The essential oils isolated by hydro-distillation from the leaves of wild growing Mentha piperita and Mentha spicata (Lamiaceae) at the region of Mariovo, Republic of Macedonia were analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography wit mass selective detector (GC-MS). A total of forty six and thirty two different components were identified in the essential oils obtained from M. piperita and M. spicata, respectively, constituting approximately >99% (w/w) of the oils. The major components in the essential oil of M. piperita were menthol (34.3%), L-menthone (18.24%) and isomenthone (5.16%), neoisomenthol (3.48%), pulegone (3.03%) and menthyl acetate (3.01%). The major components in the essential oil of M. spicata were carvone (61.4%) ; limonene (11.87%) and 1, 8 – cineol (5.21%). The antifungal activity of the oils was tested by disc diffusion method and the micro-dilution broth method (MIC) against six plant pathogenic fungi: Alternaria alternata Alternaria solani, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium solani and Rhizopus solani. The results from the disc diffusion method followed by MIC indicated that M. spicata essential oil showed maximum antifungal activity with larger inhibition zone (20 – 29 mm) and the smallest MIC values (65.8 – 120.3 μg mL-1) against all the strains tested. M. piperita essential oil exhibited good antifungal activity with inhibition zone of 19 and 20 mm and MIC values of 120.3 and 115.4 μg mL- 1, respectively against Fusarium solani and Aspergilus flavus and excellent antifungal activity with inhibition zone of 28 and 30 mm and MIC values of 65.4 and 50.6 μg mL- 1, respectively against Aspergilus niger and Rhizopus solani.
KEYWORDS: Essential oil, hydro-distillation, fungi, gas chromatography

[1] R.S. Verma , L. Rahman, R.K. Verma, A. Chauhan, A.K. Yadav and A. Sin, "Essential Oil Composition of Menthol Mint (Mentha arvensis) and Peppermint (Mentha piperita) Cultivars at Different Stages of Plant Growth from Kumaon Region of Western Himalaya". Open Access Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants vol. 1(1), pp. 13-18, 2010.
[2] M. Gulluce, F. Shain, M. Sokmen, H. Ozer, D. Daferera and A. Sokmen, "Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of the essential oils and methanol extract from Mentha longifolia L. spp. Longifolia", Food Chem vol. 103, pp.1449–1456, 2007.
[3] A I. Hussain, F. Anwar, P. S. Nigam, M. Ashraf, and A. H Gilanif, "Seasonal variation in content, chemical composition and antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of essential oils from four Mentha species", J Sci Food Agric vol. 90, pp. 1827-1836. 2010.
[4] D. Kalemba and A. Kunicka, "Antibacterial and antifungal properties of essential oils, Current Medicinal Chemistry" vol. 10, pp. 813-829, 2003.
[5] E. Derwich, Z. Benziane and R. Taouil, "GC/MS analysis of volatile compuind of the essential oil of the leaves of Mentha pulegium growing in Morocco, Chemical Bull. POLITEHNICA, vol. 55 (69-2), pp.103-106, 2010.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global threat to health mainly in developing countries because therapy is expensive and lifelong. over 1 million people worldwide are on dialysis or with a functioning graft. Early detection of Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its consequent complications can prevent its grave complications . It causes not only significant morbidity but also it causes high mortality. Because of increase in incidence of Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity and an aging population there is increase in progression of chronic kidney disease to end stage renal disease (ESRD). . Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the major cause of mortality in haemodialysis patients and so it has become imperative to have a screening programme at all levels to detect CKD at an early stage and to initiate specific therapy to reduce the progression of renal disease and also the burden of ESRD (1). High sensitive C-Reactive protein (Hs CRP) assay is useful for sensitive detection of inflammatory state (2,3). This study aims at estimating Hs CRP as a marker of inflammation in CKD patients...

