Evaluation of Antitumor Activity of Cuscuta Reflexa Roxb (Cuscutaceae) Against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma in Swiss Albino Mice

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the antitumor effect of the chloroform and ethanol extract of the whole plant of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. (Cuscutaceae) in Swiss albino mice against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cell line.Methods: The antitumor activity of the chloroform and ethanol extracts of Cuscuta reflexa was evaluated against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) tumor in mice at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight orally, respectively, while acute oral toxicity studies were performed to determine the safety of the extracts. Briefly, the EAC cells were injected (i.p.) into ninty six mice (divided into 6 numerically equal groups), and after a one-day incubation period, the extracts were administered to the mice daily for 16 days. On day 21, six animals in each group were sacrificed for observation of antitumor activity and the remaining animals were observed to determine host the life span. Antitumor effect was determined by evaluating tumor volume, viable and nonviable tumor cell count and hematological parameters of the host. The standard antitumor used was 5-fluorouracil.Results: Administration of the extracts resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in tumor volume and viable cell count, but increased non-viable cell count and mean survival time, thereby increasing the life span of the tumor-bearing mice. Restoration of hematological parameters - red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin, white blood cells (WBC) and lymphocyte count - to normal levels in extract-treated mice was also observed.Conclusion: The results suggest that the chloroform and ethanol extracts of C. reflexa exhibit significant antitumor activity in EAC-bearing mice that is comparable to that of the reference standard, 5-fluorouracil.Keywords: Cuscuta reflexa, Ehrlich ascites carcinoma, 5-Fluorouracil, Tumor volume, Viable cell count

On the origin of the circular hydraulic jump in a thin liquid film

For more than a century, it has been believed that all hydraulic jumps are created due to gravity. However, we found that thin-film hydraulic jumps are not induced by gravity. This study explores the initiation of thin-film hydraulic jumps. For circular jumps produced by the normal impingement of a jet onto a solid surface, we found that the jump is formed when surface tension and viscous forces balance the momentum in the film and gravity plays no significant role. Experiments show no dependence on the orientation of the surface and a scaling relation balancing viscous forces and surface tension collapses the experimental data. Experiments on thin film planar jumps in a channel also show that the predominant balance is with surface tension, although for the thickness of the films we studied gravity also played a role in the jump formation. A theoretical analysis shows that the downstream transport of surface tension energy is the previously neglected, critical ingredient in these flows and that capillary waves play the role of gravity waves in a traditional jump in demarcating the transition from the supercritical to subcritical flow associated with these jumps.Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, EPSRC grant EP/K50375/

Biochemical composition of potato biowaste of popular North Indian cultivars

Potato is among the top processed vegetables, and its demand is continuously on the rise. Moreover, by the unit that peels are produced, significant issues associated with managing substantial volumes of solvents, impractical astounding scale drying out functions, in addition to lowering capital expenses render these remedies unfeasible. Additionally, isolation of helpful metabolites from potato are bound on the usage authorized as food quality applications. The current study's objective was to estimate the peel biochemical composition of potato cultivars suitable for cultivation in the Ranch district of Jharkhand state in India. The highest amount of chlorogenic acid (1.13 mg/g FW) and dry matter (17.90%) was determined in the variety Kufri Sindhuri. The chlorogenic acid content and the peel dry matter were determined to be significantly correlated with each other. The highest value for the phenolic content of the potato peel was determined for the variety Kufri Lalima. Simultaneously, the reducing sugars were most elevated in the peel of variety Kufri Pukhraj and starch content in the peel of variety Kufri Purkhraj. Overall, our work highlights the biochemical composition of potato peel and this information can be targeted on the potential usage of potato peel usage for industrial products formulation

IMPACT OF DIFFERENT STARTING DOSES OF ATORVASTATIN ON REACHING TARGET LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN CHOLESTEROL LEVELS AND HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN DYSLIPIDEMIC PATIENTS

Methods : A prospective, double blind, parallel groups, unicentric study of patients of dyslipidemia, randomized to receive atorvastatin 10 mg (n=75) or atorvastatin 20 mg (n=75) once daily for 12 weeks. Safety reporting of incidence of adverse events was done. Results : Significantly more number of patients (P&lt;0.05) reached target LDL-C levels at the end of 12 weeks in the 20 mg group (77.27% in the high risk group, 100% in moderately high risk group and 100% in the moderate risk group) when compared to 10 mg group (32% in the high risk group, 75% in moderately high risk group and 83.33% in the moderate risk group). Increase in HRQOL at the end of 12 weeks was also significantly greater (P&lt;0.001) in 20 mg group (27.89%) vs. 10 mg group (19.26%). Conclusions : Selecting the starting dose of atorvastatin according to the patients risk category (by using the Framingham&apos;s algorithm for calculating cardiovascular risk) and the percentage reduction in LDL required, will result in greater success in achieving LDL goals and better quality of life

Challenges and opportunities associated with waste management in India

India faces major environmental challenges associated with waste generation and inadequate waste collection, transport, treatment and disposal. Current systems in India cannot cope with the volumes of waste generated by an increasing urban population, and this impacts on the environment and public health. The challenges and barriers are significant, but so are the opportunities. This paper reports on an international seminar on ‘Sustainable solid waste management for cities: opportunities in South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries’ organized by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute and the Royal Society. A priority is to move from reliance on waste dumps that offer no environmental protection, to waste management systems that retain useful resources within the economy. Waste segregation at source and use of specialized waste processing facilities to separate recyclable materials has a key role. Disposal of residual waste after extraction of material resources needs engineered landfill sites and/or investment in waste-to-energy facilities. The potential for energy generation from landfill via methane extraction or thermal treatment is a major opportunity, but a key barrier is the shortage of qualified engineers and environmental professionals with the experience to deliver improved waste management systems in India

