Enriched soil amendments influenced soil fertility, herbage yield and bioactive principle of medicinal plant (Cassia angustifolia Vahl.) grown in two different soils.

High cost of chemical fertilizers and poor nutrient content in conventional organic sources (manure, compost, charcoal etc.) can be addressed through development of enriched organic amendments. However, there is a need to evaluate enriched organic amendments as a potential alternative of chemical fertilizers. Therefore, an effort was made to prepare enriched organic amendments through blending distillation waste of aromatic plant biomass (DWB) with naturally available low-grade rock phosphate (RP) and waste mica (WM). Enrich compost (ENC) was produced from DWB in a natural composting process, blended with mineral powder, whereas biochar fortified mineral (BFM) was prepared by blending biochar, derived from DWB through hydrothermal reaction, with mineral powder. The main aims of the present study were to investigate the impacts of ENC and BFM applications on soil properties, and herbage yield and quality of a medicinal herb Senna (Cassia angustifolia Vahl.). The performances of ENC and BFM at two different rates (2.5 and 5 t ha-1) were compared with the application of conventional farmyard manure (FYM, 5 t ha-1) and chemical fertilizers (CF, NPK 60-40-20 kg ha-1) in two different soils in a pot experiment. Both, ENC and EBC improved soil quality and fertility by increasing soil organic carbon, available nutrients, microbial biomass and enzyme activity. The ENC and BFM increased total herbage yields by 21 and 16.3 % compared to FYM. In both soils, the CF treatment produced the maximum dry herbage yields (32.7-37.4 g pot-1), which however were comparable to ENC (31.9-33.7 g pot-1) and BFM (30.7-35.1 g pot-1) treatments. Bioactive compound (sennoside) production in senna was significantly improved by ENC and BFM compared to CF. The present study indicates that ENC and BFM could not only help to overcome the limitation of conventional FYM, but also have the potentials to substitute costly chemical fertilizers, particularly in medicinal plant cultivation.

The Role of Computed Tomography and Radiographs in the Management of Intertrochanteric Fractures.

Introduction: The Intertrochanteric fracture is a common hip trauma encountered in elderly patients. There is a lack of general agreement regarding its surgical management and choice of implant. Purpose of this study to conclude the final decision matrix regarding surgical management of intertrochanteric fractures based on parameters assessed on plain radiographs and CT scan. Materials and methods: We have retrospectively evaluated 55 patients with intertrochanteric fractures presented to our institute after informed consent with radiographs and CT scans between July 2017 to July 2018. Assessment of various parameters regarding fracture geometry and classification as well as measurement was done. Results: Mean lateral wall thickness in present study was 20.76mm. Incidence of coronal fragments was 90.9% and absence of coronal fragment in 5 patients. We noted the cases with anterior comminution had also a posterior comminution rendered the fracture unstable in almost 20 % cases. Conclusion: Better understanding of fracture geometry by combined used of radiograph and CT scan enhanced preoperative planning, choice of suitable implant, helps in reduction manoeuvre and improving quality of osteosynthesis.

Schedule-dependent activity of temozolomide plus CPT-11 against a human central nervous system tumor-derived xenograft.

Temozolomide, an imidazole tetrazinone, and CPT-11, a camptothecin derivative, have previously been shown to have anti-central nervous system tumor activity in laboratory and clinical studies. The current experiments were designed to evaluate the activity of temozolomide plus CPT-11 against a malignant glioma-derived xenograft, D-54 MG, growing s.c. in athymic nude mice. The initial schedule of i.p. drug administration was temozolomide at 0.1 LD10 on day 1 and CPT-11 at 0.1 LD10 on days 1-5 and 8-14. The combination of these two agents produced greater than additive activity against D-54 MG. This enhanced activity was maintained when the initial administration of CPT-11 was delayed to day 3 or day 5. However, when CPT-11 was administered first on day 1 using 0.5 LD10 (for the single dose schedule) followed by temozolomide (0.1 LD10) 5 h, 3 days, or 5 days later, the enhancement of activity was substantially reduced. These results demonstrate that the combination of temozolomide plus CPT-11 displays a schedule-dependent enhancement of antitumor activity, suggest a mechanistic explanation for the enhanced activity, and provide the rationale for a Phase I trial of this regimen.

Isolated perianal verrucoid familial benign chronic pemphigus.

A case is described in which verrucous perianal lesions of familial benign chronic pemphigus (Hailey-Hailey disease) were initially mistaken for condylomata acuminata. The verrucoid, atypical form of the disease has only relatively recently been recognized and perianal lesions may easily be mistaken as manifestations of other conditions.

Retrograde transvenous perfusion cooling of the kidney, a valuable adjunct to in situ partial nephrectomy in complex renal cell carcinoma. First clinical results.

We report two cases of complex renal carcinoma in which retrograde transvenous perfusion cooling (RTPC) of the kidney was used as adjunct to in situ partial nephrectomy. Definite advantages seem to favour this technique of regional renal hypothermia. We are hopeful that RTPC of the kidney will in future allow to reduce the frequency of potentially harmful extracorporeal bench surgery with autotransplantation in the conservative management of renal carcinoma. Renal RTPC is applicable whenever the kidney is approached transperitoneally with preliminary exposure of the renal vascular pedicle. Tumour cell spill has to be discussed as possible complication of this method. Both patients are alive 25 and 19 months, respectively, after surgery without evidence of haematogenous, peritoneal or retroperitoneal tumour disease.

[Tantalum in diagnosing tumors of the ureter and renal pelvis. A preliminary report (author's transl)]. / Tantalum in der Diagnostik der Harnleiter- und Nierenbeckentumoren. Eine vorläufige Mitteilung.

