A pharmacological study on the effect of calendula officinalis extract on wound healing in animals

Background: Calendula officinalis is one of those plants which have medicinal importance due to its flowers (HECO) has pharmacological activity the important pharmacological parameters have been less investigated properly and can be scientifically proved by reverse pharmacology. It was found of interest to evaluate these properties of extract of flowers of Calendula officinalis.Methods: Study was conducted in Albino Wistar rats. For evaluating wound healing activity Excision wound model and Incision wound mode were used containing 4 groups each. The wound contraction was studied by tracing the raw wound area on graph paper. Scar area and time for complete epithelisation were measured. The percentage of wound contraction was recorded. The differences between experimental groups were compared by ANOVA followed by Students “t” unpaired test.Results: In the excision wound healing model, 5% and 10% flowers showed a highly significant reduction in wound area as compared with control. In incision wound model, rats treated with 5% and 10% ointment of Calendula officinalis flowers extract showed highly significant increase in tensile strength as compared to control.Conclusions: It was found that the Calendula extract enhanced the wound healing in both the models as seen by increased synthesis of connective tissue especially collagen. There was a significant increase in the granuloma tissue. In both the models wound contraction and increased tensile strength was found to be statistically significant

Temperature – Dependent Toxicokinetics of Copper and Lead in Notonecta glauca L. (Hemiptera: Notonectidae) Under Laboratory Condition

Temperature is a critical factor due to its effect on both physiology of the organism and the environmental chemistry of the metals. The present study focuses on the toxicity and the bioaccumulation kinetics of Cu and Pb in Notonecta glauca exposed to heavy metal contaminated water system at different temperatures. The result showed that the accumulation of heavy metal gradually increases with increase in temperature and duration of exposure while there was a decrease in LC50 value of Pb and Cu. The calculated uptake factor of lead at different temperatures showed that it has a higher uptake potential than copper

A Study on Effect of Employee Diversity on Organizational Performance

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of employee diversity on organizational performance.   Theoretical framework: The study is based on the diversity-performance relationship theory, which suggests that a diverse workforce can lead to improved organizational performance.   Design/methodology/approach: The study employs a quantitative research design and utilizes survey data collected from employees and managers in multiple organizations. The data is analyzed using statistical methods to examine the relationship between employee diversity and organizational performance.   Findings: The findings indicate that organizations with a diverse workforce tend to have higher levels of organizational performance, as measured by factors such as productivity, innovation, and employee satisfaction.   Research, practical and social implications: The study has important implications for organizations, as it suggests that actively promoting diversity can lead to improved performance. Additionally, the findings have implications for society, as they suggest that promoting diversity in the workforce can lead to improved outcomes for organizations and their stakeholders.   Originality/value: This study adds to the existing literature by providing new evidence on the relationship between employee diversity and organizational performance, using a large and diverse sample of organizations

Six senses while considering hydatid cyst as a differential for a swelling at nape of the neck: a case report

While cervical swellings usually are located in anterior midline like thyroglossal cyst, thyroid swellings, or in antero-lateral aspect of neck like cold abscess, branchial cyst, lymphangioma, cervical lymphadenopathy etc. Nape of the neck swelling is even less common with differentials including lipoma, sebaceous cyst, lymphangioma, etc. Hydatid cyst (HC) is often missed as a differential resulting in intraoperative surprises. This case report might change the mind of the readers to keep HC in back of their minds while approaching a case of swelling of the neck. Here we report a case of 15 years’ female who presented with swelling of nape of neck which on evaluation was inclining towards lipoma/epidermal cyst. With an intention for surgical exploration and excision, the patient was taken for operation, where we discovered it to be HC and the same was later confirmed by histopathology as well. Because of its rare presentation the primary diagnosis of HC is often missed out in spite of having sensitive cytology and imaging modalities. Hence, by reporting this case we intend to emphasize six facts a clinician, a radiologist and also a pathologist must consider while keeping primary HC at an unusual site as a differential diagnosis.

Microstructure and corrosion behaviour of NiCo-Carbon nanotube composite coatings

Microstructure-corrosion property correlation in electrodeposited NiCo-carbon nanotube (NiCo-CNT) composite coatings has been explored. NiCo-CNT composite coatings were electrodeposited over mild steel substrate by dispersing different amounts of CNTs into the electrolyte bath. CNTs were synthesized by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. Morphological characterization revealed crack free morphology for all the coatings. The coating morphology progressively became finer with increase in the addition of CNTs up to a certain amount of CNT after which the morphology again became rougher. Finer morphology was due to a uniform distribution of CNTs in the coating matrix. Lower amount of CNT and non-uniform distribution of agglomerated CNTs in case of higher concentrations produced the rougher morphology. All the NiCo-CNT composite coating were relatively hydrophobic when compared to the only NiCo coating. Structural characterization revealed that an intimate interaction between the growing metal matrix and CNT promoted coating growth along the low energy (111) direction. Corrosion behaviour of the coatings was examined through potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy methods. It was observed that there exists an optimum with respect to the amount of CNT in the NiCo-CNT composite coating for achieving highest corrosion resistance performance. This optimum CNT amount was the same that produced finer morphology and preferred growth along low energy planes. Further characterization of the composite coating microstructure revealed that the optimum CNT concentration also produced a microstructure with largest fraction of low energy low angle grain boundaries which also resulted in higher corrosion resistance performance

