In-Vitro Anthelmintic Potential Of Aqueous And Ethanolic Leaves And Roots Extracts Of Annona Muricata Against Earthworm

Helminths or Parasitic worms of humans may cause chronic and sometimes deadly diseases considered as Neglected Tropical Diseases that infect around two billion people worldwide. Many of synthetic drugs available, for the treatment of various worm infection like alendazole, mebendazole and Ivermectn with more of adverse effects so the need of herbal formulations are essential for teating worm infections.Plants have been used as anthelmintic from ancient times. In our study we selected Annona muricata is well known traditional plant which is used for the treatement of many worm infection without adverse effect.Phytochemical screening was conducted using standard qualitative methods, it reveals that they were rich in secondary metabolite compounds such as alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids. The in-vitro anthelmintic activity was determined using earthworm. In this ethanolic exctract of 200 mg/ml concentration shows high anthelmintic activity when compared to other concentration of Annona Muricata leaves extrac

Phytochemical screening and antibacterial activity of different fractions of Operculina turpethum root and leaf

ABSTRACT In Bangladesh, the herb Operculina turpethum is used for otitis media, suppurative sores, burns, conjunctivitis and skin diseases (eczema, abscesses, acne, scabies and warts) although the compounds responsible for the medicinal properties have not been identified. The present study has been undertaken for antibacterial activity of the ethanol, ether and chloroform extract of O. turpethum root and leaf. Antibacterial activity has been investigated against Shigella boydii, Shigella flese, Shigella dysenteriae, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Salmonella typhi, Hafnia alvei, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis by disc diffusion and broth macro-dilution assay. The zone of inhibition has been observed with almost all bacteria with some exceptions. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the extracts were found to be significant

Increased prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization in household contacts of children with community acquired disease

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To measure Methicillin-resistant <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>(MRSA) nasal colonization prevalence in household contacts of children with current community associated (CA)-MRSA infections (study group) in comparison with a group of household contacts of children without suspected <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>infection (a control group).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This is a cross sectional study. Cultures of the anterior nares were taken. Relatedness of isolated strains was tested using pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of MRSA colonization in the study group was significantly higher than in the control group (18/77 (23%) vs 3/77 (3.9%); p ≤ 0.001). The prevalence of SA colonization was 28/77 (36%) in the study group and 16/77 (21%) in the control group (p = 0.032). The prevalence of SA nasal colonization among patients was 6/24 (25%); one with methicillin-susceptible <it>S. aureus </it>(MSSA) and 5 with MRSA. In the study (patient) group, 14/24 (58%) families had at least one household member who was colonized with MRSA compared to 2/29 (6.9%) in the control group (p = 0.001). Of 69 total isolates tested by PFGE, 40 (58%) were related to USA300. Panton-Valetine leukocidin (PVL) genes were detected in 30/52 (58%) tested isolates. Among the families with ≥1 contact colonized with MRSA, similar PFGE profiles were found between the index patient and a contact in 10/14 families.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Prevalence of asymptomatic nasal carriage of MRSA is higher among household contacts of patients with CA-MRSA disease than control group. Decolonizing such carriers may help prevent recurrent CA-MRSA infections.</p

Review of adverse events associated with COVID-19 vaccines, highlighting their frequencies and reported cases

الملخص: تتناول هذه المراجعة الأحداث الجانبية السلبية المرتبطة بالجهاز المناعي والأمراض المناعية الذاتية (التي تعرف بالأحداث الجانبية السلبية بعد التطعيم) المرتبطة بلقاحات كوفيد-19، وتسلط الضوء على تكرارها، والحالات المبلغ عنها، والصلة مع فئات اللقاحات المحددة. مفهوم ''قلة الصفيحات الجلطية المناعية المستحثة باللقاح'' مهم في التعامل مع التشكك في اللقاحات. فهم هذه المفاهيم يساعد العاملين في الرعاية الصحية على تحديد وإدارة الأحداث الجانبية المحتملة بعد التطعيم. على الرغم من ندرتها، يمكن أن تسبب الأحداث الجانبية السلبية بعد التطعيم قلقا وتوترا بين المجتمع. يجب على العاملين في الرعاية الصحية والوكالات الصحية العامة مراقبة هذه الأحداث بنشاط والتعامل معها للحفاظ على ثقة المجتمع في برامج التطعيم. يتضمن ذلك الكشف السريع عن الحوادث المشبوهة، وتبني إجراءات للتخفيف من الأخطار، وإبلاغ المجتمع بمعلومات دقيقة وشفافة. البحث المستمر والمراقبة أمران ضروريان لفهم الآليات الممكنة وراء هذه الأحداث الجانبية وتطوير استراتيجيات لتقليل حدوثها. Abstract: This review examines the immunological and autoimmune adverse events associated with COVID-19 vaccines, highlighting their frequencies, reported cases, and associations with specific vaccine classes. The concept of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia is crucial in addressing vaccine skepticism. Understanding this concept helps healthcare professionals identify and manage potential adverse events after vaccination. Despite their rarity, immunological and autoimmune adverse events cause concern and anxiety among the public. To maintain public trust in vaccination programs, healthcare professionals and public health agencies must actively monitor and address these adverse events, promptly disclose suspicious incidents, take measures to mitigate dangers, and inform the public with transparency and accurate information. Continuing research and surveillance are essential for understanding the underlying mechanisms of these adverse events and developing strategies to minimize their occurrence

Vasopressin and Terlipressin in the Treatment of Vasodilatory Septic Shock: A Systematic Review

