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Introduction: The autoimmune disorder, oral lichen planus (OLP), primarily affects oral mucous membranes. Current drug treatments are only palliative and have serious side effects. Pomegranate has been used as a potential herbal remedy for the treatment of OLP., Materials and Methods: The study consisted of a sample size of 30 individuals who were diagnosed with symptomatic OLP based on both clinical and histological evidence and were equally assigned to Group A (4% topical Punica granatum seed extract gel, which has been customized for this particular study purpose only) and Group B (0.1% topical steroid). All patients were evaluated for the outcome criteria of pain, burning sensation, and lesion size., Results: In the present study, results were highly statistically significant (P = 0.001) in intragroup observation for both Group A and Group B from baseline to the end of 30 days of follow-up for all three parameters. There was no statistically significant difference between groups for each week of follow-up., Conclusion: P. granatum has been used in very few studies, but this is one of the few where a gel made from P. granatum seed extract is used as an oral gel. In conclusion, it can be said that topical P. granatum extract gel is as good as topical corticosteroids at getting rid of the signs and symptoms of OLP, so it can be used as an alternative treatment., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © 2024 Indian Journal of Pharmacology.)

In this article, we describe our experiences of conducting a series of workshops titled ‘It’s a MATERIALS world!’ to popularize Materials Science among school children in India. Some of the hands-on activities that can be performed with easily available ingredients/equipment in a classroom are described for the benefit of educators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the present investigation, the effect of Aloe vera gel powder on angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity, extent of proteolysis during fermentation and survival of Lactobacillus casei NCDC19 during storage of fermented milk was studied., Results: Among the different cultures screened for ACE inhibitory activity, Lactobacillus casei NCDC 19 exhibited the highest ACE inhibition (approx. 40%) as well as extent of proteolysis (0.37, Abs₃₄₀). In the presence of Aloe vera (0.5% and 1% w/v) an increase in extent of proteolysis (0.460 ± 0.047 and 0.480 ± 0.027) and percent ACE inhibitory activity (44.32 ± 2.83 and 47.52 ± 1.83) was observed in comparison to control. Aloe vera powder addition also led to an increase in viable counts (>11 log cfu mL⁻¹) of L. casei NCDC 19 in fermented milk during storage for 7 days and the counts were maintained in sufficiently higher numbers., Conclusion: The study suggests Aloe vera to be a good functional ingredient which can be further explored for different health attributes., (© 2014 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Objective: Definitive therapy is not defined for the management of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF). This study evaluated the efficacy of aloe vera gel as an adjuvant treatment of OSMF., Study Design: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted on 60 subjects with OSMF divided into medicinal treatment (submucosal injection of hyaluronidase and dexamethasone, n = 30) and surgical treatment (n = 30) categories. Each category was randomly divided into groups A (with aloe vera, n = 15 per category) and B (without aloe vera, n = 15 per category). Follow-up assessment for various symptoms was performed, and results were analyzed using paired and unpaired Student t tests., Results: The group receiving aloe vera had a significant improvement in most symptoms of OSMF (P < .01) compared with the non-aloe vera group, in both the medicinal and surgical categories., Conclusions: Aloe vera gel was effective as an adjuvant in treatment of OSMF., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Unlabelled: Women constitute 38% of India's 2.4 million HIV-infected persons. Microbicides are potential HIV-prevention products currently undergoing clinical trials for efficacy. A four-month placebo vaginal gel trial was conducted in Nellore, India to determine the feasibility of recruiting a suitable cohort of female sex workers (FSWs) for a future vaginal microbicide efficacy trial. We report on the HIV and STI prevalence and reproductive health (RH) morbidity of FSWs screened for the trial.  , Results: 529 FSWs completed screening procedures; of those 33.6% were found ineligible.  The mean age was 30.9 years; 68.6% women were married and 57.5% were home-based FSWs.  Self-reported symptoms included abnormal vaginal discharge (31.6%), genital itching (3.4%), uterine mass/prolapse (3%) and painful intercourse (2.6%).  Gynecological surgery was reported by 73.2% of participants; of those 10.5% had undergone a hysterectomy. Female sterilization was the most commonly reported contraceptive method. Pelvic examination showed vaginal discharge (50.7%), cervical discharge (5.3%), uterine/vaginal wall prolapse (2.6%), and cervical mass/nodule/vesicles/genital warts (4.2%). Common epithelial findings included erythema (79.1%) and vesicles/bullae (6%); 46% of participants had Papanicolaou tests graded as inflammatory and 1.1% as malignant. HSV-2 was the mostly commonly detected STI (60.7%) followed by HIV (5.3%), syphilis (2.8%), chlamydia (2.2%), gonorrhoea (0.7%) and trichomoniasis (15.5%).  RTIs were more common: bacterial vaginosis (27.8%) and candidiasis (18.9%)., Conclusions:  The low HIV prevalence and high RH morbidity in the population makes this site unsuitable for a future phase 2 or 3 microbicide efficacy trial.  HIV prevention programs targeting this population should include access to RH services.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) using gel packs in reducing mortality and morbidity in term neonates with HIE and study the associated problems with TH., Methods: Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy babies were randomized into TH and control group. Babies in TH group were cooled for first 72 h of birth using cloth covered cooling gel packs to maintain target rectal temperature of 33-34°C. Infants were followed up to 6 months and were assessed using Baroda Developmental Screening Test., Results: There were no significant differences in baseline parameters. TH group showed significant reduction in the combined rate of death or developmental delay at 6 months of age by 21% (8.1% in the TH group vs. 29% in the control, RR 0.28, 95% CI: 0.11-0.70; p = 0.003)., Conclusions: TH using gel packs reduces the risk of death or developmental delay at 6 months of age in infants with HIE.

