Journal of Research in Applied and Basic Medical Sciences
Volume:7 Issue: 4, Autumn 2021

 Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus) and Lactobacillus casei L. casei) are the primary bacterial pathogens involved in dental caries and periodontal diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the antimicrobial activity of Carvacrol in inhibiting the growth of these two microbial species in-vitro.

 In this study, we prepared standard colonies of L. acidophilus and L. casei, then evaluated disk diffusion and well diffusion tests on De Man-Rugose and Sharpe (MRS) agar plates to determine the antimicrobial activity of Carvacrol.  We used 30 µg tetracycline disks as control. To evaluate the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), Carvacrol was used in the range of 20 to 0.039 µL in MRS broth medium containing bacteria. To determine the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), the contents of tubes were subsequently cultured on MRS agar plates.

 The MIC and MBC of Carvacrol against L. casei were 0.406 ± 0.143 and 0.813 ± 0.287 µg/mL, and against L. acidophilus were 0.254 ± 0.072 and 0.406 ± 0.143 µg/mL, respectively. In the disk diffusion test, carvacrol solution (2%) significantly induced inhibitory zones against L. casei and L. acidophilus. Although In the well diffusion test, 2% carvacrol solution generated inhibitory zones against L. casei. and against L. acidophilus with detectableinhibitory zones, but they werer not statistically significant.. We noted a significant difference only for the volume of 80 µL of solution (p = 0.03).

 The present study indicated that Carvacrol could be used as a natural alternative agent against L. acidophilus and L. casei generated dental caries.

More than 80% of people in the developing countries rely on phytomedicine for primary healthcare in both human and livestock. Traditionally, herbal medicinal practice and treatment of cognitive disorders or neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other memory-related disorders have been achieved with numerous plant products. The aim of this study is to evaluate the anticholinesterase properties of Ficus deltoidea leaf extract in 80% methanol on Javanese medaka.

Ficus deltoidea leaf was extracted with 80% methanol. Crude extract was then evaluated for toxicity effect on adult Javanese medaka. The neuroprotective effect of the crude extract was also evaluated using anticholinesterase assay. Identification of phytochemical constituents were carried out using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LCMS) techniques.

Results disclosed low toxicity effect of the crude extract with LC50 of 59.34 ± 0.1 (Sub-acute toxicity test) and 44.67 ± 0.7 (Chronic toxicity test). High anti-cholinesterase activities with significant differences at p<0.001 was recorded in this study. Vitexin and isovitexin were identified in the crude extract using HPLC and LCMS.

This study shows that Ficus deltoidea has high neuroprotective potential due to the high vitexin, isovitexin and several other bioactive components that are yet to be identified. Hence, it could be developed and used as new neuroprotective supplement/herbal product.

 With change of posture from quadrupeds to bipeds, a shift of body weight from appendicular skeleton to the axial skeleton (spine) occurs. As a result, various changes in the spine took place and the human spine became more prone to diseases such as scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, osteoporosis of vertebrae and many more. Over the past decade, a number of corrective surgeries have been designed but trans-pedicular screw fixation in spondylosyndesis remains the gold standard for the correcting spinal deformities. Hence, the current study was designed to frame out the morphometric measurements of the pedicle of lumbar vertebrae so that guidelines can be delineated for the manufacturers of lumbar screw implants.

The present cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 100 lumbar vertebrae of unknown age and sex obtained from the Department of Anatomy Govt. Medical College (GMC) Jammu. All the measurements were taken twice on both right and left side with the help of sliding vernier calipers, averaged out and then tabulated in Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

The dimensions of the pedicle height of the lumbar vertebrae on the right side were recorded to be from 20.05 to 10.32mm with mean of 13.83±2.08mm. However, mean of the pedicle height on left side was 13.71± 2.09mm with the range of 20.01 to 10.22mm with statistically significant p- value of 0.025. Further, the range of pedicular width of lumbar vertebrae on the right side was 17.71 to 5.38mm with a mean of 10.8±2.73mm and on left side was from 17.69 to 5.37 mm with mean of 9.77±2.57 mm with statistically significant p value of 0.037. The mean inter-pedicular distance of lumbar vertebrae was 21.73±2.62mm with a range of 11-28mm.

The results of the present study concluded that mean pedicular width and mean pedicular height are more on right side and mean inter- pedicular distance was 21.73±2.62mm. Hence, it was concluded that measurements should be taken before designing the lumbar screws for North Indian population.

An oral examination is an essential tool of assessment of depth of knowledge and the communication skill of medical students. There are many shortcomings like examiner bias, improper time distribution, gender bias, and many more. Therefore, in the present study we structured oral examination as an assessment tool for Phase -I Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) students in Biochemistry, along with the examiner’s feedback to abate biases.

Structural viva voce (SVV) was implemented during 2nd formative assessment, in the Department of Biochemistry. 150 participants (146 students & 4 faculties/ examiners) were contributed. Participants were sensitized and trained about SVV. All the participants were simultaneously assessed with traditional and structured oral examination without intermixing. Feedback form (based on 4-point Likert scale) via a Google form was collected for both types of the viva, from the participants.. Apposite statistical analysis was done.

Analysis of the study depicted the optimistic response of the participant towards the SVV. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.00001) were observed in the marks obtained, stress, time allotment, etc. Examiners also acknowledged that SVV was a better way of taking the oral examination as it reduced the bias and brings uniformity of questions.