[1]. Tsai Y, Lee C, Huang T, Cheng B. Inflammatory marker but not adipokine predicts mortality long term haemodialysis patients –Hindawi publishing corporation mediators of inflammation. 2007; 1-5.
[2]. Myers L, Christenson HM, Cushman M, Ballantyne M, Cooper R. National academy of clinical biochemistry laboratory medicine practice guidelines: emerging biomarkers for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Clinical chemistry. 2009; 55: 378-84.
[3]. Mora S, Musunuruand K, Blumenthal RS. The clinical utility of high sensitivity C-reactive protein in cardiovascular disease and the potential implication of Jupiter on current practice guidelines. Clinical chemistry. 2009; 55: 219-28.
[4]. Lamire E, Barsoom R. The burden of kidney disease. Kidney international. 2004; 1310.
[5]. Johnson CAJ, Levey AS, Coresh J, et al: Clinical practice guidelines for chronic kidney disease in adults: Part 1. Definition, disease stages, evaluation, treatment and risk factors. Am Fam phys 2004; 70(5): 869-76

Blindness is among the most severe of all forms of physical disability. Without vision, blind people are cut off from a major segment of the social and physical environment to which they must adapt. This creates problems for mobility and everyday skilled activities for which vision is important. At the same time, in relating to other people, the blind can only guess at the meanings and intentions of non-verbal communication, and the social context in which these occur. Blindness may therefore create formidable social and psychological problems for the blind children. These problems are shown to have implications for the integration of the blind children into a sighted society, for the coping and adjustment of the blind, and for the attitudes of the sighted...

Keywords - Psychosocial problems, Coping strategies, Blind children

[1]. World Health Organisation. Global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness-2009;97:61
[2]. Gilbert C, Rahi J, Quinn G. Visual Impairment and blindness in children. Epidemiology of eye diseases 2003.
[3]. Arditi A, Rosenthal B. Developing an objective definition of visual impairment. In vision '96: Proceedings of the International Low Vision Conference Madrid. Spain. 1998.
[4]. WHO. Action Plan for the Prevention of avoidable blindness and visual impairment;2009-2013
[5]. Bhagotra S, Sharma AK, Riana B. Psychosocial adjustments and rehabilitation of the blind. Social Medicine 2008 Jan; 10(1).

Background And Objectives: To study the effect of inj.Ropivacaine (0.25%) 2mg/kg with and without Inj.Dexmedetomidine (1-2μg/kg) intraarticularly for postoperative analgesia in arthroscopic knee surgery.1:To Evaluate Onset, Duration and analgesic efficacy of Intraarticular Dexmedetomidine2: To monitor the safety of Dexmedetomidine and Ropivacaine.
Methods: A prospective randomized double blind study, was conducted in 50 patients undergoing elective arthroscopy of knee joint under spinal anaesthesia. At the completion of the surgery, all patients were divied into two groups;GroupP(n=25):received Inj. Ropivacaine 0.25% and GroupD(n=25):received Inj.Ropivacaine(0.25%)+Inj. Dexmedetomidine(1μg/kg) total volume 20 ml was deposited intra-articularly.Patients were monitored in the postoperative ward for the hemodynamic parameters and their Sedation score was assessed.. The efficacy of the drug was determined by improvement in VAS score, duration of analgesia and total number of rescue analgesics during 24 hr in post operative period.
Results: There was no statistically significant differences observed in heart rate except changes at 6 and 8 hr. At 6 and 8 hr in group P pulse (82.48 ± 7.49, 81.44 ± 8.78) as compared to group D (75.38 ± 6.52, 74.96 ± 5.70),because of duration of action of ropivacaine with or without dexmedetomidine.There was no statistically significant difference in blood pressure was found, except at 12 hour and 24 hour (p=0.018), because of longer duration of action of intrarticular dexmedetomidine with ropivacaine in group D.At 6 hrs patients in Group P had a mean VAS score of 3.2 as compared to VAS score values of 1.8 in Group D which is statistically significant..At 2 , 4, 6 and 8 hour VAS score in P group was 1.64, 2.44, 3.24, 2.84 respectively. As compared to group P, in group D VAS score at 2, 4, 6 and 8 hour was 0.92, 1.04, 1.79 and 2.08 respectively. So VAS score lower in group D as compared to group P at 2, 4, 6 and 8 hrs.
Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine when administered as an adjuvant to ropivacaine via intraarticular route produces longer duration of analgesia as compared to local anaesthetic drug alone resulting in lower pain scores and decreases need for postoperative analgesics with minimal side effects and no effect on hemodynamic parameters when used in low dose.Thus, intraarticular use of Inj.Dexmedetomidine is an effective adjuvant to ropivacaine for post operative analgesia following arthroscopy of the knee

