Management of Treatment and Prevention of Acute OP Pesticide Poisoning by Medical Informatics, Telemedicine and Nanomedicine

Acute organophosphorous pesticide (OP) poisoning kills a lot of people each year. Treatment of acute OP poisoning is of very difficult task and is a time taking event. Present day informatics methods (telemedicine), bioinformatics methods (data mining, molecular modeling, docking, cheminformatics), and nanotechnology (nanomedicine) should be applied in combination or separately to combat the rise of death rate due to OP poisoning. Use of informatics method such as Java enabled camera mobiles will enable us early detection of insecticidal poisoning. Even the patients who are severely intoxicated (suicidal attempts) can be diagnosed early. Telemedicine can take care for early diagnosis and early treatment. Simultaneously efforts must be taken with regard to nanotechnology to find lesser toxic compounds (use less dose of nanoparticle mediated compounds: nano-malathion) as insecticides and find better efficacy of lesser dose of compounds for treatment (nano-atropine) of OP poisoning. Nano-apitropine (atropine oxide) may be a better choice for OP poisoning treatment as the anticholinergic agent; apitropine and hyoscyamine have exhibited higher binding affinity than atropine sulfate. Synthesis of insecticides (malathion) with an antidote (atropine, apitropine) in nanoscale range will prevent the lethal effect of insecticides

Antinociceptive Activity of Methanol Extract of Areca catechu L. (Arecaceae) Stems and Leaves in Mice

ABSTRACT The antinociceptive effect of crude methanol extracts of stems and leaves of Areca catechu L. (Arecaceae) was evaluated in acetic acid-induced gastric pain writhing model in Swiss albino mice. The methanol extract of Areca catechu stems dose-dependently reduced the number of writhings (constrictions) in mice, when tested at doses of 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg extract administered per kg body weight. Significant reductions in the number of writhings were noted with all administered doses. The percent inhibitions of acetic acid-induced writhings with the four different doses were, respectively, 30.8, 36.6, 40.9 and 59.6. The standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, when administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight reduced writhings by 42.3 and 55.8%, respectively. A significant dose-dependent inhibition of writhings was also observed with crude methanol extract of Areca catechu leaves, where the extract at doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight significantly inhibited writhings by 55.8, 57.7, 86.5 and 88.5%, respectively. Dose for dose, the leaf extract demonstrated higher antinociceptive activity than the stem extract. At even the lowest dose of 50 mg extract per kg body weight, the antinociceptive activity of leaf extract was comparable to that of 400 mg aspirin per kg body weight. The results suggest that both stem and leaf extract possess good antinociceptive activity, which merits further scientific studies as to isolation of responsible phytochemical component(s)

Multiple Organ Damage Due to Boric Acid Toxicity

Background: Boric acid (BA) is commonly used as pesticide, disinfectant and wood preservative. Its ingestion can cause serious organ damages resulting in death. Case report: A 19 year old man was found dead with two empty packs of BA tablets in vicinity of his body. On autopsy examination, brownish stains along with right angle of mouth and right nostril were found. Stomach was damaged with hemorrhagic gastritis. All internal organs including liver, kidney, spleen and brain were congested. The toxicological analysis of viscera confirmed boron ion toxicity. Discussion: Boric acid is a moderately toxic compound that is a mucosal corrosive agent affecting upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. It can also act as a generalized cellular poison, and thus all end organs including liver, kidneys, brain and gastrointestinal tract are prone to its toxicity. Massive BA poisoning mostly occurs in adults as a result of suicide attempt. Early aggressive hydration and hemodialysis can prevent its mortality. Conclusion: A dead body with erythematous rash, redness of skin, bluish green color of vomitus and fecal matter, corrosive changes in oral and nasal cavity and multiple organ damages can be highly suggestive of BA poisoning.   How to cite this article: Rani M, Meena MC. Multiple Organ Damage Due to Boric Acid Toxicity. Asia Pac J Med Toxicol 2013;2:157-9

