SALT Athenaeum

ABSTRACT
The leading challenge across the globe currently is COVID 19 pandemic. In the current situation, the only approach to survive is to strengthen the immune system. Traditional spices and herbs have been used as immunity enhancers in Indian cuisine since the dawn of time. Herbs and spices like holy basil, ashwagandha, chamomile, Indian long pepper, giloy, ginger, garlic, thyme, thuja, and turmeric have a plethora of beneficial properties and have several health benefits. The use of these herbs helps cure symptoms, improve immunity, and reduce the risk of infections to a great extent. Purpose: In this context, a relish that included immunity boosters like lemon, ginger, and herbs like chamomile and Indian long pepper was developed with three variations using honey, sugar, and jaggery as sweetening agents, respectively. Vitamin C in lemon helps boost health and fight disease. Gingerol, the bioactive compound in ginger, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, helps in treating colds and soothing a sore throat. Piperine in long pepper helps fight infections. Chamomile is an ancient medicinal herb and has a quintessential role in treating the common cold, sore throat, cough, and flu symptoms because of bioactive compounds like chamazulene, quercetin, luteolin, and patuletin. Method: All three variations were standardized and tested for sensory evaluation on a nine-point Hedonic rating scale by a panel of ten judges. The products were stored in clean sterilized bottles for one month of study. The products developed are calorie dense and are rich in vitamin C content (17.69mg/100g). The recipe using honey and jaggery as a sweetening agent scored eight on the overall acceptability, while the product with sugar scored seven on the Hedonic rating scale. The same procedure was followed to prepare all except the fact that the recipe which had honey was not given the heat treatment before bottling. Probably, due to this reason, the presence of moisture was responsible for fungal growth on the sample with honey after 14 days. The other two variations (with jaggery and sugar) showed no spoilage signs and had the same acceptability even after one month. Conclusion: A wide variety of these medicinal herbs can be implemented in diet and supplementation to support the immune system. The products developed can be used for treating sore throat and dry cough. It can be enjoyed as a spread, chutney, or relish. A slight inclusion of these herbs and spices in the everyday diet in the form of these spreads will gradually improve immunity.
Keywords: lemon, ginger, chamomile, Indian long pepper, relish

ABSTRACT  
Objective: Internal control smears were prepared using phenol ammonium sulfate (PhAS) and bleach ammonium sulfate (BAS) methods. Methods: A complete of 150 smears were prepared, 80 smears were stained, and two different technologists validated 60 smears. Results: Consistency was found to be true when compared with the quality consistency table for all grades in both methods, and M±2SD was within the boundaries. Conclusion: This study suggests that PhAS and BAS are alternate concentration methods for the preparation of internal control smears.
Keywords: Internal control, PhAS, BAS, sedimentation, grade suspension

ABSTRACT  
Frozen shoulder is a chronic aseptic inflammation caused by injury and degeneration of shoulder capsule and periarthritic soft tissue (including ligaments, muscles, tendons, synovial sacs, etc.). Cupping is gaining popularity in physical medicine due to its ease of use, lack of side effects, and pain relief. This study looked at the efficacy of cupping therapy for treating shoulder pain. However, because very little literature on the efficacy of cupping therapy in the frozen shoulder is available, further research is needed in this field.
Keywords: Cupping therapy, frozen shoulder, adhesive capsulitis, wet cupping therapy, dry cupping.

ABSTRACT  
Mouthwash is an aqueous solution with antibacterial, deodorant, and refreshing properties. Four different kinds of commercial mouthwashes were compared in this study to test their efficacy using the disc diffusion method; a total of forty-three oral swabs were collected. Compared to the inhibition zones of four mouthwash brands, the chlorhexidine gluconate-containing mouthwash had a better antibacterial effect.
Keywords: Mouth wash, disc diffusion method, antimicrobial, antiseptic

ABSTRACT  
Diabetes is a chronic condition caused by a malfunction of the pancreas to secrete enough insulin resulting in two conditions: hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. Glucometer is used for home blood glucose monitoring (HBGM). In the present study, out of 100 patients, the difference between venous and capillary blood glucose difference is very little i.e, 2.48 g/dl by using a glucometer. The study supports the view that venous blood glucose measurements can also be used as a substitute for capillary derived specimens in the management of non-critically ill patients. Sometimes, healthcare providers shall be cautious of pseudo-hypo/hyperglycemia where the capillary blood glucose does not correlate with venous plasma glucose. Evidence-based treatment decisions shall help diabetes management in such a scenario.
Keywords: Glucose, capillary, venous, blood collection

