Search

In present study, an effort was undertaken to estimate the “Effect of different bedding materials on the behaviour of Murrah buffalo calves”. Twenty buffalo calves (below 4 months of age) were divided into four groups (5 calves in each group), viz. T1: Concrete floor; T2: Concrete floor bedded with sand, T3: Concrete floor bedded with wheat straw, and T4: Concrete floor bedded with rubber mat. Recording of daily activities of calves throughout 8 h (8:00 am to 4:00 pm) for each month (December, January, and February) of two consecutive days representing time spent for particular behavioural activity along with total time spent in the covered area and the open area was recorded. Throughout the trial, a variety of behavioural activities of calves in all treatments was examined. The time spent by calves in the covered area was considerably greater in T3, followed by T1 and T4, and least in the T2 group. Calves raised on the floor made of wheat straw had significantly more lying time in the covered area than those raised on the floor made of rubber mat, concrete, or sand. Similar sleep duration was considerably longer in T3 and T4 than in T2, although the difference between T4 and T1 was not significant. Compared to T1 and T2, moving time in the enclosed area was noticeably shorter in T3 and T4. Feeding time in T3 was likewise noticeably longer than in T1 and T2, although it was not significantly different from T4. The results showed that the T3, T4, and T1, respectively had the best microclimate conditions for calves during the winter, whereas T2 had the poorer microclimatic condition.

Background: Morbidity pattern shows the burden of the disease and time trends, highlighting demographic differences in disease burden. It also demonstrates the extent and nature of the disease load in the community, and thus, assists in establishment of the priorities for monitoring and evaluating disease control activities, allocating the resources and monitoring the trends for the effect of intervention5.Hence, this study aims to determine the prevalence of common morbidities in the elderly age group. Methods: This was a descriptive and cross-sectional study conducted on the 318 elderly subjects in rural areas. Of 60 or above. Random sampling was done to select the villages. A house to house survey was conducted in every selected village, and eligible subjects were interviewed till the required sample size was reached. The study tools were a pre-tested, pre-validated questionnaire Variables included socio- -demographic factors such as age, sex, religion, marital status, education, occupation, type of family, family income, etc. Results: Female preponderance was seen in the study subjects. The majorities of the subjects was between 60-70 and were suffering from either one or two morbidities. 70 % had a positive family history. There were behavioral risk factors (addiction/ habit) in 35% of the participants, and the most common problem was smoking. The most common problems were generalized muscular weakness (63%) followed by gastrointestinal (GI) problems. Around 5% of the study subjects suffered from diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Conclusion: Regarding the socio-demographic characteristics, behavioral factors and morbidities, the present study is comparable to many other studies conducted in India. The burden of different diseases or the morbidity pattern is different in different parts of the country.

The study of consciousness has become an essential aspect of multiple disciplines including psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, and spiritual traditions. The study of consciousness, the relationship of the observer and observed, has thoroughly influenced general perceptions of reality with significant implications for mental health. The concept of non-dual consciousness is a perspective that has been gaining recent attention.This review will examine existing literature on non-dual consciousness and its implications for mental health, including theoretical terms, evidence, and potential applications in a therapeutic setting. Issues that involve public health (stress, anxiety, depression, and well-being) are central to this review.“Non-duality” is a translation of the Sanskrit word Advaita, which implies “not dual,” i.e., one without a second. It describes a state of consciousness commonly practiced in spiritual traditions, including Buddhism, Advaita Vedanta, and Kashmiri Shaivism, where the usual dichotomy between the subject (the observer) and the object (the observed) is diminished, bringing about an experience of oneness or unity with existence.The relationship between non-dual consciousness and mental health is a complex, multidisciplinary subject. It involves the intersection between metaphysics, cognition, and psychology, challenging interpretations of consciousness as simply a function of mechanistic brain activity. The fundamental notion of “the self” as an isolated ego is also directly challenged within this approach.This review intends to 1) discuss the concept of non-dual consciousness within the context of both Eastern spiritual traditions and Western psychology; 2) review empirical evidence relating to the relationship between non-dual consciousness and mental health; 3) explore the potential applications of non-dual consciousness in psychological contexts and its integration with existing therapeutic approaches.The discussion of the role of non-dual consciousness in mental health is a relatively new and growing field of research. The findings presented in this review should be understood as contributions to a growing area of research, not as definitive conclusions. This research review can serve as a foundation for further exploration into how consciousness studies, metaphysics, and mental health can mutually inform one another.

Abstract Globally 3 billion people are consuming water with moderately high concentrations of fluoride and arsenic. The development of a simple point of care (PoC) device or home device for the detection of fluoride/arsenic ensures safety before consuming water. Till date, lateral flow assay (LFA) based PoC devices can detect nucleic acids, viruses and diseases. An aluminium complex of rhodamine B functionalized oxacalix[4]arene (L) was designed to execute the LFA-based PoC device. Initially, Al3+ and Fe3+ ions were involved in complexation with the rhodamine B functionalized oxacalix[4]arene (L), resulting C 1 (L-Al3+) and C 2 (L-Fe3+) complexes respectively. The receptor L, as well as the probes (C 1 , C 2 ), were characterized thoroughly using mass spectroscopy, FTIR, NMR, and EA. C 1 and C 2 were further utilized as recyclable probes for the detection of aqueous fluoride (21 ppb) and arsenate (1.92 ppb) respectively. The computational calculation indicates that upon complexation, the spirolactam ring opening at the rhodamine B site leads to optoelectronic changes. The consistency of LFA-based portable sensing device has been tested with water samples, synthetic fluoride standards and dental care products like toothpaste and mouthwash with concentrations ≥ 3 ppm. Moreover, fixed cell imaging experiments were performed to ascertain the in-vitro sensing phenomena.