[1]. A. P. Kazemi MD, S. Rezazadeh MD, H. Ranjbar Gharacheh MD; Intra-Articular Sufentanyl Compared to Morphine for Pain Relief after Arthroscopic Knee Surgery. Journal of Research in Medical Sciences 2004; 4:168-172
[2]. Allen GC, St Amand MA, Lui AC, Johnson DH, Lindsay MP: Post-arthroscopy analgesia with intraarticular bupivacaine/morphine. A randomized clinical trial. Anesthesiology 1993
[3]. Ankit Agarwal, R. K. Verma, Shivika Srivastava; Ropivacaine: latest local Anaesthetic in Indian Market. J. Anaesth Clin Pharmacol 2010; 26(2): 223-228
[4]. Ansam Aly, MD, Sherif Farouk, MD and Rasha M Abdelatti, MD; The Effect of Intra-Articular Magnesium on the Articular Cartilage and Synovium in the Rat Knee Joint. Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 6(9): 572-576, 2012 ISSN 1991-8178
[5]. B.D.Chaurasiya; Anatomy of abdomen and lower limb volume 2: 143-149
[6]. Bilge Tuncer,Avani babacan , Mustafa Arslan; Preemptive Intraarticualr Tramadol for Pain Control After Arthroscopic Knee Surgery. Agri 19:1, 2007

Oxidative stress is currently suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of Diabetes mellitus. The role of dietary management in diabetes mellitus is to provide a proper balance of total nutrients while meeting the special dietary needs of the patient. The present study was designated to evaluate the effect of special antidiabetic diet treatment upon oxidative stress parameters in the initial stages of the development of diabetes. Male Wistar strain rats were used as an experimental model, divided into five groups. A significant decrease in superoxide dismutase and total glutathione activities were observed in the liver of diabetic rats when compared with control animals. The plasma level of aminotransferases, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and urea were significantly increased after induction of diabetes, in all groups under treatment. In contrast, rats fed special diet food, have shown slight different, but not significant changes. The findings of the present study suggest that special diet formula useful for prevention of progressive hyperglycaemia in age induced diabetes in dogs, could not restore the imbalance of cellular defence mechanism provoked by streptozotocin.

Keywords - oxidative stress, liver, hyperglycemia, diabetic rats, diet supplement

[1] Leninger, A.L. (1982): Principles of Biochemistry. New York. Worth Publishers, 712-714
[2] Stewart, M. (1991): Animal Physiology.Holder and Stough Ltd., 313-7.
[3] Rand, J.S., Fleeman, L.K., Farrow, H.A., Appleton , D.J. Lederer, R. (2004): Canine and Feline Diabetes mellitus: Nature or Nurture? Amer.Soc. for Nutriton. Scien. 2072S-2080S.
[4] Magalha˜es, J., Ascensa˜o, A., Soares, J.M.C., Ferreira, R., Neuparth, M.J., Marques, F., and.Duarte, J.A. (2005): Acute and severe hypobaric hypoxia increases oxidative stress and impairs mitochondrial function in mouse skeletal muscle.J Appl Physiol 99: 1247–1253.
[5] Guigliano, D.,Ceriello A., Paolissi G.,(1996): Oxidative stress and diabetic vascular complications. Diabets Care, 19: 257-267.
[6] Gumieniczek, A., Hopkala H., Wojtowich Z., Nikolajuk J. (2002): Changes in antioxidant status of heart muscule tissue in experimental diabetes in rabbits. Acta Biochim. Pol. 49: 529-535.
[7] Subbiah, R., Karuran, S., Sorimuthu, S. (2005): Antioxidant effect of aloe vera gel extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats. Pharmacological Reports, 57: 90-96.
[8] Oberley, L.W.,(1988): Free radicals and diabetes. Free Radical Biol Med., 5:113-124.
[9] Tiwari, A.K., Rao, J.M. (2002): Diabetes mellitus and multiple therapeutic approaches of phytochemicals: present status and future prospects.Curr Sci, 83:30-38.

