FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT OF COLON TARGETED MESALAMINE PELLETS: IN VITRO-IN VIVO RELEASE STUDY

Objective: This study was intended to investigate the potential of the colon specificity approach comprising of use of pH-sensitive and time-dependent polymers in combination for precise colonic release of Mesalamine or 5-Aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA). Methods: The extrusion and spheronization method, preferably employed in industry for allowing high dose capacity to formulate, was used to prepare drug pellets. The Wurster coating technique used for aqueous coatings of Eudragit NE 40D as an inner coat and Eudragit FS30D as outer coat. The changing pH media used for in vitro release study of optimization batches for both the coating levels. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to evaluate coating thickness and surface morphology. Results: The pharmacokinetic parameters of formulation evaluated by in vivo study in rabbits revealed that the uncoated formulation released the drug too early in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) with a mean Cmax of 1205.28±0.37 µg/ml at 2 h after administration, whereas desired lag time was achieved in case of coated pellets exhibiting mean Cmax 465.94±0.21 µg/ml and tmax of 8 h. Conclusion: The in vitro and in vivo release study divulge the reliability of approach involving the use of pH sensitivity and time dependency of polymer for drug release in a single formulation for the treatment of colonic diseases. Hence, the present study provides constructive results for colon targeting of 5-ASA pellets with industrially feasible processes

SNAKE BITES: ROLE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN MANAGEMENT

Snake bites possess significant amount of mortality as well as morbidity all over the world including India. Despite various species of snakes, only few of these can be potentially lethal to humans. Snake antivenom being only therapeutic option available in snake bite management, but has many drawbacks in actual clinical practice like species specificity, difficulty in availability, affordability and ideal storage conditions. The medicinal plants, available locally and used widely by traditional healers, therefore need attention in this aspects. Large number of plants and their active principles has been evaluated for pharmacological properties useful in the treatment of snake bites. However, numerous unexplored plants are claimed to have definite role in this issue need to be further studied. This review is an attempt to present a comprehensive account of various Indian herbal plants used in the treatment of snake bite in any forms like venom neutralization, topical application for local pain relief, oral formulation for pain relief etc. Keywords: Herbal plants, Snake bite, Anti-snake venom, Venom neutralisatio

A rare nexus: G6PD deficiency's uncommon affiliation with rapidly progressive renal failure through the prism of pigment nephropathy

Acute kidney injury (AKI) with evidence of hemolysis is associated with tropical infections. However, pigment-induced AKI can happen with relatively uncommon genetic causes of hemolytic anemia, i.e., glucose 6-phosphate deficiency (G6PD). We share our experience of one such patients whose clinical presentation was rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. On evaluation, she had a history of usage of some drugs and with G6PD estimation revealing deficient status even during the episode while other tests such as Coomb's test and bone marrow biopsy was normal. The kidney biopsy revealed diffuse tubular injury with presence of several coarse granular/pigmented casts in tubular lamina. She was managed with hemodialysis and showed complete recovery. Thus, in tropical countries G6PD deficiency although is not common, should be considered among patients who presented as rapidly progressive renal failure (RPRF) and having history of precipitating factors for G6PD deficiency and a detailed hemolytic work-up needs to be carried out as an important cause of preventable recurrent AKI in tropical countries

Evaluation of validity and reliability of multiple-choice questions in second MBBS competency-based medical education-based pharmacology examination of medical institute of India

