Plants are used as medicine since ancient time, in organized (Ayurveda, Unani & Siddha) and unorganized (folk, native & tribal) form. In these systems, drugs are described either in Sanskrit or vernacular languages. Avartani (Helicteres isora Linn.) is a medicinal plant which is used in several diseases. It is commonly known as Marodphali, Marorphali, Enthani etc. due to screw like appearance of its fruit. Avartani is used as a folk medicine to treat snake bite, diarrhoea and constipation of new born baby. In the research, antioxidant, hypolipidaemic, antibacterial and antiplasmid activities, cardiac antioxidant, antiperoxidative potency, brain-antioxidation potency, anticancer activity, antinociceptive activity, hepatoprotective activity, anti-diarrheal activity and wormicidal activity in this plant were reviewed.

BACKGROUND:Road traffic accidents (RTA) are responsible for 1.2 million deaths worldwide each year. RTA willbecome the 3rd largest contributor to the global burden of diseases after ischemic heart diseases (IHD) and depression. We conducted a retrospective study on RTA in a tertiary center in the hilly district of Uttarakhand in India. METHODS:The number of RTA, pattern of RTA, the number of patients killed and injured, the pattern of injury causing death and disability, the severity of accidents, and the type of disability were noted from December 2009 to November 2011. The accident severity was calculated as the number of patients killed per 100 accidents. The methods for reducing the incidence of RTA were observed, and the role of policy makers was studied. RESULTS:The majority of deaths and disabilities in Uttarakhand were due to road traffic accidents in the hilly districts of the states. The most common cause of RTA was driving fault followed by defective roads. CONCLUSION:Proper designing of roads and minimizing the fault of drivers are essential to prevent road traffic accidents in hilly regions.

The alkaloid securinine was assessed against spore germination of some plant pathogenic and saprophytic fungi (Alternaria alternata, Alternaria brassicae, Alternaria brassicicola, Curvularia lunata, Curvularia maculans, Curvularia pallenscens, Colletotrichum musae, Colletotrichum sp., Erysiphe pisi, Helminthosporium echinoclova, Helminthosporium spiciferum, Heterosporium sp.). Spore germinations of all the tested fungi were inhibited. Alternaria brassicicola, C. lunata, C. pallenscens and H. spiciferum were highly sensitive as complete inhibition of spore germination was observed at very low concentrations (200 ppm).
Alternaria ; Azepines ; Brassica ; Colletotrichum ; Fungi ; Germination ; Helminthosporium ; Heterocyclic Compounds, Bridged-Ring ; Lactones ; Musa ; Phyllanthus ; Piperidines ; Plants ; Spores

Mast cells (MCs) are immune cells of the myeloid lineage and are present in connective tissues throughout the body. The activation and degranulation of MCs significantly modulates many aspects of physiological and pathological conditions in various settings. Recent data have expanded the concept that inflammation is a critical component for tumor progression. Interestingly, three of the most aggressive human cancers, malignant melanoma, breast carcinoma and colorectal adenocarcinoma, are commonly associated with a marked host response comprising of various inflammatory cells, but especially MCs around the tumor periphery. A systematic review of the literature was performed based on the English titles listed in the PubMed, EBSCO, Cochrane, Science Direct, ISI web Science, and SciELO databases using the keywords. Abstracts and full-text articles were assessed. This review summarizes the current understanding of the role of MCs in tumor progression.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to compare outcome of primary and secondary Illizarov''s fi xator application as a treatment method for type Ⅲ open tibial fractures in terms of non-union and wound infection.METHODS: This prospective study was done in a tertiary care center. Forty-eight type Ⅲ tibial fractures were treated with Illizarov''s apparatus between 2008 and 2011. The patients were divided into two groups depending on the treatment protocol, timing of wound closure and Illizarov''s application, primary (n=28) and secondary (n=20).RESULTS: In the primary group, healing was achieved in all 28 patients. The median time to recovery was 24 weeks, and the median number of operations was 3. There were 6 patients with a bone defect. In the secondary group, complete recovery was achieved in 18 out of 20 patients. The median time to recovery was 30 weeks, and the median number of operations 5. There were 9 patients with a bone defect. The median time to recovery and the number of operations were signifi cantly smaller in patients undergoing primary operation. Union was 100％ in the primary group and more than 95％ in the secondary group. Chronic osteomyelitis persisted in one patient and below amputation was done in one patient in the secondary group.CONCLUSION: Primary wound closure and Illizarov''s fixation required a smaller number of operations and shorter time to recovery than secondary wound closure and Illizarov''s fi xation, mostly due to a signifi cantly less number of patients with a bone defect in the primary group.

