Accelerated microbial identification "directly" from positive blood cultures using MALDI-TOF MS: Local clinical laboratory challenges.

Rapid identification of microbial pathogens "directly" from positive blood cultures (PBCs) is critical for prompt initiation of empirical antibiotic therapy and clinical outcomes. Towards higher microbial identification rates, we modified a published initial serum separator tubes-based MALDI-TOF-MS protocol, for blood culture specimens received at a non-hospital based standalone diagnostic laboratory, Bangalore, India: (a) "Initial" protocol #1: From 28 PBCs, identification= 39% (Gram-negative= 43%: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Gram-positive: 36%: Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus haemolyticus); mis-identification= 14%; non-identification= 47%. (b) "Modified" protocol #2: Quality controls (ATCC colonies spiked in negative blood cultures) From 7 analysis, identification= 100% (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Klebsiella oxytoca, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus); From 7 PBCs, identification= 57%; mis-identification= 14%; non-identification= 29%.

Health inequities around gender, disability and internal migration: are local governments doing enough.

Setting: The Kerala health system in India has more than 25 years of decentralised implementation experience. Decentralization could assist in addressing health disparities such as gender, disability, and migration.

Objective: To explore how inequity issues comprising gender, disability and internal migrations were being addressed at present by the decentralised Kerala health system.

The role of local governments in the implementation of evidence-based nutrition interventions in Kerala.

Objective: To study the involvement and influence of local participatory governments consisting of institutions (PRIs) in implementing evidence-based interventions for eliminating maternal and child undernutrition in the state of Kerala, India.

Methods: In-depth interviews were carried out among stakeholders in six selected local governments using a semi-structured questionnaire. Transcribed interviews were coded and thematically analysed.

Unilateral Blindness in Post Septoplasty Due to Homocysteinemia: A Rare Presentation.

Septoplasty is a common operative procedure in ENT for correction of nasal septal deformity. Rarely it may result into devastating complication like vision loss. This may be related to other causes apart from septoplasty.

The Efficacy of the Novel Bioavailable Curcumin (Cureit) in the Management of Sarcopenia in Healthy Elderly Subjects: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Study.

Sarcopenia represents the progressive loss of skeletal muscles, which occurs as a result of aging. Plant-derived phytochemicals have the potential ability to manage sarcopenial conditions. The randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical study involving thirty subjects evaluated the efficacy of Cureit™ supplementation in the management of sarcopenial conditions by measuring the variables, such as hand grip strength, weight lift strength, time/distance before feeling tired after cycling, walking and climbing stairs, and Karnofsky performance scale index along with effects on general fitness, such as protein, urea, oxidative stress, and hematology parameters.

The Effects of Bioavailable Curcumin (Cureit) on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness Induced By Eccentric Continuous Exercise: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Study.

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a multifactorial progression related to muscle pain, swelling, stiffness, tenderness, altered joint kinematics, muscle fiber disruption, decreased strength and power, and acute tissue damage. Curcumin, a natural phytonutrient, could manage DOMS induced by eccentric continuous exercise due to its wide range of biological activities. This study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical study to assess the efficacy of Cureit™-a bioavailable form of curcumin that may decrease damage from inflammation and oxidative stress associated with severe muscle damage induced by continuous eccentric exercise.

A novel bioavailable hydrogenated curcuminoids formulation (CuroWhite™) improves symptoms and diagnostic indicators in rheumatoid arthritis patients - A randomized, double blind and placebo controlled study.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease that cause chronic pain, disability and joint destruction. The present placebo controlled randomized study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a novel hydrogenated curcuminoid formulation-CuroWhite™, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Twenty four RA patients were randomized in 1:1:1 ratio to receive 250 mg, 500 mg CuroWhite or placebo as one capsule a day, over a period of three months.

Development of Validated Methods and Quantification of Curcuminoids and Curcumin Metabolites and Their Pharmacokinetic Study of Oral Administration of Complete Natural Turmeric Formulation (Cureit™) in Human Plasma via UPLC/ESI-Q-TOF-MS Spectrometry.

Specific and sensitive ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight-mass spectroscopy (UPLC-QTOF-MS) methods have been developed for the determination of curcuminoids and curcumin metabolites in human blood plasma. The UPLC-QTOF-MS method used a binary solvent delivery system and the chromatographic separation was performed on a C-18 (2.1 × 50 mm; 1.

Oral toxicity study of sports nutritional powder in Wistar rats: A 90 day repeated dose study.

Fitnox is a newly developed dietary ingredient for physical endurance composed of the extracts of leaf (45-50%), (black ginger) root (15-20%) and peel (25-30%). The aim of this study was to assess the subchronic oral toxicity of Fitnox (test substance) - in Wistar albino rats. Forty rats equally divided into 4 groups (control male, control female, treatment male and treatment female) administrated the test substance at 1000 mg/kg per rat daily for 90 days.

Comparative Oral Absorption of Curcumin in a Natural Turmeric Matrix with Two Other Curcumin Formulations: An Open-label Parallel-arm Study.

Curcuminoids are the major bioactive molecules in turmeric, and poor bioavailability deters them from being the major components of many health and wellness applications. This study was conducted to assess the bioavailability of a completely natural turmeric matrix formulation (CNTMF) and compare its bioavailability with two other commercially available formulations, namely, curcumin with volatile oil (volatile oil formulation) and curcumin with phospholipids and cellulose (phospholipid formulation) in healthy human adult male subjects (15 each group) under fasting conditions. Each formulation was administrated orally as a single 500-mg dose in capsule form, and blood samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry at various time intervals up to 24 h.

A Novel Highly Bioavailable Curcumin Formulation Improves Symptoms and Diagnostic Indicators in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Two-Dose, Three-Arm, and Parallel-Group Study.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune, chronic systemic inflammatory disorder. The long-term use of currently available drugs for the treatment of RA has many potential side effects. Natural phytonutrients may serve as alternative strategies for the safe and effective treatment of RA, and curcuminoids have been used in Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of inflammatory conditions for centuries.

A Randomized Single Dose Parallel Study on Enhancement of Nitric Oxide in Serum and Saliva with the Use of Natural Sports Supplement in Healthy Adults.

Sports supplements that stimulate the production of nitric oxide (NO) are widely promoted agents in the sports nutrition domain, and nitric oxide plays an important role to enhance the cardiovascular and physical fitness of the sports participants. The purpose of the study is to investigate whether oral intake of a sports nutritional supplement (Fitnox) is able to increase nitrate (NO) and nitrite (NO) levels in blood serum and saliva of healthy adults. Fitnox is a unique blend of Kaempferia parviflora methoxy flavones, pomegranate peel polyphenols, and Moringa oleifera leaf saponins.

Population-level diversity in the association of genetic polymorphisms of one-carbon metabolism with breast cancer risk.

Aberrations in one-carbon metabolism were reported to increase breast cancer risk by influencing the DNA synthesis and methylation of DNA and catecholamines. However, the results of these association studies remain inconclusive. We have explored the contribution of eight genetic polymorphisms in modulating the susceptibility to breast cancer by performing a meta-analysis of worldwide studies.

High performance liquid chromatographic analysis of almotriptan malate in bulk and tablets.

Purpose: A simple RP-HPLC method has been developed and validated for the determination of almotriptan malate (ATM) in bulk and tablets.

Methods: Chromatographic separation of ATM was achieved by using a Thermo Scientific C18 column. A Mobile phase containing a mixture of methanol, water and acetic acid (4:8:0.

Antitumor action of curcumin in human papillomavirus associated cells involves downregulation of viral oncogenes, prevention of NFkB and AP-1 translocation, and modulation of apoptosis.

Curcumin (diferuloyl methane), the major yellow pigment from the rhizomes of turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn), has anticancer properties. Infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPV) leads to development of cervical carcinoma, predominantly through the action of viral oncoproteins E6 and E7. The present study aims at analyzing the antitumor and antiviral properties of curcumin, on HPV associated cervical cancer cells.