Background: Multiple choice questions (MCQs) are most commonly used assessment tool in undergraduate medical examination. Assessment method must be reliable and valid. To improve quality of MCQs, item analysis was carried out by determining their validity and reliability using parameters like difficulty index, discrimination index, distractor efficiency and Cronbach’s alpha value.Methods: Study was carried out among 193 second year medical students. Each student was given 40 MCQs of 1 mark each. After assessment of MCQs, validity of test was analyzed by using difficulty index, discrimination index and distractor efficiency while reliability was analyzed by using Cronbach’s alpha.Results: Mean ± SD of difficulty index, discrimination index, functioning and non-functioning distractors were 59.80±23.38, 0.25±0.12, 1.98±0.92 and 13.25±13.05 respectively with reliability value of 0.7. About 47.5% items had moderate difficulty index, 22.5% items have excellent discrimination index with 35% items having 100% distractor efficiency. Reliability of test as measured by Cronbach’s alpha value was 0.7. There was weak correlation between difficulty index and discrimination index.Conclusions: It is concluded from study that given MCQs test have reliability but not validity and needs to improve quality of MCQs. Validity of test is improved by improving difficulty index, discrimination index, distractor efficiency of items

SYNTHESIS AND DOCKING STUDIES OF 2-(NITROOXY) ETHYL-4-(2-(SUBSTITUTED PHENYL)-4-(SUBSTITUTE DPHENYL)-1H-IMIDAZOL-1-YL) BENZOATE AS ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, ANALGESIC AND NITRIC OXIDE RELEASING AGENTS

Objective: The objective of the present study was to develop potent and non toxic Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) by using heterocyclic nuclei and having Nitric Oxide releasing group.Methods: The compounds were designed with the help of docking studies. In the synthetic study, the target compounds were obtained by reacting substituted diphenyl imidazole benzoic acid (2a-2x) with nitro-oxy alkyl bromide in the presence of dimethyl formamide and potassium carbonate to give substituted 2,4-diphenyl nitric oxide releasing imidazole derivatives (3a-3x). The synthesized compounds were characterized with the help of different analytical studies and further evaluated for anti-inflammatory, analgesic and nitric oxide releasing activity.Results: In the docking study compounds 3a, 3b, 3c, 3e, 3r and 3s showed significant G-score. In the anti-inflammatory and analgesic study compounds 3a, 3b, 3c, 3e, 3r and 3s exhibited promising activity. All the synthesized compounds exhibited significant nitric oxide releasing properties both in-vitro and in-vivo. Conclusion: Compounds 3a, 3b, 3c, 3e, 3r and 3s exhibited prominent anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity.Â

Computer Lab Monitoring System

Lab management system is developed to overcome the problem faced by the lab managing staff. To Monitor a LAN, the monitoring server is typically connected to a monitor port on the switch. If multiple Switches are used in an installation, the monitoring Server may need a connection to all of them. That connection can either be a physical cable, or if your network switches support it, a LAN specifically configured for monitoring traffic. LAN monitoring project aims to develop various network utilities which are required to effectively monitor a LAN network. Project aims to develop an integrated software solution that allows a network administrator to remotely monitor his LAN network. DOI: 10.17762/ijritcc2321-8169.150316

Evaluation of Cardioprotective Effect of 3,5,3′-Tri-iodo-L-thyronine in Isoproterenol-Induced Cardiotoxicity

T3 (3,5,3′-triiodothyronine) has drawn relatively little attention in relation to cardiovascular (CVS) diseases. The present study was designed to evaluate the cardioprotective action of T3 in isoproterenol-(ISO-) induced cardiac toxicity. Female Wistar rats were exposed with ISO (100 mg/kg, body weight, subcutaneously) for 2 days at the interval of 24 h followed by T3 (3 μg/kg, body weight, orally) treatment for 3 days. Positive control rats received only ISO (100 mg/kg, body weight, subcutaneously) for 2 days at the interval of 24 hrs. Control group animals received normal saline as a vehicle. As expected, ISO-induced significant changes were observed in low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, ALT, CK-MB to TCK ratio, and prolongation of QT interval in electrocardiogram, which is toward normalization after T3 treatment. Lower heart weight, upregulation of cardiac myosin heavy chain alpha (MHC-α), and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, myonecrosis, vacuolar changes, and a trend toward normal cardiac muscle fiber architecture in microscopic examination of cardiac tissue further support the cardioprotective effect of T3