Objective: To establish the wound healing activity of methanolic, ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts of plant of Typhonium trilobatum. Methods: Two models were performed to evaluate the wound healing activity i.e. excision and incision models. In incision model the parameter which is carried out was breaking strength of the wounded skin. In excision model the percentage wound contraction and period of epithelialization were established for three extracts. Reference standard drug was povidone iodine ointments for comparison with other groups. Results: From the observation in both two models, methanolic and ethyl acetate extract were found greater wound healing activity than chloroform extract in terms of breaking strength in incision model and percentage wound contraction, period of epithelialization in excision model than that of other groups. Conclusions: The results indicate that the different extracts of Typhonium trilobatum has significant wound healing activity.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of the present study were to explore the behavioural effects and to understand the possible mode of action of Bacopa monnieri extract (BME) on chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) induced depressive model and the biochemical alterations such as brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Akt, cyclic-AMP response element binding (CREB) protein level in the hippocampus of rats. METHODS: We examined the effects of chronic administration of BME on CUS exposed rats for 28 days. Behavioural changes were assessed by sucrose consumption and open field test to assess the effect of BME on CUS-induced depression. The mechanisms underlying antidepressant like action of BME was further evaluated by measuring levels of BDNF, Akt, and CREB in the hippocampus of rat brain and compared with the standard tricyclic antidepressant drug imipramine (20 mg/kg body weight). RESULTS: Exposure to CUS for 28 days produced depression-like behavior in rats, as indicated by significant decreases in sucrose consumption, locomotor activity including decreased BDNF, Akt and CREB levels in the hippocampus. Daily administration of BME at a dose of (80 mg/kg body weight) significantly reverses the behavioral alteration and restored the normal level of BDNF, total and phospho-Akt, total and phospho CREB in the hippocampus of CUS induced rats as compared to vehicle treated control rats. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that BME ameliorates CUS induced behavioural depression in rats and that can be used as a potent therapeutic agent in treating depressive like behavior.
Animals ; Bacopa* ; Brain ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor* ; Depression ; Hippocampus* ; Imipramine ; Motor Activity ; Rats* ; Response Elements ; Sucrose

Clozapine is a gold standard medication and drug of choice in refractory schizophrenia. Among many of its fatal side effects, delirium is less reported and inconsistently recognized by clinicians. We here present a case of delirium which emerged during retreatment with clozapine in a patient of paranoid schizophrenia. A patient diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, was restarted on clozapine after he left medications and became symptomatic. He was delirious on 22nd day after clozapine was restarted. Clozapine was stopped and the patient was managed with standard treatment for delirium. After one week interval, clozapine was restarted. Delirium was not noted till 6 weeks of his hospital stay. Clozapine induced central anticholinergic toxicity or clozapine induced seizure might cause delirium in index case. Limited literature exist delirium with clozapine. Clinicians must have high index of suspicion to detect delirium during clozapine therapy. More researches should focus to explore the association between delirium and clozapine.
Clozapine* ; Delirium* ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Retreatment ; Risk Factors ; Schizophrenia ; Schizophrenia, Paranoid ; Seizures

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has garnered tremendous interest as conventional methods include the use and production of toxic chemicals,products,by-products and reagents.In this regard,the synthesis of AgNPs using green tea (GT) extract and two of its components,(-)-epi-gallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and (+)-catechin (Ct) as capping/stabilizing agents,is reported.The syn-thesized AgNPs showed antibacterial activity against the bacterial strains Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli,along with anticancer activity against HeLa cells.After administering nanoparticles to the body,they come in contact with proteins and results in the formation of a protein corona;hence we studied the interactions of these biocompatible AgNPs with hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) as a carrier protein.Static quenching mechanism was accountable for the quenching of HEWL fluorescence by the AgNPs.The binding constant (Kb) was found to be higher for EGCG-AgNPs ((2.309 ± 0.018) × 104 M-1)than for GT-AgNPs and Ct-AgNPs towards HEWL.EGCG-AgNPs increased the polarity near the binding site while Ct-AgNPs caused the opposite effect,but GT-AgNPs had no such observable effects.Circular dichroism studies indicated that the AgNPs had no such appreciable impact on the secondary structure of HEWL.The key findings of this research included the synthesis of AgNPs using GT extract and its con-stituent polyphenols,and showed significant antibacterial,anticancer and protein-binding properties.The-OH groups of the polyphenols drive the in situ capping/stabilization of the AgNPs during synthesis,which might offer new opportunities having implications for nanomedicine and nanodiagnostics.

