Clinical evaluation proceedings from patient-reported outcomes (PRO) are being concerned increasingly. Based on the concept of PRO, the report discusses the findings in the research recently made at home and abroad. PRO from apoplexy patients with spastic paralysis was taken as an example in the exploration of how to evaluate the curative effects in clinical practice on the basis of PRO.

ABSTRACT'Gut health' is a term currently gaining much more attentions in veterinary literature especially in poultry. It covers multiple positive aspects of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, such as the effective digestion by absorption of food, absence of GI illness, normal and stable intestinal microbiota, effective immune status and a state of well-being. Any disturbance or imbalance in above said aspects may influence the gut health. Thus it is necessary to maintain the balance of all possible associated factors related to gut health. Although till date this is being achieved in poultry farming by Antibiotic Growth Promoters (AGPs). However, the growing concern over the transmission and the proliferation of resistant bacteria in human via the food chain has led to a ban of Antibiotic Growth Promoters (AGP) in livestock feed within the European Union since, 2006. As a result, new commercial additives derived from nature have been examined as part of alternative feed strategies for the future. Such products have several advantages over commonly used commercial antibiotics since they are residue free and recognized as safe items in the food industry. Certain natural alternatives recognized by scientific community as Natural Growth Promoters (NGPs) to preserve and maintain the balance of gut microbiota in poultry are summarized in present communication. The article is also enriched with possible mechanisms of action of NGPs with relevant examples by citing research results obtained by various authors in past and current years.

Context: The roots of Aerva lanata Linn. (Amaranthaceae) (AL) are employed traditionally as an antihyperglycaemic in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. Objective: The present investigation is focus for identification and isolation of the bioactive compound from methanol roots extract of AL against streptozocin-nicotinamide induced elevated serum glucose level in rats. Materials and methods: The methanol extract of the roots was fractionated using different solvents. The partially purified alkaloid basified toluene fraction (PPABTF) showed the presence of alkaloids. The fraction (10 and 20 mg/kg) was tested for oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM)-induced elevated serum glucose level in rats. The fraction was also subjected to high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) for the determination of content of individual alkaloids. Results: Single oral administration of PPABTF (10 and 20 mg/kg) after 20 h caused a significant (p50.01) reduction in the serum glucose level (mg/dl). On other hand, PPABTF normalised plasma glucose levels after 2 weeks of repeated oral administration in diabetic rats (p50.01). HPTLC analysis on PPABTF showed the presence of three known alkaloids. The fraction was further subjected to column chromatography and the compounds identified by ultraviolet, infrared, mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance, as canthin-6-one derivatives. Conclusion and discussion: The PPABTF in the dose of 20 mg/kg showed significant effects on streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced type-II NIDDM in rats. The activity may be due to the presence of alkaloids like canthin-6-one derivatives.

The present study suggests that Hemidesmus indicus has protective activity against arthritis and the activity might be attributed to presence of terpenoid in hydroalcoholic extract, as well as in ethyl acetate fraction.

The present study reports protective activity of ethyl acetate fraction of methanol extract of stem bark of Ceiba pentandra against paracetamol-induced liver damage in rats. The ethyl acetate fraction (400 mg/kg) was administered orally to the rats with hepatotoxicity induced by paracetamol (3 gm/kg). Silymarin (100 mg/kg) was used as positive control. High performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprinting of ethyl acetate fraction revealed presence of its major chemical constituents. A significant (P < 0.05) reduction in serum enzymes GOT (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), GPT alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin content and histopathological screening in the rats treated gave indication that ethyl acetate fraction of methanolic extract of Ceiba pentandra possesses hepatoprotective potential against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.