Chitosan Microspheres as Potential Vaccine Delivery Systems

The recent advances in controlled delivery systems for protein pharmaceuticals such as microspheres, liposomes, pumps and implants, have provided a new avenue for delivery of vaccine antigens. Adjuvants aimed at increasing the immunogenicity of recombinant antigens remain a focus in vaccine development worldwide, there is currently considerable care for the development of chitosan microspheres as controlled release of vaccines, since the major disadvantage of several currently available vaccines is the need for repeated administration. Microspheres prepared from the biodegradable and biocompatible polymers, chitosan have been shown to be effective adjuvants for a number of antigens. This review mainly focuses on chitosan microspheres adjuvant as vaccine delivery systems by summarizing our and other research groups’ investigation on properties of microspheres formulation encapsulating several kinds of antigens. The results indicate that compared with commonly used PLA and PLGA, chitosan biomaterial has several potentials in vaccine delivery systems. Chitosan microspheres can control the rate of release of entrapped antigens and therefore, offer generation adjuvant to replace or complement existing aluminium salts for vaccine potential. The review mainly aims to promote the investigation of chitosan microspheres adjuvant for antigens for world wide researcher.Keywords: Tetanus toxoid; Chitosan microspheres; Vaccine delivery system; Biodegradable polymers

Chitosan Microspheres as Potential Vaccine Delivery Systems

The recent advances in controlled delivery systems for protein pharmaceuticals such as microspheres, liposomes, pumps and implants, have provided a new avenue for delivery of vaccine antigens. Adjuvants aimed at increasing the immunogenicity of recombinant antigens remain a focus in vaccine development worldwide, there is currently considerable care for the development of chitosan microspheres as controlled release of vaccines, since the major disadvantage of several currently available vaccines is the need for repeated administration. Microspheres prepared from the biodegradable and biocompatible polymers, chitosan have been shown to be effective adjuvants for a number of antigens. This review mainly focuses on chitosan microspheres adjuvant as vaccine delivery systems by summarizing our and other research groups’ investigation on properties of microspheres formulation encapsulating several kinds of antigens. The results indicate that compared with commonly used PLA and PLGA, chitosan biomaterial has several potentials in vaccine delivery systems. Chitosan microspheres can control the rate of release of entrapped antigens and therefore, offer generation adjuvant to replace or complement existing aluminium salts for vaccine potential. The review mainly aims to promote the investigation of chitosan microspheres adjuvant for antigens for world wide researcher.Keywords: Tetanus toxoid; Chitosan microspheres; Vaccine delivery system; Biodegradable polymers

Growth Performance of Macrobrachium rosenbergii Post Larvae Fed with Vegetable Wastes and Palmolein Supplemented Formulated Feeds

The possibility for utilizing massively-available vegetable wastes as one of the feed ingredients for better growth and survival of Macrobrachium rosenbergii was checked as these wastes are good sources for antioxidants and other nutrients. Vegetable waste powder (VWP) was prepared from dried potato peel, cabbage thick outer greens, peel of carrot, beetroot and cauliflower.  Basal ingredients (BI), such as coconut oilcake, groundnut oilcake and soybean meal (as protein sources), and rice bran and wheat bran (as carbohydrate sources) were powdered separately and taken in equal proportion. The VWP was incorporated with BI in different ratios (5%, 15% and 25%). Egg albumin and tapioca flour were used as binders. Vitamin B-complex was also mixed. The diet also contained Cod liver oil and palmolein in equal proportion as lipid sources. Palmolein, low cost oil was used to replace the high cost fish oil partially. A pinch of table salt was also added. These were subjected to pellet preparation. Feed without addition of VWP was served as control. Feeding trials were conducted for a period of 60 days on M. rosenbergii post larvae (PL). Significant increases in weight gain (WG),

Study of demographic features in retropositive pregnant women

Background: Study of demographic features like age, educational status of the patient and her husband, occupation of the patient and her husband and religion of the retropositive pregnant women compared to controls.Methods: In this prospective study patients were selected from Vani Vilas Hospital attached to Bangalore Medical College attending the antenatal Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The study period was for 2 years. The study group comprised of 100 HIV seropositive patients. The control group comprised of 100 HIV seronegative patients. At enrollment, data collection of demographic features like age, educational status of the patient and her husband, occupation of patient and her husband, and religion of the retropositive pregnant women compared to controls.Results: The minimum and maximum age in the study group was 18 and 36 years respectively and in the control group 17 and 35 years respectively. Around 73% of pregnant women in the study group were below 25 years of age. 89% of pregnant women in the study group were Hindus. Around 36% of women in the study group were illiterate compared to 21% in the control group. Around 45% of women in the control group have studied till secondary school. In this study, most of the women in both the groups were housewives. There was one commercial sex worker and 8 women had polygamous relationship in the study group. The occupational pattern of the husbands was analyzed and 34% of the husbands of HIV positive women were drivers. 56% of the husbands in the study group admitted to have had multiple sexual partners, whereas only 9% admitted so, in the control group.Conclusions: Retropositive pregnant women were younger; most of them were house wives. Husbands of retropositive pregnant women were drivers and most of them had multiple sexual partners

