Evaluation of Anthelmentic and Antimicrobial Activity of the Extract of the Root of the Plant Jasminum multiflorum(Andr.)

As per qualitative evaluation in different solvents of the root of the plant satisfies the presence of cardiac glycosides along with trace quantities of steroid and saponins. Among them the petroleum ether extract of the root of the plant Jasminum multiflorum was evaluated for anthelmintic activity and the ethanolic extract was evaluated for antimicrobial activity.1,2 Traditionally this species are used in indolent ulcer, pitta and inflammation. Only few CNS activity are reported on ethanolic extract of aerial part of the plant, though the root of the plant is more potent as per folkore claim. The petroleum ether extract was investigated for anthelmentic activity using earthworm (Pheretima posthuma) at different concentration (5mg/ml – 50 mg/ml). As standard albendazole suspension (10mg/ml) and 3% solution of normal saline was used as control. The death and paralysis time were recorded and compared. Extract exhibit significant anthelmentic activity at (100mg/ml) concentration and found effective.1,3,4The ethanolic fraction of the root of the plant was collected and evaporated to dryness under vacuum to avoid the presence of even less quantity of ethanol in the extract. Two Gram (+ve) bacteria namely Bacillius subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and two Gram (-ve) ve bacteria namely Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia were selected for the estimation of antimicrobial activity depending on zone of inhibition. It was seen that 100mg/ml concentration of the extract showed maximum activity against Klebsiella pneumonia with a zone of inhibition 0.5mm and for others it ranged from 0.3 to 0.4 mm. 1,4,5 Keywords: Jasminum multiforum; anthelmintic; antimicrobial; zone of inhibitio

Malnutrition and Associated Factors with Nutritional Status among Orphan Children: An Evidence-Based Study from Nepal

Background: Malnutrition is a common public health problem among children in low and middle-income developing countries. Orphan's children are vulnerable and neglected groups in society and are more prone to malnutrition. The study aims to identify the prevalence of underweight, stunting, thinness, and factors associated with nutritional status among orphan children. Methods: Quantitative method & analytical cross-sectional research design were used to assess the nutritional status and its associated factors among orphan children in Pokhara Valley, Nepal. The sample size of 160 children was obtained by a simple random technique. The semi-structured questionnaire, digital bathroom scale, stadiometer was used as the data collection technique. Data management and analysis were done from Epi-info, SPSS 25 version, and WHO Anthro plus. Findings: The majority of children were malnourished (80.6%) with the prevalence of stunting (55.1%), thinness (13.8%), and overweight (6.9%). Prevalence of underweight, stunting, and thinness was high among the boys (85.5%, 26.3%, and 15.8%), but overweight was more prevalent among the girls (7.1%). Ethnicity, sex, age, stay duration in an orphanage, and education of caregivers was associated with the nutritional status of orphan children (p <0.05). Non-privileged children and children below 11 years were more prone to malnutrition. Conclusion: Malnutrition is highly prevalent in orphan children and needs to be addressed. There is still limited study available on the nutritional status of orphan children in Nepal. Nutritional status should be monitored regularly for early identification and timely intervention of malnutrition to promote the nutrition health status of orphan childre

Multi-Modal Nano Particle Labeling of Neurons

The development of imaging methodologies for single cell measurements over extended timescales of up to weeks, in the intact animal, will depend on signal strength, stability, validity and specificity of labeling. Whereas light-microscopy can achieve these with genetically-encoded probes or dyes, this modality does not allow mesoscale imaging of entire intact tissues. Non-invasive imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), outperform light microscopy in field of view and depth of imaging, but do not offer cellular resolution and specificity, suffer from low signal-to-noise ratio and, in some instances, low temporal resolution. In addition, the origins of the signals measured by MRI are either indirect to the process of interest or hard to validate. It is therefore highly warranted to find means to enhance MRI signals to allow increases in resolution and cellular-specificity. To this end, cell-selective bi-functional magneto-fluorescent contrast agents can provide an elegant solution. Fluorescence provides means for identification of labeled cells and particles location after MRI acquisition, and it can be used to facilitate the design of cell-selective labeling of defined targets. Here we briefly review recent available designs of magneto-fluorescent markers and elaborate on key differences between them with respect to durability and relevant cellular highlighting approaches. We further focus on the potential of intracellular labeling and basic functional sensing MRI, with assays that enable imaging cells at microscopic and mesoscopic scales. Finally, we illustrate the qualities and limitations of the available imaging markers and discuss prospects for in vivo neural imaging and large-scale brain mapping

