The present study was designed to evaluate the role of fluoride in urolithiasis in humans. Two areas were selected for this purpose, a fluoride endemic area (EA) and a fluoride non-endemic area (NEA). The prevalence of uroliathiasis was 4.6 times higher in EA than in NEA. Furthermore, the prevalence was almost double in subjects with fluorosis than without fluorosis in the endemic area. No relationship was observed between urolithiasis and the duration of fluorosis. The fluoride levels in drinking water ranged from 3.5 to 4.9 ppm in EA and subjects from this area excreted more fluoride. A comparison of normal subjects (NS) from EA and NEA revealed that endemic subjects tend to have slightly higher mean serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBAR) levels and excrete more oxalate and fluoride than their non-endemic counterparts. The urinary stone formers (SF) from the two areas showed a similar tendency, though again the difference was not significant. Citrate excretion in SF was almost normal in the EA, but NEA SF had significantly lower excretion levels. Urinary stones from endemic patients had higher fluoride, oxalate and calcium levels than those from non-endemic patients. In vitro studies suggested that fluoride did not influence the heterogonous mineralization of calcium oxalate. In conclusion, the data suggest that fluoride in vivo may behave as a mild promoter of urinary stone formation by (a) excretion of insoluble calcium fluoride, (b) increasing oxalate excretion and (c) mildly increasing the oxidative burden.

Comparative study of the antiulcer and antisecretory activity of Asparagus racemosus Willd (Shatawari) and Withania somnifera Dunal (Ashwagandha) root extract with a standard drug, ranitidine, in various models of gastric ulcer in rats is presented. Ulcer was induced by the indomethacin (NSAID) and swim (restraint) stress treatment. Results demonstrated that A. racemosus as well as W. somnifera methanolic extract (100 mg/kg BW/day p.o.) given orally for 15 days significantly reduced the ulcer index, volume of gastric secretion, free acidity, and total acidity. A significant increase in the total carbohydrate and total carbohydrate/protein ratio was also observed. Study also indicated an increase in antioxidant defense, that is, enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbic acid, increased significantly, whereas a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation was observed. A. racemosus was more effective in reducing gastric ulcer in indomethacin-treated gastric ulcerative rats, whereas W. somnifera was effective in stress-induced gastric ulcer. Results obtained for both herbal drugs were comparable to those of the standard drug ranitidine.

Background: Disasters are contingent and unpredicted and can only be dealt by effective disaster management plans. Disaster never happened does not mean, it cannot happen. Medical internship students can be proving useful medical workforce in such situation. Medical intern students need to know basic strategies carried out in disaster management plan. Objective: To access the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical internship students regarding disaster preparedness. Materials and Methods: Study design is facility-based, descriptive, cross-sectional survey. The study population included the medical internship students. The study duration was 1 month. The study was conducted utilizing a self-administered, pretested, prestructured questionnaire. Result: Eighty-seven of the 102 internship students completed a self-administered questionnaire. The response rate was 85.29%. Medical internship students exhibit an excellent basic knowledge of disaster plan and preparedness in the hospital. Their awareness and attitude for the disaster plan and preparedness were significantly positive. They were deficient in the knowledge and attitude regarding their functions during drill. The practices regarding disaster preparedness training and performance of drills were largely negative, and sincere work needs to be done in this direction. Majority of students responded positively to include the disaster training in internship program. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the level of practice was largely negative with acceptable knowledge and positive attitude regarding disaster preparedness in medical internship students.

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Present study reports cytological and biochemical changes associated with stress induced neurodegeneration in hippocampal subregion of the brain in animals subjected to physical stressors such as immobilization or swimming stress for specific period of time. Studies also demonstrate neuroprotective activity of herbal extract in brain.