Sensory and nutritional evaluation of beverages developed using malted ragi (Eleusine coracana)

Five milk based beverages were developed by supplementing malted ragi and were organoleptically evaluated for sensory attributes by semi-trained panel of 10 judges. Control samples were developed by using milk, fruits (banana, kiwi, strawberry, papaya and mango) and honey and in test samples malted ragi was added at different levels ranging from 5-15 percent. Results revealed that banana based malted ragi beverage supplemented with 5 percent malted ragi was overall highly acceptable in terms of all sensory attributes. The most accepted level was chemically analysed for proximate composition, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, available carbohydrates and antinutritional components by using standard methods. The most acceptable malted ragi beverage was estimated to have 11.78±0.06 g crude protein, 6.81±0.51 g of crude fat, 1.21±0.07 g of crude fibre, 27.44±1.03 g of carbohydrates, 594.3±4.5 mg of tryptophan, 517.6±23.2 mg of methionine, 372.3±8.5 mg of lysine, 172.6 mg of calcium, 3.73 mg of iron, 102.2 mg of phosphorus and 0.596 mg of zinc per 100 ml. The anti-nutritional components were 155.8±11.3 mg of phytates, 15.4±2.3 mg of total phenols and 0.32±0.01 mg of trypsin inhibitor activity. Total sugars were found to be 5.44±0.21 g, 3.16±0.15 g of reducing sugars, 2.28±0.14 g of non-reducing sugars and 1.06±0.05 g of starch. It may be concluded that malted ragi can be utilized successfully up to 5 percent level to prepare beverages with high nutritional value without imposing negative impact on sensory attributes which may prove a boon to osteoporotic patients

Prescription analysis of hypolipidaemic agents in the department of cardiology in a tertiary care hospital

ABSTRACTBackground: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the prescribing pattern of hypolipidaemic drugs in the outpatient department of cardiology in a tertiary care hospital.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the department of cardiology for the period of 3 months. A total of 526 prescriptions were analyzed for variants such as the disease patterns, the type of hypolipidaemic drugs which are prescribed for those diseases, the prescribing daily dose of the hypolipidaemic drugs and the prescribing daily dose/daily defined dose ratio of the drugs.Results: On evaluation of the prescriptions, it was conferred that both the patients of normal lipid profile (34.77%) and abnormal lipid profile (65.18%) were prescribed hypolipidaemic drug. Diabetes with hypertension (35.74%) was the most common disease for which hypolipidaemic drugs were prescribed. Atorvastatin (30.98%) was the most common drug which was prescribed as monotherapy, whereas atorvastatin with aspirin and clopidogrel (17.49%) was the most common drug prescribed in combination.Conclusions: Use of statin has become very prevalent with increasing trends of use in both normal and abnormal lipid profile patients, suggesting consideration of rational use of statins to follow good prescribing pattern so that morbidity and mortality can be prevented

A comparative assessment of safety and tolerability of metoprolol versus carvedilol in patients of chronic stable angina

Background: Angina pectoris is a clinical manifestation characterized by chest pain typically in substerum radiating to left arm, jaw, back lasting for 1-5 minutes and is relieved by rest. Beta blockers are one of the drugs indicated in angina. The aim of the study is to compare safety and tolerability of metoprolol and carvedilol in patients of chronic stable angina.Methods: The study done is randomized, open label, parallel type where tablet carvedilol and tab metoprolol is given in a group of 50 patients each. The patients were followed thereafter on 8th, 16th, 24th week to study safety in terms of haematological parameters like complete blood count, liver function tests, renal function tests, serum sodium, serum potassium, fasting blood glucose, 2 hours post prandial blood glucose, HbA1C, and Lipid profile and tolerability in terms of side effects. The study was conducted for one year and the data was assessed by relevant statistical analysis where p value <0.05 was considered significant.Results: It was seen that the disease was most common in the age group of 51-60 years with male preponderance, and carvedilol was found to cause non-significant decrease in Serum Triglyceride with no change in total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C was found. No significant changes were observed in metoprolol group. There was no significant difference observed when blood sugar profile and other haematological parameters were considered. Both drugs were considered to be equally tolerable.Conclusions: Compared with carvedilol and metoprolol in patients of chronic stable angina, carvedilol resulted in better lipid profile whereas metoprolol showed no changes in lipid parameters

The effectiveness of intravenous dexmedetomidine on haemodynamic responses during tracheal extubation in patients undergoing craniotomies

Background: Dexmedetomidine an α2 agonist reduces heart rate and blood pressure due to sympatholytic activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on haemodynamic response during endotracheal extubation in patients undergoing craniotomies for intracranial space occupying lesion (ICSOL).Methods: Sixty patients of ASA grade I and II, age 18-50 years scheduled for craniotomy for nonvascular ICSOL were selected after randomization into 2 groups with 30 patients in each group. Group D and C received an IV infusion of dexmedetomidine 0.5 mg/kg and normal saline 100 ml respectively over 10 min at the time of skin closure in a double-blind manner. Heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were recorded just before drug administration, 3 and 5 minutes after drug administration, during extubation and at 3, 5, 10 and 15 minutes after extubation. Respiratory rate and oxygen saturation were analyzed at 3, 5, 10 and15 minutes after extubation. Any laryngospasm, bronchospasm, desaturation, respiratory depression, vomiting, hypotension and bradycardia was noted.Results: Heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased during emergence time in both groups (p<0.05) but this increase was more significant in control group than group D. SBP and heart rate were significantly lower in group D from 3 minutes after drug administration to 15 minutes after extubation. DBP was lower in group D during extubation till 15 minutes after extubation (p<0.01). No significant differences were observed in the respect of adverse events between the groups.Conclusions: Intravenous dexmedetomidine 0.5 mg/kg before extubation is attenuates haemodynamic response during endotracheal extubation in craniotomies

