Tree cults in Sangam literature

The people of the Sangam age had a nature-based way of life. They took what they wanted from nature. They were amazed at nature that fulfilled their needs. Sometimes they were afraid of its wrath and began to worship as a deity. The way it was worshipped was also based on nature. Rituals are inevitable when it comes to the worship of the deity. Those who believed that the deity resided in the trees worshipped each deity by encoding a tree. The trees worshipped have been preserved as the symbols of the tribal people and have been preserved as police trees. This system of worship is essential for the people of all communities. As there is a change in culture and customs, it is observed that there have been many changes in the methods of worship as well. This article examines the worship of trees, one of the natural forms of worship in the life of the People of the Sangam age

Electromagnetic breathing dromion-like structures in an anisotropic ferromagnetic medium

The influence of Gilbert damping on the propagation of electromagnetic waves (EMWs) in an anisotropic ferromagnetic medium is investigated theoretically. The interaction of the magnetic field component of the electromagnetic wave with the magnetization of a ferromagnetic medium has been studied by solving the associated Maxwell's equations coupled with a Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert (LLG) equation. When small perturbations are made on the magnetization of the ferromagnetic medium and magnetic field along the direction of propagation of electromagnetic wave by using the reductive perturbation method, the associated nonlinear dynamics is governed by a time-dependent damped derivative nonlinear Schrodinger (TDDNLS) equation. The Lagrangian density function is constructed by using the variational method to solve the TDDNLS equation to understand the dynamics of the system under consideration. The propagation of EMW in a ferromagnetic medium with inherent Gilbert damping admits very interesting nonlinear dynamical structures. These structures include Gilbert damping-managing symmetrically breathing solitons, localized erupting electromagnetic breathing dromion-like modes of excitations, breathing dromion-like soliton, decaying dromion-like modes and an unexpected creation-annihilation mode of excitations in the form of growing-decaying dromion-like modes.Comment: Accepted for publication in Journal of Magnetism and Manetic Material

Maternal effects on anogenital distance in a wild marmot population

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Preclinical and Clinical Study on Padarthamarai (படர் தாமரை) (Pundareega Kuttam)

The study is to highlight the therapeutic efficacy of siddha drugs by conducting a clinical trial on disease ‘Padar thamarai’ with ‘Parangichakkai Chooranam’ as internal medicine and ‘Neeradimuthu Pasai’ as external medicine to the scientific community, a disease Padar Thamarai under the heading of Mukkutram, Udalkattugal, Enn vagai thervu etc., in order to evaluate the pathogenesis, pathology of Padar Thamarai.The treatment was given for Padar thamarai on the basis of principles of Siddha system deranged Thri Thodams were corrected by the trials medicine given to the Padar thamarai. The present clinical study reveals that the trial drug showed Grade - 2 (Reduction of hyper pigmentation) improvement in 71 % of the cases, Grade 3 (Reduction of size and oozing) improvement in 24% of the cases, Grade 4 (Reduction of itching) improvement in 5% cases. There was no adverse effects were reported during the study. Hence the trials drugs are considered as safe. The preparation of Internal and External Medicine were simple also. It is concluded that the trial drugs were therapeutically effective against Padar Thamarai

Selective inhibition of plasma membrane calcium ATPase 4 improves angiogenesis and vascular reperfusion

Aims Ischaemic cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite promising results from pre-clinical animal models, VEGF-based strategies for therapeutic angiogenesis have yet to achieve successful reperfusion of ischaemic tissues in patients. Failure to restore efficient VEGF activity in the ischaemic organ remains a major problem in current pro-angiogenic therapeutic approaches. Plasma membrane calcium ATPase 4 (PMCA4) negatively regulates VEGF-activated angiogenesis via inhibition of the calcineurin/NFAT signalling pathway. PMCA4 activity is inhibited by the small molecule aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA). We hypothesize that inhibition of PMCA4 with ATA might enhance VEGF-induced angiogenesis. Methods and results We show that inhibition of PMCA4 with ATA in endothelial cells triggers a marked increase in VEGF-activated calcineurin/NFAT signalling that translates into a strong increase in endothelial cell motility and blood vessel formation. ATA enhances VEGF-induced calcineurin signalling by disrupting the interaction between PMCA4 and calcineurin at the endothelial-cell membrane. ATA concentrations at the nanomolar range, that efficiently inhibit PMCA4, had no deleterious effect on endothelial-cell viability or zebrafish embryonic development. However, high ATA concentrations at the micromolar level impaired endothelial cell viability and tubular morphogenesis, and were associated with toxicity in zebrafish embryos. In mice undergoing experimentally-induced hindlimb ischaemia, ATA treatment significantly increased the reperfusion of post-ischaemic limbs. Conclusions Our study provides evidence for the therapeutic potential of targeting PMCA4 to improve VEGF-based pro-angiogenic interventions. This goal will require the development of refined, highly selective versions of ATA, or the identification of novel PMCA4 inhibitors

