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

Pharmaceutical promotion is an integral part of modern medical practice. Surveys show that medical students have a positive attitude towards promotion. Pharmaceutical promotion is not adequately taught in medical schools. A module based on the manual produced by Health Action International was conducted for second year medical students at KIST Medical College, Lalitpur, Nepal. Student feedback on various aspects of the module was obtained using a semi-structured questionnaire. Eighty-six of the 100 students (86%) provided feedback about the module. Forty-five (52.3%) were female and 39 (45.3%) were male. Participant feedback about the module was positive. Small group work and role plays were appreciated, and the ratings of the module and the manual were satisfactory. Respondents felt pharmaceutical promotion will play an important role in their future practice and that the module prepared them to respond appropriately to promotion and select and use medicines properly. The module further developed on issues covered during pharmacology practical and majority felt the module was of relevance to Nepal. Students appreciated the module though there were suggestions for improvement. The module should be considered during the years of clinical training (third and fourth years) and internship and in other medical schools.
Surveys and Questionnaires ; Female ; Humans ; Internship and Residency ; Learning ; Male ; Marketing ; Nepal ; Problem-Based Learning ; Schools, Medical ; Students, Medical

OBJECTIVE: To report an unusual case of frozen orbit caused by an unsuspected intraorbital foreign body. METHOD: This is a case report. RESULTS: A 31-year old Chinese man presented with a 6-month history of painless progressive right caruncular growth with mucoid discharge. He also had bilateral progressive reduction in ocular movements. His best-corrected vision was 6/9 bilaterally. A conjunctival granuloma arising from the right caruncle and extending to the cornea and associate with ophthalmoplegia was also present. Orbital computed tomography showed a dense rod-like structure traversing the nasal area, extending from the superomedial wall of the right orbit to the apex of the left orbit with surrounding inflammatory reaction but sparing the optic nerve. The intraorbital foreign body, a 6 cm chopstick splinter, was successfully removed via right lateral rhinotomy. CONCLUSION: Intraorbital foreign bodies are not uncommonly seen and, generally, the diagnosis is straightforward. Nevertheless, diagnosis, could be missed if it is not suspected.
Human ; Male ; Adult ; WOUNDS AND INJURIES ; EYE FOREIGN BODIES ; EYE DISEASES ;

The present study was aimed to investigate behavioural and biochemical effects of chronic exposure of amplitude modulated and non-modulated microwave radiation on laboratory mice. Chronic microwave exposures were executed with 2.45 GHz of either modulated (power density, 0.029 mW/cm²; specific absorption rate, 0.019 W/Kg with sinusoidal modulation of 400 Hz) or nonmodulated continuous sinusoidal wave (power density, 0.033 mW/cm²; specific absorption rate, 0.023 W/Kg) for 2 hrs daily for 1 month. Mice subjected to non-modulated microwave exposure had significantly increased acetylcholinesterase activity and increased intracellular calcium and nitric oxide levels in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, and also had increased glucose and corticosterone levels in blood compared to control mice. These non-modulated microwave-exposed mice exhibited anxiety-like and depression-like behaviours. In contrast, mice exposed to modulated microwave for the same period did not show such changes in concomitant biochemical and behavioural analyses. These results suggest that chronic non-modulated microwave, but not modulated microwave, radiation may cause anxiety-like and depression-like behaviours and calcium- and NO-related biochemical changes in the brain.
Absorption ; Acetylcholinesterase ; Animals ; Anxiety ; Brain* ; Calcium ; Cerebral Cortex ; Corticosterone ; Depression ; Glucose ; Hippocampus ; Mice* ; Microwaves* ; Nitric Oxide

<p>OBJECTIVETo study the effects of diallyl sulfide (DAS), an organosulfur compound present in garlic (Allium sativum), on the life span of ehrlich ascites (EA) tumor bearing Swiss albino mice, cytotoxicity and angiogenesis.p><p>METHODSEA tumor cells were maintained by serial transplantation in peritoneal cavity of male Swiss albino mice. EA tumor cells were inoculated at concentrations of 1 x 10(6) EA cells, 2.5 x 10(6) EA cells and 5 x 10(6) EA cells. DAS was given in 0.2 ml normal saline i.p., daily for seven days followed one hour later by inoculation with EA cells in respective groups.p><p>RESULTSThe results revealed that administration of DAS increased the life span of EA tumor bearing animals by more than 25 percent. A significant dose dependant cytotoxic response of DAS was also observed on EA tumor cells. DAS was also found to inhibit the angiogenesis in EA tumor bearing mice in a dose dependent manner.p><p>CONCLUSIONIt is suggested that DAS may exert its anticarcinogenic effects by more than one mechanism and is a useful chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent.p>
Allyl Compounds ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Cell Death ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Male ; Mice ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Sulfides ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Survival Analysis

