Hepatoprotective action of Pterocarpus marsupium against streptozotocin-induced oxidative stress

Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. (Leguminosae) is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine as „Rasayana. for management of various metabolic disorders including hepatotoxicity. Treatment of diabetic rats with methanol extracts of P. marsupium at 100 and 300 mg per kg-bwt per day for 21 days dose-dependently decreased serum glucose level. The higher dose exerted a protective effect on antagonized biochemical parameters such as reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase and lipid peroxidation, and altered towards the normal levels hepatic mass, protein and glycogen content. In conclusion present results suggest antidiabetic, hepatoprotective as well as antioxidant effect of P. marsupium

AMELIORATIVE EFFECT OF BAUHINIA VARIEGATA ON HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA-INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS IN RATS

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the effect of the methanolic extract of Bauhinia variegata (L.) stem bark in albino rats. Methods: The coarsely powdered stem bark of B. variegata (L.) was extracted with methanol (BVMtE) and was finally filtered. The experimental animals were divided into five groups for the duration of 60 days: control group (Group I); high cholesterol diet (HCD)-fed group (Group II); BVME-treated (100 mg/g b. wt./day) HCD group (Group III); BVME-treated (200 mg/g b. wt./day) HCD group (Group IV); and atorvastatin-treated (40 μg/g b. wt./day) HCD group (Group V). Animals were sacrificed and blood and tissues were removed for biochemical and histological analysis. Results: Oral BVMtE administration to high cholesterol diet (HCD)-fed rats significantly normalized the serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides (TGs), phospholipid, aspartate and alanine transaminase, and alkaline and acid phosphatase. Reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, as well as atherogenic index of BVMtE-treated HCD rats showed significant normalcy as compared to HCD-fed rats. The histoarchitecture of heart and aorta of BVMtE-treated HCD-fed rats depicted marked normalcy as compared to HCD rats. Phytochemical analysis showed that plant is rich in active constituents, i.e., flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, β-sitosterol, kaempferol-3-glucoside, and tannins. Conclusions: B. variegata has proved lipid lowering as well as antioxidant activity in high cholesterol diet-fed animals

Need for Oral Health Policy in India

Dental diseases are a significant public health menace having a substantial impact on the quality of life which in turn affects the daily performance and general life satisfaction. There is a vast difference in health status including the oral health between urban and rural population of India and in other developing countries. The existing situation demands the formulation and implementation of National Oral Health Policy in India in order to expand the oral health care to make it more affordable, and reachable. An extensive literature search was conducted using various search engines in order to include relevant information in the review. Number of keywords and their combinations were used in order to extract appropriate data. Finally 24 out of 35 articles were selected upon detailed reading. The present paper focusses on some of the important subjects that can be considered while formulation of a National Oral Health Policy for the benefits of both the dental profession and community as a whole. There is a need of dental health planners and policy makers that have relevant qualifications and training in public health dentistry to understand the unique needs and resources for the development of an effective oral health policy. Professional dental organizations can also support government programs to provide basic oral health needs of extensive underserved population of this country.Keywords: Developing country, India, Mobile dentistry, Oral policy, Partnershi

A REVIEW ON MEDICINAL PLANTS OF RAJASTHAN HAVING ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in nearly all countries, and continuously increasing in numbers and significance, as changing lifestyles lead to reduced physical activity. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness, renal failure, and lower limb amputation. Diabetes is also now one of the leading causes of death, largely because of a markedly increased risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. Due to the existing synthetic drugs have many limitations, the medicine from plants is drawing ever-increasing attention worldwide, due to their low toxicity and few side effects. The present review is providing data of some important medicinal plants species possessing antihyperglycemic and antidiabetic activity. It would provide a handbook for the research related to diabetes. Further, efforts should be made to implement these plants based drugs in clinical trials

A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON BARLERIA PRIONITIS (L.)

Barleria prionitis is a famous perennial plant commonly known as porcupine flower or Vajradanti. It is a shrub with yellow flowers and two flat seeds shielded with matted hairs, inhabit most parts of India. Various parts of the plant such as leaves, roots, aerial parts, flowers, and stems are used in the traditional system of medicine. Conventionally, various infusions are prepared using the plant parts and utilized for the treatment of different kinds of diseases. Owing to its incredible odontalgic property, it is extensively used in treating bleeding gums and toothache. From the pharmacological point, the plant has been effectively screened for antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antifertility, antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, hepatoprotective, antihypertensive, anticancer, and anticataract activities. Compounds such as tannins, saponins, glycosides, phenolic acids, phytosterols, and terpenes have been identified in the plant. The plant contains some specific compounds such as barlenoside, barlerine, acetylbarlerine, and balarenone and some common secondary metabolites such as lupeol, β-sitosterol, vanillic acid, and syringic acid. This review provides morphological, ethnomedical, pharmacological, and phytochemical data of the plant B. prionitis

