Role of piracetam on cognitive function in epilepsy and with antiepileptics in rats

Background: To study extent of cognitive impairment by epilepsy & antiepileptic treatment and evaluate the role of piracetam on it.Methods: 48 animals were divided into 6 groups: I-Control, II- Topiramate, III-Topiramate+Piracetam, IV-Valproate, V-Valproate+Piracetam, VI-Piracetam. Baseline cognitive functions were measured using Cook’s pole climbing apparatus (CPCA) and Elevated plus maze (EPM). In CPCA, on completion of training, number of avoidances (NOA) out of 10 trials were noted while in EPM, transfer latency (TL) was measured. Kindling was induced by 30mg/kg Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), i.p. to all groups (except Group I) on alternate days till seizures developed. Groups were treated with respective drugs orally for 21 days and cognitive functions measured again.Results: Significant decrease in NOA & increase in TL was observed after PTZ kindling. Topiramate further significantly impaired NOA and TL whereas Valproate significantly reduced NOA in CPCA but increase in TL was not significant. Treatment with Piracetam significantly increased Topiramate, Valproate and PTZ kindling induced decrease in NOA as also significantly reduced Topiramate and PTZ kindling induced increase in TL.Conclusion: Seizures are associated with cognitive impairment. Cognitive impairment caused by Sodium valproate differs from Topiramate. Piracetam, a known nootropic can be used in alleviating cognitive impairment associated with epilepsy & chronic antiepileptic therapy

REVERSIBLE WATERMARKING APPROACH FOR HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM

Health Information System [HIS] are gaining augmented acceptability and wide popularity as exchange of medical information and medical images between the healthcare centres are boosted up, which makes reversible watermarking emerge as an upcoming thrust area of research. This paper presents an efficient reversible approach for interleaving patient information in the form of Electro Cardio Graph [ECG] signal and hospital logo in the medical images. The proposed approach based on Discrete Wavelet Transform [DWT], utilizes the peak point of the difference image histogram for hiding the credentials of the corresponding patients. The superiority of the proposed approach is validated using 60 case studies of various modalities (CT, MRI, MRA and US) and comparing it with the spatial domain approach. Experimental results show that the histogram based approach using DWT gives high quality of watermarked image even after hiding the ECG signal encrypted with Adaptive Delta Modulation [ADM] and binary hospital logo. The high values of PSNR ensure the perceptual integrity, authentication of the patient’s data and bandwidth reduction of the medical images as compared to the state of art methods

Phi Shape UWB Antenna with Band Notch Characteristics

In this paper a novel band notch antenna in UWB frequency range is designed using split rings. Split rings are overlapped with designed monopole to give phi shape. The slit gap gives band-notch operation from 5.1GHz to 6.29GHz and from 4.94GHz to 5.91GHz for SPSSR and SPSCR antennas respectively. Simulated and measured results are in good agreement

Role of trimetazidine in carbon tetrachloride induced liver damage in rats

Background: Hepatotoxicity by chemicals and drugs is a common clinical problem. Presently very few drugs are showing effectiveness in prevention and treatment of hepatic damage. So in this study, we evaluated the role of trimetazidine in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver damage in rats. Objective of current study is to evaluate effects of prophylactic trimetazidine against carbon tetrachloride induced liver damage in rats.Methods: Liver damage was induced in 30 albino rats by CCl4 (0.5 ml/kg, i.p.) once daily for 7 days. Extent of damage was studied by assessing biochemical parameters (SGOT, SGPT, ALP, proteins and bilirubin). These biochemical observations were supplemented by pentobarbitone Sleeping Time and Histological Examination of liver. The effect of co-administration of trimetazidine (doses 5 and 10 mg/kg p. o.) on the above parameters was investigated. Liv.52® was used as Positive Control. Data was analyzed by one way ANOVA, followed by Dunnett's test.Results: Trimetazidine significantly prevented CCl4 induced elevation of serum SGOT, SGPT, ALP and bilirubin (total and direct), and reduction in protein level. Pentobarbitone sleeping time and histological examination of the liver showed consistent results. The results were comparable to that of Liv.52®.Conclusions: Trimetazidine, when administered prophylactically, shows hepatoprotective effect against CCl4 induced liver damage

