PHARMACOGNOSTIC, PHYSICOCHEMICAL, AND PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON STEM BARK OF ZANTHOXYLUM ARMATUM DC.

Objectives: To analyze the microscopic, macroscopic, physicochemical, and phytochemical standards of the Zanthoxylum armatum DC. (stem bark). Methods: Pharamacognostic studies, namely macroscopic, microscopic, and powder microscopic analysis of stem bark were carried out. Physicochemical standards - ash content including total ash content, water soluble, and acid insoluble ash values, moisture content by loss on drying, solubility and extractive values of Z. armatum DC. were determined. Preliminary phytochemical screening, fluorescence analysis and quantification of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenol, tannins, saponins, and terpenoids were also studied. Results: The macroscopic studies of stem bark showed the stem and its branches, armed with long, sharp prickles with variable size. The transverse section of bark showed the phellogen, phelloderm, cortex, phloem, and medullary rays that are characteristics to Z. armatum DC. The results of physicochemical standards give the identity and purity of the selected sample. Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, and terpenoids. Conclusion: The present findings provide the pharmacognostic, physicochemical, and phytochemical information about the stem bark of Z. armatum and this might be useful by providing additional support with regard to its identification and standardization parameters

PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT OF WIRELESS NETWORKS USING COOPERATIVE DIVERSITY TECHNIQUES

Channel weakening is one among the significant issues in wireless communication which can be overcome by the exploiting diversity gain, achieved via cooperation between nodes and relays. In order to improve the gain, generally, we require more than one transmitting antenna in a node, which is not too common due to the limits in size and complexity of wireless mobile devices. Anyway by offering reception apparatuses to other single-receiving wire hubs in a multi-client condition i.e., agreeable decent variety, a virtual multi-radio wire cluster is framed and transmit-assorted variety is cultivated. In our proposed work, a network containing a sender, a destination and a fixed relay, is analyzed with  modified  cooperative diversity scheme  such as Amplify-Quantize and Forward (AFQ) and compared with existing cooperative communication  protocol i.e.,  Amplify and forward (AF). Moreover the performance of the proposed work is evaluated in terms of Bit-Error Rate, SNR and Outage Probabilit

Fuzzy Translationin Fuzzy d-Ideals and Fuzzy d-Subalgebra

In this paper, we discuss about some properties such as fuzzy translation in fuzzy d-ideals and fuzzy d-subalgebr

HEALING POTENTIAL OF A POLYHERBAL OINTMENT ON EXCISION WOUND IN NORMAL AND DIABETES INDUCED ALBINO RATS

Objective: Wound healing potential of polyherbal ointment prepared from Cordial oblique Willd., Dentophote falcate (L.f) Ettingsh., and Vigna radiate Linn. has been evaluated, Preclinical studies were carried out using albino rats as experiment models.Methods: Animals were divided into 6 groups, each groups comprising of 6 rats. Group I, II and III are normal excision wounded rats that were categorized as normal untreated, polyherbal ointment treated and standard ointment treated respectively. Groups IV, V and VI were induced with diabetes using alloxan monohydrate (150mg/kg bw; ip single dose) and grouped into diabetic untreated, polyherbal ointment treated and standard ointment treated respectively. The polyherbal ointment was prepared by using aqueous extracts of plants in equal proportion with simple ointment base (15% w/w). The Physical, Biochemical and enzymatic parameters studied were rate of wound contraction, ascorbic acid, hydroxyproline, hexosamine, SOD, LPO, serum protein, granulation tissue protein, serum glucose, DNA, RNA, platelet and WBC.Results: The excision wounded animals treated with polyherbal ointment showed a higher rate of contraction and epithelialization during the treatment period. Group II showed 100% and group V showed 90% wound contraction at the end of experimental period. Hydroxyproline, hexosamine, ascorbic acid, tissue protein, DNA, RNA levels and SOD activity were increased significantly (p<0.05), LPO, platelet and serum protein level were decreased with polyherbal ointment treated groups compared to control and standard groups.Conclution: The present study substantiates the traditional claims of plants prepared as polyherbal ointment possessing significant wound healing promoting activity and provides scientific evidence to the ethno medicinal property of plants in healing wounds.Keywords: Wound healing, Polyherbal ointment, Hydroxyproline, Hexosamine, Excision wound, Cordia obliqua Willd., Dentophote falcate (L.f)Ettingsh., Vigna radiata Linn

Analysis of aflatoxin B1 and aflatoxigenic mold in commercial poultry feeds in Tamil Nadu, India

A total of 48 commercial poultry feed samples collected from different poultry feed manufactures in Tamil Nadu, India were examined for the contamination of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and Aspergillus flavus. AFB1 in the samples was estimated by sandwich ELISA and the presence of A. flavus was detected by Real-Time PCR assay. Real-Time PCR analysis using A. flavus- specific omt primers confirmed the presence of A. flavus in all the samples tested. ELISA results indicated that the AFB1 contents in the poultry feeds ranged from 1.0 to18.7 ppb, which were below the permissible safe limits for poultry bird consumption and health. The results suggest adoption of good man-ufacturing practices by the commercial poultry feed manufacturers during procurement of feed ingredients, handling, storage and processing which might have suppressed the growth of A. flavus and aflatoxin contamination

Meiotic cellular rejuvenation is coupled to nuclear remodeling in budding yeast.

