The gravity of the impact of renal failure on human health is well known and as there is no specific pharmacotherapy for renal failure, the current study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of root extract of Azima tetracantha, an ancient medicinal plant used in Siddha and Ayurvedhic systems of medicine.The experiment was done in glycerol-induced acute renal failure in Wistar albino rats. Thirty rats were divided into five groups. Group 1 was given normal saline (10 ml/kg) per oral, group 2 with single dose of hypertonic glycerol (8 ml/kg) by intramuscular injection into the hind limbs, group 3 with glycerol and ethanolic extract of A. tetracantha root (ATR) 250 mg/kg, group 4, glycerol and ATR 500 mg/kg and group 5, 500 mg/kg ATR. Extract was given orally 60 min prior to glycerol injection. 24 h urine output, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, total proteins and albumin were measured for all the groups. Kidneys were examined for histopathological changes.The antioxidant activity of the extract was tested in vitro and in vivo. Rats treated with ATR showed significant improvement in biochemical parameters and histopathological changes compared to glycerol treated group. The protective effect was highly significant at 500 mg/kg. Both in vitro and in vivo assays showed significant antioxidant activity. The in vitro activity was comparable to vitamin-C.The ethanolic extract of ATR has nephroprotective effect in glycerol-induced acute renal failure and the mechanism of action could be the antioxidant effect.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Carcinoma of cervix is the fourth commonest malignancy in women. Its incidence is progressively falling due to the routine use of Pap smears to detect precancerous lesions. However, routine Pap smear examination is time consuming and, as it is based on descriptive morphological assessment, false positive or negative reports are likely to occur. Using morphometric techniques, several attempts have been made to improve the accuracy of reports. In the present study, we have used Image morphometric software and some of its plugins to create a macro to analyse large number of cells at a time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using Image and three of its plugins, namely, BEEPS, Kuwahara filter and Mexican Hat filter, we created a macro to morphometrically analyse normal, reactive and neoplastic Pap smears. We also compared the macro measurements with manual measurements. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Results obtained with macro showed strong positive correlation with manual measurement. Although the neoplastic nuclei were on an average larger than reactive/normal nuclei, there was considerable overlap. More than the enlargement, anisonucleosis (variability in the size) appeared to be a better indicator of neoplasia. The macro that we developed works rapidly and gives results comparable to manual measurements provided the smears and the photographs are technically acceptable.

Title: Effect of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) on Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) and haematological parameters, RBC, MCV & RDW -Case Control Study BACKGROUND: Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is defined as a condition characterized by symptoms and /or complications caused by reflux of gastric contents. The role of GERD in the causation of restrictive lung diseases has not yet been explored adequately. This study is taken up to find if there could be respiratory dysfunction much before patients become symptomatic in those suffering from GERD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case-control study involving 100 adult subjects were recruited in two groups, test group of 50 patients of GERD and a control group of 50. Both the groups were further subdivided into 2 subgroups of 25 subjects each based on the presence or absence of cough. Pulmonary function tests (PFT) and Complete Blood Counts (CBC) (including all indices) were performed on all the 100 subjects. All the values were determined in test and control groups, compared and statistically analysed. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS: There was an overall reduction in pulmonary function in cases both with and without cough.This reduction was statistically significant for all the 4 parameters of PFT with p values being <0.002, <0.001, <0.005 and <0.05. The red cell parameters including RBC count, Hb, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC (all decreased) and RDW (elevated) were significantly altered in the cases relative to control subjects and statistically significant. The study showed that there was a statistically significant deterioration in PFT in GERD positive cases compared to control subjects, PFT profile favouring a restrictive pathology. The study also showed that the hematological changes related to RBC parameters were probably caused by GERD.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recent developments in our understanding of biology of breast cancer and introduction of molecular methods have resulted in a new molecular classification. However, these methods are expensive. But, these molecular groups can be roughly identified for practical purposes as Surrogate Molecular Classes by relatively inexpensive immunohistochemistry (IHC) using antibodies directed against ER, PR and HER2. We have tried to assess the Immunohistochemical profiles of the carcinomas of the breast that we received in our laboratory; while doing so, we have used Immuno Ratio and Immuno Membrane image analyser software to accurately assess staining reaction. We have used these profiles to reclassify according to the new molecular classification (Surrogate Molecular Classes) and correlated the same with morphological types and projected outcomes derived from risk predicting protocols. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 35 cases of breast carcinomas were analysed immunohistochemically for the demonstration of expression of oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), HER 2 and cytokeratin (CK). The immunohistochemical reaction was quantified using Immuno Ratio and Immuno Membrane online softwares. The results were used to reclassify according to the new molecular classification. We have also correlated the same with morphological types and projected outcome derived from risk predicting protocols. OBSERVATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS: Automated immunohistochemical quantitation revealed that Estrogen receptor (ER) and Progesterone receptor (PR) were positive in 94% of cases. There were two triple negative cases. When we reclassified the cases based on the immunological profile obtained from this analysis, Luminal A type was found to be the commonest type. There were two basal types which had the worst projected survival rate. Immunoratio is useful and easy to use free online grading software. However it needs to be calibrated and used in advanced mode to obtain optimal results.