Slavlje božanskoga plesa: Kult Yoginī/ Ḍākinī u drevnom hinduizmu i budizmu

Music and dance have long been a component of the celebrations of the people of all nations and on all continents. Music and dance are also used as a method to transcend the profane and to experience ecstasy and bliss. The objective of this research is to analyse the “Divine Dancing Celebration” as practised in India and Tibet by including heroic and ecstatic dances that are believed to grant immortality; also included are the sculptural dynamics of rapturous dance which symbolizes transformation and happiness. The paper also looks at the iconography of some Yoginī/ Ḍākinī who represented the dancing cult and the symbolic meaning buried inside the icon in an effort to make a connection between dance and the cult of Yoginī/ Ḍākinī. Yoginī / Ḍākinī exhibit their bodies and faces, radiating youth and beauty while advocating for freedom from all social restrictions. The Yoginī is dressed in charnel ground jewellery and performs a dance in a field of decaying corpses. Her body is vividly colored and gives the impression of being formed of light; its transparency reveals a sparkling yet hollow nature. The interior of her body is a vast, limitless domain, which may also contain visions. The female force, which can occasionally be evil and may result in destruction and beheadings, is shown as a component of each element existing in the cosmos in the iconographies of the Yoginī. The significance of this research is that it demonstrates the importance of the Yoginī/ Ḍākinī cult in ancient and early medieval India and Tibet. Although this cult is still practised in some manner in South East Asia but not in India, it has lost its relevance and no longer is known to anyone in India. This study is an initial step in educating the general population on this prominent cult of Hinduism and Buddhism and its significance.Ples i glazba oduvijek su bili sastavni dio ljudskih slavlja u svim narodima i na svim kontinentima, kao i način nadilaženja profanoga i iskustva božanske ekstaze i ushićenja. Cilj je ovoga istraživanja raščlaniti “Slavlje božanskoga plesa” kako se prakticira u Indiji i Tibetu na način da se u analizu uključuju herojski i ekstatični plesovi koji mogu donijeti besmrtnost, kao i skulpturalna dinamika zanosnoga plesa, što simbolizira preobrazbu i sreću. U ovom radu autori također razmatraju ikonografiju nekolicine joginija i dakinija koje su predstavljale kult plesa, a i simbolično značenje skriveno u ikoni s ciljem da se uspostavi veza između plesa i kulta jogini/dakini. Joginiji i dakiniji pokazuju se svojim tijelima i licima te zrače mladošću i ljepotom, a istovremeno zagovaraju slobodu od svih društvenih ograničenja. Jogini je odjevena u nakit od ljudskih kostiju te izvodi ples u polju raspadajućih leševa. Tijelo joj je živo obojeno te ostavlja dojam da je od svjetla oblikovano. Prozirnost tijela otkriva blistavu ali šuplju narav. Unutrašnjost tijela je nepregledni prostor bez granica koji može i u sebi nositi viđenja. Ženska sila, koja može katkada biti zla i može završiti razaranjem i odrubljivanjem glava, prikazana je kao sastavni dio svakoga kozmičkoga elementa koji je prisutan u jogini ikonografijama. Znakovitost ovoga istraživanja može se prepoznati u tom što pokazuje važnost jogini/dakini kulta u drevnoj i ranoj srednjovjekovnoj Indiji i Tibetu. Iako se kult još uvijek prakticira na neki način u jugoistočnoj Aziji, ali ne i u Indiji, izgubio je na važnosti i nije više nikomu u Indiji poznat. Ova studija predstavlja početni korak prema poučavanju opće populacije o pitanju ovoga istaknutoga kulta hinduizma i budizma te ističe njegovu važnost

Isolation and characterization of opportunistic fungi causing secondary infection in debilitated patients

An opportunistic infection is caused by variety of pathogens such as bacteria, virus, fungi or protozoans that usually do not cause disease in a healthy host. In order to accomplish the objectives of the present research work clinical samples were collected from debilitated patients. Out of 45 samples 27 were found to be positive for fungal infection. A total number of 76 mold form and ample number of Candida spp. clinical isolates were obtained. The common molds isolated were Alternaria alternata, A. fumigatus, A. niger, A. terreus, A. nidulans, A. flavus, Rhizopus spp. Mucur spp. and Curvularia lunata. In order to study the antifungal profile of the clinical isolates in vitro antifungal susceptibility test was performed by Kirby Bauer Method. Ketoconazole was found to be most effective azole against the clinical isolates followed by Clotrimazole, Itraconazole  and Amphoterecin B

