Pattern and pharmacotherapy of acute poisonings presenting to a tertiary care centre

Background: Acute poisoning, a therapeutic emergency and one of the common causes of morbidity and mortality globally. The rate of mortality in developed countries range from 1-2%, but in India it varies between 15-30%. According to World Health Organization (WHO), globally more than three million acute poisoning cases with 2,20,000 deaths occur annually. Most of the fatalities are due to the victim not reaching the hospital in time. This study aims to evaluate the pattern of acute cases of poisoning in tertiary care hospital attached to BMCRI.Methods: Prospective, observational study based on hospital records at tertiary care hospital (twelve months). Data regarding demographic profile and treatment was collected. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and SPSS-24.Results: Out of a total of 810 poisoning cases, 608 were included (381 poisoning, 138 drug overdose and 89 snake bite). Organophosphorus compounds (OPC) (131/608) and Aluminium phosphide (43/608) were the commonest poisons consumed in the age group 21-30 years. Sedative-hypnotics, non-benzodiazepine antiepileptics (non BZD AEDs) and paracetamol were common drug overdose cases. Snake bite accounted for 14.6%.Conclusions: OP compounds were the most common among poisons, while sedatives-hypnotics were frequently consumed drugs, followed by Snake bite. Young adults from urban areas were the common victims with suicidal intention. This reflects the need for stringent rules regarding the availability and sale of drugs and poisonous substances

Comparative effect of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients on yield, soilproperties, and economics of wheat under rice-wheat cropping system

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of various organic nutrient sources on wheat production, soil properties and economics of wheat crop at Kurukshetra, Haryana, during the rabi season of 2018-19. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized block design with a total of eight treatments based on different organic nutrients sources. Experimental results demonstrated that yield contributing parameters such as the number of effective tillers, grains per spike, test weight and spike length were significantly higher in T7 (RDF) followed by in T2 (FYM @ 15 t/ha), T1 (Vermicompost @7.5 t/ha) and other cow-based nutrient sources. Significantly higher net returns (₹ 31508 /ha) and Benefitcost ratio (1.39) were documented in T7 followed by in T1 and T2, respectively. Application of different organic formulations significantly improved microbial count (total bacterial, total fungi, azotobacter, phosphorus solubilizing bacteria and potassium solubilizing bacterial count) in the soil rhizosphere over the inorganic source of nutrients. Due to stimulation of soil microbial activity by the application of various organic nutrient sources significantly improved the available NPK status of the soil and biological activity in the soil. Among various organic treatments, the highest available nitrogen and phosphorous were recorded under vermicompost applied plots whereas, the highest available potassium was recorded in Farm Yard Manure (FYM) treated plots. Hence, organic sources can be a suitable alternative over inorganic nutrient sources to sustain crop yield and productivity of the soil over a longer period of time

Impact of seminal trace element and glutathione levels on semen quality of Tunisian infertile men

