Role of folic acid supplementation in prevention of neural tube defects: physicians yet unaware!

Folic acid supplementation is important in the prevention of Neural Tube Defects (NTD). The study was conducted to assess the awareness amongst physicians regarding the role of Folic Acid (FA) in the prevention of NTD. Physicians were interviewed regarding the awareness of FA dose, timing of supplementation and knowledge about its role in prevention of neural tube defects using a semistructured questionnaire. Among 202 physicians interviewed (48 pediatricians, 54 obstetricians, 100 recently qualified medical graduates) overall awareness about FA was present in 92.07%, similar in three groups (P > 0.05). Only 47.52% were aware of preconception administration, 61.38% about dose of supplementation and 11.88% about recurrence rate of NTD. Only 15 (7.4%) knew all these. Regarding the etiology of NTDs only 26.7% said both FA and genetic factors are involved. Though majority were aware that folic acid has a role in prevention of NTDs, their knowledge about timing and dose of supplementation was lacking. Hence attempts should be made to increase the awareness regarding prevention of NTD?s by FA supplementation at a proper time

New mono- and polynuclear copper(II) complexes: Structural characterization, quantum chemical calculations and antioxidant superoxide dismutase studies

506-518Two copper(II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized using elemental and spectral analysis. The molecular structures of both complexes have been confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis. The stability of the metal centre was examined using cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry in DMSO solution. X-band electron paramagnetic spectra were recorded both in solid and frozen solution to confirm the d9 configuration. Frozen solution spectra of complexes have the trend in the spin Hamiltonian parameters gǁ > g > 2.0023 and Aǁ 156 x 10-4 cm-1 revealing a dx2-y2 ground state with tetragonal symmetry for copper(II) ion. Density functional calculations have been performed and results are found to agree with the experimental results. Antibacterial activities of complexes were screened by taking gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Further, in vitro antioxidant (superoxide dismutase) properties of 1 and 2 showed considerable activity compared to other SOD mimics

Effect of antioxidants and storage temperatures on browning and quality of custard apple (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Annona</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">squamosa</i> L.) pulp

622-626Experiment consisted of 27 treatment combinations comprising 4 antioxidants (ascorbic acid, citric acid, cysteine and calcium chloride) with 2 concentrations (0.2% and 0.5%) and one control (without antioxidant) and 3 storage temperatures (ambient storage, 5ºC and 0ºC). These treatment combinations were evaluated under factorial completely randomized design with 3 replications. The stored pulp was examined for 120 days after storage at 30 days interval for biochemical and browning scores. Total soluble solids, acidity, ascorbic acid, sugars, phenols and colour were affected significantly up to 120 days of storage. The acidity and ascorbic acid decreased with the advancement of storage period whereas TSS, total sugars, and phenols increased. Browning of pulp also increased with the advancement of storage duration. Pulp treated with ascorbic acid 0.5% and stored under freezing temperature of 0ºC proved the most effective treatment for maintaining quality parameters up to 120 days of storage

Isolation, Purification, Identification and Pathogenicity of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary Caused by Sclerotinia Rot of Chickpea

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Barry is a soil habitat plant pathogen, able of infecting more than five hundred host plant spp., all over the world and doing a crucial role in reduce the yield of economically important crops. Sclerotinia rot also known as stem rot, incited by S. sclerotiorum is a certical disease of chickpea. We done an experiment in which, a number of fungal isolation, purification, identification and pathogenicity from the infected plant materals. The plants appear typical symptoms like drooping of petioles and leaflets and in last stage scattered sclerotial bodies. The infected isolates observed on the affected tissues after re-inoculation and generate mycelial growth and sclerotia both plants and culture plates. On re-isolation it was base that the fungus was identical to the authentic isolate. It was found that the infection was much supreme in inoculated plants as compare to control

Acute thyroid swelling in renal transplant recipient

Tuberculosis (TB) of thyroid gland is rare entity even in solid organ transplant recipients who have a high risk of TB. Thyroid TB is easily diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology. The majority of cases require only antitubercular drugs for treatment, and surgical intervention is required only in few patients. We here describe a case of thyroid TB presenting as an acute abscess in postrenal transplant recipient with a background of acute rejection treated with steroid and antithymocyte globulin

Dexamethasone therapy for bacterial meningitis in adults : a double blind placebo control study

Routine use of steroids in the treatment of bacterial meningitis remains controversial. A prospective placebo controlled double blind study of dexamethasone was carried out in 40 patients (age>10 years) of acute bacterial meningitis. The patients were randomly assigned to receive either placebo (n=20) or dexamethasone (n=20) in addition to injection ceftriaxone 100 mg/kg/day (maximum 4 gm/day) for 14 days. Dexamethasone sodium phosphate was given in dose of 0.6 mg/kg/day in 4 divided doses, for first 4 days of therapy. First dose of dexamethasone was given 15 minutes prior to first dose of ceftriaxone. Baseline demographics, clinical and laboratory features of the two groups were similar. Clinical improvement of signs of meningeal irritation was rapid in dexamethasone group than in the placebo group, but no significant difference was observed regarding resolution of fever, headache and vomiting. Secondary fever (mean+SD 15.00), gastrointestinal tract bleeding (mean+SD 15.00) and psychiatric manifestations (mean+SD 10.00) were more common in dexamethasone group. Neurological complications and hearing loss were more common and severe in placebo group as compared to the dexamethasone group (p<0.05). It is concluded that dexamethasone may be beneficial in some aspects of bacterial meningitis, in adults. A study with a larger number of cases in each group is recommended

Three new tetranuclear phenoxy-bridged metal(II) complexes: Synthesis, structural variation, cryomagnetic properties, DFT study and antiprolifirative properties

Three tetranuclear phenoxy-bridged copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes containing acetic acid (2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzylidene)-hydrazide (HL) of formulae [Cu(HL)]·4ClO·2HO 1, [Cu(L)]·4HO 2 and [Zn(L)]·4HO 3 are synthesized and characterized using various physico-chemical methods. Their X-ray structures reveal that copper(II) complexes 1 and 2 contain distorted CuO cubane core of 4 + 2 type. Zinc complex 3 is open cubane like ZnO core frame work. The coordination sphere in copper(II) complexes 1 and 2 can be described as a distorted octahedral geometry whereas zinc(II) complex 3 has distorted square pyramidal geometry. The variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements on tetranuclear cubane like copper(II) complexes in the range 2–300 K indicate antiferromagnetic exchange coupling between copper(II) centers. The best fit data gave J = −82.4 (4) cm, J = 22 (2) cm and g = 1.95 (1) (R = 0.99996) whereas for 2 it gave J = −86 (1) cm, J = 5 (2) cm and g = 2.074 (7) (R = 0.9998). The nature of super exchange pathway in copper(II) complexes (1 and 2) is discussed on the basis of structural, magnetic and molecular orbital considerations. DFT calculations are performed in order to obtain their molecular orbitals and energies using their crystallographic parameters. The inhibitory effects of the complexes on cell population growth on IMR 32 (neuroblastoma), MCF 7 (breast cancer), HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma), L132 (lung cells) cell lines were determined by MTT assay. The complex [Cu(L)]·4HO 2 showed a significant anti-proliferative effect. The expression levels of Bax (pro-apoptotic), Bcl2 (anti-apoptotic), Caspase 9 and p53 genes were also studied, wherein genes of interest showed moderate down regulation after treatment with all the complexes.Authors are thankful to SAIF IIT Mumbai for ESR measurements and SAIF CDRI Lucknow for microanalysis