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Objective:To study the significance of topiramate (TPM) addition on seizure control in treatment of epilepsy.Design:A prospective open label add-on trial of TPM addition in patients with epilepsy was done. The events of baseline phase of 12 weeks followed by titration and maintenance phases were recorded. Assessment of the number of seizure and emergent adverse effects was done by a monthly visit for each case.Main Outcome Measures:Reduction of more than 50% mean seizure frequency or response ratio of 0.33 was taken as the criteria for responders.Statistical Analysis:Normal Z-test for significance of differences between two proportions and Chi-square test for presence of association was applied and mean age, median duration, sex ratio, percentage prevalence were depicted.Results:Significant responses to TPM in both partial as well as generalized seizures were observed (Z = 6.66, P < 0.001 and Z = 4.185, P < 0.01). The effect was more pronounced in patients with partial seizures. However, the overall response was highly significant (Z = 7.839, P < 0.001). The best response was noted at the dose of 200–300 mg/day (Z = 6.708, P < 0.001). More than 35% cases of partial and generalized seizures reported more than 75% reduction levels. The drug was well tolerated in more than 65% cases for side effects on psychosis, giddiness, and anorexia. Mild side effects were seen only in about less than 35% cases.Conclusions:TPM was found as a significantly effective add-on anticonvulsant with some limitation or mild side effects.

INTRODUCTIONOver the decade, hundreds of studies have specifically focused on the effects of stressors on cortisol activation. The process by which this regulation is achieved is complex and our understanding of it has evolved markedly over the last century. Physical stressors, psychological stressors are capable of activating the HPA axis; a number of studies have reported that laboratory tasks can increase cortisol levels.1 Salivary cortisol offers a non-invasive and stress-free alternative to serum. In the last few years, saliva analysis has been a useful method of choice for hormone analyses. Numerous articles have described the use of saliva for analytical purposes in clinical investigations (i.e. in the field of endocrinology, neuroendocrinology) and in physiological research. 2A growing body of research evidence supports the belief that certain yoga techniques may improve physical and mental health through down-regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). The HPA axis and ABSTRACT Background: Yoga is a spiritual discipline for the development of a state of mental and physical health, well-being, it has also been used clinically as a therapeutic intervention. This study observes the effects of yoga poses on salivary cortisol. Salivary cortisol is potential biomarker of psychological stress. Nonetheless, psychobiological mechanisms stimulate the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) can only indirectly be assessed by salivary cortisol measures. The unlike instances that control HPAA sensitivity (e.g.-hippocampus, hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenals) and their respective modulators, receptors, or binding proteins possibly will all have an effect on salivary cortisol measures. Possible fundamental mechanisms proposed leading to enhanced vagal activity and decrease cortisol. The drop in cortisol, sequentially, may give positive outcome. Methods: Healthy medical student volunteers (N=40), males and females, ranged in age from 18 to 25 years (mean age: 23.3years), participated in the present study. They are divided in two groups one is Yoga Group and second is Control Group. Each group consist 20 subjects. Morning saliva samples were collected of both groups. Levels of cortisol in the saliva samples were determined and compared with levels in comparison samples of saliva obtained after three-month of yoga practice. Results: In all subjects who received yoga (n=20), the change in salivary cortisol level was significant (10.27±2.54 ng/ml; 4.023±1.82ng/ml; P= 0.00); it was not so in those who were not practicing yoga (11.43±3.77ng/ml; 10.27±2.54 ng/ml; P=0.06). Salivary cortisol level significantly decreased and reacted positively to yoga practicing subjects. Conclusions: The effort of comparing the effects of yoga on salivary cortisol seems to indicate that it is a promising modality for stress management. Everyone should practice yoga for stress management to improve their day today life because yoga as one of the approaches of stress reduction.

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The synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) having better dispersibility and catalytic ability than the conventional AuNPs is the challenging task. The fact that aldehydes and ketones results in the formation of catalytic hybrid material with amino functionalized silanes directed the use of carbonyl functional group (aldehydes and ketones) specifically formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone and t-butyl methyl ketone alongwith 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (3-APTMS) to meet such requirement. Accordingly, a comparative study on the synthesis of 3-APTMS and organic reducing agent mediated synthesis of AuNPs are reported herein. The findings reveal that 3-APTMS capped gold ions are converted into AuNPs with precise control of pH- and salt- sensitivity. The major findings reveal the following: (1) 3-APTMS being amphiphilic, dispersibility of as prepared AuNPs largely depends on the organic reducing agents. (2) An increase in the hydrocarbon content of the reducing agent facilitate the dispersibility of AuNPs in organic solvent whereas decrease of the same increases the dispersibility in water, (3) AuNPs made through aldehydic reducing agents (formaldehyde and acetaldehyde) have relatively better salt and pH tolerance as compared to ketonic reducing agents (acetone, t-butyl methyl ketone), and (4) an increase in 3-APTMS concentrations imparts better salt- and pH- resistant property to AuNPs irrespective of organic reducing agents. A typical example on the role of AuNPs in homogeneous catalysis during potassium ferricyanide mediated oxidation of ascorbic acid is also reported.