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Growing evidence indicates that oxidative stress can be a primary cause of male infertility. Non-enzymatic antioxidants play an important protective role against oxidative damages and lipid peroxidation. Human seminal plasma is a natural reservoir of antioxidants. The aim of this study was to determine glutathione (GSH) concentrations, trace element levels (zinc and selenium) and the lipid peroxidation end product, malondialdehyde (MDA), in the seminal plasma of men with different fertility potentials.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Semen samples from 60 fertile men (normozoospermics) and 190 infertile patients (74 asthenozoospermics, 56 oligozoospermics, and 60 teratozoospermics) were analyzed for physical and biochemical parameters. Zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) levels were estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Total GSH (GSHt), oxidized GSH (GSSG), reduced GSH (GSHr) and MDA concentrations were measured spectrophotometrically.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Zn and Se concentrations in seminal plasma of normozoospermics were more elevated than the three abnormal groups. Nevertheless, only the Zn showed significant differences. On the other hand, Zn showed positive and significant correlations with sperm motility (P = 0.03, r = 0.29) and count (P < 0.01, r = 0.49); however Se was significantly correlated only with sperm motility (P < 0.01, r = 0.36). GSHt, GSSG and GSHr were significantly higher in normozoospermics than in abnormal groups. We noted a significant association between seminal GSHt and sperm motility (P = 0.03). GSSG was highly correlated to sperm motility (P < 0.001) and negatively associated to abnormal morphology (P < 0.001). GSHr was significantly associated to total sperm motility (P < 0.001) and sperm count (P = 0.01). MDA levels were significantly higher in the three abnormal groups than in normozoospermics. Rates of seminal MDA were negatively associated to sperm motility (P < 0.01; r = -0.24) and sperm concentration (P = 0.003; r = -0.35) Meanwhile, there is a positive correlation between seminal lipid peroxidation and the percentage of abnormal morphology (P = 0.008).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This report revealed that decreased seminal GSH and trace element deficiencies are implicated in low sperm quality and may be an important indirect biomarker of idiopathic male infertility. Our results sustain that the evaluation of seminal antioxidant status in infertile men is necessary and can be helpful in fertility assessment from early stages.</p

Feeding effect of selenium enriched rotifers on larval growth and development in red sea bream Pagrus major

Feeding trials were conducted to investigate the effect of selenium (Se)-enriched rotifers on growth and development of red sea bream Pagrus major larvae. Fish were reared from fertilized eggs (98% hatch rate) to 20. days post hatch (dph) at 19. °C with two different food sources; non-enriched S-type rotifers (0.0. μg. Se/g D.W., control diet) or Se-enriched rotifers (2.2. μg. Se/g D.W., Se-enriched diet) at 10. rotifers/mL, respectively. On the last day of larviculture, the Se-enriched diet accelerated growth and developmental stage of fish larvae. The larvae fed Se-enriched rotifers were advanced in the following parameters compared to those fed control diet: total length (6.06 vs 5.53. mm), standard length (5.74 vs 5.26. mm), head length (1.46 vs 1.28. mm), eye diameter (0.57 vs 0.50. mm), the number of caudal fin rays (5.8 vs 1.9), and the proportion of individuals undergoing notochord flexion (55 vs 3%). Fish larvae of 20. dph showed higher Se concentration (9.5 ± 0.2. μg/g DW) with the Se-enriched diet than with the control diet (1.3 ± 0.3. μg/g DW), but there were no significant differences in the composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids which significantly affect larval growth and development. Therefore, the feeding of Se enriched rotifers enhanced growth and development of the red sea bream P. major larvae

Catalase in Testes and Epididymidis of Wistar Rats Fed Zinc Deficient Diet

Catalase activities have been evaluated in testes and caput and cauda epididymis of Wistar rats fed on zinc deficient diet for 2 and 4 weeks. The enzyme activity has been measured as chromic acetate formed by heating of dichromate (in acetic acid) in presence of H2 O2 with perchromic acid as an unstable intermediate. Observed non-significant increase in catalase activity in testes as well as in caput and cauda epididymis of 2 weeks experiments has been related to low levels of H2 O2 produced in two organs whereas significant (P<0.01/0.001) increase in catalase activity in 4-weeks experiments indicate for increased oxidative stress due to phagocytotic activity of Sertoli cells in testes and damaged spermatozoa in epididymis. Thus, zinc deficiency increases catalase activity in testes and epididymis

Short-term zinc deficiency in diet induces increased oxidative stress in testes and epididymis of rats

786-794In order to determine the effects of Zinc deficient diet on oxidative stress in testis and epididymis, various parameters viz: total proteins, lipid peroxidation, hydroperoxides, antioxidant capacity and enzymatic activities are evaluated in rats fed on zinc deficient diet for 2, 4 and 6 weeks. Total proteins, water and lipid solouble antioxidant capacity decreased while lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and hydroperoxides concentration increased in testes, caput and cauda epididymis except in 2ZD (testes) where hydroperoxides revealed a significant decrease. GSH decreased in testes and caput and cauda epididymis. GPx and γ-GT activities increased in testes and caput and cauda epididymis of zinc deficient rats. Further, GST increased in testes but exhibited decreases after 2 and 4 weeks and an increase after 6 weeks in caput and cauda epididymis of zinc deficient rats. GR activities decreased in testes but it increased in caput and cauda epididymis of zinc deficient rats. Thus, zinc deprivation results in increased sensitivity to oxidative stress. All these may have been as a consequence of increased ROS generation and/or decreased zinc dependent antioxidant processes

