Viral Hepatitis And Enzyme Study

The present study was undertaken in sixty patients of viral hepatitis of both sexes ranging 20 to 60 yrs. of age to compare serum levels or 5’Nucleotidase, Alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase & serum bilirubin. Forty of clinically healthy subjects were taken as control group. These were patient’s attendants without any evidence of liver disease so as to equlibriate the socioeconomic status and age. The study group patients were either admitted to Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, or attending the OPD. A detailed clinical examination was carried out in all as per plan mentioned in materials & methods. Diagnosis of these patients was based on clinical findings. Endeavour was to find out a single enzyme marker which is most specific and sensitive parameter out of all above. It was later concluded that value of 5’ NT was highly significant as compared to ALP. A positive correlation was observed between AST, ALT & serum bilirubin level. But 5’ NT showed no correlation with aminotransferases

Tamsulosin � turn a round

Tamsulosin is a sulfamoylphen-ethylamine derivative, a potent and a selective antagonist of Alpha-1A adrenoceptor. It�s approved in the treatment of LUTS in BPH disease, being a specific Alpha -1A blocker it does not interfere much with the cardiovascular system. Though an age old molecule but still it�s a friendly drug to most of the physicians. Even the recent studies found its as efficacious to some of the newer molecules in the group

Effect of obesity on autonomic nervous system

The present study was carried out on 100 volunteers of which 50 subjects with BMI > 30kg/m2 were included in study group and 50 subjects with BMI < 30kg/m2 (non obese) were included in control group. The functioning of Autonomic nervous system was evaluated by six non-invasive tests- four of which were based mainly on parasympathetic control (30:15 ratio, standing to lying ratio (S/L ratio), expiration/inspiration ratio (E/I ratio) and valsalva maneuver) and two on sympathetic control (Blood pressure response to standing and cold pressor test). The results of the present study showed significantly low (p=0.001) S/L ratio in study group (1.04 ± 0.12) when compared to controls (1.12 ± 0.11) indicating impaired parasympathetic function. The mean change in sytolic blood pressure before and after cold pressor test (CPT) was less in study group (7.12 ± 5.28) as compared to control group (10.38 ± 6.35) and this was statistically significant (p=0.006) indicating impaired sympatheitc function. Thus ,in obese both division of ANS are affected which may be the cause of various cardiovascular complications

Multilocular Cystic Nephroma – A Surgical and Radiological Dilemma

Multilocular cystic nephroma is a slow growing benign renal tumor. It has been identified as exclusive adult lesion, more common in females. It commonly occurs as an asymtomatic mass, occasionally with hematuria. Clinical presentation & radiological features puts urologist under dilemma. Only a few studies have correlated the Bosniak renal cyst classification with pathological findings; none of them has managed to recruit many patients, and all have case selection bias. Although new imaging techniques are available, surgical excision and histological analysis of the tumor are the only effective methods to distinguish benign from malignant cystic lesions of the kidney. Here in we present a case to highlight the need for proper diagnosis and designation of these tumors. These renal tumors are benign and carry an excellent prognosis

A Study on Ajuga bracteosa wall ex. Benth for analgesic activity

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Ajuga bracteosa wall ex. Benth (Labiatae) is traditionally used medicine in the treatment of malaria and gout. The plant is substitute of cinchona. Its allied species Ajuga Parviflora is also found sporadically. In Ayurvedic prepration the aqueous extract of the leaves part showed diuretic activity. Aim of the study: The present study was carried out to investigate analgesic activity of Ajuga bracteosa wall ex. Benth aerial part extracts. Materials and methods: A. bracteosa, a widespread medicinal plant traditionally used in the disease, was collected from Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh. Aerial part was extracted with petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol, ethanol and water. Analgesic activity of these extracts was assessed in swiss albino mice with acetic acid-induced writhing test and tail immersion test. Results: At the doses used (200 and 400 mg/kg, i.p.) chloroform and water extracts showed significant and dose-dependent analgesic effects.\ud Conclusion: Our results indicate that extracts Ajuga bracteosa wall ex. Benth obtained from demonstrate an analgesic effect probably mediated by opioid receptors.\u

