In-vitro antioxidant potential and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effect of Ficus benghalensis aerial root extract

Aim and objective: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the antioxidant effect, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory effect and phytochemical screening of different extracts of aerial root extract of Ficus benghalensis using in-vitro methods. Methods: The aerial root extract was prepared by successive extraction method using different organic solvents having increasing order of polarity. FB aerial root extract was screened for preliminary phytochemical analysis. FB aerial root extracts were evaluated for in-vitro acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effect by the Ellman’s method and anti-oxidant potential by DPPH assay and hydroxyl radical neutralizing assay. Results: Preliminary phytochemical screening of FB extracts indicate the existence of the phytochemicals such as phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, anthraquinones, tannins and steroids. The results of the DPPH assay, hydroxyl radical scavenging assay and AChE inhibitory assay show that chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts are having significant antioxidant activity and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effect as compared to the other extracts, respectively. Conclusion: The results of the current study suggest that the aerial root extract of FB might be a potential drug source for treatment of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer disease. Keywords: Ficus benghalensis; antioxidant; DPPH; acetylcholinesterase; neurodegenerative disorder

A Forgotten Migrated Intrauterine Contraceptive Device Is Not Always Innocent: A Case Report

The incidence of transuterine perforation and migration of intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCDs) into the abdominal cavity has been estimated at less than 0.1%. It has been suggested that intraperitoneal IUCD have low morbidity and may be left in situ. We report the first case of closed loop small bowel obstruction due to migration of a “Saf-T-Coil” IUCD into the abdominal cavity, where it became embedded in the omentum and ultimately, 31 years after deployment, coiled both arms around a loop of ileum. This late complication underlines the dangers of intra-abdominal foreign bodies, even when chemically and biologically inert

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and correlation with hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B

Background: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a dynamic condition involving interaction between the hepatitis B virus, hepatocyte and host immune system. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a cheap, easily available bedside inflammatory marker. The aim of the study was to assess the role of NLR to assess the fibrosis in CHB patients Methods: It was a prospective cross-sectional study done between January 2021-December 2021, 61 patients with CHB of age 16-50 years were included. Basic demographic and laboratory parameter were assessed. Fibrosis was assessed using fibroscan (ECHOSENS) 502 model. Using NLR cut-off of 1.9 fibrosis was assessed in different groups.Results:  The mean age was 34±13.1 years, 66% were male patients. The mean haemoglobin, total count, platelet counts were 11.3±2.1 g/dl, 7250±2100 cells/ml, 146000±26000/ml respectively. The 38 (62.3%) patients were HBeAg positive and 23 (37.7%) patients HBeAg negative. The 28 (45.1%) patients had no significant fibrosis (8 kpa). The 33 patients with significant fibrosis 30 patients had NLR of less than 1.9 and 3 had NLR>1.9. The 28 patients who had fibrosis of less than 6.5 kpa, 26 had NLR more than 1.9 and 2 patients with less than 1.9. Mean N/L ratio values were notably lower in cases with advanced fibrosis when compared to individuals with no/minimal fibrosis (p1.9 respectively (p=0.0001)Conclusions: Decreased N/L ratio is significantly associated with fibrosis severity and can be utilised to identify patients with advanced disease

Structural, mechanical, thermal, optical and antifungal properties of pure and nickel doped ninhydrin non liner single crystals

A conventional method was adopted to prepare pure ninhydrin (NH) and nickel doped ninhydrin (N1NH) single crystals. The present investigation focused on various properties of as grown NH and NINH crystals. Monoclinic crystal structure with P21 space group which is attractive phenomena were noticed in structural mode of grown NH and NINH crystals. Various vibrations of functional groups related to NH and nickel doped NINH crystals were assigned from Fourier-transform infrared peaks of good resolution. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectrum presents the percentage of carbon, oxygen and nickel occurs in the sample. The strength of the samples have deliberated with the help of Vicker’s microhardness tester. The decomposition point of both NH and N1NH crystals has been measured by thermal analysis. The dielectric constant of both NH and N1NH crystals was also determined. Green emission which denotes second harmonic generation (SHG) process for the samples generally confirms the nonlinear optical (NLO) activity of the NH and N1NH crystals and it has been tested successfully based on the technique of Kurtz-Perry. The SHG efficiency values of NH and N1NH samples are comparable with KDP which has been used as reference sample as it is being used commercially. Basically, NH and NINH crystal samples were used for many medical applications. Therefore, the antifungal activity was also focused for investigation against two famous fungi like Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus

