Management of Menstrual Migraine – An Ayurveda approach

Migraine is a common disabling primary headache disorder. Epidemiological studies have documented its high prevalence and high socio-economic and personal impacts. It is now ranked by the World Health Organization as number 19 among all diseases worldwide causing disability.Headaches in women, particularly migraine, have been related to changes in the levels of the female hormone estrogen during a woman’s menstrual cycle. Estrogen levels drop immediately before the start of the menstrual flow. Premenstrual migraines regularly occur during or after the time when the female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, decrease to their lowest levels.1Ayurveda advocates management of ardhavabedhaka is to treat it as vatavyadhi, and also due to apana vata vaigunya in the yoni during rajaswala there will be vataja shula in different parts of the body and specially burning type of pain in the shiras, thus the main line of management should aim at treating the vata vaigunya rather than symptomatic treatment.2,3This article aims at putting forth a few herbs, which can probably help in managing the intensity of migraine attack

Role of Maastishkya in Netra Rogas

Shiras or the head is considered as the uttamangai.e a very vital part which shelters all the sense organs andalso the seat of prana or life. Ayurveda advocates various therapeutic procedures in name of maastishkyain order to protect the head and sense organs. Maastishkya is a mode of oleating/nourishing the head inorder to obtain the above aims. These therapeutic modalities, if practiced regularly, improve and sustainthe sense organs, facilitate smooth facial skin, improve the strength of the skull, promote hair growthand avoid the incidence of headache

Doora Drishti - A Paravartajanya Vikara (Hypermetropia) - A Case Study

Paravartajanya vikara is the lack of ability of the eye to focus the rays of light on to the retina, one such vikara is dooradrishti where in light focuses behind the retina. Various modalities of Ayurvedic treatments are tried, tested and proved efficaciously in this single case study which is presented.

Imaging Single Retrovirus Entry through Alternative Receptor Isoforms and Intermediates of Virus-Endosome Fusion

A large group of viruses rely on low pH to activate their fusion proteins that merge the viral envelope with an endosomal membrane, releasing the viral nucleocapsid. A critical barrier to understanding these events has been the lack of approaches to study virus-cell membrane fusion within acidic endosomes, the natural sites of virus nucleocapsid capsid entry into the cytosol. Here we have investigated these events using the highly tractable subgroup A avian sarcoma and leukosis virus envelope glycoprotein (EnvA)-TVA receptor system. Through labeling EnvA pseudotyped viruses with a pH-sensitive fluorescent marker, we imaged their entry into mildly acidic compartments. We found that cells expressing the transmembrane receptor (TVA950) internalized the virus much faster than those expressing the GPI-anchored receptor isoform (TVA800). Surprisingly, TVA800 did not accelerate virus uptake compared to cells lacking the receptor. Subsequent steps of virus entry were visualized by incorporating a small viral content marker that was released into the cytosol as a result of fusion. EnvA-dependent fusion with TVA800-expressing cells occurred shortly after endocytosis and delivery into acidic endosomes, whereas fusion of viruses internalized through TVA950 was delayed. In the latter case, a relatively stable hemifusion-like intermediate preceded the fusion pore opening. The apparent size and stability of nascent fusion pores depended on the TVA isoforms and their expression levels, with TVA950 supporting more robust pores and a higher efficiency of infection compared to TVA800. These results demonstrate that surface receptor density and the intracellular trafficking pathway used are important determinants of efficient EnvA-mediated membrane fusion, and suggest that early fusion intermediates play a critical role in establishing low pH-dependent virus entry from within acidic endosomes

Evidence-based Kernels: Fundamental Units of Behavioral Influence

This paper describes evidence-based kernels, fundamental units of behavioral influence that appear to underlie effective prevention and treatment for children, adults, and families. A kernel is a behavior–influence procedure shown through experimental analysis to affect a specific behavior and that is indivisible in the sense that removing any of its components would render it inert. Existing evidence shows that a variety of kernels can influence behavior in context, and some evidence suggests that frequent use or sufficient use of some kernels may produce longer lasting behavioral shifts. The analysis of kernels could contribute to an empirically based theory of behavioral influence, augment existing prevention or treatment efforts, facilitate the dissemination of effective prevention and treatment practices, clarify the active ingredients in existing interventions, and contribute to efficiently developing interventions that are more effective. Kernels involve one or more of the following mechanisms of behavior influence: reinforcement, altering antecedents, changing verbal relational responding, or changing physiological states directly. The paper describes 52 of these kernels, and details practical, theoretical, and research implications, including calling for a national database of kernels that influence human behavior

To evaluate the efficacy of Jalaukavacharana followed by Khadira Prayoga in Vicharchika w.s.r. to Eczema

Vicharchika (Eczema) is a skin disorder with predominance of Pitta Kapha Dosha, with clinical features like Kandu, Srava, Pidaka, Shyavata, Rookshata, Raji, Ruja and Daha mainly in the extremities. It is the second commonest skin disease affecting all age groups, with incidence rate of 2-3% and high rate of recurrence. Ayurveda emphasizes Shodhana therapy as the main line of treatment in skin disorders. Raktamokshana is indicated as Rakta is mainly involved in Vicharchika. In the present study, two treatment modalities were selected to find out which is more appropriate

Fc epsilon RI cross-linking activates a type II phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase in RBL 2H3 cells

Crosslinking of Fc epsilon RI on rat basophilic leukemia (RBL 2H3) cells leads to an increase in Phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase activity. This increase in Ptdlns 4-kinase activity is strongly correlated with its tyrosyl phosphorylation state. Characterization of the enzyme activity in anti phosphotyrosine immunoprecipitates suggests it as a type II Ptdlns 4-kinase. Membrane cholesterol depletion studies showed a reduction in type II Ptdlns 4-kinase activity suggesting that lipid rafts play an important role in activation of the enzyme. The enzyme activity was inhibited by resveratrol. In situ inhibition of type II Ptdlns 4-kinase activity showed a reduction in beta-hexosaminidase release upon Fc epsilon RI cross-linking. These studies suggest that a type II Ptdlns 4-kinase is an integral component of Fc epsilon RI mediated signal transduction mechanisms. (c) 200