Nano-vectors for efficient liver specific gene transfer

Recent progress in nanotechnology has triggered the site specific drug/gene delivery research and gained wide acknowledgment in contemporary DNA therapeutics. Amongst various organs, liver plays a crucial role in various body functions and in addition, the site is a primary location of metastatic tumor growth. In past few years, a plethora of nano-vectors have been developed and investigated to target liver associated cells through receptor mediated endocytosis. This emerging paradigm in cellular drug/gene delivery provides promising approach to eradicate genetic as well as acquired diseases affecting the liver. The present review provides a comprehensive overview of potential of various delivery systems, viz., lipoplexes, liposomes, polyplexes, nanoparticles and so forth to selectively relocate foreign therapeutic DNA into liver specific cell type via the receptor mediated endocytosis. Various receptors like asialoglycoprotein receptors (ASGP-R) provide unique opportunity to target liver parenchymal cells. The results obtained so far reveal tremendous promise and offer enormous options to develop novel DNA-based pharmaceuticals for liver disorders in near future

Garud Survey: A Case of Improving Safety and Transparency in Mining Operations Using Drone Technology

SAI Minerals Pvt. Limited (SAI Minerals), a renowned company engaged in mining cement-grade limestone and manufacturing cement in Rajasthan, India, has been grappling with recurring survey reconciliation and safety issues across its mining operations. Additionally, in compliance with new government regulations, they are now required to conduct aerial surveys and submit digital images and survey reports to the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM). SAI Minerals sought a permanent solution to these challenges and approached Garud Survey Private Limited (Garud Survey), a technology-driven surveying agency. SAI Minerals recognized that these issues not only impacted their production but also tarnished the company\u27s reputation in the mining industry due to frequent accidents. Garud Survey recommended that the best approach to address the problem was to make the survey process faster and more accurate, enabling all stakeholders to have a clear and up-to-date view of the operational status. Garud Survey proposed the implementation of cutting-edge technology to identify and address the root cause of the problem. This case further explores the application of system analysis and design to the adoption and implementation of the latest technology in a real-world use case, as well as the challenges associated with managing change

Evaluation of antidepressant and analgesic activity of tapentadol with mirtazapine: an experimental study

Background: Data comparing tapentadol with an antidepressant is limited. A comparison of tapentadol with mirtazapine at different dose has not been performed, the other antidepressant in the same therapeutic class with a significant market share, has been undertaken. In the absence of relevant data to assess the place that tapentadol should occupy in the therapeutic arsenal, indirect comparisons are the most rigorous way to go. We conducted a study evaluate antidepressant and analgesic activity of tapentadol with mirtazapine at different doses in Swiss albino mice.Methods: Tapentadol was administered at 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg (i.p) once daily for 14 days to swiss albino mice of either sex. The immobility period for antidepressant activity of mice were recorded in forced swim test and reaction time for analgesic activity of mice were recorded in tail flick test of the control and drug treated group. The antidepressant and analgesic activity of tapentadol (10, 20, 40 mg/kg i.p) was compared with that of mirtazapine (3, 5, 7 mg/kg i.p), administered for 14 days.Results: Tapentadol produced better antidepressant at (20, 40 mg/kg), but less at 10 mg/kg and significant analgesic activity at all the three doses, as indicated by reduction in immobility times and increase in reaction time as compared to control. Mirtazapine produced no antinociceptive activity at 3 mg/kg, but significant at 5, 7 mg/kg and showed better antidepressant activity at all the three doses in mice. The result of this study indicates the better analgesic activity of tapentadol at all the doses and least antidepressant activity at 10 mg/kg, as compared to mirtazapine which has shown better antidepressant activity at all the three doses but no analgesic activity at 3 mg/kg.Conclusion: It can be concluded that tapentadol is a better drug in case of depression associated with pain compared to mirtazapine in mice

Cefuroxime axetil induced glossitis: a case report

Cefuroxime axetil is a semi synthetic cephalosporin antibiotic, which is prescribed for different types of infections such as lung, ear, throat, urinary tract, and skin. This is the drug of choice in the treatment and prevention of streptococcal infections. In this case, the patient was prescribed cefuroxime axetil, diclofenac, and paracetamol for pharyngitis. The patient developed glossitis 3 hrs after ingestion of above drugs which improved after withdrawing the offending drug. Glossitis is an uncommon, but serious adverse drug effect of cefuroxime axetil. It is important to recognize and manage it to prevent fatality. The case has been reported to the Pharmacovigilance Center Uttar Pradesh Rural Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Saifai, Etawah

Efficacy of vijaysar, aloevera alone and their combination in the treatment of newly diagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized single blind prospective study

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a disease was known since ancient time and all system of medicine over world were tried to cure this disease. Unfortunately the numbers of diabetes patients are increasing day by day due to many risk factors such as sedentary life, obesity etc.Methods: A total of 120 patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus attending OPD of UPUMS, Saifai, Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, India, were included in the study. Patients were divided into 4 groups. Group-1, 2, 3 and 4 received Aloevera, Vijaysar, Aloevera + Vijaysar and Glimepiride respectively for thirteen weeks. Sample for fasting blood sugar and postprandial blood sugar were measured at baseline, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 8th and at 13th week. HbA1c and Lipid profile were measured at baseline and at thirteen week.Results: Significant decrease in FPG, 2hPG, and HbA1c level were achieved in all groups but effects was maximum in Glimepiride group. Vijaysar had shown better glucose control than Aloevera as well as Aloevera + Vijaysar group. Synergism was shown by both herbal drugs for FPG control but not for 2hPG. The Effect of Vijaysar alone on 2hPG was similar to Glimepiride.Conclusions: Vijaysar could be a promising herbal drug for the treatment of mild uncomplicated cases of type-2 diabetes mellitus; however both drugs have shown synergism for FPG control. Both herbal drugs were safe during our study, only one patient of Vijaysar group had complaint of diarrhoea, which was subsided one week later

