The association of prehospital systemic corticosteroids with emergency department and in-hospital outcomes for patients with asthma exacerbations.

BACKGROUND: Timely administration of systemic corticosteroids is a cornerstone of asthma exacerbation treatment, yet little is known regarding potential benefits of prehospital administration by emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians. We examined factors associated with prehospital corticosteroid administration with hospitalization and hospital length of stay (LOS). METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of EMS encounters for patients 2-50 years of age with suspected asthma exacerbation from a national data set. We evaluated factors associated with systemic corticosteroid administration using generalized estimating equations. We performed propensity matching based on service level, age, encounter duration, vital signs, and treatments to evaluate the association of prehospital corticosteroid administration with hospitalization and LOS using weighted logistic regression. We evaluated the association of prehospital corticosteroid administration with admission using Bayesian models. RESULTS: Of 15,834 encounters, 4731 (29.9%) received prehospital systemic corticosteroids. Administration of corticosteroids was associated with older age; sex; urbanicity; advanced life support provider; vital sign instability; increasing doses of albuterol; and provision of ipratropium bromide, magnesium, epinephrine, and supplementary oxygen. Within the matched sample, prehospital corticosteroids were not associated with hospitalization (odds ratio [OR] 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73-1.01) or LOS (multiplier 0.76, 95% CI 0.56-1.05). Administration of corticosteroids was associated with lower odds of admission and shorter LOS in longer EMS encounters (>34 min), lower admission odds in patients with documented wheezing, and shorter LOS among patients treated with albuterol. In a Bayesian model with noninformative priors, the OR for admission among encounters given corticosteroids was 0.86 (95% credible interval 0.77-0.96). CONCLUSIONS: Prehospital systemic corticosteroid administration was not associated with hospitalization or LOS in the overall cohort of asthma patients treated by EMS, though they had a lower probability of admission within Bayesian models. Improved outcomes were noted among subgroups of longer EMS encounters, documented wheezing, and receipt of albuterol.

An overview of green synthesized silver nanoparticles towards bioactive antibacterial, antimicrobial and antifungal applications.

Present review emphatically introduces the synthesis, biocompatibility, and applications of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), including their antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties. A comprehensive discussion of various synthesis methods for AgNPs, with a particular focus on green chemistry mediated by plant extracts has been made. Recent research has revealed that the optical properties of AgNPs, including surface plasmon resonance (SPR), depend on the particle size, as well as the synthesis methods, preparation synthesis parameters, and used reducing agents. The significant emphasis on the use of synthesized AgNPs as antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifungal agents in various applications has been reviewed. Furthermore, the application areas have been thoroughly examined, providing a detailed discussion of the underlying mechanisms, which aids in determining the optimal control parameters during the synthesis process of AgNPs. Furthermore, the challenges encountered while utilizing AgNPs and the corresponding advancements to overcome them have also been addressed. This review not only summarizes the achievements and current status of plant-mediated green synthesis of AgNPs but also explores the future prospects of these materials and technology in diverse areas, including bioactive applications.

Nutritional Quality and Antioxidant Activity of Wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum) Unwrap by Proteome Profiling and DPPH and FRAP assays.

Precious contribution of plants in the field of medicine is very well known. Wheat (Triticum aestivum) seeds and seedlings are an important source of food and feed due to the presence of various health-promoting compounds. Proteomic analysis of three seed developmental stages (0, 8, and 16 days after germination [DAG]) of wheat was carried out using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. A total of 297 proteins were identified and their functional annotation revealed that a majority of them were involved in preventing many diseases, oxidative stress, primary metabolism, storage, and energy related mechanisms. Particularly to mention, peroxidases, superoxide dismutases, and cytochromes are abundantly present in wheatgrass. In the ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay, antioxidant activity was increased by 1.55 times after 16 DAG as compared to 0 DAG, however it was decreased after 8 DAG. The antioxidant activity of the plant extracts by DPPH had an increasing trend after all the three time points. The percent radical scavenging activity of extract by DPPH was 15, 22, and 30 after 0, 8, and 16 DAG, respectively. Observations obtained revealed that antioxidant power of the plants is directly proportional to the age of seedlings. Data attained on wheatgrass showing that it can be a strong antioxidant agent due to its free radical scavenging activity and could be used in stress and nourishing human health. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Wheatgrass contains minerals, phytochemicals, active enzymes, and vitamins that can be easily absorbed. The consumption of wheatgrass juice can give better health benefits. Information about beneficial properties of wheat grass juice is clearly mentioned in this work. Proteins found in wheatgrass are known to be involved in preventing many diseases, oxidative stress, primary metabolism, storage, and energy-related mechanisms. Results of this work revealed that Triticum aestivum seedlings can act as an antioxidant agent due to their free radical scavenging activity and can be constructive to control or treat many health complications. From all these results we believed that wheatgrass can be used for the nourishment of humans.

