Mahmood Moosazadeh PhD, Giovanni Damiani MD, Mohammad Khademloo MD
et al.
Background Psoriasis is nowadays regarded as a systemic inflammatory disorder. Among the topicals, vitamin D derivates are often applied on the skin for their anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory properties. Vitamin D serum levels in psoriasis (PsO) patients are still debated and an eventual depletion may offer the rational to integrate anti-psoriatic therapies with oral vitamin D. Then, we aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the current evidence towards serum vitamin D level in PsO. Methods We searched in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences, ScienceDirect and Science Information Database (SID) using the terms “Vitamin D” and “Psoriasis” including manuscripts in English, Italian and Persian. Duplications were excluded using EndNote software and records were screened by title, abstract and full-text. Quality assessment of studies was assessed using Newcastle Ottawa Checklist (NOS). Psoriasis odds ratio (OR) and mean serum vitamin D levels were calculated and displayed in Forest-plots. Heterogeneity indexes were evaluated using I 2 and Q. Sensitivity analysis and publication biases were also considered. Results From 3006 records extracted, after removing duplicates and analyzing full texts we finally included 19 manuscripts involving a total of 1387 PsO cases and 6939 controls. PsO patients exhibited a substantial odds ratio (3.07, 95% CI: 1.56-6.04) for lower serum vitamin D levels compared to the control group. Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) of vitamin D in PsO versus controls was −0.92 (−1.33 to −0.51). Conclusion Psoriatic patients displayed higher risk to have a vitamin D deficiency. Interventional studies to verify the preventive value are mandatory.
Oluwaseun Abraham Adebisi, Wasiu Bolade Agbaje, Omowumi Oyeronke Adewale
Abstract Background Pomegranate powder derived from pomegranate fruit contains phytochemicals chief of which is ellagitannins. Owing to their high antioxidative capabilities we investigated its efficacy against lead acetate induced hepatic and renal toxicity. Methods Pomegranate powder (500 g) was procured and soaked in 1 Litre of ethanol for three days, its filtrate was concentrated and freeze dried to form Punica granatum L. ethanol extract (PLEE). Thirty (30) male albino Wistar rats with average weight between 140 ± 20 g were used for this study. They were equally shared into 6 groups with 5 animals each; A: Control; B: Lead acetate only C: Lead acetate + PLEE (1); D: Lead acetate + PLEE (2); E: PLEE (1) and F: PLEE (2). Serum, liver and kidney samples were obtained for biochemical assays. The integrity of liver and kidney tissues were also accessed. Results Lead administration resulted in marked elevations in liver transaminases in serum and liver as well as a significant increase in kidney function markers in the serum and kidney (p < 0.05). There was also a significant decline in average body weight, antioxidant markers in the liver and kidney of Wistar rats while there was a significant increase in lipid peroxidation levels in both liver and kidney. However, administration of PLEE at different doses significantly modulated these changes. Conclusion Lead acetate administration led to hepatic and renal toxicity as evident by alterations in liver and kidney function markers, antioxidant status and tissue integrity. However, PLEE can combat these toxicities.
Abstract Background Old age mental healthcare is an issue that cuts across old age, general health, and mental healthcare policies. While strengthening the primary mental healthcare system in India is a common strategy across policy fields to improve the mental health of older persons, very little is known about the system’s planned architecture. This study explores public policy strategies for and approaches to the mental health of older persons, focusing on the primary healthcare (PHC) level and the role of the family. Methods A document analysis of 39 key public national policy documents (2007 – 2019) from three thematically grouped policy fields (mental health, old age, and general health) was conducted. Results Comprehensive community-based primary mental healthcare – focusing on vulnerable population groups including older persons – has been strengthened significantly since 2007. The promulgated approaches and strategies build on traditional community-based approaches to mental healthcare in India. They focus on (a) integrating community health workers into primary mental healthcare, (b) empowering the community to participate in healthcare planning, implementation, and monitoring, (c) supporting the family through a family-led approach to mental healthcare, and (d) integrating traditional Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and Homeopathy (AYUSH) services into primary mental healthcare. Conclusions While all policy fields address mental PHC, they do so in different ways, and approaches and strategies that promote an integrated perspective across policy fields are lacking. To realize the policies vision, strengthening PHC will be essential. Further research should evaluate strategies and approaches in light of social developments, such as eroding family norms and the poor state of the public health system in India, in order to assess their opportunities, challenges, and overall feasibility, with the benefits older people would experience taking centre stage in these inquiries.
