Formulation And In Vitro/In Vivo Evaluation Of Olmesartan Medoxomil Solid Dispersions Incorporated E/R Trilayer Matrix Tablets By Geomatrix

An attempt has been made to develop and optimize an novel anti hypertensive trilayered controlled release matrix tablets incorporated with Olmesartan medoxomil solid dispersion prepared by direct compression and consisted of middle active layer with different grades of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), guar gum, ethyl cellulose. Upper and lower layers are prepared with Carnauba wax, guar gum and sodium CMC. The developed drug delivery system provided prolonged drug release rates over a period of 24 h. The release profile of the optimized formulation (HF14) was described by the Zero-order and Higuchi model. In-vivo bioavailability studies were carried out with the optimized formulation (HF14) and reference standard A fair correlation between the dissolution profile and bioavailability for the optimized formulation was observed. The results indicate that the approach used could lead to a successful development of a trilayer extended release formulation up to 24h. These results also demonstrated that the Olmesartan solid dispersion incorporated trilayer tablets shown more bioavailability because of its conversion from crystalline to amorphous form

Comparison Between Dexamethasone Versus Clonidine as Adjuvants to 0.75% Ropivacaine in Ultrasound Guided Brachial Plexus Block for Upper Limb Orthopedic Surgeries: A Randomized Prospective Clinical Study

Background: Ropivacaine is an amino-amide local anesthetic, extensively used for peripheral nerve blocks, numerous adjuvants have been added to Ropivacaine to prolong the duration of analgesia. Aim: To compare the effectiveness of adding Dexamethasone to Ropivacaine versus adding Clonidine to Ropivacaine in ultrasound guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block in terms of analgesic duration, onset & duration of sensory and motor blockade. Methods: A prospective randomized single blinded study carried out in 70 patients of ASA grade I and II, aged 20 to 60 years scheduled for elective upper limb orthopedic surgeries. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups, Group RC - patients received 20ml of 0.75% ropivacaine along with 1mcg/kg of clonidine diluted to 2ml of normal saline, Group RD - patients received 20ml of 0.75% ropivacaine along with 8mg of dexamethasone (2ml). Statistical Analysis: Onset & duration of sensorimotor blockade, duration of analgesia was assessed by Unpaired t-test. If p-value <0.05, results were statistically significant & p-value <0.001 were highly significant. Results: Duration of analgesia is superior and statistically significant in Group RD (1,172.57± 18.37 vs 931.09± 16.3). Onset time for sensory (3.14 ± 1.00 vs 9.71± 1.23) and motor (7.60 ± 1.54 vs 13.66± 1.03) block is rapid in Group RD. Duration of sensory (1,106.57± 20.28 vs 786.26± 31.43) and motor (997.74 ± 24.9 vs 674.57 ± 2.18) block is enhanced in Group RD Conclusion: Dexamethasone as an adjuvant to ropivacaine provided superior post-operative analgesia, faster onset and longer duration of sensory and motor blockade

Luminescence characteristics of Nd3+ - doped K-Ba-Al-fluorophosphate laser glasses

Fluorophosphate glasses of composition P2O5 + K2O + KF + BaO + Al2O3 + Nd2O3 (PKFBAN), have been prepared with three (0.1, 1.0 and 2.0 mol%) Nd3+ ion concentrations and their detailed luminescence properties have been investigated. Judd-Ofelt theory has been used to analyse the optical absorption spectrum of 1.0 mol% Nd2O3-doped PKFBAN glass and evaluated the radiative properties. The predicted radiative lifetime of the F-4(3/2) level is found to be 348 mu s, which is slightly larger than the measured lifetime of 286 mu s. The measured lifetime of the F-4(3/2) level is found to decrease from 359 to 227 lis when the Nd2O3 ions concentration is increased from 0.1 to 2.0 mol%. The observed non-exponential nature of the decay curves is attributed to energy transfer between Nd3+ ions through dipole-dipole interaction. The systematic analysis yielded improved laser properties in K-Ba-Al-fluorophosphate glass with respect to those of K-Ba-Al-phosphate glasses

the FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF HERBAL BATH SOAP CONTAINING METHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF THREE AYURVEDIC VARNYA HERBS