IntroductionThe human body's response to pain is indicative of a complex adaptive system. Therapeutic yoga potentially represents a similar complex adaptive system that could interact with the pain response system with unique benefits.ObjectivesTo determine the viability of yoga as a therapy for pain and whether pain responses and/or yoga practice should be considered complex adaptive systems.MethodsExamination through 3 different approaches, including a narrative overview of the evidence on pain responses, yoga, and complex system, followed by a network analysis of associated keywords, followed by a mapping of the functional components of complex systems, pain response, and yoga.ResultsThe narrative overview provided extensive evidence of the unique efficacy of yoga as a pain therapy, as well as articulating the relevance of applying complex systems perspectives to pain and yoga interventions. The network analysis demonstrated patterns connecting pain and yoga, while complex systems topics were the most extensively connected to the studies as a whole.ConclusionAll three approaches support considering yoga a complex adaptive system that exhibits unique benefits as a pain management system. These findings have implications for treating chronic, pervasive pain with behavioral medicine as a systemic intervention. Approaching yoga as complex system suggests the need for research of mind-body topics that focuses on long-term systemic changes rather than short-term isolated effects.

Ideal bedding management is essential for optimal health, welfare, and growth performance of dairy calves. The study was conducted in order to compare the effect of different bedding materials on growth performance of Murrah buffalo calves. Murrah buffalo calves (n=20) of less than 4 months of age were selected and divided into four groups (5 animals/group), viz. T1: Concrete floor, T2: Concrete floor bedded with sand, T3: Concrete floor bedded with wheat straw and T4: Concrete floor bedded with rubber mat. Body weight and body measurement (body length, height of wither and heart girth) were taken at fortnightly and monthly intervals, respectively. There was no significant difference in body weight between treatment groups. However, average weight gain (kg) and ADG was significantly high in calves reared on T3 as compared to other treatment groups, though no significant difference was observed between T1, T2 and T4. Body length was significantly lower in T2 as compared to T3, however, difference in body length among T1, T2 and T4 groups was relatively non-significant. Moreover, body height and heart girth were significantly higher in calves reared on wheat straw floor as compared to concrete and sand bedded floor. Estimation of net profit per calf after reducing the bedding cost revealed that it was highest for wheat straw bedding followed by rubber mat, concrete and least for sand bedding. It can be concluded that wheat straw followed by rubber mat could be used effectively as bedding over concrete floor during winter season for rearing of calves.

The compound N-[2-(4-fluoro-3-phenoxybenzoyl)hydrazinecarbothioyl]benzamide, C21H16FN3O3S, crystallizes in the monoclinic centrosymmetric space group P21/c and its molecular conformation is stabilized via an intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond. The corresponding para-methoxy derivative, namely, N-[2-(4-fluoro-3-phenoxybenzoyl)hydrazinecarbothioyl]-4-methoxybenzamide, C22H18FN3O4S, crystallizes in the monoclinic centrosymmetric space group C2/c. The supramolecular network mainly comprises N—H...O, N—H...S and C—H...O hydrogen bonds, which contribute towards the formation of the crystal structures for the two molecules. The different intermolecular interactions have been further analysed using Hirshfeld surface analysis and fingerprint plots.

A series of 1,2,3-trisubstituted indolizines (2a–2f, 3a–3d, and 4a–4c) were screened for in vitro whole-cell anti-tubercular activity against the susceptible H37Rv and multidrug-resistant (MDR) Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) strains. Compounds 2b–2d, 3a–3d, and 4a–4c were active against the H37Rv-MTB strain with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 4 to 32 µg/mL, whereas the indolizines 4a–4c, with ethyl ester group at the 4-position of the benzoyl ring also exhibited anti-MDR-MTB activity (MIC = 16–64 µg/mL). In silico docking study revealed the enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (InhA) and anthranilate phosphoribosyltransferase as potential molecular targets for the indolizines. The X-ray diffraction analysis of the compound 4b was also carried out. Further, a safety study (in silico and in vitro) demonstrated no toxicity for these compounds. Thus, the indolizines warrant further development and may represent a novel promising class of InhA inhibitors and multi-targeting agents to combat drug-sensitive and drug-resistant MTB strains.

The title compound, C24H18FNO3, crystallizes in the monoclinic centrosymmetric space group P21/n and its molecular conformation is stabilized via C—H...O intramolecular interactions. The supramolecular network mainly comprises C—H...O, C—H...F and C—H...π interactions, which contribute towards the formation of the crystal structure. The different intermolecular interactions have been further analysed via Hirshfeld surface analysis and fingerprint plots.