The purpose of this study was to learn about the use, barriers, reasons and beliefs regarding mind-body practices among adults living in the United States during the beginning months of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. An on-line survey was developed following the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet e-Surveys (CHERRIES) guidelines and using the online survey software program, Qualtrics ® XM , platform. Pilot testing of the survey was conducted for usability and functionality. The final 24-item survey was distributed via email and social media. A total of 338 adults responded to the survey, with 68.8% indicating that they participated in mind-body activities since the start of the pandemic. Physical activity was the most frequently (61.5%, n = 227) used mind-body practice. Further, 2 of the common barriers to engaging in mind-body practices were lack of motivation and wandering mind. Frequently listed reasons for using mind-body practices were to promote health, reduce stress and relaxation. Respondents believed that mind-body practices resulted in less stress. These findings may be applicable for reducing psychological stress related to the pandemic, as the pandemic continues to impact many areas of the United States.
Soumendra Darbar, Srimoyee Saha, Kausikisankar Pramanik
et al.
Abstract Background Liver complication arises commonly due to high alcohol consumption rate. Majority of the people residing in both developed and under developed countries consuming alcohol face various liver complications such as liver fibrosis, fatty liver, liver cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma. Invention of safe and symptomatic medication to overcome this situation is a new challenge worldwide. The main objective of the study is to deliver a safe and symptomatic medication to reduce the ethanol induced liver dysfunction. Methods In this study we have developed a multi herbal formulation (AKSS-16-LIV01) which minimised liver damage against various toxicants. Swiss albino mice were divided into seven groups where ethanol induced damage was observed for weeks followed by sanative response observation by our herbal formulation. The groups are normal control group, ethanol treated group (50% v/v), AKSS16-LIV01 low dose (75 mg/kg/day) pre-treated group, AKSS16-LIV01 middle dose (150 mg/kg/day) pre-treated group, AKSS16-LIV01 high dose (300 mg/kg/day) pre-treated group, Sylimarin pre-treated group (100 mg/kg/day) and only AKSS16-LIV01 (300 mg/kg/day) treated group. Results The results potrayed significant elevation of various biochemical parameters, lipid profile parameters, lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide (NO) concentration, nitric oxide synthase level and pro inflammatory cytokines level i.e. tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor (TGF-β1) in the ethanol induced mice. On the other hand serum total protein, total albumin, albumin globulin ratio and level of tissue antioxidant enzymes activity (SOD, CAT, GSH and GPx) were significantly reduced by ethanol. Dose depended therapeutic application of the formulation (AKSS16-LIV01) significantly suppressed all the relevant above parameters and protected the liver from ethanol induced fibrogenesis. Apart from this gross morphology of the liver, H&E liver histology and massontrichrome&serius red examination of the liver section strongly supported the hepatoprotive effect of the formulation as compared with standard drug Sylimarin. Result of the study implies that developed multi herbal formulation (AKSS16-LIV01) at a dose of 300 mg/kg/day gave the best optimum response to reduce the ethanol intoxication. Conclusion Result clearly depict that AKSS16-LIV01 may be a safe and nontoxic medication which protect the liver against ethanol induced oxidative injury and maintained pro inflammatory cytokines level in the future. Graphical Abstract
Henry A. Adeola, Saheed Sabiu, Raphael T. Aruleba
et al.
Abstract Background Orthodox dentistry has undergone significant changes in recent times with the introduction of various omics and molecular targeted therapies both at the experimental/trial and clinical implementation level. Although, significant milestones have been achieved in the molecular dentistry field in the past decade, there remains a dearth of application of phytopharmacological innovation in personalized and targeted therapies for dental diseases. Main body From time immemorial, plant products have long been an integral aspect of dental practice ranging from chewing sticks/herbal kinds of toothpaste to dental/impression materials. The current era of precision medicine seeks to apply a multipronged molecular and bio-computational approaches to solve fundamental medical problems that have hitherto remained difficult. Remarkable changes in the molecular/omics era, have transformed empirical therapies into personalized/individualized ones. Furthermore, the combinatorial application and the widespread introduction of high-throughput molecular tools such as pharmacogenomics, phytopharmacology, metabolomics, mathematical modelling, and genetic engineering inter alia, has tremendously improved the diagnostic and therapeutic landscape of medicine. Additionally, the variable molecular epidemiology of diseases among different population and emerging molecular evidence warrants the use of customized novel theranostic techniques. Unfortunately, the footprint of such emerging application is sparse in dental diseases such as maxillofacial cancers. Conclusion Hence, this review seeks to evaluate the potential application of phytopharmacological approaches to head and neck cancers in a resource-limited environment, such as Africa.
