Background: Manuka honey has attracted the attention of the scientific community for its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. The active compounds of manuka honey to which its myeloperoxidase activity inhibition is owed are methyl syringate (MSYR) and leptosin (a novel glycoside of MSYR). The non-peroxide antibacterial activity is attributed to glyoxal, 3-deoxyglucosulose, and methylglyoxal. These properties make it an inexpensive and effective topical treatment in wound management. This study has focused on the evaluation of the effect of manuka honey and acacia honey on wound healing in nondiabetic and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on a total of 42 rats (six rats in each group) and respective drug/substance was topically applied once daily on the excision wound for 21 days. Induction of diabetes was carried out in rats in groups IV, V, VI, and VII only. Measurement of wound contraction was carried out on days 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 after operation. Time taken for the complete epithelization was recorded along with a histopathological examination of the healed wound bed. Results: Topical application of manuka honey achieved ≥80% wound contraction on day 9 after operation in both the nondiabetic and diabetic group. Complete epithelization was achieved 2 days earlier than the normal epithelization time in the manuka group. Histopathological examination showed well-formed keratinized squamous epithelium with normal collagen tissue surrounding hair follicles. Conclusion: This study provides good outcome with respect to wound healing (especially in diabetic condition) when manuka honey was compared to acacia honey and standard treatment.

Objective: Few studies have explored the diuretic property of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare). Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the antiurolithiatic property of ethanolic extract of fennel seeds in male Wistar albino rats.Methods: Prophylactic and curative urolithiasis models were used with 5 groups of 6 rats in each model. Ethanolic extract of fennel seeds in three doses 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg was used. Cystone 750 mg/kg was used as a standard drug. All drugs were administered orally. Zinc discs were surgically implanted in the bladder in all rats. After recovery, rats in the prophylactic model received three different doses of ethanolic extract of fennel seeds along with 1% ethylene glycol for 2 weeks whereas the rats in the other model received 1% ethylene glycol for 2 weeks followed by an ethanolic extract of fennel seeds in three doses for the next 2 weeks. Both models had a control group receiving 1% ethylene glycol. At the end of study period, rats were sacrificed and vesical calculi collected, weighed, and statistically evaluated using one-way ANOVA.Results: In both the models, all three doses of an extract of fennel seeds were effective in reducing stone formation as compared to control group with p<0.05. In both the models, all three test doses were comparable with cystone, but 300 mg/kg extract in prophylactic showed significance (p <0.05) when compared to standard.Conclusion: Fennel seeds can be used prophylactically as well as curatively in the treatment of urolithiasis. However, further studies and clinical trials are warranted to explore this property.

Background and Objective: The complexity of antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens in people living with HIV (PLHIV) poses significant challenges for medication management, impacting adherence and overall health outcomes. The Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI) is a tool that quantifies regimen complexity, yet its correlation with hospitalization rates and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in PLHIV remains underexplored. Materials and Methods: This prospective study, which was conducted at a government-funded antiretroviral treatment center, investigated the relationships among MRCI scores, hospitalization due to ADRs, and the ADR rates in 285 PLHIV participants over 18 months. Results: The study revealed a significant association between higher baseline MRCI scores and hospitalization due to ADRs, with a threshold MRCI score of 8 indicating increased risk. There was no significant association between average MRCI scores and overall ADR rates or non-ADR-related hospitalizations. Conclusions: These findings emphasize the importance of monitoring medication regimen complexity in PLHIV, particularly in the context of preventing hospitalizations related to ADRs. Further research is needed to understand the multifactorial influences on ADR occurrence and to optimize ART regimens for better patient outcomes.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) depicts heterogeneous spatial patterns with geographical aggregation of TB cases due to either ongoing person-to-person transmission or reactivation of latent infection in a community sharing risk factor. In this regard, we aimed to assess the spatiotemporal aggregation of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) patients notified to the national TB program (NTP) from 2015 to 2018 in selected districts of Karnataka, South India. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among DR-TB patients notified from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Chikamagalur districts of the state of Karnataka. Clinico-demographic details were extracted from treatment cards. The registered addresses of the patients were geocoded (latitude and longitude) using Google Earth. Using the QGIS software, spot map, heat maps and grid maps 25 km² with more than the expected count of DR-TB patients were constructed. Results: Of the total 507 patients studied, 376 (74%) were males and the mean (standard deviation) age of the study participants was 41.4 (13.9) years. From 2015 to 2018, the number of patients increased from 85 to 209 per year, the area of aggregation in square kilometers increased from 113.6 to 205.7, and the number of rectangular grids with more than the expected DR-TB patients (> 1) increased from 12 to 47. Conclusions: The increase in the number of DR-TB patients, area of aggregation, and grids with more than the expected count is a cause for concern. The NTP can use routine programmatic data to develop maps to identify areas of aggregation of disease for targeted TB control activities.

Background: The brain is the centre of the nervous system in all vertebrates. The central cholinergic pathways play a prominent role in learning and memory processes. Dementia is a mental disorder characterized by the loss of intellectual ability, which invariably involves the impairment of memory. The crude extracts of the Gmelina arborea plant are reported to possess wound-healing, anti-diarrheal, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-ulcer property. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of G. arborea on learning and memory in albino Wistar rats. Methods: A total of 36 healthy rats were selected for the study, which were divided in to six groups. Standard screening tests such as the elevated plus maze (EPM), Morris water maze (MWM), and step-down passive avoidance (SDA) tests were used for testing the learning and memory processes. Results: Gmelina arborea at higher doses (1000 mg/kg) showed statistically significant activity in EPM, MWM, and SDA tests for assessing the learning and memory paradigms when compared to the control group in amnesia-induced and non-amnesia groups of rats. Conclusions: This is the first ever study to report the effects of G. arborea on learning and memory in both amnesia-induced and non-amnesia groups of rats. Our results show that G. arborea potentiates the processes of learning and memory. The observed pharmacological activities should be further evaluated by detailed experimental studies and revalidated by clinical trials.

Background: NSAIDs and opioids are commonly prescribed medications to relieve pain of multiple aetiologies with no effect on the level of consciousness of the patient. They interfere with the mode of transmission of the pain message. A widely prescribed antiepileptic drug, sodium valproate has been used in various non-epileptic conditions like migraine prophylaxis and in the treatment of bipolar disorder because of the multiple mechanisms by which it acts. Vitex negundo has been investigated for antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, hepatoprotective and bronchial relaxant. Very few studies have been done to evaluate its analgesic activity and no study was done on analgesic activity with the combination of modern drug. The more important point to be noted is that Vitex negundo is a natural product and therefore unlikely to cause adverse effects when compared to the traditional drugs used to treat pain. The aim of the present study was to evaluate of analgesic activity of sodium valproate and docosahexaenoic in experimental analgesic models in wistar rats.Methods: For analgesic activity, a total of 36 adult Wistar albino rats were taken and divided into six groups of six rats each. Group I was control (distil water 1ml/kg), Group II received intraperitoneal injection of diclofenac sodium (10mg/kg), Group III, IV were injected intraperitoneal sodium valproate 200, 400mg/kg with distil water respectively and Group V, VI were given sodium valproate 200, 400mg/kg (intraperitoneal) plus EEVN 400mg/kg (orally) respectively. Analgesic activity was assessed using hot plate, tail flick and acetic acid writhing models.Results: Present study revealed that sodium valproate at higher doses (400mg/kg) used either alone along with EEVN (400mg/kg) showed statistically significant analgesic activity in comparison to control in various experimental models for assessing pain.Conclusions: Combination of sodium valproate along with EEVN has shown promising analgesic activity.