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Leaf extracts of Calotropis procera were tested against late third instar larvae of Aedes aegypti mosquito. Soxhlet extraction of the dried leaves powder with polar and non-polar solvents (water, ethanol, hexane and acetone) was carried out. Larvicidal effects of plant extracts were observed after 24h of exposure. The control group showed no mortality. Ethanolic extract was found more toxic with LC50 1.923 ppm and LC90 8.83 ppm followed by aqueous extract (LC50 2.607 ppm and LC90 11.903 ppm), acetone extract (LC50 4.1 ppm and LC90 16.471 ppm) and hexane extract (LC50 5.364 ppm and LC90 31.759 ppm). As the ethanolic extract of C. procera leaves showed significant larvicidal properties, it can be used as an eco-friendly alternative for the control of Ae. aegypti vector.

A relatively new emerging research field called neuromarketing bridges the conventional gaps between neuroscience, neuroeconomics, and marketing research. An emerging area called neuromarketing uses neuroscience methods in academic and commercial studies to explain customers' preferences, motivating factors, and preconceptions to better understand the consumer's mind. Additionally, those who reject neuromarketing think it is ethically wrong and shouldn't even be inferred to read consumers' minds to improve the company's products and services. The authors discuss prevalent ethical issues with neuromarketing in this research paper. They contend that considering the current capabilities for businesses to stay cautious, the most commonly raised issues are consent, secrecy, privacy, selflessness, and no maliciousness. Nevertheless, the authors point out how the company's largely unique neuromarketing practices may give rise to potentially severe ethical problems. They conclude that businesses can use neuromarketing to remain anxious and reduce the positive effects on society.

In recent times natural products are exploiting for its medicinal properties due to its minimum side-effects. Carvacrol which is one of the monoterpene’s isolated from the essential oil of Oreganum vulgare possesses various antimicrobial, anti-oxidant and anti-cancerous activities. Therefore, in this present study carvacrol was selected to study its anti-malarial activity. A comparative study of commercially available drugs (Malarone) and carvacrol was conducted to understand the putative mechanism of action of carvacrol and its potential as a natural anti-malarial drug. Way2drug tool was used to predict the biological activity of the compound using the PASS Online server to predict the target protein of carvacrol. Further, Ubiquinone-c-reductase was selected for molecular docking with carvacrol because Malarone cures malaria by inhibiting the activity of enzyme. Ubiquinone-c-reductase is the key enzyme of the electron transport chain. It resulted that the amino acids positioned at 264-267 in chain ‘A’ of ubiquinone-c-reductase, were efficiently targeted by carvacrol with a minimum energy value of -5.4 Kcal/ mol. The present study resulted that carvacrol behaves as a natural blocker for ub-c-reductase may serve as a possible mechanism to develop carvacrol as a potential herbal anti-malarial drug. How to cite this article:Bansal A, Sharma NR, Upadhyay AK, Kaushik S, Thomas TG. Evaluation of Carvacrol and its Receptor (Ubiquinone-c-reductase) as a Potential Anti-malarial Drug. J Commun Dis 2019; 51(4): 16-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0019.5138.201932

Viruses are causative agents of infections in plants which are found worldwide and cause a serious threat to modern agriculture. Since the effect of viral infections is decreased by reducing the population of the vector by spraying the pesticides, they have serious effects on human beings and the ecosystem. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential of natural plant product carvacrol as an anti-phytoviral agent against cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) with the proposed mode of action. In the present study, in vitro and in vivo inhibitory effect of carvacrol was examined in comparison with a roundup at varying concentrations, against the CaMV. It was purified from the infected leaf of Brassica oleracea. In addition, the inhibitory mechanism of carvacrol was studied after docking the carvacrol with P2 and P3 protein of CaMV virus using AutoDock 4.2 software. It was found that out of different concentrations of carvacrol (1 µl, 1.5 µl, 2 µl, 2.5 µl and 3 µl) tested in vitro and in vivo, 3 µl resulted 85.1% and 75% inhibition in comparison with roundup which showed 76.2% and 70%, respectively. Molecular docking showed an inhibitory mechanism of carvacrol against CaMV by effective binding with P3 protein in the pocket defined by chain C and chain A. The present study concluded the anti-phytoviral activity of carvacrol against CaMV by retarding its growth as a result of inhibiting P3 protein.