Both cabbage and thiouracil exert high impact on thyroid hormone. In the present study it is found that decreasing amount of thyroid hormone (T3&T4) inhibit the metabolism of vitamin A in the freshwater fish Ctepharyngodon idella. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of deficiency of thyroid hormone on the retinoid reserve of the fish due to the administration of cabbage and thiouracil as feed. For this experiment fish Ctepharyngodon idella was kept in different feeding states. First was kept with aquatic weed hydrilla, mass grass, filamentous algae. Second group was kept with chopped cabbage and third group was feed with chopped cabbage along with thiouracil. Blood samples were collected from the caudal vasculature in the heparin zed syringes and plasma was assayed for plasma T3&T4 concentration by Radioimmunoassay(RIA). The vitamin A concentration i.e., retinol, dehydroretinol and β-carotene are estimated from the liver of the fish through HPLC procedure. The result shows concentration of mean plasma thyroid hormone was significantly decreased in fishes subjected to cabbage and thiouracil in their feed compared to those of fishes in controlled condition. It is also seen that retinol, dehydroretinol and β-carotene concentration also decreased to a considerable amount in fishes subjected to cabbage and thiouracil in their feed. So, from the present experiment, it is clear that thyroid deficiency can affect the retinoids reserves of fish.

Keywords -Retinol, Dehydroretinol, β-carotene,T3,T4, Thiouracil, Cabbage

[1]. Goodwin TW (1984) The biochemistry of carotenoids, Animals.Chapman and Hill London, New York.2: 1-122
[2]. Goswami UC (2007) Vitamin A in fresh water fish, Presidential lecture in the section Animal, Vetenary and fishery Sciences, 94th Indian Science congress, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar. P 1-26.
[3]. Moore T (1957) In 'Vitamin A',edited by T.Moore,Amsterdam,and Elsevier.
[4]. Goswami UC (2003) Influence of certain ecological factors on the pigmentation of ornamental fish. Proceeding of perspective of biodiversity, Ecophysiology and conservation of freshwater animals. 1-15
[5]. Goswami UC (2011) Metabolism and utilization and utilization of pigment molecules in designing feeds for freshwater ornamental fish and crustaceans. In Emerging trends in Zoology, edited by U.C.Srivastava and Santosh Kumar, NPH Publication, New Delhi. 379-394.

This study was carried out to compare the efficacy, cost effectiveness and outcome of albumin with fresh frozen plasma (FFP) in the treatment of diuretic resistant edema in childhood idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.Methods: Fifty four patients with idiopathic NS were enrolled in this prospective analytic study. Patients with moderate to severe edema with serum albumin <15 gm/L were given albumin and FFP dividing into two groups. Group-A, received intravenous albumin- 1 gm/kg/day and Group-B intravenous FFP 15ml/kg/day. Total number of albumin and FFP infusion were determined by edema reduction. Cost effectiveness was also calculated. Results: Diagnosis of NS and biochemical parameters were same in both groups. Dry weight was achieved in Group-A in 6.66± 3.710 days and in Group-B 6.66± 3.038 days. In Group-A the number of albumin infusion required was 1.44±0.697 and Group-B FFP infusion required was 3.11± 1.5 (p=0.0001). Group A needed 4608.00 ($57.6) taka for albumin whereas Group B needed only 2177.00($ 27.2) taka for FFP (p=0.0001). No significant complications were observed in both the groups.Conclusion: FFP costs half than albumin and same duration required reducing edema but the cost-effectiveness may place FFP as a better choice especially in developing countries of the world.