Clinicopathological study of hysterectomised specimens

Background: Hysterectomy is the commonest major surgical procedure performed in gynecology. It can be done by abdominal or vaginal route and with the help of laparoscopy. Hysterectomy is an effective treatment option for many conditions like fibroid, abnormal uterine bleeding, endometriosis, adenomyosis, uterine prolapse, pelvic inflammatory disease and cancer of reproductive organ when other treatment options are contraindicated or have failed, or if the woman no longer wishes to retain her menstrual and reproductive. The aim and objective of the study was to correlate indications of hysterectomy with histopathological findings in hysterectomised patients.Methods: A retrospective study was carried on 113 hysterectomised cases over a period of one year from June 2015 to May 2016. The data regarding the patient’s age, parity, clinical diagnosis, type of hysterectomy and histopathological diagnosis were reviewed by the records and analyzed.Results: A total of 113 cases of hysterectomies were studied. Hysterectomies were distributed over a wide age ranging from 20 years to 75 years. Most common age group was 41-50 years. Among hystectomies majority were done through vaginal route 86 (76.1%) and 26 (23%) cases were done through abdominal route. Most common clinical diagnosis was fibroid uterus in 44(38.9%) cases. Most of the hysterectomies were done for benign conditions. In final histopathological report most common diagnosis was fibroid uterus in 45(39.8%) hysterectomy specimens. It was correlated well with clinical diagnosis. Next most common histopathological diagnosis was Adenomyosis.Conclusions: Histopathological analysis correlated well with preoperative clinical diagnosis in majority of cases. The commonest indication and histopathological finding in our study was fibroid uterus. Next most common histopathological finding was Adenomyosis. Most commonly hysterectomies were done through vaginal route in our study

Effect of organic fortified zinc on growth and yield of green gram (Vigna radiata (L). Wilczek) in typic chromustert

Zinc is a crucial micronutrient for crop growth and enzymatic regulations. The present study was formulated to reveal the effect of organic fortified Zn composite on growth and yield parameters of green gram in Typic chromustert at Vellakulam village, Kalligudi block, Madurai district of Tamil Nadu. A total of eight treatments with three replications were designed to grow in Randomized Block Design (RBD). The treatments consisted of recommend dose fertilizers (25:50:25 Kg ha-1 N: P2O5: K2O) + various sources organics applied such as vermicompost (1:5), poultry manure (1:5), biochar (1:5), FYM (1:10) incubated with ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1 and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University micronutrient mixture enriched with FYM (1:10) for 30 days. Among the treatments, application of RDF (25:50:25 Kg ha-1 N: P2O5: K2O) + soil application of ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1 incubated with 125 kg Vermicompost (1:5) recorded maximum plant height (64 cm), leaf area index (LAI) (3.11), dry matter production (16.33 g plant-1), pods plant-1 (28.46), grains pod-1 (13.5), test weight (3.48 g), seed yield (950 kg ha-1) and haulm yield (1520 kg ha-1) followed by biochar and TNAU MNM shown on par results with each other. The lowest yield parameters were spotted in absolute control. A considerable increase in yield (25 %) was detected when the crop was supplemented with organically fortified Zinc than the commercial ZnSO4. The study concluded that the application of biofortified Zn will deliver higher growth and yield in green gram

Nondescent vaginal hysterectomy: analysis of indications and complications

Background: Hysterectomy is the commonest major surgical procedure performed in gynecology. It can be done by abdominal or vaginal route and with the help of laparoscopy. Laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) although gaining more popularity now a days, though it is associated with higher cost, longer duration of operation, and need general anaesthesia. The latest value study concluded that major haemorrhage, hematoma, ureteric injury, bladder injury, and anesthetic complications were more in laparoscopic assisted hysterectomy (LAVH) group when compared to abdominal and vaginal hysterectomies. In addition LAVH was accomplished in twice the time required for vaginal hysterectomy.The objective of the study was to analyse the indication and to study the complications of nondescent vaginal hysterectomy.Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study.  60 women who underwent nondescent vaginal hysterectomy in the department of OBG, B.G.S. Global Institute of Medical Sciences, Banglore, India were included in the study. Patients’ records were retrieved. Data regarding patient’s age, parity, indications for hysterectomy, uterine size in weeks, previous surgeries in the past, duration of surgery and complications were recorded. Data collected on a semi structured proforma and the same was analysed using suitable statistical analysis.Results: A total of 60 cases were operated for different indications. Among the study participants majority were in the age group of 41-45 years with 28 (46.7%). Most common indication for hysterectomies were dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) with 27 (45%), followed by fibroid uterus 15 (25%). The mean duration of surgery time taken was 50+10minutes. Majority of the women who underwent hysterectomies had bulky uterus with 42 (70%).  Complications were very few. Fever, UTI (urinary tract infection) and headache were seen in 3 (5%) cases. There was one case of vault sepsis and one case of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). In one patient vaginal hysterectomy could not be completed and abdominal hysterectomy was carried out. Mean hospital duration was 4 days.Conclusions: Vaginal hysterectomy is the least invasive with fewer complications and most economical route for hysterectomy. Nondescent vaginal hysterectomy should be the gynaecologists first choice for hysterectomy