Ipomoea hederifolia rooted soil bed and Ipomoea aquatica rhizofiltration coupled phytoreactors for efficient treatment of textile wastewater.

Ipomoea aquatica, a macrophyte was found to degrade a highly sulfonated and diazo textile dye Brown 5R up to 94% within 72 h at a concentration of 200 mg L(-1). Induction in the activities of enzymes such as azoreductase, lignin peroxidase, laccase, DCIP reductase, tyrosinase, veratryl alcohol oxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase was observed in leaf and root tissue in response to Brown 5R exposure. There was significant reduction in contents of chlorophyll a (25%), chlorophyll b (17%) and carotenoids (30%) in the leaves of plants. HPLC, FTIR, UV-vis spectrophotometric and HPTLC analyses confirmed the biotransformation and removal of parent dye from solution. Enzymes activities and GC-MS analysis of degradation products lead to the proposal of a possible pathway of phytotransformation of dye. The proposed pathway of dye metabolism revealed the formation of Napthalene-1,2-diamine and methylbenzene. Toxicity study on HepG2 cell lines showed a 3 fold decrease in toxicity of Brown 5R after phytoremediation by I. aquatica. Hydrophytic nature of I. aquatica leads to its exploration in a combinatorial phytoreactor with Ipomoea hederifolia soil bed system. Rhizofiltration with I. aquatica and soil bed treatment by I. hederifolia treated 510 L of effluent effectively within 72 h. I. aquatica along with I. hederifolia could decolorize textile industry effluent within 72 h of treatment as evident from the significant reductions in the values of COD, BOD, solids and ADMI. Further on field trials of treatment of textile wastewater was successfully carried out in a constructed lagoon.

Development and feasibility of yoga therapy module for out-patients with depression in India.

CONTEXT: Evidence suggests that certain yoga practices are useful in the management of depression. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no study that deals with the formulation of a yoga module for the particular clinical features of depression. AIM: The main aim of our study was to develop a comprehensive yoga therapy module targeting specific clinical features of depression. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Specific yoga practices were matched for clinical features of depression based on a thorough literature review. A yoga program was developed, which consisted of Suksmavyayama, (loosening exercises), äsanas (postures), relaxation techniques, Pranayama (breathing exercises) and chanting meditation to be taught in a 2 week period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A structured questionnaire was developed for validation from nine experienced yoga professionals. The final version of yoga therapy module was pilot-tested on seven patients (five females) with depression recruited from outpatient service of National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore. RESULTS: The final yoga therapy module had those practices that received a score of three or more (moderately/very much/extremely useful) from all responders. Six out of nine (>65%) experts suggested Suksmavyayama should be included. Five out of nine experts opined that training with 10 sessions (over 2 weeks) is rather short. All experts opined that the module is easy to teach, learn and practice. At the pilot stage, the five patients who completed the module reported more than 80% satisfaction about the yoga practices and how the yoga was taught. Severity of depression substantially reduced at both 1 and 3 months follow-up. CONCLUSION: The developed comprehensive yoga therapy module was validated by experts in the field and was found to be feasible and useful in patients with depression.

Antiaflatoxigenic and antioxidant activity of an essential oil from Ageratum conyzoides L.

BACKGROUND: Aflatoxin contamination of various commodities can occur as a result of infection, mainly by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Every year, almost 25% of the world's food supply is contaminated by mycotoxins. Aflatoxins B(1), B(2), G(1) and G(2), which occur naturally, are significant contaminants of a wide variety of commodities. A number of biological activities have been associated with Ageratum conyzoides. We have therefore investigated the antiaflatoxigenic, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of essential oils of A. conyzoides. This could help to turn A. conyzoides, a nuisance weed, into a resource. RESULTS: The essential oil of Ageratum conyzoides L. shows the presence of 12 compounds when analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The growth and aflatoxin production of the toxigenic strain Aspergillus parasiticus was completely inhibited by essential oil. All the studied concentrations of the oil demonstrate a reduction in mycelia growth and decreased production of different aflatoxins in fungi, as revealed by liquid chomatographic-tandem mass spectrometric analysis. Volatiles from macerated green leaf tissue of A. conyzoides were also effective against A. parasiticus. The strongest antibacterial activity was observed against the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis in a disk diffusion bioassay. Essential oil and methanol extract of A. conyzoides L. were assayed for their antioxidant activity. Methanol extract showed the highest antioxidant activity in FRAP and DPPH assay, whereas essential oil showed greater lipid peroxidation inhibition than methanol extract. CONCLUSION: The plant's ethno-medicinal importance, antioxidant potential, inhibitory activity against the Aspergillus group of fungi and production of aflatoxins may add a new dimension to its usefulness in the protection of stored product.