In the title 1:1 cocrystal, C7H4ClNO4·C6H6N2O, nicotinamide (NIC) and 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzoic acid (CNBA) cocrystallize with one molecule each of NIC and CNBA in the asymmetric unit. In this structure, CNBA and NIC form hydrogen bonds through O—H...N, N—H...O and C—H...O interactions along with N—H...O dimer hydrogen bonds of NIC. Further additional weak π–π interactions stabilize the molecular assembly of this cocrystal.

This study is an investigation into the crystal structure of the biologically active drug molecule riluzole [RZ, 6-(trifluoromethoxy)-1,3-benzothiazol-2-amine], C8H5F3N2OS, and its derivative, the riluzolium chloride salt [RZHCl, 2-amino-6-(trifluoromethoxy)-1,3-benzothiazol-3-ium chloride], C8H6F3N2OS+·Cl−. In spite of repeated efforts to crystallize the drug, its crystal structure has not been reported to date, hence the current study provides a method for obtaining crystals of both riluzole and its corresponding salt, riluzolium hydrochloride. The salt was obtained by grinding HCl with the drug and crystallizing the obtained solid from dichloromethane. The crystals of riluzole were obtained in the presence of l-glutamic acid and d-glutamic acid in separate experiments. In the crystal structure of RZHCl, the –OCF3 moiety is perpendicular to the molecular plane containing the riluzolium ion, as can be seen by the torsion angle of 107.4 (3)°. In the case of riluzole, the torsion angles of the four different molecules in the asymmetric unit show that in three cases the trifluoromethoxy group is perpendicular to the riluzole molecular plane and only in one molecule does the –OCF3 group lie in the same molecular plane. The crystal structure of riluzole primarily consists of strong N—H...N hydrogen bonds along with weak C—H...F, C—H...S, F...F, C...C and C...S interactions, while that of its salt is stabilized by strong [N—H]+...Cl− and weak C—H...Cl−, N—H...S, C—H...F, C...C, S...N and S...Cl− interactions.

Background: According to Ayurveda, the traditional medical system of India, doshas are a combination of characteristics based on a five-element philosophy that drive our mental and physical tendencies. When the doshas, or functional principles, are out of balance in quality or quantity, wellbeing is adversely affected and symptoms manifest. Objective: This study examined relationships among imbalances in the doshas (termed Vikruti) reported via questionnaire and Western measures of psychological states. Materials and methods: Study participants were 101 women (n = 81) and men (n = 20), mean age 53.9 years (SD = 11.7; range 32–80). Participants completed questionnaires to categorize their Vikruti type and psychological states, which included depressed mood (CESD), anxiety (PROMIS), rumination & reflection (RRQ), mindfulness (MAAS), stress (PSS), and quality of life (Ryff). Results: Multivariate general linear modeling, controlling for age, gender and body mass index (BMI), showed that Vata imbalance was associated with more anxiety (p ≤ 0.05), more rumination (p ≤ 0.01), less mindfulness (p ≤ 0.05), and lower overall quality of life (p ≤ 0.01). Pitta imbalance was associated with poorer mood (p ≤ 0.01) and less mindfulness (p ≤ 0.05), more anxiety (p ≤ 0.05) and stress (p ≤ 0.05). Kapha imbalance was associated with more stress (p ≤ 0.05), more rumination (p ≤ 0.05) and less reflection (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that symptoms of mind-body imbalances in Ayurveda are differentially associated with western assessments of psychological states. Ayurvedic dosha assessment may be an effective way to assess physical as well as emotional wellbeing in research and clinical settings. Keywords: Vikruti, Dosha, Mood, Anxiety, Quality of life

Religion and spirituality (R/S) serve as coping mechanisms for circumstances that threaten people’s psychological well-being. However, using R/S inappropriately to deal with difficulties and problems in daily life may include the practice of Spiritual Bypass (SB). SB refers to avoiding addressing emotional problems and trauma, rather than healing and learning from them. On the other hand, coping strategies may be determined by the cultural context. This study aims to describe the presence of SB in individuals who may have experienced stressful situations and to understand the influence of culture on SB by comparing SB in two culturally different groups. The sample consists of a total of 435 people, 262 of Honduran nationality and 173 of Spanish nationality. Both groups are approximately equivalent in age and gender. The degree of SB, stressful events, perception of social support and spiritual well-being are examined, respectively, through the Spiritual Bypass Scale, and specific items and subscales from the Social Readjustment Rating Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Spiritual Wellbeing. The results showed a higher spiritual well-being and use of SB in the Honduran sample as compared to the Spanish sample, but similar social support and stressful events. Furthermore, some of the factors predicting SB were different between the two samples. While age and a greater number of R/S practices were important in both samples, for the Honduran sample the variables that best explained SB were being a Christian, having greater social support, fewer stressful events, and greater attendance at church or temple. For the Spanish sample, however, the variable that best explained SB was studying R/S texts. Therefore, SB must be understood within the culture in which it develops, since in different cultural contexts it appears to relate to differing factors. Thus, SB becomes a possible functional or dysfunctional coping strategy depending on the social context.

