Management of Spondylosis Induced Sciatica through Panchakarma w.s.r. to Vata Kaphaja Gridhrasi - A Case Study

Introduction: Low backache alone or along with radiating pain in the lower limb is a common entity encountered in daily clinical practice. Lumbar spondylosis is a major cause of lower back pain and also important clinical, social, economic and public health problem affecting the world wide population. Degeneration of the disc that affects the lumbar spine can cause low back pain (referred to as lumbago) or irritation of a spinal nerve to cause pain radiating down the leg (sciatica). So Lumbar spondylosis induced sciatica can be compared with Gridhrasi in Ayurveda on the basis of sign and symptoms described in Ayurvedic classics. Material and Methods: Presented case was 59-year-old male patient having the symptoms of Vata- Kaphaj Gridhrasi in bilateral leg (left>right). Panchakarma treatment such as Valuka Swedana (sand fomentation), Abhyanga (oil massage), Vashpa Swedana (steam bath), Erandamooladi Niruha Basti (herbal medicated enema) and Kati Basti (oil application on Lumbar region) along with oral Ayurvedic medicines were used. Discussion: Assessments were made using VAS (Visual Analogue scale) Pain score, SLR (Straight leg raise) test and Finger to floor test (FTF). At the end of the treatment, there was significant improvement in sign and symptoms of sciatica and overall improvement in quality of life of the patient

AN AYURVEDIC MULTIMODULAR TREATMENT OF ALOPECIA TOTALIS (KHALITYA) W.R.T PANCHAKARMA: A CASE REPORT

Alopecia areata is characterized by circumscribed non-scarring loss of hair in single or multiple patches over the scalp or body hair. Histopathology shows perifollicular and intrafollicular inflammatory cells infiltrate composed mainly of lymphocytes, described as swarm of bees’ appearance. The characteristic lesion is an asymptomatic, smooth bald patch with normal skin within the patch. Fine regular pitting of nails and tachynochia is a common association. When the hair loss involves the entire scalp it is known as alopecia totalis. Khalitya in Ayurveda is a disease in which Pitta combining with Vata and getting into the pores of hairs (hair follicles) cause fall of hair, and then Kapha along with Rakta obstructs the pores of those hairs and makes it impossible for other hair to grow. As it does not destroy the hair follicles the potential for the re-growth is maintained for many years. However growth in alopecia totalis and universalis is limited. Material and Methods: The present clinical study is a case report on the efficacy of Shamana (pacification) medication along with Vamana (therapeutic emesis), Virechana (therapeutic purgation), Basti (therapeutic Enema) and Nasya (therapeutic nasal medication) and Raktamokshan (therapeutic bloodletting) in the management of a patient diagnosed as Alopecia totalis. Results: There was significant re-growth of the hair of the scalp. SALT Score improved from 97.76 to 2. Discussion: The collected data from this study suggests that Ayurvedic Shodhana (Purification) treatment along with Shamana medications can provide an efficient result for managing Alopecia totalis

MANAGEMENT OF ASTHI-MAJJAGATA VATA W.S.R. TO AVASCULAR NECROSIS (AVN) OF FEMORAL HEAD STAGE 3 BY PANCHAKARMA - A CASE STUDY

Avascular necrosis (AVN), also called osteonecrosis, aseptic necrosis, or ischemic bone necrosis, is a condition that occurs when there is loss of blood supply to the bone, an interruption to the blood supply causes bone to die. If not stopped this process eventually cause the bone to collapse. It is the most challenging condition of the present era in orthopedics. In Ayurveda it can be co-related with the Asthi Majja Gata Vata due to similar sign and symptoms of Avascular necrosis of neck of femur. Aim and objectives: To assess the efficacy of Manjisthadi Kshara Basti, Rooksha Choorna Pinda Swedana, Pizhichil and Shastikashali Pinda Swedana in the management of AVN. Objective was to stop the further deterioration of the hip joint and to reduce the chances of surgical intervention in managing AVN. Materials and methods: A diagnosed and non operated case of Avascular necrosis of stage 3 with complaints of pain of bilateral hip joint, restricted movements and limping gait approached the out-patient division of the hospital and was managed by Rooksha Choorna Pinda Swedana, Manjisthadi Kshara Basti, Pizhichil and Shastikashali Pinda Swedana. Observation and Result: Significant improvement was noticed after the treatment. Pain was reduced significantly with improvement in range of movement. Patient was able to walk and climb stairs after the treatment without pain and stiffness. There was reduction in VAS scale, marked improvement was noticed in Harris Hip Score

