Gastroschisis

We report a case of gastroschisis which was not diagnosed antenatally and was delivered through lower segment caesarean section due to non-reassuring cardiotocograph and small for gestational age fetus in a 21-year old mother. It was associated with oligohydramnios and partial extension of wrist joint in the neonate. After delivery, baby was referred to tertiary care for specialized care by paediatric surgeon and neonatologist where he had silo reduction and surgical repair. Postnatally, the baby is in healthy condition till now

Genotoxic and cytotoxic potential of whole plant extracts of Kalanchoe laciniata by Ames and MTT assay

Lack of data on safety of herbal medicines have endangered human health and life. The present study evaluated the genotoxic and mutagenic effect of Kalanchoe laciniata to access the safety and usefulness of the medicinal plant. Aqua-methanolic and n-hexane extracts of K. laciniata were evaluated for the genotoxic potential using Ames assay and cytotoxicity was evaluated using MTT assay. Ames assay was conducted using two strains of Salmonella typhimurium TA-100 and TA-102 whereas MTT assay was performed on baby hamster kidney cell line BHK-21. Aqua-methanolic extract of K. laciniata exhibited significant mutagenicity when exposed to TA- 102 strain with a mutagenic index of 50.66 and 54.74 at maximum dose 150 mg/plate. The extract was also muta- genic to TA-100 strain but to a lesser extent. M.I of n-hexane extract was 12.15 and 15.51 for TA-100 and TA- 102 respectively. n-hexane extract was mutagenic but little difference was observed between results of two strains. Both extracts were found to be cytotoxic with an IC50 of 321.9 and 638.5 µg/mL for aqua-methanolic and n-hexane extracts respectively. On the basis of results it was concluded that aqua-methanolic and n-hexane extracts of K. mutagenic and cytotoxic potential. It is suggested to explore the plant further to evaluate its safety in rodents and other species

Design and Evaluation of Modified Release Bilayer Tablets of Flurbiprofen Projekt i ocena dwuwarstwowych tabletek flurbiprofenu o zmodyfikowanym uwalnianiu

Abstract Objectives. To design and evaluate modified release bilayer tablets of flurbiprofen. Material and Methods. In this study, bilayer modified release (MR) tablets of flurbiprofen were formulated using ethyl cellulose (EC) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in different ratios as release retardant materials using a wet granulation method. In vitro release studies were done in dissolution media of varying pH i.e. pH 1.2, 4.5, 7.0 and 7.5. Results. All tablets exhibited good physical quality with respect to appearance, content uniformity, hardness, weight variation and friability. In vitro dissolution data showed that increasing proportions of EC retarded whereas increasing PVP enhanced the drug release rate. The bilayer MR tablets showed an initial release of approximately 35% (i.e. 100 mg drug) in about 1 h, then sustaining the release for 12 h, ending up with 89.56% and 96.12% for formulation MR1 and MR2, respectively. The kinetic analysis of dissolution data showed that zero order release was observed in these tablets. When data was fitted to the Korsmeyer-Peppas model, a non-Fickian transport was observed with the MR tablets. A model independent approach showed that as the release rate increases, the MDT decreases, showing the retarding behavior of the non-biodegradable polymers employed in formulation development. Conclusions. Bilayer modified release tablets of flurbiprofen can be successfully formulated using ethylcellulose and polyvinylpyrrolidone in different ratios as release retardant materials employing a wet granulation method (Adv Clin Exp Med 2011, 20, 3, 343-349). Key words: ethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, wet granulation method, non-Fickian release. Streszczenie Cel pracy. Zaprojektowanie i ocena dwuwarstwowych tabletek flurbiprofenu o zmodyfikowanym uwalnianiu. Materiał i metody. W badaniu tym dwuwarstwowe tabletki flurbiprofenu o zmodyfikowanym uwalnianiu (MR) zostały stworzone z użyciem etylocelulozy (EC) i poliwinylopirolidonu (PVP) w różnych proporcjach jako środki opóźniające uwolnienie metodą mokrej granulacji. W badaniach uwalniania in vitro użyto środków rozpuszczają-cych o różnym pH, tj. pH 1,2; 4,5; 7,0 i 7,5. Wyniki. Wszystkie tabletki miały dobre fizyczne właściwości w odniesieniu do wyglądu, jednolitości zawartości, twardości, wahań wagi i kruszenia. W badaniach in vitro wykazano, że zwiększenie zawartości EC spowalniało, a zwiększenie zawartości PVP przyspieszało tempo uwalniania leku. Dwuwarstwowe tabletki MR wykazały począt-kowo uwalnianie ok. 35% (tj. 100 mg leku) w ciągu około 1 godz., a następnie utrzymanie rozpuszczenia przez 12 godz., kończąc na 89,56 i 96,12% dla preparatów MR1 i MR2. Analiza kinetyczna danych na temat rozpuszczania pokazała, że w tych tabletkach wystąpiło uwalnianie rzędu zerowego. Gdy dane dopasowano do modelu Korsmeyera-Peppasa, obserwowano transport masy tabletek MR niezgodny z prawem Ficka. Niezależne podejście wykazało, że w miarę wzrostu szybkości uwalniania, MDT zmniejsza się, co pokazuje opóźniające działanie nieulegających biodegradacji polimerów stosowanych w produkcji preparatu. Wnioski. Dwuwarstwowe tabletki o zmodyfikowanym uwalnianiu flurbiprofenu z powodzeniem można produkować, stosując etylocelulozę i poliwinylopirolidon w różnych proporcjach jako środki opóźniające uwolnienie metodą mokrej granulacji Słowa kluczowe: etyloceluloza, poliwinylopirolidon, metoda mokrej granulacji, uwalnianie niezgodne z prawem Ficka

