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Research Article
Aug 05, 2013
A comparative study of sputum induction in suspected pulmonary tuberculosis
A fairly good number of cases, strongly suspected of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) are not confirmed bacteriologically, due to non-availability of diagnostic material like sputum. In this study, we made an attempt to collect adequate sample of secretions from the lower airways in subjects who do not produce sputum spontaneously and compare sputum induction between nebulized levosalbutamol, 0.9% normal saline, and 3% hypertonic saline. About 120 patients with suspected pulmonary TB who fulfilled the inclusion criteria form our study group and randomly divided into three subgroups of 40 each receiving (a) levosalbutamol (1.26 mg), (b) 0.9% normal saline, and (c) 3% hypertonic saline. Sputum induction was successful in 90% of cases (in levosalbutamol group), 50% of cases (in 0.9% normal saline), and 97.5% of cases (in 3% hypertonic saline group). It is concluded that 3% hypertonic saline nebulization produced maximum positivity (97.5%) for Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) suspected cases of TB compared to levosalbutamol and normal saline nebulization.
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Research Article
Jul 05, 2013
Comparative antioxidant activity of different parts of Bauhinia purpurea L
The present study was undertaken to explore as well as to compare the antioxidant activity of the different plant parts of Bauhinia purpurea L. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging capacity were measured to determine the antioxidant activity of both leaves and bark of the plant. Solvent–solvent partitioning was accomplished to obtain extracts of different polarities as n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol extract. All the extracts exhibited potent antioxidant activity in terms of DPPH and NO scavenging capacity. In case of DPPH radical scavenging, ethyl acetate extract of bark was found to have highest activity with IC50 value of 1.08 μg/mL followed by n-hexane extract of bark and leaves with IC50 values of 2.40 and 3.07 μg/mL, respectively. The IC50 value of standard ascorbic acid was 33.77 μg/mL. In case of NO scavenging activity, the ethyl acetate extract of leaves showed highest activity with IC50 values of 1.04 μg/mL followed by n-hexane and ethyl acetate extract of bark having IC50 values of 1.92 and 2.04 μg/mL respectively. The IC50 value of standard ascorbic acid was 71.06 μg/mL.
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Research Article
Jun 23, 2013
Association of EGFR gene polymorphism in head and neck cancer patients with tobacco and alcohol con ... suming habits
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP’s) in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) play a crucial role in head and neck cancer (HNC) disease progression and targeted therapies. Hence the present study aims to identify the mutations in EGFR gene (exon 20) in HNC considering their exposure to tobacco and alcohol habits. Mutational analysis was carried out by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by single stranded confirmatory polymorphism (SSCP) techniques on the study group comprising of 129 HNC cases and 150 healthy volunteers. Four different SNP’s (R776H, G779G, Q787Q, and L798H) were observed with the overall mutation rate of 75.19% in HNC cases and 46% in controls. Q787Q was found to be more prevalent (p , 0.05) and its genotypes GG, GA, and AA were 24.80%, 61.24%, and 13.95%. The study concluded that EGFR was found to be a polymorphic gene associated with HNC disease, and these SNPs were also prevalent in healthy volunteers with tobacco and alcohol habits.
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Research Article
May 02, 2013
Relation between water and salivary fluoride levels among children residing in communities having d ... ifferent naturally occuring water fluoride levels in Andhra Pradesh, India
A precise definition of the amount at which fluoride affects both dental caries and dental fluorosis will help to promote more judicious use of fluoride in caries prevention. The aim of this study was to assess the relation between water fluoride level and salivary fluoride level in 12-year old school children residing in various communities having different naturally occuring water fluoride levels in Andhra Pradesh, India. A cross sectional study was carried out among 116 school children from three different communities having 1, 4, and 11 ppm of water fluoride level at Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Preliminary data was collected by using a questionnaire, Type–II clinical examination to assess dental caries and dental fluorosis, and paraffin stimulated whole saliva was collected for laboratory analysis of salivary fluoride level. The mean salivary fluoride levels are 7.4 2.25, 3.73 1.17, and 2.83 1.08 mmol for 11, 4, and 1 ppm water fluoride community which are statistically significant ( p 0.000)***. There was significant difference among the severity of dental fluorosis with increase of water fluoride level and no significant difference in prevalence of dental caries. It is concluded that as the salivary fluoride level is directly proportional to water fluoride level, but it has no effect on the prevalence of dental caries.
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Research Article
Apr 22, 2013
Reproductive impact of aqueous leaf extract of Mangifera indica (Mango) on some reproductive funct ... ions in female Sprague-Dawley rats
Reproductive impact of oral administration of aqueous leaf extract of Mangifera indica (MILE)at a dose of 500 mg/kg was investigated. The first set of non-gravid rats was used to study hormonal and estrous cycling pattern after four weeks of extract administration. Estrous cycle was monitored by vagina smear technique, weekly weight recorded, and serum collected at the end of treatment period. The second set of gravid rats treated with extract during pregnancy was used to study effects on pregnancy and its outcome. Weekly weights were recorded and the number of viable fetus and resorption sites were counted on gestational day 19 after laparotomy. Number and weight of litter delivered were also recorded. The extract significantly reduced weight gained while there was also disruption of estrous cycling. Serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level and litter birth weights were also significantly reduced. There was no effect on the number of viable fetus and duration of pregnancy. These results revealed that oral administration of aqueous MILE reduced weight gain, disrupted estrous cycling, reduced serum FSH while increasing estradiol level in non-pregnant rats. It also reduced maternal weight and litter birth weight. However, it has no significant effect on duration of pregnancy
