Preparation and Evaluation of Polymer-Based Ultrasound Gel and Its Application in Ultrasonography

Ultrasound imaging is a widely used technique in every health care center and hospital. Ultrasound gel is used as a coupling medium in all ultrasound procedures to replace air between the transducer and the patient’s skin, as ultrasound waves have trouble in traveling through air. This research was performed to formulate an inexpensive alternative to commercially available ultrasound gel as it is expensive and imported from other countries. Different formulations with different concentrations of carbopol 980 (CAR 980) and methylparaben were prepared with natural ingredients such as aloe vera gel and certain available chemicals that have no harmful effects on the skin. To justify the efficiency of the formulations; necessary physicochemical characteristics such as visual clarity, homogeneity, transparency, skin irritation, antibacterial activity, pH, stability, spreadability, conductivity, acoustic impedance, viscosity, and cost were evaluated. Moreover, a comparison study was also conducted with commercially available ultrasound gel that was utilized as a control. All samples showed excellent transparency and no microbial growth. S1 was the only formulation that met all of the requirements for commercial ultrasound gel and produced images that were similar to those produced by commercial ultrasound gel. So, this formulation could be used as an alternative to expensive commercial ultrasound gel for taking images in hospitals and medical centers.

Development of poly(vinyl alcohol) / chitosan / aloe vera gel electrospun composite nanofibers as a novel sorbent for thin-film micro-extraction of pesticides in water and food samples followed by HPLC-UV analysis

Herein, a novel composite of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/citric acid (CA)/ chitosan (CS)/ aloe vera gel (AV) was fabricated via the electrospinning technique followed by a thermal treatment. The resultant composite...

Extending vase life of carnation flowers by postharvest nano silver, humic acid and Aloe Vera gel treatments

Standard Carnation flowers (Dianthus caryophyllus cv. Dover) were harvested at the paint brush stage in the early morning, pre-cooled at 4° C for 6-h then moved under dry conditions to the laboratory. Flowers were weighted and treated for 24-h with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) at 0, 5 or 10 ppm in plastic buckets. After pulsing treatments, cut flowers were transferred to 500 mL glass jars containing 300 mL of preservation solution treatments including, individually, humic acid at 200, 400 or 600 ppm and Aloe vera gel at 2.5%, 5.0% or 7.5% (w/v) till the end of the experiment (when flower color began to fade, petals began to roll). Distilled water was used for the control and to prepare the tested solutions. 2% sucrose was added to all treatments including the control. Addition of all preservatives to vase solutions significantly increased all the studied characteristics of cut flowers compared to control (distilled water, least values). Nanosilver treatments have the potential to be used as preservative solutions for improving postharvest vase life and quality of carnation flowers. An increment in vase life, relative fresh weight, vase solution uptake, flower diameter as well as total chlorophylls in leaves, total carbohydrates and total phenols in leaves and petals was observed, in addition to a decrease in bacterial counts in vase solution. Best results were obtained using 5 ppm AgNPs + 5.0% Aloe vera gel followed by 5 ppm AgNPs +7.5% Aloe vera gel solutions. Aloe vera gel, especially 5.0% level, showed better results than humic acid when used alone or combined with AgNPs. Nanosilver at 5 ppm recorded better results than 10 ppm when used as a single treatment.

Efficacy of Aloe Vera Gel in Dry Socket After Removal of Mandibuler Third Molar

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of Aloe Vera gel in management of dry socket after surgical removal of 3rd molar. Study Design & Setting: From December 2020 to November 2021, a descriptive research was conducted in the Section of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Sindh. Methodology: Total 70 patients were included and divided equally in two groups i.e. Group-A (Alveora dressing) and Group-B (Controls). Dry socket, pre-operative assessment was carried out on the basis of pain Visual analog scale (VAS) and healing index. Socket was irrigated with sterile saline 0.9% in experimental group. In control group, patient were given tablet Panadol 1gm SOS. Patients were evaluated post operatively at 1st, 2nd, and 3rd day on the basis of pain (VAS) and healing index. Results: In group-A mean postoperative VAS at day-1, day-2 and day-3 was 6.69±2.59, 3.17±2.39 and 1.14±1.03 respectively. In group-B it was 7.77±2.03, 6.97±2.14 and 4.57±2.57. In group-A, mean postoperative healing scale at day-1, day-2 and day-3 was 2.83±0.56, 3.49±0.61 and 4.37±0.73 respectively and in group-B it was 2.31±0.58, 2.63±0.69 and 3.26±0.65 respectively. Significant association of pain intensity at day-2 and day-3 and healing index (at day-1, day-2 and day-3) was observed. Conclusion: Aloe Vera gel significantly reduced postoperative pain and improve healing index. Keywords: Effectiveness, Aloe Vera Gel, Dry Socket, Surgical Removal, Third Molar

