Cytisus scoparius link - A natural antioxidant

BACKGROUND: Recent investigations have shown that the antioxidant properties of plants could be correlated with oxidative stress defense and different human diseases. In this respect flavonoids and other polyphenolic compounds have gained the greatest attention. The plant Cytisus scoparius contains the main constituent of flavone and flavonals. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activities of extract of aerial part of Cytisus scoparius. METHODS: The plant extract was tested for DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl, 2-picryl hydrazyl) radical scavenging, nitric oxide radical scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, antilipid peroxidation assay, reducing power and total phenol content. RESULTS: The extract exhibited scavenging potential with IC(50 )value of 1.5 μg/ml, 116.0 μg/ml and 4.7 μg/ml for DPPH, nitric oxide and superoxide anion radicals. The values were found to lesser than those of vitamin C, rutin, and curcumin, as standards. The extract showed 50% protection at the dose of 104.0 μg/ml in lipid peroxidation induced by Fe(2+)/ ascorbate system in rat liver microsomal preparation. There is decrease in hydroxyl radical generation with IC(50 )value of 27.0 μg/ml when compared with standard vitamin E. The reducing power of the extract depends on the amount of extract. A significant amount of polyphenols could be detected by the equivalent to 0.0589 μg of pyrocatechol from 1 mg of extract. CONCLUSION: The results obtained in the present study indicate that hydro alcoholic extract of aerial part of Cytisus scoparius is a potential source of natural antioxidants

Coagulation profile and Hematological parameters in patients with Alcoholic Liver Disease and its association with the disease severity (A study of 230 cases)

Introduction: Alcoholic liver disease is a term that encompasses the liver manifestation of long-term alcohol consumption, including fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and liver cirrhosis. Abnormalities in hematological parameters are common in patients with alcoholic liver disease. The pathogenesis of abnormal hematological parameters in cirrhosis is multifactorial and includes portal hypertension-induced sequestration, alterations in bone marrow stimulating factors, viral- and toxin-induced bone marrow suppression. Excess alcohol intake itself causes direct bone marrow suppression leading to toxic effects on the cell lineages and cause hematological disturbances causing anemia, leucocytosis, leucopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Abnormalities in hematological parameters are associated with an increased risk of complications, including bleeding and infection. All three parameters determine a greater extent of morbidity and mortality in these patients.Materials and Methods: In the present study, patients were grouped into Group 1 to 5 based on the Model for End-stage Liver Disease scoring, and individual hematological parameters were studied. The onset of anemia, leucocytosis or leucopenia, and thrombocytopenia in the MELD group was studied so that corrective measures can be taken at the earliest.Results: Maximum number of patients fell into Group 2 of MELD score and hemoglobin, total count and platelets were studied in each group. Patients followed a pattern of reduced hemoglobin as the MELD score as well as group increased with significant p value and increase total count with increase in MELD group with significant p value.Concluison: The results obtained from the study have clear implications regarding the prediction of what the hematological spectrum does an individual patient has when he falls into a particular group of MELD score. This speculation could persuade the treating physicians to correct these hematological indices so that further disease progression could be delayed or nullified

Efficacy of Herbicides for Weed Control in Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.)

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi, 2018-19 at Horticulture farm, RAK College of Agriculture, Sehore (M.P.) to study the effect of different weed management practices on growth and yield of cauliflower. The treatments namely - T1- Weedy check (control), T2- Weed free (through hand weeding) at 30 & 60 DAT, T3 -Pendimethalin 30% EC (PE) + one hand weeding at 30 DAT, T4 Oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC (PE) + one hand weeding at 30 DAT, T5 - Propaquizafop 10% EC (POE) + one hand weeding at 60 DAT, T6 -Wheat straw mulch 5kg/plot, T7- Black plastic mulch (150 mm) were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications. Results indicated that the there was no weed under T7 -black plastic mulch (150 mm) at all the stages. The maximum weed control efficiency (98%) was found with the treatment T7 - black plastic mulch (150 mm) at all the stages i.e. at 30, 60 and 90 DAT. The minimum weed index (0.00, 0.00 and 0.00%) was found with the treatment T7 (Black plastic mulch (150 mm) at all the stages. The maximum curd length, curd width, total curd weight (g) and curd yield (q ha-1) was recorded T7- black plastic mulch (150 mm) with the maximum net return (Rs. 75772.58 per ha).While the lowest net return was found under T1 (Weedy check) (Rs. 21405.34 per ha) treatment. The maximum B: C ratio (1:4.0) was recorded in case of treatment T3 [Pendimethalin 30% EC (PE) + 1HW at 30 DAT]

Pathogenesis of immune thrombocytopenia in common variable immunodeficiency

Immune Thrombocitopenic Purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disease characterized by antibody-mediated platelet destruction and variable reduced platelet production. Besides antibody-mediated platelet destruction, new pathogenic mechanisms have been reported to be involved in reducing platelet count. Among these, desialylation is one of the most recent and innovative mechanisms that has been found to be implied, at least in part, in non-antibody mediated platelet clearance. Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most common Primary Immunodeficiency seen in clinical practice. About 25\u201330% of CVID patients are affected by autoimmune manifestation, among which ITP is the most common. Little is know about pathophysiological mechanisms that lead to ITP in CVID. Given the poor antibody production typical of CVID patients, we aimed at verifying whether platelet desialylation could be responsible for CVID associated thrombocytopenia. According to our results, we may suggest that in CVID patients, ITP is due to a decreased bone marrow platelets production, rather than an increased peripheral platelet destruction, which is more common in patients with primary ITP. An increased platelet desialylation does not appear to be implicated in the thrombocytopenia secondary to CVID, while it is implicated in the pathogenesis of primary ITP. Nevertheless an intriguing aspect has emerged from this study: regardless the presence of thrombocytopenia, the majority of CVID patients present a double platelet population as far as desialylation concerns, whilst no one of the healthy donors and of the patients with primary ITP shows a similar characteristic