Saira Tanweer, Tariq Mehmood, Saadia Zainab
et al.
Abstract Background In the present era, the attention of nutritionist diverted towards the bioactive entities present in natural sources owing to the presence of health boosting perspectives against lifestyle related disarrays. Methods In this context, different parts of ginger crop i.e. rhizome, leaves and flower of variety Suravi (ID no. 008) were used for the preparation of ginger extracts with 50% methanol, 50% ethanol and water via rotatory shaker for 45 min. After that, different phytochemical analysis and in vitro analyses were carried out to determine the antioxidant potential of these extracts. Lastly, the best selected extracts from each part was quantified through HPLC. Results The results of current investigated indicated that ethanol extract proved to have maximum quantity of phytoceutics as compared to methanol and water. The maximum TPC, flavonoids, flavonols, DPPH assay, antioxidant activity, FRAP assay, ABTS assay and metal chelating potential was observed in ginger leaves as 780.56 ± 32.78 GAE/100 g, 253.56 ± 10.65 mg/100 g, 49.54 ± 1.74 mg/100 g, 75.54 ± 3.17%, 77.88 ± 3.27%, 105.72 ± 4.44 μmole TE/g, 118.43 ± 4.97 μmole TE/g and 35.16 ± 1.48%, respectively followed by ginger flowers and ginger rhizome. The lowest antioxidant activity was estimated in ginger rhizome. On the basis of phytochemical profiling and in vitro analyses, ethanol extracts of ginger flowers, leaves and rhizome were selected for the quantification through HPLC. Conclusion The findings proved that maximum 6-gingerol was present in ginger leaves (4.9 mg/g) tackled by ginger flowers (2.87 mg/g) and ginger rhizome (1.03 mg/g).
K Divyakrishnan, K Shreedhara Avabratha, Amita Jane D'Souza
Introduction: The diagnosis and management of anemia largely depends on clinical assessment of pallor. There are varied opinions regarding the subjective variation in the assessment of pallor. Objective: The objective is to study the interobserver agreement of pallor between two independent observers. Methodology: This observational study done in a medical college hospital on 50 children in the age group of 6 months to 5 years. Pallor was assessed in four sites namely conjunctiva, tongue, nail bed, and palm. When pallor was present, it was graded as definitely present and borderline. Second examiner independently assessed the pallor at all four sites within an hour. Statistical analysis was done by percentage and kappa value. Results: Out of 50 children aged between 6 months to 5 years, 30 were male and 20 were female. Eleven were infants of 6 months to 12 months, 19 children were between 1 and 3 years and 20 children were 3–5 years of age group. Twenty-eight children had anemia with hemoglobin <11 g/dl. Kappa value for conjunctival and nailbed assessment of pallor were 0.484 and 0.441, respectively, indicating good agreement. The value was 0.644 and 0.73 for tongue pallor and palmar pallor respectively suggesting very good agreement. Conclusion: Interobserver agreement was found to be good in the evaluation of pallor. Palmar and tongue pallor had better agreement than conjunctival and nailbed pallor in our study. By assessing in all four sites, for pallor interobserver variability can be minimized.
Anorectal melanoma is a very rare and aggressive mucosal melanocytic malignancy, accounting for 1% of all anorectal cancers. There have only been a few cases reported. Surgical resection remains the mainstay of treatment. No definitive management strategies exist because of the absence of randomized trials. We here report a case series on four cases of anorectal melanoma. All four cases underwent abdominoperineal resection (APR) and nodal dissection. Two out of four cases received adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ), one case received adjuvant doublet chemotherapy with TMZ and cisplatin, and the fourth case succumbed to nononcological disease before he could be subjected to adjuvant chemotherapy. In the first and third case, nodal dissection was limited to pelvic nodes only. However, in the second case, extensive nodal dissection in the form of bilateral pelvic and inguinal lymph nodal dissection and para-aortic lymph nodal dissection was performed. The fourth case also was subjected to extensive nodal dissection in form of bilateral pelvic and para-aortic lymph node dissection. The first patient however became metastatic at the end of first cycle of adjuvant TMZ and succumbed to his illness post 3 months of surgery. The second patient could complete all six cycles of adjuvant TMZ, and after 1 year of completion of adjuvant TMZ, he presented with skeletal and brain metastases. He also received palliative whole-brain radiotherapy for brain metastases. He finally succumbed to his disease 18 months after surgery. The third case completed all six cycles of adjuvant TMZ and is still alive with disease-free interval of around 1 year. The fourth case succumbed to nononcological death around 1 month after surgery.
