The 11th edition of Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine welcomes Anthony Fauci to its editorial staff, in addition to more than 85 new contributors. While the organization of the book is similar to previous editions, major emphasis has been placed on disorders that affect multiple organ systems. Important advances in genetics, immunology, and oncology are emphasized. Many chapters of the book have been rewritten and describe major advances in internal medicine. Subjects that received only a paragraph or two of attention in previous editions are now covered in entire chapters. Among the chapters that have been extensively revised are the chapters on infections in the compromised host, on skin rashes in infections, on many of the viral infections, including cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus, on sexually transmitted diseases, on diabetes mellitus, on disorders of bone and mineral metabolism, and on lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly. The major revisions in these chapters and many

Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine

IT may occasion some surprise to those men of science who are ill-acquainted with India, and who so frequently express the view that Governments are unappreciative of the importance of science to learn that as far back as 1886 the Government of India arranged for Dr. George (later Sir George) Watt, professor of botany in the Presidency College, Calcutta, to prepare a "Dictionary of the Economic Products of India". The six volumes of this standard work were published during the years 1889-99. In 1908 Sir George Watt published a condensed version, "The Commercial Products of India". Whatever the defects of these 'dictionaries', they have been of inestimable value to all interested in Indian natural products. The Wealth of India A Dictionary of Indian Raw Materials and Industrial Products. Raw Materials, Vol. 1. Pp. xxvii+254+39 plates. 15 rupees ; 24s. Industrial Products, Part 1. Pp. xii+182+8 plates. 8 rupees ; 12s. (New Delhi : Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, 1948.)

The Wealth of India

naevus cells as well as the more commonly recognised intracapsular location. The second case raises the question of whether lymph nodes in cases of lobular carcinoma of the breast should be screened for metastatic disease using immunocytochemistry. Presence of single cell micrometastases has been shown to have prognostic value.23 Clearly the routine use of serial sectioning or immunocytochemistry to detect metastatic disease is impractical in ordinary practice but judicial use in individual cases can be very helpful. It is important to recognise that breast carcinomas may be S100 positive4 (as in case 1), and a matching of immunocytochemical profile between primary and secondary tumours is essential. The third case is an example of a long recognised problem beautifully described and illustrated by Ehrmann et al and one which can be impossible to resolve on purely morphological grounds.' Immunocytochemical profiles of ovarian carcinoma and epithelial inclusions would be expected

https://jcp.bmj.com/content/jclinpath/47/9/869.full.pdf

Atlas of Medical Parasitology

Catharanthus roseus (L.) known as Madagascar periwinkle (MP) is a legendary medicinal plant mostly because of possessing two invaluable antitumor terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs), vincristine and vinblastine. The plant has also high aesthetic value as an evergreen ornamental that yields prolific blooms of splendid colors. The plant possesses yet another unique characteristic as an amiable experimental host for the maintenance of the smallest bacteria found on earth, the phytoplasmas and spiroplasmas, and serves as a model for their study. Botanical information with respect to synonyms, vernacular names, cultivars, floral morphology, and reproduction adds to understanding of the plant while the geography and ecology of periwinkle illustrate the organism’s ubiquity. Good agronomic practices ensure generous propagation of healthy plants that serve as a source of bioactive compounds and multitudinous horticultural applications. The correlation between genetic diversity, variants, and TIA production exists. MP is afflicted with a whole range of diseases that have to be properly managed. The ethnobotanical significance of MP is exemplified by its international usage as a traditional remedy for abundant ailments and not only for cancer. TIAs are present only in micro quantities in the plant and are highly poisonous per se rendering a challenge for researchers to increase yield and reduce toxicity.

/pdf/ornamental-exterior-versus-therapeutic-interior-of-2hab0h6uyx.pdf

Ornamental exterior versus therapeutic interior of Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus): the two faces of a versatile herb.

Cancer, one of the leading illnesses, accounts for about 10 million deaths worldwide. The treatment of cancer includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and drug therapy, along with others, which not only put a tremendous economic effect on patients but also develop drug resistance in patients with time. A significant number of cancer cases can be prevented/treated by implementing evidence-based preventive strategies. Plant-based drugs have evolved as promising preventive chemo options both in developing and developed nations. The secondary plant metabolites such as alkaloids have proven efficacy and acceptability for cancer treatment. Apropos, this review deals with a spectrum of promising alkaloids such as colchicine, vinblastine, vincristine, vindesine, vinorelbine, and vincamine within different domains of comprehensive information on these molecules such as their medical applications (contemporary/traditional), mechanism of antitumor action, and potential scale-up biotechnological studies on an in-vitro scale. The comprehensive information provided in the review will be a valuable resource to develop an effective, affordable, and cost effective cancer management program using these alkaloids. 

/pdf/anticancer-potential-of-alkaloids-a-key-emphasis-to-2ofi47bb.pdf

Anticancer potential of alkaloids: a key emphasis to colchicine, vinblastine, vincristine, vindesine, vinorelbine and vincamine

Helminthes infections are chronic illnesses in human beings and in cattle. Pherithema posthuma a helminthes is commonly known as earth-worms. Although the use of alternate drugs has been as a remedial measure against the resistant strains of helminth parasites, and as a means of reducing the cost of controlling helminthic diseases. Catharanthus roseus is a medicinally valuable plant and possess various pharmacological properties. Catharanthus roseus has been traditionally used as an anthelminthic agent. To justify the ethnomedical claims, the anthelminthic property of Catharanthus roseus was evaluated using Pherithema posthuma as an experimental model. Piperazine citrate was used as the standard reference. Among the various concentrations tested, ethanol extract at 200 mg/ml showed efficient paralysis effect (6.67 min) than other treated groups, whereas ethanol extract 250 mg/ml showed significant anthelminthic activity with death time of 46.33 min. Standard drug at 50 mg/ml showed paralysis at 31.33 min and death time was 40.67 min. This investigation revealed that ethanol extract of Catharanthus roseus showed significant anthelminthic activity against Pheretima posthuma. Ethanol extract also proved to be efficient than the standard drug. This investigation supported the ethnomedical claims of Catharanthus roseus as an anthelminthic plant.

Evaluation of in-vitro anthelminthic activity of catharanthus roseus extract

Approximately 3 million people are infected with helminthes worldwide. Helminthes infections are commonly found in villages of developing countries and are being recognized as cause of much acute as well as chronic illness among the human beings as well as cattle’s. Hence, the treatment for helmintic infection is of utmost need. The high cost of modern anthelmintics has limited the effective control of these parasites. However, increasing problems of development of resistance in helminthes against anthelmintics have led to the proposal of screening medicinal plants for their anthelmintic activity. Literature survey revealed that there are only few reports available on phytochemical and pharmacological studies of this plant. In the present investigation we have made a sincere attempt to evaluate the anthelmintic property of chloroform and methanol extracts of Pyrostegia venusta using Pheretima posthuma as an experimental helminthes model. Piperazine citrate was used as the standard reference. Five different concentrations (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 and 12.5 mg/ml) of chloroform and methanol extracts were used to determine their effect as time taken to paralysis and time to induce death in the worms. Among the various concentrations of chloroform extract tested, 12.5 mg/ml showed efficient anthelmintic activity with paralysis time (23 min) and death time (44 min). Among all the concentrations of methanolic extract tested, 12.5 mg/ml showed significant results with paralysis time (34 min) and death time (78 min) respectively. This investigation revealed that chloroform extract was more effective in its anthelmintic action against Pheretima posthuma when compared to methanolic extract. But both the extracts were less potent when compared with standard drug piperazine citrate.

Anthelmintic activity of pyrostegia venusta using pheretima posthuma

Evaluation of in vitro anthelminthic activity of Leucas aspera extracts

Helminthes infections are commonly found in community and are being recognized as cause of much acute as well as chronic illness among the various human beings as well as cattle’s. Pherithema posthuma a helminthes is commonly known as earth-worms. Tinospora cordifolia is an herbaceous vine, indigenous to the tropical regions. T. cordifolia is traditionally used as an anthelminthic agent. The anthelminthic property of T. cordifolia extracts was evaluated using Pherithema posthuma as an experimental model. Piperazine citrate was used as the standard reference. Among the various concentrations of aqueous extract tested, 250 mg/ml showed efficient anthelminthic activity and among all the concentrations ethanol extract tested, 250 mg/ml showed significant results. This investigation revealed that ethanol extract of T. cordifolia showed significant anthelminthic activity against Pheretima posthuma when compared aqueous extract. Ethanol extract also proved to be efficient than the standard drug. This investigation supported the ethnomedical claims of T. cordifolia as anthelminthic plant.

A STUDY ON ANTHELMINTHIC ACTIVITY OF TINOSPORA CORDIFOLIA EXTRACTS Research Article

Aims: To evaluate the anthelminthic activity of Annona reticulata seeds extracts against Pheretima posthuma. Study Design: Helminth infections have tormented humans and animals for thousands of years. The indiscriminate uses of the anthelminthic drugs have lead to the emergence of resistant helminths against many anthelminthic agents. Thus the need for the treatment of helminthic infections and the prevention of the emergence of resistant strains has led to the screening medicinal plants for their anthelminthic activity. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biotechnology, The Oxford College of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, India, between January 2012 and March 2012. Methodology: The main aim of the present exploratory study is to evaluate the anthelminthic activity of A. reticulata seeds extracts. The in vitro studies revealed that the anthelminthic effects of crude chloroform and ethanolic extracts of A. reticulata on Pheretima posthuma was evident from induction of paralysis and mortality. Piperazine citrate was used as the standard reference drug and normal saline as a control group. Results: Among all the concentrations of chloroform and ethanolic extracts tested, 12.5 mg/ml showed significant (p<0.01) anthelminthic activity. The results indicated that the ethanolic extract of A. reticulata is a more potent anthelminthic agent against Pheretima posthuma when compared with chloroform extract but less potent when compared with the standard drug. Conclusions: The results of this investigation justifies the use of the seed extracts of A. reticulata in traditional medical practice for the treatment of helminth infections.

/pdf/anthelminthic-activity-of-annona-reticulata-seed-extracts-32de38si7n.pdf

A. B. Vedamurthy

Papers

Evaluation of in-vitro anthelminthic activity of catharanthus roseus extract

Anthelmintic activity of pyrostegia venusta using pheretima posthuma

Evaluation of in vitro anthelminthic activity of Leucas aspera extracts

A STUDY ON ANTHELMINTHIC ACTIVITY OF TINOSPORA CORDIFOLIA EXTRACTS Research Article

Anthelminthic Activity of Annona reticulata Seed Extracts