Historically, the health benefits and immunomodulatory potential of medicinal herbs have been considered an intrinsic quality of the herb itself. We have hypothesized that the health benefits of medicinal herbs may be partially due to their prebiotic potential that alter gut microbiota leading to changes in short chain fatty acids and vitamin production or biotransformation of herb encoded molecules and secondary metabolites. Accumulating studies emphasize the relationship between the gut microbiota and host immune function. While largely unknown, these interactions are mediated by secreted microbial products that activate or repress a variety of immune cell types. Here we evaluated the effect of immunomodulatory, medicinal Ayurvedic herbs on gut microbiota in vitro using 16S rRNA sequencing to assess changes in community composition and functional potential. All immunomodulatory herbs displayed substantial prebiotic potential, targeting unique taxonomic groups. Application of genome reconstruction and analysis of biosynthetic capacity of herb selected communities suggests that many of the 11 herbs tested altered the community metabolism as the result of differential glycan harvest and sugar utilization and secreted products including multiple vitamins, butyrate, and propionate that may impact host physiology and immune function. Taken together, these results provide a useful framework for the further evaluation of these immunomodulatory herbs in vivo to maintain immune homeostasis or achieve desired regulation of immune components in the context of disease.

Alteration of insect growth regulators by the action of inhibitors is becoming an attractive strategy to combat disease-transmitting insects. In the present study, we investigated the larvicidal effect of 1,2,3-triazolyl-pyrimidinone derivatives against the larvae of the mosquito Anopheles arabiensis, a vector of malaria. All compounds demonstrated insecticidal activity against mosquito larvae in a dose-dependent fashion. A preliminary study of the structure–activity relationship indicated that the electron-withdrawing substituent in the para position of the 4-phenyl-pyrimidinone moiety enhanced the molecules’ potency. A docking study of these derivatives revealed favorable binding affinity for the sterol carrier protein-2 receptor, a protein present in the intestine of the mosquito larvae. Being effective insecticides against the malaria-transmitting Anopheles arabiensis, 1,2,3-triazole-based pyrimidinones represent a starting point to develop novel inhibitors of insect growth regulators.

There are many approaches to maintaining wellness, including taking a simple vacation to attending highly structured wellness retreats, which typically regulate the attendee's personal time and activities. In a healthy English-speaking cohort of 112 women and men (aged 30–80 years), this study examined the effects of participating in either a 6-days intensive wellness retreat based on Ayurvedic medicine principles or unstructured 6-days vacation at the same wellness center setting. Heart rate variability (HRV) was monitored continuously using a wearable ECG sensor patch for up to 7 days prior to, during, and 1-month following participation in the interventions. Additionally, salivary cortisol levels were assessed for all participants at multiple times during the day. Continual HRV monitoring data in the real-world setting was seen to be associated with demographic [HRVALF: βAge = 0.98 (95% CI = 0.96–0.98), false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.001] and physiological characteristics [HRVPLF: β = 0.98 (95% CI = 0.98–1), FDR =0.005] of participants. HRV features were also able to quantify known diurnal variations [HRVLF/HF: βACT:night vs. early−morning = 2.69 (SE = 1.26), FDR < 0.001] along with notable inter- and intraperson heterogeneity in response to intervention. A statistically significant increase in HRVALF [β = 1.48 (SE = 1.1), FDR < 0.001] was observed for all participants during the resort visit. Personalized HRV analysis at an individual level showed a distinct individualized response to intervention, further supporting the utility of using continuous real-world tracking of HRV at an individual level to objectively measure responses to potentially stressful or relaxing settings.

Integrative Health aims to treat the whole person and to do so within the context of whole systems and practices. We raise questions as to what constitutes the whole person and what must be taken into account to support the creation of optimal well-being. We propose that in order to fully account for the whole person, the transcendent aspects of human awareness, the development of which is the goal of many meditative traditions, must be taken into account. “Nondual awareness” is a term increasingly used in the literature to describe a state of awareness that is characterized by the experience of nonseparation, compassion, and love. Well-being in this state does not depend on anything being experienced per se, but it is rather an innate attribute of living in nonduality. For these reasons, nondual awareness can be considered foundational to the realization of the whole person and achieving the state of optimal well-being.

The Latin American immigrant population in Spain is growing year after year. The aim of this study is to describe how religious coping mechanisms, religiosity, acculturation and social support act in the prediction of happiness within the group of Latin American immigrants with Christian beliefs in Spain. Previous studies indicate that religious practice can be a factor that favors the perception of well-being and happiness in people. It is considered that the existence of close sources of support act as a key resource in facing stressful situations. A questionnaire consisting of 36 items was administered to a sample made up of 206 subjects of different Latin American nationalities who were going through a migration process. It was observed that religiosity, social support, religious coping mechanisms and gender were related to the perception of happiness. The results underline the importance of considering religiosity and social support together while intervening to improve the perception of happiness of Latin American immigrants in Spain.

