Review article on Swarna Parpati with special reference to Aushadhi Gunadharma Shastra

In Ayurveda, Swarna (gold) Bhasma in different formulations has been administered to patients as a therapeutic agent for several clinical disorders including respiratory disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus and nervous system diseases. It is one of the metals which is even indicated since the birth. Parapati Kalpana is well known and successfully used preparations for the management of Grahani Roga. Swarna Parpati is one of the formulation of Ayurveda which comes under Parpati Kalpana. This article has reviewed Swarna Parpati from different classics with special reference to book Aushadhi Gundharma Shastra of Acharya Gune Shastri

SEM-EDAX Analysis of Jarita Vanga and Vanga Bhasma

Use of Vanga Bhasma can traced back from ancient era. Detailed description regarding the procedure is available in various Rasagranthas. Jarana is a special technique mentioned in recent Rasa treatises for Puti Lohas which is an intermediate stage between Shodhana and Marana. In this study, after performing both Samanya and Vishesha Shodhana, Vanga was subjected to Jarana using Ashwatha Twak as per the reference of Rasa Tarangini followed by Prakshalana to remove its alkaline nature. Later Vanga was subjected to Putapaka using Bhavana Dravya as Kumari Swarasa. Organoleptic and Elemental constitutions of both Jarita Vanga and Vanga Bhasma where analysed to see the differences and to observe the changes due to Samanya Shodhana and Vishesha Shodhana

Arthroscopic resection of dorsal wrist ganglion

Background: The management of dorsal wrist ganglion ranges from benign neglect to surgical excision. The purpose of this study was to study the results of arthroscopic resection of dorsal wrist ganglion.Methods: Twenty one patients who had undergone arthroscopic dorsal wrist ganglion excision and a minimum of 3 months follow up were included. The preoperative complaint of cosmesis, pain, and duration of swelling, wrist range of motion and size of the ganglion were noted. The duration the patient took to return to a painless wrist with full range of motion was noted. Patient satisfaction with respect to cosmesis and function was noted.Results: The mean age was 23.3 years (range: 13 to 35 years). Pre-operative wrist pain was present in 17 patients and cosmesis was a complaint in 18 patients. 5 patients had a pre-operative restricted range of motion. The mean duration and size of the ganglion was 2.6 months (range: 2 to 4 months) and1.8cm (range: 1 to 3 cm) respectively. The mean duration of follow up was 14.6 months (range: 3 to 24 months). Arthroscopically, dorsal synovitis was present in 10 patients, triangular-fibro-cartilage-complex (TFCC) tear in 2 patients and chondral damage in 1 patient. The ganglion stalk was visualized in 14 patients. Complete painless wrist range of motion was obtained by 20 patients by 3 weeks post-operative.  One patient had a recurrence. All the remaining patients were satisfied cosmetically and functionally with the results.Conclusions: Arthroscopic resection is an effective treatment modality for symptomatic dorsal wrist ganglion with good functional and cosmetic results

Putting Evidence into Practice: The PLoS Medicine Series on Global Mental Health Practice

The PLoS Medicine editors announce the launch of a new series on Global Mental Health Practice, and issue a call for papers

Sirtuin1 protects endothelial Caveolin-1 expression and preserves endothelial function via suppressing miR-204 and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Sirtuin1 (Sirt1) is a class III histone deacetylase that regulates a variety of physiological processes, including endothelial function. Caveolin1 (Cav1) is also an important determinant of endothelial function. We asked if Sirt1 governs endothelial Cav1 and endothelial function by regulating miR-204 expression and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Knockdown of Sirt1 in endothelial cells, and in vivo deletion of endothelial Sirt1, induced endothelial ER stress and miR-204 expression, reduced Cav1, and impaired endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. All of these effects were reversed by a miR-204 inhibitor (miR-204 I) or with overexpression of Cav1. A miR-204 mimic (miR-204 M) decreased Cav1 in endothelial cells. In addition, high-fat diet (HFD) feeding induced vascular miR-204 and reduced endothelial Cav1. MiR-204-I protected against HFD-induced downregulation of endothelial Cav1. Moreover, pharmacologic induction of ER stress with tunicamycin downregulated endothelial Cav1 and impaired endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation that was rescued by overexpressing Cav1. In conclusion, Sirt1 preserves Cav1-dependent endothelial function by mitigating miR-204-mediated vascular ER stress

Review on unexplored Asava Arishthas of Gada Nighraha

Gada Nigraha is very well known ancient text of Ayurveda. It acquaints us with many indispensable formulations. Many of these formulations are unfathomed. Eminently many Asava Arishtas mentioned by Acharya are very unique in their method of preparation like Gugguluvasava, Tambulasava, Kushmandasava, Gandikadronasava, Narikelasava etc. here an effort is made to accentuate these formulations with intention of carrying further exploration in this regard