Giant right coronary artery aneurysm presenting with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction and severe mitral regurgitation: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Coronary artery aneurysms are seen in 1.5-5% of patients presenting for coronary angiography, but giant aneurysms, defined as being greater than 2 cm in diameter, are rare. Given the paucity of cases and limited experience in diagnosis and management of the disease, each case is a learning tool in itself.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the rare case of a 78-year-old Caucasian man who presented to a peripheral emergency department with chest pain and was subsequently found to have a giant right coronary artery aneurysm. Following initial investigation and treatment he was referred to our hospital for definitive management.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The case described illustrates one of the varied presentations and subsequent management of an ill-defined and heterogeneous disease process. Given the limited experience with giant aneurysms in the coronary circulation, this case provides valuable insight into the clinical presentation of the disease and gives an example of the management of the most recent such case at our hospital.</p

Why is it difficult to implement e-health initiatives? A qualitative study

&lt;b&gt;Background&lt;/b&gt; The use of information and communication technologies in healthcare is seen as essential for high quality and cost-effective healthcare. However, implementation of e-health initiatives has often been problematic, with many failing to demonstrate predicted benefits. This study aimed to explore and understand the experiences of implementers - the senior managers and other staff charged with implementing e-health initiatives and their assessment of factors which promote or inhibit the successful implementation, embedding, and integration of e-health initiatives.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Methods&lt;/b&gt; We used a case study methodology, using semi-structured interviews with implementers for data collection. Case studies were selected to provide a range of healthcare contexts (primary, secondary, community care), e-health initiatives, and degrees of normalization. The initiatives studied were Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) in secondary care, a Community Nurse Information System (CNIS) in community care, and Choose and Book (C&#38;B) across the primary-secondary care interface. Implementers were selected to provide a range of seniority, including chief executive officers, middle managers, and staff with 'on the ground' experience. Interview data were analyzed using a framework derived from Normalization Process Theory (NPT).&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Results&lt;/b&gt; Twenty-three interviews were completed across the three case studies. There were wide differences in experiences of implementation and embedding across these case studies; these differences were well explained by collective action components of NPT. New technology was most likely to 'normalize' where implementers perceived that it had a positive impact on interactions between professionals and patients and between different professional groups, and fit well with the organisational goals and skill sets of existing staff. However, where implementers perceived problems in one or more of these areas, they also perceived a lower level of normalization.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Conclusions&lt;/b&gt; Implementers had rich understandings of barriers and facilitators to successful implementation of e-health initiatives, and their views should continue to be sought in future research. NPT can be used to explain observed variations in implementation processes, and may be useful in drawing planners' attention to potential problems with a view to addressing them during implementation planning

Follow-up care by patient's own general practitioner after contact with out-of-hours care. A descriptive study

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the care process after patients have contacted a GP cooperative for out-of-hours care. The objective of this study was to determine the proportion of patients who seek follow-up care after contact with a GP cooperative for out-of-hours care, and to gain insight into factors that are related to this follow-up care. METHODS: A total of 2805 patients who contacted a GP cooperative for out-of-hours care were sent a questionnaire. They were asked whether they had attended their own GP within a week after their contact with the cooperative, and for what reason. To investigate whether other variables are related to follow-up care, a logistic regression analysis was applied. Variables that entered in this analysis were patient characteristics (age, gender, etc.) and patient opinion on correctness of diagnosis, urgency and severity of the medical complaint. RESULTS: The response rate was 42%. In total, 48% of the patients received follow-up care from their own GP. Only 20% were referred or advised to attend their own GP. Others attended because their medical condition worsened or because they were concerned about their complaint. Variables that predicted follow-up care were the patient's opinion on the correctness of the diagnosis, patient's health insurance, and severity of the medical problem. CONCLUSION: Almost half of all patients in this study who contacted the GP cooperative for out-of-hours care attended their own GP during office hours within a week, for the same medical complaint. The most important factor that predicted follow-up care from the patient's own GP after an out-of-hours contact was the patient's degree of confidence in the diagnosis established at the GP cooperative. Despite the limited generalisability, this study is a first step in providing insight into the dimension of follow-up care after a patient has contacted the GP cooperative for out-of-hours primary care

Altitudinal variation in soil organic carbon stock in coniferous subtropical and broadleaf temperate forests in Garhwal Himalaya

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Himalayan zones, with dense forest vegetation, cover a fifth part of India and store a third part of the country reserves of soil organic carbon (SOC). However, the details of altitudinal distribution of these carbon stocks, which are vulnerable to forest management and climate change impacts, are not well known.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>This article reports the results of measuring the stocks of SOC along altitudinal gradients. The study was carried out in the coniferous subtropical and broadleaf temperate forests of Garhwal Himalaya. The stocks of SOC were found to be decreasing with altitude: from 185.6 to 160.8 t C ha^-1and from 141.6 to 124.8 t C ha^-1in temperature (<it>Quercus leucotrichophora</it>) and subtropical (<it>Pinus roxburghii</it>) forests, respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results of this study lead to conclusion that the ability of soil to stabilize soil organic matter depends negatively on altitude and call for comprehensive theoretical explanation</p