CURCUMIN AMENDS OXIDATIVE STRESS AND ANTIOXIDANTS STATUS IN OLFACTORY LOBES, CEREBRUM, HYPOTHALAMUS-HIPPOCAMPUS, CEREBELLUM AND PONS-MEDULLA OF MICE ACUTELY INTOXICATED WITH LINDANE

Objective: Present study ascertains the neuroprotective potential of curcumin in olfactory lobes, cerebrum, hypothalamus-hippocampus, cerebellum and pons-medulla of mice, intoxicated with lindane.Methods: For the study, mice were divided into four groups. Olive oil was given as a vehicle to the mice of group I. Mice belonging to groups II and III was administered with lindane and curcumin respectively, for 12 h exposure by intraperitoneal injection. In group IV, curcumin was administered 10-15 min prior to exposure of lindane.Results: Lindane exposure significantly increased the activities of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) (p<0.05) and protein carbonyl content (PCC) (p<0.05) whereas decreased the activity of reduced glutathione (GSH) (p<0.05) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (p<0.05). Treatment of curcumin alone as well as in combination with lindane significantly declined the level of TBARS and PCC (p<0.05) and increased the activity of GSH and SOD (p<0.05).Conclusion: Curcumin has neuroprotective potential. It can be used as a therapeutic agent against lindane induced toxicity.Keywords: Lindane, Curcumin, Oxidative stress, Endogenous antioxidan

PIERS calculator- predicting adverse maternal outcome in preeclampsia

Background: Preeclampsia is a multisystem, highly variable disorder unique to pregnancy. For preeclampsia arising remote from term, supportive and temporizing measures are used to improve perinatal outcome. However, the magnitude of the maternal risks associated with expectant management is unclear. The PIER (preeclampsia integrated estimate of risk) score is a recently designed tool which assesses maternal signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings to generate a valid and reliable algorithm for predicting maternal and perinatal outcome in patients with preeclampsia.Methods: The present study was a prospective hospital based observational study carried out in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sultania Zanana Hospital, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal. A total of 125 women with preeclampsia who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Along with history and examination, all relevant and required investigations were done. The fullPIERS calculator was used to calculate the risk of adverse maternal outcome.Results: In the present study, 82(65.6%) women were in the low risk category and only 4 (4.87%) had adverse maternal outcome. High risk patients were 6 (4.8%) and amongst them 5 (83.33%) women had adverse maternal outcome (p-value <0.00001). The result was statistically significant in identifying high risk cases in our study.Conclusions: The fullPIERS calculator gave good results in prediction of adverse maternal outcome according to risk score in women with preeclampsia in our study. It will help the clinicians better manage the patients with preeclampsia specially remote from term and also help health workers in primary and secondary care centres to identify women who are or may become severely ill and who need specialist care and prevent delays in transporting these women to facilities where they can receive appropriate care

Comparative study on maternal morbidity in elective and emergency caeserean section at tertiary hospital

Background: The incidence of caesarean sections has significantly increased over the previous thirty years and nearly doubled in the current decade, because of more liberalisation of indications of caesarean sections. India’s caesarean section rates have surpassed the WHO cutoff point of 15%, raising serious public health issues. The prevalence of the C-section in India was 8.5% in NFHS-3 while data in NFHS-4 show that it has increased to 17.2%. Thus, almost 9% has increased over 10 years. Objective was to compare the maternal morbidity in elective and emergency caesarean section. Methods: Institution based comparative study was conducted among 108 females undergoing lower segment caesarean section at JNUIMSRC, Jaipur. After taking written informed consent patients were enrolled for the study. Once the data was collected it was analysed as per appropriate statistical analysis. Results: Incidence of emergency LSCS was 23.6% and of elective LSCS was 76.4%. the most common maternal indication was previous LSCS (38.1%) and most common fetal indication was fetal distress (13.3%) followed by malpresentation (11.4%). Incidence of intraoperative complications was 29% with most common complications being atonic PPH (12.4%) followed by traumatic PPH (5.9%), bladder and bowel injury (0.7%). Incidence of post operative complications was 51.9% with most common being anaemia (20.8%), PPH (10%), puerperal sepsis (8%). Conclusions: If performed for medical reasons, CS can save the lives of both mothers and babies. Therefore, CSs should preferably only be performed when necessary for medical reasons. Morbidity is more with emergency LSCS than elective LSCS with PPH being the most common intraoperative complication and anemia being most common post operative complication

The enterolith causing jejunal obstruction, an unusual presentation: A case report