Comparison of two different doses of dexmedetomidine (0.25 mcg/kg and 0.5 mcg/kg) in prolonging duration of spinal anaesthesia and postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing trans urethral resection of prostate: a prospective randomized double blinded study

Background: Trans urethral resection of prostate (TURP) under spinal anaesthesia (SAB) in elderly with associated cardio-pulmonary, endocrine or other co-morbidities induces detrimental physiological and psychological stress response to surgery and anaesthesia. Proper sedation during spinal anaesthesia can reduces this response. Aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of spinal block, hemodynamic changes, and postoperative analgesia, following administration of intravenous DMT (0.25 mcg/kg and 0.5 mcg/kg) in elderly patients undergoing TURP under SAB.Methods: Sixty-eight patients were randomly allocated to two groups of 34 patients each. After giving spinal anaesthesia patients received two different doses of dexmedetomidine intravenously; 0.25 mcg/kg (Group D25) and 0.50 mcg/kg (Group D50) respectively. Drugs were given slowly in dilution of 10ml normal saline. Patients were monitored for intraoperative haemodynamics, sensory and motor block characteristics and postoperative analgesia in terms of VAS (visual analogue scale) and first and total dose of rescue analgesic.Results: Mean value of lowest HR in Group D50 and D 25 was comparable (p=0.11) and time taken to achieve lowest HR was also comparable (p=0.13). Mean value of lowest SBP, DBP and MAP were lower in Group D50 than in Group D25 but the difference did not reach statistical significance (p=0.52,0.95 and 0.41 respectively). Onset of sensory block was comparable between the two groups, p=0.62. Maximum sensory block was achieved significantly earlier in Group D50 (10.64±2.75 min versus 12.94±3.04 min in Group D25), p=0.0012. Group D50 patients achieved Bromage score 3 earlier (10.735±1.797 min) than group D25 (12.794±2.52 min) (p=0.00). Recovery from motor block was found earlier in Group D25 group (141.325±4.97 mins) compared to Group D50 (154.41±8.143 mins). Group D50 reported significantly higher sedation than group D25 (p=0.00). Group D25 reported more pain at 4 hours compared to Group D50 (VAS -4.705±0.462 versus 2.588±1.478). Time of requirement of first rescue analgesia was delayed in Group D50 (270.59±50.78 mins) than in Group D25 (172.50±10.46 mins), p=0.000.Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine is effective in relieving anxiety in elderly patients undergoing TURP under spinal anaesthesia. Dose of 0.50 mcg/kg is more effective than 0.25 mcg/kg without increasing the risk of adverse effect.

Design and development of the ‘POD Adventures’ smartphone game: a blended problem-solving intervention for adolescent mental health in India

Introduction: Digital technology platforms offer unparalleled opportunities to reach vulnerable adolescents at scale and overcome many barriers that exist around conventional service provision. This paper describes the design and development of POD Adventures, a blended problem-solving game-based intervention for adolescents with or at risk of anxiety, depression and conduct difficulties in India. This intervention was developed as part of the PRemIum for ADolEscents (PRIDE) research programme, which aims to establish a suite of transdiagnostic psychological interventions organised around a stepped care system in Indian secondary schools. Methods and materials: Intervention development followed a person-centered approach consisting of four iterative activities: (i) review of recent context-specific evidence on mental health needs and preferences for the target population of school-going Indian adolescents, including a multiple stakeholder analysis of school counselling priorities and pilot studies of a brief problem-solving intervention; (ii) new focus group discussions with N=46 student participants and N=8 service providers; (iii) co-design workshops with N=22 student participants and N=8 service providers; and (iv) user-testing with N=50 student participants. Participants were aged 12-17 years and recruited from local schools in New Delhi and Goa, including a subgroup with self-identified mental health needs (N=6). Results: Formative data from existing primary sources, new focus groups and co-design workshops supported a blended format for delivering a brief problem-solving intervention, with counsellors supporting use of a game-based app on ‘offline’ smartphones. User-testing with prototypes identified a need for simplification of language, use of concrete examples of concepts and practice elements to enhance engagement. There were also indications that participants most valued relatability and interactivity within real-world stories with judicious support from an in-app guide. The final prototype comprised a set of interactive and gamified vignettes and a structured set of problem-solving questions to consolidate and generalise learning while encouraging real-world application. Discussion: Findings shaped the design of POD Adventures and its delivery as an open-access blended intervention for secondary school students with a felt need for psychological support, consistent with an early intervention paradigm. A randomised controlled trial is planned to evaluate processes and impacts of POD Adventures when delivered for help-seeking students in low-resource school settings