A Comparative Study of Safety and Efficacy of Ritodrine versus Nifedipine in the Management of Preterm Labor

ABSTRACT Aim of this study is to evaluate safety and efficacy of Ritodrine versus Nifedipine in the management of preterm labor. Total of 60 patients were randomized into 2 groups of 30 each. Patients in group A received Ritodrine and group B received Nifedipine. They were followed up from admission till delivery and discharge and analyzed for gestational age at onset of labor, associated risk factors, response to tocolytics, duration of prolongation of pregnancy and neonatal outcome. Chi-square test, student's T test and Mann-Whitney U-test were used for statistical analysis. P value <0.05 was considered as significant. Ritodrine significantly delayed pregnancy for up to 7 days compared to nifedipine (26 vs. 13, P <0.001). In Nifedipine group, duration of pregnancy was significantly delayed by > 7 days compared to Ritodrine (17 vs. 4, P <0.001). Among singletons, APGAR score was more in Nifedipine group (P <0.001) and incidence of NICU admission was significantly more in Ritodrine group (P <0.043). Among twins, birth weight of neonates was significantly more in Nifedipine group (P <0.001). Fetal complications and maternal side effects were not statistically significant in both groups. Ritodrine is more effective in delaying delivery for short duration of up to 7 days and Nifedipine for > 7 days and even till term

Can Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), a well-known ayurvedic hepato-protectant cause liver damage?

Ayurveda is a centuries old traditional medicine practiced in India even today. There are certain safe medicinal plants with well-established medicinal properties both in clinical practice as well as in modern scientific publications. Guduchi or Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers (Menispermaceae), is one such medicinal plant that has well known anti-inflammatory, immune-modulatory and other safe therapeutic applications including hepato-protection, because of which it was recommended by the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India to be used in COVID-19 care. Therefore, Aabha Nagral's article “Herbal Immune Booster-Induced Liver Injury in the COVID-19 Pandemic-a Case Series,” published in 2021, was unanticipated. The article recounted histologically documented clinical cases of six patients who developed drug-induced autoimmune-like hepatitis after reported consumption of Guduchi or Guduchi containing formulations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the Ayurveda practitioners vouch by the safety of T. cordifolia (TC), it was felt that the story needed to be further scrutinized.This article reviews the botanical entities, the substitutes and adulterants of species used as Guduchi, their pharmacological and toxicological properties. While the authentic botanical entity of Guduchi is TC, Tinospora sinensis and Tinospora crispa are also commonly traded in the Indian subcontinent as Guduchi or Giloy. Among these species, T. crispa is known to induce heapto-toxicity. In Nagral's article, there were variations in the reported six cases in terms of patient history and TC/TC product consumption. More importantly, the botanical authenticity of the consumed products was not investigated.A review of published literature indicates that it is unlikely that the authentic TC could have induced autoimmune-like hepatitis of the patients. It is probable that a wrong species was self-administered by the patients. It is worth following up with the cases (patients), to investigate details of the products, so that other consumers do not suffer. Nagral's article however does highlight the serious issue of adulteration in herbal markets and the need for establishing a robust pharmacovigilant system in India

Low-cost Magnetic Resonance Console Architecture using an Open Source for Laboratory Scale Systems

MRI systems with proprietary hardware must use pulse programming, which is less expensive. Pulse programming consoles use Digital Signal Processor, Complex Programming Logic Device, and microcontrollers, which are typically restricted to particular architectures. General–purpose, extremely affordable electronics board featuring these architectures are now capable enough to be directly implemented in MRI consoles. Here we present the architectural details of various consoles with novel designs and their limitations. Finally, we propose a console design which was created utilising widely accessible Arduino Boards to connect to Pulseq-GPI implementations at a reduced cost of $225</jats:p

Pharmacognostic Studies on Two Himalayan Species of Traditional Medicinal Value: <i>Allium wallichii</i> and <i>Allium stracheyi<i/>

