Antibacterial activity, metabolites and elemental analysis of Saussurea candicans C. B. Clarke

Phytochemical analysis of ethanol and water extracts of Saussurea candicans has indicated the presence of flavonoides, phenolics, tannins etc. that supports its use in traditional medicine both for human and animals in different parts of the world. S. candicans is a plant of medicinal interest hence selected for analysis. Antibacterial activity of the two extracts was tested against Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Only the ethanol extract was found to be effective. Both aqueous and ethanol extracts were prepared and studied for different phytochemicals like alkaloids, flavonoides, phenolics, steroids etc. and also for their antibacterial activity using agar well diffusion method. The Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Wavelength Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (WD-XRF) spectroscopy of whole plant powder were done to study the functional groups and elemental profile, respectively. The aqueous extract contains more (11) phytochemicals as compared to ethanol (9). No zone of inhibition was observed at different volumes of the extract i. e., 20μl, 50μl and 100μl but at 150μl and 200μl concentration of 230.7 mg/ml plant extracts, the zone of inhibition was reported. The dose of 150μl concentration active only against E. faecalis, whereas, 200μl concentration showed activity against all bacterial strains. Only the ethanol extract had antibacterial activity against all the tested bacteria. The medicinal activity of S. candicans is assumed to be because of the presence of different phytochemicals and elements. Further study can be conducted to understand the role of each and every reported phytochemicals and elements.Â

Immune Mediated Musculoskeletal Disorders of Dogs: An Overview

Immune mediated musculoskeletal diseases are important diseases of dogs which occur due to failure of immunoregulation or to an abnormal immune response. As clinical signs of these disorders overlap with numerous other syndromes of musculoskeletal system, the confirmative diagnosis is difficult. Glucocorticoids are the basis of therapy with adjunct therapy of cytotoxic drugs, chrysotherapy which require continuous monitoring of patient. Generally there is no curative treatment in most of the disorders due to recurrence of disease after withdrawal of treatment

Review on Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) and its important secondary metabolite diosgenin

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is a medicinal plant used worldwide since ancient times. Its use as smelling agent and spice was documented since 15th century. The genus Trigonella includes around 260 species diffused worldwide and belonging to Fabaceae family. In the last decades, a number of studies highlighted the biological activities and therapeutic properties of this species mainly attributed to bioactive secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids and saponins. In particular, diosgenin, a steroidal saponin, has been investigated for its medicinal uses and fenugreek has been reported as source of raw material for the production of steroidal hormones. This review article focuses on the cultivation, genetics, ecophysiology and traditional uses of fenugreek, as well as on its medicinal properties, phytochemical and nutrient contents. Extraction procedures and pharmacological activities of diosgenin are also reviewed, as well as methods for its chemical analyses. This review focuses on the medicinal importance of Fenugreek and its important secondary metabolite diosgenin. The review article complies the results of pre-clinical studies conducted to establish the various medicinal applications of diosgenin. This will help researcher to discover fundamental role of diosgenin as a potential product for drug manufacturers and use of fenugreek as a source of diosgenin

Two new species of Camallanus (Nematoda: Camallanidae) from freshwater turtles in Queensland, Australia.

We describe 2 new species of Camallanus (Nematoda: Camallanidae) from freshwater turtles collected in Queensland, Australia: Camallanus nithoggi n. sp. from Elseya latisternum (Gray) and Camallanus waelhreow n. sp. from Emydura krefftii (Gray), Emydura macquarrii (Gray), and Em. macquarrii dharra Cann. The only Camallanus sp. previously reported from turtles is C. chelonius Baker, 1983 (all other species in the family have been transferred to Serpinema). The 2 new species described here differ from C. chelonius in the number of male preanal papillae (7 vs. 6 in C. chelonius), the number of male postanal papillae (5 vs. 4 in C. chelonius), and the number of buccal capsule ridges. Additionally, we removed the tissues overlying the buccal capsule and used scanning electron micrographs (SEM) to show that the peribuccal shields extend laterally from the buccal capsule, the basal ring is separated from the buccal capsule by a narrow isthmus, and there is a buttress along the lateral margin of the buccal capsule that has not previously been observed in species of Camallanus

Body composition analysis with bioelectric impedance in adult Indians with ESRD: Comparison with healthy population