Objective: To analyze tumour response and toxicity with respect to cumulative radiotherapy dose to target and organs at risk (OARs) with computed tomography (CT)-based image guided adaptive brachytherapy planning for locally advanced carcinoma cervix. Methods: Patients were treated with two-dimensional concurrent chemoradiotherapy to whole pelvis followed by intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) with dose prescription to point ‘A’. CT image-based delineation of high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV), urinary bladder, rectum and sigmoid colon was done with generation of dose-volume histogram (DVH) data and optimization of doses to target and OARs. Follow up assessments were done for response of disease and toxicity with generation of data for statistical analysis. Results: One hundred thirty-six patients were enrolled in the study. Delineated volume of HR-CTV ranged from 20.9 to 37.1 mL, with median value of 30.2 mL. The equivalent dose in 2 Gy per fraction (EQD2) for point ‘A’ ranged from 71.31 to 79.75 Gy with median value of 75.1 Gy and EQD2 HR-CTV D90 ranged from 71.9 to 89.7 Gy with median value of 85.1 Gy. 69.2% of patients showed complete response and after median follow-up of 25 months, 50 patients remained disease free, of whom, 74.0% had received ≥85 Gy to HR-CTV D90 versus 26.0% receiving <85 Gy to HR-CTV D90. Conclusions Amidst the unavailability of magnetic resonance imaging facilities in low middle income countries, incorporation of CT-image based treatment planning into routine practice for ICBT provides the scope to delineate volumes of target and OARs and to generate DVH data, which can prove to be a better surrogate for disease response and toxicity.

OBJECTIVETo test the survival of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) inside lymphocyte that contributes to the pathogenesis of infection and possible anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effect of nanoconjugated vancomycin against in vivo S. aureus infection in a dose and duration dependent manner.

METHODS5×10(6) CFU/mL vancomycin-sensitive S. aureus (VSSA) and vancomycin-resistive S. aureus (VRSA) were challenged in Swiss male mice for 3 days, 5 days, 10 days and 15 days, respectively. Bacteremia and inflammatory parameters were observed to evaluate the duration for development of VSSA and VRSA infection. 100 mg/kg bw/day and 500 mg/kg bw/day nanoconjugated vancomycin were administrated to VSSA and VRSA infected group for 5 days. Bacteremia, inflammatory parameters and oxidative stress related parameters were tested to observe the effective dose of nanoconjugated vancomycin against VSSA and VRSA infection. Nanoconjugated vancomycin was treated at a dose of 100 mg/kg bw/day and 500 mg/kg bw/day, respectively, to VSSA and VRSA infected group for successive 5 days, 10 days and 15 days. Bacteremia, inflammatory parameters and oxidative stress related parameters were observed to assess the effective duration of nanoconjugated vancomycin against VSSA and VRSA infection.

RESULTSThe result revealed that in vivo VSSA and VRSA infection developed after 5 days of challenge by elevating the NO generation in lymphocyte and serum inflammatory markers. Administration with nanoconjugated vancomycin to VSSA and VRSA infected group at a dose of 100 mg/kg bw/day and 500 mg/kg bw/day, respectively, for successive 10 days eliminated bacterimia, decreased NO generation in lymphocyte, serum inflammatory markers and increased antioxidant enzyme status.

CONCLUSIONSThese findings suggest, in vivo challenge of VSSA and VRSA for 5 days can produce the highest degree of damage in lymphocyte which can be ameliorated by treatment with nanoconjugated vancomycin for 10 successive days.

Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Bacteremia ; drug therapy ; immunology ; microbiology ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; Nitric Oxide ; immunology ; Staphylococcal Infections ; drug therapy ; immunology ; microbiology ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; pathogenicity ; physiology ; Vancomycin ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Vancomycin Resistance

OBJECTIVEMethylation-specific epigenetic process and gene expression profiles of HeLa cells treated with ultra-high dilutions (HDs) of two plant extracts, Hydrastis canadensis (HC-30) and Marsdenia condurango (Condu-30), diluted 1060 times, were analyzed against placebo 30C (Pl-30) for alterations in gene profiles linked to epigenetic modifications.

METHODSSeparate groups of cells were subjected to treatment of Condu-30, HC-30, and Pl-30 prepared by serial dilutions and succussions. Global microarray data recorded on Affymetrix platform, using 25-mer probes were provided by iLifeDiscoveries, India. Slides were scanned with 3000 7G microarray scanner and raw data sets were extracted from Cel (raw intensity) files. Analyses of global microarray data profile, differential gene expression, fold change and clusters were made using GeneSpring GX12.5 software and standard normalization procedure. Before microarray study, concentration of RNA (ng/μL), RIN value and rRNA ratio for all the samples were analysed by Agilant Bioanalyzer 2100. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative RT-PCR were done for analyzing SMAD-4 expression. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting study was further made to elucidate fate of cells at divisional stages. Methylation-specific restriction enzyme assay was conducted for ascertaining methylation status of DNA at specific sites.

RESULTSHDs of HC-30 and Condu-30 differentially altered methylation in specific regions of DNA and expression profiles of certain genes linked to carcinogenesis, as compared to Pl-30. Two separate cut sites were found in genomic DNA of untreated and placebo-treated HeLa cells when digested with McrBC, compared to a single cut observed in Condu-30-treated genomic DNA. SMAD-4 gene expression validated the expression pattern observed in microarray profile. Methylation-specific restriction enzyme assay elucidated differential epigenetic modifications in drug-treated and control cells.

CONCLUSIONHDs triggered epigenetic modifications and alterations in microarray gene expression profiles of many genes associated with carcinogenesis in HeLa cells in vitro.

Cell Cycle ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; drug effects ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Hydrastis ; Marsdenia ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Transcriptome ; drug effects