Experimental Designs and Combinatorial Systems Associated with Latin Squares and Sets of Mutually Orthogonal Latin Squares

14 pages, 1 article*Experimental Designs and Combinatorial Systems Associated with Latin Squares and Sets of Mutually Orthogonal Latin Squares* (Hedayat, A.; Shrikhande, S. S.) 14 page

Unraveling the cytotoxic potential of Temozolomide loaded into PLGA nanoparticles

BACKGROUND: Nanotechnology has received great attention since a decade for the treatment of different varieties of cancer. However, there is a limited data available on the cytotoxic potential of Temozolomide (TMZ) formulations. In the current research work, an attempt has been made to understand the anti-metastatic effect of the drug after loading into PLGA nanoparticles against C6 glioma cells. Nanoparticles were prepared using solvent diffusion method and were characterized for size and morphology. Diffusion of the drug from the nanoparticles was studied by dialysis method. The designed nanoparticles were also assessed for cellular uptake using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. RESULTS: PLGA nanoparticles caused a sustained release of the drug and showed a higher cellular uptake. The drug formulations also affected the cellular proliferation and motility. CONCLUSION: PLGA coated nanoparticles prolong the activity of the loaded drug while retaining the anti-metastatic activity

Synthesis of accelerograms compatible with the Chinese GB 50011-2001 design spectrum via harmonic wavelets: artificial and historic records

A versatile approach is employed to generate artificial accelerograms which satisfy the compatibility criteria prescribed by the Chinese aseismic code provisions GB 50011-2001. In particular, a frequency dependent peak factor derived by means of appropriate Monte Carlo analyses is introduced to relate the GB 50011-2001 design spectrum to a parametrically defined evolutionary power spectrum (EPS). Special attention is given to the definition of the frequency content of the EPS in order to accommodate the mathematical form of the aforementioned design spectrum. Further, a one-to-one relationship is established between the parameter controlling the time-varying intensity of the EPS and the effective strong ground motion duration. Subsequently, an efficient auto-regressive moving-average (ARMA) filtering technique is utilized to generate ensembles of non-stationary artificial accelerograms whose average response spectrum is in a close agreement with the considered design spectrum. Furthermore, a harmonic wavelet based iterative scheme is adopted to modify these artificial signals so that a close matching of the signals’ response spectra with the GB 50011-2001 design spectrum is achieved on an individual basis. This is also done for field recorded accelerograms pertaining to the May, 2008 Wenchuan seismic event. In the process, zero-phase high-pass filtering is performed to accomplish proper baseline correction of the acquired spectrum compatible artificial and field accelerograms. Numerical results are given in a tabulated format to expedite their use in practice

Diagnostic accuracy of rapid immunochromatographic test compared to ELISA in dengue fever

Background: Dengue fever is a significant mosquito-borne viral disease affecting tropical and subtropical regions. Early and accurate diagnosis is vital for patient care and outbreak control. While enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is considered the reference standard for dengue diagnosis, rapid immunochromatographic tests (ICTs) offer quicker, simpler alternatives suitable for point-of-care settings. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated 429 clinically suspected dengue cases from July 2022 to June 2024. Serum samples were tested for NS1 antigen, IgM, and IgG antibodies using both rapid ICTs and ELISA. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated using ELISA as the gold standard. Results: The sensitivity of ICTs for NS1 antigen, IgM, and IgG antibodies was 70.97%, 67.14%, and 68.18%, respectively. The corresponding specificities were 99.50%, 99.44%, and 99.51%. PPVs exceeded 97% for all markers, while NPVs ranged from 89.88% to 90.96%. Conclusions: Rapid ICTs demonstrate high specificity but moderate sensitivity, supporting their use as initial screening tools. ELISA remains essential for confirmatory diagnosis, especially in cases of strong clinical suspicion

Puerperal sepsis: predominant organisms and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern

Background: Puerperal sepsis is among the leading cause of preventable maternal morbidity and mortality not only in developing countries but in developed countries as well. This study was undertaken to isolate and identify aerobic bacterial agents of puerperal sepsis among the patients admitted in rural medical college of Maharashtra.Methods: Blood samples were collected from 67 cases of Puerperal sepsis and were cultured aerobically. The organisms were identified by standard biochemical tests. Antimicrobial sensitivity testing done by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method.Results: Out of 67 samples, 46 (68.65%) yielded growth in blood culture. The isolated organisms were Klebsiella aerogenes, Staph. aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus, E. coli, Streptococcus pyogenes and coagulase negative Staphylococci. Most of the organisms are resistant to commonly used antibiotics such as ampicillin, penicillin and amikacin.Conclusions: Puerperal sepsis is the common life threatening condition in the postnatal period, particularly following vaginal delivery. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of puerperal sepsis can make the difference between life and death

