Natural Products Potential and Scope for Modern Cancer Research

In the present time Natural products are considered to be symbols of protection in comparison to the synthetic product that are regarded as unsafe to human life and environment. Although a large number of synthetic drugs are being added to the world of present pharmacopoeia, but still no system of medicine in the world has been able to solve all the health problems, which include diseases like Cancer. Therefore the search for innovative therapeutic constituents from plants is genuine and urgent. In India, there is an ocean of knowledge about medicinal plants and rich medicinal flora, but still only a few pearls have been searched as therapeutic agents. There are large numbers of original plants left which have not been investigated thoroughly from modern scientific view or their healing values have not been known. Thus there is an insistent need for systematic phytochemical examination of those plants which have not been investigated scientifically. More research can be done to investigate the unknown and unexplored potential of plants. Further analysis of plants (active compounds) can be carried out by way of making use of different analytical methods such as HPTLC, HPLC, NMR and UV spectrophotometer analysis or computer based drug designing.

Co-positivity of anti-dengue virus and anti-Japanese encephalitis virus IgM in endemic area:co-infection or cross reactivity?

Objective:To report high co-positivity of anti-dengue virus(DV)and anti-Japanese encephalitis virus(JEV)IgM in an area endemic for both the viruses and to discuss the possibilities of coinfection.Methods:Serum samples from the patients who presented with fever,suspected central nervous system infection and thrombocytopenia,were tested for anti-DV IgM and antiJEV IgM antibodies.Conventional reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was done for detection of DV RNA and JEV RNA.Results:Of 1 410 patient sera tested for anti-DV and antiJEV antibodies,129(9.14%)were co-positive for both.This co-positivity was observed only in those months when anli-JEV IgM positivily was high.Tilers of both anli-DV IgM and anti-JEV IgM were high in most of the co-positive eases.Among these 129 co-positive cases,76 were lesled by conventional reverse Iranscriplase polymerase chain reaction for both flaviviruses,of which eight cases were co-positive for DV and JEV.Conclusions:Co-infection with more than one fluvivirus species can occur in hyperendemic areas.

Orbital apex syndrome secondary to myocysticercosis: a rare case report

Dear Editor,We present a rare case report of orbital apex syndrome secondary to myocysticercosis.Human cysticercosis is caused by larval form(Cysticercus cellulosae)of Taenia solium.The cysts of Cysticercus cellulosae can lodge in the centralnervoussystem,muscles,subcutaneoustissue,or eye,resulting in varied clinical manifestations[1].This case highlights an unusual presentation of orbital apex syndrome secondary to cysticercosis of medial rectus.

Polymicrobial Keratitis—Importance of Detecting and Treating More Than One Organism

Corneal ulcers may become non-healing if inappropriately managed. Empirically giving broad spectrum antibiotics or prescription of a “cocktail” of topical antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral medication may only add to drug toxicity and drug resistance. We present a series of four cases of microbial keratitis which are complicated due to presence of more than one causative organism. Microbiological work-up revealed Proteus species and fungal hyphae in smears only in the first case, atypical Mycobacteria and Staphyloccocus species in the second case, Moraxella and Streptococcus viridans in the third case and Aspergillus flavus and Nocardia species in the fourth case. Authors would like to emphasize the need for laboratory support in the treatment of corneal ulcers and importance of proper management of this sight threatening disease.