In this study, the nature and characteristics of a short Br...π interaction observed in an ebselen derivative, 2-(2-bromophenyl)benzo[d][1,2]selenazol-3(2H)-one, has been explored. The electronic nature of this Br...π interaction was investigated via high-resolution X-ray diffraction and periodic density functional theory calculations using atoms-in-molecules (AIM) analysis. This study unravels the simultaneous presence of σ-hole and π-hole bonding characteristics in the same interaction. The dual characteristics of this unique Br...π interaction are further established via molecular electrostatic potentials (MESPs) and natural bond orbitals (NBOs).

The title compound, C15H13N3O2S, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n and its molecular conformation is stabilized via intramolecular C—H...O and C—H...N contacts. The supramolecular structure is mainly governed by C—H...N hydrogen-bonded centrosymmetric dimers, C—H...O and C—H...S hydrogen bonds and S...π and π–π stacking interactions which, together, lead to the formation of a layered crystal packing. The intermolecular interactions were further evaluated through the molecular electrostatic potential map and Hirshfeld fingerprint analysis.

Crystals of the liquid compound 2,2,2-trifluoroacetophenone (TFAP, C8H5F3O) were obtained using the state-of-art in situ cryocrystallization technique. TFAP crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c, and its crystal structure is mainly stabilized by a set of C—H...F, C—H...O, F...F and F...O supramolecular contacts. The overall molecular arrangement shows the formation of molecular sheets parallel to the bc plane, which are in turn stacked along the a-axis direction. The weak interactions have been studied thoroughly, performing both a Hirshfeld surface analysis and theoretical calculations, to obtain the intermolecular interaction energies. A structural comparison of this compound with the previously reported substituted analogs was also carried out, showing a qualitative difference in terms of packing behaviour.

Background As individuals are increasingly attending health and wellness courses outside of the conventional medical system, there is a need to obtain objective data on the effects of those programs on well-being. Methods In total, 154 men and women (mean age 54.7 years; range 25–83) participated in 3 different holistic wellness programs based on Ayurvedic Medicine principles (Seduction of Spirit, Journey into Healing, and Perfect Health) or a vacation control group. Psychosocial outcomes included spirituality (Delaney Spirituality Scale), mindful awareness (Mindful Attention Awareness Scale), psychological flexibility (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire), mood (Center for Epidemiology Studies-Depression), and anxiety (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement System Anxiety Scale). Results Participants in the Seduction of Spirit ( P

Indolizines are heteroaromatic compounds, and their synthetic analogues have reportedly showed promising pharmacological properties. In this study, a series of synthetic 7-methoxy-indolizine derivatives were synthesised, characterised and evaluated for in vitro whole-cell anti-tuberculosis (TB) screening against susceptible (H37Rv) and multi-drug-resistant (MDR) strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) using the resazurin microplate assay method. The cytotoxicity was evaluated using the MTT assay. In silico molecular-docking study was conducted for compounds 5a-j against enoyl-[acyl-carrier] protein reductase, a key enzyme of the type II fatty acid synthesis that has attracted much interest for the development of novel anti-TB compounds. Thereafter, molecular dynamic (MD) simulation was undertaken for the most active inhibitors. Compounds 5i and 5j with the methoxy functional group at the meta position of the benzoyl group, which was at the third position of the indolizine nucleus, demonstrated encouraging anti-TB activity against MDR strains of MTB at 16 μg/mL. In silico studies showed binding affinity within the range of 7.07-8.57 kcal/mol, with 5i showing the highest binding affinity. Hydrogen bonding, π-π- interactions, and electrostatic interactions were common with the active site. Most of these interactions occurred with the catalytic amino acids (Pro193, Tyr158, Phe149, and Lys165). MD simulation showed that 5j possessed the highest binding affinity toward the enzyme, according to the two calculation methods (MM/PBSA and MM/GBSA). The single-crystal X-ray studies of compounds 5c and 5d revealed that the molecular arrangements in these two structures were mostly guided by C-H···O hydrogen-bonded dimeric motifs and C-H···N hydrogen bonds, while various secondary interactions (such as π···π and C-H···F) also contributed to crystal formation. Compounds 5a, 5c, 5i, and 5j exhibited no toxicity up to 500 μg/mL. In conclusion, 5i and 5j are promising anti-TB compounds that have shown high affinity based on docking and MD simulation results.

The prebiotic potential of nervine herbal medicines has been scarcely studied. We therefore used anaerobic human fecal cultivation to investigate whether medicinal herbs commonly used as treatment in neurological health and disease in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine modulate gut microbiota. Profiling of fecal cultures supplemented with either Kapikacchu, Gotu Kola, Bacopa/Brahmi, Shankhapushpi, Boswellia/Frankincense, Jatamansi, Bhringaraj, Guduchi, Ashwagandha or Shatavari by 16S rRNA sequencing revealed profound changes in diverse taxa. Principal coordinate analysis highlights that each herb drives the formation of unique microbial communities predicted to display unique metabolic potential. The relative abundance of approximately one-third of the 243 enumerated species was altered by all herbs. Additional species were impacted in an herb-specific manner. In this study, we combine genome reconstruction of sugar utilization and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) pathways encoded in the genomes of 216 profiled taxa with monosaccharide composition analysis of each medicinal herb by quantitative mass spectrometry to enhance the interpretation of resulting microbial communities and discern potential drivers of microbiota restructuring. Collectively, our results indicate that gut microbiota engage in both protein and glycan catabolism, providing amino acid and sugar substrates that are consumed by fermentative species. We identified taxa that are efficient amino acid fermenters and those capable of both amino acid and sugar fermentation. Herb-induced microbial communities are predicted to alter the relative abundance of taxa encoding SCFA (butyrate and propionate) pathways. Co-occurrence network analyses identified a large number of taxa pairs in medicinal herb cultures. Some of these pairs displayed related culture growth relationships in replicate cultures highlighting potential functional interactions among medicinal herb-induced taxa.

