Knowledge, attitude and practices of pregnant women for antenatal care during COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The antenatal care had suffered across the globe during COVID-19 pandemic. This study was undertaken to elicit knowledge, attitude and practices adopted by pregnant women for antenatal care during the pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken (N=126) at a purposively selected community health center Nalagarh of Solan district in north India. Self-administered pilot tested standardized questionnaire was employed. Results: 46 percent of women were in age group of 21-25 years and had secondary level of education. 60 percent were primigravida. 47 percent of pregnant women significantly undertook antenatal care from civil hospital and 33 percent availed these services from the public health facility of the level of Primary Health Centre or Community Health Centre, χ2 (1, N=126) =7.7, p=0.02. All pregnant women had taken complete antenatal care for four times and as per schedule. Only one tested positive for the disease COVID-19. Majority of the pregnant women studied were asymptomatic. The participants had the knowledge about symptoms of disease and COVID-19 appropriate behavior. About 25 percent also had difficulty in approaching the public health sector due to lack of accessible transportation. 18 and 33 percent of pregnant women suffered from stress and anxiety respectively. All undertook iron and folic acid along with tetanus prophylaxis. 21 and 18 percent practiced wearing of face mask and frequent hand washing with soap respectively. Conclusions: COVID pandemic did not hinder antenatal care adopted by pregnant women. Lockdown and isolation were important perceived worrisome aspects of the disease

Apomixis and polyembryony in the guggul plant, Commiphora wightii

The present report is a part of our study on the reproductive biology of a traditional Indian medicinal plant,Commiphora wightii, a source of guggul steroids. Field examination showed a predominantly large number of isolated and groups of female individuals. Only one andromonoecious and two exclusively male plants were recorded. Female plants set seed irrespective of the presence or absence of pollen. Hand-pollination experiments and embryological studies have confirmed the occurrence of non-pseudogamous apomixis, nucellar polyembryony and autonomous endosperm formation for the first time in this plant, which is presently threatened by over-exploitation

Augmented shelf-life and regeneration competence of activated charcoal (AC) supplemented synthetic seeds in Cymbidium pendulum (Roxb.) Sw.

A protocol for their long term storage at low temperature has been developed using synthetic seeds technology in Cymbidium pendulum (Roxb.)Sw. in present piece of work. This species is known as an important ornamental and medicinal orchid. Protocorm Like Bodies (PLBs) were used as propagules for encapsulation. They were raised on Basal M medium [1], in addition with inorganic plant growth regulators such as [Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA); Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA); 6-Benzyl amino purine (BAP); Kinetin (KN) at 1mg/l concentrations. Different combinations were compared for their efficacy in supporting large scale production of elite propagules for encapsulation. Among these NAA proved to be the best as it supported 99.5% of asymbiotic seed germination in to largest PLBs (2.2mm) with highest chlorophyll content at 2.15µg/mg. PLBs were encapsulated in 3% sodium alginate and di-hydrated salt calcium chloride (100mM). Resultant synthetic seeds were observed for their viability after different period of storage at 250C and 40C. Role of AC if added to nutrient matrix in extended storage of synthetic seeds with better conversion at mass scale has been the main focus of the study. Interestingly, AC supplemented synthetic seeds could be stored for 480 days with 10.5% conversion and showed fairly good regeneration or production of secondary PLBs.&nbsp

Assessment of the efficiency of various gene promoters via biolistics in leaf and regenerating seed callus of millets, Eleusine coracana and Echinochloa crusgalli

A simple regeneration protocol has been developed for two millets, Eleusine coracana and Echinochloa crusgalli. The plantlet regeneration in both the millets is via somatic embryogenesis as evidenced by histological studies. In the case of E. coracana, up to 340 plants could be regenerated per 100 seed calli while up to 2266 plants could be regenerated per 100 seed calli of E. crusgalli. Subsequently, the regenerating seed callus as well as leaf segments from these two millets have been used as explants for assessing the suitability of five gene promoter constructs for transformation via biolistic means. Transient GUS histochemical as well as spectrofluorometric assays reveal the high efficiency of Ubiquitin I gene promoter from maize in terms of bringing about maximum GUS activity in both the millets. The activity of Ubiquitin I promoter from maize was highest in leaf lamina followed by leaf sheath and seed callus. Other four promoters were found to be much less efficient for both millets

MONITORING THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF DEGRADED LANDS IN SIRSA DISTRICT

In this paper, study on monitoring of kind, extent and degree of severity of degraded lands was conducted in Sirsa district (29.53° N 75.02° E) of north western Haryana with the help of geo-spatial techniques. Efforts have been made to identify and map the degraded lands of the district on 1 : 50.000 scale using LANDSAT TM (1995) and IRS LISS-III (1A/B FCC; 2005–06 and 2015–16) satellite imagery. The area under various degraded land categories was computed for different seasons which reveal that wind erosion was major cause of soil degradation problem in the district since 1995. The area under degradation due to wind erosion was followed by water logging, anthropogenic activities and salinisation. Although the area occupied by anthropogenic activities was found to be low but their impact on environment is long term than naturally degraded soils. A significant decline is observed in all the degradation classes (except brick kilns) in successive years but however, water logging (permanent) shows increasing trend in 2005–06 and then decline in 2015–16. The reasons have been sorted out to explain the changing dynamics of degradation. The district was found to be degraded by various categories of land degradation subjected to slight to moderate degradation. The degraded lands have shown sharp decline from 28.4% in 1995 to 6.22% in 2015–16 of total geographical area of the district

