ABSOLUTE AND RELATIVE BIOAVAILABILITY STUDY FOR THE NEWLY DEVELOPED NASAL NANOEMULSION IN SITU GEL OF ONDANSETRON HCl IN COMPARISON TO CONVENTIONALLY PREPARED IN SITU GEL AND INTRAVENOUS DOSAGES FORMS

Objective: The aim of the work was to study the absolute and relative bioavailability (using rabbits) of ondansetron HCl (ONH)from our newly prepared intranasal mucoadhesive nanoemulsion in situ gel (NIG) in comparison to intranasal mucoadhesive in situ gel (IG) prepared by the conventional method and intravenous injection.Methods: Six male rabbits weighing 2.5-3 kg were used in this study, where the dose of ondansetron HCl (ONH) was calculated based on the body surface area (BSA) which is equivalent to 140μl (containing 10 mg/ml) of NIG and IG and 700μl of intravenous Zofran® injection (containing 2 mg/ml) were given to the rabbits, separated with one week washout period. Serial blood samples were withdrawn and analyzed for simultaneous determination of the drug using HPLC (Knaure; 150 ×4.6 mm; 5 μm particle size; 25 cm length) supported by guard column C18-4 mm diameter.Results: The pharmacokinetics parameters for NIG; Cmax, Tmax, AUC0-t, AUC0-∞were found to be greater than conventional in situ gel (IG). In vivo pharmacokinetic studies in rabbits showed a significant increase in Cmax and AUC 0-α(P<0.001) with shorter Tmaxusing NIG compared to IG containing the same NIG excipients, while the absolute bioavailability for NIG and IG (was 80.541 and 51.068 respectively).Conclusion: The present studies ratify the bioavailability enhancement potential of NE used to prepare NIG for the drug and significantly high absolute bioavailability to be used as a successful alternative route to the IV injection and improve patient compliance

Salivary Total Antioxidant Activity as a Non Invasive Biomarker for Oxidative Stress In Asthmatic Patients

Abstract: Background: Bronchial Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease along with hyperresponsiveness of bronchi. The present study was designed to assess the redox status of patients suffering from bronchial asthma and to compare it with that of normal healthy controls, by determining the total antioxidant activity (AOA) of the serum and saliva and correlating it with the disease status. Method: Total AOA was assayed spectrophotometrically in saliva and serum of two groups; asthmatic patients attending OPD of pulmonary Medicine and healthy controls. The patients were followed for a period of three months after start of therapy and total AOA was measured post therapy. Results: Asthmatic patients exhibited significantly(p<0.05) decreased serum and salivary total AOA as compared to healthy controls. Decreased contents of total AOA in serum and saliva was positively correlated with the severity of disease process. Total AOA in serum was significantly (p<0.0001) higher than salivary AOA in all the categories of asthmatic patients. Total AOA in serum was significantly (p<0.0001) higher than that in saliva of the control subjects. The depressed total AOA returned to near normal values post treatment. In Conclusion: Total AOA in serum and saliva is a good indicator for assessing the severity and progress of bronchial asthma. Salivary total AOA can be taken as a potential biomarker for oxidative stress in asthmatic patients. [Sayedda K et al NJIRM 2012; 3(1) : 8-12

Temperature Dependent Surface Modification of Tungsten Exposed to High-Flux Low-Energy Helium Ion Irradiation

