EVALUATION OFANTI-OXIDANT AND ANTI-ACNE ACTIVITIES (IN-VITRO) OF THE FORMULATED HERBAL GELS

Objective: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anti-oxidant and anti-acne activities (in-vitro) of the formulated herbal gels. Methods: Herbal extracts and volatile oils were prepared and procured. Preliminary screenings for the anti-oxidant and anti-acne activities (in-vitro) were carried out to select the suitable candidates for the preparation of anti-acne herbal gels. Gels were further evaluated for the activities. Results: The herbal gel (F2) containing the herbal extracts (Azadirachtaindica, Ocmium sanctum, Curcuma longa) each (1%) and volatile oils (Melaleucaalternifoliae, Salviaesclareae and Citrus sinensis) each (0.05%) showed maximum anti-oxidant activity (IC50 value 0.407 mg) amongst all four gels. Significant anti-acne activity against P. acne and S. epidermidis was showed by F2 when compared with the marketed synthetic gel (Clindac gel). Conclusion: The study proves that the herbal actives used in the formulation have promising anti-oxidant and anti-acne activity

Modification of some physical properties of wool by finishing processes involving reduction

The effects on dyed woollen material of permanent pleating processes such as the sodium bisulphite (Immacula), the ammonium thioglyeollate (siroset) and the urea-bisulphite have 'been investigated. By exposing the material to various conditions of humidity mid temperature, the effect of storage conditions e.g. during a sea voyage, has been assessed and some dyes have been found to be sensitive to the presence of reducing agents. In light-fastness tests an even wider range of dyes has been found to be sensitive. A comparative study of some mechanical properties of the woollen materials treated with reducing agents and steamed for various intervals of times ranging from 20 to 120 second, has been made and a relationship has been found between the percentage swelling and the tensile strength of the treated material. A considerable lose in the tensile strength has been found in the ease of yarn given the urea- bisulphite treatment. The crease-retention of the material stored under various humidity conditions has been studied and found to vary very little. Optical and electron microscope investigations have been made on the wool which has been given the above treatments and the investigations have been further extended to the fibres treated with urea-reducer solutions under various conditions of concentration pH,, time and temperature. Different, staining methods have been employed to differentiate between the ortho- and the para-cortex of the fibres. The results are discussed in relation to the histological location in the fibre of the action of these reagents. There is an evidence that in merino wool fibres having a bilateral cortical structure p under the condition of neutral pH, the urea-reducer solution attacks the cuticle around tire ortho-cortex, first dissolving the outer layer of the exocuticle and, within the fibre, dissolves material mainly from the ortho-cortex

Popliteal-crural bypass through the posterior approach with lesser saphenous vein for limb salvage

AbstractPurpose: A review of popliteal-crural bypasses via the posterior approach was done to evaluate the results of this technique. Methods: During a period of 36 months, 21 patients with limb-threatening ischemia underwent 21 popliteal-crural bypasses via the posterior approach in the prone position with reversed lesser saphenous vein. All patients had limb-threatening ischemia, with rest pain in five patients, ulceration in nine patients, and gangrene in seven patients. Diabetes mellitus was present in 17 patients. Results: The inflow site was the supragenicular popliteal artery in 12 patients and the infragenicular popliteal artery in nine patients. The outflow sites were the tibioperoneal trunk in five patients, the posterior tibial artery in six patients, the peroneal artery in eight patients, and the anterior tibial artery in two patients. Of the seven patients with gangrene, three patients underwent transmetatarsal amputation and four underwent toe amputation. The limb salvage rate for the entire group was 100% at 24 months. No early graft failures were seen, and the 12-month and 24-month primary graft patency rates were 89% and 77%, respectively, with life-table analysis. The primary assisted patency rate was 95% at 12 and 24 months. Patency was determined with duplex scan graft surveillance. Conclusion: The posterior approach to popliteal-distal bypass is an acceptable alternative to traditional bypass procedure with excellent early patency and limb salvage results. The approach has the advantage of better utilization of lesser saphenous vein and easier operative exposure in patients with short segment infrapopliteal occlusive disease. (J Vasc Surg 2002;36:708-12.

