BACKGROUND: To evaluate the results of conventional radiofrequency thermorhizotomy (CRT) for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) in patients with failed medical management. METHODS: Patients with Trigeminal neuralgia who were referred to us for 'limited intervention' during the time frame July-2011 to Jan-2013 were enrolled for this study. CRT was administered by the Sweet technique. Pain relief was evaluated by the principle investigator. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were enrolled and completed a mean follow-up of 18.0 months. Pain relief was observed in 14 of 18 (77.8%) patients on the post-operative day, 14 of 18 (77.8%) at 1-month follow-up, 14 of 17 (82.4%) at 3-months follow-up, 12 of 15 (80%) at 6-months follow-up, 7 of 11 (63.6%) at 1-year follow-up and 2 of 6 (33.3%) 1.5 years of follow-up. Four patients required a repeat cycle of CRT; two at six months of follow-up and two at one year of follow-up. One patient was transferred for surgical intervention at six months of follow-up. Side-effects included facial hypoesthesia (n = 6); nausea/vomiting (n = 2), diminished corneal reflex (n = 13) and difficulty in chewing (n = 11). Severity of adverse effects gradually diminished and none of the patients who are beyond 6 months of follow-up have any functional limitation. CONCLUSIONS: CRT is an effective method of pain relief for patients with Trigeminal neuralgia. Successful outcome (excellent or good) can be expected in 66.7% of patients after first cycle of CRF. The incidence and severity of adverse effects is less and the procedure is better tolerated by the patients.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Incidence ; Mastication ; Reflex ; Research Personnel ; Trigeminal Ganglion ; Trigeminal Neuralgia*

OBJECTIVETo assess the larvicidal and repellent potential of the essential oil extracted from the leaves of peppermint plant, Mentha piperita (M. piperita) against the larval and adult stages of Aedes aegypti (Ae. Aegypti).

METHODSThe larvicidal potential of peppermint oil was evaluated against early fourth instar larvae of Ae. aegypti using WHO protocol. The mortality counts were made after 24 and 48 h, and LC50 and LC90 values were calculated. The efficacy of peppermint oil as mosquito repellent was assessed using the human-bait technique. The measured area of one arm of a human volunteer was applied with the oil and the other arm was applied with ethanol. The mosquito bites on both the arms were recorded for 3 min after every 15 min. The experiment continued for 3 h and the percent protection was calculated.

RESULTSThe essential oil extracted from M. piperita possessed excellent larvicidal efficiency against dengue vector. The bioassays showed an LC50 and LC90 value of 111.9 and 295.18 ppm, respectively after 24 h of exposure. The toxicity of the oil increased 11.8% when the larvae were exposed to the oil for 48 h. The remarkable repellent properties of M. piperita essential oil were established against adults Ae. aegypti. The application of oil resulted in 100% protection till 150 min. After next 30 min, only 1-2 bites were recorded as compared with 8-9 bites on the control arm.

CONCLUSIONSThe peppermint essential oil is proved to be efficient larvicide and repellent against dengue vector. Further studies are needed to identify the possible role of oil as adulticide, oviposition deterrent and ovicidal agent. The isolation of active ingredient from the oil could help in formulating strategies for mosquito control.

Aedes ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Animals ; Insect Repellents ; pharmacology ; Insecticides ; pharmacology ; Larva ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Mentha piperita ; chemistry ; Mosquito Control ; methods ; Oils, Volatile ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Oils ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo assess the larvicidal and irritant activities of the hexane extracts of leaves of Citrus sinensis (C. sinensis) against the early fourth instars and female adults of Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti).

METHODSThe larvicidal potential of the prepared leaf extract was evaluated against early fourth instar larvae of Ae. aegypti using WHO protocol. The mortality counts were made after 24 h and LC50 and LC90 values were calculated. The efficacy of extract as mosquito irritant was assessed by contact irritancy assays. Extract-impregnated paper was placed on a glass plate over which a perspex funnel with a hole on the top was kept inverted. Single female adult, 3-day old unfed/blood-fed, was released inside the funnel. After 3 min of acclimatization time, the time taken for the first take-off and total number of flights undertaken during 15 min were scored.

RESULTSThe citrus leaf extracts from hexane possessed moderate larvicidal efficiency against dengue vector. The bioassays resulted in an LC50 and LC90 value of 446.84 and 1 370.96 ppm, respectively after 24 h of exposure. However, the extracts were proved to be remarkable irritant against adults Ae. aegypti, more pronounced effects being observed on blood-fed females than unfed females. The extract-impregnated paper was thus proved to be 7-11 times more irritable as compared with the control paper.

CONCLUSIONSThe hexane extracts from C. sinensis leaves are proved to be reasonably larvicidal but remarkably irritant against dengue vector. Further studies are needed to identify the possible role of extract as adulticide, oviposition deterrent and ovicidal agent. The isolation of active ingredient from the extract could help in formulating strategies for mosquito control.

Aedes ; drug effects ; Animals ; Citrus sinensis ; metabolism ; Dengue ; transmission ; Disease Vectors ; Female ; Insecticides ; pharmacology ; Larva ; drug effects ; Mosquito Control ; methods ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; metabolism

Objective: To formulate silver nanocomposites from Achyranthes aspera leaf extracts and evaluate its larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti. Methods: The silver nanocomposites were synthesized from Achyranthes aspera leaf extracts. The process was optimized and traced through UV-visible and photon correlation spectroscopy. The larvicidal potential of silver nanocomposites of Achyranthes aspera leaf extracts was assessed against the early fourth instars of Aedes aegypti and three non-target organisms. Furthermore, the most effective and eco-safe nanocomposite was characterized by different biophysical techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Results: The formulated silver nanocomposites exhibited efficient larvicidal efficacy against Aedes aegypti. Bioassay with silver nanocomposites formulated using different AgNO 3 concentrations (3, 4, and 5 mM) revealed respective LC

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging disease and since its first identification in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, there has been a rapid increase in cases and deaths across the world. COVID-19 has been shown to have an immense impact in infected persons with diabetes, worsening their outcome, especially in elderly, smokers, obese, those having CVD, CKD, poor glycemic control and long duration of diabetes. In this review we summarize the current understanding of `the impact of COVID-19 on diabetes and discusses the pathophysiological mechanisms and management of diabetes and its complication in this scenario.
COVID-19 ; Diabetes Mellitus