A Competency-based Approach to Faculty Development

Background—Faculty development at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine (VCU SOM) has previously focused on enhancing teaching and learning in the medical and clinical education settings. While this work is important, this narrow focus does not address all facets a faculty member’s role. To broaden their programming, the VCU SOM faculty development team adopted a competency-based approach to the development and planning of faculty development activities. Summary of work—The Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs completed a research project focused on successful medical faculty who promote through the tenure process and advance in their careers. She identified the following categories for success: teaching, service, scholarship, advancing, and leadership. Each of these categories contains action-focused competencies that align with career progression addressing early, mid, and late career stages. The faculty development team adopted the identified competencies to their curriculum development and planning processes. Summary of results—The results of this adoption have been clearer goals for learners, a mapped structure for faculty development activities, and a broader range of topics offered that align with career stages. Discussion—Faculty development activities are now categorized into five (5) categories: Teach, Lead, Serve, Discover, and Advance with each category color coded for easy recognition in event marketing materials. A new logo reflecting these competency categories is now included on all Office of Faculty Affairs communications. Faculty are beginning to recognize and register for activities they need for promotion, tenure, and advancement. Conclusions—The adoption of the competencies for success from the Senior Associate Dean’s study has enriched faculty development offerings providing a recognizable structure allowing faculty to easily identify competency areas for development

The combinational effect of cardiac and biochemical markers in diabetic patients with cardiovascular disease

Background: Clinicopathological correlations, as well as several angiographic studies, suggest that diabetic patients have more extensive atherosclerotic disease, affecting the coronary arteries in particular. We sought to examine the combinational effect of cardiac and biochemical markers in diabetic patients with cardiovascular disease.\ud Method: The study population constituted 50 healthy subjects, 50 cardiovascular subjects with diabetes and 50 cardiovascular subjects without diabetes. The population was subjected to biochemical and cardiac marker analysis and the results were verified.\ud Results and discussion: Studies suggest that glycated hemoglobin values in the abnormal range can identify persons at increased risk for coronary heart disease, stroke, and death before the diagnosis of diabetes, indicating that glycated hemoglobin is a useful marker of cardiovascular risk and death from any cause.\u

Antioxidant and Antimicrobial properties of Glycine Max-A review

Vegetable soybean is rich in phytochemicals beneficial to the human being and is therefore considered a neutraceutical or a functional food crop. Soybean as a “functional food” that reduces the risk of range of hazardous diseases like atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, various types of cancer (breast, uterus cancer, and prostrate) has attracted people’s attention across the globe. People in India are becoming increasingly aware about the health benefits of consuming soy food. Although isoflavones present in soy are believed to be major components responsible for the antioxidative activity, a recent study showed that anthocyanins present in black soybean had strong antioxidative potential. This review article focuses on both the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of Glycine max

Evolving clinical profile of IL-1β, IL-10 and CTLA-4 gene in rheumatoid factor positive Caucasian population

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a systemic autoimmune condition, causes joint damage and sometimes extra-articular lesions (cutaneous vasculitis, neuropathy, Felty’s syndrome, pericarditis, intersticial lung disease) that may be life threatening. The reason why extra-articular features will develop in rare RA patients is unknown. Our study was aimed to find any disease correlation with respect to a few genetic loci implicated in rheumatoid arthritis. In our study no significant association was observed for Il-1β and IL-10. However CTLA-4 showed polymorphism in RA and controls. In our earlier article we reported polymorphism of HLA-DRB1 in Caucasian population. The study was conducted on 60 patients, where 30 were control and 30 were diseased. All the patients selected for the study were Rf (rheumatoid factor) positive. Therefore the studies need to be conducted on larger group of patients, so that the association can be verified in Caucasian population (Indian scenario)