Growth inhibition of struvite crystals by the aqueous root extract of Rotula aquatica.

Formation of urinary stone is a serious and debilitating problem throughout the world. In the present study, the inhibitory effect of aqueous extract of root of Rotula aquatica was investigated against struvite crystals (one of the components of urinary stone) grown in vitro using single diffusion gel growth technique. For setting the gel, sodium metasilicate solution (specific gravity 1.05) and 0.5 M aqueous solution of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate were mixed, so that the pH of the mixture could be set at 7.0. Equal amounts of supernatant solution of magnesium acetate (1.0 M) prepared with 0.0%, 0.5% and 1% concentrations of the extract were gently poured on the set gels. It was observed that the number, dimension, total mass, total volume, growth rate and depth of growth of struvite crystals decreased with the increasing extract concentrations in the supernatant solutions. The enhancement of dissolution rate and fragmentation of struvite crystals suggested potential application of the extract for inhibition of struvite type urinary stone.

Growth inhibition of struvite crystals in the presence of herbal extract Commiphora wightii.

Struvite is one of the components of urinary stone. Large number of people is suffering from urinary stones (calculi) problem all over the globe. These stones can grow rapidly forming "staghorn-calculi", which is more painful urological disorder. Therefore, it is of prime importance to study the growth and inhibition of Struvite crystals. This in vitro study has been carried out in the presence of herbal extract of Commiphora wightii by using single diffusion gel growth technique. Sodium metasilicate solution of specific gravity 1.05 and an aqueous solution of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate of 0.5 M concentration were mixed so that the pH value 7.0 could be set. After the gelation, equal amount of supernatant solutions comprising of pure 1.0 M magnesium acetate as well as the mixtures of magnesium acetate and the herbal extract solutions of 0.5 and 1% concentrations of C. wightii were gently poured on the set gels. From the study of growth and inhibition behavior of Struvite crystals, it was found that C. wightii inhibits the growth of the Struvite. This study incorporates multidisciplinary interests and may be used for formulating the strategy for prevention or dissolution of urinary stones.

Primary HIV Drug Resistance among Recently Infected Cases of HIV in North-West India.

BACKGROUND: Antiretroviral treatment may lead to the emergence of HIV drug resistance, which can be transmitted. HIV primary drug resistance (PDR) is of great public health concern because it has the potential to compromise the efficacy of antiretroviral therapy (ART) at the population level. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the level of primary drug resistance among recently infected cases of HIV in 6 ART centres of North-Western India from September 2014 to June 2016. METHODS: The level of primary drug resistance was studied among 37 recently infected HIV cases identified by Limiting antigen (Lag) avidity assay based on modified Recent Infection Testing Algorithm (RITA). The reverse transcriptase region of HIV-1 pol gene (1-268 codons) was genotyped. The sequences were analyzed using the Calibrated Population Resistance (CPR) tool of Stanford University HIV drug resistance (DR) database to identify drug resistance. RESULTS: Among 37 isolates studied, 6 (16.2%) samples showed primary drug resistance (PDR) against reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitor. The proportion of primary drug resistance was 22.2% (2/9) among female sex workers, 14.3% (1/7) among men having sex with men, and 14.3% (3/21) among injecting drug users. Observed mutations were K219R, L74V, K219N, and Y181C. Injecting drug user (IDU) has showed resistance to either nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) or nonnucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI). CONCLUSION: Resistance to either NRTI or NNRTI among the recently is a new challenge that needs to be addressed. The fact that both Y181C isolates are IDUs is important and represents 2/21 (~10%) NNRTI drug resistance. Surveillance for primary drug resistance (PDR) needs to be integrated into next generation of HIV surveillance as access to ART is increasing due to introduction of test and treat policy.

Antihistaminic efficacy of Ranitidine with & without Dimethendine maleate on histamine-induced cutaneous reactions.

The effect of Ranitidine, the H2-receptor antagonist, was investigated on cutaneous response to intradermal injection of histamine in healthy volunteers in a controlled, randomized, cross over study. The response was compared with that of the H1-receptor blocker; Dimethendine maleate used alone and in combination with the two antagonists. Reduction in the wheal area was significant in subjects pretreated with Ranitidine alone (P less than 0.05), and Dimethendine maleate alone (P less than 0.05); the combination of the two antagonists, did not produce additional reduction. Reduction in erythema area was not significant with Dimethendine maleate alone, but significant with Ranitidine alone (P less than 0.01). With the combination of the two antagonists the reduction was not more significant than with Ranitidine alone. The flare response scoring on visual analogue scale was not reduced significantly by Dimethendine maleate alone but reduced significantly by Ranitidine alone (P less than 0.10), and by combination of Ranitidine and Dimethendine maleate (P less than 0.05). Thus, Ranitidine appears to be more effective than Dimethendine maleate in reducing the erythema area and intensity of flare response and equieffective in reducing wheal response to histamine injection.

