Comparison of effects of benidipine and amlodipine on clinical and biochemical parameters in hypertensive patients: an observational study

Background: Hypertension is a widespread public health problem and a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker, dilates arterioles by blocking L-type calcium channels. Benidipine inhibits L, N, and T type calcium channels. We compared the efficacy of Amlodipine and benidipine on blood pressure, pulse rate, proteinuria and lipid profile in hypertensive patients.Methods: The study was an observational, prospective, open label comparison. Eligible hypertensives were given either amlodipine (5mg/d) or benidipine (4mg/d). Clinical features and laboratory parameters were recorded initially and after 3 months. Adverse events were recorded with the help of a questionnaire. Compliance was assessed by return pill count.Results: Out of 35 patients, recruited for study, 16 received amlodipine and 17 were treated with benidipine and two were lost during follow up. Both the groups were well matched in terms of age, body weight, clinical findings and laboratory values. Both the drugs significantly (P <0.05) reduced systolic (142±16 to 138±15 vs.148±16 to 134±14mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (81±9 to 79±7). In the Amlodipine group the pulse rate after treatment tended to be higher than before (70±9 to 72±10bpm). In the Benidipine group there was decrease in pulse-rate after treatment (69±9 to 67±9). Unlike Amlodipine, Benidipine significantly (P<0.05) decreased urinary protein excretion (1.0±1.2 to 1.1±1.4 vs. 1.4±2.5 to 1.1±1.7g/g-Cr) and serum triglycerides (125±25 to 120±23 vs 130±26 to 115±21mg/dl).Conclusions: In this study, amlodipine and benidipine were found to be be equally effective anti-hypertensive in patients with stage 1 hypertension. However, there was significant reduction in proteinuria and serum triglycerides in Benidipine group as compared to Amlodipine group. Benidipine may be a better alternative to existing calcium channel blockers

An observational study of the effect of escitalopram and etizolam in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with depression

Background: Past decades have witnessed a rapid rise in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus; estimated to affect 415 million adults worldwide and 69.1 million adults in India. There has been an increased prevalence of diabetes associated depression, which can aggravate the symptoms of depression and diabetes associated complications. Use of tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) can disturb the glycemic control. Escitalopram is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and Etizolam is a new safe antianxiety agent. The objective of this study was to study the prevalence of depression and anxiety in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and to assess the efficacy of escitalopram and etizolam in the treatment of depression and/or anxiety in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.Methods: Total 125 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus with fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. Informed written consent was obtained from the patients willing to participate in the study. They were screened for the presence of depression with the help of PHQ-9. Their demographic features were recorded and initial laboratory investigations done. Haemogram, blood sugar level - fasting (BSL-F) and postprandial (PP), serum alanine transferase (ALT), serum creatinine and Urine routine analysis. Patients were started on Escitalopram (10 mg) + Etizolam (0.5 mg) daily for 30 days and others were not treated and acted as control; keeping the management of diabetes mellitus unchanged for all. Laboratory investigations were repeated after 30 days.Results: The prevalence of depression with/without anxiety was 35.2%. 51 patients treated with Escitalopram + Etizolam improved clinically and biochemically. There was a significant (P < 0.05) improvement in BSL-F and PP and HbA1C in patients treated with Escitalopram + Etizolam.Conclusions: Prevalence of depression among type 2 diabetes mellitus was found to be 35% in this study. Fifty one patients treated with escitalopram + etizolam improved clinically as well as biochemically. There was significant improvement in BSL-F, BSL-PP and HbA1c. Escitalopram may be considered as antidepressant of choice in such cases

Comparison of teneligliptin with sitagliptin as an add on to metformin in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus: an observational study