All over the world, millions of people are suffering from mosquito borne diseases spreading by bacteria, viruses or parasites and transmitted by mosquitoes to humans. It is estimated that about billions of currencies are spent by nations annually due to these diseases and millions of people dye as a consequence of catching mosquito borne diseases. The World Health Organization has recorded mosquitoes borne diseases as one of the topmost threats to public health, particularly in developing countries. In India, it has been estimated that annually more than 40 million people suffer from mosquito illness. Mosquito control includes target killing the larvae of mosquitoes even before they emerge into adults via using botanical extracts as an alternative larvicides. Herbal plants having a good medicinal values and potential so now a days it has been used as an insecticide at an individual and community level. These are non-toxic and biodegradable measures that are easily available and inexpensive depicting broad spectrum potential against the various strains of mosquitoes. Existing studies have taken in account the probit analysis for the calculation of percentage, LC50, LC90 values and 95% confidence limits to propound the observed relationship between the mortality percentage of larvae and logarithmic concentration of the active constituents found in herbal extracts. In this article, we reviewed on the current state of knowledge available on the larvicidal value of plant extracts and mosquitocidal activity, the nature of active parts of plant and promising advances, knowledge to make herbal or biological control of various species of mosquitoes as a potential eco-friendly and safe larvicides.

e14082 Background: Blinded independent central radiology review is integral to modern clinical trials in oncology. Based on previously published data based on overall adjudication rates, it is generally accepted that selection of a larger and more complete number of target and non-target lesions at baseline results in greater reader concordance and therefore improved data fidelity. Methods: A retrospective database review was performed across 27 trials spanning 15 clinical indications and 4 response criteria involving a total of 20,942 independent reads across numerous timepoints in 10,471 subjects by 119 readers. Adjudication rates and adjudication selection rates were calculated across and within all trials. Results: Readers selected a mean of 2.3 target lesions and 1.2 non-target lesions in each subject. The mean adjudication rate across all trials was 33%. However, adjudication selection rate should be a more accurate representation of reader performance. Within any one trial, 44% of readers who selected the greatest number of target and non-target lesions at baseline actually had adjudication selection rates below average. Conclusions: Readers who select more target and non-target lesions than their peers at baseline do not demonstrate significantly higher adjudication selection rates. This suggests that the number of lesions chosen at baseline may not be as strong a contributer to reader performance and data quality as previously surmised.

Background & Objectives: To compare the mean percentage improvement in coordination, strength and disability in overhead throw athletes with partial thickness tear of the rotator cuff following plyometric training in different phases of rehabilitation. Methods: a total of 30 male overhead throwers suffering from partial thickness tear of the rotator cuff injury, on the basis of inclusion criteria were taken in the study. A full description of the study, including the selection process was explained to each patient. Documented consent was obtained from each patient. Group 1 consisted of athletes with history of rotator cuff injury one and half year back and group 2 included athletes with rotator cuff injury three months back. Coordination , strength and disability were assessed pre and post plyometric training for a period of three weeks and the mean percentage of improvement were compared in both the group following plyometric training. Results: intragroup analysis showed a significant improvement in coordination, strength with the level of significance (p

In view of escalating cost and pollution related with chemical fertilizers and pesticides, interest has increased to find alternative methods of fertilization and control of pests. Fungal endophytes residing symbiotically inside the plant tissues play an important role in the growth promotion and resistance to various biotic and abiotic stresses and diseases in plants. They also produce phytohormones, antimicrobial compounds, and many agrochemical bioactive metabolites. These endophytes hold huge potential to be used as safe and cost-effective alternative to chemical pesticides and fertilizers in view of their wide range of plant growth-promoting activities. The present chapter describes the role of endophytic fungi in the agriculture sector.

Studies in adults show that pretreatment with an optimal emollient may improve transmission of ultraviolet-B. In our study, we evaluated whether the preirradiation use of mineral oil enhanced the efficacy of narrow-band ultraviolet-B phototherapy in childhood psoriasis. Twenty children, aged 5 to 14 years with widespread, symmetrical psoriasis involving >20% body surface area were enrolled in a prospective, single-blind, controlled study. Mineral oil was applied prior to irradiation over one half of the body and the other half was emollient-free control. Narrow-band ultraviolet-B phototherapy was administered to whole body twice a week on nonconsecutive days with initial dose of 50 mJ/cm2 and increment of 10% at each session. Clinical response was evaluated as grades of erythema, scaling and induration, area of involvement and modified psoriasis area severity index score on each side at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks. Two patients dropped out, 18 patients completed the study. Significantly greater improvement (p