Some reproductive studies in Clarias batrachus with reference to different thermal conditions

Eco-physiological study indicates the Clarias batrachus is a eurythermal fish and able to tolerate the wide range of climatic conditions. The quantitative analysis of nutritional components in gonadal region, such as glucose, proteins and fats showed the variations during exposure of fish to hot and cold temperatures. The fresh water catfish exhibits distinct phases of reproduction and also showed the changes in the levels of energy precursors with change in the excretory products, with respect to adaptability towards different environmental temperature conditions. Gradual increase of glucose, proteins, and cholesterol is observed in the male gonadal tissues. Rectal gland and clasper tissues showed, decreased of urea levels during the exposure of fish to the higher tolerable temperature. However, in female fish, the levels of proteins are significantly enhanced during the high temperature exposure. The levels of urea significantly decreased in the tissues of uterus and brain during the study period, while the lowering of glucose levels in brain indicates the extent of rate of physiological activity of the brain

Antimicrobial prescribing pattern in a tertiary care teaching hospital: a pilot study

Background: The emergence of antimicrobial resistance is a worldwide challenge threatening to negate the gains made by discovery of antimicrobial agents (AMAs).  Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) is an important strategy for ensuring appropriate use of AMAs and controlling emergence of antibiotic resistance. Implementation of ASP must start with assessment of the current state of antimicrobial use. This study was therefore conducted to assess the prevalent prescribing patterns in a tertiary care hospital and identify gaps which warrant corrective intervention.Methods: This prospective pilot study presents analysis of the first 30 Patients from the medicine ward prescribed at least one antimicrobial agent during the two months of study period. Relevant data was collected in AMA record form. Appropriateness of AMAs was analyzed regarding selection as well as administration protocol as per the hospital antibiotic policy.Results: Out of the 60 AMAs prescribed to these patients, most commonly prescribed were cephalosporins (63.3%), anti-amoebics (26.6%) and macrolides (23.3%). Common diseases involved were urinary tract infection, acute gastroenteritis, sepsis and lower respiratory tract infections.  Use of AMAs was found to be appropriate for the indication in 42 %, dose in 97%, duration 60 %, route 93% and frequency 90 %.Conclusions: This gap between the appropriate and the actual practice use of AMAs indicates an urgent need of rigorous implementation of ASP in order to avoid emergence of resistance and to conserve the sensitivity to the available AMAs

Understanding the retinal basis of vision across species

The vertebrate retina first evolved some 500 million years ago in ancestral marine chordates. Since then, the eyes of different species have been tuned to best support their unique visuoecological lifestyles. Visual specializations in eye designs, large-scale inhomogeneities across the retinal surface and local circuit motifs mean that all species' retinas are unique. Computational theories, such as the efficient coding hypothesis, have come a long way towards an explanation of the basic features of retinal organization and function; however, they cannot explain the full extent of retinal diversity within and across species. To build a truly general understanding of vertebrate vision and the retina's computational purpose, it is therefore important to more quantitatively relate different species' retinal functions to their specific natural environments and behavioural requirements. Ultimately, the goal of such efforts should be to build up to a more general theory of vision

An Overview on Properties, Parameter Consideration And Design of Meandering Antenna

Meander line antenna (MLA) is an electrically small antenna. Electrically small antennas pose several performance related issues such as narrow bandwidth, high VSWR, low gain and high cross polarization levels. In this paper overview on properties, parameter consideration and design of MLA is proposed. The proposed antenna is designed for USB based application. The antenna performance parameters are optimized to achieve reasonably wide impedance bandwidth, high gain, VSWR \u3c 2 and an omni directional radiation pattern. Moreover, the current distribution and the effect of the ground plane size on the altered MLA are discussed in this paper