ASSESSMENT OF MICROALBUMINURIA IN ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSIVES AND ITS RESPONSE TO ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME INHIBITOR THERAPY

ABSTRACTObjective: Objective is to study the prevalence of microalbuminuria among patients suffering from essential hypertension and also to evaluate theresponse of microalbuminuria to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors therapy.Methods: The study conducted at Santosh Medical College and Hospital, Ghaziabad, on 300 patients with essential hypertension. After attainingbaseline parameters in all patients, those newly diagnosed essential hypertensives with microalbuminuria not on any treatment were started on anACE inhibitor (ramipril), for 8 weeks, after which all parameters were reassessed and comparison and statistical analysis were done to establish theprevalence of microalbuminuria and its response to therapy.Results: In our study, mean microalbuminuria excretion was 101.79 mcg/mg creatinine at the beginning of the study and 80.20 mcg/mg creatinineafter 8 weeks of ACE inhibitor therapy, with 21.2% fall rate.Conclusion: Microalbuminuria is an independent risk factor for the development or worsening of hypertensive nephropathy and endothelialdysfunction, thereby increasing the risk of micro- and macro-vascular complications.Keywords: Microalbuminuria, Essential hypertension, Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy

BIOMARKERS IN SERUM, URIC ACID AS A RISK FACTOR FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES ASSOCIATED WITH HYPERTENSION

ABSTRACTObjectives: Uric acid (UA) is the end product of purine metabolism in humans. UA is the final oxidation product of purine catabolism and has beenimplicated in diabetes mellitus (DM) as well as in hyperlipidemias. Hyperuricemia can cause serious health problems including renal insufficiency.Hyperuricemia is associated with many diseases including hypertension (HTN), DM, hypertriglyceridemia, and obesity. The aim was to determine theserum UA (SUA) level in Patients of Type 2 DM with HTN.Methods: Out of 100 samples, 50 were found as cases of Type 2 diabetic with HTN, and the 50 control samples were without Type 2 diabetic HTN.Results: SUA, glycosylated hemoglobin, and low-density lipoprotein of male and female cases of Type 2 DM with HTN compared to control were(p<0.05) highly significant and also serum triglycerides and total cholesterol of both sex groups of Type 2 DM with HTN compared to control werefound to be (p<0.05) highly significance.Conclusion: It is concluded from our present study that level of SUA >7.0 mg/dl were significantly seen in cases of diabetes with HTN. SUA ≤5.0 mg/dlwas significantly seen in subjects without diabetes with HTN. Our data showed hyperuricemia and glycated hemoglobin as significant risk factors inthe progression of DM, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, renal disorder, hypertriglyceridemia, and obesity. Further large sample size studies areneeded to be done in the direction with more focused mechanistic approaches to fortify the fact. Very little is known about the relationship betweenUA, DM, and HTN in India.Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Hypertension, Uric acid, Glycosylated hemoglobin, Lipid profil

Vulnerability to Mental Health Problems in Indian Population during Lockdown amidst COVID-19 Pandemic: An Alarm not to Snooze

Background: Lockdown measures are being implemented in several parts of the world to control the spread of novel coronavirus. This unprecedented crisis has significantly affected the lives of people in different ways. Aim: To understand the experiences and vulnerability to mental health problems during lockdown among the Indian population during COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey form circulated through various social media platforms from April 12 to May 3, 2020 containing self-reported questionnaires to collect lockdown related experiences and scales to assess anxiety (GAD-7) and depression (PHQ-9). A convenience sampling method was used. Results: 442 valid responses were received from different states of India. Statistical analysis revealed that one-third of the respondents suffered from some form of anxiety and depression during a lockdown. Less than 10% of them had severe levels of symptoms. The majority were males aged 18-45 years and private sector employees. Delivering essential services was involved with significant anxiety and depression. Availability of food and daily essentials was the most common problem. Difficulty in availing medicines and financial crisis were significant predictors of anxiety and depression. Worsening of interpersonal relationships was associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression. Conclusions: The study concluded that experiences during the lockdown and associated psychological outcomes are important factors to consider and appropriate preventive measures to be taken in case of any future lockdowns

