ANATOMICAL ASPECT OF MOOLA BANDHA AND ITS BENEFITS

The word Bandha means ‘binding’, ‘tying a bond’, ‘to catch’ or ‘damming of a river’, ‘building a bridge’. These are the specific positions of body by which energy of body is restored. Anatomically Bandha is the contraction of specific muscles of body. Mool Bandha is the principle, key and primary Bandha of the Yogic tradition. Moola means ‘ Root’, ‘Base’, or ‘Source’ and Bandha denotes ‘Lock’, ‘posture’, ‘bondage’ or ‘catching hold of’. Moola Bandha results from the contraction of muscles surrounding the perineal body, which lies between the anus and genitals Moola Bandha is associated with the centre of perineum i.e., site of Mooladhar chakra. This consists of a contraction, a muscular lifting-up in the pelvic floor. Pelvic floor consists of Levator ani and coccygeus muscles. Overstretching of pelvic floor muscles and fascia during childbirth and pregnancy, trauma or congenital defect in pelvic floor musculature or some surgical procedures can damage pelvic musculature or can cause pelvic organs prolapse. Moola Bandha specially contracts the levator ani muscles. This strengthens the pelvic floor and tones the pelvic organs, thus prevents pelvic organs prolapse, calms the autonomic nervous system, improves blood supply to pelvic organs, prevents flow of energy from body and restrains energy at perineum. Contraction of pelvic diaphragm muscles and anal sphincters tones and strengthens the uro-genital muscles, improves digestion and is also beneficial in conditions like haemorrhoids, constipation, hypertension, menstrual problems and anxiety

INDIGENOUS VOLATILE OILS AS IMPERATIVE GIFT FROM NATURE - A REVIEW

Volatile oils are concentrated odorous essences extracted from various plant parts such as flowers, fruits, heart-wood, rhizome and leaves. They are frequently employed in food flavoring, perfume, medicine and aromatherapy. Essential oils are extracted from various processes such as hydro distillation, effleurage and eucelle depending upon the plant part containing the essential oil. Essential oils are inhaled in the form of fine mist of vapour through aromatherapy and some of them are highly beneficial when ingested. These oils have been used traditionally for preservation of foods, spices and condiments. Essential oils or ethereal oils are natural, complex, multi-component, highly concentrated essences of aromatic plant systems composed mainly of terpenes units in addition to some other non-terpene components. These units biosynthesized by mevalonic acid pathway. Isoprenes/hemi-terpenes are five carbon compound having two unsaturated bonds. In this review paper an attempt has been done to emphasize the most valuable essential oils of Indian origin from nature with focus particularly on the chemical constituents, medicinal and pharmacological usage of volatile oils

PRESERVATION OF MICROBIAL SPOILAGE OF FOOD BY BIOSURFACTANT-BASED COATING

Objectives: Microbial spoilage of food is one of the leading causes of food scarcity worldwide, which could have devastating effect on the socioeconomic of any country. Along with classical food preservation methods, various innovative approaches can significantly increase the food safety. Biosurfactants are the amphiphilic microbial metabolites, while many of them have potential antimicrobial properties and therefore can be used for food preservation. Methods: During this study, three biosurfactants obtained from Bacillus subtilis (two of them) and Pseudomonas sp. (rhamnolipid) were screened for their antifungal activity against Aspergillus oryzae (MTCC 1846), Fusarium solani (MTCC 350), and Curvularia sp. by various in vitro and in vivo methods. Results: During this study, among three surfactants only Pseudomonas sp. biosurfactant (rhamnolipid) exhibited significant antifungal activity against A. oryzae, F. solani, and Curvularia sp. Further, the rhamnolipid coating (1 mg/ml) on lemon, potato and tomato protected them from fungal spoilage up to 15 days at room temperature in contrast to untreated samples which started spoiling in 6–7 days. Discussion: Above findings emphasis on the potential use of biosurfactants for the preservation of food items, however, a detailed study to ensure the safety of biosurfactant is of prerequisite.Â

Symmetrical peripheral gangrene and tuberculosis: A rare kinship

Symmetrical peripheral gangrene (SPG) is a rare clinical syndrome characterized by ischemic necrosis of 2 or more limbs, without involvement of large vessels. It is often associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation and septic shock. Usually caused by Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms, tuberculosis as a cause is extremely rare. We present the case of a 46-year-old man, who initially presented with signs and symptoms suggestive of tuberculosis but later developed SPG along with septic shock after his initial visit. The case highlights the progression of this dreaded complication and touches upon recent developments in its etiology as well as pathogenesis

Ethnomedicinal wisdom among local tribes in Hamirpur valley, Himachal Pradesh, India

The current investigation was focused on the documentation, analysis and interpretation of ethnomedicinal phytowisdom in Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh. The impoverished tribal and rural people of Hamirpur district (Himachal Pradesh, India) do not receive satisfactory primary healthcare. They have traditionally been exploiting the medicinal plants existing in their surrounding environment for diverse purposes including medicinal use. The objective of this study was to document ethnobotanical knowledge, primarily of notable herbs employed by the different backward people whether tribal or rural, in the area under study. Ethnomedicinal data was accessed through structural interviews, and discussions with the tribal/rural informants, healers, medicine-men/women, etc. aged 45-65. A minimum of five to eight informants was taken into consideration for each claim. This investigation brought on record that people of the study area (Hamirpur) generally utilize about 50 plant species belonging to several distinct families. Different plant parts such as leaves, flowers, fruit, stem-bark and root are most commonly employed. A fairly wide range of diseases is treated by people of Hamirpur district using local medicinal plants. These ethnomedicinal claims would aid in finding novel phytoconstituents for the welfare of mankind, and therefore begs further scientific exploration