BACKGROUND: Penetrating injuries of the perineum are rare but very dangerous. Since the genitourinary and colorectal organs may be injured, how to evaluate surgical management of the injury is very important. METHODS: The present report presents a case of penetrating injury of the perineum by a wooden stick when the patient fell on the upright wooden stick from a tree. The three feet long stick entered the perineal region just left lateral to the anal opening. Upon reaching the thoracic cavity, it broke and only a foot stick was left in the subcutaneous plane. These injuries are potentially serious with risk of damage to multiple organs. Exploratory laprotomy was done, and bladder injury was repaired. The entry wound and the track of stick was thoroughly washed and allowed for secondary intention healing. RESULTS: The post operative period was uneventful and the patient recovered fully. CONCLUSION: Meticulous evaluation and surgical management of perineal injuries are the key to prevent devastating complications.

CDRI compound no. 99/411 is a potent 1,2,4-trioxane antimalarial candidate drug under development at our Institute. An HPLC method for determination of CDRI 99/411 with its starting material and intermediates has been developed and validated for in process quality control and stability studies. The analytical performance parameters such as linearity, precision, accuracy, specificity, limit of detection (LOD) and lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) were determined according to International Conference on Harmonization ICH Q2(R1) guidelines. HPLC separation was achieved on a RP-select B Lichrospheres column (250 mm ? 4 mm, 5μm, Merck) using water containing 0.1%glacial acetic acid and acetonitrile as the mobile phase in a gradient elution. The eluents were monitored by a photo diode array detector at 245 and 275 nm. Based on signal to noise ratio of 3 and 10 the LOD of CDRI 99/411 was 0.55 mg/mL, while the LLOQ was 1.05 mg/mL. The calibration curves were linear in the range of 1.05-68 mg/mL. Precision of the method was determined by inter- and intra-assay variations within the acceptable range.

A 45 year old woman was diagnosed as having anteromedial radial head dislocation and distal radius fracture five months after her injury on right forearm. The radial head dislocation led to ulnar nerve compression. She had severe restriction of her elbow movements. She was treated with arthrolysis, decompression of the ulnar nerve and radial head resection. The reverse Essex Lopresti injury and radial head dislocation compressing the ulnar nerve has not been reported in English language literature to the best of our knowledge. A mechanism is proposed for the injury. In acute presentations, restoration of both the radioulnar joints should be done and neglected nature of such injury leads to suboptimal outcomes.
Female ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; complications ; Middle Aged ; Radius ; injuries ; Radius Fractures ; complications ; Ulna ; injuries ; Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes ; etiology

Acoustic neuromas are the most common lesion in the cerebellopontine angle. The authors report a unique case of acoustic schwannoma, presenting in middle cranial fossa masquerading as meningioma in a 24-year-old man, presenting with headache and focal seizures. Contrast-enhanced MRI of the brain revealed a mass lesion of the right middle cranial fossa consistent with features of meningioma.Intraoperatively a well-defined tumor with attachment to anterior petrous bone was excised. In the immediate postoperative period, the patient developed right-sided hearing loss, which was proven to be retrochoclear hearing loss on brainstem evoked response audiometry. Histopathology findings were consistent with benign schwannoma. Acoustic schwannoma originating in an unusual location middle cranial fossa is a plausible explanation of such unusual occurrence. Such a case has never been reported in the literature.

Isolated coronal fractures of femoral condyle are rare in adults and nonunion of Hoffa fracture is reported only a few times in the literature. We analyzed six cases of nonunion of Hoffa fractures over a period of three years. Three patients were treated conservatively and three patients had fixation failures. Delay of presentation was 2 months to one year. Treatment protocol consisted of open reduction, excision of pseudoarthrosis, bone grafting and internal fixation along with knee arthrolysis. Union was achieved in all patients at mean 16 weeks. The treatment of nonunion of Hoffa fractures requires careful preoperative planning and meticulous surgical technique. The literature regarding the controversies in fracture management and surgical technique are reviewed.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Femoral Fractures ; surgery ; Fractures, Ununited ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies