The triglyceride fatty acids from heart lipids of Puntius sarana and their variation with different sizes

The triglyceride fatty acid components from the heart lipid of Puntius sarana of different sizes have been characterized by thin-layer and gas liquid chromatography. Csub(10) to Csub(24) acids including both odd-numbered and branched chain acids were detected. The major constituents were ante-iso Csub(10), Csub(10), Csub(12:2), Csub(14), Csub(16), Csub(16:1),Csub(17), Csub(18) , Csub(18:1), Csub(18:2), Csub(18:3) and Csub(20:4) while twenty other acids were detected in lower proportion. The composition of these acids and their variation with size of fish have been investigated and discussed

A survey of the treatment and management of patients with severe chronic spontaneous urticaria.

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is characterized by the recurrent appearance of weals, angio‐oedema or both, occurring at least twice weekly for longer than 6 weeks.1 It is often managed with antihistamines, but occasionally requires other systemic agents in recalcitrant cases. A cross‐sectional survey was conducted by means of an internet‐based survey tool (Typeform; https://www.typeform.com). Participating consultants with a specialist interest in urticaria were identified through the specialist registers of the British Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI), the Improving Quality in Allergy Services (IQAS) Group and the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD), and invited to take part. The survey content was based on current CSU treatment guidelines from EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF/WAO1 and the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI).2 The EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF/WAO guidelines are a joint initiative of the Dermatology Section of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA2LEN) (a European Union‐funded network of excellence), the European Dermatology Forum (EDF), and the World Allergy Organization (WAO). To standardize responses, all participants were presented with a case of recalcitrant CSU (failed on maximum dose of nonsedating antihistamines and montelukast), requiring alternative systemic treatment. Questions covered usage of systemic treatments, routine disease severity assessments, adherence to treatment guidelines and perceived barriers to prescribing. Responses (Table 1) were received from 19 UK consultants (26 surveys sent; completion rate 73%), 15 of whom had > 10 years’ experience in the treatment of CSU. The majority were allergy (58%) and dermatology consultants (37%). Of the 19 consultants, 56% provide a dedicated urticaria service, 37% treat both adult and paediatric patients, and the majority (79%) use systemic medications other than antihistamines and montelukast. Omalizumab and ciclosporin were the most commonly used first‐line agents (47% and 27% respectively) (Fig. 1). The majority (84%) of consultants use validated measures to assess disease severity, including the weekly Urticaria Activity Score (UAS‐7, 63%), the Physician Global Assessment (63%), the Patient Global Assessment (44%) and the Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQI) (38%). Guidelines are used by 89% to direct their management of CSU, with 50% using the EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF/WAO guideline,1 compared with 31% primarily using the BSACI guideline.2 The main perceived barriers to prescribing systemic medications were potential adverse effects (AEs) (32% strongly agreed), potential long‐term toxicity (26% strongly agreed), cost of treatment (42% strongly agreed), and views expressed by the patient and their family (37% agreed)

INDONESIAN STUDENT PERSPECTIVES ON A HUMANITY-BASED NATIONALISM

Do the Indonesian students revive the radical movements or do they have their own way in grasping nationalism in a globalized-world-perspective? How do they identify themselves as nation and how far they understand themselves the meaning of national solidarity? How effective their understanding on solidarity in the process of nation building? The aim of this study was to portray the perspectives of the Indonesian higher education students on nationalism. This study applied qualitative approach, by implementing series of Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and key informant interview (KII). Forty students of three private universities located in three provinces in Indonesia participated in six series of FGDs and three political figures play role as resource persons in the KIIs. The results of the study revealed that the students had three models of nationalism, that are, nationalism under the spirit of anticolonialism, nationalism under the national interests, and nationalism under the humanity perspectives

Formulation and evaluation of controlled release ethylcellulose and polyethylene glycol microspheres containing metoprolol tartrate.