Nuclear fusion is a great potential energy source that can provide a relatively safe and clean limitless supply of energy using hydrogen isotopes as fuel material. ITER (international thermonuclear experimental reactor) is the world first fusion reactor currently being built in France. Tungsten (W) is a prime candidate material as plasma facing component (PFC) due to its excellent mechanical properties, high melting point, and low erosion rate. However, W undergoes a severe surface morphology change when exposed to helium ion (He+) bombardment under fusion conditions. It forms nanoscopic fiber-form structures, i.e., fuzz on the surface. Fuzz is brittle and can easily contaminate the plasma, and therefore preventing the fusion chain reaction. In this study, we report on the effect of temperature on the surface morphology evolution of W coatings under low energy He+ ion irradiation, relevant to fusion conditions. Submicron thickness W films have been deposited on Si (100) at room temperature using RF sputtering deposition technique. Several samples were cut from the same wafer and exposed to 100 eV He+ ions having a constant flux of 1.2 × 1021 ions m−2 s−1 (total fluence of 4.3 × 1024 ions m−2) at several temperatures in the range of 1073 – 1273 K. During each ion irradiation experiments the applied sample temperature were constant throughout that experiment. Post ion-irradiation samples (including pristine) were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray photoelectric spectroscopy (XPS), and optical reflectivity measurements for monitoring the changes in surface morphology, chemical composition, and surface roughness/optical properties, respectively. Our analysis shows a sequential enhancement in W fuzz density, sharpness, and protrusions from the film surface, with increasing sample temperature, during helium ion irradiation. Ex-situ XPS study shows the evidence of W2O3 phase formation due to natural oxidation of W fuzz in the open atmosphere, for all irradiated samples. The study is significant in the understanding processes of fuzz formation on high-Z refractory metals for fusion applications. In addition, the observed W2O3 fuzz structure may have potential applications in solar power concentration technology and in water splitting for hydrogen production

Search for a Signal on QCD Critical Point in Central Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions

We discuss that the QCD critical point could appear in central collisions in percolation cluster. We suggest using the nuclear transparency effect and the one of the light nuclear production to identify the critical point.Comment: To appear in the proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Ultra-Relativistic Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions (QM2008), Jaipur, India, February 4-10, 200

Pro-poor intervention strategies in irrigated agriculture in Asia: poverty in irrigated agriculture: issues and options: Bangladesh

Irrigated farming / Poverty / Irrigation management / Water resource management / Policy / Planning / Institutions / Organizations / Local government / Non-governmental organizations / Legislation / Water users / Participatory management / Public sector / Water allocation / Cost recovery / Households / Income / Expenditure / Irrigation canals / Bangladesh