Protein Engineering of Endoglucanase CelR of Clostridium thermocellum for Enhanced Expression

Background: Enhanced production and improved properties of cellulases for a greater activity on plant biomass would rank amongst the top priorities for second-generation ethanol production. Based on the emergence of protein engineering as a cutting-edge technology for enhancing enzyme activity and expression level, the present study is aimed at the application of this technique to the major cellulosomal processing endoglucanase of C. thermocellum, CelR for refining enzyme characteristics. Methods: The full-length native enzyme gene (CelR) and a truncated version without the docking domains at C-terminus (CelR-CB) were PCR amplified using gene specific primers. The amplified PCR products were T/A cloned in the vector pTZ57 R/T and transformed in E. coli DH5α. The cellulase genes from the confirmed transformed plasmids were sub-cloned in T7 promoter-based expression vector pET-28a and expression analysis was done in E. coli (DE3) BL21 codon Plus. Results: An SDS PAGE analysis of both the CelR derivatives revealed that the truncated version i.e. CelR-CB showed a two-fold increase in expression level as compared to the full-length enzyme. Conclusion: The increased expression level of CelR in E. coli coupled with its increased production therefore makes it a promising method for augmenting the recombinant enzyme production for potential applications.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, ANTI-NOCICEPTIVE AND ANTIPYRETIC POTENTIAL OF TERMINALIA CITRINA FRUIT EXTRACTS

Background: Plants and herbs have long been used as remedies without scientific evidences. The objective of the present study was to explore the anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and antipyretic potential of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Terminalia citrina fruits in mice. Materials and Methods: Extracts of Terminalia citrina fruits were evaluated at doses of 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 600mg/kg in albino mice for preventive effect in inflammatory edema, peripheral pain sensation and pyrexia. Carrageenan induced paw edema method was utilized to evaluate anti-inflammatory activity. Analgesic appraisal of extracts was demonstrated using acetic acid induced writhing model of pain. Antipyretic potential was determined by brewer’s yeast induced pyrexia model. Statistical analysis was conducted by ANOVA following post hoc test. Results: Both extracts exhibited significant and dose-dependent anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities. The ethanolic extract was more effective in reducing inflammatory edema, pyrexia and pain sensation than aqueous extracts in all tested doses. Conclusion: It can be concluded that fruit extracts of Terminalia citrina may be effective in reducing inflammation, pyrexia and pain sensation in animals

Detection of BCR-ABL kinase domain mutations in CD34+ cells from newly diagnosed chronic phase CML patients and their association with imatinib resistance

BCR-ABL kinase domain (KD) mutations, the most common cause of imatinib resistance, are infrequently detected in newly diagnosed chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML) patients. Recent studies indicate pre-existing mutations (PEMs) can be detected in a higher percentage of CML patients using CD34+ stem/progenitor cells, and these mutations may correlate with imatinib resistance. We investigated KD mutations in CD34+ stem cells from 100 CP-CML patients by multiplex ASO-PCR and sequencing ASO-PCR products at the time of diagnosis. PEMs were detected in 32/100 patients and included F311L, M351T, and T315I. After a median follow-up of 30 months (range 8-48), all patients with PEMs exhibited imatinib resistance. Of 68 patients without PEMs, 24 developed imatinib resistance. Mutations were detected in 21 of these patients by ASO-PCR and KD sequencing. All 32 patients with PEMs had the same mutations. In imatinib-resistant patients without PEMs, we detected F311L, M351T, Y253F, and T315I mutations. All imatinib-resistant patients without T315I and Y253F mutations responded to imatinib dose escalation. In conclusion, BCR-ABL PEMs can be detected in a substantial number of CP-CML patients when investigated using CD34+ stem/progenitor cells. These mutations are associated with imatinib resistance, and mutation testing using CD34+ cells may facilitate improved, patient-tailored treatment

Process optimization for enhanced production of cellulases form locally isolated fungal strain by submerged fermentation

Cellulase has myriad applications in various sectors like pharmaceuticals, textile, detergents, animal feed and bioethanol production, etc. The current study focuses on the isolation, screening and optimization of fungal strain through one factor at a time technique for enhanced cellulase production.  In current study sixteen different fungal cultures were isolated and the culture which quantitatively exhibits higher titers of cellulase activity was identified both morphologically and molecularly by 18S rDNA and designated as Aspergillus niger ABT11. Different parameters like fermentation medium, volume, temperature, pH and nutritional components were optimized. The highest CMCase and FPase activities  was achieved in 100ml of M5 medium in the presence of 1% lactose and sodium nitrate at 30 oC, pH5 after 72 hours. The result revealed A. niger can be a potential candidate for scale up studies

Hepatoprotective potential and chemical characterization of Artocarpus lakoocha fruit extract

Artocarpus lakoocha fruits are widely consumed as food. The study was aimed at evaluating its hepatoprotective activity and chemical constituents. The extract was analysed by HPLC for the presence of flavonoids and phenolic compounds. Hepatoprotective potential was determined in mice following 8 days of extract or silymarin (standard therapy) administration. Hepatotoxicity was induced by administration of paracetamol (500 mg/kg). The blood and liver of treated and untreated mice were collected 24 hours post-paracetamol intoxication. HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of chromatotropic acid, quercetin, gallic acid, vanillic acid, cinnamic acid, ferulic acid and kaempferol. Acute toxicity study showed no observed effect at more than 2,000 mg/kg. The fruit extract prevented the rise in liver function tests and paracetamol related histopathological alterations. The hepatoprotective activity of extract was dose-dependent. This study confirms the preventive effect of methanolic extract of monkey jack fruits against paracetamol-induced liver toxicity. Video Clip of Methodology: 7 min 25 sec:   Full Screen   Alternat