Objectives: The ultimate aim of this study is to formulate and evaluate the herbal bath soap using methanolic extracts of three plants having ethnic and dermatological importance in Ayurveda, namely, Hemidesmus indicus, Cyperus rotundus, and Saussurea lappa. Methods: The roots of H. indicus and S. lappa and rhizomes of C. rotundus were extracted with ethanol using Soxhlet apparatus. Then, these extracts were used to make soap by reacting oil and lye in a process of saponification. Results: The soap made was evaluated for physicochemical characters such as total fatty matter, moisture content, and pH and found to be 77, 5.3%, and 8 and for other parameters, good characteristics were observed. Discussion: The soap also exhibited good cleaning efficiency in removing microbes on hands. Conclusion: Hence, based on the antimicrobial effects and parameters, the formulated soap can further be standardized and an alternative to commercial medicinal and skin whitening soaps

Optical and luminescence properties of Nd3+ ions in K-Ba-Al-phosphate and fluorophosphate glasses

Phosphate (PKBAN: P2O5 +K2OBaO+Al2O3 +Nd2O3) and fluorophosphate (PKBFAN: P2O5 + K2O + BaO + BaF2 + Al2O3 + Nd2O3 and PKBAFN: P2O5 + K2O + BaO + Al2O3 + AlF3 + Nd2O3) glasses were prepared with three concentrations (0.1, 1.0 and 2.0 mol%) of Nd3+, ions and their detailed luminescence properties have been investigated. Absorption spectra for 1.0 mol% of Nd3+-doped glasses have been analysed using Judd-Ofelt (JO) theory. The observed bands in absorption spectra from ground to excited states are assigned and analysed with the parameterized free-ion Hamiltonian model. The JO parameters have been used to predict radiative properties for F-4(3/2) -> I-4(J) (J = 15/2, 13/2, 11/2 and 9/2) transitions of Nd3+ ions in these glasses. The Inokuti-Hirayama model has been applied to the non-exponential behaviour of the decay profiles to investigate the mechanism involved in the energy transfer between the donors and acceptors

Size segregated mass concentration and size distribution of near surface aerosols over a tropical Indian semi-arid station, Anantapur: impact of long range transport

Regular measurements of size segregated as well as total mass concentration and size distribution of near surface composite aerosols, made using a ten-channel Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) cascade impactor during the period of September 2007-May 2008 are used to study the aerosol characteristics in association with the synoptic meteorology. The total mass concentration varied from 59.70 &#177; 1.48 to 41.40 &#177; 1.72 &#956;g m-3, out of which accumulation mode dominated by ~50%. On a synoptic scale, aerosol mass concentration in the accumulation (submicron) mode gradually increased from an average low value of ~26.92 &#177; 1.53 &#956;g m-3 during the post monsoon season (September-November) to ~34.95 &#177; 1.32 &#956;g m-3during winter (December-February) and reaching a peak value of ~43.56 &#177; 1.42 &#956;g m-3 during the summer season (March-May). On the contrary, mass concentration of aerosols in the coarse (supermicron) mode increased from ~9.23 &#177; 1.25 &#956;gm- 3during post monsoon season to reach a comparatively high value of ~25.89 &#177; 1.95 &#956;g m-3 during dry winter months and a low value of ~8.07 &#177; 0.76 &#956;g m-3 during the summer season. Effective radius, a parameter important in determining optical (scattering) properties of aerosol size distribution, varied between 0.104 &#177; 0.08 &#956;m and 0.167 &#177; 0.06 &#956;m with a mean value of 0.143 &#177; 0.01 &#956;m. The fine mode is highly reduced during the post monsoon period and the large and coarse modes continue to remain high (replenished) so that their relative dominance increases. It can be seen that among the two parameters measured, correlation of total mass concentration with air temperature is positive (R2=0.82) compared with relative humidity (RH) (R2=0.75)

Temporal and spectral characteristics of aerosol optical depths in a semi-arid region of southern India

