Some observations on the effect of Daflon (micronized purified flavonoid fraction of Rutaceae aurantiae) in bancroftian filarial lymphoedema

BACKGROUND: Morbidity management is a core component of the global programme for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis. In a double-blind clinical trial, the tolerability and efficacy of Daflon (500 mg) + DEC (25 mg) or DEC (25 mg) alone, twice daily for 90 days, was studied in 26 patients with bancroftian filarial lymphoedema. RESULTS: None of the patients in either drug group reported any adverse reaction throughout the treatment period (90 days). Haematological and biochemical parameters were within normal limits and there was no significant difference between the pre-treatment (day 0) and post-treatment (day 90) values. The group receiving Daflon showed significant reduction in oedema volume from day 90 (140.6 ± 18.8 ml) to day 360 (71.8 ± 20.7 ml) compared to the pre-treatment (day 0, 198.4 ± 16.5 ml) value. This accounted for a 63.8% reduction in oedema volume by day 360 (considering the pre-treatment (day 0) as 100%). In the DEC group, the changes in oedema volume (between day 1 and day 360) were not significant when compared to the pre-treatment (day 0) value. The percentage reduction at day 360 was only 9%, which was not significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study has shown that Daflon (500 mg, twice a day for 90 days) is both safe and efficacious in reducing oedema volume in bancroftian filarial lymphoedema. Further clinical trials are essential for strengthening the evidence base on the role of this drug in the morbidity management of lymphatic filariasis

Influences of Cattaneo-Christov Heat Flux, Joule Heating, Viscous Dissipation and Chemical Reaction on Hydromagnetic Pulsating Flow of Oldroyd-B Nanofluid in a Porous Channel

437-448In this present study, Cattaneo-Christov heat flux on the hydromagnetic pulsatile flow of Oldroyd-B nanofluid through a porous channel with the presence of Brownian motion, thermal radiation, and thermophoresis effects are studied. The effects of dissipation of viscous and Ohmic heating are considered. The Buongiorno model is taken into account in this analysis. By using the perturbation method the governing partial differential equations (PDEs) are converted into the ordinary differential equations (ODEs) and solved numerically by employing the Runge-Kutta 4th-order scheme along with shooting approach. The influence of distinct parameters on velocity, temperature, nanoparticle concentration, heat and mass transfer rates are examined in detail. The results indicate that nanofluid velocity increases with higher frequency parameter, and while it falls with rising Hartmann number, and cross-flow Reynolds number. An increase in thermophoresis parameter, Eckert number, radiation parameter, Brownian motion parameter leads to a rise in temperature whereas temperature decreases for increasing Hartmann number and thermal relaxation time parameter. Moreover, the nanoparticle concentration enhances with an increasing thermophoresis parameter, thermal relaxation time parameter while it falls with the rising values of Lewis number, chemical reaction parameter and Brownian motion parameter

Tolerability and efficacy of single dose albendazole, diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) or co-administration of albendazole with DEC in the clearance of Wuchereria bancrofti in asymptomatic microfilaraemic volunteers in Pondicherry, South India: a hospital-based study

BACKGROUND: The tolerability and efficacy of single dose albendazole (400 mg), diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) (6 mg/kg bodyweight) or co-administration of albendazole (400 mg) + DEC (6 mg/kg bodyweight) was studied in 54 asymptomatic Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaraemic volunteers in a double blind hospital-based clinical study. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the overall incidence of adverse reactions between the three drug groups [42.1% (albendazole), 52.9% (DEC) and 61.1% (albendazole + DEC); P > 0.05]. The mean score of adverse reaction intensity did not differ significantly between the DEC and albendazole + DEC groups. However, the values in these two groups were significantly higher compared to that of albendazole alone [1.8 ± 3.0 (albendazole) vs. 5.6 ± 7.1 (DEC), 6.7 ± 6.6 (albendazole + DEC); P < 0.05]. By day 360 post-therapy there was no significant difference between the three drug groups in relation to the clearance of microfilaria [26.3% (albendazole), 17.6% (DEC), 27.8% (albendazole + DEC)], reduction in geometric mean parasite density [94.7% (albendazole), 89.5% (DEC), 95.4% (albendazole + DEC)] or reduction in filarial antigenaemia [83% (albendazole), 87% (DEC), 75% (albendazole + DEC)]. Furthermore, there was a significant decrease in mean geometric parasite density (P < 0.05) as well as antigenaemia optical density values (P < 0.01) between pre-therapy levels and day 360 post-therapy in all three groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown that single dose albendazole (400 mg) has similar efficacy in the clearance of microfilaria as that of DEC or the co-administration of the two drugs. The results strengthen the rationale of using albendazole for mass annual single dose administration for the control of transmission of lymphatic filariasis