In the present investigation, the parent compound 4-amino-5-(4-fluoro-3-phenoxyphenyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol (1) and its Schiff bases 2, 3, and 4 were subjected to whole-cell anti-TB against H37Rv and multi-drug-resistant (MDR) strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) by resazurin microtiter assay (REMA) plate method. Test compound 1 exhibited promising anti-TB activity against H37Rv and MDR strains of MTB at 5.5 µg/mL and 11 µg/mL, respectively. An attempt to identify the suitable molecular target for compound 1 was performed using a set of triazole thiol cellular targets, including β-ketoacyl carrier protein synthase III (FABH), β-ketoacyl ACP synthase I (KasA), CYP121, dihydrofolate reductase, enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase, and N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate uridyltransferase. MTB β-ketoacyl ACP synthase I (KasA) was identified as the cellular target for the promising anti-TB parent compound 1 via docking and molecular dynamics simulation. MM(GB/PB)SA binding free energy calculation revealed stronger binding of compound 1 compared with KasA standard inhibitor thiolactomycin (TLM). The inhibitory mechanism of test compound 1 involves the formation of hydrogen bonding with the catalytic histidine residues, and it also impedes access of fatty-acid substrates to the active site through interference with α5–α6 helix movement. Test compound 1-specific structural changes at the ALA274–ALA281 loop might be the contributing factor underlying the stronger anti-TB effect of compound 1 when compared with TLM, as it tends to adopt a closed conformation for the access of malonyl substrate to its binding site.

A series of 2,4,5 trisubstituted-1,2,3-triazole analogues have been screened for their antifungal activity against five fungal strains, Candida parapsilosis, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Aspergillus niger, and Trichophyton rubrum, via a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) microdilution assay. Compounds GKV10, GKV11, and GKV15 emerged as promising antifungal agents against all the fungal strains used in the current study. One of the highly active antifungal compounds, GKV10, was selected for a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis to unequivocally establish its molecular structure, conformation, and to understand the presence of different intermolecular interactions in its crystal lattice. A cooperative synergy of the C-H···O, C-H···N, C-H···S, C-H···π, and π···π intermolecular interactions was present in the crystal structure, which contributed towards the overall stabilization of the lattice. A molecular docking study was conducted for all the test compounds against Candida albicans lanosterol-14α-demethylase (pdb = 5 tzl). The binding stability of the highly promising antifungal test compound, GKV15, from the series was then evaluated by molecular dynamics studies.

Malaria, affecting all continents, remains one of the life-threatening diseases introduced by parasites that are transmitted to humans through the bites of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. Although insecticides are currently used to reduce malaria transmission, their safety concern for living systems, as well as the environment, is a growing problem. Therefore, the discovery of novel, less toxic, and environmentally safe molecules to effectively combat the control of these vectors is in high demand. In order to identify new potential larvicidal agents, a series of 2-aryl-1,2-dihydroquinazolin-4-one derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their larvicidal activity against Anopheles arabiensis. The in silico absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) properties of the compounds were also investigated and most of the derivatives possessed a favorable ADMET profile. Computational modeling studies of the title compounds demonstrated a favorable binding interaction against the acetylcholinesterase enzyme molecular target. Thus, 2-aryl-1,2-dihydroquinazolin-4-ones were identified as a novel class of Anopheles arabiensis insecticides which can be used as lead molecules for the further development of more potent and safer larvicidal agents for treating malaria.

Background. Curcuma longa (common name: turmeric) and one of its biologically active constituents, curcumin, have received increased clinical attention. Insufficient data exist on the effects of curcumin and turmeric on the gut microbiota and such studies in humans are lacking. Methods. Turmeric tablets with extract of piperine (Bioperine) (n = 6), curcumin with Bioperine tablets (n = 5), or placebo tablets (n = 3) were provided to healthy human subjects and subsequent changes in the gut microbiota were determined by 16S rDNA sequencing. Results. The number of taxa detected ranged from 172 to 325 bacterial species. The placebo group displayed an overall reduction in species by 15%, whereas turmeric-treated subjects displayed a modest 7% increase in observed species posttreatment. Subjects taking curcumin displayed an average increase of 69% in detected species. The gut microbiota response to treatment was highly personalized, thus leading to responders and nonresponders displaying response concordance. These “responsive” subjects defined a signature involving uniform increases in most Clostridium spp., Bacteroides spp., Citrobacter spp., Cronobacter spp., Enterobacter spp., Enterococcus spp., Klebsiella spp., Parabacteroides spp., and Pseudomonas spp. Common to these subjects was the reduced relative abundance of several Blautia spp. and most Ruminococcus spp. Conclusions. All participants’ microbiota displayed significant variation over time and individualized response to treatment. Among the responsive participants, both turmeric and curcumin altered the gut microbiota in a highly similar manner, suggesting that curcumin may drive the majority of observed changes observed in turmeric-treated subjects.