Оценка боли при применении комбинации фентанил-пропофол: два уровня дозировки

Background. In the field of intravenous anesthesia, propofol is widely utilized as an induction agent. However, Propofol injection pain is a frequent adverse event that may result in discomfort for patients. Various strategies have been investigated to prevent or alleviate this pain, considering the presence of opioid receptors in the primary afferent nerve endings of peripheral tissues, which suggests a potential role of opioids in mitigating propofol-induced pain. Fentanyl, a short-acting pure opioid agonist commonly used for systemic analgesia during intraoperative and postoperative periods, has been found to possess peripherally mediated analgesic properties within its clinical dosage range. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a low dose of fentanyl in the fentanyl-propofol combination for reducing propofol injection pain.The objective of our study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of two distinct doses of fentanyl in mitigating the pain associated with propofol injection.Materials and methods. The study enrolled 90 patients classified as ASA I–II who were scheduled for elective surgery. The study spanned over 4 months, from November 2022 to April 2023, and included patients aged 19 to 65 years. Patients were divided into three groups, each comprising 30 patients. The control group received only 5 ml (50 mg) of propofol. The group M1 received only 5 ml of a mixture of fentanyl and propofol, prepared with 20 ml (200 mg) of propofol and 2 ml (100 μg) of fentanyl, while the group M2 received only 5 ml of a mixture of fentanyl and propofol, prepared with 20 ml (200 mg) of propofol and 4 ml (200 μg) of fentanyl, at an injection speed of 0.5 ml/s. After 10 seconds of medication, patients were asked a standard question about the comfort of the injection, and a verbal rating scale (VRS) was used to assess propofol injection pain. Anesthesia induction was then continued following standard protocols. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 for all analyses.Results. The three groups were found to be similar in terms of patient characteristics. In the control group, the incidence of severe pain upon propofol injection was 46.7%, whereas it was 0% in both groups M1 and M2 (p < 0.05).Conclusion. The combination of fentanyl and propofol has been shown to effectively reduce the incidence of propofol injection pain. Interestingly, in this study, no significant difference was observed between the two different doses of fentanyl used in the mixture. This suggests that a low dose of fentanyl may be sufficient in achieving a pain-free environment during propofol induction, thereby offering a cost-effective approach in clinical practice.Актуальность. Пропофол широко используется в качестве средства для вводной анестезии. Однако частым побочным эффектом является боль при его инъекции, которая может привести к дискомфорту у пациентов. Были исследованы различные стратегии предотвращения или облегчения этой боли, учитывая наличие опиоидных рецепторов в первичных афферентных нервных окончаниях периферических тканей, что позволяет предположить потенциальную роль опиоидов в смягчении боли, вызванной пропофолом. Было обнаружено, что фентанил, чистый опиоидный агонист короткого действия, обычно используемый для системной анальгезии во время интраоперационного и послеоперационного периодов, обладает периферически опосредованными анальгетическими свойствами в пределах его клинической дозировки. Таким образом, задачей данного исследования было оценить эффективность низкой дозы фентанила в комбинации «фентанил–пропофол» для уменьшения боли при инъекции пропофола.Цель – оценить и сравнить эффективность двух различных доз фентанила в облегчении боли, связанной с инъекцией пропофола.Материалы и методы. В исследовании приняли участие 90 пациентов, имеющих риск по шкале ASA I–II, которым была назначена плановая операция. Исследование длилось более 4 месяцев с ноября 2022 г. по апрель 2023 г. и включало пациентов в возрасте от 19 до 65 лет. Пациенты были разделены на 3 группы, каждая из которых состояла из 30 пациентов. Контрольная группа получала только 5 мл (50 мг) пропофола. 1 группа получала только 5 мл смеси фентанила и пропофола, приготовленной из 20 мл (200 мг) пропофола и 2 мл (100 мкг) фентанила, в то время как 2 группа получала только 5 мл смеси фентанила и пропофола, приготовленной из 20 мл (200 мг) пропофола и 4 мл (200 мкг) фентанила со скоростью инъекции 0,5 мл/с. После 10 секунд введения препарата пациентам задавали стандартный вопрос о комфортности инъекции и словесную оценочную шкалу (VRS). Результаты. Было установлено, что статистически значимых различий между пациентами этих групп не было, т. е. группы были однородны. В контрольной группе частота возникновения сильной боли при инъекции пропофола составила 46,7%, тогда как в 1 и 2 группах она составила 0% (р < 0,05).Вывод. Было показано, что комбинация фентанила и пропофола эффективно снижает частоту возникновения боли при инъекции пропофола. Интересно, что в этом исследовании не наблюдалось существенной разницы между 2 различными дозами фентанила, использованными в смеси. Это говорит о том, что низкой дозы фентанила может быть достаточно для купирования боли во время введения пропофола, тем самым предлагая экономически эффективный подход в клинической практике

Complementarity of Semileptonic BB to K2∗(1430)K_2^*(1430) and K∗(892)K^*(892) Decays in the Standard Model with Fourth Generation

The $B\rightarrow K_{2}^{\ast}(1430)l^{+}l^{-}$ $(l=\mu,\tau)$ decays are analyzed in the Standard Model extended to fourth generation of quarks (SM4). The decay rate, forward-backward asymmetry, lepton polarization asymmetries and the helicity fractions of the final state $K^{*}_{2}(1430)$ meson are obtained using the form factors calculated in the light cone sum rules (LCSR) approach. We have utilized the constraints on different fourth generation parameters obtained from the experimental information on $K$, $B$ and $D$ decays and from the electroweak precision data to explore their impact on the $B\rightarrow K_{2}^{\ast}(1430)l^{+}l^{-}$ decay. We find that the values of above mentioned physical observables deviate deviate significantly from their minimal SM predications. We also identify a number of correlations between various observables in $B\rightarrow K_{2}^{\ast}(1430)l^{+}l^{-}$ and $B\rightarrow K^{\ast}(892)l^{+}l^{-}$ decays. Therefore a combined analysis of these two decays will compliment each other in the searches of SM4 effects in flavor physics.Comment: 28 pages, 12 figure

Two Loop Low Temperature Corrections to Electron Self Energy

We recalculate the two loop corrections in the background heat bath using real time formalism. The procedure of the integrations of loop momenta with dependence on finite temperature before the momenta without it, has been followed. We determine the mass and wavefunction renormalization constants in the low temperature limit of QED, for the first time with this preferred order of integrations. The correction to electron mass and spinors in this limit is important in the early universe at the time of primordial nucleosynthesis as well as in astrophysics.Comment: 8 pages and 1 figure to appear in Chinese Physics