An alternative hydrolytic synthesis route for uniform metal selenide nanoparticles

A generalized size selective synthetic protocol for uniform metal (Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu, In) selenide nanoparticles in hydrothermal conditions, using decanoic acid (C-10) as a ligand, aqueous metal ammonium/ammonium carbonate complex and sodium hydrogen selenide (NaHSe), is developed. The materials show improvement in size dependent properties and hold promise for various practical applications

Utilization of Healthcare Services & Healthcare Expenditure Patterns in the Rural Households of Nepal

Background: Healthcare financing as a lever to move closer to universal health coverage. Financing health care has been identified as a barrier to access to health care and increases the likelihood of impoverishment of households. There is still limited study and information on healthcare service utilization in the rural community of Nepal. Our study aims to assess utilization of healthcare services & patterns of healthcare expenditure in the rural households of Nepal. Methods: A community-based research study was conducted among 341 rural households of Tanahun District, Nepal. A Chi-square test was used for assessing the associated factors with healthcare utilization. Results: The utilization of in-patient and out-patient health services was 89.9 % and 10.1 % respectively. The majority of households (88%) had in USD less than $410 annual household healthcare expenditure. The mean annual healthcare expenditure was found to be$279. Nearly three-fourths (71.4%) of households had annual expenditure on medicine more than $40 with mostly on allopathic medicine (93.4%). The majority of participants (70%) mentioned that the healthcare expenditure was a burden to their household. Conclusion: Despite the higher knowledge of health insurance, the involvement was found to be very low & poor. Educational status, knowledge about insurance, privileged ethnicity, religion, income source were the major factors associated with the utilization of healthcare services. Awareness & promotion programs focusing on rural communities should be implemented with affordable health services

Development and Validation of TLC of Flavonoid from the Ethanolic Extract of Plant Enhydra fluctuans

Thin layer chromatography is a technique or an analytical tool to separate the bioactive compound from the mixture of components. In current research work special attention was given to develop specific solvent system and to validate the principle of separation of Flavonoid. The ethanolic extract of plant namely Helencha (in Bengali) was selected for such purpose. After several trials, the presence of Flavonoid which was confirmed by qualitative evaluation and was sepahjvvrated successfully under this study and the process was validated under the circumstances of ICH Guideline. The plant not only contained Flavonoid but there were the presence of little quantity of Alkaloid, Saponin and Tannins also. Due to presence of Flavonoid the ethanolic fraction of the plant may be evaluated for Anti-inflammatory and Anthelmintic activity for further research. The plant Helencha is known as Enhydra fluctuans belongs to the family Astereceae. According to folklore claim the plant is useful for nutrition purpose. Not only that the plant is also useful in Dropsy, anasarca and snake bite. As per the literature survey, the plant has Antioxidant and Analgesic activity. Here the total attention was given to separate Flavonoid from the mixture of Components present in the ethanolic fraction of the leaves of the plant. Keywords: Flavonoid, Alkaloid, ICH Guideline, Enhydra fluctuans, Dropsy, Anaasrca

Hierarchically order porous lotus shaped nano-structured MnO2 through MnCO3: chelate mediated growth and shape dependent improved catalytic activity