While the intention of Integrative Medicine (IM) is whole person medicine, it has for the most part remained driven by individual modalities. Like the practice of IM itself, IM research too has been driven primarily by studies on individual modalities. There are significant challenges to moving research on whole systems medicine forward, with funding being at the top of the list. Historically, NIH has not been receptive to supporting research on whole systems, preferring instead to support studies that are more individual modality driven so that mechanisms can be identified. Purely mechanistic research, however, assumes unidirectional causality and linear responses yet clinical responses to whole systems approaches are more often multidirectional and dynamically unpredictable. The concept of emergence is applicable here. Whole systems approaches suggest that by incorporating therapies into holistic treatment programs we not only treat symptoms but accomplish more by activating the body's inherent self-organizing healing mechanisms and treat the root cause of illnesses as well as associated symptoms. Given that interest in integrative therapies with the general public and medical community is steadily increasing, there is need for more research that explores intact whole systems approaches to elucidate the relevant system-wide effects and dynamic interactions related to these practices.

Stress-induced disorders such as anxiety represent the leading causes of adult disability worldwide. Previous studies indicate that yoga and other contemplative practices such as pranayama , or controlled yogic breathing techniques, may be effective in the treatment of mood disorders and stress. In this study, 142 individuals (mean age = 43 years; SD = 13.90) participated in a 3-day retreat program during which they learned Shambhavi Mahamudra kriya , which is a yogic practice that includes both deep breathing and meditation techniques. Participants were instructed to practice the kriya each day for 21 minutes. After 6 weeks of daily practice, participants reported subjectively lower levels of perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale) and higher levels of general well-being (General Well-Being Scale) compared to baseline. These results support the notion that Shambhavi Mahamudra kriya may represent a natural treatment for stress reduction.

Introduction-Health statistics decide the foundation and course of health policies and programs. Indicators such as the Birth Rate, Death Rate, Life Expectancy at Birth, Morbidity/Mortality patterns etc. reveal the extent and nature of the health problems in the community and thus assists in establishment of the priorities for policy planning and implementation. The present study is being done to assess the morbidity pattern in indoor patients in a tertiary care hospital. Materials & methods- A cross sectional study done in a tertiary care hospital with sample size of 4511. Results- the study found out that maximum patient (44.4%) were admitted under Chapter I i.e. certain infectious and parasitic diseases and 72% of hospital admissions were accounted for by 12 common causes of morbidity. The results of our study were comparable with other studies, differences being there due to limitation of our study being limited to IPD patients. Conclusion-Leading causes of morbidity in all ages and both sexes which require hospitalization are acute infectious diseases.

AIM:To determine the surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) in Straight, Frown and Inverted V shape (Chevron) incisions in manual small incision cataract surgery (SICS).METHODS:A prospective cross sectional study was done on a total of 75 patients aged 40y and above with senile cataract. The patients were randomly divided into three groups (25 each). Each group received a particular type of incision (Straight, Frown or Inverted V shape incisions). Manual SICS with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation was performed. The patients were compared 4wk post operatively for uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and SIA. All calculations were performed using the SIA calculator version 2.1, a free software program. The study was analyzed using SPSS version 15.0 statistical analysis software.RESULTS:The study found that 89.5% of patients in Straight incision group, 94.2% in Frown incision group and 95.7% in Inverted V group attained BCVA post-operatively in the range of 6/6 to 6/18. Mean SIA was minimum (-0.88±0.61D×90 degrees) with Inverted V incision which was statistically significant.CONCLUSION:Inverted V (Chevron) incision gives minimal SIA.

Mechanical ventilation as a means to provide basic lifesaving ventilatory support has grown leaps and bounds in the recent years. The basic modes of ventilation have seen a sea change and in addition other innovative techniques have been developed to prevent lung injury, ease of weaning and improve patient comfort. These modes and techniques though easily available are not adequately utilized for benefits of patient usually due to lack of knowledge about them. This article reviews some of these newer modes and innovations in mechanical ventilatory support.

Sarcoidosis is a non-caseating granulomatous disease . It is a multiorgan inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology. Conditions affecting skin or other organs frequently involve oral cavity and rarely manifest as gingival disease. Here we are reporting a rare case in which gingival hyperplasia was the initial symptom which finally led to the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Oral mucous membrane needs to be examined carefully as it may constitute in presenting first sign of systemic sarcoidosis.

