5,7-Dihy­droxy-3,6-dimeth­oxy-2-(4-meth­oxy­phen­yl)-4H-chromen-4-one monohydrate

The title compound, C18H16O7·H2O, is a flavonoid isolated from Dodonaea viscosa­. The benzopyran ring system of the flavonoid is essentially planar [maximum deviation = 0.025 (2) Å] and inclined at 5.83 (2)° to the attached benzene ring. The water of hydration is involved in extensive hydrogen bonding, assembling the mol­ecules into a supra­molecular network via classical inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonding. The crystal structure is further stabilized by π–π stacking inter­actions [centroid–centroid distance between benzene rings = 3.564 (3) Å]

Surgical Outcome of Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion in Patients with Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy and Radiculopathy in Terms of Improvement of Pain

Objective: Cervical spondylosis is a common degenerative condition leading to compression of nerve roots or spinal cord, causing radiculopathy or myelopathy. Anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) techniques are commonly recognized procedures in treating axial cervical spine pain and upper extremity radicular discomfort. The study analyzed the surgical outcome of anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and radiculopathy patients in terms of pain improvement. Material and Methods: This descriptive case series analysis was performed at the Neuro Surgery department, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar. A total of 146 patients between age 18 – 65 years meeting the inclusion criteria underwent anterior decompression &post-procedure improvement in pain of neck and arm/shoulder was determined using patient reported outcome (PRO) measure, namely visual analog scale (VAS) of 0-10 and a final outcome that is an improvement of pain, i.e., Mild to no pain (VAS score ≤3) was considered after 12 months. Results: The mean age was 52 years ± 8.273. As regards gender distribution, 78% of patients were male, while 22% were female. The mean baseline VAS score was 6.5 ± 2.37, mean postoperative VAS score was 3.5 ± 1.161 with a mean point improvement in pain of 3.0 points (p-value < 0.05). 80% of patients had shown improvement in reducing pain, while 20% did not have shown any improvement. Conclusion: This study revealed that independent of symptoms duration and presentation, patients reported dramatic improvements in neck and arm pain after ACDF

Antispasmodic and Ca++ antagonist potential of marrubiin, a labdane type diterpene from Phlomis bracteosa

A tricyclic labdane type diterpene was isolated for the first time from ethyl acetate soluble part of Phlomis bracteosa. Its structure was confirmed by x-ray which was found to be marrubiin. When studied in isolated rabbit jejunum, marrubiin caused concentration-dependent relaxation of spontaneous and high K+ (80 mM)-induced contractions, like that caused by verapamil, indicating that marrubiin exhibits spasmolytic activity, possibly mediated through Ca++ channel blocking action

Cholecystitis in Situs Inversus with Dextrocardia

Background: Surgical problem known as Acute Cholecystitis is very common nowadays; however it may cause trouble in diagnosing when person has situs inversus, (i.e.) viscera situated on the opposite side of the body. Our case report discusses the history and physical exam findings, images of radiograph, diagnosis, and how we dealt with cholecystitis in situs inversus with dextrocardia.Case Presentation: An eighty-six yrs. old male having pain in the upper left hypochondrium region, presented in emergency department. He was later diagnosed to have acute cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder) with cholelithiasis (presence of gallstones in gallbladder) in situs inversus totalis. Patient underwent elective open cholecystectomy within 24 h. Patient recovered well and was discharged on fourth postoperative day.Conclusion: Acute cholecystitis in Situs Inversus with Dextrocardia is very rare congenital anomaly and requires great expertise in the field of surgery to operate on these patients because of the reverse anatomy of the organs

COVID-19: Implications, reactions and future directions

Humanity has faced several foes over the centuries, a formidable one amongst them is the current pandemic of COVID-19. The symptoms of COVID-19 are more or less related to the nose and throat. Therefore, patients more often present to Ear Nose Throat (ENT) clinics with symptoms including cough, sore throat, fever and shortness of breath. In the management of head and neck pathologies, as the airway is a direct source of infection, the impact of COVID-19 holds special significance. This review has attempted to explain the various aspects of the disease itself, its diagnosis, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to provide an overview of the evolving recommendations in head and neck patients, the future outlook and the limitations faced in developing countries specifically for ENT patients

Catalytic Reductive Degradation of Methyl Orange Using Air Resilient Copper Nanostructures

