A CONCEPTUAL APPRAISAL OF VIRECHANA KARMA

Panchakarma is getting global attention nowadays and Virechana is one among its procedures which is actively used by the Ayurvedic fraternity. Four different types of Virechana namely Anulomana, Sramsana, Bhedana and Rechana are mentioned in our classics but they are not apprised properly for their clinical utility. The Brihattrayis give ample illustrations of their use without highlighting the underlying rationale. Sarangdhara Samhita defines each of this therapeutics without indicating the disease conditions. This paper tries to understand the specific clinical utility of the four types of Rechana by tracing back their indications in scriptures. Anulomana is a mild form of Virechana where the Paka of Malas occur. Sramsana is a mild form of Virechana which does not cause Paka of Malas. Bhedana does not cause Paka of Malas but it is a strong type of Virechana. Rechana also does not cause Paka of mala but the strength of the procedure can be modulated by the use of different types of drugs. The selection of the type of Rechana depends on the pharmaco-therapeutic action necessary to harmonise the Dosa, Dhatu and Mala without causing any further complication or Upadrava

Evaluation of knowledge, experience and perceptions about medical emergencies amongst dental graduates (Interns) of Belgaum City, India

Introduction: Medical emergencies can occur frequently in dental setting. Effective management of an emergency situation in the dental office is ultimately the dentist's responsibility. The lack of training and inability to cope with medical emergencies can lead to tragic consequences and sometimes legal action. For this reason, all health professionals including dentists must be well prepared to attend to medical emergencies. Providing basic life support [BLS] is dentist's most important contribution until definitive treatment for a medical emergency can be given. Hence the study is aimed to assess the dental graduates (Interns) knowledge, skills and competency regarding dentistry-medical emergency interface. Methodology: Data were collected from 105 Interns of two dental colleges of Belgaum City using a structured questionnaire consisting of 7 item questionnaire (6 closed and 1 open ended). Results: Overall in all the years, syncope / faint was seen by 40.9% of the respondents, 37.1% with hypoglycemic attacks, allergic reactions by 17.1%, epileptic attacks by 7.6%, asthmatic attacks by 4.5% and angina 0.9%. The frequencies of the emergencies encountered were once or even more. Knowledge of the presence of drugs and equipments in the emergency drug kit and the confidence in regard to use them was low. Medical emergencies training were undertaken by 42% respondents, but in varying degrees. There was a desire for further medical emergencies training by majority of respondents. Conclusion: The study showed that syncope is the commonest medical emergency event. Dental graduates had a superficial knowledge of medical emergencies, drugs and equipments. Emphasis is placed on the need for more medical emergencies training to be offered, to increase knowledge and confidence of dental graduates (Interns) in the management of medical emergencie

Gene Therapy in Cardiac Arrhythmias

Gene therapy has progressed from a dream to a bedside reality in quite a few human diseases. From its first application in adenosine deaminase deficiency, through the years, its application has evolved to vascular angiogenesis and cardiac arrhythmias. Gene based biological pacemakers using viral vectors or mesenchymal cells tested in animal models hold much promise. Induction of pacemaker activity within the left bundle branch can provide stable heart rates. Genetic modification of the AV node mimicking beta blockade can be therapeutic in the management of atrial fibrillation. G protein overexpression to modify the AV node also is experimental. Modification and expression of potassium channel genes altering the delayed rectifier potassium currents may permit better management of congenital long QT syndromes. Arrhythmias in a failing heart are due to abnormal calcium cycling. Potential targets for genetic modulation include the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium pump, calsequestrin and sodium calcium exchanger. Lastly the ethical concerns need to be addressed

Secular Trends in Menarcheal Age in India-Evidence from the Indian Human Development Survey

Background: Evidence from a number of countries in Europe and North America point towards the secular declining trend in menarcheal age with considerable spatial variations over the past two centuries. Similar trends were reported in several developing countries from Asia, Africa and Latin America. However, data corroborating any secular trend in the menarcheal age of the Indian population remained sparse and inadequately verified. Methods: We examined secular trends, regional heterogeneity and association of socioeconomic, anthropometric and contextual factors with menarcheal age among ever-married women (15–49 years) in India. Using the pseudo cohort data approach, we fit multiple linear regression models to estimate secular trends in menarcheal age of 91394 ever-married women using the Indian Human Development Survey. Results: The mean age at menarche among Indian women was 13.76 years (95 % CI: 13.75, 13.77) in 2005. It declined by three months from 13.83 years (95% CI: 13.81, 13.85) among women born prior to 1955–1964, to nearly 13.62 years (95% CI: 13.58, 13.67) among women born during late 1985–1989. However, these aggregate national figures mask extensive spatial heterogeneity as mean age at menarche varied from 15.0 years in Himachal Pradesh during 1955–1964 (95% CI: 14.89–15.11) to about 12.1 years in Assam (95% CI: 11.63–12.56) during 1985–1989. Conclusion: The regression analysis established a reduction of nearly one month per decade, suggesting a secular decline in age at menarche among Indian women. Notably, the menarcheal age was significantly associated with the area of residence, geographic region, linguistic groups, educational attainment, wealth status, caste and religious affiliations among Indian women

