Objectives:The objective of this study was to evaluate the antistress activity of Momordica charantia (MC) fruit extract on stress-induced changes in albino rats and also to explore attenuating effects of MC on in vitro lipid peroxidation in rat brain.Materials and Methods:In this study, Wistar albino rats (180–200 g) were used. Plasma corticosterone and monoamines—5-hydroxy tryptamine (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E) and dopamine (DA) in cortex, hypothalamus and hippocampus regions of brain were determined in animals under different stressful conditions. Ethanolic fruit extract of MC, at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, was used. The oxidative stress paradigms used in in vivo models were acute stress (AS) and chronic unpredictable stress (CUS). Panax quinquefolium (PQ) was used as a standard in in vivo models and ascorbic acid was used as a reference standard in the in vitro method.Results:Subjecting the animals to AS (immobilization for 150 min once only) resulted in significant elevation of plasma corticosterone levels and brain monoamine levels. Pretreatment with MC at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg p.o. significantly countered AS-induced changes and a similar effect was exhibited by PQ at 100 mg/kg p.o. In the CUS regimen (different stressors for 7 days), plasma corticosterone levels were significantly elevated whereas the levels of 5-HT, NE, E, and DA were depleted significantly. Pretreatment with MC (200 and 400 mg/kg) attenuated the CUS-induced changes in the levels of above monoamines in cortex, hypothalamus, and hippocampus regions of brain and plasma corticosterone in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, MC extract (1000–5000 μg/mL) exhibited a significant quenching effect on in vitro lipid peroxidation indicating its strong antioxidant activity which was compared with ascorbic acid.Conclusions:This study reveals the antistress activity of MC as it significantly reverted the stress-induced changes, and the activity might be attributed to its antioxidant activity since stress is known to involve several oxidative mechanisms.

No abstract

No abstract

Introduction:Factors influencing the post-operative health related quality of life (HRQoL) after cardiac surgery have not been well described yet, mainly in the older people. The study aim was to explore the differences in clinical conditions in health related quality of life of patients after cardiac surgery are taking into account the influence of socio demographic variable and to describe factors influencing changes of health related quality of life in post-operative period. The purpose of the study was to assess the health related quality of life of patients who underwent open heart surgery attending CTVS OPD, JIPMER. Methodology: This study was conducted using cross sectional descriptive survey design. 180 patients who underwent open heart surgery at JIPMER were selected using non probability convenience sampling technique from patients attending CTVS OPD at JIPMER to assess the health related quality of life using Modified RAND SF-36 questionnaire. Results: Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the findings which show that the overall quality of life is 62.78%. With regard to demographic variable majority 86(47.8%) were in the age group of 41-60 years, 93(51.7%) were female, 140(77.8) were married, 42(23.3%) had middle level and primary level education, 91(50.6%) were unemployed, 139(77.2%) had income <2500, 114(63.3%) were moderate type of work, 134(74.4%) had undergone valvular surgeries, 85(47.2%) had single valve replacement, 45(25%) were 1-5 years after open heart surgery, 161(89.4%) had no history of recurrent open heart surgery, 138(76.7%) had no history of associated co-morbidities, 176(97.8%) were non-smoker, 177(98.3%) were nonalcoholic, 174(96.7%) were regular to treatment follow up. Overall, 78(45%) had fair health related quality of life, 52(28.9%) had poor health related quality of life, 50(27.8%) had good health related quality of life. Conclusion:The study concluded that most of the patients who underwent open heart surgery have fair quality of life so that there is a