Anticonvulsant activity of nicardipine in experimentally induced seizures in wistar albino rats.

Background: The objective of the study was to evaluate the anticonvulsant activity of nicardipine in wistar albino rats.Methods: Anticonvulsant activity of nicardipine in a dose 10 mg/kg, and its effect with the standard drug lamotrigine (5 mg/kg) was studied in a maximal electroshock seizures (MES) experimental animal model.Results: Nicardipine in dose of 10 mg/kg showed significant anticonvulsant effect (p<0.001) and combination with standard drug lamotrigine (p<0.001) also showed more significant anticonvulsant effect in MES model.Conclusions: Nicardipine is having anticonvulsant activity and it also potentiates the anticonvulsant effect of lamotrigine in MES model

Anatomical variations of testicular artery: a review

The testicular arteries (TAs) also known as internal spermatic arteries are long and slender arteries usually arising from the anterolateral aspect of the abdominal aorta, 2.5 cm to 5 cm caudal to the renal arteries. The variation in TAs may be found with respect to their origin, number or course. They can originate from the abdominal aorta itself at an abnormal level. If not arising from abdominal aorta the TA variants may arise from renal artery, suprarenal artery or any one of the lumbar arteries. Rarely it can arise from common or internal iliac artery, or from the superior epigastric artery. The most common variation with respect to origin of TA was found in association with renal vessels. In regard to their number, double TA was found to be most common and with respect to course most common variation was arched TA over ipsilateral renal vein. The arched TA at times on right side had a retrocaval course. Occurrence of TA variants is explained with embryology and the knowledge of its clinical significance is essential for future surgeons for designing vascular surgeries. Four studies had attempted to classify TA variants regarding their origin, number and course but they could not accommodate recently found TA variants. This led to our new proposed classification

A Comparative study on two doses of Clonidine added to Hyperbaric Bupivacaine in Spinal Anaesthesia

INTRODUCTION: Spinal anaesthesia is commonly used for abdominal, perineal, gynaecological and lower limb operations. It offers excellent anaesthesia and fewer side effects than General anaesthesia. It is easy to perform and provides faster onset and effective sensory and motor block. Bupivacaine produces long lasting spinal anaesthesia without Transient neurological symptoms. Recently there has been an interest in using additives to intra thecal local anasesthetics to decrease the dose of local anaesthetics and also provide effective post operative analgesia. Various studies have been conducted to evaluate the addition of clonidine to hyperbaric bupivacaine. The alpha 2 adrenergic agonist clonidine has a variety of actions including the ability to potentiate the effect of local anesthetics. It prolongs sensory blockade and also reduces requirement of post operative analgesics. This study was designed to evaluate the addition of two doses of clonidine( 40 μg and 60μg) added to hyperbaric bupivacaine (0.5%) 2.75ml in spinal anaesthesia for sub umbilical surgeries. AIM OF THE STUDY: To compare the effect of addition of two doses of clonidine (40μg and 60μg) to 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 2.75 ml, intrathecally for sub umbilical surgeries. To evaluate : • Time to onset of sensory and motor block, • Duration of sensory and motor block, • Duration of effective post operative analgesia, • Side effects, MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted at the Chengalpattu Medical College Hospital, Chengalpattu - between May 2009 to August 2009 on 60 patients of ASA physical status I and II undergoing infra umbilical surgeries. This study was done after Ethical Committee approval and written informed consent obtained from all patients included in the study. Study Design: This study was done in a prospective double blinded randomized manner. Selection of Cases: Inclusion Criteria: 1. Patients in age group of 20 to 50 yrs, 2. ASA –PS I & II, 3. Infra umbilical surgeries. Exclusion criteria: 1. ASA –PS III & IV, 2. Patient refusal, 3. Renal / hepatic dysfunction, 4. Allergy to drugs, 5. Contra indication to sub arachnoid block. 60 patients were included in this double blinded randomized controlled study. patients were divided into 3 groups. Patients in group B received 2.75ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine plus 0.4ml saline. Patients in group C1 received 2.75ml of hyperbaric bupivacaine with 40 μg of clonidine . Patients in group C2 received 2.75ml of hyperbaric bupivacaine with 60μg of clonidine. Statistical Analysis: All recorded data were entered using MS Excel software and analysed using STATA software for determining the statistical significance. Analysis of Variance was used to study the significance of mean of various study parameters between the three groups. Student’s ‘t’ test was used to compare the two groups on mean values of various parameters. The p-value taken for significance is 0.05. CONCLUSION: In conclusion the addition of clonidine as an adjuvant to bupivacaine in subarachnoid block prolongs duration of both sensory and motor block. I conclude that 60μg of clonidine hydrochloride added to local anaesthetic in subarachnoid block has proved to be a better adjuvant in prolonging the sensory and motor blockade intra operatively and duration of effective post operative analgesia compared to 40μg, without significant adverse effects

