Treatment of dermatophyte toenail onychomycosis with itraconazole

Background: Onychomycosis is fungal infection of nail. The prevalence of onychomycosis varies across the world. It is lower in tropical countries (3.8%) than in sub-tropical countries and countries in the temperate zone (23%). The risk of onychomycosis is higher in persons with diabetes mellitus and human immunodeficiency virus infection. Systemic antifungals are recommended for treatment. Topical antifungals are less effective. Different cure rates have been reported by different authors for terbinafine, itraconazole and fluconazole therapy. A variety of regimens (continuous or pulse) have also been suggested.Methods: Here in this study we report a prospective, observational, cohort study of pulse itraconazole therapy in toenail onychomycosis caused by dermatophytes over a period of one year in patients with SCIO scores between 6 to 9.Results: It was observed that mean age of patients was 38.96 years. 57.27 % study subjects had complete clinical improvement to oral itraconazole three pulses regimen. One pulse consisted of 200 mg twice per day given for one week, followed by a three weeks interval. Thus, this regimen was repeated thrice.Conclusions: This study shows the substantial benefit with itraconazole pulse regimen in toenail onychomycosis. The outcome this study is comparable with previously published data and may encourage the usage of itraconazole pulse regimen for the treatment of dermatophyte toenail onychomycosis in adults

A simple agar-electrophoresis apparatus and technique

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Effect of quenching process on mechanical properties of flax/polypropylene composites

Flax/polypropylene needle - punched nonwovens (550 g /m2) have been produced and then used as a preform for theproduction of composites. In this study, better infiltration of polypropylene melt into the flax fibres has been achieved byaltering the crystal structure of polypropylene in the preform. A modified sequence of production of composites is alsoproposed. The proposed method yields composite with 25, 98 and, 91% improvement in tensile, flexural and short beamstrength properties as compared to the conventional method of manufacturing

Ayurvedic management of pituitary macroadenoma-a case report

Pituitary macroadenoma is an infrequently encountered clinical condition, characterized by a non-metastasizing neoplasm situated within the pituitary gland. This case report endeavours to elucidate the efficacy of ayurvedic interventions in achieving symptomatic resolution. A 44-year-old female patient, residing in Thrissur, diagnosed with features suggestive of pituitary macroadenoma, sought admission to Vaidyaratnam ayurveda college hospital for complaints of generalized pain, heaviness of head, impaired peripheral vision in the left eye, and amenorrhea persisting for approximately 7 months. The case was conclusively diagnosed as Pituitary Macroadenoma and meticulously addressed through therapeutic modalities including takradhara, nasyam, and thalapothichil.  patient was already prescribed with Caberlin tablets at a dosage of 0.25 mg twice weekly, administered nocturnally. Following 21 days of treatment, notable improvement in the LBNQ-Pituitary score was observed from 60 to 21 accompanied by significant symptomatic alleviation. A specific treatment protocol for the management of pituitary macroadenoma is currently unavailable

Ayurvedic management of supraspinatus tendon tear: a case report

The two main causes of rotator-cuff injuries are trauma and degeneration. Modern medical sciences recommend operative reconstruction surgery for ruptured injuries of the rotator cuff. But the outcome of surgery often leads to restrictions on movement. In this case, supraspinatus tendon tears with degenerative causes were satisfactorily managed with ayurvedic conservative management alone. A 68-year-old patient was admitted to the Kayachikitsa inpatient department of Vaidyaratnam ayurveda college, Ollur, on September 21, 2023, with right shoulder pain and restricted shoulder movements. In an MRI, the case was diagnosed as a partial tear of the anterior fibres of the supraspinatus tendon of the rotator cuff with sub-coracoid bursitis of the right shoulder joint. On examination of the right shoulder joint, all shoulder movements were restricted due to pain. Hawkins’s impingement test, Neer’s test, and the painful arc test were found to be positive. She underwent a treatment protocol of Vatavyadhi Chikitsa incorporated with Bhagna Chikitsa. Internal and external medications, along with Upanaham, Abhyanga, Thaila pichu, bandage, and active shoulder exercises, were the treatments followed in this case. After the treatment, patient got relief from pain (VAS scale: 7 to 4) and considerable improvement in range of motion (ROM) for the right shoulder joint. This case study highlighted that within one month, the chronic rotator cuff injury got partial functional restoration (SPADI-56 to 30) by conservative ayurvedic management

Separation of simple saccharides and oligosaccharides by circular paper chromatography

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Effects of Molecular Crowding on stretching of polymers in poor solvent

We consider a linear polymer chain in a disordered environment modeled by percolation clusters on a square lattice. The disordered environment is meant to roughly represent molecular crowding as seen in cells. The model may be viewed as the simplest representation of biopolymers in a cell. We show the existence of intermediate states during stretching arising as a consequence of molecular crowding. In the constant distance ensemble the force-extension curves exhibit oscillations. We observe the emergence of two or more peaks in the probability distribution curves signaling the coexistence of different states and indicating that the transition is discontinuous unlike what is observed in the absence of molecular crowding.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figure