Interferon Therapy for Hypertrophic Scars and Keloids

Interferons (IFNs) belong to the family of cytokines are widely used to treat keloids owing to their ability to increase collagenase activity thereby reducing the production of collagen and other extracellular matrix (ECM). Intralesional injection of IFN-α – 2b increases the collagenase level by inhibiting the secretion of metalloproteinases, an inhibitor of collagenase. Moreover, the anti-fibrotic activity of IFNs, interfere with fibroblast mediated collagen synthesis. On the other hand, combinatorial therapy has been preferred recently along with IFN due to its side effects observed in various clinical trials conducted only with IFN. Triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) and CO2 lasers along with IFNs are found to be the potential therapy for the treatment of scars and keloids. In this chapter, IFN mediated therapy for the treatment of scars and keloids, its benefits and limitations and the advantages of combinatorial therapy with the appropriate literature support are discussed

Development and characterization of gelatin-based herbal hydrogels for managing infected wounds

59-69The present study is aimed at evaluating the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of aqueous extracts of the plants Moringa olifera (drumstick tree or murungai), Sesbania grandiflora (vegetable hummingbird or agati), Basella alba (malabar spinach or pasalai), and then developing herbal hydrogel with gelatin to improve its pharmacological properties and to use it as a primary dressing for managing infected wounds. The aqueous extracts of murungai, agati, pasalai and the herbal hydrogels has been tested in vitro against wound infecting microrganisms by well-diffusion method and micro-dilution method. Both plant extracts and herbal hydrogel are found to inhibit the growth of Gram positive, Gram negative and polymicrobial cultures. According to EN13726, all the three herbal hydrogels manage the simulated exudates effectively. Hence, the hydrogels developed in the present study could be used to manage infection and also moderately exudating wounds

Development and characterization of gelatin-based herbal hydrogels for managing infected wounds

The present study is aimed at evaluating the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of aqueous extracts of the plants Moringa olifera (drumstick tree or murungai), Sesbania grandiflora (vegetable hummingbird or agati), Basella alba (malabar spinach or pasalai), and then developing herbal hydrogel with gelatin to improve its pharmacological properties and to use it as a primary dressing for managing infected wounds. The aqueous extracts of murungai, agati, pasalai and the herbal hydrogels has been tested in vitro against wound infecting microrganisms by well-diffusion method and micro-dilution method. Both plant extracts and herbal hydrogel are found to inhibit the growth of Gram positive, Gram negative and polymicrobial cultures. According to EN13726, all the three herbal hydrogels manage the simulated exudates effectively. Hence, the hydrogels developed in the present study could be used to manage infection and also moderately exudating wounds

Development and characterization of triclosan coated heat and moisture exchange filter for ventilation therapy

An indigenous heat and moisture exchange filter has been developed using an open cell reticulated hygroscopic impregnated polyurethane foam and polypropylene nonwoven to maintain heat and moisture exchange and bacterial filtration efficiency respectively. Also, the spun bond polypropylene nonwoven is treated with an optimized concentration of biocide (triclosan-5gpl) mainly on the 1st contact layer of ventilator gas using padding mangle in 2 dips/2 nips method for better antibacterial efficiency. Three different polypropylene made nonwoven materials [spunbond (SB), meltblown (MB) and needle-punched (NP)] are stacked in different layer arrangement and evaluated for their efficiency in filtering bacteria. The five- layered composite filter (SB-MB-NP-MB-SB biocide treated) with double layers of meltblown and spunbond treated with biocide, in addition to the needle-punched middle layer, shows a bacterial filtration of 99.9% along with excellent antimicrobial properties and acceptable pressure drop. The developed biocide-coated multilayer composite filter provides comfortable and ideal humidification to the users besides delivering excellent antimicrobial activity. This developed filter will be an alternative to existing commercial filters, without any compromise, and having all the inherent properties

Development and characterization of triclosan coated heat and moisture exchange filter for ventilation therapy

87-95An indigenous heat and moisture exchange filter has been developed using an open cell reticulated hygroscopic impregnated polyurethane foam and polypropylene nonwoven to maintain heat and moisture exchange and bacterial filtration efficiency respectively. Also, the spun bond polypropylene nonwoven is treated with an optimized concentration of biocide (triclosan-5gpl) mainly on the 1st contact layer of ventilator gas using padding mangle in 2 dips/2 nips method for better antibacterial efficiency. Three different polypropylene made nonwoven materials [spunbond (SB), meltblown (MB) and needle-punched (NP)] are stacked in different layer arrangement and evaluated for their efficiency in filtering bacteria. The five- layered composite filter (SB-MB-NP-MB-SB biocide treated) with double layers of meltblown and spunbond treated with biocide, in addition to the needle-punched middle layer, shows a bacterial filtration of 99.9% along with excellent antimicrobial properties and acceptable pressure drop. The developed biocide-coated multilayer composite filter provides comfortable and ideal humidification to the users besides delivering excellent antimicrobial activity. This developed filter will be an alternative to existing commercial filters, without any compromise, and having all the inherent properties