Association analysis of nine candidate gene polymorphisms in Indian patients with type 2 diabetic retinopathy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is classically defined as a microvasculopathy that primarily affects the small blood vessels of the inner retina as a complication of diabetes mellitus (DM).It is a multifactorial disease with a strong genetic component. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of a set of nine candidate genes with the development of diabetic retinopathy in a South Indian cohort who have type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Seven candidate genes (<it>RAGE, PEDF, AKR1B1, EPO, HTRA1, ICAM </it>and <it>HFE</it>) were chosen based on reported association with DR in the literature. Two more, <it>CFH </it>and ARMS2, were chosen based on their roles in biological pathways previously implicated in DR. Fourteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and one dinucleotide repeat polymorphism, previously reported to show association with DR or other related diseases, were genotyped in 345 DR and 356 diabetic patients without retinopathy (DNR). The genes which showed positive association in this screening set were tested further in additional sets of 100 DR and 90 DNR additional patients from the Aravind Eye Hospital. Those which showed association in the secondary screen were subjected to a combined analysis with the 100 DR and 100 DNR subjects previously recruited and genotyped through the Sankara Nethralaya Hospital, India. Genotypes were evaluated using a combination of direct sequencing, TaqMan SNP genotyping, RFLP analysis, and SNaPshot PCR assays. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used to analyze the genotype and allele frequencies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among the nine loci (15 polymorphisms) screened, SNP rs2070600 (G82S) in the <it>RAGE </it>gene, showed significant association with DR (allelic P = 0.016, dominant model P = 0.012), compared to DNR. SNP rs2070600 further showed significant association with DR in the confirmation cohort (P = 0.035, dominant model P = 0.032). Combining the two cohorts gave an allelic P < 0.003 and dominant P = 0.0013). Combined analysis with the Sankara Nethralaya cohort gave an allelic P = 0.0003 and dominant P = 0.00011 with an OR = 0.49 (0.34 - 0.70) for the minor allele. In <it>HTRA1</it>, rs11200638 (G>A), showed marginal significance with DR (P = 0.055) while rs10490924 in LOC387715 gave a P = 0.07. No statistical significance was observed for SNPs in the other 7 genes studied.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study confirms significant association of one polymorphism only (rs2070600 in <it>RAGE</it>) with DR in an Indian population which had T2DM.</p

Prevalence and risk factors of bone disease in patients with chronic pancreatitis: a cross sectional study

Background: Osteopenia and osteoporosis is a highly prevalent condition and presents a tremendous public health burden. The association of bone disease has been recognized in several diseases of the git, resulting in established guidelines for screening in patients with malabsorptive disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and celiac disease.  Increasingly, the risk of bone disease has been recognized in patients with chronic pancreatitis, who share similar risk factors as patients with other gastrointestinal disorders.Methods: This single-centre study was carried out in Kilpauk medical college. This study population consisted of 47 patients who were image confirmed cases of chronic pancreatitis. History of smoking, alcohol use was taken, body mass index, fecal elastase was measured. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan was used to examine bone mineral density (BMD) for the lumbar spine and bilateral femoral neck.Results: Of the 47 patients, 19 patients were chronic smokers and 28 patients had history of significant alcohol use. The prevalence of osteoporosis in patient group was 29.8% in patients with CP compared to Indian prevalence of 18.3% in previous studies. The prevalence of osteopenia was 48.9% in patients with CP compared to Indian prevalence of 49.9% in previous studies.Conclusions: Bone disease in CP can be attributed to several risk factors which act synergistically in propagating abnormal bone metabolism. Osteoporosis and osteopenia are underappreciated sources of morbidity in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Bone health management guidelines are urgently required in patients with chronic pancreatitis

Structural, mechanical, thermal, optical and antifungal properties of pure and nickel doped ninhydrin non liner single crystals

82-88A conventional method was adopted to prepare pure ninhydrin (NH) and nickel doped ninhydrin (N1NH) single crystals. The present investigation focused on various properties of as grown NH and NINH crystals. Monoclinic crystal structure with P21 space group which is attractive phenomena were noticed in structural mode of grown NH and NINH crystals. Various vibrations of functional groups related to NH and nickel doped NINH crystals were assigned from Fourier-transform infrared peaks of good resolution. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectrum presents the percentage of carbon, oxygen and nickel occurs in the sample. The strength of the samples have deliberated with the help of Vicker&rsquo;s microhardness tester. The decomposition point of both NH and N1NH crystals has been measured by thermal analysis. The dielectric constant of both NH and N1NH crystals was also determined. Green emission which denotes second harmonic generation (SHG) process for the samples generally confirms the nonlinear optical (NLO) activity of the NH and N1NH crystals and it has been tested successfully based on the technique of Kurtz-Perry. The SHG efficiency values of NH and N1NH samples are comparable with KDP which has been used as reference sample as it is being used commercially. Basically, NH and NINH crystal samples were used for many medical applications. Therefore, the antifungal activity was also focused for investigation against two famous fungi like Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus

Best Practices for the Ocean Moored Observatories

Real-time spatio-temporal meteorological and oceanographic data, from the Ocean moored observatories, are essential for the precise forecast of the ocean state, climate variability studies and reliable weather prediction. Precise spatio-temporal measurement of subsurface parameters such as temperature, salinity and current are essential to understand the intra-seasonal and inter-annual evolution of monsoons and tropical cyclones. To cater to this time-critical information, moored observatories have to continuously be operational in the harsh marine environment to measure these essential ocean variables. However, bio-fouling and corrosion limits the life time and accuracy of the highly precise measuring instruments. Thus, best practices in these moored observations are essential for long term accurate and cost-effective ocean observation. The Indian moored buoy network which has been operational since 1997, has been providing quality data over the past decade. This paper describes the best operational practices and quality control processes followed in the Indian moored buoy system design, sensor calibration, testing, integration, deployment, retrieval, and data quality control over the past two decades, which has helped to achieve an average meteorological data return of 90%