Speech identification and cortical potentials in individuals with auditory neuropathy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Present study investigated the relationship between speech identification scores in quiet and parameters of cortical potentials (latency of P1, N1, and P2; and amplitude of N1/P2) in individuals with auditory neuropathy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Ten individuals with auditory neuropathy (five males and five females) and ten individuals with normal hearing in the age range of 12 to 39 yr participated in the study. Speech identification ability was assessed for bi-syllabic words and cortical potentials were recorded for click stimuli.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Results revealed that in individuals with auditory neuropathy, speech identification scores were significantly poorer than that of individuals with normal hearing. Individuals with auditory neuropathy were further classified into two groups, Good Performers and Poor Performers based on their speech identification scores. It was observed that the mean amplitude of N1/P2 of Poor Performers was significantly lower than that of Good Performers and those with normal hearing. There was no significant effect of group on the latency of the peaks. Speech identification scores showed a good correlation with the amplitude of cortical potentials (N1/P2 complex) but did not show a significant correlation with the latency of cortical potentials.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Results of the present study suggests that measuring the cortical potentials may offer a means for predicting perceptual skills in individuals with auditory neuropathy.</p

Significance of Deepana and Pachana activity in the treatment of Amapradoshaja Vikaras

Agni plays an important role in digestion of food. All the diseases are produced by Mandagni. Mandagni leads to the formation of Ama which is the root cause of Roga Utpatti. There are so many diseases originating beacause of Ama which are grouped under Ampradoshaja Vikara. Deepana and Pachana are considered under the heading of Shamanaushadhis. It is the first line of treatment selected in order to overcome Ampradoshaja Vikaras. They are very successfully utilised for the day to day practice.There are different views given by our Acharyas regarding Agni, Ama, Amaja Vikaras and role of Deepana and Pachana in their management which are highlighted in this article

Tetramethylguanidine (TMG)-catalysed Synthesis of &#945;-Aminophosphonates by a One-pot Reaction

Aldimines (Schiff’s bases) undergo nucleophilic addition with diethyl/dimethyl/diphenylphosphite (Pudovik reaction) in the presence of a catalytic amount of tetramethylguanidine (TMG) at ambient temperature to afford the corresponding α-aminophosphonates in high yields. The Schiff’s bases were prepared by reacting cinnamaldehyde with substituted amines in refluxing absolute alcohol. The structures of the title compounds were established by elemental analysis and IR, 1H, 13C, 31PNMR and FAB mass spectral data. The antimicrobial activities of these compounds were evaluated and they exhibited significant antimicrobial activity.KEYWORDS: Imines, α-aminophosphonates, tetramethylguanidine (TMG), dialkyl- and arylphosphites, antimicrobial activity

Ion beam generated surface ripples: new insight in the underlying mechanism

A new hydrodynamic mechanism is proposed for the ion beam induced surface patterning on solid surfaces. Unlike the standard mechanisms based on the ion beam impact generated erosion and mass redistribution at the free surface (proposed by Bradley-Harper (BH) and its extended theories), the new mechanism proposes that the ion beam induced saltation and creep processes, coupled with incompressible solid flow in amorphous layer, leads to the formation of ripple patterns at the amorphous/crystalline (a/c) interface and hence at the free surface. Ion beam stimulated solid flow inside the amorphous layer controls the wavelength, where as the amount of material transported and re-deposited at a/c interface control the amplitude of ripples. The new approach is verified by designed experiments and supported by the discrete simulation method.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1206.082

Enhanced muscarinic M1 receptor gene expression in the corpus striatum of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Acetylcholine (ACh), the first neurotransmitter to be identified, regulate the activities of central and peripheral functions through interactions with muscarinic receptors. Changes in muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) have been implicated in the pathophysiology of many major diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). Previous reports from our laboratory on streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats showed down regulation of muscarinic M1 receptors in the brainstem, hypothalamus, cerebral cortex and pancreatic islets. In this study, we have investigated the changes of acetylcholine esterase (AChE) enzyme activity, total muscarinic and muscarinic M1 receptor binding and gene expression in the corpus striatum of STZ – diabetic rats and the insulin treated diabetic rats. The striatum, a neuronal nucleus intimately involved in motor behaviour, is one of the brain regions with the highest acetylcholine content. ACh has complex and clinically important actions in the striatum that are mediated predominantly by muscarinic receptors. We observed that insulin treatment brought back the decreased maximal velocity (Vmax) of acetylcholine esterase in the corpus striatum during diabetes to near control state. In diabetic rats there was a decrease in maximal number (Bmax) and affinity (Kd) of total muscarinic receptors whereas muscarinic M1 receptors were increased with decrease in affinity in diabetic rats. We observed that, in all cases, the binding parameters were reversed to near control by the treatment of diabetic rats with insulin. Real-time PCR experiment confirmed the increase in muscarinic M1 receptor gene expression and a similar reversal with insulin treatment. These results suggest the diabetes-induced changes of the cholinergic activity in the corpus striatum and the regulatory role of insulin on binding parameters and gene expression of total and muscarinic M1 receptors