Microwave assisted template synthesis of metal based EGFR, TRK inhibitors, molecular docking and in vitro biological studies

752-759Metal based biologically active compounds have been synthesized by microwave assisted template condensation method and characterized by spectro-analytical techniques like molar conductance, UV-visible, infrared and mass spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The metal is arranged in octahedral geometry surrounded by tetradentate ligand framework. The binding affinity of all the metal complexes has been evaluated theoretically by molecular docking studies against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and tyrosine kinase (TRK) receptor molecules which are further verified by in vitro anticancer activity. Complex [Cr(C16H11N4O2)(NO3)2]NO3 have showed potent in vitro cytotoxicity (IC50 value 39.5μM) against SCC4 cancer cell line. Antioxidant study has also performed by DPPH assay and significant results are found.[Fe(C16H11N4O2)(OAc)2]OAc and [Cr(C16H11N4O2) (OAc)2]OAc are most effective antioxidants with 78.7% and 76.8% free radical scavenging activity, respectively

MICROWAVE ASSISTED TEMPLATE SYNTHESIS OF METAL BASED EGFR, TRK INHIBITORS, MOLECULAR DOCKING AND IN VITRO BIOLOGICAL STUDIES

ABSTRACT: Metal based biologically active compounds were synthesized by microwave assisted template condensation method and characterized by spectro-analytical techniques like molar conductance, UV-Vis, FTIR, Mass spectroscopy and TGA. The metal was arranged in octahedral geometry surrounded by tetradentate ligand framework. The binding affinity of all the metal complexes was evaluated theoretically by molecular docking studies against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and tyrosine kinase (TRK) receptor molecules which were further verified by in vitro anticancer activity. Complex [Cr(C16H11N4O2)(NO3)2]NO3 showed potent in vitro cytotoxicity (IC50 value 39.5μM) against SCC4 cancer cell line. Antioxidant study was also performed by DPPH assay and significant results were found. [Fe(C16H11N4O2)(OAc)2]OAc and [Cr(C16H11N4O2) (OAc)2]OAc are most effective antioxidants with 78.7% and 76.8% free radical scavenging activity respectively

Biological approaches of termite management: A review

For increased crop production, the role of chemical termiticides cannot be neglected as they have provided the efficient way to achieve green revolution. But the present scenario has forced mankind to search for alternative options. While keeping in mind the concept of sustainable agriculture, pest management including termites and other phyto-diseases etc. needs to be focused. For the achievement of the above stated goal, eco-friendly and cost-effective strategies need to be emphasized. Biopesticidal agents that mainly comprise of herbal and microbial formulations are known to exhibit anti termite activity and have a pivotal role in the production of organic food products. In order to reduce the chemical consumption, the vast area of biological alternatives needs to be explored as they provide us with many beneficial aspects like sustainability, suitable application, biodegradable nature, target specificity etc. Further, the bioactive components of such biological agents can later be used as commercially viable termiticides in the form of formulations. These herbal and microbial termiticides are effective and have immense scope to be used in future for sustainable development

YOGA PRACTICE AND BIOCHEMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL ALTERATIONS IN NORMAL SUBJECTS

ABSTRACTObjective: To assess the effect of 45 minute yogic kriya (Surya Namaskar and Kapalbhati) for 30 days on various physiological and biochemicalparameters.Methods: About 20 Nursing College students of the Santosh Medical University, Ghaziabad, between the age group 17 and 21 years volunteered toparticipate in the study. They were divided into two Groups A and B. Group A students including 10 students in each group were subjected to 30 daysyoge kriya for 45 minutes for 6 days in a week. Statistical analysis: A student's t-test was used for comparing the means of pre- and post-yoga resultsof various parameters.Results: No significant difference was found in systolic blood pressure, pulse, body mass index, hemoglobin except for fasting blood sugar and diastolicblood pressure (p<0.001) among the yoga subject while comparing with baseline values and control.Keywords: Yoga, Biochemical alterations, Physiological alterations, Surya Namaskar and Kapal Bhati