An Observational Analysis on the pattern of the prescriptions in Urinary tract Infections

Introduction : UTI can present as several syndromes associated with an inflammatory response to microbial invasion and can range from asymptomatic bacteriuria to pyelonephritis with bacteremia or sepsis. Excessive and inappropriate antibiotic prescribing only serves to increase unwanted side effects and the risk of antibiotic resistance both in individually treated patients and at the societal level .This study was conducted to determine the prevalence rate of urinary tract infection and assess the drug utilization pattern of antibiotics for the treatment of UTI. The study also compared the antibiotic prescribing in UTI with the standard treatment guideline.Methods:Retrospective Analytical study. The local hospital antibiotic policy was used as the standard for comparing the antibiotic prescription of UTI. Data were collected from the medication orders and relevant information was entered into the systematically prepared data collection form. Data collected included patient demographics, disease details, predisposing factors, microorganisms identified, clinical manifestations and present drug therapy. Antibiotic prescribed were recorded and classified according to their chemical class.Results:. A total of 100 medication orders were collected and analyzed. The result showed that prevalence of UTI was higher among female than male. Most of the patients were presenting symptomatic UTI. The most consistent symptom to patient with UTI was fever . Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were the major predisposing factors observed. Out of the organisms isolated from the specimens collected Escherichia coli was the common microorganism. Cephalosporins were the most frequently prescribed class of antibiotic (50%) followed by fluoroquinolones (27.50%).Conclusion: Empirical treatment with antibiotic has shown increase in length of stay in hospital when compared to the antibiogram based prescribing. This shows that strict hospital guideline is mandatory to promote rational use of antibiotic which would not only prevent antibiotic resistance, but also reduce the treatment expenditure and hospital stay

Measurement of Intact Serum Parathormone and Corrected Serum Calcium after Thyroid Surgery

Postoperative hypocalcemia is an important complication of thyroid surgery. The present study was undertaken to measure the serum levels of intact parathormone (iPTH) and corrected serum calcium (CSC) in the immediate postoperative period and then sequentially till 1 month after thyroid surgery. A total of 36 patients undergoing total thyroidectomy and 44 undergoing hemithyroidectomy had measurement of the level of iPTH and CSC at 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month after surgery. A mean drop of 9.3% in CSC, 40% in iPTH, and 10% in ionic calcium levels was noted 1 hour after total thyroidectomy. All the patients recovered to near preoperative levels at the 1-month follow-up. Among hemithyroidectomy patients, significant postsurgery drop in levels was not observed. The importance of the study is early recognition of a hypoparathyroid state at 1 hour after surgery and institution of calcium replacement, thereby sparing the patient from unpleasant symptoms of hypocalcemia. Furthermore, patients with a drop in the iPTH levels below the defined hypoparathyroidism levels should have careful evaluation of their thyroidectomy specimen for identification and possible autotransplantation of the parathyroid gland intraoperatively or in the immediate postoperative time frame

A review on impact of carbonated milk beverages on human health

Carbonated milk beverages are drinks produced by the fermentation process (addition of yeast) and carbonated by mechanical or physical method. Recent studies show the consumption of carbonated milk beverages are becoming popular due to their nutritional and therapeutic effects. Products like kefir, koumiss, carbonated probiotic drinks and sparkling milk. According to research kefir has different health benefits like gastrointestinal proliferation, anti-bacterial spectrum, an anti-carcinogenic effect due to the presence of lactic acid formed during fermentation. It is also good for those who are lactose intolerant because of the high B – galactosidase activity enzyme which helps break down lactose sugar. Koumiss is first used by Mongolian people to treat tuberculosis, ulcers and hepatitis. It is rich in vitamin C, A, E, D and antibiotics. Carbonated probiotic drinks help in maintaining cholesterol level because lactic acid hinders the growth of bacteria in the small intestine by attaching the hexagen. Carbonated blueberry flavoured milk helps to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, anti-inflammatory effects and some forms of cancer because blueberry is a source of vitamins, flavonoids and other phenolic compounds (anthocyanins)

Assessment of risk of obstructive sleep apnea with thyroid eye disease and its activity

Purpose: To evaluate the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and thyroid eye disease (TED) and its effect on disease activity. Methods: A prospective case–control study was conducted from January 2020 to March 2022. All TED patients (group A) were clinically evaluated. The activity of thyroid eye disease was calculated based on the clinical activity score (CAS), and grading of severity was done according to the EUGOGO classification. All TED patients (group A) were screened for OSA using the Snoring Tired Observed Pressure (STOP)-Bang survey. Age- and gender-matched control group patients (group B) without TED were screened for OSA. Results: One hundred TED patients and 138 control patients without TED were included in the respective groups. Sixty-two (62%) patients in group A and 48 (34.78%) patients in group B were having high risk of OSA, and this difference was statistically significant (P = 0.001). Further, in group A patients, on univariate analysis, TED activity was significantly associated with a high risk of OSA (P = 0.009). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, OSA also showed significant association with TED activity (odds ratio [OR]: 4.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11-18.85 at 10% level; P = 0.05). Conclusion: Our study showed that OSA is significantly associated with TED disease and its activity. However, no significant association was found between OSA and severity of the disease