Dexmedetomidine versus propofol as a sedative agent in the intensive care unit: a randomized single blinded prospective study

Background: Sedation is an essential prerequisite for every ICU patient. It promotes patient comfort, helps in alleviation of anxiety, stabilizes vitals and reduces the time to extubation and ICU discharge. This study aims at comparing dexmedetomidine versus propofol in ICU sedation with respect to maintenance of vitals, time to extubation, incidence of adverse effects and cost effectiveness.Methods: 60 intubated and mechanically ventilated post-surgical ICU patients were randomly allocated to two groups of 30 each. Group D received dexmedetomidine infusion as a loading dose of 0.1mcg/kg/min IV over 10 minutes followed by maintenance infusion of 0.2-0.7mcg/kg/h IV. Group P received propofol infusion as a loading dose of 5mcg/kg/min IV over 5 minutes followed by a maintenance infusion of 0.3-3mg/kg/h IV. Patients in both groups were maintained at Richmond agitation sedation score of -1 to -2. Measurements of HR, NIBP, SpO2 were taken at regular intervals till cessation of sedation and extubation. Data thus collected was subjected to statistical analysis.Results: Dexmedetomidine was seen to be comparable to propofol as far as maintaining vitals was concerned. Group D (dexmedetomidine) had a statistically significant shorter mean duration to sedation cessation and extubation than group P (propofol). Dexmedetomidine also had the added advantages of minimal respiratory depression, decreased opioid requirements as well as greater cost effectiveness.Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine was found to be a better choice for sedation in the ICU compared to propofol

Impatiens pathakiana (Balsaminaceae), a new species from Arunachal Pradesh, north-eastern India

Impatiens pathakiana Gogoi & Borah, a new species is described and illustrated from Arunachal Pradesh, north-eastern India. The species is restricted to hilly slopes along margin of subtropical evergreen broad-leaved montane forests of Chaglagam (Dalai Valley), Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Diagnostic morphological characters distinguishing the new species from the morphologically similar species, I. fenghwaiana Y.L.Chen and I. wuyuanensis Y.L.Chen are discussed

Chronic exposure of homocysteine in mice contributes to dopamine loss by enhancing oxidative stress in nigrostriatum and produces behavioral phenotypes of Parkinson’s disease

AbstractIncreased homocysteine (Hcy) level has been implicated as an independent risk factor for various neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease (PD). Hcy has been reported to cause dopaminergic neuronal loss in rodents and causes the behavioral abnormalities. This study is an attempt to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying Hcy-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity after its chronic systemic administration. Male Swiss albino mice were injected with different doses of Hcy (100 and 250mg/kg; intraperitoneal) for 60 days. Animals subjected to higher doses of Hcy, but not the lower dose, produces motor behavioral abnormalities with significant dopamine depletion in the striatum. Significant inhibition of mitochondrial complex-I activity in nigra with enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes in the nigrostriatum have highlighted the involvement of Hcy-induced oxidative stress. While, chronic exposure to Hcy neither significantly alters the nigrostriatal glutathione level nor it causes any visible change in tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactivity of dopaminergic neurons. The finding set us to hypothesize that the mild oxidative stress due to prolonged Hcy exposure to mice is conducive to striatal dopamine depletion leading to behavioral abnormalities similar to that observed in PD

Impatiens tatoensis (Balsaminaceae): a new species from Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India and notes on lectotypification of the name I. spirifera Hook.f. & Thomson

Impatiens tatoensis Gogoi & W.Adamowski, a new species from Northeast India with affinities to I. spirifera Hook.f. & Thomson is described and illustrated. We provide a lectotypification for the name I. spirifera Hook.f. & Thomson as well as a description and illustrations of the species

Lectotypification of the name Impatiens toppinii Dunn, a new addition of the species for flora of India

Impatiens toppinii Dunn (Balsaminaceae) was re-collected after a century from Arunachal Pradesh, India. The species was earlier known only from Kachin hills, Myanmar. A lectotype is designated, a detailed description from live material and coloured illustrations for easy identification are provided

AN UPDATED ACCOUNT OF THE NAME CHANGES OF THE DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANT SPECIES INCLUDED IN THE VOL: III (1939) & VOL: IV (1940) OF "FLORA OF ASSAM"

Abstract All the major monumental floras of the world have most of the plants included in their old names, which are now regarded as synonyms. In north east India, "Flora of Assam" is an important flora as it includes result of pioneering floristic work on Angiosperms & Gymnosperms in the region. But, in this flora, the same problems of name changes appear before the new researchers. Therefore, an attempt is made here to prepare an updated account of the new names against their old counterparts of the plants included in the 3 rd & 4 th volumes of the flora, on the basis of recent standard taxonomic literatures. Earlier, the name changes of the plants included in the 1 st & 2 nd volumes are already published & this is the second part of the work. In this, the unresolved names are not touched & only the confirmed ones are taken into account. In the process new names of 531 dicotyledonous plant species included in the concerned flora are compiled out

Dexmedetomidine versus propofol as a sedative agent in the intensive care unit: a randomized single blinded prospective study

Background: Sedation is an essential prerequisite for every ICU patient. It promotes patient comfort, helps in alleviation of anxiety, stabilizes vitals and reduces the time to extubation and ICU discharge. This study aims at comparing dexmedetomidine versus propofol in ICU sedation with respect to maintenance of vitals, time to extubation, incidence of adverse effects and cost effectiveness.Methods: 60 intubated and mechanically ventilated post-surgical ICU patients were randomly allocated to two groups of 30 each. Group D received dexmedetomidine infusion as a loading dose of 0.1mcg/kg/min IV over 10 minutes followed by maintenance infusion of 0.2-0.7mcg/kg/h IV. Group P received propofol infusion as a loading dose of 5mcg/kg/min IV over 5 minutes followed by a maintenance infusion of 0.3-3mg/kg/h IV. Patients in both groups were maintained at Richmond agitation sedation score of -1 to -2. Measurements of HR, NIBP, SpO2 were taken at regular intervals till cessation of sedation and extubation. Data thus collected was subjected to statistical analysis.Results: Dexmedetomidine was seen to be comparable to propofol as far as maintaining vitals was concerned. Group D (dexmedetomidine) had a statistically significant shorter mean duration to sedation cessation and extubation than group P (propofol). Dexmedetomidine also had the added advantages of minimal respiratory depression, decreased opioid requirements as well as greater cost effectiveness.Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine was found to be a better choice for sedation in the ICU compared to propofol

Lectotypification of the name Impatiens toppinii Dunn, a new addition of the species for flora of India

Impatiens toppinii Dunn (Balsaminaceae) was re-collected after a century from Arunachal Pradesh, India. The species was earlier known only from Kachin hills, Myanmar. A lectotype is designated, a detailed description from live material and coloured illustrations for easy identification are provided