Anti-inflammatory activity of the leaf extacts of Gendarussa vulgaris Nees

Objective

To evaluate the anti-inflammatory property of the leaf exacts of Gendarussa vulgaris (G. vulgaris) Nees.

Methods

G. vulgaris Nees of the family Apocynaceae is a medium sized tree grown in semishade or no shade and is common in the Ernad and Nilambur taluks of Kerala.Various parts of this plant have been used in the treatment of ulcers, sores, inflammation, dyspepsia, healing of wounds, etc. The present study aimed at the evaluation of anti-inflammatory property of the aqueous and alcoholic extracts of the leaves by both in vitro and in vivo methods. In vitro method was estimated by human red blood cell membrane stabilisation (HRBC) method and in vivo method was estimated on the carrageenan induced paw oedima.

Results

Both the methods showed significant anti-inflammatory property of the different extracts tested.

Conclusions

The alcoholic extract at a concentration of 300 mg/mL showed potent activity on comparing with the standard drug diclofenac sodium.     

Mutations in the chloride channel gene CLCNKB as a cause of classic Bartter syndrome

ABSTRACT.: Inherited hypokalemic renal tubulopathies are differentiated into at least three clinical subtypes: (1) the Gitelman variant of Bartter syndrome (GS); (2) hyperprostaglandin E syndrome, the antenatal variant of Bartter syndrome (HPS/aBS); and (3) the classic Bartter syndrome (cBS). Hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis and renal salt wasting are the common characteristics of all three subtypes. Hypocalciuria and hypomagnesemia are specific clinical features of Gitelman syndrome, while HPS/aBS is a life-threatening disorder of the newborn with polyhydramnios, premature delivery, hyposthenuria, and nephrocalcinosis. The Gitelman variant is uniformly caused by mutations in the gene for the thiazide-sensitive NaCl-cotransporter NCCT (SLC12A3) of the distal tubule, while HPS/aBS is caused by mutations in the gene for either the furosemide-sensitive NaK-2Cl-cotransporter NKCC2 (SLC12A1) or the inwardly rectifying potassium channel ROMK (KCNJ1). Recently, mutations in a basolateral chloride channel CLC-Kb (CLCNKB) have been described in a subset of patients with a Bartter-like phenotype typically lacking nephrocalcinosis. In this study, the screening for CLCNKB mutations showed 20 different mutations in the affected children from 30 families. The clinical characterization revealed a highly variable phenotype ranging from episodes of severe volume depletion and hypokalemia during the neonatal period to almost asymptomatic patients diagnosed during adolescence. This study adds 16 novel mutations to the nine already described, providing further evidence that mutations in the gene for the basolateral chloride channel CLC-Kb are the molecular basis of classic Bartter syndrome. Interestingly, the phenotype elicited by CLCNKB mutations occasionally includes HPS/aBS, as well as a Gitelman-like phenotype.     

Effects on growth of single short courses of fluoroquinolones

The aim of the study was to document the effects of short courses of fluoroquinolones given during an outbreak of multidrug resistant typhoid fever in southern Viet Nam on the growth of children over a period of two years. In a prospective cohort study, 326 Vietnamese children aged between 1 and 14 years were followed up for two years after receiving either ciprofloxacin (70 mg/kg given over 7 d) (n = 173) or ofloxacin (45-50 mg/kg given over 3-5 d) (n = 153) for suspected typhoid fever. Growth velocity and weight for height were compared with an age matched control group of children from the same locality (n = 223) who had not contracted typhoid or received any fluoroquinolones. In the ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin treated patients there was no evidence of acute joint toxicity, nor of any joint symptoms attributable to either of the fluoroquinolones. There was no difference in expected weight for height measurements between the three groups of children over the two year period. During the first year, height velocity in ciprofloxacin treated children was greater than in either ofloxacin treated children or untreated controls. Height velocity in the latter two groups was not significantly different. After two years height velocity was similar in the three groups. The results support the use of short course fluoroquinolone treatment in childhood typhoid, especially when caused by strains resistant to other antibiotics.     

Measurement of cardiac output: Comparison of four different methods

Background In off pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (OPCAB), dislocation of the heart influences cardiac output (CO) rapidly. In this study, we compared bolus thermodilution technique (TDCO) with thermal based Continuous cardiac output (CCO), Pulse contour Cardiac Output (Pulse CO) technique and Non Invasive Cardiac Output (NICO) techniques of continuous cardiac output measurement. Methods 75 patients undergoing OPCAB were studied. In Group A (n=25), CO was measured by arterial waveform analysis. In Group B (n=25), NICO was measured by Carbon dioxide (CO₂) partial rebreathing and in Group C (n=25), it was measured continuously using CCO catheter. CO was also measured by TDCO in all patients. Data were analysed using Bland Altman and regression plot analysis. ANOVA test was applied to compare the groups. Results CO measurements were comparable in the three groups. However CCO showed closest agreement with TDCO. During distal coronary artery anastomosis and at low CO, all three techniques showed poor agreement with TDCO and showed a higher CO than TDCO. Conclusion All the methods were statistically comparable and hence interchangeable for CO measurement in OPCAB. However NICO is least expensive and easy to use.