Differential diagnosis of small tumors of the ureter and renal pelvis is often difficult. Retrograde pyelogramm and tri-iodied contrast material is not effective in diagnosing small tumors and their surface condition. A retrograde pyelogram with a tantalum powder solution offers the following advantages: 1. Clearer representation of the tumor surface. 2. X-ray films show sharper contrast. 3. Small tumors could be seen that are not visible with routine contrast material. Preparation of tantalum solution and the technique of retrograde pyelogram are described.

Use of potentially inappropriate medicines in elderly: A prospective study in medicine out-patient department of a tertiary care teaching hospital.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken with the aim to detect extent of drug use in elderly at medicine outpatient department at tertiary care hospital and to evaluate inappropriate prescribing with the help of Beers' criteria 2002. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out at medicine out patient department of our hospital. 407 geriatric patients were included during the study period of three and half months. The data was collected in a proforma which included the patients' details and the prescriptions. RESULTS: The results reveal that 7.42% of total drugs were prescribed in an inappropriate manner and 23.59% of total patients received at least one inappropriate drug prescription. Administration of a drug which is avoided in elderly forms a common category of inappropriate drug use. Antihistamines, anticholinergic, sedatives and hypnotics and cardiac glycosides are the most common drug groups prescribed in inappropriate manner. CONCLUSION: To conclude, this study shows high prevalence of inappropriate use of drugs in geriatric practice suggesting urgent need for sincere efforts to improve the situation.

[Tantalum is contrast material for the better presentation of the ureter in retrograde pyelography (author's transl)]. / Tantalum als Röntgenkontrastmittel zur besseren Darstellung des Harnleiters bei der retrograden Pyelographie.

Suspension of Tantalum dust can be used as contrast material. It helps in producing X-ray films which are rich in contrast and details. The composition of the suspension and the technique of retrograde pyelography with the suspension is described.

[Myotropic spasmolysis in the treatment of ureteric colics (author's transl)]. / Myotrope Spasmolyse in der Behandlung der Harnleiterkoliken.

The effectiveness of parasympathicolytic drugs in the treatment of ureteric colics is doubtful. Bencyclane is a new myotropic substance. Its spasmolytic effect on smooth muscle is five times stronger than that of papaverine. The results of the clinical use of Bencyclane in cases of ureteric colic are described and discussed.

[Early catheter removal in water-tight bladder closure following transversical prostatic adenometomy]. / Frühe Katheterentfernung bei wasserdichtem Blasenverschluss nach transvesikaler Prostata-Adenomektomie.

It is reported on 124 patients in whom after a transvesical adenomectomy an early removal of the catheter was aspired to. A watertight closure of the urinary bladder is one of the most important prerequisites. The 5th day after operation seems to be best suited for the removal of the catheter. A temporary fistulisation lasting 2 days occurred only in one case. Secondary infection of the wound as well as epididymitis could not be observed. 96% of the patients could be discharged with sterile urine. Advantages of the early removal of the catheter: 1. Shortened hospitalisation and shortened convalesence. 2. Reduced danger of a secondary infection of the urinary tract 3. Early symptom-free subjective condition of the patient.

A rapid assay technique for RNA ribose methylases.

A rapid technique for quantitative separation of ribose-methylated nucleosides from base-methylated and non-methylated nucleosides by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose paper in the presence of borate is described. The method has been used as an assay for tRNA ribose methylases from yeast, using under methylated Escherichia coli tRNA as substrate. The main product formed with a partly purified yeast enzyme was characterized as 2'-O-methylcytidine.

A stable archaeal pyruvate carboxylase from the hyperthermophile Methanococcus jannaschii.

The pyruvate carboxylase (PYC) of the hyperthermophilic, strictly hydrogenotrophic, autotrophic and marine methanarchaeon Methanococcus jannaschii was purified to homogeneity. Optimal activity was at pH 8.5, > or = 80 degrees C, and a KCl concentration of 0.175 M. This enzyme is the most thermophilic PYC so far studied. Unlike the Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum enzyme, Mc. jannaschii PYC was expressed in cells grown without an external source of biotin and in the purified form was stable during storage at 4, -20 and -80 degrees C. However, it was rapidly inactivated at 80 degrees C. The enzyme was insensitive to aspartate and glutamate, mildly inhibited by alpha-ketoglutarate, and was strongly inhibited by ATP and ADP (apparent Km, for ATP, 0.374 +/- 0.039 mM; apparent Ki for ATP, 5.34 +/- 2.14 mM; Ki for ADP, 0.89 +/- 0.18 mM). It was also strongly inhibited when the Mg2+ concentration in the assay exceeded that of ATP. Thus, this stable PYC could serve as a model for mechanistic studies on archaeal PYCs. It was apparently an alpha4beta4-type PYC composed of a non-biotinylated 55.5-kDa subunit (PYCA) and a 64.2-kDa biotinylated subunit (PYCB). The determined NH2-terminal sequences for these subunits provided additional support for our earlier proposal to rename the ORFs MJ1229 and MJ1231 in the NCBI Mc. jannaschii genome sequence database as PYCA and PYCB, respectively; even very recently, these have been misidentified as a subunit of acetyl-CoA carbxoylase (AccC) and the alpha-subunit of ion-pumping oxaloacetate decarboxylase (OADalpha), respectively.

[Closure of vesicovaginal fistulas from the urologic viewpoint with reference to endoscopic fibrin glue technique]. / Der Verschluss von Blasenscheidenfisteln aus urologischer Sicht unter Berücksichtigung der endoskopischen Fibrinklebung.

Indications and results of conventional operative closure of iatrogenic vesicovaginal fistulas (24 patients) and exclusively endoscopic fibrin sealing (6 patients) have been reported. The primary closure rate of the first mentioned method is 88 per cent, but 66 per cent in cases of endoscopic fibrin sealing. The last method is reported in detail.