The present research was aimed as a pharmacognostic study of whole plants of <i>Allium wallichii</i> and <i>Allium stracheyi,</i> both of which are very important traditional medicinal plants of North-West Himalayas. This study was carried out in terms of macroscopic and microscopic analyses and standard histochemical methods were followed for detecting starch, calcium oxalate, tannins, total lipids and alkaloids. <i>Allium wallichi</i> can be distinguished from <i>A. stracheyi</i> by possessing polyarch roots, mycorrhizal fungi in the outer cortical cells and triangular leaf midrib. The present study is the first to describe the pharmacognosy in terms of anatomical and histochemical features of these two Himalayan <i>Allium</i> species. Although they are listed in Ayurvedic database, the API so far has not given an account on these two species and hence this work is of high importance. Also, the herbal industries, researchers and traditional medicine can now use the distinguishing characters of these species listed in the current paper, while specifically acquiring them from local markets without any confusion

Pharmacognostic Studies on Two Himalayan Species of Traditional Medicinal Value: &lt;i&gt;Allium wallichii&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Allium stracheyi&lt;i/&gt;

The present research was aimed as a pharmacognostic study of whole plants of Allium wallichii and Allium stracheyi, both of which are very important traditional medicinal plants of North-West Himalayas. This study was carried out in terms of macroscopic and microscopic analyses and standard histochemical methods were followed for detecting starch, calcium oxalate, tannins, total lipids and alkaloids. Allium wallichi can be distinguished from A. stracheyi by possessing polyarch roots, mycorrhizal fungi in the outer cortical cells and triangular leaf midrib. The present study is the first to describe the pharmacognosy in terms of anatomical and histochemical features of these two Himalayan Allium species. Although they are listed in Ayurvedic database, the API so far has not given an account on these two species and hence this work is of high importance. Also, the herbal industries, researchers and traditional medicine can now use the distinguishing characters of these species listed in the current paper, while specifically acquiring them from local markets without any confusion.</jats:p

Contribution of the endosteal surface of cortical bone to the trabecular pattern seen on IOPA radiographs: an in vitro study

Objectives: A study was conducted to assess the contribution of the cancellous and endosteal surface of the cortical bone to the trabecular pattern seen in an IOPA radiograph. Materials and methods: An in vitro study analyzing the contribution of the endosteal surface of cortical bone and cancellous bone to the trabecular pattern was conducted, using 60 specimens of desiccated human mandibles. The mode of execution involved IOPA radiographic evaluation of premolarmolar segments in the specimens before and after removal of cancellous bone. The radiographs were numbered for identification and subjected to evaluation by 5 dentomaxillofacial radiologists who were doubleblinded to ensure an unbiased interpretation. Results: The trabecular pattern appreciation by the experts in the IOPA radiographs before and after removal of cancellous bone displayed immaculate correlation as per the Goodman-Kruskal Gamma Coefficient values which was 0.78 indicating a very large correlation. The relative density of trabecular pattern was significantly higher in radiograph before than after removal of cancellous bone with p-value less than 0.05. Conclusion: Based on these results it was adjudged that both the cancellous and endosteal surface of cortical bone contributed significantly to the trabecular pattern in an IOPA radiograph

Pharmacognostic Studies on Two Himalayan Species of Traditional Medicinal Value: &lt;i&gt;Allium wallichii&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Allium stracheyi&lt;i/&gt;

The present research was aimed as a pharmacognostic study of whole plants of Allium wallichii and Allium stracheyi, both of which are very important traditional medicinal plants of North-West Himalayas. This study was carried out in terms of macroscopic and microscopic analyses and standard histochemical methods were followed for detecting starch, calcium oxalate, tannins, total lipids and alkaloids. Allium wallichi can be distinguished from A. stracheyi by possessing polyarch roots, mycorrhizal fungi in the outer cortical cells and triangular leaf midrib. The present study is the first to describe the pharmacognosy in terms of anatomical and histochemical features of these two Himalayan Allium species. Although they are listed in Ayurvedic database, the API so far has not given an account on these two species and hence this work is of high importance. Also, the herbal industries, researchers and traditional medicine can now use the distinguishing characters of these species listed in the current paper, while specifically acquiring them from local markets without any confusion