Objective: The aesthetics of the patient can be improved by surgical reconstruction of interdental papilla by using an advanced papillary flap interposed with subepithelial connective tissue graft. Materials and Methods: A total of fifteen sites from ten patients having black triangles/papilla recession in the maxillary anterior region were selected and subjected to presurgical evaluation. The sites were treated with interposed subepithelial connective tissue graft placed under a coronally advance flap. The integrity of the papilla was maintained by moving the whole of gingivopapillary unit coronally. The various parameters were analysed at different intervals. Results: There was a mean decrease in the papilla presence index score and distance from contact point to gingival margin, but it was statistically not significant. Also, there is increase in the width of the keratinized gingiva which was statistically highly significant. Conclusion: Advanced papillary flap with interposed subepithelial connective tissue graft can offer predictable results for the reconstruction of interdental papilla. If papilla loss occurs solely due to soft-tissue damage, reconstructive techniques can completely restore it; but if due to periodontal disease involving bone loss, reconstruction is generally incomplete and multiple surgical procedures may be required.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the elderly. Hallmark AD neuropathology includes extracellular amyloid plaques composed largely of the amyloid-β protein (Aβ), intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) composed of hyper-phosphorylated microtubule-associated protein tau (MAP-tau), and microtubule destabilization. Early-onset autosomal dominant AD genes are associated with excessive Aβ accumulation, however cognitive impairment best correlates with NFTs and disrupted microtubules. The mechanisms linking Aβ and NFT pathologies in AD are unknown. Here, we propose that sequestration of zinc by Aβ-amyloid deposits (Aβ oligomers and plaques) not only drives Aβ aggregation, but also disrupts zinc homeostasis in zinc-enriched brain regions important for memory and vulnerable to AD pathology, resulting in intra-neuronal zinc levels, which are either too low, or excessively high. To evaluate this hypothesis, we 1) used molecular modeling of zinc binding to the microtubule component protein tubulin, identifying specific, high-affinity zinc binding sites that influence side-to-side tubulin interaction, the sensitive link in microtubule polymerization and stability. We also 2) performed kinetic modeling showing zinc distribution in extra-neuronal Aβ deposits can reduce intra-neuronal zinc binding to microtubules, destabilizing microtubules. Finally, we 3) used metallomic imaging mass spectrometry (MIMS) to show anatomically-localized and age-dependent zinc dyshomeostasis in specific brain regions of Tg2576 transgenic, mice, a model for AD. We found excess zinc in brain regions associated with memory processing and NFT pathology. Overall, we present a theoretical framework and support for a new theory of AD linking extra-neuronal Aβ amyloid to intra-neuronal NFTs and cognitive dysfunction. The connection, we propose, is based on β-amyloid-induced alterations in zinc ion concentration inside neurons affecting stability of polymerized microtubules, their binding to MAP-tau, and molecular dynamics involved in cognition. Further, our theory supports novel AD therapeutic strategies targeting intra-neuronal zinc homeostasis and microtubule dynamics to prevent neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.

The surname of one of the authors and the affiliation of that author in the paper by Mohamed et al. [Acta Cryst. (2009), E66, m193–m194] are corrected.

The molecule of the title compound, C12H7BrN2O2S, is essentially planar with a maximum deviation of 0.234 (3) Å from the mean plane through all non-H atoms. The dihedral angle between the coumarin ring plane and that of the five-membered thiazole ring is 12.9 (1)°. In the crystal, strong N—H...O, N—H...N and weak but highly directional C—H...O hydrogen bonds provide the links between the molecules. In addition, C—H...π and π–π interactions [centroid–centroid distances = 3.950 (3)–4.024 (3) Å] provide additional stability to the interlayer regions in the lattice.

The title compound, C12H7ClN2O2S, crystallizes with two molecules in the asymmetric unit. The molecular conformation is roughly planar for both these molecules with maximum deviations of 0.177 (3) and 0.076 (4) Å from their respective mean planes. In the crystal, strong N—H...N and weak but highly directional C—H...O hydrogen bonds provide the links between the molecules. The structure is further stabilised by aromatic π–π stacking interactions with centroid–centroid distances in the range 3.650 (3)–3.960 (3) Å.

The title compound, C15H8Cl2N2O2S, crystallizes with two molecules in the asymmetric unit. The dihedral angles between the 4-chloro-3-nitrophenyl ring and the thiazole ring are 0.5 (1) and 7.1 (1)° and those between the 4-chlorophenyl ring and the thiazole ring are 7.1 (1) and 7.4 (1)° in the two molecules. The crystal structure is stabilized by intermolecular C—H...Cl and C—H...O hydrogen bonds.

In the title compound, C14H16N2O4·H2O, the dihedral angles between the planes of the 4-hydroxyphenyl and ester groups with the plane of the six-membered tetrahydropyrimidine ring are 87.3 (1) and 75.9 (1)°, respectively. The crystal structure is stabilized by O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonding between the water molecule and the organic functionalities.

In the title compound, C14H15ClN2O2S, the tetrahydropyrimidine ring adopts a twisted boat conformation with the carbonyl group in an s-trans conformation with respect to the C=C double bond of the six-membered tetrahydropyrimidine ring. The molecular conformation is determined by an intramolecular C—H...π interaction. The crystal structure is further stabilized by intermolecular N—H...O molecular chains and centrosymmetric N—H...S dimers.