Although before implementing any new tool in assessment, it is necessary to develop the infrastructure accordingly, sensitization and training of the participants and and preparation of the module prior to the examination, but the results of the current study indicated that SVV should be tried in other subjects of medical education and with the majority of medical colleges of other states.

 Uveitis is the inflammation of the uvea, the pigmented layer that lies between the inner retina and the outer fibrous layer composed of the sclera and cornea. This study is aimed to know the psychosocial and economic impacts of uveitis in Iraq.

 For this Cross-sectional study, 100 surveys were conducted in patients with uveitis. Demographic data and socioeconomic status were recorded. Symptoms, time to diagnosis, treatment, behavior, attitudes, and feelings towards the disease were identified. Data were analyzed using statistical programs. p < 0.05 was taken to be statistically significant.

For conducted 100 surveys, mean age was 45 ± 17.08 years, socioeconomic level ≤ D in 61%, and 54 patients were women. The diagnosis was made at 1.87 ± 2.73 years. They attend an annual appointment for 2.1 ± 2.14 months, more than 1 at emergency room, and hospitalized for 3 to 7 days. They used systemic treatment with steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (53%), immunosuppressants (31%), biological therapy (7%), and topical treatment with lubricants (44%), steroids (26%) and surgery (39%). Observed comorbidities included: arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, lupus, and nonspecific chronic ulcerative colitis. Complications included visual impairment, cataracts and blindness. Uveitis affected life in 83% of cases, 41% daily, and 49% need care from another person. 79% receive private care, 43% have social security, spending monthly 3,590 ± 2,730.65 pesos on medicines, transportation, medical consultations and studies. These are added with annually absence from work of 8.5 ± 14.56 days, plus 7.0 days of disability or hospitalization. 51% report lack of support to learn about the disease.

 This is the first national study that portrays the condition of patients with uveitis and the shortcomings they go through, including the economic and biopsychosocial field. The study elucidates various needs of uveitis patients that could be considered by govrenments. More studies with more study population is recommended to better decision making for needs of uveitis patients.

Lymphadenopathy is one of the commonly encountered clinical presentation and the early targets for aspiration, therefore providing an important clue towards the diagnosis to find out the underlying etiology.

The present cross-sectional prospective study was conducted in the tertiary care hospital in the North India among 201 lymphadenopaty patients on whom fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was performed after the informed consent.

In the currnt study, majority of the patients were male (52.73%) with male-to female ratio of 1.1:1. The age group ranged from 1 to >80 years with majority of the patients in the age group of 21 to 30 years followed by 0 to 10 years and least in >80 years. Non-neoplastic cases were 121, neoplastic cases were67, and inadequate were 13 of the total 201 cases.

FNAC of the enlarged lymph node yields an important diagnostic clue to arrive the final diagnosis.

 Dacryocystitis is an inflammation of the lacrimal sac, which occurs due to obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct. This study was conducted to know the changing trends in organism causing acute and chronic dacryocystitis.

It is a prospective study done on consecutive 30 patients attending to Ophthalmology Department. Samples were collected and bacteria were detected by conventional microbiological tests and antibacterial susceptibility of the isolates were detected according to CLSI guidelines.

From a total of 30 samples processed, acute dacryocystitis was found to be more prevalent in 20 to 29 years of age group followed by involvement of 30 to 39 years’ age group. Females were seen to be predominantly affected than males in both acute and chronic dacryocystitis. Of the total 30 samples processed, 36.7% were from chronic dacryocystitis cases and 63.36% were from acute dacryocystitis. In both acute and chronic dacryocystitis, gram-positive organisms were the predominant accounting for 16.67% and 23.27% respectively. Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) (10%) was the predominant Gram-positive organism in acute dacryocystitis and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (10%) in chronic dacryocystitis. P.aeruginosa (3.33%) was the gram-negative organism isolated from acute cases of dacryocystitis and E.coli (6.67%) was the predominant gram-negative organism isolated from chronic cases of dacryocystitis.

It’s necessary for the treating clinicians to note that the type of organism involved in acute and chronic dacryocystitis could be different, and they must include suitable antibiotics for empirical treatment to avoid further complications.

There are few studies showing the association between vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 severity and mortality. This study designed to investigate the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the severity and mortality of COVID-19.

The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 48 COVID-19 patients with positive PCR test results. Patients were divided into three groups according to their serum 25-OH vitamin D3 levels: group 1 <20 ng/mL, group 2. 20-50 ng/mL, and group 3, ≥50 ng/ml. The relationship of the levels of vitamin D3, as well as the history of diabetes, hypertension, Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD), Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) ≤60 mL/min, LDH ≥500 U/L, and Lymphocyte count ≤1500 with the severity of the disease and its mortality were investigated.

A significant relationship was observed between vitamin D ≤20 ng/mL and the severity (P<0.001) and mortality (P=0.001, adjusted OR=2.4) of the disease in COVID-19 patients. It was also shown that GFR ≤60 mL/min (P=0.02, adjusted OR=3.6), IHD (P=0.04, adjusted OR=2.8), LDH ≥500 U/L (P=0.027, adjusted OR=1.8), and lymphocyte count ≤1500 (P=0.002, adjusted OR=2.2) significantly affected the mortality.

The present study showed a significant relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the severity of the disease and mortality in COVID-19 patients. These results suggest the need for appropriate health policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.