Purification of Lovastatin from Aspergillus terreus (KM017963) and evaluation of its anticancer and antioxidant properties

Cervical cancer is the second most common malignancy in women worldwide and thus one of the leading causes of mortality in women. Lovastatin, a non polar, anticholesterol drug has previously been reported to exert antitumour activity in vitro. In the present study, lovastatin from Aspergillus terreus (KM017963) was purified by adsoprtion chromatography and evaluated for its anticancer and anti-oxidant properties with a human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa). Growth inhibitory and proapoptotic effects of purified lovastatin on HeLa cells were investigated by determining its influence on cell numbers, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), DNA fragmentation and antioxidant properties in terms of hydroxy radical scavenging effects as well as levels of total reduced glutathione. Cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry (propidium iodide staining) confirmed induction of apoptotic cell death and revealed cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase. Results of the study give leads for the anticancer effects of lovastatin and its potential usefulness in the chemotherapy of cervical cance

Predictors of angiographic restenosis in patients with coronary artery disease who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention with drug eluting stents

Background: Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is now widely accepted as a nonsurgical revascularization procedure for selected patients with CAD. In-stent restenosis (ISR) is a frequent complication after PCI which limits its long-term efficacy. Identification of those clinical and angiographic characteristics that may predict the risk of restenosis is extremely important to eliminate restenosis. In this context we conducted this study to assess the profile of patients with drug eluting stents - ISR with an emphasis on demographic characteristics, risk factors, mode of presentation and coronary angiographic characterization.Methods: This study was a Case control study based on the catheterization registry of all patients who have undergone PCI with DES during the period from October 2012 to April 2015. All patients who have undergone PCI with DES and repeat coronary angiogram for evaluation of symptoms and detected to have ISR during same period were taken as case and age matched patients who had previously undergone PCI with DES and repeat coronary angiogram for evaluation of symptoms between 1/10/2012 to 30/4/2015 and detected to have fully patent stents were taken as control.Results: A total of 26 patients were detected to have ISR during the study period as per the study protocol with equal number of age matched controls. The most common presentation of ISR was as chronic stable angina (70%). Binary logistic regression analysis of 6 factors namely diabetes, hypertension, lesion type, stent diameter, stent length and stent overlap found significant in univariate analysis, showed only the lesion type to be statistically significant with p value of 0.023.Conclusions: Patients who have undergone PCI with DES particularly for complex lesions, diabetics with longer stents, lesser diameter stents and overlapping stents need to be meticulously followed up to rule out the possibility of restenosis, as in a small number of patients the presentation could be ACS with comparatively bad prognosis

ZIPRASIDONE HYDROCHLORIDE LOADED NANOSTRUCTURED LIPID CARRIERS (NLCS) FOR INTRANASAL DELIVERY: OPTIMIZATION AND IN VIVO STUDIES

Objective: The present study was an attempt to systemically deliver the most desirable schizophrenia drug, ziprasidone hydrochloride (ZRS) via the intranasal route using nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) approach. Methods: The desired ZRS loaded NLCs were developed using central composite statistical design and the developed formulation was monitored for improving ZRS bioavailability and their brain targeting efficacy. Results: Pharmacokinetic studies revealed a 10 fold increase (ZRS blood-brain ratio) for NLCs administered through nasal route (in comparison to intravenous route). Similarly, the concentration of ZRS (in the brain) delivered via nasal route exhibits 4 fold increment at all-time points. Conclusion: Therefore, the obtained results suggest a potential nose to brain transport of loaded ZRS by effective bypassing of the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB)

Steel Industry-Wastes as New Materials for Road Construction

A large number of steel plants have been set up in India and they are producing several million tonnes of iron and steel. However, the production of iron and steel is always associated with the generation of waste materials like air cooled slag, steel slag, granulated slag and flyash etc. These materials are posing serious problems of disposal and causing environmental pollution. Road Construction is one such sector where these materials can be utilised in bulk. CRRI started a few projects sponsored by Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), and all these materials were tested on a big scale in CRRI laboratory. Based on the success of laboratory results, various combinations were tried in the field and finally a road was constructed. This road has been monitored regularly for surface unevenness and pavement structural strength. This paper gives the results of extensive laboratory investigations and performance of the road

A Study on Inventory Management in Manufacturing Industry with specific reference to Bangalore

The study evaluates inventory control aspects, including turnover, stock outs, carrying costs, and order fulfilment rates.Commendable aspects of industryof current practices include maintaining adequate stock levels and minimizing excess inventory. However, opportunities for improvement lie in enhancing demand forecasting accuracy and real-time stock monitoring. The study suggests integrating advanced technologies and data analytics to address these gaps. Using the secondary data of the balance sheet we have analysed the inventory turnover, growth of total inventory, current assets on raw materials. Also, we have analysed the ABC analysis of the materials. The result shows that the business has maintained a relatively high percentage of inventories on current assets, indicating its reliance on inventory as a key asset