Termoreverzibilni mukoadhezivni in situ hidrogel za oftalmičku primjenu: dizajniranje i optimizacija koristeći kombinaciju polimera

The purpose of the study was to develop an optimized thermoreversible in situ gelling ophthalmic drug delivery system based on Pluronic F 127, containing moxifloxacin hydrochloride as a model drug. A 32 full factorial design was employed with two polymers Pluronic F 68 and Gelrite as independent variables used in combination with Pluronic F 127. Gelation temperature, gel strength, bioadhesion force, viscosity and in vitro drug release after 1 and 10 h were selected as dependent variables. Pluronic F 68 loading with Pluronic F 127 was found to have a significant effect on gelation temperature of the formulation and to be of importance for gel formation at temperatures 3336 ºC. Gelrite loading showed a positive effect on bioadhesion force and gel strength and was also found helpful in controling the release rate of the drug. The quadratic mathematical model developed is applicable to predicting formulations with desired gelation temperature, gel strength, bioadhesion force and drug release properties.Cilj rada bio je razvoj i optimizacija termoreverzibilnog sustava za isporuku lijekova koji gelira in situ. Sustav je napravljen na bazi Pluronic F 127, a sadrži moksifloksacin hidroklorid kao modelni lijek. U radu je primjenjeno 32 potpuno faktorijsko dizajniranje s dva polimera, Pluronic F 68 i Gelrite kao nezavisnim varijablama koji su kombinirani s Pluronic F 127. Kao zavisne varijable odabrane su temperatura geliranja, čvrstoća gela, jačina bioadhezije, viskoznost i in vitro oslobađanje lijeka nakon 1 i 10 h. Pronađeno je da Pluronic F 68 u kombinaciji s Pluronic F 127 ima značajan učinak na temperaturu geliranja u rasponu od 33 do 36 C. S druge strane, Gelrite ima povoljan učinak na jačinu bioadhezije, čvrstoću gela i oslobađanje lijeka. Razvijen je kvadratni matematički model pomoću kojeg se može predvidjeti temperatura geliranja, čvrstoća gela, jačina bioadhezije i oslobađanje ljekovite tvari

Approximate Analytical Solution of Advection-Dispersion Equation By Means of OHAM.

This work deals with the analytical solution of advection dispersion equation arising in solute transport along unsteady groundwater flow in finite aquifer. A time dependent input source concentration is considered at the origin of the aquifer and it is assumed that the concentration gradient is zero at the other end of the aquifer. The optimal homotopy analysis method (OHAM) is used to obtain numerical and graphical representation

Band structures and intruder π\pii13/2i_{13/2} state in 197^{197}Tl

The excited states in the odd-$A$ $^{197}$Tl nucleus have been studied by populating them using the $^{197}$Au($\alpha$, 4$n$)$^{197}$Tl reaction at the beam energy of 48 MeV. The $\gamma-\gamma$ coincidence data were taken using a combination of clover, LEPS and single crystal HPGe detectors. Precise spin and parity assignments of the excited states have been done through the polarization and the DCO measurements. A new band structure has been identified and the evidence for a possible intruder $\pi i_{13/2}$ state has been found for the first time. Possible configurations of the observed bands have been discussed. The total Routhian surface calculations have been performed to study the shape of $^{197}$Tl for different configurations.Comment: Accepted for publication in PR

Relationship between galactomannan structure and physicochemical properties of films produced thereof

In this work five sources of galactomannans, Adenanthera pavonina, Cyamopsis tetragonolobus, Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Ceratonia siliqua and Sophora japonica, presenting mannose/galactose ratios of 1.3, 1.7, 2.9, 3.4 and 5.6, respectively, were used to produce galactomannan-based films. These films were characterized in terms of: water vapour, oxygen and carbon dioxide permeabilities (WVP, O 2 P and CO 2 P); moisture content, water solubility, contact angle, elongation-at-break (EB), tensile strength (TS) and glass transition temperature (T g ). Results showed that films properties vary according to the galactomannan source (different galactose distribution) and their mannose/galactose ratio. Water affinity of mannan and galactose chains and the intermolecular interactions of mannose backbone should also be considered being factors that affect films properties. This work has shown that knowing mannose/galactose ratio of galactomannans is possible to foresee galactomannan-based edible films properties.The authors thank the fellowship (SFRH/BPD/ 72753/2010) from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal). The authors also thank the FCT Strategic Project of UID/BIO/ 04469/2013 unit, the project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-010124-FEDER-027462) and the project BBioInd - Biotechnology and Bioengineering for improved Industrial and Agro-Food processes, REF. NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000028 Co-funded by the Programa OperacionalRegionaldoNorte(ON.2–ONovoNorte),QREN,FEDER. Fundação Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – FUNCAP, CE Brazil (CI1-0080-00055.01.00/13)

Long-term Modulation of Cosmic Ray Intensity in Statistical Relation with Coronal Mass Ejections and Solar Flare Index Parameters

