Search

Long-term cardiovascular complications in metabolic syndrome are a major cause of mortality and morbidity in India and forecasted estimates in this domain of research are scarcely reported in the literature. The aim of present investigation is to estimate the cardiovascular events associated with a representative Indian population of patients suffering from metabolic syndrome using United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study risk engine. Patient level data was collated from 567 patients suffering from metabolic syndrome through structured interviews and physician records regarding the input variables, which were entered into the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study risk engine. The patients of metabolic syndrome were selected according to guidelines of National Cholesterol Education Program – Adult Treatment Panel III, modified National Cholesterol Education Program – Adult Treatment Panel III and International Diabetes Federation criteria. A projection for 10 simulated years was run on the engine and output was determined. The data for each patient was processed using the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study risk engine to calculate an estimate of the forecasted value for the cardiovascular complications after a period of 10 years. The absolute risk (95% confidence interval) for coronary heart disease, fatal coronary heart disease, stroke and fatal stroke for 10 years was 3.79 (1.5–3.2), 9.6 (6.8–10.7), 7.91 (6.5–9.9) and 3.57 (2.3–4.5), respectively. The relative risk (95% confidence interval) for coronary heart disease, fatal coronary heart disease, stroke and fatal stroke was 17.8 (12.98–19.99), 7 (6.7–7.2), 5.9 (4.0–6.6) and 4.7 (3.2–5.7), respectively. Simulated projections of metabolic syndrome patients predict serious life-threatening cardiovascular consequences in the representative cohort of patients in western India.

Bacillus thuringiensis var. kenyae (B.t.k.) is a microbial insecticide effective against lepidopteran pest species. Acute oral toxicity in rats and acute dermal toxicity, ocular irritation, skin irritation in rabbits were studied for the wettable powder formulation of B.t.k. In addition, toxicity of the wettable powder formulation was also studied in fresh water fish ( Gambussia affinis). The results of these studies indicate that this wettable powder formulation of B.t.k. is nontoxic and nonirritant to rats, rabbits, and fish.

Some indigenous plants reputedly possess antifertility properties when orally administered. Various extracts of some of these plants were used in an investigation to determine antifertility activity using a method which would ultimately detect anti-zygotic, blastocystoxic, anti-implantation or early abortifacient activity in adult female albino rats of proven fertility following successful mating. The rats were laparotomized on Day 10 of pregnancy and the number recorded of implantation sites in both horns of the uterus. Results of the investigation showed that: 1) None of the extracts from stems and leaves of Argemine mexicana Linn, from the seeds of Carica papaya, and from the petroleum ether and aqueous extracts of Mentha arvenis Linn showed encouraging antifertility activity; 2) The alcoholic extracts of Mentha arvenis leaves, Sapindus trifoliatus seeds and the methanol fraction of the alcoholic extract of Sapindus trifoliatus showed 100%, 100% and 80% antifertility activity respectively; 3) the alcoholic extract of Mentha arvenis inhibited implantation in 80% of rats when administered on Days 1-3 of pregnancy suggesting that it mainly acts as an anti-zygotic agent; 4) Thhe Garica papaya seed extracts did not exhibit anti-zygotic, anti-implantation, early abortifacient or antifertility activity; 5) when the methanol fraction of Sapindus trifoliatus was administered orally in rats on pregnancy Day 4-5, it inhibited implantation on 100% of the rats suggesting that it acts mainly as a blastocystoxic agent.