Background: Teneligliptin is a new dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, available in India. It has been widely prescribed in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2 DM) due to its low cost. However, there are few studies comparing it with other DPP-4 inhibitors. The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of teneligliptin with sitagliptin in patients of T2 DM.Methods: Patients of T2 DM, attending the OPD of a hospital during the period of January to August 2017 were scrutinized. Those uncontrolled on metformin monotherapy (1 g/day) were selected and were administered either sitagliptin (100 mg/day) or teneligliptin (20 mg/day) in addition to metformin. Base-line clinical features (age, sex, body-weight, BP, pulse rate etc.) and laboratory parameters (hemogram, fasting blood sugar and postprandial blood sugar, HbA1c, serum creatinine etc.) were recorded initially and at the end of three months. Side effects were assessed with the help of a questionnaire. The data obtained were analyzed by student’s t-test. P<0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Results: 35 and 32 patients received sitagliptin and teneligliptin respectively. After 12 weeks of therapy, FBS, PPBS and HbA1c significantly reduced in both the groups as compared to base-line values. Both drugs were well tolerated. There was no significant difference in the glycemic parameters between the two groups at the end of the study.Conclusions: Teneligliptin significantly improved glycemic control in patients with T2 DM when prescribed as an add on to metformin. It was equally effective when compared to sitagliptin. As teneligliptin is less costly than other gliptins, it may be considered as a good cost-effective option as an add on to patients of T2 DM uncontrolled on metformin monotherapy.

Filled Ethylene-propylene Diene Terpolymer Elastomer as ThermalInsulator for Case-bonded Solid Rocket Motors

Ethylene-propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM)-based insulation system is being globallyused for case-bonded solid rocket motors. A study was undertaken using EPDM as base polymer,blended with hypalon and liquid EPDM and filled with fibrous and non-fibrous fillers. Theseformulations were evaluated as rocket motor insulation system. The basic objective of the studywas to develop an insulation system based on EPDM for case-bonded applications. A series ofrocket motor insulator compositions based on EPDM, filled with particulate and fibrous fillerslike precipitated silica, fumed silica, aramid, and carbon fibres have been studied for mechanical,rheological, thermal, and interface properties. Compositions based on particulate fillers wereoptimised for the filler content. Comparatively, fumed silica was found to be superior as fillerin terms of mechanical and interface properties. Addition of fibrous filler (5 parts) improved thepeel strength, and reduced the thermal conductivity and erosion rate. All the compositions wereevaluated for sulphur and peroxide curing. Superior mechanical properties were achieved forsulphur-cured products, whereas peroxide-cured products exhibited an excellent ageing resistance.Rocket motors were insulated with optimised composition and propellant cast, and the motorswere evaluated by conducting static test in end-burning mode.Defence Science Journal, 2008, 58(1), pp.94-102, DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.58.162

Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station- Environment Management Perspectives

Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station is a unit of Maharashtra State Power Generation Co. Ltd. (MSPGCL) owned by Govt. of Maharashtra. Its installed capacity is 2920MW (2 x 210MW + 5 x 500MW) power generation. The fuel utilized for power generation is coal. Electrostatic Precipitators (ESP) are provided to all these units. Also provided Four ETP’s for treatment of trade effluent &amp; STP for treatment of domestic effluents. The treated effluents are reutilized for ash slurry disposal. The treated effluents of ETP’s and STP are completely recycled. In this communication, authors have explored the various steps taken by CSTPS for significant reduction of water/air/land foot prints to mitigate the diverse situations and for the protection of environment with electricity generation by taking into account of both ecological and socioeconomic aspects. It is pertinent to mention here that CSTPS is following the latest norms stipulated by MoEF&amp;CC/CPCB/MPCB, wherein all the real time online Continuous Emission (CEMS)/Effluent (CEQMS)/Ambient Air Quality (CAAQMS) systems are connected to online portal developed by regulatory/statutory bodies

Mechanization of sweet sorghum production and processing

Sweet sorghum is a unique multipurpose crop and of late widely promoted as biofuel crop. Its ability to produce grains for food/feed and stalks for fuel/ feed makes it one of the popular choices in the dryland regions. This crop is now widely grown in many of the countries as a feasible biofuel crop under different climatic conditions because of short its growing period and low water requirement (Soltani and Almodares 1994) as compared to sugarcane. When compared to other biofuel crops, sweet sorghum is best suited for ethanol production because of its higher total reducing sugar content (Huligol et al. 2004). Further, its suitability for mechanized crop production, seed propagation and higher ethanol production capacity of sweet sorghum have drawn the attention of researchers. The bagasse from sweet sorghum after the extraction of juice has a higher biological value in terms of micronutrients and minerals than the bagasse from sugarcane when used as animal feed (Seetharama et al. 2002). It can also be processed as a feed for ruminant animals. The crushed stalk contains similar levels of cellulose as sugarcane bagasse, and therefore is a good prospect as raw material for pulp and briquette making (for fuel purposes). Many attempts were made to use sweet sorghum for ethanol production in a centralized model of crushing the stalk for juice at the industry level. However, this model had some difficulties as the raw material availability was restricted for small period in a year apart from the problems of transportation of stalk from the farmer’s fields to distillers