Saloni Garg, Babita Sharma, Rameshwari Bithu
et al.
Introduction: Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease infecting about one-third of the world's population, is caused by intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii. It is a major health concern in immunocompromised individuals as in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients. The aim of the study was to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among HIV-infected antiretroviral therapy-naive individuals attending Integrated Counseling and Testing Center. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional observational study conducted at a tertiary care hospital between April 2015 and March 2016 on 400 HIV-positive patients and 100 HIV-negative healthy adults. Anti-toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibodies were detected using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Sociodemographic and associated risk factors for T. gondii infection were obtained and the data were analyzed using SPSS version 17.0. Results: Seroprevalence of anti-toxoplasma antibodies among 400 HIV-positive patients and 100 HIV-negative healthy adults was 19.75% and 11%, respectively. Majority of seropositive individuals were in the childbearing age groups. Out of 79 toxoplasma-seropositive cases, 10 were clinically confirmed cases of toxoplasma encephalitis (TE). The mean CD4+ T-lymphocyte count of HIV-positive patients was 255.32 ± 221.19 cells/cmm. Conclusion: The seroprevalence of toxoplasma infection is significantly higher in HIV-positive patients than in HIV-negative healthy individuals. It is important to test all HIV-positive patients for toxoplasma antibodies to prevent life-threatening complication and TE in these patients.
Abstract Background Solanum torvum root extract is used to treat Asthma, Diabetes, and hypertension by Garo tribal healers of India and Bangladesh. Root tea is used to treat cough and fever by Attapadi tribal people of Kerala, India. The in vivo toxicological effects of Solanum torvum root extract was assessed by acute and sub-acute toxicity studies according to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) guidelines and per the guidance of Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA), Ministry of Environment and Forest, government of India. Results A single dose of Solanum torvum root extract (300 mg/kg, 600 mg/kg and 1200 mg/kg) was administrated daily for 14 days to estimate acute toxicity whereas subjects were treated for 28 days to assess the sub-acute toxicity. General functional behaviors, Physiological, histological, biochemical and hematological parameters were observed to understand the effect of extract upon study animal. All the study subjects were alive after the study period after acute and sub-acute toxicity assay. Functional and behavioral characteristics such as body position, respiration, clonic involuntary movement, tonic involuntary movement, palpebral closure, approach response, touch response, pinna reflex and tail pinch response; palpebral closure, lacrimation, salivation, piloerection, pupillary reflex, abdominal tone, limb tone, when held in hand were also found to be normal. Histological, biochemical and hematological parameters were also normal compared that with untreated group. Conclusions The acute and sub-acute toxicological analysis of Solanum torvum root extracts up on Wister rats suggested that there are no any dose response relation between extract administrated and toxicity, therefore there are no toxic effect by STRE, however more enlightenment regarding toxicity due to prolonged exposure can only be understood from chronic toxicity analysis.
Chandan Ashokan, Aditya Kumar Bubna, Anandan Sankarasubramaniam
et al.
Background: Onychomycosis poses to be an important public health problem. There has been a worldwide increase in the prevalence of onychomycosis with factors such as diabetes mellitus, poor peripheral circulation, indulgence in sporting activities, and prolonged antibiotic usage playing major contributory roles. Further, management of fungal infections of nails usually requires a prolonged course with a tendency for relapse. Aim: To study the clinical, epidemiologic, and demographic profile of onychomycosis and determine various organisms responsible for the same. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done over a 1-year period, wherein after patient enrollment, a thorough clinical evaluation was performed, followed by microscopically examining the infected nail specimen under 40% potassium hydroxide, which was succeeded by cultivating the organisms on fungal culture media and identifying the pathogen both by closely studying colony morphology in culture and also microscopically utilizing lactophenol cotton blue staining. Results: Females (67.3%) were more commonly affected than males (32.7%). The most common age group affected was 20-40 years(47%). Majority of patients demonstrated both finger and toe nail involvement (43.6%). Distal and lateral subungual onychomycosis (55.4%) was the most common clinical variant of onychomycosis identified in our study. Out of the 101 patients in our study, 86 demonstrated a positive fungal growth on culture. Non-dermatophyte moulds (NDM) (58.1%) were the most common fungal isolate followed by Candida species (36%) and dermatophytes (5.8%). Conclusion: Unlike most studies, NDM constituted the major pathogen among our participants.
