EFFICACY OF CHONDROITIN SULFATE WITH GLUCOSAMINE VERSUS DIACEREIN IN GRADE II AND III OSTEOARTHRITIS KNEE: A RANDOMIZED COMPARATIVE STUDY

ABSTRACTObjective: Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common joint disease has led to great morbidity and disability. Symptomatic slow acting drugs for OA, whichincludes glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and diacerein provides symptom relief and structure-modifying effects in OA knee. Our aim was toassess the efficacy and safety of chondroitin sulfate with glucosamine versus diacerein in Kellgren-Lawrence Grade II and III OA knee patients.Methods: After approval from Institutional Human Ethics Committee and after getting written informed consent patients were randomized toGroup A: Tablet chondroitin sulfate (400 mg) with glucosamine (500 mg) combination thrice a day or Group B: Capsule diacerein 50 mg, twice aday orally both after food. Out of 88 patients screened, 75 of them entered the study. A total of 15 patients failed to complete the study. Remaining60 patients completed with 30 patients in each group. They were assessed for pain using visual analogue scale (VAS) from baseline and followed-upat 3, 12, 24 weeks.Results: Baseline characteristics in both the groups were matching without any significant difference. At 24 weeks there was reduction in VAS from6.76 to 1.96 (71.01%) in Group A and from 6.8 to 3.53 (48.09%) in Group B. There was significant difference between the groups with Group Asignificant over Group B in VAS. Thus, the effect of drug in Group A on pain reduction was greater than Group B.Conclusion: The use of chondroitin sulfate with glucosamine combination resulted in improvement in VAS better than diacerein in OA knee.Keywords: Osteoarthritis, Chondroitin sulfate with glucosamine combination, Diacerein, Visual analogue scale

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of Murraya Koenigii leaves extract against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in Rats

Background: Many pharmacological substances are known to cause hepatic injuries and paracetamol is one out of them. This study was carried out to investigate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Murraya koenigii leaves in paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in Rats.Methods: Experimental animal used in this study were 30 healthy male albino Wistar rats of 10 to 12 wks weighing 180 ± 20 g. After acclimatization for a period of one week, the rats were randomized into five groups of six rats each. Safety profile and dose selection of extract was evaluated using acute toxicity studies. Five groups named as Normal control, Paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity, Murraya koenigii leaves extract 100 mg/kg bw, Murraya koenigii leaves extract 200 mg/kg bw and Silymarin group respectively. The doses of drugs and plant extract was calculated based on the body weight of each animal and administered orally for 7 days. On 8th day rats were sacrificed and blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture for biochemical estimation of biochemical parameters. Then abdomen was opened to get liver sample for antioxidant activity and histopathology.Results: Acute toxicity studies showed the non-toxic nature of Murraya koenigii leaves extract upto dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight. Murraya koenigii leaves extract in both doses showed a significant drop in the mean levels of AST, ALT, ALP, TP and TB when compared with toxic control group. The higher dose was found better than lower dose. Silymarin was found better than both the doses. Murraya koenigii leaves extract in both doses significantly reduced the TBARS level when compared to toxic control group. The activities of GSH, SOD and CAT in liver were significantly lower in Paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity rats compared to control rats. Murraya koenigii leaves extract at both doses showed a significant increase in GSH, SOD and CAT. The higher dose was found better than lower dose. Silymarin was found better than both the doses. Histopathology of Liver biopsy with higher dose of Murraya koenigii leaves extract showed reduced periportal inflammation with mild hepatic venous congestion and Silymarin treated rats showed no periportal inflammation with mild congestion in few central veins.Conclusions: Murraya koenigii leaves extract possesses significant Hepatoprotective property; this may be due to antioxidant activity. Further studies are required to determine the exact mechanism

Pronounced sequence specificity of the TET enzyme catalytic domain guides its cellular function

TET (ten-eleven translocation) enzymes catalyze the oxidation of 5-methylcytosine bases in DNA, thus driving active and passive DNA demethylation. Here, we report that the catalytic domain of mammalian TET enzymes favor CGs embedded within basic helix-loop-helix and basic leucine zipper domain transcription factor–binding sites, with up to 250-fold preference in vitro. Crystal structures and molecular dynamics calculations show that sequence preference is caused by intrasubstrate interactions and CG flanking sequence indirectly affecting enzyme conformation. TET sequence preferences are physiologically relevant as they explain the rates of DNA demethylation in TET-rescue experiments in culture and in vivo within the zygote and germ line. Most and least favorable TET motifs represent DNA sites that are bound by methylation-sensitive immediate-early transcription factors and octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4), respectively, illuminating TET function in transcriptional responses and pluripotency support

EVALUATION OF ANALGESIC ACTIVITY OF MURRAYA KOENIGII AND CORIANDRUM SATIVUM LEAVES EXTRACT IN ANIMAL MODEL.

 Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the analgesic activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Murraya koenigii and Coriandrum sativum leaves and compared it with standard drug in an animal model.Methods: Hydroalcoholic extracts of M. koenigii and C. sativum leaves were obtained using Soxhlet apparatus. The central analgesic property was screened by hot plate method in mice and tail flick method in rats. The pain reaction time (PRT) was measured at 30, 60, and 120 min. The peripheral analgesic activity was evaluated by acetic acid induced writhing in mice.Results: In hot plate method M. koenigii leaves extract at both doses and tramadol showed significant increase in PRT at 30, 60, and 120 min compared with control group. C. sativum leaves extract showed significant increase in PRT only at 60 and 120 min compared to control group. In tail flick method M. koenigii leaves extract at both doses, higher dose of C. sativum leaves extract and tramadol showed significant increase in PRT at 30, 60, and 120 min compared with control group. Higher dose of M. koenigii leaves extract (200 mg/kg) was comparable with standard drug tramadol in both the methods. M. koenigii leaves extract at both dose showed significant reduction in the number of writhing but C. sativum leaves extract failed to show any significant reduction in the number of writhing compared with control. Higher dose of M. koenigii leaves extract was comparable with standard drug tramadol.Conclusion: M. koenigii leaves extract showed both peripheral and central analgesic effect while C. sativum leaves extract showed only peripheral analgesic effect

EVALUATION OF ANALGESIC ACTIVITY OF MURRAYA KOENIGII AND CORIANDRUM SATIVUM LEAVES EXTRACT IN ANIMAL MODEL.

 Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the analgesic activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Murraya koenigii and Coriandrum sativum leaves and compared it with standard drug in an animal model.Methods: Hydroalcoholic extracts of M. koenigii and C. sativum leaves were obtained using Soxhlet apparatus. The central analgesic property was screened by hot plate method in mice and tail flick method in rats. The pain reaction time (PRT) was measured at 30, 60, and 120 min. The peripheral analgesic activity was evaluated by acetic acid induced writhing in mice.Results: In hot plate method M. koenigii leaves extract at both doses and tramadol showed significant increase in PRT at 30, 60, and 120 min compared with control group. C. sativum leaves extract showed significant increase in PRT only at 60 and 120 min compared to control group. In tail flick method M. koenigii leaves extract at both doses, higher dose of C. sativum leaves extract and tramadol showed significant increase in PRT at 30, 60, and 120 min compared with control group. Higher dose of M. koenigii leaves extract (200 mg/kg) was comparable with standard drug tramadol in both the methods. M. koenigii leaves extract at both dose showed significant reduction in the number of writhing but C. sativum leaves extract failed to show any significant reduction in the number of writhing compared with control. Higher dose of M. koenigii leaves extract was comparable with standard drug tramadol.Conclusion: M. koenigii leaves extract showed both peripheral and central analgesic effect while C. sativum leaves extract showed only peripheral analgesic effect

Evaluation of peer role models as oral health education providers among school children in Mysuru, Karnataka, India

BACKGROUND: India lacks organized school oral health programs, resulting in limited access to oral health care among children. The peer role models, or teachers, may help in bridging the gap to enhance knowledge on self-care preventive practices. The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of dental health education (DHE) offered by qualified dental professional, trained teachers, and peer role models in promoting oral hygiene status and behavior among school-going children in Mysuru, Karnataka. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an interventional study conducted over a period of 3 months in an academic year in three selected schools in Mysuru City, India. A total of 120 students were divided into three groups – group 1 were given DHE (dental health education) by a dental professional, group 2 were given DHE by a trained teacher, and group 3 were given DHE by peer role models. Oral health knowledge was assessed using a close-ended questionnaire, plaque levels were assessed using Turesky Gilmore Glickman modification of Quigley Hein plaque index, and gingival status was assessed using Loe and Sillness gingival index. After 3 months, the same index and questionnaire were used post intervention. RESULTS: The mean scores for knowledge on dental caries at baseline in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 3.75 ± 1.25, 3.65 ± 1.07, and 3.40 ± 1.17, respectively, with no significant difference between the groups, which changed to 4.43 ± 1.27, 3.37 ± 1.14, and 4.93 ± 0.99, respectively, following intervention. Similar results were observed with regard to knowledge on gingival and periodontal diseases. The mean plaque scores at baseline for groups 1, 2, and 3 were 4.17 ± 0.30, 3.24 ± 0.70, and 4.10 ± 0.31, respectively, which changed to 3.85 ± 0.32, 3.90 ± 0.39, and 3.69 ± 0.34, respectively, in three groups following intervention. Post intervention, plaque scores and gingival scores significantly improved in groups 1 and 3 but worsened in group 2. Overall, knowledge scores improved in groups 1 and 3 for some questions, but improvement was not noted in some questions. CONCLUSION: Under the limitations of the study, it was found that peer role models were as effective as dental professionals in providing DHE in schools