To assess the utility of maintaining and analyzing a quality-management database while investigating a subjectively perceived increase in the incidence of tunneled catheter and port dysfunction in a cohort of oncology outpatients.All 152 patients undergoing lytic therapy (2-4 mg alteplase) of a malfunctioning indwelling central venous catheter (CVC) from January through June 2004 at a single cancer center in the United States were included in a quality-management database. Patients were categorized by time to device failure and the initial method of catheter placement (surgery vs interventional radiology). Data were analyzed after 3 months, and areas of possible improvement were identified and acted upon. Three months of follow-up data were then collected and similarly analyzed.In a 6-month period, 152 patients treated for catheter malfunction received a total of 276 doses of lytic therapy. A 3-month interim analysis revealed a disproportionately high rate (34%) of early catheter malfunction (ECM;30 days from placement). Postplacement radiographs demonstrated suboptimal catheter positioning in 67% of these patients, all of whom had surgical catheter placement. There was a 50% absolute decrease in the number of patients presenting with catheter malfunction in the period from April through June (P.001). Evaluation of postplacement radiographs in these patients demonstrated a 50% decrease in the incidence of suboptimal positioning (P.05).Suboptimal positioning was likely responsible for some, but not all, cases of ECM. Maintenance of a quality-management database is a relatively simple intervention that can have a clear and important impact on the quality and cost of patient care.

Thin films of Cd 1− x Zn x Te (0.2–1 μm thick) over a wide compositional range were deposited on CVD grown SnO 2 by a single step electrodeposition technique. The electrochemical bath used in this work consisted of aqueous solutions of Te reacted with nitric acid, CdCl 2 and ZnCl 2 , to which Acetonitrile (CH 3 CN) was added to act as a complexing agent. Optical absorption studies, X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and scanning electron micrographs (SEM) show that the grain size of the films can be controlled by means of the deposition potential. As the growth potential is varied from − 550 to − 850 mV (w.r.t. a saturated calomel electrode), the grain size decreases from about one micron to the nanometer range.

By passing wild type bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) in increasing concentrations of DPC-A69280–29, a thiazole urea class compound that inhibits BVDV replication, we were able to select several variants of BVDV that exhibited decreased susceptibility to this compound. When the non-structural genes of these variants were sequenced and compared with wild type, only one change was common to all the variants that also exhibited resistance to DPC-A69280–29 (>10-fold increase in IC50). This change was a T-to-A transversion at position 11198 of the BVDV genome, which would cause a predicted substitution of isoleucine for phenylalanine at amino acid 78 of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). This substitution would occur in a region of the BVDV RdRp which has been proposed to be important for the formation of the RdRp homodimer that is essential for the activity of the enzyme. However, since DPC-69280-29 inhibits BVDV replication by interfering with the initiation of viral RNA synthesis, we discuss the possibility that this region of the BVDV RdRp also may play a role in the initiation process. Furthermore, since this region is located fairly close to the template RNA, we also propose that the role it plays may involve either template selection, stabilization or processivity.

A 55 year-old male presented with multiple pus-discharging abscesses and sinuses and mutilating scarring on the gluteal region and back prevalent for the last ten years with exacerbations and remissions. Physical examination revealed acromegaly with frontal bossing, prognathism, a barrel chest and acral hypertrophy. Dermatological examination revealed cutis verticis gyrata, thick eyelids, a large triangular nose, a thickened lower lip, macroglossia, widely spaced teeth and widened skin pores with wet and oily skin. Hair was fine and nails were flat and wide. There were multiple inflammatory papules, tender nodules, draining sinuses, and grouped, polyporous comedones as well as multiple and extensive depressed and keloidal scars localized predominantly over the gluteal region with a few scattered lesions over the back. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed widened sella turcica. His basal fasting growth hormone (GH) levels were markedly raised (230 ng/mL; normal 1-5 ng/mL) while the prolactin levels were moderately raised (87 ng/mL; normal 2-5 ng/mL). These findings were consistent with a diagnosis of acromegaly. The patient was put on antibiotics, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and isotretinoin at a dose of 1 mg/kg/day, which was increased to 1.5 mg/kg/day. Except for an initial mildly beneficial response, the skin lesions were largely resistant to high doses of isotretinoin at the end of four months.