Sudden death in strabismus surgery under local anaesthesia: a case report

Oculocardiac reflex (OCR) sometimes occurs as a result of pressure on the eye or traction of the intraorbital surrounding structures during ophthalmic surgery. This can result in bradycardiac arrhythmia and cardiac arrest. A 45-year-old female was undergoing an elective squint correction surgery of one eye under local anaesthesia in a private hospital in December 2013. The patient was preoperatively examined, investigated and admitted to the hospital one day prior to operation. There was no previous history of any chronic illnesses. The patient collapsed during surgery and declared dead. Doctors attempting strabismus surgery under local anaesthesia should be familiar with this phenomenon

Effect of group 5 elements on the formation and corrosion behavior of Ti-based BMG matrix composites reinforced by icosahedral quasicrystalline phase

International audienceThe addition of a low concentration of group 5 elements to the Ti40Zr29Be16Cu8Ni7 BMG alloys resulted in the formation of particles with icosahedral quasiciystalline symmetry of different size and volume fraction embedded in BMG matrices. Since the i-phase is known for its excellent corrosion resistance, the properties of the TM-containing Ti-based BMGs, with 0 <= TM <= 5 at.%, have been investigated in aerated 1 M H2SO4 + 2 ppm F- solution with 80 degrees C by means of potentio-dynamic, potentio-static and chemical immersion. The addition of 3 at.% Ta provided an alloys with properties similar to those of Ti-6Al-4V alloy in a solution simulating the environment of a bipolar plate in polymer electrolyte membrane. The high corrosion resistances of the in situ BMG matrix composites are attributed to the similarity in the composition of the i-phase and amorphous matrices as well as the formation of protective oxide layers rich in Ti, Zr and V/Ta/Nb

Impact of STCR Based Nutrient Application on Dry Matter Accumulation, Partitioning of Potassium in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) and Potassium Fractions in Black Cotton Soil of Central India

Chemical fertilizers used by the majority of Indian farmers are based on a generalized recommendation that overlooks soil fertility and crop response. These broad recommendations frequently result in under- or over-fertilization, resulting in reduced productivity, efficiency, and environmental pollution. To address these issues, the STCR-target yield approach appears to be promising. However, the dynamics of potassium (K), an important primary essential nutrient, is not fully understood under STCR based approach. Therefore, our current study was aimed to profile the dynamics of potassium in rice parts and its different forms in vertisol. The present study was conducted at the soil science research farm of Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, a part of AICRP on the effect of soil test and crop response based nutrient management on potassium partitioning in rice crop and its fractions in vertisol of Madhya Pradesh. The treatments comprised of T1 : Control (no fertilizer application); T2 : General recommended dose (120:60:40 N, P2O5 and K2O kg ha-1); T3 : Targeted Yield 50 q ha-1 (115:90:49 N, P2O5 and K2O kg ha-1);&nbsp; T4 : Targeted Yield 60 q ha-1 (157:125:70 N, P2O5 and K2O kg ha-1);&nbsp; T5 : Targeted Yield 50 q ha-1 with 5 t FYM ha-1 (115:90:49 N, P2O5 and K2O kg ha-1); and T6 : Targeted Yield 60 q ha-1&nbsp; with 5 t FYM ha-1 (157:125:70 N, P2O5 and K2O kg ha-1). Partitioning of K into different parts of rice was anlaysed and the result showed that T6 has a significant effect on it. Highest concentration of K in root, leaves, stem, panicle and grain (0.353, 1.730, 2.510, 0.441 and 0.275%, respectively) was found in T6. STCR based fertilizer with 5 tonnes FYM ha-1 application significantly influenced the different fractions of soil K and the maximum available potassium, which is present in the form of water-soluble, exchangeable, and non-exchangeable forms, equilibrium with each other, were also found to be maximum in treatment T6. The study based on STCR demonstrated that STCR based integrated use of fertilizers and manure for targeting yield can produce targeted yield without deteriorating soil fertility

Chitosan biopolymer promotes yield and stimulates accumulation of antioxidants in strawberry fruit.