Keywords -Fresh frozen plasma, Albumin, Edema, Nephrotic syndrome, Cost

[1.] Bagga A. Srivastava RN Nephrotic syndrome.In: Srivastava RN. Bagga A (eds). Pediatric Nephrology. 5thedition.Joypee Brothers Medical Publishers Ltd. New Delahi. 110002. 2011. 195-234.
[2.] Fliser D, Zurbruggen I, Mutschler E, Bischoff I, Nussberger J, Franek E, Ritz E: Coadministration of albumin and furosemide in patients with the nephrotic syndrome. Kidney Int1999;55: 629–634.
[3.] Inoue M, Okajima K, Itoh K, Ando Y, Watanabe N, Yasaka T, Nagase S, Morino Y: Mechanism of furosemide resistance in analbuminemic rats and hypoalbuminemic patients. Kidney Int1987;32: 198–203.
[4.] Kirchner KA, Voelker JR, Brater DC: Intratubular albumin blunts the response to furosemide. A mechanism for diuretic resistance in the nephrotic syndrome. J PharmacolExpTher1990;252: 1097–1101.
[5.] Sjostrom PA, Odlind BG, Beermann BA, Karlberg BE: Pharmacokinetics and effects of frusemide in patients with the nephrotic syndrome. Eur J ClinPharmacol1989;37: 173–180.

Piper crocatum is one of Indonesian medicinal plant that contain flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, and saponins. Aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of Piper crocatum aqueous extract against a decrease in body weight (BW) and the activity of enzymes involved in lipid metabolism (AMPK, ACC, FAS) in liver obese rats. This study used four groups of Sprague dawley rat (n = 6), including normal group (N), obese controls (OC), Piper crocatum extract dose 1260 mg/kgBW (PcA), and Piper crocatum extract dose of 1890 mg/kgBW (PcB). Measurement of metabolic liver enzyme levels (AMPK, ACC, FAS) are using ELISA kit (CusabioTM). Results of this study showed that the PcA group produce the highest reduction in body weight (4.52%), and the lowest levels of ACC (9.13 ng/g) and FAS (360.68 ng/g) which was significantly different from obese control group (95% CI). Piper crocatum extract can't activate AMPK. The highest levels in rat liver AMPK is in N group with 8.42 ng/g, but this value is not significantly different from other groups.

Keywords -ACC, AMPK, FAS, Obese, Piper crocatum

[1] Cornier MA, Dabelea D, Hernandez TL, Lindstrom RC, Steig AJ, Stob NR, Van Pelt RE, Wang H, Eckel RH. The metabolic syndrome. Endocrine Reviews, 29(7), 2008, 777–822. DOI: 10.1210/er.2008-0024.
[2] Eckel RH, York DA, Rössner S, Hubbard V, Caterson I, St Jeor ST, Hayman LL, Mullis RM, Blair SN. American Heart Association: Prevention conference VII obesity, a Worldwide epidemic related to heart disease and stroke: executive summary. Circulation, 110(12), 2004, 2968–2975. DOI: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000140086.88453.9A.
[3] Field AE, Coakley EH, Must A, Spadano JL, Laird N, Dietz WH, Rimm E, Colditz GA. Impact of overweight on the risk of developing common chronic diseases during a 10-year period. Arch Intern Med, 161(13), 2001, 1581 –1586. DOI: 10.1001/archinte.161.13.1581.
[4] Mushtaq MU, Gull S, Mushtaq K, Shahid U, Shad MA, Akram J. Dietary behaviors, physical activity and sedentary lifestyle associated with overweight and obesity, and their socio-demographic correlates, among Pakistani primary school children. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 8(1), 2011, 30-42. DOI: 10.1186/1479-5868-8-130.

During routine activities in the department of Anatomy,GSVM, Medical College Kanpur(U.P), an atlanto-occipital fusion was observed in cadaveric skull. The skull used in our study had complete fusion of the atlas vertebra with occipital bone along with ossification of atlanto-occipital membranes. The knowledge of such a fusion may be of importance for radiologists, anaesthetist, orthopedic and neurosurgeons because skeletal abnormalities at the craniocervical junction may result in sudden unexpected death. It can result in dysphagia, dysarthria or torticollis because of compression of cranial nerves. Neurosurgeons should be aware that such an anomaly may exist without any typical symptomatic presentation, and thus serious consequences of upper cervical spinal manipulative therapy may arise when a complete and adequate clinical assessment is missed.

