Isolation, identification and Toxicological profiling of bioactive compounds from Xanthium strumarium and Acmella calva depict the excess reactive oxygen species generation in the Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito vector; an insight behind the probable mode of action of bioactive compounds

The diverse field of chemistry like structural and Analytical chemistry has offered the tools that are essential for purifying the plethora of phytochemical constituents. Such an untapped pool of phytochemicals from the plant world can be used as an alternative to synthetic insecticides in mosquito vector control programme. This investigation has used the Bioassay-guided Chromatography, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and GC-MS (Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry) to isolate and identify the most prominent toxic phytocompounds from the medicinal plants Xanthium strumarium and Acmella calva. The Map of the study site has been prepared using the Q-GIS. SPSS was used to perform the probit regression analysis and plot preparation. The isolated compounds such as Undecane (CH3(CH2)9CH3; 156.31 g/mol) (LC50: 2.599 mg/L (2.251 - 2.867); LC90 : 4.563 mg/L (3.960 - 6.006) and Phthalic acid, butyl undecyl ester (C23H36O4; 376.5 g/mol) (LC50: 4.072 mg/L (3.680 - 4.462); LC90: 6.894 mg/L (5.821-10.303) those are isolated from the Xanthium strumarium, and Acmella calva could be recognized as an innovative direction for the conception of natural insecticide against the Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito vectors since they produced a maximum range of toxicity. Moreover, the production of excessive free radicals in the phytocompounds exposed mosquito strain illustrated the probable role of oxidative stress in larval death. This investigation recommends that the isolated compounds can be used as an eco-friendly approach for mosquito control in the future

Traditional Knowledge on few Medicinal Plants of Biligirirangana Hill, Karnataka, India

Biligirirangana hills (BR Hills) is located in Yelandur taluk, Chamarajanagar District, Western Ghats towards Tamilnadu. The ethno botanical plant survey was executed for the documentation of therapeutic plants. The tribal people have the inborn knowledge about the medicinal plants and their use. In this presentstudy, we have selected 90 plant species belonging to 48 families out of which 38 plant species are herbs, 16 shrubs, 27 treesand 9 climbers were identified with their appropriate information and reported in this paper with their medicinal uses according to tribal communities to cure different ailments. The most common illness treated by the traditional healers are jaundice, diabetes, asthma, fever, cold, cough, digestive problems, piles, paralysis, skin problems, diarrhoea, haemorrhage, kidney problem, gastrointestinal disorders etc

Impact of Hatha Yoga Sadhana and Natya Yoga Training on Forced Expiratory Volume Among Men and Women

The purpose of the study was to find out the Impact of Hatha Yoga Sadhana and Natya Yoga Training on Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV1) among Men and Women. The findings of the study were exploring the status of Hatha Yoga Sadhana and Natya Yoga Training among Men and Women. The findings of the study will be helpful for further research studies, also helpful for Men and Women. For the study, 60 members of Men and Women selected form Chennai, at Vethathiri Maharishi College of Yoga, between the age group of 20 to 28 years, and they were randomized 15 members in each group. FEV1 was measured by Digital spirometer, pre and post were conducted before and after training. Subjects were divided into three group as such in Group-I acted as Control Group, Group-II acted as Hatha Yoga Sadhana, and Group-III were undergone into Natya Yoga Training. Data were collected and scored and analysed in to’ t’test and ANACOVA. The results revealed that there was significant difference in men and women, as well as there was significant difference when compared in to control group. And also there was significant difference when comparing Hatha Yoga Sadhana and Natya Yoga Training groups

Study of radiative and kinetic properties of femtosecond laser ablated brass plasma by optical emission spectroscopy

Femtosecond laser induced plasma (LIP) in brass was characterized by optical emission spectroscopy (OES). The LIP spectra is dominated by emission from excited neutral species of Cu and Zn. The ionic emission lines are found to decay more rapidly compared to the atomic emission lines. Time resolved OES studies on the expanding plasma plume have provided some insight into probable excitation pathways and the temporal behavior of the excited species.Further assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE), the fs-LIP source was characterized for excitation temperature and electron number densities by using the Boltzmann plot method and the width of Stark broadened line profiles respectively. The influence of laser fluence on excitation temperature and electron density was also investigated. The emission intensities exhibit two ablation regimes corresponding to ablation dominated by optical penetration depth at low fluence and by electron thermal diffusion length at higher fluence. Comparative studies on the behavior of copper emission lines from both pure copper and brass samples suggest that femtosecond laser pulses might mitigate the matrix effect in the ablation process