Stroke in sickle cell disease: case report

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells. It is characterized by polymerization of haemoglobin, erythrocyte stiffening, and subsequent vaso-occlusions. These can lead to microcirculation obstructions, tissue ischemia, infarction and acute stroke. Transient ischemic attack, Ischaemic stroke, haemorrhagic stroke, silent cerebral infarction, headache, Moyamoya disease, neuropathic pain, and neurocognitive impairment are neurological complications of sickle cell disease. Here we report a case of ischemic stroke in a patient of sickle cell disease. For early diagnosis and proper management of sickle cell disease neurological complications require specialised haematological and neurological expertise. The newly used medications under ongoing research will be the hope to overcome this devastating disease and its complications

Vegetable and Herbal Extracts: A Way towards Preventive and Therapeutics Regimen

The traditional and herbal medicines play significant role in the treatment of several diseases. These medicines are the outcome of extensive research on therapeutic and preventive activity of various plant species and their specific parts. Administration of various plant parts, vegetables, fruits and other herbal constituents have significant impact on reduction of clinical, carcinogenic and genotoxic effects of various environmental toxicants. Various parts of plant such as wood, bark, stem, leaf and pod are rich in antioxidants which are known for their free radical scavenging activity. Currently, the treatment options rely significantly using natural anti-oxidants which are extracted from plant products because these are largely available, cost effective and non-toxic as compared to the synthetic drugs. Some potent natural anti-oxidants include tocopherol, ascorbic acid, flavonoids, quercetin, carotene, cinnamic acid, peptides and phenolic compounds which are extensively available in various herbal extracts. The present chapter will focus upon availability of various antioxidants in vegetables and other medicinal plants and their potential activities against xenobiotics

Adenosine Deaminase as Inflammatory Marker in Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Objective: To evaluate the enzymatic activity of Adenosine Deaminase in type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: This study was conducted on 60 clinically diagnosed type II diabetes mellitus patients, with 60 healthy subjects as the control group. Subjects were enrolled in the study only after their written consent was obtained. The inclusion of diabetes mellitus cases (DM) was conducted as per the WHO guidelines. Estimation of enzymatic activity of serum ADA was performed by Kinetic method using a commercial kit. Result: The observed serum ADA activity in DM patients was 48.34 ± 21.05 U/L, which was significantly higher in comparison to healthy controls (25.02 ± 5.78 U/L). The serum activity raised in about 80% of patients and they had higher values above the reference activity of 30 U/L. The increased activity of ADA among the diabetic subjects indicates inflammatory changes in these individuals. Conclusion: It is possible that in the coming years, a new therapeutic strategy based on anti-inflammatory properties with beneficial effects on diabetic complications can be translated into real clinical treatments

Evaluation of prescribing pattern of antidiabetic drugs in medicine outpatient clinic of a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: Diabetes is rapidly gaining the status of a potential epidemic in India with more than 62 million diabetics currently diagnosed with the disease. Drug utilization studies are of paramount importance for the optimization of drug therapy and promote rational drug use among health care providers. The aim of this study was to investigate the drug utilization pattern in type-2 diabetic patients. The objective of the study was to analyse the prescribing pattern of anti-diabetic drugs in a tertiary care hospital.Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study was carried out in medicine outpatient clinic of tertiary care hospital, RIMS Ranchi for a period of 7 months. The data was analysed using WHO core indicators and Microsoft Excel 2013.Results: The total number of encounters surveyed was 94. Avg no of drugs per prescription was 3.04. Percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name was found to be 34.2%. Percentage of prescriptions was a) with antibiotics was 27.6%, b) with insulin was 14.89%, c) from essential drugs list 44.05%. Most common co morbid disease was found to be hypertension present in 27.6% cases.Most commonly use drug was found to be metformin followed by glimepiride.Conclusions: Implementation of WHO core prescribing indicators by the prescribers would help us to reduce the cost, to recognize and prevent potentially dangerous drug- drug interaction and antibiotic resistance

ELCA: Introducing Enterprise-level Cryptographic Agility for a Post-Quantum Era

Given the importance of cryptography to modern security and privacy solutions, it is surprising how little attention has been given to the problem of \textit{cryptographic agility}, or frameworks enabling the transition from one cryptographic algorithm or implementation to another. In this paper, we argue that traditional notions of cryptographic agility fail to capture the challenges facing modern enterprises that will soon be forced to implement a disruptive migration from today’s public key algorithms (e.g., RSA, ECDH) to quantum-safe alternatives (e.g., CRYSTALS-KYBER). After discussing the challenge of real-world cryptographic transition at scale, we describe our work on enterprise-level cryptographic agility for secure communications based on orchestrated \textit{cryptographic providers}. Our policy-driven approach, prototyped in service mesh, provides a much-needed re-envisioning for cryptographic agility and highlights what’s missing today to enable disruptive cryptographic change at scale

Glutamine supplementation and renal health

Gemstone Team JuicedTeam Juiced designed a multi-faceted research project surrounding the potential risk of college students using protein supplements developing kidney disease. Survey research showed that participants taking protein supplements were ingesting double the recommended allowance based on literature values for average American dietary protein intake. Participants predisposed to kidney disease were no less likely to take protein supplements. Kidney cell modeling showed the molecular response to glutamine, an important protein building block. A significant increase in the gene expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor and two sclerotic markers was found in response to glutamine exposure. Gene expression was time- and dose-dependent. Enzymatic degradation and high performance liquid chromatography showed that three popular protein supplements contained more glutamine than stated by the manufacturers