Fascin overexpression promotes neoplastic progression in oral squamous cell carcinoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Fascin is a globular actin cross-linking protein, which plays a major role in forming parallel actin bundles in cell protrusions and is found to be associated with tumor cell invasion and metastasis in various type of cancers including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Previously, we have demonstrated that fascin regulates actin polymerization and thereby promotes cell motility in K8-depleted OSCC cells. In the present study we have investigated the role of fascin in tumor progression of OSCC.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To understand the role of fascin in OSCC development and/or progression, fascin was overexpressed along with vector control in OSCC derived cells AW13516. The phenotype was studied using wound healing, Boyden chamber, cell adhesion, Hanging drop, soft agar and tumorigenicity assays. Further, fascin expression was examined in human OSCC samples (N = 131) using immunohistochemistry and level of its expression was correlated with clinico-pathological parameters of the patients.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fascin overexpression in OSCC derived cells led to significant increase in cell migration, cell invasion and MMP-2 activity. In addition these cells demonstrated increased levels of phosphorylated AKT, ERK1/2 and JNK1/2. Our in vitro results were consistent with correlative studies of fascin expression with the clinico-pathological parameters of the OSCC patients. Fascin expression in OSCC showed statistically significant correlation with increased tumor stage (<it>P </it>= 0.041), increased lymph node metastasis (<it>P </it>= 0.001), less differentiation (<it>P </it>= 0.005), increased recurrence (<it>P </it>= 0.038) and shorter survival (<it>P </it>= 0.004) of the patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In conclusion, our results indicate that fascin promotes tumor progression and activates AKT and MAPK pathways in OSCC-derived cells. Further, our correlative studies of fascin expression in OSCC with clinico-pathological parameters of the patients indicate that fascin may prove to be useful in prognostication and treatment of OSCC.</p

Approaches in biotechnological applications of natural polymers

Natural polymers, such as gums and mucilage, are biocompatible, cheap, easily available and non-toxic materials of native origin. These polymers are increasingly preferred over synthetic materials for industrial applications due to their intrinsic properties, as well as they are considered alternative sources of raw materials since they present characteristics of sustainability, biodegradability and biosafety. As definition, gums and mucilages are polysaccharides or complex carbohydrates consisting of one or more monosaccharides or their derivatives linked in bewildering variety of linkages and structures. Natural gums are considered polysaccharides naturally occurring in varieties of plant seeds and exudates, tree or shrub exudates, seaweed extracts, fungi, bacteria, and animal sources. Water-soluble gums, also known as hydrocolloids, are considered exudates and are pathological products; therefore, they do not form a part of cell wall. On the other hand, mucilages are part of cell and physiological products. It is important to highlight that gums represent the largest amounts of polymer materials derived from plants. Gums have enormously large and broad applications in both food and non-food industries, being commonly used as thickening, binding, emulsifying, suspending, stabilizing agents and matrices for drug release in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In the food industry, their gelling properties and the ability to mold edible films and coatings are extensively studied. The use of gums depends on the intrinsic properties that they provide, often at costs below those of synthetic polymers. For upgrading the value of gums, they are being processed into various forms, including the most recent nanomaterials, for various biotechnological applications. Thus, the main natural polymers including galactomannans, cellulose, chitin, agar, carrageenan, alginate, cashew gum, pectin and starch, in addition to the current researches about them are reviewed in this article.. }To the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientfíico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for fellowships (LCBBC and MGCC) and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nvíel Superior (CAPES) (PBSA). This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, the Project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462) and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) (JAT)