Aloe vera based cookies as a functional food

Cookies are one of the most widely consumed food products that are high in demand worldwide. Based on this fact, an attempt was made to develop the cookies by adding aloe vera gel due to its functional properties. The study was focused on the quality characterization of aloe vera-based cookies in terms of nutritional and sensory attributes. To find out the best formulation, the proximate composition and sensory analysis of biscuits containing 10%, 20% and 30% aloe vera gel were determined. For overall acceptability, cookies with 20% aloe vera gel were found best compared to the cookies containing 20% and 30% aloe vera gel. Aloe vera-based biscuits may also be helpful for most vulnerable populations in developing countries due to their functional properties. Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res.56(4), 293-298, 2021

EFFICACY OF ANTIOXIDANT WITH ALOE VERA GEL VERSUS INTRA-LESIONAL STEROIDS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ORAL SUBMUCOUS FIBROSIS - A PROSPECTIVE COMPARATIVE STUDY

Objective: To compared efficacy of alpha lipoic acid (antioxidant medication) and aloe vera gel together versus intralesional steroids (hydrocortisone) in management of oral submucous fibrosis by evaluating post treatment clinical features of mouth opening and burning sensation. Study Design: A prospective comparative study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of ENT, Combined Military Hospital, Malir Karachi, from Jul 2018 to Mar 2020. Methodology: Twenty-eight patients were involved in the research and were distributed into two groups, I and II. Alpha lipoid acid with aloe vera gel was given in group I and hydrocortisone was given in group II. Burning sensation and mouth opening were recorded both at start and at monthly interval later on for three consecutive months. The data collected were statistically analyzed by using SPSS-22. Results: A significant lessening in burning sensation (p<0.001) and improvement in mouth opening were noticed in both groups. However, comparison between alpha lipoic acid with aloe vera gel group versus hydrocortisone group showed almost similar results. Conclusion: Alpha lipoic acid and aloe vera gel can significantly improve oral submucous fibrosis clinically. So, these can be utilized as an alternative option in cases where intralesional steroid is poorly tolerated or is contraindicated.

A Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Aloe Vera Gel on Pain Perception among Patients with Osteoarthritis at Selected Communities in Kanyakumari District

Aim: to evaluate the effectiveness of Aloe Vera gel on pain perception among patients with osteoarthritis in selected communities at Kanyakumari district. Objectives: (i) To assess and compare the pre-test and post-test level of pain perception among patients with osteoarthritis in experimental and control group. (ii) To evaluate the effectiveness of Aloe Vera gel on level of pain perception among patients with osteoarthritis in experimental group. (iii) To find out the association between the post-test level of pain perception among patients with osteoarthritis in experimental group and control group with the selected demographic variables. A Quasi experimental, non-equivalent, pre test and post test control group design was adopted. The convenience sampling technique was used to select 30 samples for experimental group and 30 samples for control group. OARSI (osteoarthritis research society international) questionnaire was used to assess the osteoarthritic pain. Aloe Vera gel was applied locally on painful areas for 28 consequent days and post test was conducted on 28th day by using OARSI questionnaire. The data were gathered and analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistical method. The findings revealed that during pre test 20(67%) of them had moderate pain, 10(33%) of them had mild pain. During post test 19(63%) of them were in mild pain, 11(37%) of them were in moderate pain. The mean score on level of pain perception among patients with osteoarthritis was 33.3 in pre test and 22 in post test. The estimated t’ value was 8.99* which is significant at p < 0.05. It shows that local application of Aloe Vera gel was effective in reducing the level of pain perception among osteoarthritis pain. Hence the research hypothesis H1 is retained. This study statistically proved the pain reducing effect of Aloe Vera gel on Osteoarthritic patients at 5% significant level. The researcher concluded that Aloe Vera gel application is a non pharmacological, cost effective and very practicable measure to reduce the level of pain perception among patients with osteoarthritis. Keywords: Aloe Vera gel, Pain perception, Osteoarthritis.