Antihypertensive and Antioxidant Action of Amlodipine and Vitamin C in Patients of Essential Hypertension

The etiology of essential hypertension includes increased oxidative stress. The role of antihypertensive drug amlodipine as an antioxidant and the benefit of addition of vitamin C, an antioxidant to antihypertensive therapy were studied. Forty male patients of essential hypertension were randomly divided into two groups and treated with 5 mg amlodipine. In addition one group also received 1000 mg vitamin C (as two 500 mg tablets) once daily for three months. Although blood pressure decreased in both groups, the systolic blood pressure in patients given vitamin C was less (126.4 ± 7.47) compared to the other group (130.9 ± 7.27). A decrease in malondialdehyde, an increase in erythrocyte sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na+ K+ ATPase) and an increase in the superoxide dismutase levels were observed in both groups. The increase in SOD was statistically more in the patients given vitamin C in addition to amlodipine (0.1717 ± 0.0150 compared to 0.152 ± 0.0219 units/100 ml assay). In spite of the known antihypertensive, antioxidant activity, similarity in correcting endothelial dysfunction independently, giving the two drugs together and early introduction of vitamin C perhaps decreases oxidative stress and augments the antioxidant status. This may prevent further vascular damage due to oxidative stress, leading to a better prognosis in essential hypertension patients

Content Based Image retrieval System

Abstract : This article describes about how technology is enhancing day by day, therefore the focus should be on new technology and new concepts which are getting implemented keeping all these things in mind the paper describes about technique for retrieving images on the basis of automaticallyderived features such as color, edge, shape -a technology now generally referred to as Content-Based Image Retrieval (CBIR). The function of our system is that a query image will be passed to cbir, also by browsing the image database folder and by selecting the image retrieval algorithm according like cedd,fcth,cld,ehd the cbir retrieves the similar images. This"Content-based" means that the search will analyze the actual contents of the image. The term 'content' in this context might refer colors, shapes, textures, or any other information that can be derived from the image itself.cbir is advantageous than purely text based image search

Evaluation of autonomic functions in subclinical hypothyroid and hypothyroid patients

Background: Autonomic dysfunction may contribute to cardiovascular morbidity in subclinical hypothyroid patients. It is controversial whether the abnormality exists in sympathetic or the parasympathetic function. It is also not known whether the severity of autonomic dysfunction is related to the degree of thyroid deficiency. Design of Study: Prospective case control. Materials and Methods: Autonomic functions based on heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) responses to various maneuvers were evaluated and scored in twenty two subclinical hypothyroid patients, 30-50 years and compared with twenty hypothyroid patients. Biochemical estimation of TSH, fT 3 , fT 4 , TPO antibody was done. Result: Sympathetic function abnormalities were seen in 82% subclinical hypothyroid patients and 85%hypothyroid patients when one test was abnormal. Parasympathetic dysfunction was also recorded in eight patients in both groups. When two abnormal tests were used as the selection criteria sympathetic function abnormality was observed in about 41% subclinical hypothyroid and 65% hypothyroid patients. There were no intergroup differences in autonomic functions, score and TPO levels. The TSH levels were not related to type or degree of autonomic dysfunction. Systolic BP in both groups and diastolic BP in hypothyroid patients were higher with lower thyroxine levels but the patients were normotensive. Conclusion: Autonomic dysfunction of comparable degree was seen in subclinical hypothyroid and hypothyroid patients. Sympathetic function abnormality was more common although decreased parasympathetic function reactivity was also present. These abnormalities were unrelated to TSH levels

Plexiform Unicystic Ameloblastoma: A Rare Variant of Ameloblastoma

The term plexiform unicystic ameloblastoma refers to a pattern of epithelial proliferation that has been described in cystic cavity. Because of unilocular presentation, it is commonly misdiagnosed as an odontogenic cyst. However, they may often behave clinically as biologically aggressive tumors. These tumors show high incidence of cortical perforation, tooth resorption and a high rate of recurrence after simple enucleation. This paper aims to provide an insight into this biologically distinct entity. A literature review on the topic has been added along with a case report highlighting the approach of diagnosis and management of such ameloblastomas

Effect of 6 months of meditation on blood sugar, glycosylated hemoglobin, and insulin levels in patients of coronary artery disease

Background and Objectives: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It has been recognized that stress, diabetes, and hypertension are important in etiology and progression of CAD. This study is to evaluate the role of meditation in improving biochemical parameters such as blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and serum insulin levels in known CAD patients. Material and Methods: Sixty CAD patients are divided into two groups of which one group did meditation and other did not. Blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and fasting serum insulin levels were measured before and at the end of 6 months of study in both the groups. Results: At the end of the study, significant decrease was seen in patients who practiced meditation as compared to other group. Conclusion: Meditation may modulate the physiological response to stress through neurohumoral activation, which may be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of CAD

Analysis of Complement Receptor Type 1 (CR1) Polymorphisms and Its Association With Malaria in Rural Population of Maharashtra

The interaction between human host and the Plasmodium parasite is complex. The factors affecting the causality of infection and its severity are yet not completely understood. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) associated with CR1 may be associated with patho-physiology of malaria and its susceptibility to the disease. Methods: The objective of the present study was to calculate the incidence of various antigens of Knops blood group system and CR1 Exon22 polymorphisms in rural population from Chiplun Taluka of Ratnagiri district. The study included 112 malaria positive cases and 909 healthy controls, which were screened for CR1 Exon22 polymorphism. Knops (Kna/b), McCoy (McCa/b), Swain-Langley (Sl1/2) polymorphisms were screened in 93 cases and 321 healthy controls. The frequencies were determined using a PCR-RFLP technique. Results: Only wild types of the allele form were observed in Knops blood group system in malaria cases and healthy control. CR1 exon22 polymorphism was seen in the study population with all the 3 allele type distributed in the cases and control samples. No significant allelic or genotypic differences were found between the controls and the disease groups. Conclusion: The results of the present study demonstrate that common CR1 Exon22 and Knops blood group system are not associated with malaria in the endemic area