Empowerment and engagement of SHGs against RTI/STI in Karnataka, India: an interventional study

Background: Reproductive Tract Infections (RTIs) including Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are ‘silent’ epidemics and are recognized as public health problem and rank second as the cause of healthy life lost among women of reproductive age after maternal morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Development and use of IEC material along with active participation by the community ensures delivery of appropriate information and knowledge to people which in turn empowers them to make informed decisions about their health.Methods: This was a ‘Multi-centric action research demonstration study’ to empower and engage the Self Help Groups (SHGs) women by creating awareness and sustaining interest through lesson plans in the IEC material regarding prioritized problem, required interventions and their access for syndromic recognition of the RTI/STIs. As an intervention, series of workshops were conducted with the help of pre-developed IEC material. 400 households (200 from each intervention and control sites) of SHG women were interviewed for baseline and endline each.Results: Intervention was found effective in the form of a significant improvement in the level of awareness about RTI/STI, correct knowledge about white discharge, capability to identify the symptoms of RTI/STI and health seeking behavior of the respondents.Conclusion: This study provides experience of the feasibility, efficacy and impact of health education interventions and point out that cost-effective strategies for prevention of RTI/STI are needed through information, education, and behavior change.

An intervention to empower and engage the self-help groups for menstrual hygiene in Karnataka, India

Background: This paper was a part of ‘Multi-centric action research demonstration study’ with the aim to sensitize, mobilize and engage women regarding reproductive health through empowerment and engagement of the Self Help Groups (SHGs) women. The paper focuses on the effect of intervention on menstrual hygiene and health of women in Kolar district of Karnataka.Methods: As an intervention, a total of fifteen workshops, targeting 75 SHGs in each, were conducted using pre-developed IEC material in intervention taluk. A total of 400 households (200 from each intervention and control sites) of SHG women were interviewed for baseline and endline eachResults: The intervention was found effective in the form of a significant improvement in the level of awareness regarding use of Napkins/sanitary pads and its disposal. Apart from this, the level of awareness regarding menstrual discharge abnormalities was also significantly improved. However, the intervention was insignificant in molding area specific misconceptions and practices during menstruation such as access to worship, entry into kitchen, mingle with people etc.Conclusions: The results of the present study clearly indicate the feasibility, efficacy and significant impact of health education interventions in improving the level of knowledge, attitude and practices of women regarding menstrual hygiene and point out that cost-effective strategy through information, education, and behavior change are needed in this regard.

Case report: Thoracoscopic repair of renal ectopia associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia: Report of two cases

Renal ectopia is a rare anomaly which may occur due to an abnormal ascent of the kidney. It is usually  asymptomatic and does not require treatment. Intrathoracic renal ectopia with concomitant congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is extremely rare. All symptomatic CDH cases must be treated with open or thoracoscopic repair. During plication of the diaphragm, care must be taken to avoid renal injury. Following, we present two rare variants of CDH with concomitant renal ectopia managed thoracoscopically.  Postoperative recovery was uneventful. Doppler ultrasound study performed one month after surgery confirmed normal vascularity of the kidneys and the absence of urinary outflow obstruction.KEYWORDS: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia; Renal ectopia; Thoracoscopic repai

Soft eSkin:distributed touch sensing with harmonized energy and computing

Inspired by biology, significant advances have been made in the field of electronic skin (eSkin) or tactile skin. Many of these advances have come through mimicking the morphology of human skin and by distributing few touch sensors in an area. However, the complexity of human skin goes beyond mimicking few morphological features or using few sensors. For example, embedded computing (e.g. processing of tactile data at the point of contact) is centric to the human skin as some neuroscience studies show. Likewise, distributed cell or molecular energy is a key feature of human skin. The eSkin with such features, along with distributed and embedded sensors/electronics on soft substrates, is an interesting topic to explore. These features also make eSkin significantly different from conventional computing. For example, unlike conventional centralized computing enabled by miniaturized chips, the eSkin could be seen as a flexible and wearable large area computer with distributed sensors and harmonized energy. This paper discusses these advanced features in eSkin, particularly the distributed sensing harmoniously integrated with energy harvesters, storage devices and distributed computing to read and locally process the tactile sensory data. Rapid advances in neuromorphic hardware, flexible energy generation, energy-conscious electronics, flexible and printed electronics are also discussed. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Harmonizing energy-autonomous computing and intelligence’