Keywords -Atlanto-occipital fusion, cranio-cervical junction, Atlas, Cervical spine.

[1]. MOORE, KL., DALLEY, AF. and AGUR, AMR. Anatomia orientada para a clínica. 6. ed. Rio de Janeiro: Guanabara Koogan, 2011.
[2]. Bergman RA, Afifi AK, Miyauchi R.Compendium of human anatomical variations.Baltimore: Urban and Schwarzenberg.(1988:197.)
[3]. Bopp A, Frauendorf E. Paracondylar process versus paramastoid process - a contribution to its nomenclature and topographic anatomy. Homo. 1996; 47: 163–176.
[4]. Kruyff E. Occipital dysplasia in infancy. The early recognition of craniovertebral abnormalities. Radiology. 1965; 85: 501–507.
[5]. KASSIM, NM., LATIFF, AA., DAS, S., GHAFAR, NA., SUHAIMI, FH., OTHMAN, F., HUSSAN, F. and SULAIMAN, IM. Atlanto‑occipital fusion: an osteological study with clinical implications. Bratislavské Lekárske Listy, 2010, vol. 111, n. 10, p. 562-565..

Type 2 diabetes and renal failure are insidious diseases. Worldwide, diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease. In Morocco, diabetes and kidney disease are two diseases on the rise and represent a real public health problem. The prevalence of diabetes in Morocco reached 9% of people aged over 20 years, 50% remain undiagnosed. Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease whose prevalence is 2.9% in Morocco. The pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes appears to be dominated by insulin resistance and a lack of insulin secretion. Its management is based on the management of these two factors diabetogenic by physical activity, lifestyle changes and drug therapy (biguanides, glitazones, sulfonylureas). Metformin (biguanide) discovery in the 1950s is the oral antidiabetic medication, insulin sensitizer most prescribed in the world. In Morocco, it remains the most accessible for free. Its use requires compliance with its various cons-indications including impaired renal function. Metformin is excreted by the kidney with a clearance 440-450 ml / min. The main risk in renal insufficiency is lactic acidosis (LA) by accumulation or Intoxication with metformin. The intra-erythrocyte concentration of metformin is the best assessment of this accumulation indicator. The use of metformin may be as beneficial in patients with diabetes type 2 insulin-resistant renal impairment. Very few studies have been done on metformin and renal failure, hence the interest of our study in Morocco, Mediterranean region, to identify and study the difference of concentrations of metformin for type 2 diabetic patients with or without renal impairment...

Keywords -Metformin, intra-erythrocyte concentration, type 2 diabetes, chronic renal failure, lactic acidosis.

[1]. Jungers P, Choukroun G, Robino C, Massy ZA, Taupin P, Labrunie M et al. Epidemiology of end stage renal disease in the Île-de-France area: a prospective study in 1998. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2000;15(12):2000-6.
[2]. Halimi S, Zmirou D, Benhamou PY, Balducci F, Zaoui P, Maghlaoua M et al. Huge progression of diabetes prevalence and incidence among dialysed patients in mainland France and overseas French territories. A second national survey six years apart (UREMIDIAB 2 study). Diab Metab 1999; 25(6):507-12.
[3]. http://www.lmlcd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=213&Itemid=128. Ligue Marocaine de Lutte contre le Diabète. Dernière mise à jour le 27 février 2015.
[4]. http://www.aujourdhui.ma/maroc/societe/maladies-renales-chroniques-2-9-des-marocains-sont-touches--101764#.VPYXjHyG_Fw. Ministère de la santé : Aujourdhui.ma | 19-03-2013 12:00:00.
[5]. Bailey CJ, Path MRC, Turner RC. Metformin. N Engl J Med 1996;29:574-9.