Evaluation of Phytochemicals and Histochemicals of Cyperus rotandus and Its Thrombolytic Activity

Plants are one of the most abundant sources of potentially useful chemical compounds and medicinal properties. As a result, over the last few decades, the market for plant research has been steadily increasing all over the world. The future pharmacological behaviours of Cyperus rotundus Linn. are assessed using a literature review as a basis. Extracts from various sections of the plant (aerial component, tuber, rhizomes, etc.) produce significant amounts of medicinal active compounds, as well as the chemical structures of phytochemical constituents. The aim of this analysis was to look into the thrombolytic action of Cyperus rotandus methanolic extracts. The fraction's thrombolytic effect was studied in clot lysis experiment. In a thrombolytic activity test, the extract caused 60 % lysis of the blood clot, compared to 70.10 % and 4.70 % lysis for the positive control (streptokinase) and negative control (saline water), respectively. As a result, the extract possessed significant thrombolytic activity. To determine which compounds are responsible for the current pharmacological activities, detailed pharmacological and phytochemical studies are needed. The phytochemical research revealed the presence of phytochemical constituents in various solvent fractions. The presence of these phytochemicals was found to be responsible for the plants' in-vitro thrombolytic action.

Clinical and Microbiological Profile of Tracheal Aspirates in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

Introduction: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a chronic inflammatory state, which inturn suppresses the immune system. CKD patients are hence at more risk for nosocomial infections. Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is one of the major nosocomial infections. If not treated early and appropriately, it increases hospital stay and expenses in turn increasing morbidity and mortality. In recent times, due to irrational and rampant use of antibiotics, there is an emergence of multidrug resistant strains of organisms which are difficult to treat. Aim: To study the clinical and microbiological profile of tracheal aspirate samples in CKD patients. Materials and Methods: It was a retrospective cross sectional study conducted in the renal Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a Tertiary Care Centre, Institute of Nephrourology, Bengaluru over a period of two years from July 2018 to July 2020. Clinical and demographic data of patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria was recorded. Tracheal aspirates were obtained by convenient sampling technique. The samples were cultured on Blood Agar (BA), chocolate agar, MacConkey agar and Sabouraud’s Dextrose Agar (SDA). Antibiotic sensitivity profiling was done by using Mueller Hinton agar. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package For The Social Sciences (SPSS) V23.0 software. Results: Sixty-nine samples were analysed over a period of two years. Males (66.66%) were in majority. Diabetes Mellitus (64%) was the most common associated risk factor. Among the total samples obtained, around 70% showed bacterial growth. Gram negative bacteria (92.4%) were the most commonly isolated microorganism. Among the Gram-negative bacteria, Acinetobacter baumanni (45.3%) was the most common followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae. Majority of the gram negative organisms were sensitive to Polymyxin B, colistin, tigecycline. Acinetobacter and Klebsiella showed resistance to 3rd generation cephalosporins, aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones. Conclusion: There is emergence of extremely drug resistant gram negative organisms as the cause for VAP. They are dangerous and difficult to treat. They thus increase the hospital expenses by prolonging the hospital stay. Hence, the need of the hour is to formulate an appropriate antibiotic policy based on the population being treated and to follow strict infection control practices in ICU setup.

Alzheimer's Disease and Medicinal Plants: An Overview

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is progressive neurodegenerative disorder and identified as a major health concern globally. Individuals with AD and their care givers are affected in personal, emotional, financial, and social levels. Due to its significant impact and heavy burden on the individual, the patients' families, and society, it is highly needed to search for cost effective, long-time retention therapeutic targets. In recent decades, there are lots of research conducted the possible benefit of natural products and their active components on AD and other neurodegenerative disease, which are discussed here.

Anticancer activity of Cynodon dactylon L. root extract against diethyl nitrosamine induced hepatic carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common cancers and a lethal disease. In view of the limited treatment and a grave prognosis of liver cancer, preventive control has been emphasized.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The methanolic extract of roots of Cynodon dactylon was screened for its hepato-protective activity in diethyl nitrosamine (DEN) induced liver cancer in Swiss albino mice. The plant extract at a dose of 50 mg/kg was administered orally once a week, up to 30 days after DEN administration. The animals were sacrificed; blood sample and liver tissue were collected and used for enzyme assay such as, asparatate amino transferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). The liver marker enzymes AST and ALT produced significant results in the protective action.

RESULTS

The antioxidant enzyme assay results concerning the improved activity of GPx, GST and CAT. These results concluded that enhanced levels of antioxidant enzyme and reduced amount of serum amino transaminase, which are suggested to be the major mechanisms of C. dactylon root extract in protecting the mice from hepatocarcinoma induced by DEN. These biochemical observations were supplemented by histopathological examination of liver sections.

