Validation of antioxidant, antiproliferative, and in vitro anti-rheumatoid arthritis activities of epigallo-catechin-rich bioactive fraction from Camellia sinensis var. assamica, Assam variety white tea, and its comparative evaluation with green tea fraction.

The epigallocatechin-rich polyphenolic fraction of Assam variety white tea, traditionally used for the management of diverse inflammatory ailments and health drink, was investigated through eco-friendly green aqueous extraction, TLC, and HPLC characterization, phytochemical screening, in vitro DPPH assay, anti-proteinase, MTT assay on synovial fibroblast and colon cancer cells, apoptotic FACS analysis, cytokine ELISA, p-STAT3 western blotting, and in silico docking analysis. HPLC-TLC standardized white tea fraction (WT-F) rendered higher extractive-yield (21%, w/w), than green tea fraction(GT-F) (12%, w/w). WT-F containing flavonoids and non-hydrolysable polyphenols showed better antioxidant activity, rather than equivalent GT-F.

Effect of vasodilator and immunosuppressive therapy on the endothelial dysfunction in patients with systemic sclerosis.

A comparative analysis of flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), vasoactive angiogenic, and fibrogenic mediators between treatment-naive and treated systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients is an unmet need. (1)To assess the FMD and different pathogenic mediators in SSc patients about endothelial dysfunction. (2) To assess the proportion of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) in treatment-naïve patients.

Interleukin-17 as a predictor of subclinical synovitis in the remission state of rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To compare the level of pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and angiogenic mediators between Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with and without subclinical synovitis (SS) in remission state, to find the correlation of these mediators with Greyscale synovitis (GSS) and power Doppler (PD) scores, and to find the probable predictor/s of SS.

Methods: 52 RA patients in remission state were recruited and subdivided into with and without SS group by Ultrasonography (USG) of 14 joints. Total GSS and PD scoring was done.

Expressed Emotions and Coping among Relapsed Persons with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome: A Comparative Study.

Background: Alcohol dependence is a global public health issue; it is a chronic and relapsing illness. Relapse is multifaceted by both neurobiological and psychosocial processes.

Aim: To examine the expressed emotions and coping among persons with alcohol dependence.

A combination of circulating microRNA-375-3p and chemokines CCL11, CXCL12, and G-CSF differentiate Crohn's disease and intestinal tuberculosis.

Differentiation of Crohn's disease (CD) from intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) is a big challenge to gastroenterologists because of their indistinguishable features and insensitive diagnostic tools. A non-invasive biomarker is urgently required to distinguish ITB/CD patients particularly in India, a TB endemic region, where CD frequency is increasing rapidly due to urbanization. Among the three differentially expressed miRNAs obtained from small RNA transcriptomic profiling of ileocaecal/terminal ileal tissue of ITB/CD patients (n = 3), only two down-regulated miRNAs, miR-31-5p, and miR-215-5p showed comparable data in qRT-PCR.

Methotrexate and theaflavin-3, 3'-digallate synergistically restore the balance between apoptosis and autophagy in synovial fibroblast of RA: an ex vivo approach with cultured human RA FLS.

Background: Imbalance between apoptosis and autophagy in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) is one of the pathogenic mechanisms responsible for their abnormal proliferation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methotrexate (MTX) demonstrated limited efficacy in amending this imbalance in fluid-derived (fd)-FLS. The active compound of black tea Theaflavin 3,3'-digallate (TF3) may be effective in restoring apoptosis-autophagy imbalance in (fd)-FLS.

Early-onset bipolar disorder, stress, and coping responses of mothers: A comparative study.

Background: Providing care and nurturance to a child with bipolar disorder (BPAD) is a challenging task for parents, especially mothers. In Indian contexts, mothers are the primary caregivers of ailing children and they have to keep intrafamily situation stable, which makes their role more stressful.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to assess maternal stress and coping in mothers of adolescents with BPAD.

Phenotypic characterization of circulating endothelial cells induced by inflammation and oxidative stress in ankylosing spondylitis.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic auto-immune disease, affecting the spine, sacroiliac, and sometimes peripheral joints. It is also involved with cardio-vascular risk factors due to accelerated atherosclerosis. Oxidative burst, systemic inflammation coupled with endothelial dysfunction (ED), resulting in reduced bioavailability of the vasodilator nitric oxide (NO) and an increased number of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) may correlate with disease activity and its sustenance.

Pre-Basal Insulin Analog Era: Paving the Way for Modern Day Basal Insulins.

Prior to the discovery of insulins, diabetes was managed predominantly by dietary interventions. Discovery of insulin and its first human trial highlighted the need for higher purity insulin thereby steering the subsequent journey of insulin development. Considering the limitations of the early preparations like short duration of action and need for several injections per day, attempts at protracting the duration of insulin action were made.

Progressive Non-familial Adult onset Cerebellar Degeneration: An Unusual Occurrence with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.

