To evaluate antitumor activity of Gracilaria edulis in Swiss albino mice with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC).

Investigation and analysis of accidents are critical elements of safety management. The over-riding purpose of an organization in carrying out an accident investigation is to prevent similar accidents, as well as seek a general improvement in the management of health and safety. Hundreds of workers have suffered injuries while installing, maintaining, or servicing machinery and equipment due to sudden re-energization of power lines. This study presents and analyzes two electrical accidents (1 fatal injury and 1 serious injury) that occurred because the power supply was reconnected inadvertently or by mistake.
Electric Power Supplies ; Greece* ; Safety Management

Previous genetic studies demonstrated that survival and proliferation of Plasmodium falciparum parasites is dependent on salvage of essential purines from the host. Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of the most lethal form of human malaria lacks the enzymes required for de novo synthesis of purines. Analysis of the hypothetical nucleoside/nucleobase transporter protein, the gene product of PfNT3 (PF14_0662) gene in P. falciparum parasites was carried out by localisation, in view of a novel chemotherapeutic target. Immunoblotting, immunofluorescent and immunoelectron microscopic localization of PfNT3 was demonstrated using polyclonal antiserum in in vitro cultured Plasmodium falciparum parasites, propagated in human red blood cells. PfNT3 protein, the translated product of PfNT3 gene was detected in intraerythrocytic ring, trophozoite, and schizont stages. PfNT3 was localized primarily to the PPM (Parasite Plasma Membrane). The endogenous PfNT3 putative nucleoside transporter with the predominant location to the parasite plasma membrane may serve not only as routes for targeting of purine analogs/cytotoxic agents into the intracellular parasite but may also serve as drug targets. Being genome encoded the vital transporter protein can be prevented from expression by silencing of the gene, validating it to be a novel drug target.
Plasmodium falciparum

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the whole-body vibration (WBV) exposure among large blast hole drill machine operators with regard to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recommended threshold values and its association with machine- and rock-related factors and workers' individual characteristics. METHODS: The study population included 28 drill machine operators who had worked in four opencast iron ore mines in eastern India. The study protocol comprised the following: measurements of WBV exposure [frequency weighted root mean square (RMS) acceleration (m/s2)], machine-related data (manufacturer of machine, age of machine, seat height, thickness, and rest height) collected from mine management offices, measurements of rock hardness, uniaxial compressive strength and density, and workers' characteristics via face-to-face interviews. RESULTS: More than 90% of the operators were exposed to a higher level WBV than the ISO upper limit and only 3.6% between the lower and upper limits, mainly in the vertical axis. Bivariate correlations revealed that potential predictors of total WBV exposure were: machine manufacturer (r = 0.453, p = 0.015), age of drill (r = 0.533, p = 0.003), and hardness of rock (r = 0.561, p = 0.002). The stepwise multiple regression model revealed that the potential predictors are age of operator (regression coefficient beta = -0.052, standard error SE = 0.023), manufacturer (beta = 1.093, SE = 0.227), rock hardness (beta = 0.045, SE = 0.018), uniaxial compressive strength (beta = 0.027, SE = 0.009), and density (beta = e1.135, SE = 0.235). CONCLUSION: Prevention should include using appropriate machines to handle rock hardness, rock uniaxial compressive strength and density, and seat improvement using ergonomic approaches such as including a suspension system.
Acceleration ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Compressive Strength ; Hardness ; India ; Iron* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Vibration*

Objective: To investigate phytochemical screening, antimicrobial activity and qualitative thin layer chromatographic separation of flavonoid components, antioxidant activity and total flavonoid compound of Terminalia arjuna.
Methods:For phytochemical screening, some common and available standard tests were done. Antimicrobial bioassay was done through agar well diffusion method. Detection of antioxidant activity and flavonoid compounds were done through thin layer chromatography. Total antioxidant activity was measured by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) in colorimetric method. Aluminum chloride colorimetric method was used for total flavonoid determination.
Results:Phytochemical screening showed the active compounds presence in high concentration, such as phytosterol, lactones, flavonoids, phenolic compounds and tannins and glycosides. The antimicrobial activity of extract showed that greater inhibition zone against Gram negative bacteria than Gram positive bacteria. This methanolic extract showed a promising antioxidant activity, as absorption of DPPH redicles decreased in DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Flavonoids components having antioxidant property present in the methanol extract at a level of 199.00 mg quercetin equivalent/g of dried methanol extract in colorimetric method.
Conclusions: The Terminalia arjuna bark extract revealed the presence of bio-active constituents which are known to exhibit medicinal as well as physiological activities.

OBJECTIVETo test the antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer and antibacterial activities along with phytochemicals of Sonneratia apetala Buch.-Ham.

METHODSThe antibacterial activity was determined by agar well diffusion method. The antioxidant activity was determined by standard assay. The antidiabetic activity was evaluated by α-glucosidase inhibition assay and in vivo anticancer property was determined against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells in Swiss Albino mice. Further partial characterization of the methanol extracts was carried out by thin layer chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and Fourier transform-infra red spectrum spectral analysis.

RESULTSFour solvent extracts (acetone, ethanol, methanol and aqueous) of leaf and bark possess strong antioxidant properties. In vivo anticancer activity of methanol extract leaf indicated positive activity showing 34% inhibition against EAC cells in Swiss Albino mice. All extracts exhibited α-glucosidase inhibitory activity in a dose-dependent manner indicating presence of promising antidiabetic properties. The extracts possess strong antibacterial activity against the selected pathogenic bacteria (minimal inhibitory concentration ranging from 1.25-5.00 mg/mL). The partial characterization of the methanol extracts of leaf and bark revealed the presence of phenolics as the lead compound responsible for studied bioactivities of the plant extracts.

