Metabolic syndrome consists of a group of risk factors characterized by abdominal obesity, hypertension, atherogenic dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and prothrombotic and proinflammatory conditions. Raw garlic homogenate has been reported to reduce serum lipid levels in animal model; however, no precise studies have been performed to evaluate the effect of raw crushed garlic (Allium sativum L.) on components of metabolic syndrome. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the effect of raw crushed garlic on components of metabolic syndrome. A total of 40 metabolic syndrome patients were randomly selected from the diabetic center of SP Medical College, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India. They underwent treatment with 100 mg/kg body weight raw crushed garlic 2 times a day with standard diet for 4 weeks; their anthropometric and serum biochemical variables were measured at both the beginning and the end of the study. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 20, and Student's paired "t" test was used to compare variables before and after treatment with garlic preparation. Raw crushed garlic significantly reduced components of metabolic syndrome including waist circumference (p < .05), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p < .001), triglycerides (p < .01), fasting blood glucose (p < .0001) and significantly increased serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < .0001). There was no significant difference found in body mass index (p > .05) of patients with metabolic syndrome after consumption of raw crushed garlic for 4 weeks. Raw crushed garlic has beneficial effects on components of metabolic syndrome; therefore, it can be used as an accompanying remedy for prevention and treatment of patients with metabolic syndrome.

Background: Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of metabolic changes in malaria patients. During infection RBCs are exposed to continual oxidative stress. The univalent reduction of oxygen results in a series of cytotoxic oxygen species such as O2-, H2O2, OH•. Objective was to determine the level of oxidative stress in patients suffering from malaria.Methods: The present study was conducted on 551 malaria patients and 211 age-sex matched controls, in department of Biochemistry, C U Shah Medical College, Surendranagar, Gujarat from April 2012 to May 2013.  In stage-I, day-1 malaria patient’s v/s control group, In stage-II, day-3 v/s day-1 after anti-malarial treatment and in Stage-III day-3 v/s day-1 after anti-malarial + antioxidant treatment.Results: The mean erythrocytic activity of SOD, CAT, GST were decreased (0.71±0.25EU, 9.9±2.4μmol/sec, and 11.7±3.9 U/gmHb% respectively), mean level of GSH and MDA were increased (42.1±6.06gm/Hb%, 10.9±2.83 respectively) significantly (P<0.001) as compared to control group. In the follow up study with anti-malarial treatment the mean levels of erythrocytic GSH and MDA (28.7±7.54gm/Hb% and 8.08±1.95nM/L) decreased significantly (P<0.001 and P<0.01 respectively), whereas mean activity of erythrocytic enzymes like SOD, CAT and GST (0.99±0.15 EU, 15.8±2.68μmol/sec and 22.5±5U/gmHb%) were increased significantly (P<0.001) as compared to day-1.Conclusions: Erythrocytic antioxidant enzymes, GSH and MDA may be considered to be reliable biochemical markers for diagnostic and therapeutic potential in malaria.

In the present experimental study, the effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (TFG) seeds powder on experimentally induced hyperlipidemia in rabbits was investigated. Twenty albino rabbits were randomly, equally divided into two groups and fed pure cholesterol (0.5g/kg body weight/day) for the period of eight weeks to develop hyperlipidemia. Group-I (control) and Group-II received a normal diet with 2 mL normal saline and 2 mL aqueous emulsified TFG seeds powder (500 mg/kg body weight/day) for four weeks, respectively. Lipid profile and weight were measured at baseline after eight weeks and at the end of the study (12 weeks). Atherogenic indices were calculated by Friedewalds formula. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM: SPSS version 20, and student t test was used to compare variables between groups. After eight weeks of study period, cholesterol feeding was discontinued and hyperlipidemic value was compared with the initial baseline data. Significant increase in body weight and lipid profile variables were observed in the two groups, while there was a significant decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). After the end of the study (12 weeks), the aqueous emulsified fenugreek (TFG) seeds powder reduced significantly the serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and the atheriogenic index (P < 0.001), with significant increase in the HDL-C (P < 0.001) in experimentally hyperlipidemic rabbits (P < 0.001) as compared to control group, whereas no significant differences were observed in the triglyceride very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and body weight (P > 0.05) of both groups. It was concluded that fenugreek seeds powder had a significant hypolipidemic effect in experimentally-induced hyperlipidemic rabbits.

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Background: Neonatal and pediatrics sepsis are one of the main causes of mortality in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units of developing countries. This study was conducted to determine bacteriological profile of neonatal and pediatrics sepsis in the intensive care unit. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the neonatal and pediatric intensive care unit, for the period of two years. All 400 neonates and pediatrics patients admitted with suspected clinical sepsis were included. Sepsis screens and cultures were sent under aseptic conditions. Isolation of microorganisms and their identification was done according to standard microbiological techniques bacteriological profile was analyzed with descriptive statistics.Results: Incidence of septicemia is 35.34% in neonates, 9.83% in post neonates and 22.95% in older children. Most common associated factor in neonates were preterm 41.46% in neonates, fever of unknown origin 50% and 78.57% in post neonates and children respectively. Out of 232 suspected cases on neonates in 36.07% cases bacterial pathogen were isolated, 62 suspected cases on post neonates in 9.83% cases bacterial were isolated and 106 suspected cases of older children in 22.95% cases bacterial pathogen were isolated. Common bacterial species isolated were Klebsiella sp. 39.02% in neonates, S. aureus 50% and 35.71% in post neonates and older children respectively.Conclusions: There is entail prevention of infection control measures and rational antibiotic strategy to decrease the economic burden of hospital and community.