Current evidence-based therapy does not restore plasma apelin level in phenotypically diverse chronic heart failure patients

Background: Apelin, endogenous peptide acting through its receptor (APJ), is the most potent inotropic agent known to man. Plasma apelin and cardiac APJ mRNA levels rise in early stages of chronic heart failure (CHF) but fall later in decompensated CHF. The effect of current evidence-based management of CHF on plasma apelin level is not known. We estimated change in plasma apelin level in CHF patients of diverse phenotypes treated with standard pharmacotherapy and compared it with the corresponding change in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level and quality of life (QoL).Methods: With ethical approval and written informed consent, venous blood samples were collected from 39 CHF [dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) (n=21), restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) (n=9) and chronic constrictive pericarditis (CCP) (n=9)] patients and 10 age-matched healthy controls, at baseline and after 12 weeks. Plasma apelin and BNP were estimated by competitive ELISA (RayBiotech Inc.) and an auto-analyzer (Triage, Allere Inc.), respectively. QoL was assessed using Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ). Nonparametric tests were applied and p-value <0.05 was considered significant.Results: Low LVEF, KCCQ score and high BNP levels were observed in all CHF patients compared to controls. Plasma apelin level was depressed in RCM and CCP patients compared to controls but not in DCM patients. These parameters did not change in any group after 3 months of standard pharmacotherapy.Conclusions: Current evidence-based management of CHF does not restore the depressed apelin-APJ axis. New drugs are required for specifically modulating this promising therapeutic target in CHF

Evaluation of eosinophil count and neutrophil-lymphocyte count ratio versus C-reactive protein levels in patients with sepsis

Background: One major problem encountered in the intensive care unit is differentiating the inflammatory response from an infective process. Clinical and standard laboratory tests are not very helpful because most critically ill patients develop some degree of inflammatory response, whether or not they have sepsis. Numerous biomarkers have been evaluated to predict mortality in critically ill patients, although none have proved entirely useful. Objective of the study was to evaluate eosinophil count and neutrophil-lymphocyte count ratio with C-reactive protein levels in patients with sepsis.Methods: 71 patients >18 years of age of either sex with a diagnosis of sepsis were enrolled in this one-year observational study. Patients were classified according to the criteria of the American College of Chest Physicians/Society of Critical Care Medicine into sepsis group (n=50) and no sepsis group (n=21). Sepsis group were further divided into subgroups: sepsis (n=19), severe sepsis (n=16) and septic shock (n=15). Absolute eosinophil cell, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts for first 4 consecutive days and then on alternate days up to one week were also noted down. C-reactive protein levels on day 3 were also noted down.Results: In the sepsis group, mean eosinophil count was significantly (p<0.0001) low, mean neutrophil/lymphocyte count ratio was significantly (p<0.0001) high, mean CRP count was significantly (p=0.019) more as compared to that of no sepsis group. Among 16 mortalities, significant (p<0.05) decrease was noted in mean eosinophil count from day 3 onwards in patients of sepsis and septic shock subgroups. Mean N/L ratio showed no significant difference in patients of sepsis, severe sepsis or septic shock. Mean CRP count showed significant (p<0.05) increase in severe sepsis patients and mean Apache II score showed significant (p<0.05) deterioration in patients of septic shock.Conclusions: Neutrophil/lymphocyte count ratio (NLCR) and absolute eosinophil count (AEC) came out as better independent biomarker of sepsis in critically ill patients with infection admitted in intensive care unit. Diagnostic performance was better in these two diagnostic markers as compared to CRP marker. NLCR presented with sensitivity of 89.58%, AEC with 82.35% and CRP with 80.77%. Outcomes of NLCR and AEC were quick, easy and economical in establishing diagnosis of sepsis

A study of the effects of large dose of parenteral vitamin D (D3) on insulin resistance in type 2 DM patients

