Evaluation of the efficacy of Punarnavadi Guggulu & Mahamashadi Taila Kati Basti in the management of Gridhrasi (Sciatica)

Background: Gridrasi is one among the Vataja Nanatmaja Vyadhi. Now a day Gridhrasi is a common disease to all class of people, and can be correlated to Sciatica which is affecting the day today life of individuals. Even though the scientific world has conducted extensive studies but couldn’t find a safe and effective therapy or medicine for this disease, only they are giving many analgesics, in Ayurveda we offer several treatment modalities. Due to busy lifestyle people cannot spare much time even for long term procedures. Objective: Evaluation of the efficacy of Punarnavadi Guggulu and Mahamashadi Taila Kati Basti in the management of Gridhrasi (Sciatica). Materials and Methods: This study is a prospective clinical trial, 30 patients were divided in 2 groups, Group A: 15 patient of Gridhrasi disease were treated by Punarnavadi Guggulu orally. Group B: 15 patient of Gridhrasi were treated by Mahamasadi Taila Kati Basti. Results and Conclusion: The assessments of result among groups are, in group A, 12 (80%) patient have got mild response, 3 (20%) patient have got moderate response. In group B, 10 (66.66%) patients have got marked response and 5 (33.33%) patient have got moderately relieved

Vikara Vighata Bhava - Concept of manifestation and non manifestation of a disease

Every individual is dissimilar while resisting a disease. Disease is an outcome of mutual association between Nidanadi Visheshas (Nidana, Dosha and Dooshyas). Presence or absence of a factor called Vikara Vighata Bhava affects greatly the mutual association of Trayonidanadi Visheshas. The outcome of reaction of Nidanadi Visheshas with Vikara Vighata Bhava and Abhava will cause vivid manifestation of pathogenesis (Sampraptis). A factor which inhibits/hinders the manifestation of a disease in an individual is known as Vikara Vighata Bhava. In the absence of Vikara Vighata Bhava manifestation of a disease is possible easily

Multi-organ Injuries Due to a Lightning Strike: A Rare Case

Injuries due to a lightning strike are uncommon presentations in the emergency department. Common injuries caused bylightning include burns, muscle pains, cardiac arrest, hearing loss, seizures, behavioral changes and ocular cataracts. Wereport a case of a 26-year-old primigravida with history of 3 months of amenorrhea who was struck by lightning as shewas standing beside a tree. It left her unconscious, immediately after which she was taken to the emergency departmentof Maharana Bhupal Govt Hospital (MBGH Hospital), Udaipur, Rajasthan. Entry wound was from right ear and the exitwound was on abdomen. Examination confirmed linear first- and superficial second-degree burns. The electrocardiogram(ECG) showed deep and symmetrical T-wave inversion in precordial and lateral leads. There was an associated elevation oftroponin T levels (peak: 432 ng/L), suggestive of myocarditis. On otoscopic examination, she was found to have rupture oftympanic membrane bilaterally. A transthoracic echocardiography revealed reduced ejection fraction of the left ventricle to25% with global left ventricle hypokinesia, moderate mitral regurgitation and tricuspid regurgitation. This case aims to raiseawareness among the healthcare providers regarding multiple organ involvement in lightning injury

EFFICIENT PACKET DELIVERY FRAMEWORK USING GEO-CAST ROUTING APPROACH FOR A VEHICULAR AD-HOC NETWORK (VANET)

In recent years, the technology of Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks(VANET's) communication has become more popular, allowing people to share road information with each other and use it while driving.Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks are special type of Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANET's) in which nodes are highly motile, so the network topology changes very fast. In order to form the communication there are several routing protocols provide to optimal path for delivery of packets. In this paper, the Geo-cast routing(GPRs) are applied for both urban and highway areas based on traffic environment. The two protocols Coverage Aware Geo-cast Routing(CAGR) in urban vehicular networks and Information Propagation Speed Analysis(IPSA)in highway vehicular networks are discussed.The path formation from source vehicle to destination vehicle based on different criteria are considered. The results  are analyzed using MATLAB

Increasing the potential for malaria elimination by targeting zoophilic vectors

Countries in the Asia Pacific region aim to eliminate malaria by 2030. A cornerstone of malaria elimination is the effective management of Anopheles mosquito vectors. Current control tools such as insecticide treated nets or indoor residual sprays target mosquitoes in human dwellings. We find in a high transmission region in India, malaria vector populations show a high propensity to feed on livestock (cattle) and rest in outdoor structures such as cattle shelters. We also find evidence for a shift in vector species complex towards increased zoophilic behavior in recent years. Using a malaria transmission model we demonstrate that in such regions dominated by zoophilic vectors, existing vector control tactics will be insufficient to achieve elimination, even if maximized. However, by increasing mortality in the zoophilic cycle, the elimination threshold can be reached. Current national vector control policy in India restricts use of residual insecticide sprays to domestic dwellings. Our study suggests substantial benefits of extending the approach to treatment of cattle sheds, or deploying other tactics that target zoophilic behavior. Optimizing use of existing tools will be essential to achieving the ambitious 2030 elimination target

