Assessment of pH and Copper Content among Raw and Commercial Areca Nut Products, Contributing Factor towards Oral Submucous Fibrosis

@#Introduction: The increased prevalence of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) in the last few years relates to the increased consumption of areca nut(AN) products. OSMF is a premalignant condition and risk to progression to oral cancer is more when AN is chewed along with tobacco. Moreover, high copper content in AN is responsible for fibroblast dysfunction and fibrosis. This study was conducted with aim to assess and compare pH and copper content of raw AN and popular Indian commercial AN based (with and without tobacco) products. Method: Six samples each of twelve different brands of AN based commercial products i.e. six without tobacco (pan masala) and with tobacco were analyzed for pH and then the samples were dried, and powdered for estimation of the copper content. Results: For the six raw areca nuts (sample 1-6), the pH was found to range from 3.06±1.08 to 5.04±0.81, among the six non tobacco containing samples (sample 7-12), the pH was found to range from 6.03±1.08 to 9.09±0.81, and for six tobacco containing samples (sample 13-18), the pH was found to range from 9.18±0.90 to 11.07±0.09. The mean copper concentration among raw areca nut samples (sample 1-6) was 4.05±0.18 μg/g, among non-tobacco containing samples (sample 7-12) it was 10.17±1.08μg/g and among tobacco samples (sample 13-18),it was 18.09±1.08 μg/g (p<0.001). Conclusion: High copper content present in quid and commercial AN may be a causative factor for an increased fibrosis in OSMF, our findings need evaluation by further research and standardization.

Antibody response in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) immunized with a model antigen associated with different adjuvants

Adjuvants are essential to boost the immune response to inoculated antigen and play a central role in vaccine development. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of several adjuvants in the production of anti-bovine serum albumin (BSA) antibodies in silver catfish. Two hundred and seventy juvenile silver catfish (60–80 g) of both sexes were intraperitoneally vaccinated with BSA (200 µg/fish) alone or mixed to the following adjuvants: Freund’s complete adjuvant (FCA), Freund’s incomplete adjuvant (FIA), aluminum hydroxide (AlOH), Montanide, four types of cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) and three concentrations of β-glucan, and the immune enhancing property was evaluated by measuring anti-BSA antibodies in blood samples at biweekly intervals. Our results demonstrated that CpGs ODNs and β-glucan were as effective as classical adjuvants (FCA, FIA, AlOH and Montanide) in promoting anti-BSA antibodies and that the kinetics of antibody production induced by all adjuvants used in our study had a similar trend to that observed in other fish species, with a peak at 28 days post-vaccination. These results may be useful for the selection of adjuvants for vaccine formulation intended for silver catfish and for the development of vaccine and vaccination strategies to other fish species.

Effect of yoga-nidra on blood glucose level in diabetic patients.

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder, which has become a major health challenge worldwide. South East Asian countries have a highest burden of diabetes. In India the prevalence of diabetes is rising rapidly especially in the urban population because of increasing obesity and reduced physical activity. An objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of Yoga-Nidra on blood glucose level in diabetic patients. This study was conducted on 41, middle aged, type-2 diabetic patients, who were on oral hypoglycaemic. These patients were divided in to two groups : (a) 20 patients on oral hypoglycaemic with yoga-nidra, and (b) 21 were on oral hypoglycaemic alone. Yoga-nidra practiced for 30 minutes daily up to 90 days, parameters were recorded every 30th day. Results of this study showed that most of the symptoms were subsided (P<0.004, significant), and fall of mean blood glucose level was significant after 3-month of Yoganidra. This fall was 21.3 mg/dl, P<0.0007, (from 159 ± 12.27 to 137.7 ± 23.15,) in fasting and 17.95 mg/dl, P=0.02, (from 255.45 ± 16.85 to 237.5 ± 30.54) in post prandial glucose level. Results of this study suggest that subjects on Yoga-nidra with drug regimen had better control in their fluctuating blood glucose and symptoms associated with diabetes, compared to those were on oral hypoglycaemics alone.