Influence of Potting Media on Growth of Asparagus densiflorus 'Meyersii'

A study was conducted on the influence of growth media on development of&nbsp;Asparagus densiflorus&nbsp;'Meyersii' at Horticultural Research Station, Yercaud during the years 2011-12. The pot experiment was laid out under open condition, with nine set of treatments comprising various combinations of soil, sand, FYM, vermicompost and microbial consortia (Azospirillum, phosphobacteria&nbsp;and&nbsp;Pseudomonas fluorescens). From among the media combinations used, the treatment involving Soil + Sand + FYM + Vermicompost (T3) @ 2:1:1:0.5 (670g+375g+375g+165g) was found to be the best substrate for vegetative and root characters like plant height, shoot number, leaflet number, leaflet length, leaflet width, root number, root length, bulb number, bulb length, bulb width and vase-life in&nbsp;Asparagus densiflorus&nbsp;'Meyersii'

Bilateral superficial ulnar artery with high origin from the axillary artery: its anatomy and clinical significance

The superficial ulnar artery (SUA) is a rare anatomical variant that usually arises either in the axilla or the arm and runs a superficial course in the forearm, enters the hand, and participates in the formation of superficial palmar arch. During the routine dissection of cadavers in the department of anatomy, whilst preparing the specimen for medical students, an unusual bilateral branch of the axillary artery was found in one of the cadavers: a rare variant of the artery known as SUA, which originates from the 2nd part of the axillary arteries of both sides. The SUA is a known anatomical variant, but the bilateral high origin from the 2nd part of the axillary artery is extremely unusual. Its occurrence is of great clinical importance to the surgical and radiological departments

Neuroprotective effect of secretin in chronic hypoxia induced neurodegeneration in rats

Background: Hypoxia is a condition in any stage in the delivery of oxygen to cells which include decreased partial pressures of oxygen, less diffusion of oxygen in the lungs, insufficient hemoglobin, inefficient blood flow to the end tissue, and breathing rhythm. Secretin is an amino acid which plays proper functioning of gastro intestinal system.Methods: The current study was conducted to evaluvate the effect of exogenously administrated secretin on chronic hypoxic damage of brain in rat model. Experimental design consists of control animals, Control animals + secretin hypoxia exposed animals; hypoxia exposed animals +secretin (20ng/kg.bw).Results: The results of this study point to a possible role of Secretin as neuroprotectant.Conclusions: Further research on secretin needs to be conducted in order to confirm the deductions made by this study

Evaluation of analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of a combination of tramadol-pregabalin in animal models of pain and inflammation

Background: A major goal of pain management is to provide pain relief that is clinically meaningful, sustained, and associated with minimum and reversible adverse effects. Since single analgesic drug is not effective in all patients, there is a need either to develop new and more effective drugs or to identify favourable combinations of drugs that are already available. The aim of the present was to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of tramadol and pregabalin when used alone or in combination in animal models of pain and inflammation.Methods: The animals (rats and mice) were divided into eight groups with six animals in each group. Analgesia was assessed by acetic acid induced writhing and tail flick methods in mice and hot plate method in rats. Paw oedema model in rats after induction with 0.1 ml of 1% carrageenan was used to assess the anti‑inflammatory activity. The percentage inhibition of writhes and prolongation of reaction time were used for assessing analgesic activity and reduction in paw volume was used for assessing anti-inflammatory activity. The results obtained were analysed by ANOVA and Tukey HSD Post-hoc Test.Results: Treatment with tramadol pregabalin alone or in combination reduced writhing episodes significantly in acetic acid induced writhing in mice as compared to control indicating its analgesic effect and the highest percentage inhibition of pain was seen with high dose tramadol plus pregabalin. Treatment in Hot plate and Tail flick methods significantly prolonged the reaction time at all time points.Conclusions: Tramadol when combined with pregabalin may enhance its anti-nociceptive effects. If confirmed in additional models of acute and/or chronic pain this combination might be useful in the clinical management of pain not associated with inflammation

Automated Aqua-Hydroponics System Using Arduino, Plc and IoT

Promotion of soil-less organic horticulture farming practices in small and large scale markets. The promotion is done in the traditional way of aquaponics or hydroponics as a separate farming technique. The combination of this technique with the help of automation in a single system will promote high reach in the development of organic horticulture farming. The automation is done with the help of Arduino for small-scale purposes and PLC for large-scale purposes. IoT is used for displaying the necessary parameters of the system