An explorative clinical study to evaluate the combined effect of Shiropichu, Sthanika Abhyanga, Salvana Upanaha Sweda and Balarishta in the management of Pakshaghata vis~a~vis Hemiplegia

Pakshaghata is one among the Vata Nanatmaja Vyadhi, characterised by loss of function either in right or left half of the body. Pakshaghata is also considered among the ailments of Madhyama Roga Marga. Signs and symptoms of Pakshaghata is similar to that of stroke with hemiplegia as the cardinal clinical feature. It makes the affected person physically disabled and reduces quality of life. Even though western science had moved for in acute management of stroke, it is very difficult to handle the residual effect of stroke which makes person physically and mentally debilitated. In case of managing residual cases, it depends on physiotherapy and exercises, which gives good results if combined with Ayurvedic treatments such as Abhyanga. Present study is a single group open clinical trial with pre and post-test design with a sample size of 30 subjects. Subjects were administered with Shiropichu, Sthanika Abhyanga, Salvana Upana Sweda for first 10 consecutive days and Shamanaaushadha for all 30 days. The results obtained on parameter muscle power, muscle tone, finger movements and deep tendon reflexes was statistically non-significant in the management of Pakshaghata vis-à-vis hemiplegia. The results obtained on parameter stroke specific quality of life scale showed statistically significant result with p value 0.005 in the management of Pakshaghata vis-à-vis hemiplegia. Hence, it was inferred that the intervention selected for the present study possess combined effect in improving the quality of life of individual affected with Pakshaghata vis-à-vis Hemiplegia

Synthesis of Dinaphtho-dioxaphosphocin-8-oxides, Epoxides and Bisphosphonates

Preparation of 8-substituted-16H-dinaphtho [2,1-d:1’,2’-g] [1,3,2] dioxaphosphocin 8-oxides (5a–g) with an eight-membered phosphorus heterocyclic system (2) and their epoxides and bisphosphonates was accomplished by reacting 8-bromo-dinaphthophosphocin (2) with different mono and bis Grignard reagents (3a–g and 6) followed by oxidation with H2O2. Their structures were confirmed by elemental and spectral (1H, 13C and 31P NMR) data analysis. Some of these compounds are found to possess moderate antimicrobial activity.KEYWORDS: Dioxaphosphocin 8-oxides, dioxaphosphocin bisphosphonates, antimicrobial activity

An Interconnected Wind Driven SEIG System Using SVPWM Controlled TL Z-Source Inverter Strategy for Off-Shore WECS

This paper discuss about  the interconnection of wind driven SEIG for drive applications by using TL Z-source inverter strategy .TL Z-source consists of two coupled inductors having turns ratio γTL and four diodes are used . The wind energy system uses a two Self Excited Induction generator (SEIG) connected parallel in order to increase the reliability. The proposed system components like wind turbine SEIG, rectifier, SVM Controlled TL Z-source inverter, are modeled by matlab Simulink. The maximum power can be extracted and supplied to the load efficiently by using TL Z-source inverter with a proper value of modulation index. The simulation output is analysed experimentally using 500 W experimental setup

Curcumin modulates dopaminergic receptor, CREB and phospholipase c gene expression in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

Curcumin, an active principle component in rhizome of Curcuma longa, has proved its merit for diabetes through its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aims at evaluating the effect of curcumin in modulating the altered dopaminergic receptors, CREB and phospholipase C in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum of STZ induced diabetic rats. Radioreceptor binding assays and gene expression was done in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum of male Wistar rats using specific ligands and probes. Total dopaminergic receptor binding parameter, Bmax showed an increase in cerebral cortex and decrease in the cerebellum of diabetic rats. Gene expression studies using real time PCR showed an increased expression of dopamine D1 and D2 receptor in the cerebral cortex of diabetic rats. In cerebellum dopamine D1 receptor was down regulated and D2 receptor showed an up regulation. Transcription factor CREB and phospholipase C showed a significant down regulation in cerebral cortex and cerebellum of diabetic rats. We report that curcumin supplementation reduces diabetes induced alteration of dopamine D1, D2 receptors, transcription factor CREB and phospholipase C to near control. Our results indicate that curcumin has a potential to regulate diabetes induced malfunctions of dopaminergic signalling, CREB and Phospholipase C expression in cerebral cortex and cerebellum and thereby improving the cognitive and emotional functions associated with these regions. Furthermore, in line with these studies an interaction between curcumin and dopaminergic receptors, CREB and phospholipase C is suggested, which attenuates the cortical and cerebellar dysfunction in diabetes. These results suggest that curcumin holds promise as an agent to prevent or treat CNS complications in diabetes