Single case evaluation of the effect of Saindhavaadi Taila Abhyanga in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

In the present case study, a 38 years old obese female patient approached OPD of Panchakarma Department, Rishikul Campus, Haridwar in Feb 2019 with the complaints of numbness, tingling, swelling and pain in right hand and arm since last two weeks. As she entered the OPD room, she was trying to relieve the symptoms by "shaking out" her right hand (flick sign). She complained of an electric shock like sensation in thumb, index finger and middle finger which travelled from wrist upto the arm and sometimes wake her from sleep. Proper history revealed that she was involved in playing and teaching the folk instrument Dholaka since last 1.5 years. Relevant investigations and examinations were done to exclude out other causes of similar neuropathic pain like rheumatoid arthritis, cervical (C7) radiculopathy and co-existing diseases such as diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders, kidney failure, amyloidosis and lymphedema. The case was diagnosed as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (Ekanga Vata) on the basis of clinical observation of characteristic symptoms and positive Tinel’s sign, median nerve compression test and Phalen’s test through physical examination. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a median compression neuropathy that causes pain, numbness, tingling and weakness in the hand and wrist. This single clinical case study was aimed at assessing the efficacy of Sthanika Abhyanga with Saindhavaadi Taila in a patient with CTS. Ushna, Tiksna, Sukshma, Snigdha properties of Taila would have pacified Vata thereby reducing weakness of hands and enhancing proper movements of wrist joint. To evaluate the effect of therapy, post treatment assessment was done using Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTQ). The results showed 54.74% relief in symptoms and thus the patient responded favorably to the treatment

Dentition Status and its effect on the Oral Health Related Quality of Life in a Rural Elderly Population: A Cross Sectional Study

Background: This study was conducted to find out the effect of dentition status on the oral health related quality of life of rural elderly people residing in an Indian population.Methods: A total of 368 elderly subjects from eight villages were included in the study. OHRQoL was measured by using a validated Hindi version of Geriatric Oral Health AsBackground: This study was conducted to find out the effect of dentition status on the oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) of rural elderly people in an Indian population. The main objectives included the assessment of age wise differences among the elderly segment, particularly the effect of coronal and root caries, missing teeth and filled teeth.Methods: A total of 368 (192 (52.17%) males and 176 (47.83%) females) elderly subjects from eight villages were included in the study. Oral Health Related Quality of life was measured by using a validated Hindi version of Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI). Clinical assessment of the subjects was done regarding carious, missing, and filled teeth, and carious roots.Results: The mean GOHAI score was found to be 18.14 ± 5.71. The mean number of decayed crown was 1.34 ± 1.63, mean number of missing teeth was 12.74 ± 11.14, mean DMFT score was 14.08 ± 10.13, and mean number of teeth with root caries was 0.55 ± 1.17. Average number of carious roots was found to be maximum among 70-79 years age group followed by 60-69 years age group. Age wise differences were found to be statistically significant for mean number of decayed crown, missing teeth, root caries and mean DMFT.Conclusion: The results revealed that having more teeth present and less decayed teeth were found to be associated with better oral health related quality of life. The elderly are a special part of our society and need the utmost attention since they are most susceptible to oral diseases which impact their daily activities. Hence more light needs to be thrown on such issues to improve the overall health including the oral component.sessment Index (GOHAI). Clinical assessment of the subjects was done regarding carious, missing, filled teeth and carious roots.Results: The mean GOHAI score was found to be 18.14 ± 5.71. The mean decayed teeth were found to be 1.34 and mean DMFT was 14.08. Age wise differences were found to be statistically significant for mean number of decayed crown, missing teeth, root caries and mean DMFT.Conclusion: The results revealed the having more teeth present and less decayed teeth were found to be associated with better oral health related quality of life

