Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae live cells and culture on growth and productive performance in lactating Nili-Ravi buffaloes.

An experimental work was conducted to evaluate the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae live cells and its culture on dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield, milk composition, body condition score, selected blood metabolites, feed conversion efficiency (FCE), nutrient digestibility, body weight gain, and economics of milk production in lactating multiparous Nili-Ravi buffaloes. In total, 20 buffaloes of age 5 years ± 6 months and weighing 550 ± 20 kg were selected and assigned to four dietary treatments (n=5 buffalo/treatment) under completely randomized design. The dietary treatments include treatment 1 (T1) control, treatment 2 (T2) 5g/head live yeast, treatment 3 (T3) 5g/head yeast culture, and treatment 4 (T4) 10 g/head yeast culture per day for 60 days excluding 14 days as an adjustment period. The results indicated that T4 showed significant (p<0.05) improvement in DMI, milk yield and components, blood glucose level, digestibility of nutrients, and body weight gain while significant decrease in blood urea nitrogen as compared to other treatment groups. Body condition score was not affected among treatments. In conclusion, yeast culture supplementation significantly improved (p <0.05) milk yield, milk composition, DMI, body weight gain, blood glucose level, and digestibility while significantly decreased blood urea level as compare to control. Economic return was also improved. BCS was not improved. Comparatively, yeast culture showed significant improvement in growth and productive performance as compare to live yeast. Meanwhile, 10-g yeast culture showed better results as compare to 5-g yeast culture.

Efficacy and safety of Ayurveda interventions for sinusitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To provide a broad evaluation of the efficacy and safety of Ayurveda interventions for the management of sinusitis. METHODS: Five electronic databases for published research articles, three databases for the dissertation/doctoral thesis works, clinical trial registries, and hand searches were done till May 2021. All comparative clinical trials recruiting sinusitis patients of any age group, receiving Ayurveda intervention, regardless of forms, dosages, and ingredients, for not less than one week were included. The data extraction and the risk of bias (RoB) assessment were done by two reviewers independently. RESULTS: A total of 2,824 records were identified, of which 09 randomized parallel arms trials met inclusion criteria. No studies were found comparing Ayurveda vs. placebo or non-Ayurveda interventions. Combined Ayurveda therapy (CT) was statistically more beneficial compared with either procedural or non-procedural Ayurveda therapy alone in reducing symptoms nasal discharge (standardized MD -0.71, 95% CI -1.16 to -0.26, I 2 58%, 210 participants) and headache (standardized MD -0.44, 95% CI -0.86 to -0.02, I 2 56%, 218 participants), however, no significant difference was found in reducing symptoms nasal obstruction and loss of smell. No data related to the safety of Ayurveda intervention was found. All the trials (09) were having 'high' to 'some concern' overall bias. CONCLUSIONS: Although individual studies appeared to produce positive results, very low certainty of total effect hindered to arrive at any conclusion regarding efficacy or safety of Ayurveda interventions for sinusitis. There is a need for well-designed-executed-reported clinical studies on clinically relevant outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION MUMBER: CRD42018103995.

Disease Characteristics, Care-Seeking Behavior, and Outcomes Associated With the Use of AYUSH-64 in COVID-19 Patients in Home Isolation in India: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Background: During the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India, the Ministry of Ayush conducted a community study to provide therapeutic care to patients with asymptomatic, mild, and moderate COVID-19 in home isolation based on the empirical evidence generated on the efficacy of AYUSH-64 in COVID-19. Objective: To document disease characteristics, care-seeking behavior, and outcomes in patients with asymptomatic, mild, or moderate COVID-19 in home isolation who used AYUSH-64 for COVID-19. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of the data generated through a community study conducted in India from 08 May to 31 August 2021 was performed to study the disease characteristics, care-seeking behavior during home isolation, clinical outcomes, adverse events, and the association between various risk factors and clinical recovery during the study period. The data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires, available in electronic data collection format at the baseline, 7, 14, and 21 days. A logistic regression was performed to explore the relationship between relevant variables and clinical recovery. Results: Data from 64,642 participants were analyzed for baseline assessment, and final analysis was done for 49,770 participants. The mean age of the enrolled participants was 38.8 ± 11.7 years, and 8.4% had co-morbidities. AYUSH-64 was utilized as an add-on to the standard care by 58.3% of participants. Comparable clinical outcomes were observed in participants utilizing AYUSH-64 either as a standalone or as an add-on to standard care, in terms of clinical recovery, disease progression, the requirement for oxygen supplementation, hospitalization, ICU admission, and need for ventilator support. Younger age, having no co-morbidities or substance abuse, and having been vaccinated were associated with early clinical recovery than those who were older and not vaccinated. Conclusions: The study findings suggest that AYUSH-64 use, either standalone or as an adjunct to standard care, in asymptomatic, mild, or moderate COVID-19 is associated with good clinical outcomes. Ayush services and interventions can be effectively integrated into the mainstream public health architecture to serve public health goals.