Metoprolol tartrate is rapidly absorbed from both gastric and intestinal regions, after oral administration. To retard the release rate of the metoprolol tartrate, microspheres were prepared with varying concentrations of a mixture containing ethylcellulose and polyethylene glycol-6000. The prepared microspheres were evaluated for various physicochemical characteristics and in vitro drug release. The percent yield of microspheres was in the range of 75.2-87.3%. The particle size of microspheres was found to be in the range of 73.2-85.5 μm. Fourier transform-infrared spectral analysis and differential scanning calorimetry concluded the absence of any interaction between the drug and the carriers. The release time profile of metoprolol tartrate from microspheres in 0.1 N hydrochloric acid solution was to the extent of 33.4-60.2%. The complete release of metoprolol tartrate occurred from MPT-3 and MPT-4 in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.4) within 8 and 7 h, respectively, whereas the incomplete release (72.3%) occurred from MPT-1. Nearly, the complete release (98.5%) of metoprolol occurred from MPT-2 in 10 h. Formulation MPT-2 would be a preferred formulation. The release of metoprolol involves diffusion rate limited (R2 = 0.9865) as a mechanism from drug release. The prepared microspheres of metoprolol tartrate eliminate the need for multiple dosing and provide patient compliance

Taste acceptance in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus)

Six squirrel monkeys were presented with solutions representing the four primary tastes. The solutions included various concentrations of glucose or sodium saccharine (sweet), sodium chloride (salty), citric acid (sour), and quinine sulfate or sucrose octaacetate (bitter). A 24 hr two-bottle choice technique was employed. Amount of food, water, and solution consumed every 24 hr was recorded. The results showed that the maximum intake for glucose solution was with the 5.0% concentration, although maximum caloric intake was with the 1.25% concentration where there was a potentiation of food intake. Water was preferred over sodium saccharine at three of the four concentrations which were tested, and water was preferred over or equally to the concentrations of sodium chloride and citric acid that were used. However, quinine sulfate and sucrose octaacetate were preferred over or equally to water at most of the concentrations which were tested

Formulation and solid state characterization of carboxylic acid-based co-crystals of tinidazole: An approach to enhance solubility.

BACKGROUND: Tinidazole (TNZ) is an anti-parasite drug used in the treatment of a variety of amebic and parasitic infections. It has low solubility in aqueous media and is categorized under Class II of the Biopharmaceutical Classification System. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this research was to study the potential for enhancing the solubility of TNZ using carboxylic acid co-crystals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The solubility of TNZ was determined individually using 6 carboxylic acids for forming co-crystals at a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio. Three carboxylic acids - namely tartaric acid (TA), oxalic acid (OA) and glutaric acid (GA) - resulted in the formation of co-crystals with enhanced solubility. An equilibrium solubility study of TNZ co-crystals at 1:1.5 and 1:2 stoichiometric ratios was also carried out. The co-crystals which developed were evaluated using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to study the drug-co-crystal former interactions. RESULTS: The solubility of TNZ in distilled water was found to be 0.014 mg/mL. The highest enhancement ratio was obtained with TNZ and TA at a ratio of 1:1. Differential scanning calorimetry thermograms suggested that the drug and carboxylic acids had undergone interactions such as hydrogen bonding. The XRD and DSC results confirmed the formation of co-crystals. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the results of enhanced solubility of TNZ using co-crystals is a clear indication of the potential for co-crystals to be used in the future for other poorly water-soluble drugs, considering that co-crystals are a safe and cost-effective approach

Renal tumor leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome – A rare occurrence

Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) generally develops in the setting of sepsis, aspiration, shock or some other identifiable cause. Pulmonary involvement with neoplastic disease is an unusual but recognized cause of ARDS and has been rarely reported. Here we report a case of ARDS due to renal tumor most probably renal cell carcinoma (RCC).KEY WORDS: ARDS; Renal tumor; Adult respiratory distress syndrom

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry for identification of bacteria isolated from pharmaceutical clean rooms

© 2018 The Author(s). Introduction: During the manufacturing of sterile drugs, it is of the utmost importance to meet the minimum requirements for asepsis recommended by the legislations on good manufacturing practices-based efficient environmental monitoring. Aims and methods: The availability of relatively simple to use matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectromtomy (MALDI-TOF MS) devices in the last years has changed the laboratory workflows for the microbial identification, mainly in the clinical area. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the suitability of the MALDI-TOF MS technique for the identification of bacteria isolated from the environment of clean rooms used in some stages of the production of a viral vaccine. Eighteen known bacterial species commonly isolated from clean rooms studied were identified by MALDI-TOF technique and by a biochemical technique (BBL Crystal® System). Results: Performance of MALDI-TOF MS was better than biochemical technique for correct species identifications (88.89% and 38.89%, respectively) and produced less unreliable identification (5.55% and 22.22%). Conclusion: MALDI-TOF MS can be implemented for routine identification of bacteria in a pharmaceutical quality control laboratory, but as a database-dependent system, maybe some isolated not identified by this technique must be additionally studied and, if appropriate, added to an in-house database