Evaluation of body composition provides clinically useful information in several diseases including chronic kidney disease. Bioimpedance analysis (BIA) is a simple, cheap, and noninvasive tool for monitoring body composition. We performed BIA in 451 healthy adults and 162 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Resistance (R) and reactance (Xc) values were obtained at 50-kHz frequency using a tetrapolar impedance meter. Body compartments were derived using population-specific regression equations. Phase angles (arctan Xc/R) were calculated and impedance vector distribution was determined using the RXc graph method. Compared to healthy population, ESRD patients had similar post-dialysis resistance with lower reactance and phase angle, indicating decreased soft tissue mass and inadequate ultrafiltration. BIA equations estimated decreased fat mass index and intracellular water, whereas the total body and extracellular water percentages were increased. Sex-specific reference RXc plots with 95, 75, and 50% tolerance ellipses were drawn for the healthy population. A significant difference was noted in the vector positions and 95% confidence ellipses of the two sexes and body mass indices of ≤25 and >25. In conclusion, we present the reference BIA parameters for Indian population. ESRD patients show significant body compartment alterations. The RXc score graph can differentiate ESRD patient from normal controls and can be used to monitor nutrition and hydration status

Estimators based on sample quantiles using (h,phi)-entropy measures

A point estimation procedure based on the maximum entropy principle for (h, phi) entropies is proposed using sample quantiles. These estimators are efficient and asymptotically normal under standard regularity conditions. A test for goodness-of-fit is constructed, being the corresponding statistic asymptotically distributed chi-squared. These results generalize the results obtained in [1]

Evaluation of susceptibility testing methods for polymyxin

SummaryBackgroundThe widespread resistance in Gram-negative bacteria has necessitated evaluation of the use of older antimicrobials such as polymyxins. In the present study we evaluated the different susceptibility testing methods for polymyxins B and E against Gram-negative bacteria using the new Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines.MethodsThe susceptibility of 281 multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) to polymyxin B was evaluated, comparing broth microdilution (BMD; reference method), agar dilution, E-test, and disk diffusion. Disk diffusion testing of polymyxin B was also performed against 723 MDR GNB.ResultsTwenty-four of 281 (8.5%) isolates were found to be resistant to polymyxin B by the reference BMD method. The rates of very major errors for agar dilution and E-test (for polymyxin B) were 0.7% and 1%, respectively, and those for disk diffusion (for polymyxin B and polymyxin E) were 1% and 0.7%, respectively. For the 257 isolates found sensitive by reference BMD, the rates of major errors by agar dilution and E-test (for polymyxin B) were 2.4% and 0%, respectively, and those for disk diffusion (polymyxin B and polymyxin E) were 0% and 0.7%, respectively. Twenty-six (3.6%) of the 723 Gram-negative isolates were resistant to polymyxin B by disk diffusion.ConclusionThe E-test and agar dilution methods showed good concordance with BMD. The disk diffusion method can be useful for initial screening in diagnostic laboratories

Classes of exact Einstein-Maxwell solutions

We find new classes of exact solutions to the Einstein-Maxwell system of equations for a charged sphere with a particular choice of the electric field intensity and one of the gravitational potentials. The condition of pressure isotropy is reduced to a linear, second order differential equation which can be solved in general. Consequently we can find exact solutions to the Einstein-Maxwell field equations corresponding to a static spherically symmetric gravitational potential in terms of hypergeometric functions. It is possible to find exact solutions which can be written explicitly in terms of elementary functions, namely polynomials and product of polynomials and algebraic functions. Uncharged solutions are regainable with our choice of electric field intensity; in particular we generate the Einstein universe for particular parameter values.Comment: 16 pages, To appear in Gen. Relativ. Gravi

Standing Spin Wave Resonances in Manganite Films

We report the first observation of spin wave resonances in 110 nm thick films of LBMO. The spin wave stiffness follows $D$ = 47 (1 - 3 \times 10$_{-7}$ $T^{5/2}$) meV${\AA_2}$.Comment: 5 pages LATEX, 3 figures available on request. Submitted to Nature. Please send all queries to [email protected]

The effects of dietary supplementation with inulin and inulin-propionate ester on hepatic steatosis in adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

The short chain fatty acid (SCFA) propionate, produced through fermentation of dietary fibre by the gut microbiota, has been shown to alter hepatic metabolic processes that reduce lipid storage. We aimed to investigate the impact of raising colonic propionate production on hepatic steatosis in adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Eighteen adults were randomised to receive 20g/day of an inulin-propionate ester (IPE), designed to deliver propionate to the colon, or an inulin-control for 42-days in a parallel design. The change in intrahepatocellular lipid (IHCL) following the supplementation period was not different between groups (P=0.082), however IHCL significantly increased within the inulin-control group (20.9±2.9 to 26.8±3.9%; P=0.012; n=9), which was not observed within the IPE group (22.6±6.9 to 23.5±6.8%; P=0.635; n=9). The predominant SCFA from colonic fermentation of inulin is acetate, which in a background of NAFLD and a hepatic metabolic profile that promotes fat accretion, may provide surplus lipogenic substrate to the liver. The increased colonic delivery of propionate from IPE appears to attenuate this acetate- mediated increase in IHC