We have studied statistically correlative analysis of long-term modulation of cosmic ray intensity (CRI) with coronal mass ejections and solar flare index for the period of 1997 to 2010 (23rd and 24th solar cycle). Inverse correlation has been found between solar activity parameters cosmic ray intensity (CRI), coronal mass ejections, solar flare index. Negative correlation with correlation coefficient -0.83 has been found between cosmic ray intensity and coronal mass ejections. Negative correlation with correlation coefficient -0.70 has been found between cosmic ray intensity and solar flare index number. Keywords: Cosmic Ray Intensity, Coronal Mass Ejections and Solar Flare Index

Arsenic exposure and outcomes of antimonial treatment in visceral leishmaniasis patients in bihar, India:a retrospective cohort study

Funding: This work was supported by a Clinical PhD Fellowship to MRP (090665) and a Principal Research Fellowship to AHF (079838) from the Wellcome Trust (http://www.wellcome.ac.uk). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Genome-Wide Association Study and Gene Expression Analysis Identifies CD84 as a Predictor of Response to Etanercept Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF) biologic therapy is a widely used treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is unknown why some RA patients fail to respond adequately to anti-TNF therapy, which limits the development of clinical biomarkers to predict response or new drugs to target refractory cases. To understand the biological basis of response to anti-TNF therapy, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis of more than 2 million common variants in 2,706 RA patients from 13 different collections. Patients were treated with one of three anti-TNF medications: etanercept (n = 733), infliximab (n = 894), or adalimumab (n = 1,071). We identified a SNP (rs6427528) at the 1q23 locus that was associated with change in disease activity score (ΔDAS) in the etanercept subset of patients (P = 8×10-8), but not in the infliximab or adalimumab subsets (P>0.05). The SNP is predicted to disrupt transcription factor binding site motifs in the 3′ UTR of an immune-related gene, CD84, and the allele associated with better response to etanercept was associated with higher CD84 gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (P = 1×10-11 in 228 non-RA patients and P = 0.004 in 132 RA patients). Consistent with the genetic findings, higher CD84 gene expression correlated with lower cross-sectional DAS (P = 0.02, n = 210) and showed a non-significant trend for better ΔDAS in a subset of RA patients with gene expression data (n = 31, etanercept-treated). A small, multi-ethnic replication showed a non-significant trend towards an association among etanercept-treated RA patients of Portuguese ancestry (n = 139, P = 0.4), but no association among patients of Japanese ancestry (n = 151, P = 0.8). Our study demonstrates that an allele associated with response to etanercept therapy is also associated with CD84 gene expression, and further that CD84 expression correlates with disease activity. These findings support a model in which CD84 genotypes and/or expression may serve as a useful biomarker for response to etanercept treatment in RA patients of European ancestry. © 2013 Cui et al

GUJARAT ANAND RICE 14: A HIGH YIELDING, MEDIUM SLENDER WITH STRONG AROMATIC VARIETY

IET 24619 is notified with popular name “Gujarat Anand Rice 14” by CVRC, New Delhi for commercial cultivation under irrigated transplanted ecosystem. To breed a superior, medium slender variety of rice with better qualities, research was started since from 2002 than evaluated in state as well as national trials viz., SSVT,LSVT, ASG, AVT I ASG and AVT II ASG during 2009-16 at MRRS, AAU, Nawagam with different centers of AICRIP of India. Results showed the supremacy of IET 24619 with grain yield recorded 5108 kg/ha, which is 31.68, 46.36 and 46.78 per cent higher over the national check viz., Shobini (3879 kg/ha); regional check viz. Sugandhdhan 907 (3490 kg/ha) and local check viz., Krishna Kamod (3480 kg/ha), respectively. IET-24619 found mid-early in maturity (137 to 140 days), medium tall (110 cm height), higher number of panicles/m 2 (270.33), number of productive tillers (7.5), test weight (16 g) and length of panicles (26.6cm). The grain quality traits viz., head rice recovery (64.9%), amylose content (23.43%), gel consistency (45 mm), strong aromatic grains having with medium slender milled grains 5.66 mm and with volume expansion ratio 4.7. It was moderately resistance to all rice diseases and tolerant to insects and pests

A rare case of 22-year-old male having spindle cell sarcoma and distant metastasis

Sarcomas are a group of cancers that have varied presentations in different locations in our bodies, can metastasize and show a range of histopathological features and are very uncommon. We report a case of a 22-year-old male presented with a case of high-grade spindle cell sarcoma in the posterior mediastinum of size 13×13×8 cm3 along with left moderate pleural effusion of the left lung. There are also multiple enhancing hypodense lesions in other parts of the body indicating neurofibromatosis. The tumor was detected using CECT Chest, Abdomen, an MRI was also done and results were confirmed by IHC. The patient was given chemotherapy however that only resulted in subsequent increase in size of the tumor since the patient did not report for the treatments regularly. This shows how important it is to be consistent with the treatment, failure of which results in grave consequences