Management of Pilonidal Sinus (Nadi Vrana) with Palasha Kshara Sutra prepared in Arka Ksheera - A Case Study

Pionidal Sinus is a common chronic disorder mainly seen in the sacrococcygeal region, especially in young males. Different surgical methods have been described for this disorder. The most commonly used are excision and primary closure and excision with reconstructive flap. However the risk of recurrence or developing an infection of the wound after the operation is high. The patient requires longer hospitalization and the procedure is expensive. There is a similarity between pilonidal sinus and Shalyaja Nadi Vrana described in Susruta Samhita. Susruta has advocated a minimally invasive parasurgical treatment, viz., Kshara Sutra procedure, for Naadivrana. Hence this procedure was tried in Pilonidal Sinus. This treatment not only minimizes complication and recurrence, but also enables the patient to resume work quicker and with less discomfort

Physico-chemical analysis of Haratala w.s.r. to its various Shodhana procedures

Kalpana is the process through which a substance can be transformed into the form of medicine according to the need. Among all these pharmaceutical processes Shodhana is one of them. For a single drug many process of Shodhana have been mentioned. Arsenic compounds are being popularly used in Ayurveda therapeutics since centuries, Haratala being important among them. It is commonly used in treating the diseases like Sleshmaroga, Raktapitta, Vatarakta, Kustha etc. Haratala is called orpiment of yellow arsenic with two molecules of Arsenic and three molecules of Sulphur (AS2S3). Patra Haratala is Srestha and used for the present study. Haratala consumed without proper Shodhana shortens the life span, causes diseases of Kapha and Vata, Prameha, Santapa, Spotha, Snayu Sankocha. Hence Shodhana of Haratala is essential. There are different Medias explained in literature for Shodhana of Haratala. According to the media of purification the quality and pharmacological properties of Haratala will vary. Depending on the change in properties the therapeutic effect may also vary. The present study includes Shodhana of Patra Haratala as per Classical reference of Rasa Ratna Samucchaya where Shodana of Patra Haratala is done by Kushmanda Swarasa, Tila Kshara Jala and Churnodaka. Standard Operative Procedure of the process is done in the pharmaceutical study. The analytical study reveals the standards which can be given for Ashuddha Haratala and Shuddha Haratala of various Samples. The differences in the parameters reveal that there are some changes which give us the idea regarding role of a particular media in purification of a substance, where it adds some properties of the media used

Groundwater quality assessment by Water quality index (WQI) and Multivariate statistical analysis (MSA) for coastal zones of Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh

Groundwater is a vital resource for the drinking water supply to the people in the areas residing in the coastal zones. Rapid industrialization increased the human population, and anthropogenic activities led to groundwater pollution. The water quality should be continuously monitored to analyse the suitability of the water, and it is only possible by the water quality index. In the current study, we attempted to determine the groundwater quality of the Mandal headquarters of the coastal zones of the Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, by using the water quality index (WQi) considering the parameters pH, Electrical conductivity, Total Dissolved Solids, Total Hardness, calcium and magnesium, potassium, and sodium, human health assessment tool, and multivariate statistical analysis. The results found that the WQi of the coastal zones ranged from 49.6 to 361.7, and in the post-monsoon season, the Etcherla Mandal station water was not advisable for drinking. Human health risk assessment showed that children in these sampling stations are more prone to the non-carcinogenic health risks associated with nitrate pollution. Proper reduction measures in the sampling areas must be taken to depreciate nitrate and seepage into the groundwater. Piper plots and correlation matrices showed the anion-cation interaction, and the principal component analyzed and showed the pollution sources. The current study concluded that anthropogenic activities continuously deteriorate groundwater quality, indirect saltwater intrusion was identified, and groundwater treatment is necessary before consumption.

Ayurveda and Communicable Diseases

Indian medical heritage flows in two distinctive but mutually complimenting streams. The oral tradition being followed by millions of housewives and thousands of local health practitioners is the practical aspect of codified streams such as Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani. These oral traditions are head based and take care of the basic health needs of the people using immediately available local resources. Majority of these are plant based remedies, supplemented by animal and mineral products. Many of the practices followed by these local streams can be understood and evaluated by the codified stream such as Ayurveda. These streams are not static, historical scrutiny of their evolution shows the enriching phenomena at all times. Thus we have more than 7000 species of higher and lower plants and hundreds of minerals and animal product used in local health tradition to manage hundreds of disease conditions. A pertinent question that arises here is that in which basis these systems got enriched. Is it just trial error method over a point of time which gave rise to this rich tradition, is it an intuitive knowledge born out of close association with nature. One of the reasons for this attitude can be, that one is always made to believe that the science means that which can be explained by western models of logic and epistemology. The world view being developed and adopted by the dominant western scientific paradigm never fits in to the world view being followed and practiced by the indigenous traditions. This is well accepted by us due to the last 200 yrs of political and cultural domination by western and other alien forces

Managament of Bhagandara (Fistula-in-Ano) by Palasha Ksharasutra prepared with Arkaksheera - A Case Report

A standard Ksharasutra is practiced in treatment of Bhagandara (fistula-in-ano) with high success rate and minimum recurrence rate. In previous research it was noted that Pittaja Prakruti patients sometime might cause more perianal irritation due to Apamarga Ksharasutra. So in this study Palasha Ksharasutra prepared in Arkaksheera was prepared by Palasha Kshara (Ash of Butea monosperma), Arka Ksheera (Calotropis gigantic) and turmeric powder (Curcuma longa). This Ksharasutra was prepared as per the API guidelines and preserved in air tight tube. A patient of Pittaja predominant Prakruti with fistula-in ano having two external opening at 6 and 7 O’ clock position of anus was treated with application of Ksharasutra. The Palasha Ksharasutra prepared in Arkaksheera was applied in these two opening under spinal anesthesia. Then Ksharasutra was changed by weekly interval under local xylocaine jelly 2%. The length of thread was measured weekly and noted in the case to assess the unit cutting time (UCT). The unit cutting time (UCT) of first thread was 7.5 days/cm and second one had UCT 6.8 days/cm. During the treatment patient was doing his job regularly without hampering the quality of life. After 2 months patient was free from all symptoms of fistula with normal scar and without any complications. This case study demonstrated the utility of Palasha Ksharasutra prepared in Arkaksheera in multiple fistula-in ano