Efficacy and safety of AYUSH-64 as standalone or adjunct to standard care in COVID-19: a structured summary of protocol for a systematic review.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered with PROSPERO ( CRD42021267844 ) dated 14.07.2021.

Efficacy and Safety of Ayurveda interventions in the management of conjunctivitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the conjunctiva. Although data on clinical efficacy and safety of various ayurvedic treatments in conjunctivitis is published, systematic review is not done. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ayurvedic treatments in conjunctivitis. METHODS: A literature search of the Cochrane Library (Cochrane central register of controlled trials: issue 6 of 12, June 2018), Pub Med, AYUSH research portal (Govt. of India), DHARA portal, Google scholar and online clinical trials registers was done. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-randomized controlled trials (QRCTs), controlled clinical trials (CCTs) and multiple arms clinical trials were identified in which Ayurveda treatments with any dose, type, schedule, drug, dosage form, and advised Pathayapathya (lifestyle changes) were selected. RESULTS: We identified 13 eligible RCTs, five CCTs and two multiple arms clinical trials which includes a total of 816 participants. Meta analysis of data from five trials showed that ayurvedic treatments benefitted more compared with non-ayurveda interventions in symptoms like itching (SMD = -0.98, 95% CI (-1.30,-0.65) p < 0.00001, I2 = 38%), pain (SMD = -0.57, 95% CI (-0.87, -0.29, P = 0.0001, I2 = 0%), ropy discharge (SMD = -1.02, 95% CI(-1.45, -0.59), P < 0.00001, I2 = 0%), conjunctival congestion (SMD = -0.67, 95% CI (-0.91, -0.43), p < 0.00001, I2 = 0%), foreign body sensation (SMD = -0.68, 95% CI(-1.06, -0.29), p = 0.0006, I2 = 46%, Fig. 8) and lid heaviness (SMD = -0.66, 95% CI(- 0.98, -0.33), p < 0.0001, I2 = 0%). CONCLUSIONS: Although some findings confirm the benefit of ayurveda as opposed to non ayurveda for the treatment of conjunctivitis, since the studies have high risk of bias and are of lower quality, the findings could not be generalized. There is a need for high quality studies in ayurveda in this regard. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: CRD42019129436.

Swasthya Assessment Scale (SAS)-Ayurveda based health assessment tool-insights on its development and validation.

Introduction: Ayurveda has a unique way of understanding the body, health, and diseases. Various determinants, including biological, ecological, medical, psychological, sociocultural, spiritual, and metaphysical factors, which depend on each other, have their role in determining health in Ayurveda. Currently, no validated health assessment scale, based on the principles of Ayurveda is available. This article, for the first time, reports the development, validation, and reliability testing of the Swasthya assessment scale - a health assessment tool developed in Ayurveda. Materials and methods: A thorough literature search and expert consultations were done to draft the items encompassing the concept of health in Ayurveda. A group of experts assessed the content validity of the drafted items. Cognitive de-briefing and pretesting were performed to modify the language and the content again. Reliability testing was done with an inter-observer agreement in a sample of 183 individuals. Results: The content validity index for items and the scale-level content validity index (S-CVI) were calculated. S-CVI for scale was excellent, with 85% agreement. The S-CVI/universal agreement was 0.45, and S-CVI/Average was 0.95. In inter-rater reliability, the percentage agreement was 73.7%. Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.808 showing a strong correlation. Conclusion: Following appropriate validation, the scale can be widely used in clinical practice to assess the patient's health status, guide the treatment plans, and monitor the progress of the health. It can also be used as a sensitive tool in the research of Ayurveda to assess the changes in patients brought about by Ayurveda interventions.