Production of healthy gametes in meiosis relies on the quality control and proper distribution of both nuclear and cytoplasmic contents. Meiotic differentiation naturally eliminates age-induced cellular damage by an unknown mechanism. Using time-lapse fluorescence microscopy in budding yeast, we found that nuclear senescence factors - including protein aggregates, extrachromosomal ribosomal DNA circles, and abnormal nucleolar material - are sequestered away from chromosomes during meiosis II and subsequently eliminated. A similar sequestration and elimination process occurs for the core subunits of the nuclear pore complex in both young and aged cells. Nuclear envelope remodeling drives the formation of a membranous compartment containing the sequestered material. Importantly, de novo generation of plasma membrane is required for the sequestration event, preventing the inheritance of long-lived nucleoporins and senescence factors into the newly formed gametes. Our study uncovers a new mechanism of nuclear quality control and provides insight into its function in meiotic cellular rejuvenation

IMPACT OF PATIENT COUNSELING ON HEALTH KNOWLEDGE AND MEDICATION ADHERENCE IN ASTHMA AND CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE PATIENTS

Objective: This study evaluated the impact of clinical pharmacist-led intervention in health knowledge and medication adherence of Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Methods: Questionnaires were designed to assess Health knowledge for Asthma and COPD separately. Medication adherence was measured by using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8. Pre-counseling patient responses were recorded. Patient counseling was given regarding the disease condition, medications, and medication use at baseline visit. Patient responses were re-measured upon follow-up visit. The data extracted were tabulated, statistically analyzed and the results were obtained. Results: A total of 141 patients completed the study. Before counseling, the mean (±standard deviation) of knowledge and adherence levels were found to be 8.51±3.36 and 5.01±2.11, respectively. After counseling, they increased up to 12.72±2.16 for knowledge (p<0.0001) and 6.60±1.35 (p<0.0001) for medication adherence. The majority of subjects had about 11–30% increase in knowledge as well as medication adherence. Male patients were more adherent to their medication regime than females. Conclusion: The study demonstrates the positive impact of education and counseling provided by a clinical pharmacist in achieving better therapeutic outcomes – through improvement in medication adherence and health knowledge. In conclusion, continuous education programs and patient counseling should be conducted for chronic diseases to reiterate the importance of medication adherence and, in turn, prevent recurrences, arrest disease progression, minimize hospitalization, and ultimately improve quality of life

Dent-O-Myths Amid Young Community: A Cross-Sectional Study

INTRODUCTION: The word ‘Myth’ is derived from the Greek word “Mythos”, meaning the stories passed by a group of certain population having a strong impact on seeking general and dental treatment even during illness. AIM: The aim of this study was to access the prevalence of dental myths among the young population and to interpret their level of knowledge, awareness and perception. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted amongst 500 young population of age between 18-28 years between May to August 2020, COVID-19 pandemic period. A pretested validated questionnaire was formatted on Google forms and circulated in various social media platforms. The collected data was subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 22.66±2.38 years, and 59% were females and 41% were males. About 65% (325) and 56% (280) of the study subjects believed correctly that mouthwash alone will not maintain oral health and chewing gum will not clean their teeth, respectively. When asked about their responses in case of pain in oral cavity, most people 46% (230) reported they would visit a dentist and major segment of study subjects 56% (281) believed that there can be more methods for treating oral pain other than the extraction of the tooth itself.CONCLUSION: The result of this study revealed that the younger population are more aware and didn’t believe much regarding various dental myths

Traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the superficial temporal artery

Pseudoaneurysm is deficit of all the 3 layers of the blood vessel. Superficial temporal artery due to its course is more prone for traumaand 95% of the pseudoaneurysm of the superficial artery is due to trauma. Here, we report the case of a traumatic pseudoaneurysm ofthe superficial temporal artery in a 19-year-old patient. The patient came with the complaints of swelling in the left side of the foreheadfor 3days and a history of trauma 3 days back by a cricket ball. A duplex scan showed a pseudoaneurysm of the superficial temporalartery. Surgical excision of the aneurysm was done after ligating proximal and distal pedicles. Digital subtraction angiography is thegold standard investigation, but duplex would be enough in most of the cases for diagnosingand surgical excision after ligating theproximal and distal pedicles is the treatment of choice