A Case Series on Lodra Vata Kashaya Yoni Praskhalana in Shweta Pradara w.s.r. to vaginal infections due to Staphylococcus aures

The female reproductive tract harbours distinct microbial communities, in the vagina, cervical canal, uterus, and fallopian tubes. The mucosal immune system in the reproductive tract has evolved to meet the unique requirements of dealing with various pathogens. This prevents reproductive tract from various infections. Menstruation, Sexual act, Abortion, unhygienic condition, etc hampers the immunity ultimately leading to infections. Abnormal white discharge per vagina is one of features of infection. Abnormal vaginal discharges can be co-related to Shweta Pradara. Shweta Pradara is not a disease but mentioned as symptom in various Yoni Vyapada and other gynaecological diseases. In Astanga Samgraha, Lodra Vata Kshaya Yoni Prakshalana is indicated. Lodra and Vata both have Kapha Pitta Shamaka properties. An attempt was made to manage Shweta Pradara by Ayurvedic treatment. This study includes 8 female patients having symptoms of Shweta Pradara. These patients came with complaints of vaginal discharge, itching in vaginal area, backache etc., and showed the presence of Staphylococcus aures in vaginal swab. These patients were subjected to Lodra Vata Kashaya Yoni Prakshalana. The whole treatment was done for 7 days and marked improvement was achieved in all the patients. In conclusion, the potential role of Lodra Vata Kashaya was seen in controlling genital infections with Staphylococcus aures

EVALUATION OF NOOTROPIC ACTIVITY OF ACHYRANTHES ASPERA LEAVES EXTRACT IN WISTAR RATS

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the nootropic activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Achyranthes aspera leaves using elevated plus maze and radial arm maze.Methods: Adult Wistar rats were allotted to three groups; Group 1 served as control, Groups 2 and 3 received 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of AA extract, respectively, orally for 2 weeks after which the extent of improvement of memory was assessed.Results: AA showed nootropic activity in both elevated plus maze and radial arm maze. 200 mg/kg of AA extract showed better improvement in learning and memory compared to 400 mg/kg.Conclusions: These results indicate that AA leaves extract clearly exhibited the improvement in learning and memory

FORMULATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ROPINIROLE HYDROCHLORIDE LOADED SOLID LIPID NANOPARTICLES

Objective: The aim of the present study was to formulate and evaluate the Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) of Ropinirole Hydrochloride (ROP).Methods: ROP-loaded SLNs were prepared by a double emulsion method using glyceryl monostearate (GMS) as lipid and soya lecithin as a stabilizer. All formulated ROP-loaded SLNs were characterized for its particle size and size distribution, zeta potential, % Entrapment Efficiency (EE) and drug loading. The formulations were optimized in terms of GMS to soya lecithin ratio and sonication time of primary emulsion. Shape and surface morphology of the optimized formulation was studied using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. In vitro and ex vivo Study of optimized formulation was also performed and compared with a pure drug solution.Results: The particle size and polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential and EE of optimized formulation were found to be 320±5.15 nm, 0.260±0.012,-37.9±1.43, 56.13±2.33% respectively. In vitro and ex vivo permeation study revealed that percentage cumulative drug release of optimized formulation was found to be 58.45±1.75% and 53.75±1.34 % respectively in 24 h and more than 90% drug release from pure drug solution was found to be within 6 h. Drug release from the formulation is sustained as compared to the plain drug solution which release 97.74 % (in vitro) and 88.15 % (ex vivo) of the drug within 6 h.Conclusion: From the results, it concludes that drug released from SLNs follows sustained release pattern and it will enhance the overall activity of the drug.Â

