treatment conditions resulted in closer packing of cellulose chains or rather increased crystallinity. Hence closer arrangement of the molecular chains (higher crystallinity) will reduce the creep extension, as expected

Search for rare B decays: B --> pi+ pi-, B --> K+ pi- and B --> K+ K-

Introduction: The study was conducted to assess the hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effects of Nelumbo nucifera flowers powder in Long-Evans rats. Methods: Experimental rats were made hyperlipidemic and diabetic (type 2) by feeding high fat diet (Lab diet, Dalda and Coconut oil = 4: 3: 1) and injecting alloxan respectively. N. nucifera flowers powder in different percentages was mixed with the regular Lab Diet for 21 days feeding. Serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and blood glucose levels were evaluated in various groups. Results: Feeding with N. nucifera flowers powder at different percentages to hyperlipidemic groups showed diverse but a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol levels when compared to control group while HDL-cholesterol level was increased significantly (P < 0.05). Routine feeding with N. nucifera flowers powder for 21 days resulted in significant decrease in the blood glucose levels of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Both 20% and 10% of N. nucifera flower powders with Lab Diet significantly (P < 0.05) decreased blood glucose level up to 48% and 34%, respectively in comparison to the drug control group treated with glibenclamide which was found with the decreasing capability up to 66% where the higher percentage of N. nucifera flower powder was found to exert more prominent effect in lowering blood glucose level. During comparison to the control group, the above mentioned percentages of N. nucifera flowers powder was found to reduce the blood glucose level around 32.05% and 47.92% respectively. Although not prominent, but the data revealed that the sample was endowed with the body weight declining capability. Conclusion: Results of the experiments affirm that the flower of N. nucifera has potent hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties and might be useful in these patients

Morphometric features, seminal profile and diluters effect on post-thaw semen quality of Munshiganj cattle in Bangladesh

The study investigates morphometric features, seminal profile and post-thaw semen quality of Munshiganj cattle. Morphometric features were measured using measuring tape from 20 Munshiganj cattle while coat color was measured by observing in naked eye. Fresh and post thaw semen quality parameters were analyzed using Computer Assisted semen analyzer (CASA). Coat color of Munshiganj male cattle were creamy white to dull pinkish and female were white to creamy. The mean body weight, body length, hearth girth, height at wither, head length, head width, ear length, ear width, fore leg length, hind leg length, tail length, tail doc circumference, horn length, horn diameter and mouth circumference were 362.80 kg, 137.31 cm, 160.66 cm, 135.21 cm, 50.97 cm, 20.58 cm, 19.75 cm, 9.88 cm, 73.02 cm, 74.84 cm, 106.10 cm, 20.75 cm, 13.60 cm, 16.12 cm and 43.00 cm, respectively. There was significant difference (p  0.05) on post thaw semen quality except slow motility and proximal droplet percentages. Munshiganj cattle had a distinctive phenotypic feature with standard quality semen and had no effect of egg yolk free and egg yolk based diluters on post thaw semen quality

Efficacy of a model of rearing Red Chittagong Cattle to up-scale the livelihood of the rural poor farmers

Although several native and crossbreed cattle populations exist in Bangladesh, their poor health and reproduction traits hardly meet the nutritional requirement of the country. The present study was carried out to develop a socio-economic model for elevating the socio-economic status of poor farmers by rearing Red Chittagong Cattle, a dual-purpose, indigenous cattle. First, a model was developed by a team of Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute which hypothesized that rearing two RCC cattle, one for calf and milk production and another for beef production will enhance the socioeconomic conditions if they are supported with appropriate training and vaccination. A total of 150 farmers were selected from 4 Upazilas and the model was introduced to the farmers and subsequently, the model was implemented. The farmers were provided cattle, training, health care support including regular vaccination, high-yield grass and free fodder-cutting facilities. After the project intervention, the willingness of farmers for cattle rearing for both types that are milk production and beef fattening increased from 20.70% to 22.50%. Moreover, the socio-economic status of the respondents improved significantly. The average annual income of the household increased from 1,03,900 Tk to 1,36,133.15 Tk (31% increase) after the model was applied. Although the family expenditure was lower before implementing this approach, it climbed after the project intervention, along with annual savings. Farmers were more motivated to raise RCC and conserve them in situ as a potential genetic resource when family savings had increased. Considering the benefits of rearing RCC, this model would be suitable for improving the socio-economic conditions of the smallholders and rural farmers of Bangladesh. Moreover, conserving RCC will help in future research on indigenous cattle genetic resources. [J Bangladesh Agril Univ 2022; 20(4.000): 425-432

Treatment outcomes of children and adolescents receiving drug-resistant TB treatment in a routine TB programme, Mumbai, India.

BackgroundChildhood and adolescent drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) is one of the neglected infectious diseases. Limited evidence exists around programmatic outcomes of children and adolescents receiving DR-TB treatment. The study aimed to determine the final treatment outcomes, culture conversion rates and factors associated with unsuccessful treatment outcome in children and adolescents with DR-TB.MethodsThis is a descriptive study including children (0-9 years) and adolescents (10-19 years) with DR-TB were who were initiated on ambulatory based treatment between January 2017-June 2018 in Shatabdi hospital, Mumbai, India where National TB elimination programme(NTEP) Mumbai collaborates with chest physicians and Médecins Sans Frontières(MSF) in providing comprehensive care to DR-TB patients. The patients with available end-of-treatment outcomes were included. The data was censored on February 2020.ResultA total of 268 patients were included; 16 (6%) of them were children (0-9 years). The median(min-max) age was 17(4-19) years and 192 (72%) were females. Majority (199, 74%) had pulmonary TB. Most (58%) had MDR-TB while 42% had fluoroquinolone-resistant TB. The median(IQR) duration of treatment (n = 239) was 24(10-25) months. Median(IQR) time for culture-conversion (n = 128) was 3(3-4) months. Of 268 patients, 166(62%) had successful end-of-treatment outcomes (cured-112; completed treatment-54). Children below 10 years had higher proportion of successful treatment outcomes (94% versus 60%) compared to adolescents. Patients with undernutrition [adjusted odds-ratio, aOR (95% Confidence Interval, 95%CI): 2.5 (1.3-4.8) or those with XDR-TB [aOR (95% CI): 4.3 (1.3-13.8)] had higher likelihood of having unsuccessful DR-TB treatment outcome.ConclusionHigh proportion of successful treatment outcome was reported, better than global reports. Further, the nutritional support and routine treatment follow up should be strengthened. All oral short and long regimens including systematic use of new TB drugs (Bedaquiline and Delamanid) should be rapidly scaled up in routine TB programme, especially for the paediatric and adolescent population