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The increasing incidence of tick-borne diseases and the growing resistance to conventional acaricides underscore the urgent need for innovative and sustainable tick management strategies. This study investigates the potential of assembly and sex pheromones for the control of larval stages of Rhipicephalus sanguineus, the brown dog tick, which poses significant health risks to dogs. The ticks were collected from various canine hosts in Thrissur, Kerala and subjected to Petri-dish bioassays using vapour patches impregnated with synthetic assembly pheromone (AP) and sex pheromone (SP), both individually and in combination. The efficacy of these semiochemicals was assessed based on the attraction and clustering behaviour of unfed larvae and partially fed adult ticks over a 24-hour period. Results demonstrated a significantly higher attraction to AP-impregnated patches, with notable efficacy observed in causing tick aggregation, particularly beyond 30 min of exposure. While SP also showed potential in attracting ticks, the combination of SP and AP did not result in a synergistic effect. The study highlights the potential of using semiochemicals as an environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional acaricides, highlighting their role in integrated pest management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was undertaken to study the effect of indoxacarb on various biochemical parameters in White Leghorn layer birds for a period of 14 days following a single oral administration. The study follows OECD guideline no. 223. White Leghorn layer birds (n=30) weighing between 1.2 to 1.6 kg were used for the study. Six birds were kept as the control group and approximately 2 ml of blood was collected in EDTA tubes on days 7 and 14 of the experiment. Biochemical parameters such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were estimated. The mean values of ALP, AST, ALT and BUN were found significantly higher on days 7 and 14 of the acute toxicity study of indoxacarb in layers as compared to that of the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to standardise the protocol for microencapsulation of buck spermatozoa for its chilled preservation. Semen ejaculates collected from Malabari bucks of age two to three years, weighing 42 to 46 Kg and maintained under uniform managemental conditions were utilised. Sodium alginate of concentrations 0.5, 0.75 and 1.5 per cent with varying gauge sized hypodermic needles of 18G, 20G and 23G were used. The distance between the tip of the needle and the upper meniscus of BaCl2 solution was adjusted to varied distance like ≥ 7 cm, 3.5 to 5 cm, ≤ 2cm. This resulted in capsule sizes of 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 4.5 mm, 6 mm and 7 mm. Different shape of capsules like globular, plate like, irregular, tear-drop and oval were obtained and the capsule stability varied from 35 to 75 per cent. Capsule parameters were assessed at 0 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 96 h of chilled preservation in EYC extender at ratio of (1:2). The results of the present study cited that 1.5 per cent sodium alginate concentration, with 23G sized hypodermic needle and distance of 3.5 cm were ideal to acquire uniform spherical shaped stable capsule of size 1.90 ± 0.03 and stability of 75 per cent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute pancreatitis is an acute inflammatory condition that primarily affects the exocrine pancreas. Diagnosis and treatment of acute pancreatitis can be aided by evaluating particular haematobiochemical alterations. Twelve Wistar albino rats were split up into two groups. Group 1 served as control, while Group 2 (the experimental group) received two intraperitoneal injections of L-arginine at the dose rate of 2.5 g/Kg body weight on the 14th day of experiment. Haematobiochemical parameters were assessed on days 0, 7, and 15 of the experiment. Group 2 exhibited a significant rise in serum amylase and lipase levels when contrasted with Group 1 (P<0.05), coinciding with an observable reduction in both the volume of packed red cells and haemoglobin concentration. No significant changes were observed in the levels of glucose, total leukocyte count, total erythrocyte count, and platelet count between the two groups (P>0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effect of Moringa oleifera, an age-old ingredient of Indian ayurvedic and traditional medicine, was tested for its effect on age related antioxidant activity in Wistar albino rats of three age groups (6, 12 and 18 months old). Aqueous extract of M. oleifera leaves (MOAE) was administered orally at a dosage of 200 mg/kg body weight for a period of 30 days. MOAE treatment showed significant reduction in lipid peroxidation and lipofuscin pigmentation along with elevated serotonin and antioxidant enzymes in the brains of treated groups of aged rats. LC-MS-MS analysis revealed blood brain barrier permeable secondary metabolites viz., 9,9-bianthracene, 4-Methoxycinnamic acid, Cinnamic acid, (E)-p-coumaric acid pyrogallol and ostruthin from the extract. 9,9-bianthracene and ostruthin showed better binding affinity to Keap-1 and SERT in silico. The present result suggests the protective efficacy of M oleifera against age related oxidative stress in brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present communication describes the detailed day wise study of histological changes of the ovary of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus in the postengorgement period together with the systematic classification of their oocytes. The ovary of R. (B.) annulatus is panoistic type with an asynchronous development of oocytes. All the stages (II, III, IV, and V) of oocytes except stage I were similar to R. (B.) microplus. The stage I oocytes showed basophilia, which was not reported earlier in other species of ticks. Day wise changes were in the form of presence of oogonia in partially fed and day one engorged adults, considerable degeneration of oocytes on day two, emergence of new wave of oocytes on day three, presence of mature oocytes up to day eight, and complete degeneration of ovarian tissue from day eight onwards. The degenerative changes in the ovary appeared initially in the oocytes