Comparative effect of dimethindene maleate and chlorpheniramine maleate on histamine-induced weal and flare.

Antihistaminic activity of 3 or 6 mg dimethindene maleate was compared with that of placebo and 12 mg chlorpheniramine maleate in 60 healthy volunteers in a randomized, crossover study. Activity of each drug was assessed by measuring 2 micrograms histamine-induced weal and flare areas. Compared with placebo, both doses of dimethindene and chlorpheniramine significantly (P less than 0.001) reduced weal area. Both doses of dimethindene (P less than 0.001) and chlorpheniramine (P less than 0.05) also significantly reduced flare area. Dimethindene (6 mg) brought about the maximum reduction in weal area (28.8%) and flare area (39.1%). Dimethindene (6 mg) also reduced weal area significantly (P less than 0.01) compared with chlorpheniramine and reduced flare area significantly (P less than 0.05) compared with 3 mg dimethindene. Using a 100 mm visual analogue scale for assessment of weal and flare intensities, 6 mg dimethindene again produced the maximum response. The study confirmed that the antihistamine activity of dimethindene was better than that of chlorpheniramine.

Hepatic drug metabolizing capacity of patients of cirrhosis before and after clinico-biochemical recovery.

The present study was undertaken to determine whether, along with clinico-biochemical recovery there was associated restoration of hepatic drug metabolizing capacity in patients of cirrhosis after treatment of their cirrhosis, using serum antipyrine half life, the ideal index. Estimation of serum antipyrine half life before (26.34 +/- 2.4 hr) and after (18.83 +/- 2 hr) clinico-biochemical recovery showed significant (P less than 0.01) improvement in drug metabolizing capacity of liver. Biochemical parameters of liver function tests except serum total proteins and prothrombin time showed simultaneous improvement.

Growth inhibition of Struvite crystals in the presence of juice of Citrus medica Linn.

Struvite, one of the components of urinary stone grows rapidly forming "staghorn-calculi", is a painful urological disorder. It is necessary to study the growth-inhibition of Struvite crystals. This in vitro study has been carried out in the presence of the juice of Citrus medica Linn. by using single diffusion gel growth technique. Sodium metasilicate solution of specific gravity 1.05 and an aqueous solution of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate of 0.5 M concentration were mixed so that the pH value 7.0 could be set. After the gelation, supernatant solutions comprising of pure 1.0 M Magnesium acetate (control solution) as well as mixed with the different concentrations of the juice were gently poured on the set gels. From the study of growth-inhibition behavior of Struvite crystals, it was found that Citrus medica Linn. inhibits the growth of the crystals. This study may be used for formulating the strategy for prevention or dissolution of Struvite.

Study of usage pattern of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) among different practice categories in Indian clinical setting.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the usage pattern of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in diverse clinical practice settings in India. METHODS: The study was conducted in Mumbai city and its suburbs, involving 1,916 doctors from among general practice to specialist practice. The data were collected with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and were analysed statistically to bring out differences in NSAID usage among different groups of prescribers. RESULTS: All the 1,916 doctors prescribed NSAIDs frequently with prescriptions ranging from 1 to 15 daily; they short-listed and prescribed only two to five NSAIDs from among a plethora of drugs available including fixed-dose combinations (FDCs). It is significant that FDCs were prescribed by more than 39% of doctors in all the categories, the highest prescribers being orthopaedic surgeons (76%) and lowest general practitioners (GPs; 39%). Apart from recommended usage, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, diclofenac and aspirin were used for pelvic inflammatory disease, and indomethacin for pre-term labour and patent ductus arteriosus. Dosage variation, both in terms of dose and frequency of administration, has been observed for several NSAIDs in the GPs category as well as in the specialist categories-except that of paediatricians. In patients suffering from bronchial asthma, there has been significant use of aspirin and ibuprofen by GPs despite contra-indication for their use in such patients. Most prescribers perceived that NSAIDs are associated with mild gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events. Ibuprofen, a drug with reportedly better gastric tolerance, was perceived to cause GI adverse events, though to a lesser extent than aspirin; fewer prescribers perceived that diclofenac and piroxicam cause GI adverse events when compared with aspirin and ibuprofen. There were significant differences among the five practice categories with regard to preferences for NSAIDs. The first choice NSAIDs were ibuprofen, aspirin, diclofenac, paracetamol, piroxicam and ibuprofen+paracetamol FDC. CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown that there exist significant differences in the usage pattern and preferences of NSAIDs among different practice categories in India. The data have also revealed that there is a need for awareness programmes on rational prescribing of NSAIDs towards optimal therapeutics and improved patient care in India.