Vaccinia Virus L1 Protein Is Required for Cell Entry and Membrane Fusion▿

Genetic and biochemical studies have provided evidence for an entry/fusion complex (EFC) comprised of at least eight viral proteins (A16, A21, A28, G3, G9, H2, J5, and L5) that together with an associated protein (F9) participates in entry of vaccinia virus (VACV) into cells. The genes encoding these proteins are conserved in all poxviruses, are expressed late in infection, and are components of the mature virion membrane but are not required for viral morphogenesis. In addition, all but one component has intramolecular disulfides that are formed by the poxvirus cytoplasmic redox system. The L1 protein has each of the characteristics enumerated above except that it has been reported to be essential for virus assembly. To further investigate the role of L1, we constructed a recombinant VACV (vL1Ri) that inducibly expresses L1. In the absence of inducer, L1 synthesis was repressed and vL1Ri was unable to form plaques or produce infectious progeny. Unexpectedly, assembly and morphogenesis appeared normal and the noninfectious virus particles were indistinguishable from wild-type VACV as determined by transmission electron microscopy and analysis of the component polypeptides. Notably, the L1-deficient virions were able to attach to cells but the cores failed to penetrate into the cytoplasm. In addition, cells infected with vL1Ri in the absence of inducer did not form syncytia following brief low-pH treatment even though extracellular virus was produced. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that L1 interacted with the EFC and indirectly with F9, suggesting that L1 is an additional component of the viral entry apparatus

Expression and purification of dengue virus type 2 envelope protein as a fusion with Hepatitis B surface Antigen in Pichia pastoris

The methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris, has been used as a host to express the envelope protein (Den2E) of dengue type 2 virus (NGC strain) as a chimera with Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg): a protein known to self assemble into Virus-like Particles (VLPs) and to be efficiently expressed in P. pastoris. The Den2E gene used in this study is a truncated version encoding the first 395 amino acid (aa) residues of the mature Den2E protein; the HBsAg gene encodes the full length 226 aa HBsAg protein. Two in-frame gene fusions were constructed for intracellular expression in P. pastoris. The first one contains the HBsAg gene as the 5′ partner and the Den2E gene as the 3′partner (HBsAg-Den2E). In the second one, the relative positions of the two partners of the gene fusion were reversed to create the hybrid Den2E-HBsAg gene. These fusion genes were integrated into the genome of P. pastoris under the control of the methanol-inducible alcohol oxidase (AOX1) promoter. Of the two fusions, the Den2E-HBsAg gene was expressed at higher levels in P. pastoris based on Northern analysis. The hybrid protein (∼68 kDa) expressed by this clone was purified to near homogeneity using a combination of acid precipitation, hydrophobic interaction and immunoaffinity chromatographic steps. Final purification achieved was ∼1400-fold with a yield of ∼26%. The chimeric protein was found to possess the ability to assemble into high molecular weight aggregates (akin to HBsAg particles). The recombinant fusion protein eluted close to the void volume of a Sepharose CL-4B column indicating its macromolecular nature. On a CsCl density gradient the recombinant fusion protein sedimented to a position very similar to that of HBsAg VLPs. The hybrid protein is recognized by the two neutralizing monoclonals against the two components of the chimeric protein

Assembly and Disassembly of the Capsid-Like External Scaffold of Immature Virions during Vaccinia Virus Morphogenesis▿

Infectious poxvirus particles are unusual in that they are brick shaped and lack symmetry. Nevertheless, an external honeycomb lattice comprised of a capsid-like protein dictates the spherical shape and size of immature poxvirus particles. In the case of vaccinia virus, trimers of 63-kDa D13 polypeptides form the building blocks of the lattice. In the present study, we addressed two questions: how D13, which has no transmembrane domain, associates with the immature virion (IV) membrane to form the lattice structure and how this scaffold is removed during the subsequent stage of morphogenesis. Interaction of D13 with the A17 membrane protein was demonstrated by immunoaffinity purification and Western blot analysis. In addition, the results of immunogold electron microscopy indicated a close association of A17 and D13 in crescents, as well as in vesicular structures when crescent formation was prevented. Further studies indicated that binding of A17 to D13 was abrogated by truncation of the N-terminal segment of A17. The N-terminal region of A17 was also required for the formation of crescent and IV structures. Disassembly of the D13 scaffold correlated with the processing of A17 by the I7 protease. When I7 expression was repressed, D13 was retained on aberrant virus particles. Furthermore, the morphogenesis of IVs to mature virions was blocked by mutation of the N-terminal but not the C-terminal cleavage site on A17. Taken together, these data indicate that A17 and D13 interactions regulate the assembly and disassembly of the IV scaffold