STUDY TO KNOW THE EFFECT OF PHOTOTHERAPY ON SERUM CALCIUM LEVEL IN NEONATAL HYPERBILIRUBINEMIA

Background: Phototherapy is the most common method to treat neonatal jaundice. The effect of phototherapy on serum calcium levels is a questionable issue. Objective: To study to know the effect of phototherapy on serum calcium level in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Methods: Cohort study compared total serum calcium level before and after phototherapy in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia. Study was conducted on 54 neonates with high total serum bilirubin levels, according to the Bhutani curve and was treated with phototherapy at neonatal intensive care unit in the Department of Pediatrics at Mayo Institute of Medical Sciences from November 2021 to April 2022. Results: Hypocalcaemia was observed in 33.33% of neonates after phototherapy. The difference between pre- and post-phototherapy serum calcium levels was found to be statistically significant (p<0.005). Conclusion: Hypokalcemia has a significant association with phototherapy

The accuracy of polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, and Indian Diabetes Risk Score in adults screened for diabetes mellitus type-II

Context: The World Health Organization report suggests that over 19% of the world's diabetic population currently resides in India. Unfortunately, >50% of the diabetics in India are unaware about their diabetic status. In the poor income country like India, it is essential to use cost-effective methods for screening for diabetes, and traditionally using three classical symptoms and Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS) tool is helpful but, data regarding their diagnostic accuracy is very less. Objective: (1) To assess the diagnostic accuracy of polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, and IDRS for detecting diabetes. Settings and Design: Six hundred and seventy-seven adult individuals> 20 years of age were screened for diabetes and assessed polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, and IDRS score. All were subjected for postprandial blood glucose level. Subjects and Methods: For diagnostic accuracy sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, likelihood ratios (LRs, for positive and negative tests), and accuracy was calculated for each symptom. Similarly, by receiver operative curve (ROC) curve analysis, we carried out sensitivity and specificity of IDRS. Results: There was statistically significant association between these three classical symptoms and diabetes status of individuals. When present, all these three symptoms carried 7.34% sensitivity and 98.42% specificity with positive predictive value 47.06% and NPV 84.70%, LR+4.36, LR−0.94 with accuracy of 85%. The optimum cutoff value of IDRS score was> 50, which carried sensitivity 73%, specificity 58.7%, and area under curve for ROC was 68% (P < 0.001). Conclusions: This study has shown highest specificity for these three classical symptoms in diagnosing diabetes, but these symptoms were insensitive to detect all diabetic subjects

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Not AvailableBuffalo, the most important livestock species in tropical India, remains to be a poor breeder mainly due to embryonic mortality (65%) occurring mostly between 16 and 18 days of pregnancy. Early and accurate diagnosis of pregnancy can thus become a boon for successful herd management in buffalo. However, most of the currently available methods allow diagnosis only after 30 days post AI. Interferon tau (IFNT), the first pregnancy recognition signal in ruminants is one such molecule, which stimulates expression of various Interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC's) concomitant with IFNT signaling which occurs around maternal recognition of pregnancy (MRP). Hence, the study was planned to demonstrate the expression dynamics of ISGs (OAS1, MX1, MX2 and ISG15) in PBMCs during peri-implantation period in buffalo and also molecular cloning and expression of suitable ISG coded protein (s) in suitable host. Blood was collected from two groups of multiparous buffaloes: Group1: (n = 10) inseminated/pregnant (Experimental) and Group2: (n = 10) anestrous/non pregnant (Control). The expression profile of ISGs was then analyzed using real time qPCR. Expression profile of most ISGs was observed to increase through day 14 to day 20 post AI and declined thereafter. On the basis of differential gene expression at day 18 post AI, OAS1 and MX2 were identified as suitable ISG candidate biomarkers for accurate pregnancy diagnosis within 18 days post AI. Molecular cloning and expression of selected ISGs in a suitable prokaryotic expression vector was done thereafter. Bulk expression of the recombinant proteins was done and purified by affinity chromatography and confirmed by Western blot using Mouse Monoclonal His-probe antibodies. To conclude, as OAS1 and MX2, showed distinct differential expression at day 18 post AI, they may serve as ideal biomarkers for detection of early pregnancy in buffalo.Not Availabl

Biosensor-integrated transposon mutagenesis reveals rv0158 as a coordinator of redox homeostasis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is evolutionarily equipped to resist exogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) but shows vulnerability to an increase in endogenous ROS (eROS). Since eROS is an unavoidable consequence of aerobic metabolism, understanding how Mtb manages eROS levels is essential yet needs to be characterized. By combining the Mrx1-roGFP2 redox biosensor with transposon mutagenesis, we identified 368 genes (redoxosome) responsible for maintaining homeostatic levels of eROS in Mtb. Integrating redoxosome with a global network of transcriptional regulators revealed a hypothetical protein (Rv0158) as a critical node managing eROS in Mtb. Disruption of rv0158 (rv0158 KO) impaired growth, redox balance, respiration, and metabolism of Mtb on glucose but not on fatty acids. Importantly, rv0158 KO exhibited enhanced growth on propionate, and the Rv0158 protein directly binds to methylmalonyl-CoA, a key intermediate in propionate catabolism. Metabolite profiling, ChIP-Seq, and gene-expression analyses indicate that Rv0158 manages metabolic neutralization of propionate toxicity by regulating the methylcitrate cycle. Disruption of rv0158 enhanced the sensitivity of Mtb to oxidative stress, nitric oxide, and anti-TB drugs. Lastly, rv0158 KO showed poor survival in macrophages and persistence defect in mice. Our results suggest that Rv0158 is a metabolic integrator for carbon metabolism and redox balance in Mtb