A community intervention trial was conducted to assess the feasibility of APF gel as a caries-preventive agent in a high-risk group of school children in Bangalore City. The study was conducted in two schools, randomly selected from a list of schools catering to underprivileged children. These schools were randomly allocated into experimental and control groups. Children aged 9-16 years having three or more incipient or cavitated primary or secondary carious lesions were enrolled in the study. In the experimental group, APF gel was applied and oral health education was provided to both groups at baseline and 6 months. Follow-up examination was performed at 6 and 12 months and the caries status was recorded by an investigator who was blinded to the allocation of intervention. There was no statistically significant difference in DMFT and DMFS values, but a significant difference was seen in incipient carious lesions between the experimental and control groups at 6 and 12 months. These results suggest that biannual APF gel application is an effective preventive measure in reversing incipient carious lesions.

Objective: To compare the effects of topical placental-extract gel and cream in the treatment of chronic non-healing wounds with regard to wound healing and discomfort during dressing change., Methods: A sample of 120 patients attending the wound clinic at University Hospital, Varanasi, India, with wounds of more than six weeks' duration were enrolled into the study. They were alternately allocated to group A (topical application of placental-extract gel) or group B (placental-extract cream). Wound biopsy was performed, and swab culture and sensitivity were taken. Wound size was measured, and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for pain and discomfort at dressing change were recorded at weekly follow-up in both groups. Biopsy was repeated after two weeks of treatment and sent for histopathological examination for assessment of angiogenesis in 25 cases from each group., Results: One hundred patients completed the study. More than 50% wound healing was observed after eight weeks in 72% of group A patients and 74% of group B patients (p = 0.75). Microscopic angiogenesis grading system (MAGS) scores were similar in both groups (not statistically significant, p = 0.92). The VAS scores for pain and discomfort were lower in group B (statistically significant, p < 0.02)., Conclusion: Placental-extract gel and cream are both effective topical agents for chronic non-healing wounds. However, there is less pain and discomfort during dressing change with the placental-extract cream, which we thus recommend for topical application in chronic non-healing wounds.

In the present investigation, an attempt was made to study and compare, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity produced by four marketed topical diclofenac formulations in order to justify their usefulness in the treatment of pain and inflammation. By using a diffusion cell, in vitro percutaneous permeation studies were carried out to correlate in vivo activity. The in vivo analgesic activity study was performed by tail flick method on Wistar albino rats. The anti-inflammatory activity was performed on rats by carrageenan induced inflammation. It was evident from the study that three among tested three gels; diclofenac permeated effectively through the skin and was able to elicit analgesic and anti-inflammatory responses. The study also indicated the presence of therapeutic inequivalence among the marketed topical formulation and the need of bio equivalency and therapeutic equivalency testing of marketed topical applications meant for therapeutic use.

A host of newer techniques have been introduced over the past decade in blood bank serological testing. One such technology which has been in vogue in the west since early 1990s is the gel test. The procedures used are standardized and they provide clear and stable reactions that improve result interpretation. The principle involves the differential passage of red cell agglutinates and free red blood cells through a dextran acrylamide gel. The results are stable and may be read even after many hours. The test is easy to perform, sensitive and reproducible. We report our experience in compatibility testing with use of the DiaMed micro typing system which is based on the gel technology. Over a one year period since this technology was introduced in our blood bank, we noticed a startling 65 fold rise (p<0.0001) in the reported number of incompatible units in one year which rose from a paltry 4 (0.02%) to 260 (1.6%). We found the DiaMed system easy to use and as our findings suggest it proved to be more sensitive than the conventional tube agglutination technique.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety profile of Timolol maleate 0.5% versus Timolol gel forming solution (GFS) 0.5% in open angle glaucoma in Indian eyes., Methods: In a prospective crossover study 52 patients of open angle glaucoma, well controlled intraocular pressure (IOP) on 0.5% timolol maleate solution were switched over to timolol GFS once a day, after a washout period of one month. A diurnal IOP measurement was done after 6 weeks and compared with patients on timolol maleate 0.5% twice a day. In addition, side effects reported or observed were compared., Results: Statistically significant difference was not observed in ocular hypotensive effect of the two treatment. The side-effects in both the treatment groups were similar except for higher incidence of blurring of vision in patients on timolol GFS. The compliance was better with timolol GFS, but was not statistically significant., Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the more convenient 0.5% timolol in gel forming solution can be offered as an equally efficacious and well-tolerated alternative to twice daily 0.5% timolol solution in open angle glaucoma.