Design of hierarchical nanostructures towards a specific morphology is an important research area due to their shape dependent properties. Here, 3D hierarchically assembled lotus shaped porous MnO2 is synthesized using a simple aqueous solution based chelating agent (citric acid) mediated growth of MnCO3 followed by calcination at 350 degrees C. MnCO3 in other shapes, such as rods, spheres and nano-aggregates, is also synthesized just by varying the chelating agents. It is observed that the geometry and strength of the chelating ligands has a crucial role in the controlled shape selective synthesis and based on this a probable chelating agent driven formation mechanism is discussed. The synthesized porous MnO2 shapes exhibit excellent shape dependent catalytic oxidation of alpha-pinene to verbenone using molecular oxygen as the oxidant. The lotus shaped porous MnO2 shows superior activity, with 94% conversion of alpha-pinene and 87% selectivity of verbenone, to that of other MnO2 shapes. The activity is reasonably high compared to heterogeneous as well as homogeneous catalysts reported in the literature and bulk MnO2 with respect to both their conversion and selectivity. The synthesized lotus shaped MnO2 also showed good catalytic activity towards oxidation of allylic compounds to corresponding ene-ones using molecular oxygen as oxidant and is reusable

CeO2 nanowires with high aspect ratio and excellent catalytic activity for selective oxidation of styrene by molecular oxygen

CeO2 is a most promising oxidation catalyst and its superior oxidation performance is highly dependent on the extent of its Ce4+/Ce3+ redox cycle, shape, surface area and surface structure. Herein, a simple, efficient and aqueous solution based hydrothermal synthetic route for uniform CeO2 nanowires (NWs), with high aspect ratio and surface area, using an aqueous solution of cerium ammonium carbonate complex as precursor and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as structure directing agent, is described. Cobalt incorporated CeO2 NW (Co-CeO2) were also synthesized by impregnation followed by calcination. Structural and morphological characterization by XRD, SEM and TEM showed that synthesized CeO2 NWs are of cubic fluorite crystal structure, with approximately 7 +/- 2 nm width and several micrometers in length, bundled, grown through the (110) surface keeping the active (100) surface exposed. XPS and TPD analysis revealed the presence of both Ce3+ and Ce4+ with higher amount of Ce3+ as well as Co2+ and Co3+ species. The amount of PEG is crucial for the synthesis of uniform CeO2 wires and other varying shapes. A probable formation mechanism of wires through the (110) surface is proposed. Synthesized CeO2 shapes were employed as catalyst for selective oxidation of styrene to styrene oxide using molecular oxygen as oxidant. Shape selective catalytic studies revealed that the synthesized Co-CeO2 NWs showed excellent catalytic activity. Kinetic study revealed that the oxidation reaction followed the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model. The synthesized CeO2 NW catalysts are recyclable with no significant loss in catalytic activity in subsequent cycles

Organic free low temperature direct synthesis of hierarchical protonated layered titanates/anatase TiO2 hollow spheres and their task-specific applications

Layered protonated titanates and corresponding anatase TiO2 shapes, specifically the hollow spheres, are the most important functional materials and have attracted much attention because of their superior performance. Here, a facile organic substrate (both as solvent or surfactant) free, low temperature aqueous solution based chemical protocol for the direct synthesis of 3D arranged hierarchical hollow spheres of protonated layered dititanate (H2Ti2O5 center dot H2O), is proposed. The spheres had a high surface area (as high as 334 m(2) g(-1)), and were prepared through hydrothermal treatment of freshly prepared peroxo titanium carbonate complex in the presence of ammonium hydroxide. Ammonium hydroxide is crucial in the formation of spherical arrangement of titanate sheets and the size of the spheres is tunable by changing the amount of ammonium hydroxide. The titanate spheres can easily be converted to pure anatase TiO2 with identical morphology on subsequent calcination. The synthesized titanate spheres showed very high removal capacity for toxic heavy metals like Pb2+ and methylene blue from aqueous solution. Corresponding anatase TiO2 spheres manifested as a brilliant anode material for lithium ion batteries with excellent cyclability. TiO2 spheres also showed good photocatalytic activity