ABSTRACT
Since ancient times, like the coconut plant of which all the portions of the tree are useful, people in India have been using bamboo tree in its entirety. I distinctly remember eating ‘Henua’ & ‘Kardi’ (the dried & fresh bamboo shoots as called in western part of Odisha, a state in eastern part of India) since childhood as part of my regular diet. Currently, nutritional science term bamboo as a super food. Bamboo shoots, leaves, seeds have been found to be rich in amino acids & this ascribes to the lead author’s better health conditions currently in the fag-end of the fifth decade of his life. Bamboo is actually grass & needs lots of water to grow. That’s why it grows abundantly in the North Eastern part of India. Furnitures, household items, ethanol production, use in agricultural fencing, making huts, cleaning drains, setting the electric wires in order, a tool to reach higher places for painting, glass washing are some of the parts of the endless lists for which bamboo is used. The article links bamboo with Homoeopathy of AYUSH as Homoeopathy has a broad spectrum medicine prepared from bamboo. Thus, the multi dimensional value of bamboo adds one therapeutic aspect through its multi faceted use.

ABSTRACT
Background: Nature has endowed snakes with a formidable chemical known as venom, honed over millions of years of evolution. Snakes utilise venom to immobilise their prey and to flourish in their natural habitat. Venom is acknowledged as a highly poisonous mixture of many chemicals, such as carbohydrates, nucleosides, amino acids, lipids, proteins, and peptides. They include neurotoxic, cytotoxic, cardiotoxic, myotoxic, and various enzymatic effects. In India, the root of Aristolochia indica (A. indica) is employed for malarial fevers; the juice derived from the leaves of the plant is claimed to operate as a specific antidote for cobra venom. Purpose: The current work scientifically validates the ethnobotanical properties of A.indica root bioactive against snake venom poisoning by a pharmacoinformatic strategy targeting venom inflammasomes PLA2. Method: The purpose of the current study was to assess the efficiency of bioactive found in A. indica root for their inhibitory potential against phospholipase 2 (PLA2) enzyme to elicit the anti-venom potency. The Auto Dock software used a grid-based docking algorithm to determine the bond. Result: A. indica root found to be effective anticonvulsant agent and effectively binds to be target protein PLA2 with binding energy of -5.53,-8.57 & -6.28 kcal/mol for aristolochic acid, aristolochene & ishwarol respectively. Conclusion: The outcome of findings revealed that terpenoid derivatives showed potent inhibitory effect on PLA2 enzyme which reflects the efficacy of A. indica root as potent anti-venom agent

ABSTRACT
Background: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a disabling psychiatric condition increasingly linked to metabolic and inflammatory disturbances. Alterations in serum calcium and albumin may contribute to neurobiological mechanisms underlying depression. Objective: To assess and compare serum total calcium and albumin levels between patients with Major Depressive Disorder and healthy controls. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional case–control study was conducted at a tertiary psychiatric facility in Maiduguri, Nigeria, from January to June 2025. A total of 120 outpatients diagnosed with MDD using DSM-5 criteria and 120 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Serum total calcium was measured using the Arsenazo III method, while albumin was determined using the bromocresol green assay. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied. Results: Mean serum calcium (8.4 ± 0.6 vs. 9.2 ± 0.5 mg/dL) and albumin (3.6 ± 0.4 vs. 4.2 ± 0.3 g/dL) levels were significantly lower in MDD patients compared with controls (p < 0.001). Increasing serum calcium and albumin concentrations were independently associated with reduced odds of MDD. Conclusion: Lower serum calcium and albumin levels are significantly associated with Major Depressive Disorder, suggesting their relevance in depression pathophysiology.

ABSTRACT
Background: The elimination of lymphatic filariasis remains a priority for the Cameroonian government and its partners. Monitoring the interruption of transmission in communities where this disease is endemic remains ongoing through surveys called TAS (Transmission Assessment Survey). The present study aimed to detect the resurgence of transmission of lymphatic filariasis caused by Wuchereria bancrofti more than 5 years after the cessation of mass treatment, in 47 Health Districts grouped into 21 evaluation units (EU) in 06 regions of the Cameroon (Adamaoua, Center, East, Far North, North West and South West). Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study with prospective data collection, from May 1 to 31, 2024 in schools and communities in 47 Health Districts in 06 regions of Cameroon (Adamaoua, Center, East, Far North, North West and South West), grouped into 21 assessment units, having already passed the TAS-2 survey in 2021 and selected by cluster sampling. The study population consisted of children aged 6 to 7 years, residing in the study area for at least 1 year and having parental authorization. The participants were enrolled in the schools and communities of these evaluation units. Our main objective was to search for the presence of the Wuchereria bancrofti antigen in each of these participants using FTS (Filariasis Test Strip) kits. The data were collected using a questionnaire set up on a tablet with the ODK application. Analyses were carried out with Microsoft Excel 2019 software. Results: A total of 32,815 children were enrolled in 673 clusters during the survey period, with a predominance of the female gender (51.30 %). Two (02) positive cases (0.006 %) of lymphatic filariasis in Wuchereria bancrofti were recorded in the Kolofata Health District (locality of Kerawa) in the Far North Region. A single case of lymphatic filariasis in Loa-loa (Loasis) was registered in the Nanga-Eboko Health District (locality of Bibey) in the Center Region.