Prevalence of Anemia among Diabetic Population Attending An Urban Primary Health Care Center in Tamil Nadu

Background: Diabetes has been proven to cause various systemic manifestations, including nephropathy, vasculopathy, retinopathy, and neuropathy. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of anemia among the diabetic population attending the primary health care center and to determine the prevalence of anemia based on biophysical profile, including age group and gender. Methods: This is Cross-sectional analytical study. Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) of Government Medical College, Omandurar Government Estate, Chennai; Study population: Diabetic patients attending the outpatient division of UPHC. The study was carried out from June 7th to September 1st, 2022. Two hundred participants were included (calculated population: 196) (z= 1.96 for 95% CI, p= 47.91% from a previous study, q=52.09%, n=0.05). After obtaining informed consent from the participants, 5 mL of blood was collected from the patient and analyzed for hemoglobin levels and fasting and postprandial sugar levels. Results: The prevalence of anemia in the diabetic population is 66%. The prevalence of anemia was higher in males suffering from diabetes than in females suffering from diabetes (74% in males in comparison to 54% in females.) Anemia was most common in the 60- to 80-year-old age group, corresponding to a decreasing quality of life with increasing age. Conclusion: About two-thirds of the diabetics were having anemia, with more preponderance towards males and the elderly

1-Meth­oxy-4-({[(4-meth­oxy­phen­yl)­sulfan­yl](phen­yl)meth­yl}sulfan­yl)benzene

The title compound, C21H20O2S2, forms a propeller-shaped structure with the tetra­hedral C atom as the central hub and meth­oxy­benzene and phenyl residues as radiating blades. Short C—H⋯π contacts are observed

Chemical profiling of fern Cheilosoria mysurensis (Wall. ex Hook.) Ching & Shing and its biological activity

Cheilosoria mysurensis (Wall. ex Hook.) Ching & Shing, a medicinal fern traditionally used to treat burns, throat pain and bone fracture. There is no any scientific report regarding anticancer studies of this species. The aim of the study was to find out the chemical components through GC/MS analysis with their antioxidant and cytotoxic activity. GC-MS analysis shows primary ingredients viz, Cis-9, 10-epoxyoctadecan-1-ol and Oxiraneundecanoic acid, 3-pentyl-, methyl ester, trans were present. High free-radical scavenging activity has been discovered in 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and showed the IC50 value of 52.13±0.33. Furthermore, C. mysurensis also showed good cytotoxic effects against DLA and EAC cell lines with values of 72.9% and 79.5% at 200 µg/ml dose respectively. Overall findings suggested that the identified chemical compounds proved to be rich in antioxidant property. Further, this fern can be a good resource for pharma industry to produce novel anti-cancer drugs

Recovery of Accidental Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in an Infant Bonnet Macaque (Macaca radiata) by Progesterone Therapy

An infant male bonnet macaque with a history of accident and lateral recumbency presented to the Veterinary Clinical Complex, VCRI, Orathanadu. On examination he scored a 10 on the modified Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and the animal had racoon eyes. Immediately skull X-ray was taken and it revealed two radiating temporal bone fracture. These characteristics strongly pointed to a tentative diagnosis of Traumatic Brain Injury. In addition to supportive care, Progesterone, a neuroprotective steroid, was continuously administered to the animal at a dose rate of 0.2 mg per kg SID P.O. In order to manage and monitor the animal health, it was admitted to the critical care unit. On the tenth day, the animal showed slight improvement and had hemiparesis on the contralateral side of the cranial lesion. The animal\u27s limb reflexes were fully restored by day 20. However cerebral and vestibular lesions persisted with signs of blindness, nystagmus, and circling. After 60 days of continuous treatment animal recovered uneventfully