PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL PROFILE OF BIOPHYTUM SENSITIVUM (L) DC

Biophytum sensitivum (L.) DC (Family: Oxalidaceae) is a medicinal plant widely used in the treatment of various health aliments throughout the world. The plant extract showed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, tannins, terpenes, steroids, amino acids, essential oil, polysaccharides and pectin. The plant has been extensively studied by various researchers for its biological activities and therapeutic potentials such as analgesic, anti-pyretic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antitumor, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antibacterial, antihypertensive, chemoprotective, radioprotective and antifertility. The present review is an effort to provide detailed information on folkloric uses, chemical compositions, pharmacological activities of the extracts and isolated compounds and safety profile of Biophytum sensitivum for further research studies

A rare presentation of common tropical fever, scrub typhus-purpura fulminans, lower limb arterial thrombosis and pulmonary artery thrombosis

Purpura fulminans (PF) is an acute emergency condition manifested as purpuric rash secondary to thrombosis of microvasculature. It is rapidly progressive, can cause thrombosis in large as well as small vessels and tissue infarction. Although it is commonly associated with Meningococcal and Streptococcal infections, here we report this case of PF associated with scrub typhus infection. Our patient presented with generalised body rash and progressed to multiorgan dysfunction. On evaluation, common causes of PF were ruled out and eventually patient came out to be IgM scrub typhus serology kit test positive. Lower limb angiography and pulmonary artery angiography revealed vascular thrombosis. The patient started on IV antibiotics, other supportive managements, anticoagulation. Later the patient improved clinically, skin rash resolved with excoriations but developed gangrenous changes in both lower limbs. Hence the uncommon presentation of scrub typhus infection as purpura fulminans needs early identification and effective treatment to achieve mortality and morbidity benefit

Impact of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on medical technology uptake: analysis of the uptake of spinal cord stimulation in England 2008-2012.

This is the final version of the article. Available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.BACKGROUND: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Technology Appraisal Guidance on spinal cord stimulation (SCS) was published in 2008 and updated in 2012 with no change. This guidance recommends SCS as a cost-effective treatment for patients with neuropathic pain. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of NICE guidance by comparing SCS uptake in England pre-NICE (2008-2009) and post-NICE (2009-2012) guidance. We also compared the English SCS uptake rate with that of Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Germany. DESIGN: SCS implant data for England was obtained from the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) database and compared with other European countries where comparable data were available. RESULTS: The HES data showed small increases in SCS implantation and replacement/revision procedures, and a large increase in SCS trials between 2008 and 2012. The increase in the total number of SCS procedures per million of population in England is driven primarily by revision/replacements and increased trial activity. Marked variability in SCS uptake at both health regions and primary care trust level was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the positive NICE recommendation for the routine use of SCS, we found no evidence of a significant impact on SCS uptake in England. Rates of SCS implantation in England are lower than many other European countries.Access to the QUANTIS database to extract the relevant Hospital Episode Statistics data was funded by Medtronic UK

Time to think beyond sickle cell screening and haemoglobin electrophoresis: a case report and review of literature of sickle cell D-Punjab falsely labelled as sickle cell SS from central India

Sickle cell haemoglobin D disease (D-Punjab) is a rare variant of sickle cell disease (SCD) reported from central India. Exact incidence of pulmonary thrombosis in patients with HbSD is unknown. Pulmonary thrombosis is known complication of SCD but rare in case of HbSD pattern. We reported a case of 34-year-old male patient with HbSD (D-Punjab) with acute chest syndrome (ACS). CT pulmonary angiogram revealed near complete thrombosis of right middle lobe segmental and subsegmental branches with pulmonary infarct. Our patient responded to anticoagulant therapy. This case report is a reminder that HPLC should be done in all patients with sickle cell disease along with solubility test and hemoglobin electrophoresis to detect exact incidence of hemoglobin D disease in central India

Impact of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on medical technology uptake: analysis of the uptake of spinal cord stimulation in England 2008–2012

Background: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Technology Appraisal Guidance on spinal cord stimulation (SCS) was published in 2008 and updated in 2012 with no change. This guidance recommends SCS as a cost-effective treatment for patients with neuropathic pain. Objective: To assess the impact of NICE guidance by comparing SCS uptake in England pre-NICE (2008–2009) and post-NICE (2009–2012) guidance. We also compared the English SCS uptake rate with that of Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Germany. Design: SCS implant data for England was obtained from the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) database and compared with other European countries where comparable data were available. Results: The HES data showed small increases in SCS implantation and replacement/revision procedures, and a large increase in SCS trials between 2008 and 2012. The increase in the total number of SCS procedures per million of population in England is driven primarily by revision/replacements and increased trial activity. Marked variability in SCS uptake at both health regions and primary care trust level was observed. Conclusions: Despite the positive NICE recommendation for the routine use of SCS, we found no evidence of a significant impact on SCS uptake in England. Rates of SCS implantation in England are lower than many other European countries