Background: Vasodilatory septic shock unresponsive to fluid resuscitation requires the addition of vasopressors. Catecholamines remain the first line vasopressor therapy, but treatment failure is a potential problem. Vasopressin and its analogue, terlipressin, have been used for this indication. Objective: This systematic review aims to evaluate the effects of vasopressin and terlipressin on mortality and morbidity outcomes in patients with vasodilatory shock. Secondary outcomes include the effects of vasopressin and terlipressin on haemodynamic stability and organ function. Method: A computerised search of MEDLINE from January 1966 till June 2010 and screening of references of relevant articles were conducted. Only prospective, randomised controlled trials comparing vasopressin or terlipressin versus standard vasopressors or placebo were included. Results: Seven studies using vasopressin, three using terlipressin and one using both were identified. Four vasopressin trials assessing mortality and morbidity outcomes showed a trend towards benefit for mortality in adults but possibly adverse outcomes in a small paediatric study. No data was available on the long-term mortality and morbidity outcomes of terlipressin. Vasopressin and terlipressin were similar to standard vasopressors in maintaining haemodynamic parameters, while allowing a beneficial catecholamine-sparing effect. These agents also had a neutral to positive effect on organ function. Conclusion: Vasopressin and terlipressin was comparable to conventional agents in the maintenance of haemodynamic stability and organ function in vasodilatory shock. Since morbidity and mortality data do not differentiate vasopressin and terlipressin from catecholamines, their role remains unclear. More large studies evaluating the long-term outcomes in this group of patients are required

Sensory Stimulus-mediated Neural Synchrony in the Prefrontal Cortex: An Investigation into the Effects of Caffeine

Caffeine, a legal central nervous system stimulant, is commonly consumed by university students in a variety of ways with an implicit belief that it may increase cognitive function. The scientific literature on such benefits has been mixed. In low to moderate doses, caffeine has been shown to reduce fatigue and improve alertness and motor speed while high caffeine consumption is associated with undesirable effects including an inability to focus and increased generalized anxiety. Because the structure of caffeine closely resembles adenosine, it works as an antagonist to increase neuronal excitability. To clarify the effects of caffeine on the brain, this study will examine sensory stimulus-mediated neural synchrony within the prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain associated with executive decision-making as well as in coping with anxiety. When a train of clicks is presented at a particular frequency, neural networks in the brain show oscillatory entrainment at the same frequency. These oscillations represent neighboring neurons firing nearly simultaneously. Such synchronous activation of large networks of neurons is fundamental to the brain’s ability to process and respond to environmental cues and is conveniently measured by the technique of electroencephalography (EEG). EEG as an index of neural network function is well conserved across mammals and used as a translational biomarker to understand the pharmacological effects of drugs within preclinical and human drug development studies. Doses of caffeine mimicking the average range of consumption among college students (100-300 mg/day) are converted into doses suitable for SD rats (10.28 - 30.83 mg/kg) using the FDA’s allometric scaling tool. It is hypothesized that low and medium doses of caffeine may either improve or not affect prefrontal cortical synchrony while high doses may disrupt. The same group of rats will be used for all treatments, including vehicle, in a Latin square crossover design with at least 4 days of gap between dosing. The synchrony response will be evaluated at multiple time points, post-dose. Artifact-free EEG data is averaged to arrive at a synchrony response for each rat and these are further grouped based on treatment and time. Comparisons across treatment and time are done using a 2-factor repeated measures ANOVA, using well-known neural synchrony metrics like evoked power and intertrial phase coherence. These results should inform how caffeine affects the neurophysiological function of the rodent prefrontal cortex, a key region for prioritization, decision-making, and cognitive control. Findings from this study may explain why high doses of caffeine can be disruptive to mental function and performance and lay the groundwork for analogous future studies in humans. On the other hand, if synchrony is unaffected, a chronic regimen of caffeine exposure may be explored to mimic the human consumption pattern of this stimulant

Herbal/Health Supplements Intake by Polyclinic Patients on Warfarin

Aims: It is well documented that many herbal/health supplements (collectively referred as supplements) interact with warfarin. This research aimed to study the prevalence and intake of supplements by SingHealth Polyclinics patients on warfarin, and their knowledge of and perception towards potential supplements-warfarin interactions. Methods: One hundred SingHealth Polyclinics patients who were on warfarin were recruited from 4 polyclinics. Each patient was interviewed in person and completed a 6-part survey. The results of the survey were statistically analysed. Results: In this 3-month study, a significant 42% of the patients took supplements concurrently with warfarin. Traditional Chinese Medicines, glucosamine and omega-3 fatty acids were the 3 most common supplements consumed. Eighty-nine per cent of the patients were unable to verbalise the supplements that could interact with warfarin. Out of the 42 patients who were on supplements, 74% (31 out of 42) felt that it was important to inform their healthcare professionals with regards to their supplements use. However, 45% (14 out of 31) of them did not inform their healthcare professionals. The correlation between the importance attached by patients to inform healthcare professionals about their supplements intake and their actual decision to inform their healthcare professionals was significant (p=0.0122). Doctors, pharmacists and family members were their top 3 sources of information when they needed advice before their intake of supplements. Conclusion: Patients' concurrent intake of supplements without informing their healthcare professionals poses potential risk to their health. Healthcare professionals can play a significant role in advancing medication safety by educating these patients on the possibility of supplements-warfarin interactions and the risk of interference with anticoagulation therapy. This study also highlighted supplements on which further research could be done to determine their potential for interactions with warfarin