CONCLUSIONSonneratia apetala extracts have potent antibacterial, antioxidant, antidiabetic and anticancer properties which can be further exploited for its pharmaceutical applications.

Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; India ; Lythraceae ; chemistry ; Mice ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Bark ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Several authors have made efforts to define the position of the axillary nerve within deltoid muscle and to calculate the so called safe area for this nerve but it still remains a matter of debate. The primary aim of the study was to investigate the acromio-axillary (AA) distance and its correlation with upper arm length. The secondary aim was to re-define the safe area for axillary nerve within deltoid muscle. Sixty shoulders of thirty adult human cadavers were dissected using standard methods. The distance from the anterior and posterior edge of acromion to the upper border of the course of the axillary nerve was measured and recorded as anterior and posterior AA distance respectively. Correlation analysis was done between the upper arm length and AA distance for each limb. The ratios between anterior and posterior AA distance and upper arm length were calculated and mentioned as anterior index and posterior index, respectively. The mean of anterior and posterior AA distance was 5.22 cm and 4.17 cm, respectively. The mean of upper arm length was 29.30 cm. The means of anterior index and posterior indices were 0.18 and 0.14, respectively. There was a significant correlation between upper arm length and both the anterior and posterior AA distance. The axillary nerve was found to lie at variable distance from the acromion. The minimum AA distance was found to be 3.50 cm. So this should be considered as the maximum permissible length of the deltoid split. Upper arm length has strong correlation with both anterior and posterior AA distances. The ideal safe area for the axillary nerve was found to be a quadrangular area above it and the size of which depends on the length of the upper arm.
Acromion ; Adult ; Arm ; Cadaver* ; Deltoid Muscle* ; Extremities ; Humans ; Shoulder

The liver is the largest gland of the gastrointestinal tract having both exocrine and endocrine functions.Developmentally it arises as a ventral outgrowth from the gut endoderm during 3rd week of intrauterine life. The foetal liver is very important because of its synthetic and hemopoietic potential. The present work aimed to see the detailed histogenesis and development of the foetal liver by cytological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study. The liver tissue of nine aborted foetuses of various gestational age were studied. For cytology: special stains like Masson trichrome, periodic acid Schiff and reticulin were used, immunohistochemical staining was performed with triple antibodies (c-myc, Ki-67 and Ber-H2), and for ultrastructure: aluminium mounted specimens were coated with gold and argon gas and observed under scanning electron microscopy (EM). Cytology and immunohistochemistry showed the development of duct patterns and hemopoietic patterns in all stages of fetogenesis. The ductal plate was marked by the layer of dark brown staining cells at the edge of two portal tracts. The haemopoietic cells with sinusoids and aggregation of hepatocytes were observed in the early weeks of gestation. EM showed tree-like branching of a portal canal depicting hepatic segmentation of foetal liver.The organizational changes in lobular pattern, duct pattern, and microstructure of liver during fetogenesis are very crucial to achieve the adult morphology in feature. Histogenesis of the foetal liver follows a multistep process depending upon the gestational age, any deviation from normalcy may lead to structural and functional abnormality later in life.

The location of the radial nerve (RN) is described with various bony landmarks, but such may be disturbed in the setting of fracture and dislocation of bone. Alternative soft tissue landmarks would be helpful to locate the nerve in such setting. To recognize certain anatomic landmarks to identify, locate and protect RN from any iatrogenic injury during surgical intervention such as open reduction and internal fixation. Forty arms belonging to 20 adult cadavers were used for this study. We measured the distance of RN from the point of confluence of triceps aponeurosis (TA), tip of the acromion and tip of the lateral epicondyle along the long axis of the humerus. These distances were correlated with the upper arm length (UAL). The average UAL was 32.64±0.64 cm. The distance of the RN from the point of confluence of TA (tricepso-radial distance, TRD), tip of acromion (acromion-radial distance) and tip of lateral epicondyle of humerus (condylo-radial distance, CRD) was 3.59±0.16 cm, 14.27±0.59 cm, and 17.14±1.29 cm respectively. No correlation was found with UAL. Statistically, TRD showed the least variability and CRD showed maximum variability. The minimum TRD was found to be 3.00 cm. So this should be considered as the maximum permissible length of the triceps split. The point of confluence of the TA appears to be the most stable and reliable anatomic landmark for localization of the RN during the posterior approach to the humerus.

Mangroves are salt-tolerant forest ecosystem that extends between tropical and subtropical intertidal regions of the world. Mangroves are biochemically unique vegetation that produce wide array of natural products with immense medicinal potential. These plants are the most valuable resources and provide economic and ecological benefits to the coastal people. Natural products from these plants are of great interest as they provide innumerable direct and indirect benefits to human beings for the discovery of novel antimicrobial and other bioactive compounds. They possess active metabolites with some novel chemical structures that belong to diverse chemical classes such as alkaloids, phenol, steroids, terpenoids and tannins. Several mangrove species have been used in traditional medicine or have few applications as insecticide and pesticide. To date, several mangroves, and their associated species and solvent extracts are screened for antimicrobial activity along with the presence of potent bioactive compounds. The present article emphasizes and creates awareness about the potential mangrove plants and their associates as a source of biologically active compounds with potent antimicrobial properties. This paper also elaborates the mechanisms of action and various methods for screening of antimicrobial compounds.
Anti-Infective Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Avicennia ; chemistry ; Ecosystem ; Plant Extracts ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology