Banana fibre-chitosan-guar gum composite as an alternative wound healing material

Bio-composites, which can be obtained from the renewable natural resources, are fascinating material for use as sustainable biomaterials with essential properties like biodegradable, bio-compatibility as well cyto-compatibility etc. These properties are useful for bio-medical including wound healing applications. In this study, fibre obtained banana pseudo stem of banana plant, which is otherwise wasted, was used as a material along with chitosan and guar gum to fabricate a banana fibre-biopolymer composite patch. The physiochemical properties of the patches were examined using Fourier Transformed Infra-red spectrophotometer (FT-IR), tensile tester, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), contact angle tester, swelling and degradation studies. We further demonstrated that a herbal drug, Nirgundi could be loaded to the patch showed controlled its release at different pHs. The patch had good antibacterial property and supported proliferation of mouse fibroblast cells. The study thus indicates that banana fibre-chitosan-guar gum composite can be developed into an alternative wound healing material.

Late introduction of fish and eggs is associated with increased risk of allergy development - results from the FARMFLORA birth cohort

The prevalence of allergy is markedly low in children growing up on farms. An increasing number of studies indicate that the timing of food introduction may affect allergy development. We aimed to investigate if protection against allergy in farm environments may be mediated through differences in food-introduction practices between farm and non-farm families, using an explorative approach. Twenty-eight farm and 37 non-farm children were included in the FARMFLORA birth cohort. Practices of breastfeeding and introduction of formulas and complementary foods were collected by questionnaires at 6, 12, and 18 months of age. Allergy was diagnosed by pediatricians at 3 years of age. The only difference in food-introduction practices observed between farm and non-farm children was an earlier introduction of nuts in farmers (median month: 11 [IQR: 8–6] in farmers, 15 [12–19] in non-farmers). One farm child (4%) and 10 non-farm children (27%) were allergic at 3 years of age. Lower risk of allergy development was associated with early exclusive breastfeeding (continuous variable; OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.39–0.89), but also having received eggs (OR = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.13–0.54) and fish (logistic regression not applicable, P = 0.01 in likelihood ratio testing [χ²]) at 10 months of age or earlier compared to later. Our results were not affected by reverse causation, as judged by a questionnaire sent to the families in retrospect. Timing of introduction of complementary foods is unlikely to contribute to the lower risk of allergy among farm children. Although early exclusive breastfeeding was associated with a lower rate of allergy development, postponed introduction of complementary foods might increase the risk of developing allergy. Owing to the limited sample size, our results are only indicative, but support prior findings.

Growth, yield, water use efficiency and competitive functions of intercropping system of maize (Zea mays L.) and mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) as influenced by irrigation

Field experiment was conducted at Instructional Farm, Jaguli (Mohanpur), Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, India during two consecutive summer seasons of 2010-11, and 2011-12. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design having 4 levels of irrigation– rainfed without mulch, rainfed with mulch, irrigation at IW (depth of irrigation water) / CPE (Cumulative pan evaporation) ratios of 0.5 and 0.75 in main-plot and 4 inter cropping systems, sole maize, sole mungbean, maize + mungbean (1:1 row ratio) and maize + mungbean (3:2 row ratio) considered as sub-plot treatments replicated thrice. Results revealed that application of irrigation and intercropping systems markedly influenced the growth, yield and yield components (number of cobs/plant, number of grains/cob in case of maize and number of pods/plant and number of seeds/pod in case of mungbean) where the maximum value of these components were recorded with the application of irrigation at IW/CPE ratio 0.75 in sole crop. Maize-mungbean in 3:2 row ratio yielded higher than that of 1:1 intercropping system which might be due to less light interception and more competition for water and nutrition between both the crops. CU of water increased with the increasing levels of irrigation and the maximum value (17.75 kg ha-1 mm- 1) of WUE (water use efficiency) was observed with irrigation at IW: CPE ratio 0.75 under intercropping system of maize : mungbean in 3:2 row ratio followed by IW: CPE ratio 0.50. Among the sole crop, maximum WUE was with IW/CPE ratio 0.75 might be due to more consumption of water corresponding to production potential of maize, while, it was more under rainfed with mulch in mungbean. The relative crowding coefficient (RCC) also revealed both the intercropping systems were advantageous and the land equivalent ratio (LER) increased with the level of irrigation.Thus, maize grown in association with mungbean (3:2 row ratio) were found to be more profitable (B:C ratio of 2.58) with higher monetary advantage as compared to sole crop of maize (B:C ratio of 1.98) with the application of irrigation at IW: CPE ratio of 0.75 in new alluvial zone of West Bengal.SAARC J. Agri., 13(2): 94-107 (2015)

Proarrhythmic Effects Of Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Case Study Of Flecainide Induced Ventricular Arrhythmias During Treatment Of Atrial Fibrillation

PURPOSE

Flecainide is a class 1C antiarrhythmic drug especially used for the management of supraventricular arrhythmia. Flecainide also has a recognized proarrhythmic effect in patients treated for ventricular tachycardia. It is used to treat a variety of cardiac arrhythmias including paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia and ventricular tachycardia. Flecainide has local anesthetic effects and belongs to the class 1C AADs that block sodium channels, thereby slowing conduction through the heart. It selectively increases anterograde and retrograde accessory pathway refractoriness. The action of flecainide in the heart prolongs the PR interval and widens the QRS complex. The proarrhythmic effects however noted are not widely reported.

METHOD

We report a case of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with structurally normal heart who was treated with oral Flecainide. There were no adverse events and no QTc prolongation was noted on ECG. Despite subjective improvement a repeat Holter detected him to have multiple short non sustained ventricular arrhythmias.

RESULTS

Development of ventricular arrhythmias, salvos and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia after a month of initiation of oral flecainide detected by 24 hours ECG Holter lead to discontinuation of flecainide and subsequent early electrophysiological studies and successful ablation.

CONCLUSION

Initiation of oral Flecainide in a case of atrial fibrillation with subjective improvement and regular ECG monitoring, no QTc prolongation can still lead to development of dangerous ventricular arrhythmias. A cautious approach and thorough investigations and follow up are recommended.