Strawberry is a well-known source of natural antioxidants with excellent free radical scavenging capacity. This study determined the effects of chitosan application in field condition on plant growth, fruit yield and antioxidant activities in strawberry fruit. Foliar applications of chitosan on strawberry significantly increased plant growth and fruit yield (up to 42% higher) compared to untreated control. Increased fruit yield was attributed to higher plant growth, individual fruit weight and total fruit weight/plant due to the chitosan application. Surprisingly, the fruit from plants sprayed with chitosan also had significantly higher contents (up to 2.6-fold) of carotenoids, anthocyanins, flavonoids and phenolics compared to untreated control. Total antioxidant activities in fruit of chitosan treated plants were also significantly higher (ca. 2-fold) (p< 0.05) than untreated control. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of chitosan applied on field plants providing significant improvement of both yield and health benefiting biochemical contents in strawberry fruit. Further study on the elucidation of mechanisms involved with enhancement of growth, yield and biochemical contents by chitosan is needed to promote sustainable production of strawberry

Adhatoda vasica and Tinospora cordifolia extracts ameliorate clinical and molecular markers in mild COVID-19 patients: a randomized open-label three-armed study

Abstract Background SARS-CoV-2 infections caused mild-to-moderate illness. However, a sizable portion of infected people experience a rapid progression of hyper-inflammatory and hypoxic respiratory illness that necessitates an effective and safer remedy to combat COVID-19. Methods A total of 150 COVID-19-positive patients with no to mild symptoms, between the age groups 19–65 years were enrolled in this randomized, open-labeled three-armed clinical trial. Among them, 136 patients completed the study with RT-PCR negative reports. The patients received herbal drugs orally (Group A (Adhatoda vasica; AV; 500 mg; n = 50); Group B (Tinospora cordifolia; TC; 500 mg; n = 43), and Group C (AV + TC; 250 mg each; n = 43)) for 14 days. Clinical symptoms, vital parameters, and viral clearance were taken as primary outcomes, and biochemical, hematological parameters, cytokines, and biomarkers were evaluated at three time points as secondary outcomes. Results We found that the mean viral clearance time was 13.92 days (95% confidence interval [CI] 12.85–14.99) in Group A, 13.44 days (95% confidence interval [CI] 12.14–14.74) in Group B, and 11.86 days (95% confidence interval [CI] 10.62–13.11) days in Group C. Over a period of 14 days, the mean temperature in Groups A, and B significantly decreased linearly. In Group A, during the trial period, eosinophils, and PT/INR increased significantly, while monocytes, SGOT, globulin, serum ferritin, and HIF-1α, a marker of hypoxia reduced significantly. On the other hand, in Group B hsCRP decreased at mid-treatment. Eosinophil levels increased in Group C during the treatment, while MCP-3 levels were significantly reduced. Conclusions All the patients of the three-armed interventions recovered from COVID-19 and none of them reported any adverse effects from the drugs. Group C patients (AV + TC) resulted in a quicker viral clearance as compared to the other two groups. We provide the first clinical report of AV herbal extract acting as a modifier of HIF-1α in COVID-19 patients along with a reduction in levels of ferritin, VEGF, and PT/INR as the markers of hypoxia, inflammation, and thrombosis highlighting the potential use in progression stages, whereas the TC group showed immunomodulatory effects. Trial registration Clinical Trials Database -India (ICMR-NIMS), CTRI/2020/09/028043. Registered 24th September 2020, https://www.ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/pdf_generate.php?trialid=47443&EncHid=&modid=&compid=%27,%2747443det%27 Graphical Abstrac

Analysis of sequence, structure of GAPDH of <i>Leishmania donovani</i> and its interactions

<div><p>Drug resistance acquired by <i>Leishmania donovani</i> (<i>Ldv</i>) is a major problem in the treatment and control of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), a major glycolytic enzyme has been targeted as is found in other protozoan which cause diseases like sleeping sickness. GAPDH gene of <i>Ldv</i> (AG83 strain) was amplified, sequenced, and modeled on the basis of crystal structure of <i>Leishmania mexicana</i>. The model of the <i>Ldv</i> GAPDH exhibited NAD-binding domain with Rossmann folding. Virtual screening of different experimentally proved compounds with the crystal and the modeled structures of GAPDH of <i>Leishmania</i> strains revealed diverse binding affinities of different compounds. Comparison of binding affinities (based on different programs) of compounds revealed that discovery studio v2.5 (Ligandfit) was able to predict the most hit compounds, the best hit compounds against GAPDH of <i>Leishmania</i> strains are hydrazine, vetrazine, and benzyl carbazate. It is predicted that patients suffering from both VL and cardiac disorders (atrial fibrillation) may benefit if they are treated with warfarin in conjunction with first-line antileishmanial therapies such as miltefosine and AmBisome.</p> </div