Antimicrobial efficacy of Althaea officinalis Linn. seed extracts and essential oil against respiratory tract pathogens.

In present study, Althaea officinalis seed extracts and essential oil were screened for antimicrobial activity against five bacteria and one fungi responsible for dominant, lethal or opportunistic infection of respiratory regions. The maximum inhibition was noted by essential oil against Streptococcus pyogenes (21.3±0.28 mm) and Haemophilus influenzae (19.0±0.50 mm) at 200 mg/ml. The minimum inhibitory concentration values for methanol extract was 3.12-12.5 mg/ml. The antifungal activity noted highest with 41.28% by essential oil and 36.27% inhibition by aqueous extract represented by dosage-response curve.

Study of Neurocognitive Impairment in Psychotic and Nonpsychotic Depression.

Objective: The theory that psychotic depression is a distinct syndrome is supported by reports of statistically significant differences between psychotic and nonpsychotic depression in presenting features, course and outcome, response to treatment and neurocognitive changes. This study examined differences in performance on different neurocognitive measures between patients with psychotic and nonpsychotic depression and healthy controls. Method: 50 patients with psychotic depression, 50 patients with nonpsychotic depression and 30 healthy controls were administered neuropsychological function test battery. Results: Patient with psychotic depression performed poorly on neurocognitive test than patients with nonpsychotic depression who performed poorly than healthy controls and neurocognitive impairment was present globally in both groups of patients. Conclusion: Psychotic depression is different from nonpsychotic depression and produces more cognitive impairment than nonpsychotic depression.

Cognition Levels of Attendants of Patients with an acute relapse of Psychosis - Differences Immediately Prior to and Post Admission.

Background - Mental illness in a family member has an adverse impact on overall wellbeing of other caregivers. Aims - To study the cognition level of attendants of acutely relapsed psychotic patients. Methods - Two matched groups of 30 attendants each ,of acutely relapsed psychotic patients, who differed on admission status of their patients were administered MMSE and their cognition levels were compared. Results - Cognition level of attendants of acutely relapsed psychotic patients was found to be lower than that of the general population. 40% of attendants awaiting admission and 7% of attendants who had their wards admitted had at least mild cognitive deficit. Further, a likelihood of lower cognition level in attendants awaiting admission as compared to attendants who had had their wards admitted was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion - Attendants of acutely relapsed psychotic patients have a lower cognition level prior to admission and this fact may have implications on deciding the ideal time to obtain history from the attendants and to give them advice and instructions on patient care.