Antimicrobial resistance pattern in aerobic bacteria isolated from endotracheal aspirate in ventilator-associated pneumonia: Ten years observation from a tertiary care hospital.

Background And Aims: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a nosocomial infection associated with high morbidity and mortality. This study was undertaken to monitor the trend of the demographical details, comorbid conditions, bacterial etiological agents, and their antibiogram causing VAP in adults in the year 2008, 2013 and 2018.

Material And Methods: A retrospective study conducted at the Department of Microbiology, Hospital Infection control and Quality Control at a tertiary care teaching hospital.

Story of an Abscess: A Case of Infection in an Immunocompetent Patient.

Unlabelled: is a very unusual cause of infection in immunocompetent patients. It is a rapidly growing microbe that rarely causes disseminated infection or native valve endocarditis. This organism exhibits intrinsic and acquired resistance to multiple antibiotics and hence becomes a major issue in planning treatment regimens.

Usefulness of Honey as an Adjunct in the Radiation Treatment for Head and Neck Cancer: Emphasis on Pharmacological and Mechanism/s of Actions.

Background: In the treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC), ionizing radiation is an important modality in achieving curative objectives. However, the effective use of radiation is compromised by the side effects resulting from the damage to the adjacent normal tissue. Preclinical studies carried out in the recent past have shown that the age-old dietary agent honey, which also possesses myriad medicinal use, is beneficial for mitigating diverse radiation-induced side effects like mucositis, xerostomia, fatigue, weight loss and promoting healing of refractory wounds.

Honey Mitigates Radiation-Induced Oral Mucositis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients without Affecting the Tumor Response.

Radiation-induced mucositis is a dose-limiting factor in the effective treatment of head and neck (H & N) cancers. The objective of this study was to understand the efficacy of honey in mitigating radiation-induced mucositis and whether it would interfere with tumor control. This was a single-blinded, randomized, controlled study and was carried out in patients with H & N cancer requiring curative radiotherapy (>62 Gy (Gray)).

The phytochemistry, traditional uses and pharmacology of Piper Betel. linn (Betel Leaf): A pan-asiatic medicinal plant.

Since antiquity, Piper betel. Linn, commonly known as betel vine, has been used as a religious, recreational and medicinal plant in Southeast Asia. The leaves, which are the most commonly used plant part, are pungent with aromatic flavor and are widely consumed as a mouth freshener.

Topical application of a sandal wood oil and turmeric based cream prevents radiodermatitis in head and neck cancer patients undergoing external beam radiotherapy: a pilot study.

Objective: The study objective was to assess the effectiveness of a turmeric- and sandal wood oil-containing cream [Vicco(®) turmeric cream (VTC); Vicco Laboratories, Parel, India] on radiodermatitis in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy.

Methods: A total of 50 patients with head and neck cancer requiring >60 Gy of curative radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy were enrolled in the study. The volunteers were randomly divided into two groups of 25 patients.

Hepatoprotective properties of the Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis Gaertn): a review.

Liver diseases characterized by inflammation or tissue damage affect the optimal functioning and increase the morbidity and mortality of the affected individual. Liver diseases are a largely neglected health issue and recent reports indicate that they affect over 10% of the world population, with the highest burden in low and middle income countries that have minimal medical resources. To complicate matters the currently available pharmacological therapies are not optimal and when used for extended periods of time impart systemic toxicity.

Ocimum sanctum L (Holy Basil or Tulsi) and its phytochemicals in the prevention and treatment of cancer.

Ocimum sanctum L. or Ocimum tenuiflorum L, commonly known as the Holy Basil in English or Tulsi in the various Indian languages, is a important medicinal plant in the various traditional and folk systems of medicine in Southeast Asia. Scientific studies have shown it to possess antiinflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, antistress, and immunomodulatory activities.

Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa (Bael) and its phytochemicals in the treatment and prevention of cancer.

Aegle marmelos, commonly known as Bael and belonging to the family Rutaceae is an important medicinal plant in the traditional Indian system of medicine, the Ayurveda. The extract prepared by boiling the bark, leaves or roots in water is useful as laxative, febrifuge, and expectorant. The extract is also useful in ophthalmia, deafness, inflammations, catarrh, diabetes, and asthmatic complaints.

Scientific validation of the antidiabetic effects of Syzygium jambolanum DC (black plum), a traditional medicinal plant of India.

Background: In spite of the tremendous progress achieved in medical sciences in the last century, the management of diabetes mellitus, a disease as old as mankind, is poor. Diabetes is currently the world's largest endocrine disorder, and estimates are that it affects almost 5% of the population. Ayurveda, the Indian traditional system of medicine, is one of the world's oldest systems to have documented the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes.

Radioprotective effects of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (ginger): past, present and future.

Radiation is an important modality in treating people with cancer especially when surgical intervention is impracticable or might debilitate the patient. However, effective use of ionizing radiation is compromised by the side effects that result from radiation-induced damage to normal tissue. The use of radioprotective compounds, which can selectively protect normal tissues against radiation injury is of immense use because in addition to association with protecting the normal tissue, it will also permits use of higher doses of radiation to obtain better cancer control and possible cure.

Piper betel Linn (betel vine), the maligned Southeast Asian medicinal plant possesses cancer preventive effects: time to reconsider the wronged opinion.

Since antiquity, Piper betel Linn (betel vine; family Piperaceae) has been an important medicinal agent in the various traditional and folk systems of medicine in Southeast Asia countries. The leaves are the most valued plant part and in the past were routinely used as a chewing agent to prevent halitosis. The leaves are also supposed to harden the gum, conserve the teeth and to prevent indigestion, bronchitis, constipation, congestion, coughs and asthma.