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Groundwater contamination in India exposes an estimated 70 million people to arsenic. Over 10 million people in the state of Bihar (India) are at risk of arsenic poisoning. As reported 27 districts of the state's thirty-eight districts are under a state of catastrophe. Symptoms noticed by those who have been exposed to the arsenic caused disease are-lack of appetite, neurobehavioral problems, hyperkeratosis, and melanosis on the skin. So, this study's primary objective is to find novel approaches to treat arsenic poisoning in rats using the Charles Foster model. Following permission from the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee, the animals were divided into three groups: one group served as a control, the second group received arsenic treatment, and the third group received Ganoderma lucidum extract after arsenic treatment. For the arsenic group, the rats were given 8 mg/kg body weight of sodium arsenite orally every day for 90 days, and then for 60 days, they were given 80 mg/Kg body weight of Ganoderma lucidum extract via gavage. Their biochemical values, including those of the liver and kidneys, were found to be increased. In addition, their levels of free radicals, including lipid peroxidation, were measured and found to be substantially higher. In addition, the levels of arsenic in the kidney and liver tissue were very high. However, biochemical and lipid peroxidation levels were significantly restored after administration of Ganoderma lucidum ethanolic extract. Arsenic levels in rat liver and kidney tissues were also found to be reduced. Ganoderma lucidum has a therapeutic impact against arsenicinduced toxicity, according to the present research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Bihar, an estimated 10 million are exposed to arsenic poisoning through drinking of water. The entire Gangetic plain region people are exposed to arsenic poisoning which is causing lot of health hazards including the problem of infertility. Usually, the infertility problem is associated with the hormonal imbalances and arsenic is a xenoestrogen toxicant which plays major role in causing the imbalance. Moreover, this reproductive disorder has become a major problem in the society causing social stigma in the exposed population. Therefore, there is indeed need for search of novel drug which may play major role in combating the present problem. The present study therefore aims to discover fertility booster against the arsenic induced male reproductive toxicity in animal models. The current study was conducted on Charles Foster Rats after approval by the Animal Ethics Committee of the Institution. A total of n=18 rats (12 weeks of age) with a mean weight of 160±20 g was used in this study. The study group consisted of n=6 controls and n=12 orally treated with sodium arsenite at a dose of 8mg/Kg b.w per day for 40 days. The n= 6 animals were dissected and rest n=6 was administered orally with Asparagus racemosus root ethanolic extract at the dose of 400mg/Kg b.w per day for 40 days. At the end of the entire experiment, all the animals were dissected out and their reproductive organs were taken out especially epididymis for sperm counts, sperm motility, sperm mortality, sperm morphology. The blood samples were taken for hormonal determination (testosterone and luteinizing hormone), as well as for haematological and biochemical analysis. The study showed a severe degeneration in the reproductive organs of the arsenictreated rats. There were degenerative changes in sperm count, sperm motility, sperm mortality, sperm morphology, in the hormonal parameters, as well as in the hematological and biochemical parameters in the arsenic treated rats. But, in the Asparagus racemosus root ethanolic extract treated group, there was significant normalization in all these parameters. Therefore, in the present study, the Asparagus racemosus root ethanolic extract at the dose of 400mg/Kg/body weight per day shows significant fertility boost effect on arsenic induced Charles Foster rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, 300 million people worldwide are exposed to groundwater arsenic poisoning in the recent time, while an estimated 10 million population are exposed to arsenic poisoning in Bihar (India). The arsenic contamination in ground water has caused serious health hazards in the exposed population. The typical symptoms of arsenicosis are observed in the exposed population mostly skin manifestations such as hyperkeratosis, melanosis, loss of appetite, neuro-behavioral disorders etc. Hence, the present study aims to develop novel drug discovery against arsenic induced toxicity in rat models. In the present study treatment groups received sodium arsenite orally at the dose of 8 mg/kg body weight daily for 90 days followed by administration of Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi) seed extract at the dose of 500 mg/ kg body weight daily by gavage method for 60 days. Their biochemical levels like liver and kidney function tests were assayed and were found with elevated levels. Furthermore, their free radical assessment such as lipid peroxidation levels were assayed which was also found to be many folds higher. Furthermore, the arsenic concentration in the tissue of liver and kidney was significantly very high. But, after the administration of ethanolic seed extract of Ocimum sanctum, there was significant restoration in the biochemical and lipid peroxidation levels. Moreover, there was also reduction in the arsenic content in the liver and kidney tissues of rats. The phytoremedial effect of this novel plant (Ocimum sanctum) denotes that it possesses antidote effect against arsenic induced toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is most common type of inflammatory arthritis. It is chronic autoimmune disease that affects joints as well as extra-articular structures. The prevalence of this condition could be due to both genetic and non-genetic factors (e.g., environmental, viral, and hormonal). Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine and correlate 25(OH) D level with disease severity in patients of RA. Materials and Methods: The prospective observational study consists of 70 patients of RA and 70 healthy controls. Assessed level of 25(OH) D, C-reactive protein (CRP), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and Disease Activity Score (DAS) 28-CRP score were compared in both cases and controls. Correlation of Vitamin D level with parameters such as CRP, Anti-CCP, and ESR was performed. Correlation between Vitamin D level deficiency and disease activity among the RA patients was assessed. Results: The mean age of patients in the RA group was 37.77±13.31 years. The mean CRP in cases was 40.57±25.94 mg/L and in controls was 3.26±1.95 mg/L with significant intergroup difference (P<0.001). The mean anti-CCP in cases was 62.18±27.21 U/mL and in controls was 4.99±1.52 U/mL with significant intergroup difference (P<0.001). The mean 25(OH) D level in cases was 12.65±5.88 and in controls was 32.18±10.22. The 25(OH) D was significantly decreased in cases than controls (P<0.001). A significant inverse relationship between serum 25(OH) D levels and DAS28 was observed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves results showed that 25(OH) D<11.7 ng/mL indicates severe disease activity (Area under ROC curve=84%, Sensitivity 77.78%, and specificity 83.33%,). 25(OH) D between 11.7 ng/mL and 19.83 ng/mL indicates moderate disease activity. 25(OH) D˃19.83 ng/mL indicates low disease activity value below 4.13 is alarming situation. Conclusion: The study reveals high prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in RA patients. There is also significant inverse correlation exist between serum Vitamin D levels and RA disease activity. Vitamin D level is good disease activity predictor in patients of RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]