Primary Metabolites Profiling of Vetiveria Lawsonii from Leaf and Root

Various traditional systems of medicine enlightened the importance of Indian plants to have a great medicinal value. The present study was aimed to evaluate the Primary Metabolites study of Vetiveria lawsonii, belong to Poaceae family. Extracts were prepared in methanol, ethanol by Soxhlet extraction. Quantitative extraction of preliminary phytochemicals investigation revealed the presence of Carbohydrates (Starch and Total Soluble Sugar), Lipid, Proteins, and Phenol by using UV spectrometer. Experimental medicinal plant Vetiveria lawsonii are showing high concentration of primary metabolites. Hence, we can conclude that the methanol and ethanol extracts of Vetiveria lawsonii was possess primary metabolites. Keywords: - Vetiveria lawsonii; Primary Metabolites

Identification of degradation products in Aripiprazole tablets by LC-QToF mass spectrometry

This paper describes the separation, identification and proposed structures of the degradation products formed during degradation analysis of aripiprazole in its final dosage form by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QToF-MS). The drug product was subjected to stress conditions including acid, base, thermal, oxidation, humidity and photolytic degradations. Aripiprazole was found to be stable in all conditions except in thermal and peroxide degradations. The degradation impurities were first separated by HPLC and then identified using QToF mass spectrometry. QToF mass spectrometer provided high order of mass accuracy for unknown impurities and their fragment ions to explore the elemental composition. Based on the fragmentation pattern, the possible structures of the unknown impurities were proposed. To the best of our knowledge, there were no methods available to identify the impurities during degradation of aripiprazole tablets by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Lignin-based polyurethane materials

Four technical lignins (Alcell, Indulin AT, Sarkanda and Curan 27-11P) were used as macromonomers in the synthesis of polyurethane materials following two global approaches. In the first one Alcell and Indulin AT lignins were used directly as co-monomers in combination with a linear polycaprolactone (PCL) in order to produce polyurethane elastomers where lignin content varied between 10 and 25% (w/w) with respect to polyol mixture (PCL+lignin). The thermomechanical properties of the resulting materials were determined by dynamical mechanical analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and swelling tests. In lignin-based elastomers Indulin AT showed to be more efficiently incorporated in the polyurethane network compared with Alcell lignin. Elastomers prepared with Indulin AT lignin exhibited a cross-linking density and storage modulus (rubbery plateau) higher than those of Alcell lignin-based counterpart and a lower soluble fraction. For both Alcell and Indulin AT based elastomers the glass transition temperature increased and extended over a wide temperature range with the increase of lignin content. The second approach consisted of producing rigid polyurethane foams (RPU) using ligninbased polyols obtained after chemical modification by an oxypropylation procedure. Two polyol formulations (20/80 and 30/70, in what concerns the weight ratios between lignin and propylene oxide, PO), were used in RPU formulations and their content varied from 0 to 100% (w/w with respect to a commercial polyol, used as a reference). The resulting RPU foams were characterized in terms of density, mechanical properties, conductivity and morphology. The prepared RPU foams with lignin-based polyols presented properties, very similar to those obtained from conventional commercial polyols. RPU foams prepared with 30/70 polyols exhibited improved properties comparatively to those arising from 20/80 formulations. Exceptions were however detected in RPU foams prepared with all Sarkanda lignin based polyols and Curan 27-11P 30/70 formulation, which were found to be inadequate for RPU formulation

Higher Education as a Bridge between China and Nepal: Mapping Education as Soft Power in Chinese Foreign Policy

In this globalized world, education has become an important medium to enhance people-to-people contact. The Delores report of the International Commission on Education for the 21st century highlights the enormous potential of higher education to use globalization as a resource for bridging the knowledge gap and enriching cross-cultural dialogue. As a major contributor to soft power and an important field of public diplomacy, international education can have a wealth of advantages, including the ability to generate commercial value, promote a country’s foreign policy goals and interests, and contribute to economic growth and investment. The People’s Republic of China, well-known for being the world’s most populous nation and the global economic powerhouse, prioritizes the internationalization of the country’s higher education system. China is looking to expand its higher education program and carry out its diplomatic project in South Asia. In this sense, the South Asian zone, especially Nepal, is significant for China, where its educational diplomacy is playing as a “bridge between Sino- Nepal relations.” In this review, we describe the place and priority of “Education” in China’s foreign policy; explore China’s mediums of investment in Nepal’s education sector; and highlight the importance of educational aid in Sino-Nepal relations. Chinese educational aid to Nepal takes many forms, where Nepali students and officials engage with Chinese investment to enhance their career prospects and the education system in Nepal