Background: Over the past decade, vitamin D is more known as a hormone because of its extra - skeletal outcomes in various disease conditions, including diabetes. Most cells, including the pancreatic β-cells, contain the vitamin D receptor and they also have the capability to produce the biologically active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D3] which allows intracrine and paracrine functions. In vitro studies have shown that the active vitamin D metabolite 1,25(OH)2D stimulated insulin release by the pancreatic β-cells. Vitamin D is known to have immune modulatory and anti-inflammatory effects and reduces peripheral insulin resistance by altering low-grade chronic inflammation. This study was done to assess whether supplementation of vitamin D in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with Vitamin D deficiency has any favourable effect on insulin resistance.Methods: It was a short term interventional study conducted at ASCOMS hospital Jammu including a total of 50 vitamin D deficient [25(OH) D 7.0%). All the 50 study participants completed the study and there were no changes either in anti-hyperglycemic drugs (including insulin) or antihypertensive drugs being used. After supplementation with a single high dose (600000 IU) of parenteral vitamin D3 changes in HOMA-IR (Homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance) were seen on follow up at 3 months.Results: Vitamin D3 supplementation improved insulin sensitivity, HOMA-IR decreased from 4.05±1.42 to 3.93±1.28 (p =0.011). It decreased equally in males (3.85±1.43 to 3.76±1.30) (p value=0.023) and females (4.24±1.42 to 4.10±1.27) (p value=0.021). HOMA-IR showed negative association with Vitamin D levels both at baseline and after 3 months of follow up.Conclusions: This improvement in insulin sensitivity is evidenced in our study by decrease in fasting insulin levels (FIL) and improvement in fasting blood sugars (FBS). It is due to both direct and indirect effects of Vitamin D3 on both insulin sensitivity and secretion

Room temperature Ferromagnetism in Th1-xFexO2-d (x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.25) nanoparticles

Nanocrystalline (Th1-xFex)O2-d particles with different Fe concentrations (x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.25) have been prepared by a gel combustion method. Rietveld refinement analyses of X-ray diffraction data revealed the formation of an impurity free cubic type Th1-xFexO2-d structure up to x = 0.20. This observation is further confirmed from the detailed studies conducted on 10 at. percent Fe doped ThO2 using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) imaging and indexing of the selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns. DC Magnetization studies as a function field indicate that they are ferromagnetic with Curie temperature (Tc) well above room temperature.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

Study to assess the changing pattern of clinical profile and determine the prognosis in hepatic encephalopathy

Background: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a common complication of liver disease that requires intensive care management. The prevalence of HE is increasing during recent period. The most important factors of HE are alcohol consumption, chronic hepatitis, hepatotoxic drugs and unhealthy changes in life style. There were only relatively few studies from our region on the changing profile of hepatic encephalopathy under the background of life style changes. This study was conducted with the aim to detect the changing pattern of clinical profile, precipitants and to assess the prognosis of patients with hepatic encephalopathy.Methods: This was a prospective study for a period of 18 months since January 2012 at Academy of Medical Sciences, Pariyaram, Kannur, a tertiary care centre situated in the northern part of Kerala. Patients admitted in the medical and gastroenterology wards and intensive care units that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study.Results: Among the 76 patients with HE, 60 were suffering from CLD and 16 due to acute liver failure. The common etiologies for HE in CLD patients were Alcoholic cirrhosis (63%), Cryptogenic cirrhosis (17%) and cirrhosis due to chronic HBV (10%) and HCV hepatitis (7%) respectively. Among the CLD patients at the start of observation majority were in Child Pugh class B and C. Based on West Haven grading most of them had Grade 2 and 3 HE. Majority with Grade 1, 2 and 3 improved where as those with Grade 4 and Grade 3 in Child Pugh class C worsened. The common precipitants of HE were GI bleed, dyselectrolemia, constipation and infections. Among these precipitants a statistically significant association for a worse outcome was present only with infection. Leptospirosis and deliberate self-harm due to ingestion of hepatotoxic rodenticide and paracetamol were the leading cause of hepatic encephalopathy in acute liver failureConclusions: In present study HE was most commonly seen in patients with alcoholic liver disease. Cryptogenic cirrhosis associated with other life style diseases was the second common condition. Among all precipitating factors infection appeared as a statistically significant factor predicting a worse outcome. Health education among alcoholic patients and life style modifications to prevent cryptogenic cirrhosis are of paramount importance in curtailing the increase in incidence of HE in this region