followed by germinal epithelium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acaricidal activity of the petroleum ether extract of leaves of Tetrastigma leucostaphylum (Dennst.) Alston (family: Vitaceae) against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus was assessed using adult immersion test (AIT). The per cent of adult mortality, inhibition of fecundity, and blocking of hatching of eggs were studied at different concentrations. The extract at 10% concentration showed 88.96% inhibition of fecundity, 58.32% of adult tick mortality, and 50% inhibition of hatching. Peak mortality rate was observed after day 5 of treatment. Mortality of engorged female ticks, inhibition of fecundity, and hatching of eggs were concentration dependent. The LC50 value of the extract against R. (B.) annulatus was 10.46%. The HPTLC profiling of the petroleum ether extract revealed the presence of at least seven polyvalent components. In the petroleum ether extract, nicotine was identified as one of the components up to a concentration of 5.4%. However, nicotine did not reveal any acaricidal activity up to 20000 ppm (2%). Coconut oil, used as diluent for dissolving the extract, did not reveal any acaricidal effects. The results are indicative of the involvement of synergistic or additive action of the bioactive components in the tick mortality and inhibition of the oviposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Choroid plexus tumors (CPT) are rare neoplasms that pose considerable treatment challenges. This study reviews a single institute's experience with 25 patients of CPT and attempts to contribute to the general body of knowledge on CPT. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of the case records of 25 patients operated for CPT since January 1998 and having a minimum of 1 year follow-up. Results: The study group included 12 (48%) cases of choroid plexus papilloma (CPP), 09 (36%) cases of choroid plexus carcinoma (CPC) and 4 cases of atypical CPP. The mean age at presentation was 18.6 years (range, 6 months to 54 years; SD, 18.7) and a male preponderance was noted (17:8). Raised intracranial pressure was the commonest presenting symptom (72%). The tumors were distributed as follows: lateral ventricle (16; 64%), fourth ventricle (5; 20%), fourth ventricle with cerebellopontine angle extension (3; 12%), and third ventricle (1; 4%). A complete surgical excision was achieved in 11 cases of CPP and 8 cases of CPC. Operative complications include pneumocephalus (40%), focal deficits (36%), subdural effusion (32%), and persistent hydrocephalus requiring shunt (24%). All patients with CPP had a good outcome at the end of a mean follow-up of 5.4 years, whereas the median survival for patients with CPCs who underwent a subtotal resection with adjuvant therapy was 36 months. Conclusion: CPTs include a spectra ranging from CPP to CPC. Radiologic and histologic characterization of these tumors is difficult and newer immunohistochemical and genetic studies should be done to differentiate them from each other. Total excision offers a good prognosis and should be attempted for all forms of CPTs. CPPs carry a good prognosis, and adjuvant therapy is not indicated even after partial excision. CPCs and atypical CPCs carry a poor prognosis, and adjuvant therapy improves survival marginally after total excision. Spinal drop metastases are common for CPC and screening of the spine for possible metastasis should be part of the routine preoperative and postoperative investigation protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to an article about simulated neurosurgery in India.

The article presents several correspondences regarding on gender and nationality authorship trends in neuroscience and gender inequality in academic.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Publication performance and research output of Neurology and Neurosurgery training institutes in India: A 5-year analysis" by Venkatesh S. Madhugiri in the May-June 2015 issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present communication describes the detailed day wise study of histological changes of the ovary of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus in the postengorgement period together with the systematic classification of their oocytes. The ovary of R. (B.) annulatus is panoistic type with an asynchronous development of oocytes. All the stages (II, III, IV, and V) of oocytes except stage I were similar to R. (B.) microplus. The stage I oocytes showed basophilia, which was not reported earlier in other species of ticks. Day wise changes were in the form of presence of oogonia in partially fed and day one engorged adults, considerable degeneration of oocytes on day two, emergence of new wave of oocytes on day three, presence of mature oocytes up to day eight, and complete degeneration of ovarian tissue from day eight onwards. The degenerative changes in the ovary appeared initially in the oocytes followed by germinal epithelium.

The acaricidal activity of the petroleum ether extract of leaves of Tetrastigma leucostaphylum (Dennst.) Alston (family: Vitaceae) against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus was assessed using adult immersion test (AIT). The per cent of adult mortality, inhibition of fecundity, and blocking of hatching of eggs were studied at different concentrations. The extract at 10% concentration showed 88.96% inhibition of fecundity, 58.32% of adult tick mortality, and 50% inhibition of hatching. Peak mortality rate was observed after day 5 of treatment. Mortality of engorged female ticks, inhibition of fecundity, and hatching of eggs were concentration dependent. The LC50 value of the extract against R. (B.) annulatus was 10.46%. The HPTLC profiling of the petroleum ether extract revealed the presence of at least seven polyvalent components. In the petroleum ether extract, nicotine was identified as one of the components up to a concentration of 5.4%. However, nicotine did not reveal any acaricidal activity up to 20000 ppm (2%). Coconut oil, used as diluent for dissolving the extract, did not reveal any acaricidal effects. The results are indicative of the involvement of synergistic or additive action of the bioactive components in the tick mortality and inhibition of the oviposition.