Management of lateral end clavicle fractures-using lateral clavicle locking plate: a prospective study

Background: Lateral end clavicle fractures are one of the common upper limb fractures. They constitute 21–28% of all clavicle fractures. Of these 10–52% is displaced fractures. The management of fractures of lateral end clavicle remains debated and challenging. The objectivbe of this study is to evaluate the functional outcome following surgical treatment of unstable/displaced (Neer type II lateral clavicle fractures, and acromio-clavicular joint dislocations Rockwood grade III to V) lateral end clavicle fractures using lateral clavicle locking plate.Methods: It is a prospective study conducted in the orthopaedics department of GSL Medical College and General Hospital for a period of 3 years (April 2016 to March 2019) among a total of 60 patients.Results: About 23 (38.3%) belonged to 41–50 years age group, followed by 16 (26.7%) to 31–40 years age group and 13 (21.7%) to >51 years age group and 8 (13.3%) to 18–30 years age group. The time from trauma to surgery ranged from 0-15 days with a mean of 5 days and the mean operating time was 41 minutes ranging between 23-70 minutes. Mean duration to union was 13.33±2.126 weeks and the mean Constant Murley score was 88.56. Functional outcome at 6 months follow up was excellent in 8 (13.3%), good in 37 (61.7%), fair in 13 (21.7%) and poor in 2 (3.3%) patients.Conclusions: Although there is no consensus as to a “gold standard” fixation method for unstable distal clavicle fractures, satisfactory outcomes could be obtained using the lateral clavicle locking plate resulting in sufficient stabilization and good functional outcome

Pharmaceutical standardization of Palashakshara

Standardization of herbal drugs is essential to certify their quality and purity. Kshara (alkaline substance) of Palasha (Butea monosperma) is an important constituent in many Ayurvedic formulations, but its standard manufacturing process (SMP) is not attempted till date. This study is aimed to establish SMP for Palashakshara. In pharmaceutical process; generally, the sediments of ash obtained at the end of washes will be discarded. However, in the study, we attempted to wash the sediments repeatedly by adding water to extract more Kshara. Palasha was collected from the local area and authenticated. Kshara was prepared by following standard methods and the preliminary physicochemical profile was developed. It is observed that the ash yields Kshara even in the consecutive washes. First wash yielded 21.23% w/w Kshara, while the second and third washes yielded 9.38% w/w and 4.76% w/w, respectively. Repeated washes yield more Kshara. Hence, it is advocated to wash the ashes repeatedly. As the findings are encouraging, similar experiments can be extended to all other Kshara preparations

Idiopathic spinal cord herniation syndrome: a case report

Idiopathic spinal cord herniation syndrome is a rare entity. Only 17 cases have been reported in literature so far. They typically occur in the dorsal region of the spinal cord, spontaneously, through a defect/rent in the anterior Dura. Majority present in middle age women, with progressive paraparesis/asymmetrical motor weakness in lower limbs

Phonon-polaritonics: enabling powerful capabilities for infrared photonics

Here, we review the progress and most recent advances in phonon-polaritonics, an emerging and growing field that has brought about a range of powerful possibilities for mid- to far-infrared (IR) light. These extraordinary capabilities are enabled by the resonant coupling between the impinging light and the vibrations of the material lattice, known as phonon-polaritons (PhPs). These PhPs yield a characteristic optical response in certain materials, occurring within an IR spectral window known as the reststrahlen band. In particular, these materials transition in the reststrahlen band from a high-refractive-index behavior, to a near-perfect metal behavior, to a plasmonic behavior – typical of metals at optical frequencies. When anisotropic they may also possess unconventional photonic constitutive properties thought of as possible only with metamaterials. The recent surge in two-dimensional (2D) material research has also enabled PhP responses with atomically-thin materials. Such vast and extraordinary photonic responses can be utilized for a plethora of unusual effects for IR light. Examples include sub-diffraction surface wave guiding, artificial magnetism, exotic photonic dispersions, thermal emission enhancement, perfect absorption and enhanced near-field heat transfer. Finally, we discuss the tremendous potential impact of these IR functionalities for the advancement of IR sources and sensors, as well as for thermal management and THz-diagnostic imaging

Garnet mineral chemistry as a provenance indicator for the modern beach sediments of north-eastern Andhra Pradesh, east coast of India

917-924The provenance of garnets from coastal sediments between the Nagavali and Vamsadhara river mouths, east coast of India were studied using garnet molecular proportions. This mineral chemical electron micro probe analytical data have been correlated with published garnet chemistry from various litho units of the eastern ghats granulite belt to understand provenance. The present study reveals that the garnets with molecular proportions of almandine (Alm. 50-56%), pyrope (Py. 33-43%) and traces of grossular (Gr. 5%) were derived from charnockite suite of rocks. The major portion (83%) of the studied garnets is derived from khondalite (metapelitic) suite of rocks susceptible for physical weathering due to large areal exposure and minor proportion (17%) is derived from charnockite suite of rocks which due to less coverage in drainage basis is not susceptible for mechanical weathering