Indexing

Abstract: Pregnancy induced hypertension is one of the common conditions of unknown aetiology which increases the risk of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of low birth weight in maternal pregnancy induced hypertension in patients of kashmiri origin. An observational study was carried out in the Postgraduate Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Lalla Ded Hospital, Government Medical College Srinagar w.e.f September 2014 to February 2015. Methods: The study included all patients of PIH BP≥140/90 mm Hg after 20 weeks of gestation. Necessary information was collected such has detailed history, clinical examination, investigation performed, mode of delivery and neonatal birth weight Results: 37.5% had systolic blood pressure > 160 mmHg and 42.10% had a DBP > 110 mmHg. The frequency of caesarean section was 53% and 42% for normal birth. Low birth weight (<2.5 kg) was seen in (42.10%) when associated with severe diastolic hypertension and (37.5%) when severe systolic hypertension was taken into account Conclusion: DBP i.e. 110 mmHg or more was associated with low birth weight.

Abstract: Parthenium hysterophorus is a well-known weed with numerous harmful impacts. During the present work, aqueous leaf extract of Alstonia scholaris was found allelopathic to the seeds and seedlings of the target weed in laboratory conditions. The allelopathic leaf extract was also found effective against the biological pigments like Chlorophyll a and b followed by protein. Various biochemical tests were performed by which the presence of alcohols, aldehydes and ketones was confirmed in the aqueous allelopathic leaf extract.

Abstract: Ethnoentomology is the study of the relationship between insects and people. “Ethno”-study of people and “entomology” –is the study of insects, so the focus of Ethnoentomology is on how insects have been or  are being used in human societies around the world, which includes insects used for food rituals and medicine. While insects are commonly considered pests and a large part of man efforts are extended towards eradicating them, some insects have been counted as mankind s friend. Apitherapy is the one part of this field, is the medical use of honey bee products that includes the use of honey, pollen, bee bread, propolis, royal jelly, bee venom etc. The first use of apitherapy, the exact location is not traced but in general sense to ancient Egypt, Greece and China. Honey and other bee products have healing properties are included in many religious texts including the VEDA, BIBLE, and QURAN. The term apitherapy is use of bee venom not consumption of honey or other bee products.  Whereas bee venom therapy is the use of live bee stings (or injectable venom) to treat various diseases such as arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus, sciatica, low back pain, and tennis elbow to name a few. It refers to any use of venom to assist the body in healing itself. Bee venom is a complex mixture of a variety of peptides and enzymes and amines some of which have strong neurotoxic and immunogenic effects. Such as melittin, has powerful anti inflammatory, anti bacterial, anti viral action. Sulfur is believed to be one of the main elements in inducing the release of cortisol from the adrenal glands and in protecting the body from infections.  As because the therapeutic index of bee venom is median  lethal dose i.e. adult person having weight 60 kg has a 50% chance of surviving injections totalling 168mg of bee venom. 560 stings could be lethal for such a person assuming 0.3mg venom per stings. Most human deaths result from bee stings due to allergic reactions, heart failure or suffocation from swelling around the neck or the mouth. So, apitherapy is very safe for human treatment.

Abstract: Epilepsy is a serious and common chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, which are caused by abnormal synchronized neuronal disorders. It is a relatively common condition (up to 2% of the population) which can affect anyone at any age. Epilepsy can be controlled in a number of ways. The most common way to treat epilepsy is with anti-epileptic drugs. These AEDs can control but not cure epilepsy. Surgery can also be a possible treatment. Curative epilepsy surgery can only be performed in patients in whom the epileptogenic focus can be localized and does not overlap with eloquent brain areas. In the other patients with bilateral or multiple epileptogenic foci, with epilepsy onset in eloquent areas, or with no identifiable epileptogenic focus, treatments such as ketogenic diet, vagus nerve stimulation can be offered. VNS is an available procedure of which the mechanism of action is not understood, but with established efficacy for refractory epilepsy and low incidence of side-effects. The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, moderate protein, low carbohydrate diet used to treat intractable epilepsy, primary in the pediatric population. Hippocampal Deep Brain Stimulation has been used to treat patients with refractory epilepsy. Complementary and Alternative Medicine for epilepsy such as apuncture, aromatherapy, yoga etc may be used for lessening seizures, for alleviating related symptoms and for reducing side effects. Gene therapy aims to utilize viral and non-viral vectors in the delivery of DNA to target areas for the treatment of patients before their disease progresses. Gene therapy has delivered promising results in animal trials and pre-clinical settings and can be used for neurological disorders such as epilepsy.

Abstract: Color vision deficiency (CVD) is characterized by the inability or decreased ability in perception of some specific colors. CVD is further divisible into several types, of which red-green color vision defects are the most common whereas blue-yellow color vision defect is rarer. These kinds of CVDs interrupt color perception but do not impinge on the sharpness of vision. CVD may be X-linked recessive or an autosomal dominant or very rarely an autosomal recessive trait associated with X chromosome or chromosome 7 or 2 or 8 or 10. CVD in a subject is detected and its severity is analyzed by means of several tests, viz, Ishihara Pseudochromatic Test, Lantern Test and Anomaloscope test. The prevalence of CVD varies worldwide and some parts of the world show considerable prevalence. It is very important to identify CVD affected individuals, mild or severe, at an early age by proper counseling in order to guide them in selection of the suitable career path. Few countries have initiated awareness and counseling program for CVD affected individuals, however it is imperative for all countries to take necessary steps in this regard. 

Abstract: The medicinal plants as well as the herbs are an important aspect of traditional Chinese medicine and even an enriched source of various chemicals. Among the medicinal herbs, Angelica sinensis, also known as Dong Quai is the most popular used as Chinese medicine. The main compounds found in the acetone extract of Angelica sinensis(AS-AC) are ferulic acid, butylidenephthalide, ligustilide, brefeldin A, angelicide , B-sitosterol, butyl phthalide, calcium channel-blocking compounds (which relax visceral organ muscle) ,carvacrol, coumarins (at least six coumarin derivatives(coumarin content in Dong Quai does not promote phototoxic, carcinogenic or mutagenic effects, but exerts antispasmodic and vasodilatory effects)) including: angelol, angelicone ; essential oils, consisting mainly of Ligustilide , N-butylidenphthalide; ferulic acid, flavonoids, fixed oil ,furanocoumarins ,nicotinic acid ,phytosterols ,polysaccharides ,stigmasterol ,vitamins E, A and B12. This traditional Chinese herbal medicine has various pharmacological and toxicological effects i.e. Cardiovascular effects, Neurological effects, Musculoskeletal effects, Immunological effects/Amineoplastic activity/Antimicrobial activity, Anti-Inflammatory activity, Darmatological effects, Carcinogenicity, Estrogenic effects, Gastrointestinal effects. The aims of this review are to summarize the history and an account of the adverse effects and potential interactions of Dong Quai, and a discussion about therapeutic effects of this herb.                                                      

Abstract:  Fayoumi and Sonali breeds are commonly reared under scavenging system in Bangladesh. Chick mortality has the very important impact on economy of farmers. The aim of the present study was to determine the mortality rate and the causes of mortality of Fayoumi and Sonali chicks. One observational cross-sectional study was done on the Fayoumi and Sonali chicks at Chittagong and Noakhali district from October 2005 to July 2006.  A total of 48 farmers (24 from each Upazila) were selected randomly, who rear chicks under scavenging condition and as well as had broody hens. Twelve eggs of each breed were supplied to each farmer. The chicks were hatched out by the broody hens. Then the chicks were reared under scavenging system. The mortality detected for Fayoumi was 57.3%, which was less than that of the Sonali (68.8%) but did not vary significantly (χ2 = 1.21, df = 1, p > 0.05). The mortality of Fayoumi chicks at Noakhali site was little higher (59.1%) than that of Chittagong (55.4%), but it did not vary significantly (χ2 = 0.28, df = 1, p > 0.05). The mortality of Sonali chicks also did not differ significantly (χ2 = 0.16, df = 1, p > 0.05). The mortality was more by diseases than predators. The common predators were crow, wildcat, domestic cat, mongoose and rat in both study sites. The crow predated (Fayumi; 63.64% and Sonali; 70.83%) more baby chicks than others predators. The highest proportional mortality was caused by Mycoplasmosis + Colibacillosis (36.05 % and 36.94 %) in case of Fayoumi and Sonali followed by the second highest attributed to Mycoplasmosis (26.74%) and (22.52%) respectively. Fayoumi chicks were lower mortality than Sonali under scavenging rearing condition.