Simultaneous presentation of pulmonary tuberculosis and lung cancer: experience from a regional cancer centre

Background: Prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis is very high in India. Lung cancer is the most common cancer in males in Delhi and because of close similarity in clinical and radiological features of lung cancer and tuberculosis many of lung cancer patients have had received empirical anti tubercular treatment (ATT) before a diagnosis of lung cancer was established. True incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in lung cancer is not known. Tuberculosis in lung cancer may get reactivated following chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Simultaneous presentation of tuberculosis and lung cancer independent of treatment with immunosuppresants, however, is rare. Material and Methods: At our center we evaluated records of 580 lung cancer patients seen over a period of 5 years to see incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in lung cancer. Patients who had been worked up for pulmonary tuberculosis like sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for AFB smear or culture were identified. Results: Two hundred and ninety eight of these patients were worked up for pulmonary tuberculosis. Twelve patients in the present study had documented evidence of simultaneous existence of pulmonary tuberculosis (acid fast bacilli positive sputum and or culture positivity) and lung cancer. Radiologically, no separate active tubercular lesion was identified except in one patient who had left upper zone fibro parenchymal lesion. Fibrosis and calcification on chest X-rays (CXR) suggestive of old tuberculosis were evident in 7 patients. Eight patients died of progressive lung cancer within 3 months of diagnosis, 4 patients became acid fast bacilli (AFB) negative after 2 months of anti tubercular therapy. Diagnosis of lung cancer was delayed in 4 patients as they were receiving anti tubercular therapy after detection of AFB in sputum. Conclusion: Recognition of tuberculosis is important not only because it is curable but also due to the fact that its presence interferes with radiological assessment to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Sputum acid fast smear may be done more frequently in patients of lung cancer in countries where tuberculosis has high prevalence. The true incidence may be still higher and newer techniques e.g. PCR based and others may help in knowing true incidence of co existence of lung cancer and pulmonary tuberculosis

Global research trends of interleukin-6 in SARS-CoV-2 infection

528-535IL-6 levels are significantly elevated in COVID-19 patients and are associated with poor clinical outcomes. Inhibiting IL-6 is thought to be a unique therapeutic strategy for the control of dysregulated host responses in SARS-CoV-2. The present study focuses on evaluating the research productivity of IL-6 level in SARS-CoV-2 infection using various bibliometric indicators and analysed 4510 research papers related to IL-6 levels in SARS-CoV-2 from the Scopus database and VOS Viewer tool applied for visualization. The results revealed that ascendant trends in the publications and USA, China and Italy have secured top three position in numbers of publications. Study observed that “Dagna L.” received top prolific author rank. Article entitled “Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China” received maximum of 15364 total citations, whereas “Frontiers in Immunology” and “Journal of Medical Virology” secured in top two highly productive journals in the subject with extreme link strength. With regard to organisation, “Tongji Medical College-China” reported highly dynamic organization. “COVID-19”; “SARS-CoV-2”; “Interleukin” received maximum occurrences with high link strength. In view of global mounting public health issue of COVID-19, primarily due to increased viral transmissibility and associated cytokine storm, the present study will helpful for the medical professionals to know the research trends and also library authority for updating collection development policy in the specific subject domains

Blood pressure lowering with alcohol-mediated renal denervation using the Peregrine infusion Catheter is independent of injection site location

Objectives The current analysis utilized core laboratory angiographic data from a prospective, single-arm, open-label, multi-center feasibility study to ascertain whether the location of alcohol infusion within main renal arteries during renal denervation (RDN) had an impact on the BP-lowering effect at 6 months. Background The influence of the location of alcohol infusion during RDN, within the main renal artery (proximal, middle, or distal), on the magnitude of the blood pressure (BP) lowering is unstudied. Methods The Peregrine Catheter was used to perform alcohol-mediated RDN with an infusion of 0.6 mL of alcohol per artery as the neurolytic agent in 90 main arteries and four accessory arteries of 45 patients with hypertension. Results No relationship between the site of alcohol infusion and change from baseline in both office systolic and 24-hour systolic ambulatory BP (ABP) at 6 months was observed. When analyzed at the artery level, the least squares (LS) mean changes ± SEM from baseline to 6 months post-procedure in 24-hour systolic ABP when analyzed by renal arterial location were −11.9 ± 2.4 mmHg (distal), −10 ± 1.6 mmHg (middle), and −10.6 ± 1.3 mmHg (proximal) (all p < 0.0001 for change from baseline within groups). The results were similar for office systolic BP. There was no difference between treated locations (proximal is reference). Conclusion In this post-hoc analysis, the location of alcohol infusion within the main renal artery using the Peregrine system, with alcohol as the neurolytic agent for chemical RDN, did not affect the magnitude of BP changes at 6 months