Tranexamic acid in prevention of postpartum hemorrhage in elective cesarean section

Background: Postpartum hemorrhage is a common and occasionally life-threatening complication of labor. Cesarean section is associated with more blood loss in compared to vaginal delivery. Despite, there is a trend for increasing cesarean section rates in both developed and developing countries thereby increasing the risk of morbidity and mortality, especially among anemic women. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of preoperative administration of intravenous Tranexamic acid on blood loss during and after elective cesarean section.Methods: This was a prospective, randomized controlled study with 160 eligible pregnant women of 37 or more period of gestation. They were all planned for elective cesarean section and were randomized into two groups either to receive 10ml (1gm) of Tranexamic acid intravenously or 10ml of normal saline. Blood loss was measured during and for 24 hours after operation.Results: The mean estimated blood loss was significantly lower in women treated with Tranexamic acid compared with women in the placebo group (392.13 ml±10.06 vs 498.69 ml±15.87, respectively; p<0.001). The mean difference in pre-operative and post-operative hemoglobin levels was statistically significant in the Tranexamic acid group than in the control group (0.31±0.18 vs 0.79±0.23, respectively; p<0.001).Conclusions: Pre-operative use of Tranexamic acid is associated with reduced blood loss during and after elective cesarean section. In a developing country like ours where postpartum hemorrhage is a major threat to the life of the mothers, it seems to be a promising option

Phyto-assisted synthesis of Silver nanoparticles using Tinospora cordifolia leaf extract and their antibacterial activity: An ecofriendly approach

To meet the increasing demands for commercial nanoparticles new eco-friendly methods of synthesis are being discovered. Plant mediated synthesis of nanoparticles offers single step, easy extracellular synthesis of nanoparticles. We report the synthesis of antibacterial Silver nanoparticles using leaf extract of the medicinal plant, Tinospora cordifolia. The leaf extract was prepared by boiling chopped leaves of Tinospora cordifolia in deionized water for 10 min and filtering the mixture with Whatman filter paper No.1. The filtrate was used as a reducing agent and stabilising agent for AgNO3. On adding 1 mM solution of Silver nitrate to the leaf extract and stirring at 75 °C for 25 min, a change in colour from yellow-brown to brown-black specified the production of Silver nanoparticles. The formation of Silver nanoparticles was monitored by UV-visible spectroscopy and further characterization of the synthesized Silver nanoparticles was done by XRD studies. The antibacterial studies were performed on Gram negative and Gram positive pathogens, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes and Staphylococcus aureus, by agar well diffusion method, on Mueller Hinton agar medium. The Silver nanoparticles synthesized from Tinospora cordifolia leaf extract were found to have antimicrobial activity against these Gram negative and Gram positive pathogenic bacteria

Prevalence of obesity in students with specific learning disorder in a metropolitan city of India

Background: Obesity is common in urban school children. Learning disability (LD) prevalence is also growing, primarily&nbsp;in cities. Objective: The objective of this study is to find the prevalence of obesity in students with specific LD (SLD).&nbsp;Materials and Methods: This observational cross-sectional study carried out at a tertiary care center attached to a medical college&nbsp;in Maharashtra, after obtaining permission from the institutional ethics committee. Consecutive 150 students with SLD between&nbsp;the ages of 8 and 18 years were studied over 18 months. Obesity was classified as per body mass index. Descriptive statistics and&nbsp;subgroup analysis were done by unpaired t-test. Results: Prevalence of obesity in students with SLD was 22.7% without genderpredisposition and family history correlation. Of total students with SLD, 44 (29.3%) had attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder&nbsp;(ADHD) without any association with the obesity. Conclusions: Family history, ADHD, gender, other medical conditions, and drug&nbsp;history have no correlation with regard to obesity in SLD. There is a further requirement of research with large population control&nbsp;size

The flail mitral valve: Echocardiographic findings by precordial and transesophageal imaging and doppler color flow mapping

AbstractTo determine the echocardiographic and Doppler characteristics of mitral regurgitation associated with a flail mitral valve, precordial and transesophageal echocardiography with pulsed wave and Doppler color flow mapping was performed in 17 patients with a flail mitral valve leaflet due to ruptured chordae tendineae (Group I) and 22 patients with moderate or severe mitral regurgitation due to other causes (Group II). Echocardiograms were performed before or during cardiac surgery; cardiac catheterization was also performed in 28 patients (72%). Mitral valve disease was confirmed at cardiac surgery in all patients.By echocardiography, the presence of a flail mitral valve leaflet was defined by the presence of abnormal mitral leaflet ccaptation or ruptured chordae. Using these criteria, transesophageal imaging showed a trend toward greater sensitivity and specificity than precordial imaging in the diagnosis of flail mitral valve leaflet. By Doppler color flow mapping, a flail mitral valve leaflet was also characterized by an eccentric, peripheral, circular mitral regurgitant jet that closely adhered to the walls of the left atrium. The direction of flow of the eccentric jet in the left atrium distinguished a flail anterior from a flail posterior leaflet. By transesophageal echocardiography with Doppler color flow mapping, the ratio of mitral regurgitant jet arc length to radius of curvature was significantly higher in Group I than Group II patients (5.0 ± 2.3 versus 0.7 ± 0.6, p < 0.001); all of the Group I patients and none of the Group II patients had a ratio >2.5.Thus, transesophageal imaging with Doppler color flow mapping of mitral regurgitation is complementary to precordial echocardiography in the diagnosis and localization of flail mitral valve leaflet due to ruptured chordae tendineae