ABSTRACT
Introduction: Acne Vulgaris is a multifactorial disorder affecting various parts of the pilosebaceous unit and ranks second in the occurrence of skin diseases. The primary line of therapy for acne vulgaris involves antibiotics. However, prolonged and monotherapy use of antibiotics may lead to resistance. Therefore, an alternative approach is necessary for managing acne vulgaris, such as utilizing anti-acne compounds. Aims: The aim of this study is to evaluate the differences in the effectiveness of the anti-acne compounds niacinamide and melaleuca alternifolia in inhibiting the growth of Propionibacterium acnes, both as individual agents and when combined with other anti-acne compounds. Method: This research employs a true experimental design with a posttest-only control group design. The statistical analysis utilized is the One Way ANOVA test, with the diffusion disc method employed for testing. Results: The results of antibacterial activity testing indicate that both melaleuca alternifolia and niacinamide are effective in inhibiting the growth of Propionibacterium acnes. The One Way ANOVA analysis yields a p-value of 0.000, smaller than α = 0.005, signifying a significant difference in mean values among the sample groups. Conclusion: The anti-acne compounds niacinamide and melaleuca alternifolia exhibit antibacterial activity in inhibiting the growth of Propionibacterium acnes. Nevertheless, melaleuca alternifolia demonstrates higher effectiveness compared to niacinamide in inhibiting the growth of Propionibacterium acnes.

ABSTRACT
The biocompatibility assessment of medical devices is a vital component of preclinical safety evaluation to ensure their compatibility with biological systems before clinical application. The present study assesses both the Cytotoxicity (in vitro) and acute systemic toxicity (in vivo) potential of the Venous Implantable Port in accordance with ISO 10993 series standards and OECD principles of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). The in vitro cytotoxicity test was conducted using the L929 mouse fibroblast cell line as per ISO 10993-5:2009/EN ISO 10993-5:2009 and US FDA (FR 2-245):2016 guidelines. Cytotoxic potential was evaluated by morphological observation and the MTT colorimetric assay. The study revealed normal cell morphology and cell viability above the acceptance threshold, indicating the absence of cytotoxicity. The in vivo acute systemic toxicity evaluation was performed in Swiss albino mice as per ISO 10993-11:2017/EN ISO 10993-11:2018 and ISO 10993-12:2021 guidelines. Appropriate extracts of the test item were administered via different dosing routes. Throughout the observation period, no mortality, morbidity, or abnormal clinical signs were observed and gross pathological examination showed no visible tissue or organ abnormalities. Overall, the Venous Implantable Port was found to be non-cytotoxic in cytotoxicity study, and non-toxic in acute systemic toxicity study, satisfying the biological safety requirements and toxicological end points for the same as per the ISO 10993 standard.

ABSTRACT
Hydranencephaly (HE) is a rare congenital brain disorder in which the cerebral hemispheres are absent and replaced by sacs filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This entity is rarely seen in postnatal life and has an incidence of less than 1 per 10,000 live births. This is a 5-day-old neonate brought in for a transfontanelle ultrasound scan (TFUS), referred from a peripheral health facility on account of relatively large head, sudden onset of fever, poor cry after birth and a low Apgar score. The TFUS was done through patent anterior and posterior fontanels in sagittal and axial planes and through the temporal bone interrogation. The TFUS demonstrated absence of the two cerebral hemispheres; these are replaced by hypoechoic fluid (CSF), the presence of an echogenic midline falx cerebri, the presence of the cerebella hemispheres and midbrain with normal morphological appearance. A diagnosis of hydranencephaly in a neonate (5-day-old) was established following the aforementioned findings from TFUS; the parents were advised to consult a neurosurgeon in a tertiary health facility for further expertise management. We report a case of 5-day-old neonate with TFUS findings conforming to Hydranencephaly due to its rare nature and peculiar presentation.