Metallothionein in male reproductive organs of adrenalectomized and hydrocortisone-treated Wistar rats

288-291Adrenalectomy resulted in an increase in metallothionein (MT) levels in testes, caput and cauda epididymis and prostate of rats but not in seminal vesicles where its levels decreased significantly. Inspite of administration of hydrocortisone, MT in testes, prostate (1.2 mg), caput (0.3 mg days 2, 8; 0.6 mg and 1.2 mg) and seminal vesicles (0.3 mg day 2, 4; 0.6 mg and 1.2 mg) remained increased. Thus adrenal insufficiency/hydrocortisone has no direct influence on MT levels. However, the increased levels of MT can be related to its ability to protect the cells from free radical damage caused by atrophy of reproductive tissues in adrenalectomised rats. Exogenously administered hydrocortisone to ADX rats resulted in return to ADX state as hydrocortisone metabolizes (half-life < 12 hr) and hence MT levels remained increased. The observations could provide a clue for the physiological functioning of the male reproductive tissue in a state of adrenal deprivation and hormonal supplementation

Testicular protein profile (SDS-PAGE) study of zinc deficient Wistar albino rat

27-34Present study has revealed that zinc plays important role in regulating the production and secretion of proteins at transcriptional or translational level. Study has firmly depicted the change in the levels of polypeptide of 70 kDa in zinc deficient group. The protein pattern in pair fed group has been affected mainly to combat the insult due to low food intake

SDS-PAGE analysis of caput epididymis proteins in rats receiving a zinc deficient diet

1104-1110Caput epididymis proteins from control, pairfed and zinc deficient (ZD) wistar weanling albino rats after 2-, 4-, 6- and 8-weeks were examined using SDS-PAGE followed by densitometric scanning of the gels. In comparison to the control and pairfed rats, ZD rats displayed new proteins. These included a Mr 42 kDa from 2ZD, Mr 47.5, 27.5, 23.2 and 16.0 kDa from 4ZD and Mr 87 and 14.2 kDa from 6ZD group. The 8ZD group, however, revealed no additional protein bands over controls. Further, several other proteins were missing from ZD rats. These included Mr 93 and 71 kDa from 2ZD; 93, 90, 79, 67, 62, 55 and 15.3 kDa from 4ZD; 60, 45.5, 34, 30 and 24 kDa from 6ZD and 41.5, 33 and 27.5 kDa bands from 8ZD group. The results indicate that the induced Zn-deficient state may be responsible for the altered protein patterns in the caput epididymis. The duration of low Zn uptake period also appears to influence the protein pattern in caput epididymis

Effect of dietary zinc deficiency on metallothionein concentration of epididymal luminal fluids of weanling Wistar albino rats

118-122Metallothionein (MT) and zinc concentrations have been estimated in luminal fluids of caput/corpus and cauda epididymis and serum of zinc deficient (ZD), pairfed (PF) and control-ad libitum fed (ZC) groups of Wistar rats. MT decreased significantly in luminal fluids of caput corpus and cauda epididymis and serum of zinc deficient rats as compared to their respective controls. However, the decrease was non-significant in luminal fluids of corpus epididymis and serum of 4-weeks zinc deficient animals as compared to their control. Zinc levels also declined significantly in luminal fluids of epididymis and serum of zinc deficient rats as compared to their respective pairfed and control groups. Thus zinc deficiency state reduces zinc and MT concentrations in luminal fluid of epididymis and serum.</span