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography for deep vein thrombosis

Background Ultrasound (US) has largely replaced contrast venography as the definitive diagnostic test for deep vein thrombosis (DVT). We aimed to derive a definitive estimate of the diagnostic accuracy of US for clinically suspected DVT and identify study-level factors that might predict accuracy. Methods We undertook a systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of diagnostic cohort studies that compared US to contrast venography in patients with suspected DVT. We searched Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Database of Reviews of Effectiveness, the ACP Journal Club, and citation lists (1966 to April 2004). Random effects meta-analysis was used to derive pooled estimates of sensitivity and specificity. Random effects meta-regression was used to identify study-level covariates that predicted diagnostic performance. Results We identified 100 cohorts comparing US to venography in patients with suspected DVT. Overall sensitivity for proximal DVT (95% confidence interval) was 94.2% (93.2 to 95.0), for distal DVT was 63.5% (59.8 to 67.0), and specificity was 93.8% (93.1 to 94.4). Duplex US had pooled sensitivity of 96.5% (95.1 to 97.6) for proximal DVT, 71.2% (64.6 to 77.2) for distal DVT and specificity of 94.0% (92.8 to 95.1). Triplex US had pooled sensitivity of 96.4% (94.4 to 97.1%) for proximal DVT, 75.2% (67.7 to 81.6) for distal DVT and specificity of 94.3% (92.5 to 95.8). Compression US alone had pooled sensitivity of 93.8 % (92.0 to 95.3%) for proximal DVT, 56.8% (49.0 to 66.4) for distal DVT and specificity of 97.8% (97.0 to 98.4). Sensitivity was higher in more recently published studies and in cohorts with higher prevalence of DVT and more proximal DVT, and was lower in cohorts that reported interpretation by a radiologist. Specificity was higher in cohorts that excluded patients with previous DVT. No studies were identified that compared repeat US to venography in all patients. Repeat US appears to have a positive yield of 1.3%, with 89% of these being confirmed by venography. Conclusion Combined colour-doppler US techniques have optimal sensitivity, while compression US has optimal specificity for DVT. However, all estimates are subject to substantial unexplained heterogeneity. The role of repeat scanning is very uncertain and based upon limited data

Tissue Microenvironments Define and Get Reinforced by Macrophage Phenotypes in Homeostasis or during Inflammation, Repair and Fibrosis

Current macrophage phenotype classifications are based on distinct in vitro culture conditions that do not adequately mirror complex tissue environments. In vivo monocyte progenitors populate all tissues for immune surveillance which supports the maintenance of homeostasis as well as regaining homeostasis after injury. Here we propose to classify macrophage phenotypes according to prototypical tissue environments, e.g. as they occur during homeostasis as well as during the different phases of (dermal) wound healing. In tissue necrosis and/or infection, damage- and/or pathogen-associated molecular patterns induce proinflammatory macrophages by Toll-like receptors or inflammasomes. Such classically activated macrophages contribute to further tissue inflammation and damage. Apoptotic cells and antiinflammatory cytokines dominate in postinflammatory tissues which induce macrophages to produce more antiinflammatory mediators. Similarly, tumor-associated macrophages also confer immunosuppression in tumor stroma. Insufficient parenchymal healing despite abundant growth factors pushes macrophages to gain a profibrotic phenotype and promote fibrocyte recruitment which both enforce tissue scarring. Ischemic scars are largely devoid of cytokines and growth factors so that fibrolytic macrophages that predominantly secrete proteases digest the excess extracellular matrix. Together, macrophages stabilize their surrounding tissue microenvironments by adapting different phenotypes as feed-forward mechanisms to maintain tissue homeostasis or regain it following injury. Furthermore, macrophage heterogeneity in healthy or injured tissues mirrors spatial and temporal differences in microenvironments during the various stages of tissue injury and repair. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Base

Structural Basis for Functional Tetramerization of Lentiviral Integrase

Experimental evidence suggests that a tetramer of integrase (IN) is the protagonist of the concerted strand transfer reaction, whereby both ends of retroviral DNA are inserted into a host cell chromosome. Herein we present two crystal structures containing the N-terminal and the catalytic core domains of maedi-visna virus IN in complex with the IN binding domain of the common lentiviral integration co-factor LEDGF. The structures reveal that the dimer-of-dimers architecture of the IN tetramer is stabilized by swapping N-terminal domains between the inner pair of monomers poised to execute catalytic function. Comparison of four independent IN tetramers in our crystal structures elucidate the basis for the closure of the highly flexible dimer-dimer interface, allowing us to model how a pair of active sites become situated for concerted integration. Using a range of complementary approaches, we demonstrate that the dimer-dimer interface is essential for HIV-1 IN tetramerization, concerted integration in vitro, and virus infectivity. Our structures moreover highlight adaptable changes at the interfaces of individual IN dimers that allow divergent lentiviruses to utilize a highly-conserved, common integration co-factor

Biocontrol Potential of Forest Tree Endophytes

Peer reviewe