Erratum to: Antimicrobials: a global alliance for optimizing their rational use in intra-abdominal infections (AGORA).

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13017-016-0089-y.].

The defining a model for antimicrobial stewardship-results from an international cross-sectional survey.

Background: Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASPs) have been promoted to optimize antimicrobial usage and patient outcomes, and to reduce the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant organisms. However, the best strategies for an ASP are not definitively established and are likely to vary based on local culture, policy, and routine clinical practice, and probably limited resources in middle-income countries. The aim of this study is to evaluate structures and resources of antimicrobial stewardship teams (ASTs) in surgical departments from different regions of the world.

Susceptibility-weighted angiography and diffusion-weighted imaging in posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome - Is there an association between hemorrhage, cytotoxic edema, blood pressure and imaging severity?

Purpose: To assess the significance of association and possible correlation between hemorrhage, cytotoxic edema, blood pressure and imaging severity in posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included the medical and imaging records of 35 consecutive patients with PRES. The clinical data analysis included the highest recorded blood pressure (BP) on the day of the ictus, MRI including spin-echo echo planar diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), susceptibility weighted angiography (SWAN) and conventional sequences.

Effectiveness of Mind Mapping Technique in Information Retrieval Among Medical College Students in Puducherry-A Pilot Study.

Background: The traditional teaching learning methods involve a one way process of transmission of knowledge leaving the students lacking behind in creative abilities. Medical schools need to change their teaching strategies to keep the interest of students and empower them for future self- learning and critical thinking.

Objective: To assess the impact of mind mapping technique in information retrieval among medical college students in Puducherry.

Evaluation of bone mineral density among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in South Karnataka.

Background: Diabetes is one of the world's biggest health problems and the disease affects almost all organ systems. The relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and bone mineral density (BMD) has been controversial. Early identification of reduction in bone mass in a diabetic patient may be helpful in preventing the bone loss and future fracture risks.

Mitigation of whole-body gamma radiation-induced damages by Clerodendron infortunatum in mammalian organisms.

Several phytoceuticals and extracts of medicinal plants are reported to mitigate deleterious effects of ionizing radiation. The potential of hydro-alcoholic extract of Clerodendron infortunatum (CIE) for providing protection to mice exposed to gamma radiation was investigated. Oral administration of CIE bestowed a survival advantage to mice exposed to lethal doses of gamma radiation.

Nummular headache: Clinico-epidemiological features in South Indian population.

Context: Nummular headache (NH) is a primary disorder characterized by head pain exclusively felt in a small-rounded area typically 2-6 cm in diameter.

Aims: The aim of this review is to study the clinical and epidemiological features of NH in a patient population of South India and to compare this with that of described in the international literature.

Settings And Design: A prospective, observational study conducted in a tertiary care center.

Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis: a rare cause of enigmatic peritoneal masses.

Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis (DPL) is an unusual extrauterine form of leiomyoma that has been found to coexist with its intrauterine counterpart in individuals who have previously undergone laparoscopic myomectomy. The presence of extrauterine masses with the density of smooth muscle on CT imaging and/or with a low signal intensity similar to that of smooth muscle on weighted MRI in a patient presenting with associated intrauterine leiomyoma and/or a history of previous laparoscopic myomectomy suggests the possibility of DPL. Imaging studies help in diagnosing and delineating the location and extent of the lesion and also follow-up the masses to look for sarcomatous transformation.

Protective effect of ayurvedic formulations against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity: Preliminary studies on Brahma Rasayana and Chyavanaprash.

Aim Of Study: The present work aimed to examine the efficacy of two ayurvedic formulations, Brahma Rasayana (BRM) and Chyavanaprash (CHM) to alleviate doxorubicin (DOX) induced acute cardiotoxicity.

Materials And Methods: Swiss albino mice were administered with DOX (25 mg/kg, i.p.

Antimicrobials: a global alliance for optimizing their rational use in intra-abdominal infections (AGORA).

Intra-abdominal infections (IAI) are an important cause of morbidity and are frequently associated with poor prognosis, particularly in high-risk patients. The cornerstones in the management of complicated IAIs are timely effective source control with appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Empiric antimicrobial therapy is important in the management of intra-abdominal infections and must be broad enough to cover all likely organisms because inappropriate initial antimicrobial therapy is associated with poor patient outcomes and the development of bacterial resistance.

Clove bud oil reduces kynurenine and inhibits pqs A gene expression in P. aeruginosa.

Quorum sensing (QS), a communication system involved in virulence of pathogenic bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a promising target to combat multiple drug resistance. In vitro studies using clove bud oil (CBO) in P. aeruginosa revealed a concentration dependent attenuation of a variety of virulence factors including motility, extracellular DNA, exopolysaccharides and pigment production.