Imke Göllner PhD, Werner Voss MD, Ulrike von Hehn
et al.
Intake of oral supplements with the aim of a cutaneous antiaging effect are increasingly common. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a promising candidate, as it is the key factor for preserving tissue hydration. In our practice study, we evaluated the effect of an oral HA preparation diluted in a cascade-fermented organic whole food concentrate supplemented with biotin, vitamin C, copper, and zinc (Regulatpro Hyaluron) on skin moisture content, elasticity, skin roughness, and wrinkle depths. Twenty female subjects with healthy skin in the age group of 45 to 60 years took the product once daily for 40 days. Different skin parameters were objectively assessed before the first intake, after 20 and after 40 days. Intake of the HA solution led to a significant increase in skin elasticity, skin hydration, and to a significant decrease in skin roughness and wrinkle depths. The supplement was well tolerated; no side effects were noted throughout the study.
For the first time, we have a comprehensive database on usage of AYUSH (acronym for Ayurveda, naturopathy and Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) in India at the household level. This article aims at exploring the spread of the traditional medical systems in India and the perceptions of people on the access and effectiveness of these medical systems using this database. The article uses the unit level data purchased from the National Sample Survey Organization, New Delhi. Household is the basic unit of survey and the data are the collective opinion of the household. This survey shows that less than 30% of Indian households use the traditional medical systems. There is also a regional pattern in the usage of particular type of traditional medicine, reflecting the regional aspects of the development of such medical systems. The strong faith in AYUSH is the main reason for its usage; lack of need for AYUSH and lack of awareness about AYUSH are the main reasons for not using it. With regard to source of medicines in the traditional medical systems, home is the main source in the Indian medical system and private sector is the main source in Homeopathy. This shows that there is need for creating awareness and improving access to traditional medical systems in India. By and large, the users of AYUSH are also convinced about the effectiveness of these traditional medicines.
Research on wound healing agents is a developing area in biomedical sciences. Traditional Persian medicine is one of holistic systems of medicine providing valuable information on natural remedies. To collect the evidences for wound-healing medicaments from traditional Persian medicine sources, 5 main pharmaceutical manuscripts in addition to related contemporary reports from Scopus, PubMed, and ScienceDirect were studied. The underlying mechanisms were also saved and discussed. Totally, 65 herbs used in traditional Persian medicine for their wound healing properties was identified. Related anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and wound-healing activities of those remedies were studied. Forty remedies had at least one of those properties and 10 of the filtered plants possessed all effects. The medicinal plants used in wound healing treatment in traditional Persian medicine could be a good topic for further in vivo and clinical research. This might lead to development of effective products for wound treatment.
The Iranian Rehabilitation Journal has published many articles related to different dimensions of treatment and psycho-education. As a reference we will review some articles which already published in this Journal. Dadkhah and his colleagues evaluated an individually family-based Dohsa exercise programme of balance in the aged people and its effect on self confidence for performing common daily tasks with less falling could be influenced by training (1). Sajedi, et al (2) stated that in addition to conventional methods, complementary medicine like homeopathy has been used in treatment of neuro-developmental disorders. They tried to determine the effect of adding homeopathic treatment to rehabilitation on abnormal reflexes of children with spastic cerebral palsy. Regarding children rehabilitation, we understand that children have different needs than adults, and all of the professionals should be fully licensed and specially trained in pediatrics. The facilities for babies, children and their families should be designed with kid-friendly waiting rooms and size-appropriate equipment with the most advanced technology and the providers should work to help children gain new skills and abilities that they aren't able to learn on their own and help children to return to their previous functional status.
Medicine, Vocational rehabilitation. Employment of people with disabilities
Om Bodarya, Atul V Shrivastav, Ukti Bhavsar
et al.
Introduction: This study is conducted to evaluate the seroprevalance of HIV, HBsAG, HBV and syphilis among blood donors at blood bank of medical college hospital along the five years. Material and methods: Study includes both voluntary and replacement donors. HIV, HBsAG and HCV were tested by ELISA methods approved by NACO and RPR was carried out for screening of Syphilis. Results: The seroprevalance of HIV, HBsAG, HCV and Syphilis was 0.08%, 0.3%, 0.07% and 0.17% respectively in voluntary blood donors while seroprevalance of HIV, HBsAG , HCV and Syphilis was 0.31%, 1.18%, 0.16% and 1.12% respectively in replacement blood donors. Conclusion: We observe that seroprevalance is higher in replacement donors than voluntary donors. These facts strongly indicate that we need more motivational and educational programmes to shift complete voluntary donation.