NANOEMULSION COMPONENTS SCREENING OF QUETIAPINE FUMARATE: EFFECT OF SURFACTANT AND CO SURFACTANT

Objective: Correct selection of oils, surfactants, and co surfactants along with their optimum concentration is essential to get stable and clinicallyacceptable nanoemulsions. The aim of the present study was, to provide an efficient screening approach for the excipients selection for the optimumnanoemulsion formulation development.Methods and Results: The solubility of quetiapine (QTP) fumarate in the oils (Capryol 90, isopropyl myristate, castor oil, and olive oil), surfactants(labrasol, cremophor EL, Brij L23, Tween 20, and Tween 80), and co surfactants (ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, and propylene glycol) was taken as thecriterion for selection. The maximum solubility of QTP was found to 35.54±0.91, 40.4±0.83, and 32.07±0.92 in Isopropyl myristate, Tween 20, andpropylene glycol, respectively. The effect of Tween 20/propylene glycol mass ratio on the nanoemulsion formation was also studied by varying theratio from 3:1 to 1:0 for the further optimization of the system. The highest nanoemulsion region was obtained at Tween 20/propylene glycol inthe mass ratio of 3:1. Formulations were selected from the phase diagram at which concentration of oil was constant with increasing (30, 35, 40,45% wt/wt) concentration of surfactant/co surfactant mass ratio (Smix) and subjected to thermodynamic stability tests. The optimized formulationswere characterized for particle size, viscosity, pH and refractive index measurements. All the selected formulations were found to be stable, and thedroplet size was found to be <100 nm.Conclusion: The formulations were thermodynamically stable and can be effectively used for the drug delivery applications

A comparative study on the lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant status in patients with and without varicose veins

Background: The prevalence of varicose veins was increasing with increasing age but a deviance from the normal prevalence of the female patients. The patho- physiology has yet not been clearly delineated but the role of certain enzymes leading to oxidative stress has been implicated in the causation of this disease. Therefore, the present study was conducted to compare the lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant status in the patients with and without varicose veins.Methods: This study was performed after the institutional ethical clearance and informed consent from all the participants. Patients who were admitted for the surgery of inguinal Hernia were taken as controls. The blood was obtained and its serum was used for the estimation of MDA, GPx, and total antioxidant status using commercially available kit, according to the manufacturer’s guidelines in the central research laboratory of the institute. The data was represented as Mean±S.D. and compared using students‘t’ test and a p value of <0.05 was considered the level of significance.Results: The Serum estimations of MDA, GPX and TAC on comparison to Normal Individuals did not show any statistical significance (p>0.05).Conclusions: The levels of MDA, GPX and TAC were at the upper limit of the normal ranges in patients of Varicose veins indicating that more on antioxidants as a measure of global stress index in varicose veins are needed to be performed in the future with different Antioxidants and Advent of investigative modalities for the same.

Y chromosome microdeletion and cytogenetic findings in male infertility: A cross-sectional descriptive study

Background: Infertility affects about 15% of couples worldwide, and the male factor alone is responsible for approximately 50% of the cases. Genetic factors have been found to play important roles in the etiology of azoospermia and severe oligospermia conditions that affect 30% of individuals seeking treatment at infertility clinics. Objective: To determine the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities and Y chromosome microdeletion in infertile men. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 infertile men with abnormal semen parameters were included in this study from 2014 to 2018. Chromosomal analysis was carried out using standard G-banding using Trypsin Giemsa protocol. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the Y microdeletion frequency. Results: All participants were aged between 22 and 48 yr with a mean and standard deviation of 35.5 ± 5.1. Of the 100 subjects included in the study, three had Klinefelter syndrome-47,XXY, one had balanced carrier translocation- 46,XY,t(2;7)(q21;p12), one with the balanced carrier translocation with inversion of Y chromosome 45,XY,der(13;14)(q10;q10),inv(Y), one had polymorphic variant of chromosome 15, one had Yqh-, and another had an inversion of chromosome 9. Y chromosome microdeletion of Azoospermia factor c region was observed in 2% of the cases. To the best of our knowledge, the current study is the first reported case with unique, balanced carrier translocation of chromosome 2q21 and 7p21. Conclusion: The present study emphasizes the importance of routine cytogenetic screening and Y microdeletion assessment for infertile men, which can provide specific and better treatment options before undergoing assisted reproductive technology during genetic counseling. Key words: Chromosome aberrations, Infertility, Chromosome deletion, Polymerase chain reaction, Sequence tagged sites