The spectral and temporal variations of aerosol optical depths (AOD) observed over Anantapur (a semi-arid region) located in the Southern part of India are investigated by analyzing the data obtained from a Multiwavelength Solar Radiometer (MWR) during January 2005-December 2006 (a total of 404 clear-sky observations) using the Langley technique. In this paper, we highlighted the studies on monthly, seasonal and spectral variations of aerosol optical depth and their implications. The results showed seasonal variation with higher values during pre-monsoon (March-May) and lower in the monsoon (June-November) season at all wavelengths. The pre-monsoon increase is found to be due to the high wind speed producing larger amounts of wind-driven dust particles. The post-monsoon (December-February) AOD values decrease more at higher wavelengths, indicating a general reduction in the number of bigger particles. Also during the post-monsoon, direction of winds in association with high or low pressure weather systems and the air brings more aerosol content to the region which is surrounded by a number of cement plants, lime kilns, slab polishing and brick making units. The quantity of AOD values in pre-monsoon is higher (low during post-monsoon) for wavelength, such as shortwave infrared (SWIR) or near infrared (NIR), which shows that coarse particles contribute more compare with the sub-micron particles. The composite aerosols near the surface follow suit with the share of the accumulation mode to the total mass concentration decreasing from ~70% to 30% from post-monsoon to pre-monsoon. Coarse mode particle loading observed to be high during pre-monsoon and accumulation mode particles observed to be high during post-monsoon. The backward trajectories at three representative altitudes with source point at the observing site indicate a possible transport from the outflow regions into Bay of Bengal, southern peninsular India and Arabian Sea. The temporal variations of AOD, Angstrom wavelength exponent and precipitable water content over Anantapur have also been compared with those reported from selected locations in India

A study on the variations of optical and physical properties of aerosols over a tropical semi-arid station during grassland fire

The present paper records the results of a case study on the impact of an extensive grassland fire on the physical and optical properties of aerosols at a semi-arid station in southern India for the first time from ground based measurements using a MICROTOPS-II sunphotometer, an aethalometer and a quartz crystal microbalance impactor (QCM). Observations revealed a substantial increase in aerosol optical depth (AOD) at all wavelengths during burning days compared to normal days. High AOD values observed at shorter wavelengths suggest the dominance of accumulation mode particle loading over the study area. Daily mean aerosol size spectra shows, most of the time, power-law distribution. To characterize AOD, the Angstrom parameters (i.e., α and β) were used. Wavelength exponent (1.38) and turbidity coefficient (0.21) are high during burning days compared to normal days, thereby suggesting an increase in accumulation mode particle loading. Aerosol size distribution suggested dominance of accumulation mode particle loading during burning days compared to normal days. A significant positive correlation was observed between AOD at 500 nm and water vapour and negative correlation between AOD at 500 nm and wind speed for burning and non-burning days. Diurnal variations of black carbon (BC) aerosol mass concentrations increased by a factor of ~2 in the morning and afternoon hours during burning period compared to normal days

Characterization of aerosol black carbon over a tropical semi-arid region of Anantapur, India

Black carbon (BC) aerosol mass concentrations measured using an aethalometer at Anantapur, a semi-arid tropical station in the southern part of peninsular India, from August 2006 to July 2007 are analyzed. Seasonal and diurnal variations of BC in relation to changes in the regional meteorological conditions have been studied along with the mass fraction of BC to the total aerosol mass concentration (M-t) and fine particle mass (FPM) concentration in different months. The data collected during the study period shows that the annual average BC mass concentration at Anantapur is 1.97 +/- 0.12 mu g m(-3). Seasonal variations of BC aerosol mass concentration showed high during the dry (winter and summer) seasons and low during the post-monsoon followed by the monsoon seasons. Diurnal variations of BC aerosols attain a gradual build up in BC concentration from morning and a sharp peak occurs between 07:00 and 09:00 h almost an hour after local sunrise and a broad nocturnal peak from 19:00 to 21:00 h with a minimum in noon hours. The ratio of BC to the fine particle mass concentration was high during the dry season and low during the monsoon season. The regression analysis between BC mass concentration and wind speed indicates that, with increase in wind speeds the BC mass concentrations would decrease and vice-versa. Aerosol BC mass concentration shows a significant positive correlation with total mass concentration (M-t) and aerosol optical depth (ACID, tau(p)) at 500 nm. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved