Development and in vitro evaluation of polar lipid based lipospheres for oral delivery of peptide drugs

A 32 factorial design was employed to produce oral sustained release lipospheres prepared by modified double emulsion solvent evaporation technique for Serratiopeptidase (acid-labile enzyme) using wax and polar lipid combination as retardants. The effects of formulation variables selected through preliminary trials namely peptide and stabilizer (Tween® 80) concentration was evaluated by F-test on the drug content and size of lipospheres. The results of analysis of variance tests for both effects indicated that the test is significant (p < 0.05). The effect of Tween® 80 concentration (SSY1- 41.66; SSY2 – 25.30) was found to be higher than peptide amount (SSY1- 3.94; SSY2 – 4.03) on the size and drug content of lipospheres. Characterization was carried out through photomicroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, particle size analysis and in vitro drug release study. The effect of formulation variables on the integrity of enzyme was confirmed by in vitro proteolytic activity. The drug release from lipospheres followed first-order kinetics and was characterized by the Higuchi diffusion and Ritger-Peppas model. Lipospheres having maximum drug content (11.93±0.89) released 3-4% enzyme at pH 1.2 in 4 h. In phosphate buffer, lipospheres showed an initial burst release of 20.89±1.87% to 27.89±2.03% in one hour with additional 73.22±2.36% to 94.75±2.78% in next 12 hours. Thus, peptide loaded lipospheres with desirable characters in terms of maximum peptide content and diffusion release pattern were successfully prepared with formulation optimization approach.Keywords: Cetyl alcohol, Enzyme, factorial design, Lipospheres; Peptide, Serratiopeptidas

Development and in vitro evaluation of polar lipid based lipospheres for oral delivery of peptide drugs

A 32 factorial design was employed to produce oral sustained release lipospheres prepared by modified double emulsion solvent evaporation technique for Serratiopeptidase (acid-labile enzyme) using wax and polar lipid combination as retardants. The effects of formulation variables selected through preliminary trials namely peptide and stabilizer (Tween® 80) concentration was evaluated by F-test on the drug content and size of lipospheres. The results of analysis of variance tests for both effects indicated that the test is significant (p < 0.05). The effect of Tween® 80 concentration (SSY1- 41.66; SSY2 – 25.30) was found to be higher than peptide amount (SSY1- 3.94; SSY2 – 4.03) on the size and drug content of lipospheres. Characterization was carried out through photomicroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, particle size analysis and in vitro drug release study. The effect of formulation variables on the integrity of enzyme was confirmed by in vitro proteolytic activity. The drug release from lipospheres followed first-order kinetics and was characterized by the Higuchi diffusion and Ritger-Peppas model. Lipospheres having maximum drug content (11.93±0.89) released 3-4% enzyme at pH 1.2 in 4 h. In phosphate buffer, lipospheres showed an initial burst release of 20.89±1.87% to 27.89±2.03% in one hour with additional 73.22±2.36% to 94.75±2.78% in next 12 hours. Thus, peptide loaded lipospheres with desirable characters in terms of maximum peptide content and diffusion release pattern were successfully prepared with formulation optimization approach.Keywords: Cetyl alcohol, Enzyme, factorial design, Lipospheres; Peptide, Serratiopeptidas

Association of Breast cancer symptoms findings with the occurrence of Breast cancer

Background: In Finland, organized national mammography screening program has shown a decrease in mortality from breast cancer since its introduction in late 1980s. The incidence and mortality rate is rapidly rising in countries where regular screening program is not available. However, it is still not clear how much the presence of symptoms in screening exams increases the risk of breast cancer. We proposed a study to assess the association of earlier symptoms findings with the occurrence of breast cancer. Method: A cross-sectional study was performed among women aged between 50 and 69 years who had breast cancer screening during the period 2006-2010. A total of 1.2 million mammography screening was performed and symptoms (lump, retraction, scar, secretion and mole) were reported by women and radiographer at the time of screening visit. Six thousand, four hundred and forty-five women were diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast cancer risk was calculated for each symptom using the odds ratios (OR) at 95% confidence intervals (CI) with or without interaction effect in logistic regression model. Moreover, tumor characteristics were linked with self-reported as well as radiographer reported symptoms. Results: Women reporting of lump had an increased odds of breast cancer in both self-reported (OR = 7.23, 95% CI = 6.45 to 8.11) as well as in radiographer findings (OR = 6.74, 95% CI = 6.12 to 7.41). Similarly, retraction had 3-fold increased risk of breast cancer in self-reported and 2.14-fold increase in radiographer reported findings. Other symptoms showed little increase in odds of breast cancer. The three-way interaction of symptoms (lump, retraction and scar) and the breast cancer risk was found higher in both self-reported (OR = 12.25, 95% CI = 2.93 to 51.12) as well as in radiographer reported (OR = 11.4, 95% CI = 4.63 to 28.09) symptoms. A lower sensitivity and higher specificity was found in self-reported and in radiographer reported symptoms. Conclusion: Our findings reinforce the importance of fully evaluating the symptoms as a predictor of breast cancer. This study may be relevant for a large number of countries (without mammography screening program) to develop clinical breast examination as an alternative option in population-based breast cancer control, however, the impact may vary with study settings and availability of screening and diagnostic services

Outcome of Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre based care for children with Severe Acute Malnutrition in Uttar Pradesh, India: Cross sectional Study

Background and Aim: Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs) have been established for the facility-based management of children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM). The present study was conducted in two such centres in Uttar Pradesh, India to understand the epidemiological and clinical profile of admitted children and their outcome of treatment. Materials and Methods: A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Nutritional Rehabilitation centres at Lucknow and Barabanki district hospitals. All Children aged one to fifty-nine months admitted to these centres from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 were included in the study. Results: Around 28% infants diagnosed with SAM were less than 6 months of age. Majority (64.9%) of the admitted children were discharged with more than 15% of weight at admission, 28.9% were non-responders, 6.2% were defaulters and there were no deaths during the study period. Referrals directly from the community were seen in only 25.8% cases. Conclusion: Considering that around one-fourth of the children were discharged without adequate weight gain, measures to promote follow up should be given more focus. Referral from community level should be strengthened and more attention should be given for prevention of malnutrition in infants less than 6 months

Intravenous ibutilide versus intravenous amiodarone for post-operative management of atrial fibrillation following coronary artery bypass grafting: a prospective randomized controlled double blinded trial

Background: Increased incidence of post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is responsible for more post-operative complications, length of hospital stay and subsequent higher costs of hospitalization. This study was done to compare the efficacy and safety of ibutilide versus amiodarone for treatment of POAF following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).Methods: In this prospective, randomized, double blind controlled study, 60 patients posted for CABG developing POAF, divided randomly into 30 patients each in groups A and group I. Group A received IV amiodarone at 3 mg/kg over 20 minutes and group I received IV ibutilide at 0.01 mg/kg over 10 minutes (weight 60 kg). Patients underwent standard anesthetic technique and monitoring for CABG. All the demographic data, hemodynamic data were recorded in a structured manner.Results: Ibutilide showed significantly faster resolution of AF at 12.47±5.3 versus 22.9±7.68 minutes by amiodarone (p=0.000). Ibutilide was found to have significantly higher incidences of recurrence at 23.3% versus 0% by amiodarone (p=0.0048). Ibutilide showed significantly lesser hypotension 0% versus 26.67% with amiodarone (p=0.002).Conclusions: This study concluded that ibutilide was found to be better suited to treat POAF patients, who underwent CABG; due to its early and efficient resolution and reduced risk of hypotension

Pulsed Laser Deposition of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides-Based Heterostructures for Efficient Photodetection

From the past few decades, photodetectors (PDs) are being regarded as crucial components of many photonic devices which are being used in various important applications. However, the PDs based on the traditional bulk semiconductors still face a lot of challenges as far as the device performance is concerned. To overcome these limitations, a novel class of two-dimensional materials known as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) has shown great promise. The TMDCs-based PDs have been reported to exhibit competitive figures of merit to the state-of-the-art PDs, however, their production is still limited to laboratory scale due to limitations in the conventional fabrication methods. Compared to these traditional synthesis approaches, the technique of pulsed laser deposition (PLD) offers several merits. PLD is a physical vapor deposition approach, which is performed in an ultrahigh-vacuum environment. Therefore, the products are expected to be clean and free from contaminants. Most importantly, PLD enables actualization of large-area thin films, which can have a significant potential in the modern semiconductor industry. In the current chapter, the growth of TMDCs by PLD for applications in photodetection has been discussed, with a detailed analysis on the recent advancements in this area. The chapter will be concluded by providing an outlook and perspective on the strategies to overcome the shortcomings associated with the current devices

ANTICONVULSANT EFFECT OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF AERIAL ROOT OF FICUS RELIGIOSA IN ANIMAL MODELS

Ficus religiosa commonly found tree in Indian sub-continent has numerous neuro-pharmacological effects including epilepsy in traditional medicine. Therefore, anticonvulsant effect of aqueous aerial root extract of F. religiosa at oral doses 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg was studied  using Maximum electroshock (MES) and Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizure models in mice. F. religiosa showed anticonvulsant effect dose dependently in MES & PTZ test. In MES model F. religiosa 100mg/kg significantly (p < 0.05) lowered duration of Tonic hind limb extension. In PTZ model, all three doses of F. religiosa significantly (p < 0.05)   increased latency to convulsion. These findings thus provide scientific evidence in support of the folkloric use of this plant in the management of epilepsy. Keywords: Anticonvulsant, Ficus religiosa, Maximum electroshock, Pentylenetetrazole, Roo

An efficient protocol for in vitro organogenesis and antioxidant studies in Melia dubia Cav

Melia dubia Cav. (Meliaceae) is a multipurpose tree of tropical and subtropical regions mainly cultivated for its medicinal and industrial importance. Due to its versatile properties, it has been depleted in its natural environment. Moreover due to sluggish and poor seed germination, there is a threat of its gene pool exclusion from the natural habitat. The alternative method for conservation and efficient mass propagation is thus need of the hour. As per the extensive literature survey there is no report on efficient protocol for mass propagation of M. dubia through callus organogenesis. Therefore, the present work was aimed to develop in vitro organogenesis protocol for rapid and large scale production of planting material. From our results, maximum callus percentage, callus weight and fragile callus was observed on 1.0 mg/l benzylaminopurine (BAP) in combination with 0.5 mg/l naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). The callus differentiation was achieved at different concentrations of BAP and indole acetic acid (IAA). Multiple Shoot number per callus propagule 5.30 was observed on 0.5 mg/l BAP and 1 mg/l IAA concentration. The maximum rooting percentage (78.5%), root number per explant (4.33) and root length per explant (4.41 cm) was observed at 0.5 mg/l indol butyric acid (IBA) after 30 days of inoculation. Further the total flavonoid content, phenolic content and antioxidant properties of leaves of in-vitro regenerated plants where studied. Total flavonoids and phenolic content in leaves of in vitro Melia dubia was 0.56 ± 0.8 mg quercitin equivalent (QE) and 2.97 ± 0.17 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) respectively. The antioxidant property was further assed through measurement of DPPH radical scavenging activity. The in-vitro regeneration protocol can be exploited for commercial cultivation and fulfilling the growing demand for fresh explant material through mass propagation of M. dubia an economically important plant species.Key words: Melia dubia, antioxidant, indole-3-butyric acid, flavonoids and phenolics