Intracapsular fracture of femoral neck is treated by anatomical reduction (preferably closed) and cannulated cancellous lag screw fixation. Malunion of these fractures have been described in the coronal plane (coxa valga or coxa vara). We reported a case of young adult patient with displaced intracapsular fracture of femoral neck that had malunited in sagittal plane with callus formation with excellent functional outcome. The radiographs revealed intracapsular fracture of femoral neck right side (Garden type 4 and Pauwel type 3). The patient was operated and closed reduction and internal fixation with three cannulated cancellous screws was performed. The postoperative radiograph revealed a loss of reduction in the lateral view. Due to this technical error, the patient was counselled for revision fixation for which he refused. At 9 months we observed union of the fracture in the displaced position by callus formation. Harris hip score at 2 years was 96 that indicate excellent functional outcome and the radiographs did not reveal any evidence of avascular necrosis of femoral head. We advised revision surgery to our patient as he had increased chances of implant failure and nonunion. However he refused the revision surgery and was continued with the suboptimal reduction. However, the fracture united and that too with callus formation, which is not a described phenomenon in neck of femur fracture.
Adult ; Bone Screws ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Male

N-Methylhydrasteine hydroxylactam and 1-methoxyberberine chloride, both alkaloids, extracted from Corydalis longipes have been assayed for their activities against two powdery mildews. The spore germination of Erysiphe cichoracearum on detached leaf of balsam(Impatiens balsaminia) following pre- and post-inoculation treatments by their mixture has shown high efficacy against the pathogen at 100, 200 and 300 microg/ml. The mixture was also effective at both pre- and post-inoculation treatments at 500, 1000, 1500 microg/ml doses against E. pisi causing pea powdery mildew in pea(Pisum sativum) under field conditions. The significant efficacy of the mixture of two compounds against spore germination on detached leaves of balsam and also under field conditions in pea warrants its inclusion in trials against some other diseases under field conditions.
Alkaloids* ; Corydalis* ; Germination ; Peas* ; Plants* ; Spores

<p>INTRODUCTIONThe sciatic nerve is the largest nerve, with a long course in the inferior extremity. Its division into the tibial and common peroneal nerves can occur at any level from the sacral plexus to the inferior part of the popliteal space. These anatomical variations may contribute to clinical conditions such as piriformis syndrome, sciatica and coccygodynia.p><p>METHODSThis study was performed on cadavers in order to study the level of sciatic nerve division. The inferior extremities of 43 cadavers were classified into six groups depending on the level of sciatic nerve division in the gluteal region, the upper, middle and lower parts of the back of the thigh, and the popliteal fossa.p><p>RESULTSThe highest incidence of sciatic nerve division (40.7 percent) was observed in the lower part of the posterior compartment of the thigh. In 34.9 percent of the specimens, the sciatic nerve was divided into tibial and common peroneal nerves in the popliteal fossa. 16.3 percent of extremities showed sciatic nerve division proximal to its entrance in the gluteal region.p><p>CONCLUSIONIn sciatic nerve neuropathies, the extent of neurological deficits depends on the level of sciatic nerve division. Sciatic nerve division into tibial and common peroneal components at a higher level can result in the involvement of only one out of the two divisions from sciatic neuropathy. It can also result in a failure of the sciatic nerve block while performing popliteal block anaesthesia.p>
Cadaver ; Female ; Humans ; India ; Lumbosacral Plexus ; pathology ; Male ; Models, Anatomic ; Models, Neurological ; Piriformis Muscle Syndrome ; pathology ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sciatic Nerve ; anatomy & histology ; physiopathology ; Sciatica ; pathology ; Tibia ; innervation ; pathology

Narceine methyl ester and narceine are potent alkaloids which were isolated from Corydalis longipes were found effective in vitro at very low concentration, i.e., 100~500 ppm against spore germination of some test plant pathogenic fungi (Alternaria solani, A. tagetica, Cercospora abelmoschi, Curvularia maculans, Erysiphe cichoracearum, E. pisi, Fusarium udum, Helminthosporium oryzae, H. penniseti, Ustilago cynodontis). Among the test, phytopathogens the spores of F. udum, C. maculans and H. penniseti were highly sensitive at 200 ppm. However, spores of E. pisi, A. solani and A. tagetica were less sensitive at low concentration followed by other test fungi. Most of the fungi showed zero or nearly zero percent spore germination at 400 and 500 ppm.
Alkaloids ; Corydalis* ; Fungi* ; Fusarium ; Germination ; Helminthosporium ; Oryza ; Plants ; Spores ; Ustilago