ABSTRACT  
Genome editing is a flourishing tool that tends to be a boon for scientists to change an organism’s DNA. With genome editing technology, scientists can add, remove or alter DNA, resulting in the inactivation of target genes, acquisition of novel genetic traits, and correction of pathogenic gene mutations. Different approaches were developed to edit the genome; one among them is CRISP-Cas which was recently developed. CRISPR associated proteins (CRISPR/Cas) are genome editing systems originated from prokaryotes that have allowed researchers to identify, photograph, alter, and annotate specific DNA and RNA sequences in a variety of living cells. Since using CRISPR/Cas is of low cost with high efficiency and good repeatability with a short cycle, it is used globally for genome editing. In the review, we analysed the utilisation of CRISPR/Cas as therapeutics to cure deadly diseases such as AIDS, Hepatitis B and human papillomavirus infection. Since CRISPR/Cas is cost-effective genome editing, the challenges to be faced in future due to usage of CRISPR/Cas and the areas where it can be utilised were discussed briefly in this review.
Key message: Genetic technology, genome editing, editing tool, CRISPR/Cas, cost-effective, therapeutics.

ABSTRACT  
Brain injury is an umbrella term in which there is an insult to the brain and its vital structures either through direct external injuries where fall, road traffic accidents, sports injuries assaults cause injury to grey or white matter of the brain. Or there is a secondary injury to the brain post-infectious disorders, inflammatory disorders, and autoimmune disorders. A head injury might cause loss of motor control, sensory control, poor balance, and coordination. Cognitive activity, specifical metacognition, is highly affected, causing a lack of self-awareness of actions in patients with persistent long-term symptoms. Head injury in a young adult causes long-term difficulties in learning, memory problems abstract thinking, which causes massive difficulty in their learning performance in the later stage of life. Metacognitive strategy learning and cognitive rehabilitation in the later stage of brain injury improve the learning capabilities and abstract thinking and help them improve their self-awareness and thinking capabilities.
Key message: Metacognition strategy training along with cognitive rehabilitation therapy improves the learning disability and abstract thinking in young adult with brain injury.
Keywords: Metacognition, Strategy training, Head injury, Memory, Cognition rehabilitation, learning disability.

ABSTRACT  
Tobacco smoking has a range of detrimental effects on the musculoskeletal system and is a risk factor for poor postoperative outcomes following various surgical operations. The study’s objective was to look at the impact of smoking on shoulder operations and clinical results in the younger age group. According to the findings, smoking is linked to rotator cuff tears, shoulder dysfunction, and shoulder discomfort. Shoulder injuries involving several tendons are a severe problem for surgeons, and we must decrease the unfavourable risk factors by quitting smoking before shoulder surgery in order to have an optimal functional outcome.
Keywords: Smoking, Rotator Cuff Tear, Arthroscopy, Shoulder, Tobacco, Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy.

ABSTRACT  
Hemoglobin estimation by cyanmethemoglobin method was carried out in the present study. The intensity of the color  was  measured by  colorimeter and  autoanalyser. The  samples were  collected from  St  Isabel’s  Hospital, Chennai and estimation of hemoglobin was done in autoanalyser. The remaining sample was transported to Loyola Health Centre, Chennai and then estimation of hemoglobin was performed with colorimeter. The readings obtained from colorimeter and autoanalyser  processed statistically and was compared. Results indicates the insignificant variation between the autoanalyser and colorimeter for  estimation of Hemoglobin respectively. Autoanalyser detects more anemic cases than colorimetric method. However, in resource poor condition where laboratory cannot afford expensive autoanalyser, colorimeter can be used as a suitable alternative.
Keywords: Colorimeter, Autoanalyser, Hemoglobin.

ABSTRACT  
Dengue fever develops with modifications in lab reports beginning the third day. It can appear on the fifth day with values reestablished to typical by the eleventh day. The examination results are applicable within the portrayal of organic markers in the advancement of the infection. They may be utilized as markers for the most severe structures along these lines empowering early assistance with the adaption of helpful lead for explicit patients. Seventy-three patients were analyzed for dengue fever. More significant variation was found in disease courses for the aged in hemoglobin and platelet count values. However, there was no significant difference between groups for the other forms of the disease, and the values were similar through the evolution. During the disease course, lymphocytosis was observed in all states, especially in the under-old age group. In all groups, thrombocytopenia was observed, and an increased AST enzyme occurred at the beginning of the disease.
Keywords: Arbovirus, hyponatraemia, thrombocytopenia, dengue, fever.