Agro-climatic zonation of Uttarakhand using remote sensing and GIS

The climatic data of 32 stations of Uttarkahand and adjoining region were collected and the thematic layers of climatic parameters, annual average temperature and precipitation were generated using the spatial analyst Extension of ARC-View. The grid interpolation was applied to generate the surface of annual average temperature and later it was rectified with Digital Elevation Model (DEM) prepared with ASTER data and employing environmental lapse rate (0.65oC / 100 m). Decision Tree Classifier (DTC) embedded in ENVI image processing software was used for agroclimatic zonation of Uttarakhand by considering climatic parameters of annual average temperature and precipitation. During the process of zonation, the temperature map of Uttarakhand was divided into four thermal regimes 1) 200C, thereafter, boundaries of the precipitation distribution (in three regimes 1) 1400 mm) in the state have been overlaid on temperature regimes, which divided entire state of Uttarakhand into twelve Agro-climatic zones

Recombinant dengue virus type 2 envelope/Hepatitis B surface Antigen hybrid protein expressed in Pichia pastoris can function as a bivalent immunogen

A truncated version of the dengue virus type 2 envelope protein (Den2E) encoding the first 395 amino acid (aa) residues and Den2E fused in-frame with the full-length 226-aa Hepatitis B surface Antigen (Den2E-HBsAg) protein were expressed in the methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris. Both the recombinant proteins showed evidence of the capacity to form high molecular weight aggregates. Electron microscopic analysis of the purified proteins showed that while Den2E displayed an amorphous morphology, Den2E-HBsAg existed as well-structured Virus-like Particles (VLPs). Using immuno-gold electron microscopy, these VLPs were demonstrated to contain both components of the Den2E-HBsAg hybrid protein. Seroanalysis showed that the hybrid VLPs could function in vivo as bivalent immunogens, which could elicit immune responses directed against both components of the hybrid protein, as evidenced by ELISA, immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence data

Knowledge and Awareness of Ebola among Undergraduate Dental Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Aim: In the wake of the latest epidemic of Ebola, it has become important for healthcare personnel around the world to be very cautious regarding the contagious nature of the disease. This study was conducted among undergraduate dental students to assess the baseline knowledge and awareness about different aspects of Ebola.Methodology: A total of 212 students from third-year, final-year and internship were selected for the study. A pre-designed, structured and self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. The first part had questions related to knowledge, epidemiology and transmission of Ebola. Second part was concerned with the symptoms, treatment and prevention aspect. Questions were close-ended with multiple-answer type.Results: Of the total sample, 78 (36.8%) participants were from third-year, 74 (34.9%) from final-year and 60 (28.3%) from internship. The overall success rate was just 48.58%. It was seen that the interns answered more number of questions correctly as compared to final-year and third-year students.Conclusion: Level of knowledge of Indian dental students about Ebola was generally acceptable considering the fact that it is not part of their curriculum. Dental school curriculum must also be updated in this regard

Drought assessment for kharif rice using standardized precipitation index (SPI) and vegetation condition index (VCI)

The monthly weather data for 31 years from 1985-2015 was used to analyze the extent of meteorological drought using standardized precipitation index (SPI) over Allahabad, Kanpur and Lucknow. MODIS NDVI data from 2000-2015 was used for monitoring of agricultural drought through NDVI based vegetation condition index (VCI) for all the three districts. The monthly SPI and VCI values from July to October were correlated with productivity index (PI) of kharif rice.Both the indices (SPI and VCI) were positively correlated with PI for all the districts. In Allahabad SPI and VCI during September month showed a significant correlation (0.70**& 0.61*) while in Kanpur VCI during October and SPI of July and August were significantly correlated with PI of kharif Rice. The multiple regression equation developed for predicting kharif rice PI in Allahabad, Kanpur and Lucknow districts explained 69 to 76 per cent variability in PI.