Inhibitory activities of extracts of Rumex dentatus,Commelina benghalensis,Ajuga bracteosa,Ziziphus mauritiana as well as their compounds of gallic acid and emodin against dengue virus

Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effects against dengue virus serotype 2(DENV-2) by five different fractions(extracted by methanol, ethanol, benzene, chloroform and n-hexane) of Rumex dentatus, Commelina benghalensis, Ajuga bracteosa and Ziziphus mauritiana, as well as their constituents(gallic acid, emodin, and isovanillic acid). Methods: All the samples were tested for cytotoxicity on baby hamster kidney cells by MTT assay and for anti-DENV-2 activity by plaque reduction neutralization assay using two DENV-2 doses(45 and 90 plaqueforming units or PFU). Results: All the samples except isovanillic acid exhibited significant prophylactic effects against DENV-2 infectivity(without cytotoxicity) when administered to cells before infection, but were not effective when given 6 h post-infection. The methanol extract of Rumex dentatus demonstrated the highest antiviral efficacy by inhibiting DENV-2 replication, with IC_(50) of 0.154 μg/mL and 0.234 μg/mL, when added before infection with 45 and 90 PFU of virus, respectively. Gallic acid also exhibited significant antiviral effects by prophylactic treatment prior to virus adsorption on cells, with IC_(50) of 0.191 μg/mL and 0.522 μg/mL at 45 and 90 PFU of DENV-2 infection, respectively. Conclusions: The highly potent activities of the extracts and constituent compounds of these plants against DENV-2 infectivity highlight their potential as targets for further research to identify novel antiviral agents against dengue.     

PSYCHIATRIC EFFECTS OF HYSTERECTOMY

An excess of psychiatric symptoms in post-hysterectomy women have been reported by some authors but denied by others. Thirty six women undergoing hysterectomy for non-malignant pathologies were compared with equal number of comparable patients who underwent other gynaecological operations. Patients were assessed pre- and post-operatively by semi-structured psychiatric interview, Sinha''s anxiety scale and Hamilton''s depression rating scale. Patients undergoing hysterectomy were significantly more anxious and depressed both pre- and post-operatively as compared to the control patients. Hysterectomy was not associated with significantly higher psychiatric morbidity.KEY WORDS: Hysterectomy, Depression     

MODIFIED BROMOPHENOL BLUE DYE BINDING METHOD FOR QUANTITATION OF MICROALBUMINURIA IN DIABETES MELLITUS

Albumin excretion in microalbuminuria range is one of the earliest manifestation of nephropathy, specially in diabetes mellitus. The modified dye binding method using bromo-phenol blue was studied in 27 healthy controls and 54 patients of diabetes mellitus, negative for albuminuria by albustix test. The analytical recovery (99.4 to 104.0%), within run coefficient of variation (0.8 to 0.36%) and day-to-day coefficient of variation (2.39 to 0.82%), for low and higher range were within acceptable limits. The values in controls ranged as follows: urinary albumin concentration (mg/L) 7.7 – 28.4 in 2-hour specimen and 10.3 – 29.2 in overnight specimen; albumin excretion rate (µg/min) 7.8 – 29.7 in 2-hour and 9.2 – 29.6 in overnight specimen; and albumin creatinine ratio (mg/g) 10.6 – 29.6 in 2-hour and 11.9 – 29.6 in overnight specimens.Correlation analysis of various albumin excretion parameters revealed excellent correlation between estimations from overnight and 2-hour samples for albumin-creatinine ratio (r = 1.00) and albumin excretion rate (r=0.96). Equally good correlation was observed between 2-hour albumin-creatinine ratio and albumin excretion rate (r=0.95). In 10 of 54 patients excretion rate was more than 200 µg/min and could have been detected by repeat albustix test. Of the 36 positive for microalbuminuria, 21 had one or more target organ involvement. There was no target organ involvement in 8 patients negative for microalbuminuria. Screening for microalbuminuria by this simple and economic method, using 2-hour albumin-excretion rate or albumin-creatinine ratio could be one of the earliest investigations in diabetic patients.KEY WORDS: Microalbuminuria, Spectrophotometeric method, Diabetes mellitus     

Effect of MTAD on the bond strength to enamel and dentin

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of MTAD (a mixture of a tetracycline isomer [doxycycline], an acid [citric acid], and a detergent [Tween 80]) and phosphoric acid on the bond strength to enamel and dentin using a conventional OptiBond Solo Plus dentin adhesive system. One hundred flat surfaces (50 enamel/50 dentin) were prepared for bonding. Specimens were embedded in acrylic with the flat surface exposed. One of the following surface treatments was applied before bonding composite with Optibond Solo Plus (Kerr Corp): 1 min NaOCl/1 min EDTA; 1 min NaOCl/1 min MTAD; 30 s etch with H3PO4 (positive control), 2 min saline (negative control), or 20 min NaOCl/5 min MTAD (clinical protocol for MTAD). Shear bond strength was tested 30 min after bonding. Data were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA followed by the Student-Newman-Keuls multiple comparison method. Surface pretreatment with acid etch resulted in the greatest enamel bond strengths (p < 0.05). All surface pretreatments were superior to saline for dentinal bonding (p < 0.05). On the basis of our findings, it appears that teeth endodontically treated with the MTAD protocol for clinical use (20 min 1.3% NaOCl/5 min MTAD) may not need any additional dentin conditioning before the application of the dental adhesive.     

Craniosynostosis: image quality, confidence, and correctness in diagnosis

The authors used the diagnosis of craniosynostosis to compare subjective evaluation of image quality with objective diagnostic utility. They studied in detail the responses of one observer, who read plain radiographs, computed tomographic (CT) scans, and three-dimensional reconstructions of CT scans (obtained with three different methods) for 82 patients with this diagnosis. The observer rated image quality and certainty in diagnosis made from each image. Subjective and objective performances were found to be strongly linked. High-quality images served as the basis for more accurate diagnoses than low-quality images. The increase in diagnostic performance results primarily from increased specificity, a fact that suggests that specificity and the concomitant diagnosis of normalcy are the focus of attention when image quality is evaluated.     

Reconstruction of Cranial Defects in Armed Forces Personnel - Our Experience

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of heat cured ‘poly methyl methacrylate resin prosthesis and to assess the acceptability of the indigenously manufactured titanium mini bone plate and screws in patients treated for repair of cranial defects.

Methods

17 patients with cranial defect were treated for reconstruction of the skull defect with two types of implants i.e. Acrylic resin plate prosthesis and titanium minibone plates, either in combination or singularly. In these cases, the skull defects resulted from trauma (88.23%) or due to ablative tumour surgery (11.96%). Acrylic implant was used in 12 cases (70.85%), titanium plates and screws in 2 cases (11.76%) and a combination of both of the above in 3 cases (17.64).

Results

The primary reconstruction was carried out in 2 cases (11.96%) and secondary reconstruction was done in 15 cases (88.23%). Majority of the cases underwent secondary reconstruction because of the initial surgical emergency requiring quick debulking and closure. In 2 cases where primary reconstruction was done, the second surgery could be avoided with gratifying results.

Conclusion

70.85% underwent reconstruction with polymethyl methacrylate resin prosthesis and in the rest either titanium plates were used singly or in combination. Only in one patient, there was rejection of the implant due to infection. In 94% cases the graft was well taken up with excellent results.Key Words: Cranial reconstruction, Mini bone plates, Cranial prosthesis