Trends in Private Equity and Venture Capital Investments with Special Focus on the Booming India Growth Story

Private Equity investments have restructured the trend of acquisitions and aided in valuecreation as against strategic buyers. Private equity’s growing involvement in many sectors is evenmore striking. The nature of investments of private equity firms and funds, the strategies employed,value creating practices, profitable exits are significantly different from that of other strategic andcorporate buyers. The paper deals with the above aspects. The paper is divided into two parts. Part Ideals with the basics of private equity investment structures and exits. Part II of the paper deals withthe private equity growth story in India. Private equity investments, proposed changes to regulations,sectoral growth, venture capital regulations as well as impact of the latest Union budget a thecredit crunch have been dealt with

Analysis of genetic divergence in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)

Genetic divergence among 22 genotypes of fenugreek (Trigon ella foenum-graecum) was estimated for 8 quantitative characters using Mahalanobis's D' statistic and the genotypes were grouped into 6 clusters. Cluster I consisted of maximum number of 13 genotypes followed by 4 and 2 genotypes in clusters II and III, respectively. Three clusters were monogenotypic. Clustering pattern of genotypes was not related to geographical differentiation. Inter-cluster distance was highest between clusters III and VI and lowest between clusters II and VI while, intra-cluster distance was highest in cluster III. Plant height, pods plant-1, days to flowering and test weight were the major forces for divergence. &nbsp

FORMULATION AND QBD BASED OPTIMIZATION OF METHOTREXATE-LOADED SOLID LIPID NANOPARTICLES FOR AN EFFECTIVE ANTI-CANCER TREATMENT

Objective: In the current study, the Quality by Design method was utilized for the formulation of solid lipid nanoparticles of Methotrexate (MTX SLNs). Methods: MTX SLNs formulated by melt emulsification method were studied for the effect of independent variables viz. concentration of lipid and surfactants on quality attributes viz. particle size, polydispersity index, and entrapment efficiency of SLNs using 32 factorial design. Results: The optimal formulation was spherical, had a particle size of 147.6±4.1 nm (z-average), a polydispersity index of 0.296±0.058, a zeta potential of −19±0.98 mV, encapsulation efficiency of 98.7±1.55%, and a cumulative drug release of 95.59±0.918% in 5 h. Conclusion: The  in vitro and in vivo studies revealed that SLNs provide a promising oral delivery system to improve the bioavailability of MTX

Genetic variability, correlation and path analysis in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)

Genetic variability was studied in a population of 22 genotypes of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) at Sriniketan (West Bengal). Phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variability were high for stem weight; moderate for plant height, branches plant-1, days to flowering, duration of flowering, shelling per cent and test weight; and low for pod length. High to moderate estimates of heritability coupled with moderate to high genetic advance were recorded for plant height, days to flowering, duration of flowering, shelling per cent and test weight indicating the predominance of additive gene action. Grain yield was positively correlated with branches plant-1 pods plant-1, pod length, seeds pod-1, pod weight, biological yield, shelling per cent and harvest index at both phenotypic and genotypic levels. Results of path analysis revealed that days to flowering, pods plant-1, pod length and seeds podol are the important characters determining seed yield in fenugreek. &nbsp

Co-existent extrapulmonary, extragenital tuberculosis and gynaecological tumours: a reminder to pathologists

Extrapulmonary and extragenital tuberculosis is rarely encountered along with gynaecological tumours or malignancy. This report presents a case series of gynaecological malignancies/tumors co-existing with extrapulmonary, extragenital tuberculosis. Pathologists should always stay open to this possibility. A high index of suspicion is needed in view of the HIV pandemic causing resurgence of tuberculosis especially in third world countries.