Sub chronic oral toxicity study of Janma Ghunti Honey in Wistar rats

The present study was conducted to evaluate the safety profile of Janma Ghunti Honey in Wistar rats on oral administration for 28 consecutive days. Animals were randomized on the basis of body weight into 6 groups. Three groups received test item (TI) at three different dose levels (3 mL/k g, 6 mL/kg and 12 mL/kg body weight). One group served as high dose satellite reversal group (12 mL/kg). One group each served as the control and satellite control group. Animals were observed for clinical signs of toxicity and mortality at least once daily. Animals from satellite groups were observed for further 14 days without treatment to evaluate delayed occurrence or reversibility of any signs/toxicity. At the end of the study, animals were studied through clinical pathology and necropsy examination. No treatment related mortality was observed in any group. Except in female low dose and female high dose satellite groups, all the treated groups exhibited weight gain and no statistically significant alterations were observed. No TI related toxicity was found on hematological investigation, blood biochemistry parameters and absolute and relative organ weights among treated groups. 'No Observed Adverse Effect Level' of TI in male and female Wistar rats was found to be above 12 mL/kg body weight

Determination of bioactive phytochemicals, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of Colchicum autumnale L. (Suranjanshireen)

In Unani System of Medicine Suranjanshireen (Colchicum autumnale L.) is primarily used for the treatment of arthritis, and it belongs to the family of Liliaceae. The current investigation was conducted to evaluate the phytochemical constituents, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity of C. autumnale L. Anti-oxidant activity was done using 2, 2'-azinobis (3-ethyl benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging test. The bioactive compounds of the extracts of C. autumnale were identified by GC-MS and UHPLC-QExactiveOrbitrap. Docking studies were carried out for anti-inflammatory activity.The subjective phytochemicals examination demonstrated the existence of phenols, flavonoids, glycosides, and terpenoids. Whereas the quantitative investigation indicated dichloromethane extract contains the maximum number of phenolic and flavonoids constituents and demonstrated the highest antioxidant activity. GC-MS, and UHPLC- QExactiveOrbitrap investigation of the extracts confirmed the existence of bioactive compounds. Docking analysis revealed that colchicoside (3 demethyl colchicine glucoside) inhibits IL-6 having binding energy -7.1 kcal/mol with an RMSD value of 0.00. Phytochemicals, antioxidant, GC-MS, UHPLC- QExactiveOrbitrap analysis and molecular docking results revealed that the compounds presented in C. autumnale L extracts were accountable for numerous therapeutic uses, for instance, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities

Determination of bioactive phytochemicals, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of Colchicum autumnale L. (Suranjanshireen)

52-60In Unani System of Medicine Suranjanshireen (Colchicum autumnale L.) is primarily used for the treatment of arthritis, and it belongs to the family of Liliaceae. The current investigation was conducted to evaluate the phytochemical constituents, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity of C. autumnale L. Anti-oxidant activity was done using 2, 2'-azinobis (3-ethyl benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging test. The bioactive compounds of the extracts of C. autumnale were identified by GC-MS and UHPLC-QExactiveOrbitrap. Docking studies were carried out for anti-inflammatory activity.The subjective phytochemicals examination demonstrated the existence of phenols, flavonoids, glycosides, and terpenoids. Whereas the quantitative investigation indicated dichloromethane extract contains the maximum number of phenolic and flavonoids constituents and demonstrated the highest antioxidant activity. GC-MS, and UHPLC- QExactiveOrbitrap investigation of the extracts confirmed the existence of bioactive compounds. Docking analysis revealed that colchicoside (3 demethyl colchicine glucoside) inhibits IL-6 having binding energy -7.1 kcal/mol with an RMSD value of 0.00. Phytochemicals, antioxidant, GC-MS, UHPLC- QExactiveOrbitrap analysis and molecular docking results revealed that the compounds presented in C. autumnale L extracts were accountable for numerous therapeutic uses, for instance, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities

The "Statinth" wonder of the world: a panacea for all illnesses or a bubble about to burst

After the introduction of statins in the market as effective lipid lowering agents, they were shown to have effects other than lipid lowering. These actions were collectively referred to as 'pleiotropic actions of statins.' Pleiotropism of statins formed the basis for evaluating statins for several indications other than lipid lowering. Evidence both in favour and against is available for several of these indications. The current review attempts to critically summarise the available data for each of these indications

Oral clonidine versus gabapentin as premedicant for obtunding hemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation

Background: We compared the effects of oral clonidine and gabapentin as premedicant in obtunding hemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and intubation in normotensive patients undergoing elective surgery. Methods: A total of 100 patients of either sex enrolled in the study were randomly divided into two groups of 50 each. Group A patients received oral clonidine 200 μg and Group B patients received oral gabapentin 900 mg, 90 min prior to induction of anesthesia. Results: Both groups were matched for age, sex weight and intubation time. Anxiety score and sedation scores before induction were significantly better in Group A as compared with Group B. Heart rate rise was obtunded in Group A except at 1 min, as compared with Group B in which tachycardia persisted even at 3 and 5 min following intubation. Mean arterial pressure was maintained below baseline at all times in Group A as compared with Group B in which significant rise (+7.55%, P < 0.001) was seen at 1 min after intubation. Conclusion: Oral clonidine provided good attenuation of hemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and intubation as compared with oral gabapentin