The study of Feedback Analysis of CRT Programme & its Impact on Campus Placements in Technical Institute

The study of feedback analysis of the Engineering students across the core and the circuit branches in view of the Campus Recruitment Training Programme has a lot of significance for fruitful trainings. The whole idea of this research paper is to put things in perspective for all the stake holders like the Industry, college authority, training partner’s, students and the Management in particular for a collaborative effort . The academia has always endeavored to provide the best quality resource by imparting the basic technical skills and positive behavioral approach in students, which has been achieved, by innovative teaching and learning methods on a continuous basis which includes hiring reputed educational & technical training firms and In house state of the art and soft skills training programs. This researchpaper mainly tries to understand the issues and concerns of the engineering students facing the campus recruitment selection process. The feedback analysis has provided the necessary insights into finding the key measures to make the CRT programme more effective and acceptable from all the stake holders’ point of view. The study was made with a sample of 200 students through a structured questionnaire with close ended questions. Statistical, graphical methods, showing the comparative analysis based on the quantitative and qualitative data collected from the students, which has been utilized to generate practicable solutions and conclusions

Nanoscale waveguiding methods

While 32 nm lithography technology is on the horizon for integrated circuit (IC) fabrication, matching the pace for miniaturization with optics has been hampered by the diffraction limit. However, development of nanoscale components and guiding methods is burgeoning through advances in fabrication techniques and materials processing. As waveguiding presents the fundamental issue and cornerstone for ultra-high density photonic ICs, we examine the current state of methods in the field. Namely, plasmonic, metal slot and negative dielectric based waveguides as well as a few sub-micrometer techniques such as nanoribbons, high-index contrast and photonic crystals waveguides are investigated in terms of construction, transmission, and limitations. Furthermore, we discuss in detail quantum dot (QD) arrays as a gain-enabled and flexible means to transmit energy through straight paths and sharp bends. Modeling, fabrication and test results are provided and show that the QD waveguide may be effective as an alternate means to transfer light on sub-diffraction dimensions

Resource Modelling: The Missing Piece of the HTA Jigsaw?

Within health technology assessment (HTA), cost-effectiveness analysis and budget impact analyses have been broadly accepted as important components of decision making. However, whilst they address efficiency and affordability, the issue of implementation and feasibility has been largely ignored. HTA commonly takes place within a deliberative framework that captures issues of implementation and feasibility in a qualitative manner. We argue that only through a formal quantitative assessment of resource constraints can these issues be fully addressed. This paper argues the need for resource modelling to be considered explicitly in HTA. First, economic evaluation and budget impact models are described along with their limitations in evaluating feasibility. Next, resource modelling is defined and its usefulness is described along with examples of resource modelling from the literature. Then, the important issues that need to be considered when undertaking resource modelling are described before setting out recommendations for the use of resource modelling in HTA

Excitonic AND Logic Gates on DNA Brick Nanobreadboards

A promising application of DNA self-assembly is the fabrication of chromophore-based excitonic devices. DNA brick assembly is a compelling method for creating programmable nanobreadboards on which chromophores may be rapidly and easily repositioned to prototype new excitonic devices, optimize device operation, and induce reversible switching. Using DNA nanobreadboards, we have demonstrated each of these functions through the construction and operation of two different excitonic AND logic gates. The modularity and high chromophore density achievable via this brick-based approach provide a viable path toward developing information processing and storage systems

Controlled environments: an urban research agenda on microclimatic enclosure

Controlled environments create specialist forms of microclimatic enclosure that are explicitly designed to transcend the emerging limitations and increasing turbulence in existing modes of urban climatic conditions. Across different urban contexts, anthropogenic change is creating urban conditions that are too hot, cold, humid, wet, windy etc. to support the continued and reliable environments that are suitable for the reproduction of food, ecologies and human life. In response, there are emerging forms of experimentation with new logics of microclimatic governance that seek to enclose environments within membranes and develop artificially created internal ecologies that are precisely customized to meet the needs of the plant, animal or human occupants of these new forms of enclosure. While recognizing that enclosure has a long history in urbanism, design and architecture, we ask in this paper if a new logic of microclimatic governance is emerging in specific response to the ecological changes of the Anthropocene. The paper sets out a research agenda to investigate whether the ability of cities, states and corporates to design and construct internalized environments is now a strategic capacity that is critical to developing the knowledge, practices and technologies to reconfigure new forms of urban climatic governance that address the problems of climate change and ensure urban reproduction under conditions of turbulence