� is committed to serving the community. We are dedicated to enhancing patient care, teaching and research, and to taking a leadership role as an integrated health care system. The above is excerpted from the mission statement of the hospital that sponsors my residency program. Such a statement is likely to be found similarly worded, if not verbatim, in many others around the country. Although different instruments have occasionally generated contradictoryresults(i.e.,PressGaneyAssociates), at least one major survey (NRCPicker Group) has reported that smaller community hospitals generally achieve greater patient satisfaction than larger teaching institutions [1]. The most common explanation offered for this finding is that community hospitals focus exclusively on the mission of patient care, without having to expend additional resources on teaching and research, and are therefore able to accomplish this singular goal more effectively. These data seem to put the mission of patient care somewhat at odds with those of teaching and re

Xenopus cDNAs homologous to the Drosophila Mad gene and C. elegans CEM genes have been cloned and functionally analyzed by microinjection into frog embryos. The results show that these genes (Xmad) encode intracellular proteins that act downstream of TGF beta superfamily ligands. Most interesting is the fact that different Xmad proteins produce distinct biological responses. Xmad1 produces ventral mesoderm, apparently transducing a signal for BMP2 and BMP4, whereas Xmad2 induces dorsal mesoderm like Vg1, activin, and nodal. These results suggest that an individual Xmad protein waits poised in the cytoplasm for instruction from a distinct subset of TGF beta ligands and then conveys specific information to the nucleus.

The dripping candle wax sign indicates melorheostosis. The radiographic findings may reflect a developmental error primarily in intramembranous bone formation. This leads to an irregular thickening of cortical bone (cortical hyperostosis) that extends up to (but usually not past) the articular surface (2). Pathologic findings suggest both overproduction of bone matrix and increased angiogenesis (5). The distribution of affected bone is thought to be due to the predilection of melorheostosis to occur in sclerotomes (skeletal regions innervated by a single spinal sensory nerve) (3).

A Gunther Tulip inferior vena cava (IVC) filter was placed prophylactically in a 22-year-old trauma victim with spinal injuries. Attempts to retrieve the filter at 21 and 25 days after placement were aborted as a result of clot trapped in the filter. Despite the possible risk of an IVC laceration, a third attempt was made 317 days after placement in view of the young age of the patient. The filter started collapsing into the retrieval sheath but could not easily be separated from the IVC. During attempted redeployment, the filter would not reopen. The filter was ultimately retrieved with use of additional force. A mild stenosis of the IVC was noted immediately after retrieval. However, the IVC returned to its preretrieval diameter as seen on a 3-month follow-up venogram.

Before phototransduction, spontaneous activity in the developing mammalian retina is required for the appropriate patterning of retinothalamic connections, and there is growing evidence that this activity influences the development of circuits within the retina itself. We demonstrate here that the neural substrate that generates waves in the mouse retina develops through three distinct stages. First, between embryonic day 16 and birth [postnatal day 0 (P0)], we observed both large, propagating waves inhibited by nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonists and small clusters of cells displaying nonpropagating, correlated calcium increases that were independent of nAChR activation. Second, between P0 and P11, we observed only larger propagating waves that were abolished by toxins specific to alpha3 and beta2 subunit-containing nAChRs. Third, between P11 and P14 (eye opening) we observed propagating activity that was abolished by ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists. The time course of this developmental shift was dramatically altered in retinas from mice lacking the beta2 nAChR subunit or the beta2 and beta4 subunits. These retinas exhibited a novel circuit at P0, no spontaneous correlated activity between P1 and P8, and the premature induction at P8 of an ionotropic glutamate receptor-based circuit. Retinas from postnatal mice lacking the alpha3 nAChR subunit exhibited spontaneous, correlated activity patterns that were similar to those observed in embryonic wild-type mice. In alpha3-/- and beta2-/- mice, the development and distribution of cholinergic neurons and processes and the density of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and the gross segregation of their dendrites into ON and OFF sublaminae were normal. However, the refinement of individual RGC dendrites is delayed. These results indicate that retinal waves mediated by nAChRs are involved in, but not required for, the development of neural circuits that define the ON and OFF sublamina of the inner plexiform layer.

Objective: To study the effects of isometric and proprioceptive exercises in IT professionals suffering from subclinical neck pain. Methodology: 30 subjects within age group of 18-40 yrs both males and females from IT companies with subclinical neck pain participated in the study. Subjects who were working for a minimum of 6 hours /day or 30 hours/ week and with the NDI score in between range of 5-14 were included in the study. Subjects were excluded if they had any other musculoskeletal, vertebro basilar insufficiency symptoms and neurological disorders, had undergone cervical spine surgery or were undergoing treatment at the time of testing. Improvements were noted on VAS score, NDI score, extensor muscle strength measurement and proprioception i.e. joint position sense. Results: Significant differences were observed within two groups i.e. group B given postural training and strength training exercises as well as group C given postural training, strength training and proprioceptive training exercises compared to group A given postural training exercises only. On intergroup analysis between groups B and C no significant difference was found. Conclusion: Strength training program with postural correction tips is equally effective as combination of strength and proprioceptive training group in improving pain, disability, muscle strength and proprioception.