Assessment of drug utilization pattern and rationality of drug use in treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy in a tertiary care teaching hospital of rural Bengal

Background: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is an important underlying cause of congestive heart failure and/or arrhythmias. The introduction of therapy combining diuretics, digoxin and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) has significantly decreased mortality and morbidity. The aim of the study was undertaken to identify the pattern of drugs most commonly prescribed for DCM and to assess the rationality behind such use.Methods: This was a prospective study undertaken between 1st July and 31st August 2015. Prescriptions were reviewed and analyzed using the World Health Organization (WHO) indicators for drug utilization studies. Rationality and cost of therapy per prescription was also evaluated.Results: We encountered 78 patients of DCM in the OPD of Cardiology (prevalence of 4.94%). The average number of drugs per prescription was 6.64. Generic prescriptions were made in 90% encounters. As part of therapy, diuretics and ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, were prescribed in all cases. Our results show a distinctive drug use pattern where beta blockers were used more commonly than digoxin. Other commonly prescribed agents were antiplatelet drugs and statins. Antibiotics were prescribed in 8.7% cases and no injectable drug was prescribed. Average drug cost per encounter was 10.63 INR.Conclusions: To conclude, we found a typical and rational pattern of drug use. Diuretics, ACEI and beta blockers were found to be most commonly used agents. This study provides a clear picture of drug use in this special clinical condition in rural Bengal and paves the way for larger and long term studies

A prospective study of distal radius fracture management by close reduction, percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation and plaster immobilization

Background: Distal radius fracture is one of the most common fractures. It may be sustained due to low-energy trauma or high-energy trauma. Objectives: To compare the clinical effectiveness of Kirschner wire fixation with and plaster immobilization for patients with fracture of the distal radius.Methods: Interventions Kirschner wire fixation: wires are passed through the skin over the dorsal aspect of the distal radius and into the bone to hold the fracture in the correct anatomical position. About 79 patients with Distal Radial Fractures presented to MGM Medical College and LSK Hospital, Kishanganj between November 2012 and June 2014 were included in the study.Results: The majority were men (60.4%). Majority of the patients (69.8%) sustained the injury due to fall. The side of involvement was nearly equal and that there was no predominance of the either sides. In our study, according to AO classification, 31 cases were of Type A, 17 were of Type B and 5 were of Type C. The Anatomical evaluation by Sarmiento’s Criteria showed 33 patients with excellent result, 15 patients with good result and 5 with a fair result. At final follow-up by ‘The Gartland and Werley criteria for functional outcome’ 37 patients had excellent result, 13 had good result, 2 had fair result and 1 had a poor result. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that percutaneous Kirschner wire pinning is a minimally invasive technique that provides an effective means of maintaining the anatomical fracture reduction. It does not required highly skilled personnel or sophisticated tools for application. It is a suitable method for fixation of displaced Colles fracture with minimal intra-articular involvement. The technique involves a minimal procedure that provides anatomic reduction, fracture fixation, and maintenance of reduction with an adequate method of immobilization

Immunohistochemical Evaluation of p63, E-Cadherin, Collagen I and III Expression in Lower Limb Wound Healing under Honey

Honey is recognized traditionally for its medicinal properties and also appreciated as a topical healing agent for infected and noninfected wounds. This study evaluates impact of honey-based occlusive dressing on nonhealing (nonresponding to conventional antibiotics) traumatic lower limb wounds (n = 34) through clinicopathological and immunohistochemical (e.g., expression of p63, E-cadherin, and Collagen I and III) evaluations to enrich the scientific validation. Clinical findings noted the nonadherence of honey dressing with remarkable chemical debridement and healing progression within 11–15 days of postintervention. Histopathologically, in comparison to preintervention biopsies, the postintervention tissues of wound peripheries demonstrated gradual normalization of epithelial and connective tissue features with significant changes in p63+ epithelial cell population, reappearance of membranous E-cadherin (P < .0001), and optimum deposition of collagen I and III (P < .0001). Thus, the present study for the first time reports the impact of honey on vital protein expressions in epithelial and connective tissues during repair of nonhealing lower limb wounds