Progressive non-familial adult onset cerebellar degeneration has been rarely associated with hypothyroidism and is known to be reversible after therapy. We report a case of cerebellar atrophy in a 31 year old female whose detailed evaluation had revealed sub-clinical hypothyroidism secondary to autoimmune thyroiditis with a very high anti-TPO (anti-thyroid peroxidase) antibody levels. MRI (Magnetic Resonanace Imaging) of brain showed diffuse bilateral cerebellar atrophy.

Escitalopram Induced SIADH in an Elderly Female: A Case Study.

Hyponatraemia is a well-established and potentially, a life-threatening adverse effect of selective serotonin receptor uptake inhibitors (SSRI). However, its occurrence secondary to syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) with escitalopram, has been reported extremely sporadically. The reporting of such rare, but life-threatening adverse effects of escitalopram assumes immense significance in light of the fact that SSRIs presently form the mainstay of treatment of depressive disorders.

Risk of GERD with Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension and Bronchial Asthma - A Hospital based Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: The rise in Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) prevalence appears to have coincided with a simultaneous increase in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and bronchial asthma amongst the Indian population. Despite being evaluated extensively for their role as a risk factor for GERD, till date this relationship has remained a debatable one. Moreover, literature available on such studies conducted within Indian population remains scarce.

Extrapyramidal Symptoms Probably Related to Risperidone Treatment: A Case Series.

Background: Atypical antipsychotics, like risperidone purportedly, score over their typical counterparts in terms of their lower propensity toward producing extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS). However, recent studies have furnished evidence to the contrary. Hereby, we present a case series implicating risperidone as the causative agent for EPS.

Triple Combination Therapy and Drug Cycling-Tangential Strategies for Countering Artemisinin Resistance.

Purpose Of Review: This review attempts to understand the reasons for the successes and failures of the two novel strategies that have slowly begun to emerge as potential counters for anti-malarial drug resistance-"Triple Combination Therapy" and "Drug Cycling."

Recent Findings: Recent reports have suggested that increasing the heterogeneity within the parasite's environment, both at an individual and the population level, may help raise the probabilistic barrier of development of resistance in the parasite. The encouraging results following the implementation of a few experimental triple combination therapies like atovaquone-proguanil-artesunate along with the re-emergence of chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium falciparum parasites in the sub-Saharan African nations have re-kindled mankind's hope of curbing anti-malarial drug resistance.

The Evolutionary Tale and Future Directions of Aromatase Inhibitors in Breast Carcinoma.

Aromatase inhibitors have often been likened to that of 'medical scalpels' for the treatment of breast carcinoma. By inhibiting the singular step of aromatisation, they have proven to be extremely effective allies in the treatment of breast cancer among postmenopausal women. However, their relevance soon may not be limited to the post-menopausal age group alone.

Wernicke's Encephalopathy - 'Pushing the Envelope' of Patient's Profile: A Case Report.

Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE), an acute neuropsychiatric condition, is caused by thiamine deficiency. Traditionally, it has been associated with patients with a background of alcoholism. However, in the past few decades, with increasing trends in the incidence of WE among patients without a history of alcohol consumption, a pressing need was felt to examine the existing guidelines for the management of WE and its sequelae.

Epigenetics: The New Frontier in the Landscape of Asthma.

Over the years, on a global scale, asthma has continued to remain one of the leading causes of morbidity, irrespective of age, sex, or social bearings. This is despite the prevalence of varied therapeutic options to counter the pathogenesis of asthma. Asthma, as a disease per se, is a very complex one.

DNA Methylation and Chromatin Remodeling: The Blueprint of Cancer Epigenetics.

Epigenetics deals with the interactions between genes and the immediate cellular environment. These interactions go a long way in shaping up each and every person's individuality. Further, reversibility of epigenetic interactions may offer a dynamic control over the expression of various critical genes.

Statins in Asthma: Potential Beneficial Effects and Limitations.

Asthma's sustenance as a global pandemic, across centuries, can be attributed to the lack of an understanding of its workings and the inability of the existing treatment modalities to provide a long lasting cure without major adverse effects. The discovery of statins boosted by a better comprehension of the pathophysiology of asthma in the past few decades has opened up a potentially alternative line of treatment that promises to be a big boon for the asthmatics globally. However, the initial excellent results from the preclinical and animal studies have not borne the results in clinical trials that the scientific world was hoping for.

Personality correlates of accident-proneness in auto-rickshaw drivers in India.

Objective: We examined the personality correlates of accident-proneness of auto-rickshaw drivers in the Indian city of Ranchi.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which 50 male drivers aged 18-50 years, selected randomly from a list of licensed auto-rickshaw drivers in Ranchi, were assessed with a Hindi version of Cattell's 16 Personality Factors (16-PF) Questionnaire.

Results: There was a significantly higher frequency of breaking rules, crossing speed limits, substance use and a trend towards a higher frequency of carrying extra persons (i.