Enteroliths are a rare cause of intestinal obstruction. Patients can present with repeated episodes of intestinal obstruction as long as an enterolith is able to pass through the gut and then suddenly, they get stuck at the terminal ileum or present with the perforation peritonitis, as may happen in case of a diverticular disease. Here, we report the case of a young male presented to the emergency room with acute intestinal obstruction. During the explorative laparotomy, an enterolith was found stuck inside the proximal jejunum which was removed through an enterotomy. This was an interesting case, as the patient did not have any predisposing factors nor did we find any evidence of other pathologies intraoperatively. Moreover, the enterolith was stuck in jejunum, contrary to the belief that terminal part of the ileum is a most common site for the enteroliths to get stuck

Genetic polymorphisms of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in potentially malignant and malignant lesions of the head and neck

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent proteinases that are capable of cleaving all extra cellular matrix (ECM) substrates. Degradation of matrix is a key event in progression, invasion and metastasis of potentially malignant and malignant lesions of the head and neck. It might have an important polymorphic association at the promoter regions of several MMPs such as MMP-1 (-1607 1G/2G), MMP-2 (-1306 C/T), MMP-3 (-1171 5A/6A), MMP-9 (-1562 C/T) and TIMP-2 (-418 G/C or C/C). Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are naturally occurring inhibitors of MMPs, which inhibit the activity of MMPs and control the breakdown of ECM. Currently, many MMP inhibitors (MMPIs) are under development for treating different malignancies. Useful markers associated with molecular aggressiveness might have a role in prognostication of malignancies and to better recognize patient groups that need more antagonistic treatment options. Furthermore, the introduction of novel prognostic markers may also promote exclusively new treatment possibilities, and there is an obvious need to identify markers that could be used as selection criteria for novel therapies. The objective of this review is to discuss the molecular functions and polymorphic association of MMPs and TIMPs and the possible therapeutic aspects of these proteinases in potentially malignant and malignant head and neck lesions. So far, no promising drug target therapy has been developed for MMPs in the lesions of this region. In conclusion, further research is required for the development of their potential diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities

Coping with Illness: Insight from the Bhagavad Gita

The Shrimad Bhagavad Gita enlightens everyone on how to cope up with various situations in life. It uses the conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna to highlight initial negative coping mechanisms exhibited by the latter. It goes on to showcase positive coping skills suggested by Lord Krishna and implemented by Arjuna. The Bhagavad Gita, through this case-based methodology, teaches us how to cope with a demanding situation. Diabetes is a lifestyle disease, which warrants a thorough change in one\u27s lifestyle, including changes in basic activities such as diet and exercise. This brief communication utilizes the teachings of Bhagavad Gita to help in coping with illness, especially chronic illness such as diabetes. The article cites verses from the Bhagavad Gita to show how one may cope with the stress of illness such as diabetes

Role of Exosomes in Tumor Induced Neo-Angiogenesis

Exosomes are the nanovesicles, belonging to the type of extracellular vesicles (EVs), produced by normal as well as tumor cells and function as a mode in cell-to-cell communication. Tumor cells utilize various approach to communicate with neighboring cells for facilitating tumor invasion and progression, one of these approaches has been shown through the release of exosomes. Tumor-derived exosomes (TEX) have the ability to reprogram/modulate the activity of target cells due to their genetic and molecular cargo. Such exosomes target endothelial cells (among others) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) to promote angiogenesis which is an important element for solid tumor growth and metastasis. So, exosomes play a vital role in cancer invasiveness and progression by harboring various cargoes that could accelerate angiogenesis. Here first, we will present an overview of exosomes, their biology, and their role in different cancer models. Then, we will emphasis on exosomes derived from tumor cells as tumor angiogenesis mediators with a particular importance on the underlying mechanisms in various cancer origins. In the end, we will unveil the therapeutic potential of tumor derived exosomes as drug delivery vehicles against angiogenesis