Protection of DNA From Ionizing Radiation-Induced Lesions by Asiaticoside.

This study aims to investigate whether asiaticoside, a triterpene glycoside, can afford protection to DNA from alterations induced by gamma radiation under in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo conditions. In vitro studies were done on plasmid pBR322 DNA, ex vivo studies were done on cellular DNA of human peripheral blood leukocytes, and in vivo investigations were conducted on cellular DNA of spleen and bone marrow cells of mice exposed to whole-body gamma radiation. The supercoiled form of the plasmid pBR322 DNA upon exposure to the radiation was converted into relaxed open circular form due to induction of strand breaks.

Assessment of Pathological Response of Breast Carcinoma in Modified Radical Mastectomy Specimens after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.

Aim. Paclitaxel based neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen (NAT) in the setting of locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) can render inoperable tumor (T4, N2/N3) resectable. The aim of this study was to assess the status of carcinoma in the breast and lymph nodes after paclitaxel based NAT in order to find out the patient and the tumor characteristics that correspond to the pathological responses which could be used as a surrogate biomarker to assess the treatment response.

Anticancer Property of Iron Oxide Nanoparticle-Drug Complexes: An In Vitro Study.

Tumor-specific targeting of chemotherapeutic drugs can increase the therapeutic efficacy of most anticancer drugs. On surface-modified iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs), we complexed a hypoxic cell-targeting agent, sanazole (SAN), and a cytotoxic isoquinoline alkaloid, berberine (BBN). The major objective of this study was to elucidate the molecular mechanism of cytotoxicity in murine tumor cells (DLA) induced by NP-BBN-SAN complexes.

A clinical study assessing the efficacy of a new variant of the levonorgestrel intrauterine system for abnormal uterine bleeding.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new variant of the levonorgestrel-intrauterine system (LNG-IUS)-Emily-for the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB).

Methods: A prospective, multicenter, single-arm, phase 4 study was conducted at six centers in India between July 2012 and August 2013. Eligible women were aged 30-50years, had completed their family, had AUB, and a pictorial bleeding assessment chart (PBAC) score of at least 100.

Sanazole directed targeting of silver nanoparticle drug complex to tumor mass: a preclinical investigation in murine model.

Aim Of Study: To explore sanazole (AK) directed targeting of the antineoplastic drug doxorubicin (DOX) complexed with silver nanoparticles (SNs) to tumor growth in a murine model.

Materials And Methods: Sanazole (AK) and DOX were complexed with SNs, individually and in combination to obtain SN-AK, SN-DOX, and SN-AK-DOX. Solid tumors were developed on hind limbs of Swiss albino mice by transplanting Dalton's lymphoma ascitess (DLAs) tumor cells.

Amelioration of doxorubicin induced cardio-and hepato-toxicity by carotenoids.

Aim Of Study: The aim of this study is to explore the ability of the carotenoids (CARs) to offer protection against acute cardiotoxicity and hepatotoxicity induced by doxorubicin (DOX) (25 mg/kg) in tumor bearing Swiss albino mice.

Materials And Methods: Tumor bearing Swiss albino mice administered with DOX (25 mg/kg, i.p) and two doses of CARs (50 and 100 μg/kg).

Molecular studies on coronary artery disease-a review.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains the major cause of mortality and morbidity in the entire world population. The conventional risk factors of CAD include hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, family history, smoking etc. These factors contribute only 50 % of the total risk of CAD.

Ayurvedic formulations ameliorate cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity: preclinical studies on Brahma Rasayana and Chyavanaprash.

Aim Of Study: To explore the ability of two Ayurvedic formulations, Brahma Rasayana (BRM) and Chyavanaprash (CHM) in alleviating Cisplatin (Cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum [II] CDDP) induced acute nephrotoxicity.

Materials And Methods: Swiss albino mice were administered with CDDP (12 mg/kg, i.p) and two doses of BRM or CHM (1 and 2 g/kg).

Altered DNA repair, oxidative stress and antioxidant status in coronary artery disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a multifactorial disease caused by the interplay of environmental risk factors with multiple predisposing genes. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the role of DNA repair efficiency and oxidative stress and antioxidant status in CAD patients. Malonaldehyde (MDA), which is an indicator of oxidative stress, and mean break per cell (b/c) values, which is an indicator of decreased DNA repair efficiency, were found to be significantly increased in patients compared to normal controls (P less than 0.

Cefotaximase and AmpC-producing Shigella flexneri in case of dysentery from southern India.

Diarrhoea and dysentery caused by Shigella spp. are major public health concerns. Emerging multidrug resistance (MDR) in this pathogen further complicates this disease.