p-Amino salicylic acid — oxidized cellulose system: a model for long term drug delivery

The immobilization of p-amino salicylic acid (PASA) on periodic oxidized cellulose (O.C) as a biocompatible carrier was investigated. The immobilization of the PASA is based on Schiff's base formation between the amino group of PASA and the aldehyde group of O.C. The in vivo and in vitro release of p-amino salicylic acid was studied. Such a system may be useful for the sustained delivery of the drugs in the body, since O.C. itself is a biosoluble carrier.     

Molecular therapies for viral hepatitis

Current treatment modalities available for hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are not efficient. The enormous disease burden caused by these two infections makes the development of novel therapies critical. For HCV, the development of an effective vaccine is urgent in view of the escalating number of infected individuals. Molecular therapies for HBV and HCV infection can be directed at reducing viral load by interfering with the life cycle of the viruses or at generating immune response against viral epitopes. The antiviral approaches consist of the delivery or expression of antisense RNAs, ribozymes or dominant negative proteins. Viral biology can be interrupted by attacking various potential targets within the two viruses. DNA-based vaccination strategies are being explored for both prevention and treatment of these diseases. Both non-viral and recombinant viral vectors are being developed for safe, effective and long-term gene transfer to the liver. Although no "ideal" vector is available at this time, the ingenuity of numerous investigators is leading to the improvement of the vector systems, promising successful application of gene therapy to the prevention and treatment of viral hepatitis in the foreseeable future.     

Ameliorating effect of microdoses of a potentized homeopathic drug,Arsenicum Album,on arsenic-induced toxicity in mice

Background  

Arsenic in groundwater and its accumulation in plants and animals have assumed a menacing proportion in a large part of West Bengal, India and adjoining areas of Bangladesh. Because of the tremendous magnitude of the problem, there seems to be no way to tackle the problem overnight. Efforts to provide arsenic free water to the millions of people living in these dreaded zones are being made, but are awfully inadequate. In our quest for finding out an easy, safe and affordable means to combat this problem, a homeopathic drug, Arsenicum Album-30, appears to yield promising results in mice. The relative efficacies of two micro doses of this drug, namely, Arsenicum Album-30 and Arsenicum Album-200, in combating arsenic toxicity have been determined in the present study on the basis of some accepted biochemical protocols.     

Comparison of electrical field plethysmography with electrical impedance plethysmography

As a means for assessing cardiac function, electrical field plethysmography (EFP) has been shown to have some features quite different from electrical impedance plethysmography (EIP). Here the two techniques are compared by using the two systems simultaneously on a subject and also with independent use in different electrode configurations. The results conform with the view that EIP is related primarily to volumetric changes of the aorta, whereas EFP is affected predominantly by changes in cardiac dimensions and orientation. Because of this difference, the standard time differential formula used for EIP is not applicable for the computation of cardiac output from the EFP waveforms. An alternative method of computation based on the amplitude of the EFP waveform is suggested.     

Summation of fibre potentials and the e.m.g.-force relationship during the voluntary movement of a forearm

A linear mathematical model of the electromyogram (e.m.g.) has been developed for the biceps muscle. The number of motor units (and therefore muscle fibres) contributing to the resultant e.m.g. at any stage of movement has been found from the force analysis of elbow flexion. The depths of various motor units and the phase difference between the recruitment of any two motor units have been formulated using a spiral spread of recruitment sequence. The attenuation of individual motor-unit action potentials due to varying depths has been taken into consideration, and due regard has been taken of the length-tension diagram of a muscle while performing the force analysis. Attention has been focused on the flexion of the elbow joint, in which a method of finding the individual contribution of the biceps and brachialis muscles has been developed and applied. The results predicted by the model have been verified by experiments. The model can also be extended to the e.m.g. of other fast skeletal muscles. The conditions and limitations for such generalisations have been stated and discussed.     

Ascertaining women's preferred mode of address and preferred choice of title during pregnancy and childbirth

To determine how women in pregnancy would like to be addressed and to ascertain their preferred choice of title during pregnancy. A questionnaire was administered to 925 antenatal women. Midwifery and medical staff (183) were invited to respond to a similar questionnaire. The response rate was 71.2% from the survey of pregnant women. The vast majority (82.1%) preferred to be addressed by their first name. Women were in favour of being called 'patient' (32.8%) as their first choice. The staff survey yielded a response rate of 77%. The majority (81.8%) of health professionals preferred to address women by their first name. 'Mother' (28.7%) was the most popular first choice. We conclude that women in pregnancy do have a preference on how they would like to be addressed and this is predominantly by first name. Health professionals also prefer to call pregnant women by their first name. The term 'patient' was the most popular first choice of title of women in pregnancy but the term 'mother' was the preferred choice of the health professionals. Medical staff were more likely to choose 'patient' than midwives.     

Clinico-Radio-Histopathological Correlation by C-Arm Image-Guided Biopsy in Spinal Tuberculosis

Background/Purpose of the StudyC-arm-guided biopsy is a safe and effective technique for evaluating TB spine and is useful in planning therapy. The purpose of this study was to find a correlation between clinically and radiologically suspected TB spine and C-arm image-guided biopsy-proven cases and to study the complications encountered.MethodsAfter evaluating the clinical, laboratory, X-ray and MRI findings, 92 patients with provisionally diagnosed tubercular spine were subjected to C-arm image-guided biopsy.ResultsAmong our 92 cases, histopathology was positive in 55 cases (59.78%). Out of these 55 histologically positive cases, CBNAAT was positive in 42 cases and negative in the rest 13 cases. Overall, among the 92 cases, CBNAAT was positive in 51(55.43%) of cases, and out of these, histopathology turned out to be positive in 42 of cases. Out of 41 cases with negative CBNAAT, histopathology was suggestive of tuberculosis in 13. The strength of agreement between CBNAAT and histopathology was statistically significant (p < 0.0001; kappa = 0.511). No complication such as bleeding, nerve/cord injury, infection, injury to aorta or pneumothorax was encountered during and after the C-arm biopsy in any case.ConclusionC-arm image-guided biopsy is reasonably accurate and should be used as a tool for diagnosis of TB spine. We recommend histopathological examination as a key component for the diagnosis of TB spine, as it is precise and consumes relatively shorter time. CBNAAT is more rapid but is not a substitute for histopathology for spine TB diagnosis.