Formulation and In-Vitro Evaluation of Enteric Coated Tablet Incorporating Rabeprazole

The objective of the work is to try and assess the applicability and manufacturing possibilities to optimize an enteric coated tablet formulation containing Rabeprazole sodium as the drug aiming at the anti-acidity activity with desired drug release properties. Enteric coated tablet was chosen as dosage form being a cost-effective technology for pharmaceutical industry requiring fewer procedures. Before the implementation of the pharmaceutical technological aims, analysis of critical factors influencing the manufacture was carried out. Reproducible manufacturing processes are required to achieve suitability and tablets uniformity to achieve the uniform properties of tablets, which could influence experimental parameters. Rabeprazole in core content of tablet is blended with HPMC (different grades), xanthan gum, PVPK30, mannitol, crosspovidone, Sodium starch glycolate, Colloidal silicon dioxide to formulate the product. Prepared formulation was tested for weight and content uniformity, physical characteristics, in vitro dissolution behaviour, acid resistance and accelerated stability studies. All studies performed resulted and revealed for assurance of such enteric coated tablet formulation for drug Rabeprazole with optimum characteristics, concluding it as a promising approach to enhance drug release characteristics. Keywords: Rabeprazole, HPMC, enteric coated tablets, In Vitro evaluation

Dendrimers: novel carriers for drug delivery

Dendrimers are highly branched, organic compounds with well-defined, symmetrical structure. From chemical point of view they are three-dimensional polymers, characterized by a globular shape. At the end of the arms are terminals, functional groups, which can be easily modified in order to change their chemical and physical properties. Dendrimers have nanoscopic particle size range from 1 to 100 nm. They are ideal drug delivery systems due to their feasible topology, functionality and dimensions, their size is very close to various important biological polymers and assemblies such as DNA and proteins. The structure of dendrimer molecules begins with a central atom or group of atoms labeled as the “core.” From this central structure, branches of other atoms called ‘dendrons.’ The continuous branching results in layers of branch structure called “generations.”Synthesis of dendrimers done by four methods. These are ‘Divergent’ Dendrimer Growth , ‘Convergent’ Dendrimer Growth ,‘Double Exponential’ and ‘Mixed’ Growth ,‘Click’ Synthesis (Hypercores and branched monomers growth). Mechanisms of drug loading onto dendrimer carriers by physical encapsulation of drug molecules and chemical conjugation of drug molecules. The conjugates show increased solubility, decreased systemic toxicity and selective accumulation in solid tumors. Various applications as pharmaceutical and non pharmaceuticals. Dendrimers may have toxicity mainly attributed to the interaction of the cationic dendrimers surface with negative biological load membranes damaging cellular membranes causing hemolytic toxicity and cytotoxicity also limitation that does not apply where the drug is solubilised with dendrimer and then released in the gut for absorption. Some Marketed products of dendrimers are available named as Starburst, Priostar, Stratus CS, Vivagel, Alert ticket, SuperFect, Taxotere

Clinical and immunological outcomes in HIV-2 and HIV-1 and 2 co-infections at a tertiary care centre in Maharashtra

Background: HIV-2 and HIV-1 and 2 co-infections are rare but clinically significant subtypes with varying response to treatment and progression of disease exist. Not much data from central India especially Maharashtra is available regarding their immunologic courses. The objective was to examine the sociodemographic characteristics, baseline and follow-up CD4 trends, and antiretroviral therapy (ART) outcomes in HIV-2 and HIV-1 and 2 dually infected patients. Methods: Retrospective analysis was conducted among 27 patients co-infected with HIV-2 or HIV-1 and 2 who were attending a tertiary ART centre in Maharashtra. Baseline and most recent CD4 counts and ART regimen were analysed. Demographic data, and treatment outcomes like alive on ART, died, transfer out, stopped, and opted out were described using descriptive statistics. Results: Tenofovir-lamivudine-dolutegravir (TLD) was prescribed in the majority of patients. Mean CD4 baseline count of survivors on ART was 352.3 cells/µl, and recent CD4 improved to 519.3. High mortality was observed in those on protease inhibitor-based regimens (ZL+LPV/r, TL+LPV/r). Conclusion: TLD-based ART produced better immunological outcome. Protease inhibitor-containing regimens needed in HIV-2, could be associated with poor prognosis in patient on ART

Coexistence of breast hemangioma with fibroadenoma: a rare case report

Vascular tumors of the breast are uncommon and include angiosarcomas and hemangiomas. Angiosarcomas are more common and benign hemangiomas are rare. We report a case of 16 years old female patient with hemangioma of breast coexisting with very commonly occurring breast fibroadenoma. The rarity of literature on breast hemangioma especially coexistent with fibroadenoma, and its importance in differentiation from the more common malignant counterpart, the angiosarcomas deserves mention