Recently, constitutively active mutants of MEK (MAP/ERK kinase) were shown to be capable of transforming cells to tumorigenicity suggesting that MEK can function as a dominant oncogene and potentially play a role in human carcinogenesis. Human lung cancer cells exhibit mutations in other components of the MAP kinase signaling pathway such as the Her-2/neu and ras oncogenes. Thus, the coding sequences of both MEK-1 and MEK-2 cDNAs from human lung cancer cell lines were screened by single strand conformation polymorphism analysis and DNA sequencing for alterations in these two genes. In 37 lung cancer cell lines we found: an allelic variant in MEK-1 cDNA, nt 783 G-->A, (no amino acid change); a MEK-2 cDNA change (nt 977 C-->T mutation leading to 298 Pro-->Leu change); a MEK-2 cDNA change nt 537 C-->T (no amino acid change); and a frequent MEK-2 cDNA germline polymorphism nt 744, A-->C (no amino acid change) with an allele frequency of 0.5 for each form. These results suggest that mutations in the MEK-1 and MEK-2 gene occur at a very low frequency in human lung cancer.

Background: Various tools are available for assessing disability in upper limb musculoskeletal disorders but there is a need to find a safe, quick, condition specific and more accurate assessment tool to assess upper limb disability in frozen shoulder patients. Objective: To find a correlation in between the scores of QuickDASH-9, SPADI and F12S tools. Methodology: In this study 60 subjects, both male and female were taken between age group (51±5.374 years) . Patients diagnosed with frozen shoulder (phase-1) were included in the study based on their orthopedic assessment and inclusion criteria. QuickDASH-9, SPADI and F12S were then administered for assessing pain and disability in these patients. Result: Correlation was observed between SPADI, Quick DASH-9 and F12S scores at p Interpretation and conclusion: All the 3 tools can be used to assess pain and disability in frozen shoulder patients (phase I). Quick DASH-9 is simple, quick and subjective tool based on functional activity questions and assesses disability of shoulder , arm and hand while F12S is more condition specific tool that assesses only shoulder joint and muscle pathology. F12S has both subjective and objective components. Hence it can be considered as a more specific tool for assessing disability in frozen shoulder patients.

Objective: To correlate between parallel walk test (PWT) and Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT) and to determine the better tool out of PWT30.5 and PWT25 to distinguish between fallers and non fallers. Methodology: In this study 60 older adults, both male and female were taken. 31 elderly fallers and 29 non fallers were recruited on the basis of MMSE, Barthel Index scores, parallel stance and tandem stance tests. Subjects were timed and scored as they walked for TUGT and PWT at 2 different widths (30.5, 25cm) . Results: PWT time was found to be correlated with TUGT at p < 0.05. Significant difference was present between fallers and non fallers for time and score of PWT at width 30.5cm(PWT 30.5) and at 25cm(PWT 25) .PWT score was not correlated with TUGT. Variation observed between time taken and score could be attributed to varying gait characteristics. Conclusion: PWT is a simple tool for assessing dynamic balance in elderly. PWT 30.5cm may be a better tool for assessing dynamic balance.

Peptides corresponding to the proposed coated pit internalization signal of the native low density lipoprotein receptor, NPVY, take up in aqueous solution a reverse-turn conformation with the Asn in position i and the Tyr in position i + 3. By contrast, peptides derived from receptors that are defective for endocytosis do not adopt the reverse turn. These internalization-defective receptors include those with a nonaromatic residue substituted for the Tyr and those with Asn----Ala or Pro----Ala substitutions. While the tendency of an Asn-Pro sequence to induce a reverse turn was anticipated, the structural importance of an aromatic residue in position i + 3 was not. The sequences associated with the internalization signal thus appear to play a critical conformational role that is required for endocytosis, probably by enabling binding to adaptor molecules. With the results presented in the accompanying paper on lysosomal acid phosphatase, we now have direct evidence for previous proposals of a general correlation of internalization signals with a turn conformational motif.