Comparative study between the Hybrid Capture II test and PCR based assay for the detection of human papillomavirus DNA in oral submucous fibrosis and oral squamous cell carcinoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Oral malignancy is a major global health problem. Besides the main risk factors of tobacco, smoking and alcohol, infection by human papillomavirus (HPV) and genetic alterations are likely to play an important role in these lesions. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of HC-II assay and PCR for the detection of specific HPV type (HPV 16 E6) in OSMF and OSCC cases as well as find out the prevalence of the high risk HPV (HR-HPV) in these lesions.</p> <p>Methods and materials</p> <p>Four hundred and thirty patients of the potentially malignant and malignant oral lesions were taken from the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Moti Lal Nehru Medical College, Allahabad, India from Sept 2007-March 2010. Of which 208 cases were oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) and 222 cases were oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The HC-II assay and PCR were used for the detection of HR-HPV DNA.</p> <p>Result</p> <p>The overall prevalence of HR-HPV 16 E6 DNA positivity was nearly 26% by PCR and 27.4% by the HC-II assay in case of potentially malignant disorder of the oral lesions such as OSMF. However, in case of malignant oral lesions such as OSCC, 32.4% HPV 16 E6 positive by PCR and 31.4% by the HC-II assay. In case of OSMF, the two test gave concordant result for 42 positive samples and 154 negative samples, with an overall level of agreement of 85.4% (Cohen's kappa = 66.83%, 95% CI 0.553-0.783). The sensitivity and specificity of the test were 73.7% and 92.05% (p < 0.00). In case of OSCC, the two test gave concordant result for 61 positive samples and 152 negative samples, with an overall level of agreement of 88.3% (Cohen's kappa = 79.29, 95% CI 0.769-0.939) and the sensitivity and specificity of the test were 87.14% and 92.76% (p < 0.00).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study concluded that slight difference was found between the positivity rate of HR-HPV infection detected by the HC-II and PCR assay in OSMF and OSCC cases and the HC II assay seemed to have better sensitivity in case of OSCC.</p

Effect of different heat ameliorating measures on the micro-climate of buffalo sheds during hot-dry summer

Present investigation studied the effect of heat ameliorating measures on micro-climate of sheds of Murrah buffalo heifers during hot dry summer. Buffalo heifers (24) were categorised in 4 groups (6 in each), viz. control (T0), cooling jacket (T1), cooling jacket+forced ventilation (T2) and sprinklers+forced ventilation (T3). Daily minimum and maximum and dry and wet bulb temperatures of both micro and macro-climate were measured at 10.00 AM and 2.00 PM of Indian Standard Time (IST) by using maximum and minimum and dry and wet bulb thermometer, respectively. Significant reduction in maximum temperature was observed in T3, T2 and T1 groups than control group. However, significantly higher minimum temperature was found in T0 group as compared to T3, T2 and T1 respectively. Relative humidity (RH) was significantly lower in T3 and T2 (65.67±0.48 and 65.97±0.53%, respectively) than T0 (68.51±0.56%) group at 10.00 AM whereas, at 2.00 PM significant reduction in RH was observed in T3, and T2 (55.31±0.51 and 57.20±0.62) than T0 (58.96±0.63%) group. During peak hot periods, significantly lower Temperature humidity Index (THI) was found in T3, T2 and T1 than T0 group. However, at 10.00 AM significant reduction in THI was found in T3 and T2 groups than T0 group. The findings of the present study indicated that forced ventilation along with sprinklers and cooling jacket had helped in protecting the animals from thermal stress under loose housing system during hot-dry summer

Unraveling Prostaglandin and NLRP3 Inflammasomemediated Pathways of Primary Dysmenorrhea and the Role of Mefenamic Acid and Its Combinations

Painful menstrual cramps during or around the time of the monthly cycle are known as dysmenorrhea. The estimated global prevalence in women of reproductive age ranges from 45% to 95%. It has a significant negative impact on regular activities and productivity at work. However, despite the severe consequences on quality of life, primary dysmenorrhea&nbsp;(PD) is underdiagnosed. Dysmenorrhea has complex pathogenesis. It involves the release of prostaglandins and activation of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and also includes the involvement of other mediators such as bradykinin, histamine and acetylcholine. Even though nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) remain the most common type of pain medication, the question of which one should be the most preferred is still open to debate. The current review examines the existing evidence for the pathogenesis of PD and makes evidence based and clinical experience based recommendations for the use of mefenamic acid and its combination in the treatment of dysmenorrhea. Mefenamic acid alleviates PD by inhibiting endometrial prostaglandin formation, restoring normal uterine activity, and reducing the inflammatory response by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome and reducing the release of cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β. It is also known to have bradykinin antagonist activity. Dicyclomine has a dual action of blocking the muscarinic action of acetylcholine in postganglionic parasympathetic effect or regions and acting directly on uterine smooth muscle by blocking bradykinin and histamine receptors to relieve spasms. According to the experts, mefenamic acid and dicyclomine act synergistically by acting on the different pathways of dysmenorrhea by blocking multifactorial agents attributed to the cause of dysmenorrhea. Hence, the combination of mefenamic acid and dicyclomine should be the preferred treatment option for dysmenorrhea