Evaluation of Japakusumadi Yoga for safety profile - Acute Toxicity Profile

Japakusumadi Yoga is an Ayurvedic formulation, indicated for contraception in Ayurveda. This study determines acute toxicity of ‘Japakusumadi Yoga’ an oral formulation in wister albino rats. Single dose acute toxicity was assessed by employing OECD guidelines 425 using AOT software. Test formulations was administered to overnight fasted animals and 14 days observation of dosed (up down as per requirement) rats was done for general appearance, cage side behaviour including increased or decreasing motor activity, convulsions, straub’s reaction, catatonia, muscle spasm, spasticity, ophisthotonus, hyperesthesia, muscle relaxation, anaesthesia, arching and rolling, lacrimation, salivation, diarrhoea, writhing movement, mode of respiration and changes in skin colour etc., with mortality and autopsy finding in case of dead animal. Based on the observation made and recorded it can be concluded that the test drug is without any toxic potential even at the dose of 2000 mg/kg in animals equivalent to 22.4g for human being

Estimation of salivary cortisol level in post-menopausal women with psychosomatic disorders

Background: Stress is an undesirable or health threatening response of the body, which is brought on by deleterious external influences (stressors). Objective measurement of psychosocial stress helps in assessment of pivotal role of stress in precipitation of multitude of health problems and a solution to the same. Salivary biomarkers are suggested to provide a reliable and non-invasive method for the estimation of these general health problems. Salivary cortisol is such biomarker used as tool in the examination of human physiological stress response. Post-menopausal women show an increase in stress levels and hence suffer with multiple health related problems. Hence the present study aimed to estimate salivary cortisol levels in post-menopausal women with clinically diagnosed psychosomatic disorder/disorders of the head and neck region, so as to establish salivary cortisol as a biochemical indicator of stress.Methods: Thorough intra-oral and extra-oral examination was performed to check for the presence of psychosomatic disorder of head and neck. Unstimulated saliva was collected from 100 post-menopausal women with and 100 without clinically diagnosed psychosomatic disorder/disorders through ‘Spit Technique’. Salivary cortisol was estimated using ELISA method.Results: The results were statistically significant as they showed that the salivary cortisol was in higher levels in post- menopausal women with clinically diagnosed psychosomatic disorder/disorders.Conclusion: The geriatric patients feel that they have very little skills or resources to deal with the high levels of stress that they are experiencing and hence suffer from lack of self-worth. The results of this study recommend that stress evaluation should be done on a regular basis for all post- menopausal women. For individuals who do not reveal their psychological distress, salivary analysis of cortisol may be used as an aid to diagnose their situation in conjunction with clinical diagnosis.Keywords: Post-menopausal women, psychosomatic disorder, head and neck, salivary cortisol, biomarker

Status of Serum and Salivary Levels of Superoxide Dismutase in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with Oral Manifestations: A Case Control Study

BACKGROUND: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a very well known metabolic disorder that has reached epidemic proportions worldwide. Evidence suggests that oxidative stress increases in Diabetes Mellitus because of the excessive production of reactive oxygen species and an impaired antioxidant defence mechanism. This study estimated, compared and correlated the serum and salivary Superoxide dismutase levels in healthy subjects and subjects with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus having oral manifestations.MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, serum and salivary Superoxide dismutase levels were estimated in 45 healthy subjects and 45 patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with oral manifestations.RESULTS: The mean serum and salivary Superoxide dismutase levels were significantly decreased in subjects with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with oral manifestations compared to the healthy subjects. Positive correlation in both healthy and diabetics was observed between serum and salivary samples.CONCLUSION: This study highlights that the abnormally high levels of oxidative stress in diabetics coupled with simultaneous decline in antioxidant defence mechanism results in complications in Diabetes mellitus. Thus exploring saliva for antioxidant markers that accurately reflect the redox status of the body is worthwhile.KEYWORDS: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Superoxide dismutase, antioxidan