Role of Alvarado score in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis

Acute appendicitis is a surgical emergency, which is associated with morbidity and mortality occasionally. If failed to diagnose early the situation may become more complicated. In acute appendicitis it is not possible to have definitive diagnosis by histopathology preoperatively, we would like a simple test like Alvarado scoring system which depends on the presence and absence of certain variable, which provides an accurate guide to whether or not the patient has the condition. Hence, accurate diagnosis and timely intervention is needed. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the Alvarado scoring system in diagnosing acute appendicitis and its co relation with histopathology. This prospective study was conducted in 100 consecutive patients admitted in the department of general surgery of Narayana Medical College, Nellore with the clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis. The findings based on the Alvarado score indicate that 68% of the subjects had a score of more than 7 and 22% of the subjects had a score between 5 and 7. Only 10% of the subjects had a score between 1 and 4. Out of 83 eligible subjects 75 were found to have acute appendicitis by histopathological examination. Negative appendicectomy was very low representing up to 9.6% whereas the percentage of positive predictive value was high representing up to 90.4%. Although the diagnosis of acute appendicitis remains mainly clinical evaluation, the scoring system is easy, simple and cheap complementary aid for supporting the diagnosis of acute appendicitis

Influences of Cattaneo-Christov Heat Flux, Joule Heating, Viscous Dissipation and Chemical Reaction on Hydromagnetic Pulsating Flow of Oldroyd-B Nanofluid in a Porous Channel

In this present study, Cattaneo-Christov heat flux on the hydromagnetic pulsatile flow of Oldroyd-B nanofluid through a porous channel with the presence of Brownian motion, thermal radiation, and thermophoresis effects are studied. The effects of dissipation of viscous and Ohmic heating are considered. The Buongiorno model is taken into account in this analysis. By using the perturbation method the governing partial differential equations (PDEs) are converted into the ordinary differential equations (ODEs) and solved numerically by employing the Runge-Kutta 4th-order scheme along with shooting approach. The influence of distinct parameters on velocity, temperature, nanoparticle concentration, heat and mass transfer rates are examined in detail. The results indicate that nanofluid velocity increases with higher frequency parameter, and while it falls with rising Hartmann number, and cross-flow Reynolds number. An increase in thermophoresis parameter, Eckert number, radiation parameter, Brownian motion parameter leads to a rise in temperature whereas temperature decreases for increasing Hartmann number and thermal relaxation time parameter. Moreover, the nanoparticle concentration enhances with an increasing thermophoresis parameter, thermal relaxation time parameter while it falls with the rising values of Lewis number, chemical reaction parameter and Brownian motion parameter

Insight into the dynamics of blood conveying alumina nanoparticles subject to Lorentz force, viscous dissipation, thermal radiation, Joule heating, and heat source

This analysis studies the impact of the pulsating flow of Al$$_2$$O$$_3$$-blood non-Newtonian nanofluid in a channel in the presence of the magnetic field and thermal radiation. Viscous dissipation and Joule heating effects are taken into account. Blood is taken as Oldroyd-B fluid (base fluid) and Al$$_2$$O$$_3$$ as nanoparticles. The present study is important in engineering and biological models. The walls of channel are assumed to be semi-infinite in length. Assumed that the flow is fully developed and induced by a pressure gradient. Analytical solutions for flow variables are obtained using the perturbation method. The influence of different parameters on temperature and rate of heat transfer have been analysed through graphical results. The results reveal that the temperature of nanofluid accelerates by increasing viscous dissipation and heat source and frequency parameter. Further, the rate of heat transfer enhances with an increase in nanoparticle volume fraction and viscous dissipation

Utility of anthropometric traits and indices in predicting the risk of coronary artery disease in the adult men of southern Andhra Pradesh

Background/Aim: Optimal cutoff values are influenced by ethnicity, geography, lifestyles, and physical activity, and hence, there is a need for establishing population- and disease-specific cutoff values to screen individuals/populations. Therefore, the present study was carried out to determine the optimal cutoff values of anthropometric variables for coronary artery disease (CAD) for the population of southern Andhra Pradesh. Methods: One hundred sixty five patients with CAD and 87 controls were recruited, and 52 anthropometric variables were measured for them. Results: Higher means in 22 anthropometric variables covering circumferences, skinfold thickness (sft), and indices were observed in patients than those in controls. Receiver operator curve analysis revealed that 18 variables including circumference, sft, and fat measures with an area under curve ranging from 0.61 to 0.72 were found to have the ability of predicting the risk of CAD. A stepwise discriminant analysis showed 9 variables to correctly classify 87.4% of subjects into CAD and controls. In logistic regression analysis, among these 9 variables, only circumferences of abdomen and foot; sft of supratellar, thigh and calf; and sum of subscapular/suprailiac, waist-hip ratio and lean body mass were associated with CAD and explained 73.4% of its variation. Conclusions: Eighteen anthropometric variables were found to have the ability of predicting the risk of CAD. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the use of anthropometric variables in predicting the risk of CAD. Keywords: Coronary artery disease, Anthropometry, Receiver operator characteristics, Discriminant analysis, Logistic regressio