CONCLUSION

The methanolic extract of C. dactylon possesses significant anticancer properties.

Cytological findings in routine voided urine samples with hematuria from a tertiary care center in south India

Background:

Regardless of the availability of newer and more sophisticated modalities of investigation, urinary tract cytology still remains the most commonly used non-invasive test for the diagnosis of bladder cancer.

Aims:

As hematuria is the commonest presenting symptom in patients with malignancy of urinary tract, we undertook this study to know the usefulness of urine cytology in evaluation of the hematuric patients for malignancy.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 21,557 fresh voided urine samples received at our tertiary care referral centre over a period of three years were included in the study. Of these, 1428 cases had hematuria, criteria of either gross or microscopic.

Results:

Among these hematuric cases included in the study, 32.5% (464 cases) were found to have positive finding of atypical cells. In these cases with atypia, 9.5% (136 cases) were proved to have malignancy both with the histopathological biopsy and cystoscopic findings. Other cases of atypia were found to be of reactive origin, either due to instrumentation or foreign body. A large number of hematuric cases, that is, 964 cases (67.5%) were negative for atypical cells.

Conclusions:

The limited ability of urine cytology to detect low grade bladder tumors, its subjectivity and lack of uniformity in reporting, all render urine cytology a less than perfect tool. With added collaboration between clinician and cytopathologist, urine cytology can be used an adjunct tool in evaluation of patients with hematuria.

An unusual case of non-disseminated bladder aspergillosis in a setting of transitional cell carcinoma

A bladder infection of Aspergillus with no evidence of dissemination is rare. We present a case of Aspergillus infection with transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder without any evidence of systemic involvement. A 65-year-old male diabetic whose main complaints were intermittent painful haematuria and nocturia had undergone nephroureterectomy a year and a half back for transitional cell carcinoma of right renal pelvis. Cystoscopy revealed bladder mucosa having fixed broad tumour with encrustation and bleeding on touch at the right vesico-ureteric junction. The histopathologic diagnosis was a high-grade transitional carcinoma with Aspergillus infection. Fungal culture of urine obtained after bladder wash yielded Aspergillus fumigatus.

IgA nephropathy in a tertiary care center from south India

IgA nephropathy is being recognized as the commonest glomerular disease worldwide. The prevalence and clinical picture varies from region to region. A retrospective analysis of 400 native renal biopsies performed over a period of 3 years at our center was done to know the prevalence and clinicopathological profile of patients with IgA nephropathy. All the biopsies were processed for both light microscopy and immunofluorescence studies. Patients with predominant IgA deposits were labeled as IgA nephropathy and further classified histopathologically into five subclasses according to the Haas classification. We noted a prevalence of 7.8% (31 cases) of IgA nephropathy. Nephrotic syndrome and chronic renal failure were the most common mode of presentation. Majority of cases fell into subclass III (focal segmental glomerular sclerosis) with 35.5% followed by subclasses IV (diffuse proliferative glomerular sclerosis) and V (global sclerosis) with 25.8% and 22.6% prevalence, respectively. As about 50% cases presented with varying degree of renal insufficiency, many ending with ESRD, IgA nephropathy can be considered as a serious problem in India.

Chemopreventive potential of 18beta-glycyrrhetinic acid: an active constituent of liquorice, in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis

Chemoprevention, a useful and attractive approach in experimental oncology, helps to investigate the cancer preventive potential of natural products and synthetic entities. Present study evaluated the chemopreventive potential of glycyrrhetinic acid in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis. Oral tumor was developed in the buccal pouch of golden Syrian hamsters by painting with DMBA three times a week for 14 weeks. The tumor incidence and the status of phase I and phase II detoxification enzymes were assessed in hamsters treated with DMBA alone and DMBA+glycyrrhetinic acid treated hamsters. One hundred percent tumor formations, which were histopathologically confirmed as well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, were observed in hamsters treated with DMBA alone. Also, the status of detoxification enzymes were markedly altered in the liver and buccal mucosa of hamsters treated with DMBA alone. Oral administration ofglycyrrhetinic acid at a dose of 45 mg kg(-1) body weight to hamsters treated with DMBA completely prevented the tumor formation as well as restored the status of detoxification enzymes. Present study thus demonstrated the chemopreventive potential of glycyrrhetinic acid in DMBA induced oral carcinogenesis.

Refractory anemia leading to renal hemosiderosis and renal failure

Renal hemosiderosis is a rare cause of renal failure and, as a result, may not be diagnosed unless a detailed history, careful interpretation of blood parameters and renal biopsy with special staining is done. Here, we present a rare case of renal hemosiderosis presenting with renal failure.