The study describes the application of oxidation resistant copper nanostructures as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the treatment of organic dye containing waste waters. Copper nanostructures were synthesized in an aqueous environment using modified surfactant assisted chemical reduction route. The synthesized nanostructures have been characterized by UV-Vis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy FTIR spectroscopy, Atomic force microscopy (AFM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). These surfactant capped Cu nanostructures have been used as a heterogeneous catalyst for the comparative reductive degradation of methyl orange (MO) in the presence of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) used as a potential reductant. Copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) were found to be more efficient compared to copper nanorods (Cu NRds) with the degradation reaction obeying pseudofirst order reaction kinetics. Shape dependent catalytic efficiency was further evaluated from activation energy (EA) of reductive degradation reaction. The more efficient Cu NPs were further employed for reductive degradation of real waste water samples containing dyes collected from the drain of different local textile industries situated in Hyderabad region, Pakistan

Bioactivity-guided isolation of rosmarinic acid as the principle bioactive compound from the butanol extract of Isodon rugosus against pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum

Aphids are agricultural pest insects that transmit viruses and cause feeding damage on a global scale. Current pest control involving the excessive use of synthetic insecticides over decades has led to multiple forms of aphid resistance to most classes of insecticides. In nature, plants produce secondary metabolites during their interaction with insects and these metabolites can act as toxicants, antifeedants, anti-oviposition agents and deterrents towards the insects. In a previous study, we demonstrated that the butanol fraction from a crude methanolic extract of an important plant species, Isodon rugosus showed strong insecticidal activity against the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. It was however not known as which compound was responsible for such activity. To further explore this finding, current study aimed to exploit a bioactivity-guided strategy to isolate and identify the active compound in the butanol fraction of I. rugosus. As such, reversed-phase flash chromatography, acidic extraction and different spectroscopic techniques were used to isolate and identify the new compound, rosmarinic acid as the bioactive compound in I. rugosus. Insecticidal activity of rosmarinic acid was carried out using standard protocols on A. pisum. The data was analyzed using qualitative and quantitative statistical approaches. Considering that a very low concentration of this compound (LC90 = 5.4 ppm) causes significant mortality in A. pisum within 24 h, rosmarinic acid could be exploited as a potent insecticide against this important pest insect. Furthermore, I. rugosus is already used for medicinal purposes and rosmarinic acid is known to reduce genotoxic effects induced by chemicals, hence it is expected to be safer compared to the current conventional pesticides. While this study highlights the potential of I. rugosus as a possible biopesticide source against A. pisum, it also provides the basis for further exploration and development of formulations for effective field application

Bioactivity-guided isolation of rosmarinic acid as the principal bioactive compound from the butanol extract of Isodon rugosus against the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum

Aphids are agricultural pest insects that transmit viruses and cause feeding damage on a global scale. Current pest control practices involving the excessive use of synthetic insecticides over many years have resulted in aphid resistance to a number of pesticides. In nature, plants produce secondary metabolites during their interaction with insects and these metabolites can act as toxicants, antifeedants, anti-oviposition agents and deterrents towards the insects. In a previous study, we demonstrated that the butanol fraction from a crude methanolic extract of an important plant species, Isodon rugosus showed strong insecticidal activity against the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. To further explore this finding, the current study aimed to exploit a bioactivity-guided strategy to isolate and identify the active compound in the butanol fraction of I. rugosus. As such, reversed-phase flash chromatography, acidic extraction and different spectroscopic techniques were used to isolate and identify the new compound, rosmarinic acid, as the bioactive compound in I. rugosus. Insecticidal potential of rosmarinic acid against A. pisum was evaluated using standard protocols and the data obtained was analyzed using qualitative and quantitative statistical approaches. Considering that a very low concentration of this compound (LC90 = 5.4 ppm) causes significant mortality in A. pisum within 24 h, rosmarinic acid could be exploited as a potent insecticide against this important pest insect. Furthermore, I. rugosus is already used for medicinal purposes and rosmarinic acid is known to reduce genotoxic effects induced by chemicals, hence it is expected to be safer compared to the current conventional pesticides. While this study highlights the potential of I. rugosus as a possible biopesticide source against A. pisum, it also provides the basis for further exploration and development of formulations for effective field application

Bioactivity-guided isolation of rosmarinic acid as the principal bioactive compound from the butanol extract of Isodon rugosus against the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (vol 14, e0215048, 2019)

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215048.]