Novel mutations in ATPase 8, ND1 and ND5 genes associated with peripheral neuropathy of diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), being a complex, multi factorial metabolic disorder, its chronic complications development remains puzzled. In this case report, we describe four novel mutations in Cyt b, ATPase 8, ND1 and ND5 genes’ synergistic activity as plausible factors for the secondary complications of a patient with chronic T2D

IN-VITRO CYTOTOXICITY AND CELL CYCLE ANALYSIS OF TWO NOVEL BIS-1, 2, 4-TRIAZOLE DERIVATIVES: 1,4-BIS[5-(5-MERCAPTO-1,3,4-OXADIAZOL-2-yl-METHYL)-THIO-4-(p-TOLYL)-1, 2,4-TRIAZOL-3-yl]-BUTANE (MNP-14) AND 1,4-BIS[5-(CARBETHOXY-METHYL)-THIO-4-(p-ETHOXY PHENYL)-1,2,4-TRIAZOL-3-yl]-BUTANE (MNP-16)

In the present study, we have tested the cytotoxic and DNA damage activity of two novel bis-1,2,4 triazole derivatives, namely 1,4-bis[5-(5-mercapto-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl-methyl)-thio4-(p-tolyl)-1,2 ,4-triazol-3-yl]-butane (MNP-14) and 1,4-bis[5-(carbethoxy-methyl)-thio-4-(p-ethoxy phenyl) -1,2,4-triazol-3-yl]-butane (MNP-16). The effect of these molecules on cellular apoptosis was also determined. The in-vitro cytotoxicity was evaluated by a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay as well as Trypan blue dye exclusion methods against human acute lymphoblastic leukemia (MOLT4) and lung cancer cells (A549). Our results showed that MNP-16 induced significant cytotoxicity (IC50 of 3-5 mu M) compared with MNP-14. The cytotoxicity induced by MNP-16 was time and concentration dependent. The cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry (fluorescence-activated cell sorting [FACS]) revealed that though there was a significant increase in the apoptotic population (sub-G1 phase) with an increased concentration of MNP-14 and 16, there was no cell cycle arrest. Further, the comet assay results indicated considerable DN

Parameter Estimation and Waveform Fitting for Narrowband Signals

Frequency estimation has been studied for a large number of years. One reason for this is that the problem is easy to understand, but difficult to solve. Another reason, for sure, is the large number of applications that involve frequency estimation, e.g radar using frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) techniques where the distance to the target is embedded in the frequency, resonance sensor systems where the output signal is given as the frequency displacement from a nominal frequency, radio frequency identification systems (RFID) where frequency modulation is used in the communication link, etc. The requirement on the frequency estimator varies with the application and typical issues include: accuracy, precision or (bias) processing speed or complexity, and ability to handle multiple signals. A lot of solutions to different problems in this area has been proposed, but still several open questions remain. The first part of this thesis addresses the problem of frequency estimation using low complexity algorithms. One way of achieving such an algorithm is to employ a coarse quantization on the input signal. In this thesis, a 1-bit quantizer is considered which enables the use of low complexity algorithms. Frequency estimation using look-up tables is studied and the properties of such an estimator are presented. By analyzing the look-up tables using the Hadamard transform a novel type of lowcomplexity frequency estimators is proposed. They use operations such as binary multiplication and addition of precalculated constants. This fact makes them suitable in applications where low complexity and high speed are major issues. A hardware demonstrator using the table look-up technique is designed and a prototype is analysed by real measurements. Today, the interest of using digital signal processing instead of analog processing is almost absolute. For example, in testing analog-to-digital converters an important part is to fit a sinewave to the recorded data, as well as to calculate the parameters that in least-squares sense result in the best fit. In this thesis, the sinewave fitting method included in the IEEE Standard 1057 is studied in some detail. Asymptotic Cramér-Rao bounds for three- and four model parameters are derived under the Gaussian assumption. Further, the sinewave fitting properties of the algorithm are analyzed by the parsimony principle. A novel model order selection criterion is proposed for waveform fitting methods in the case of a linear signal model. A generalization of this criterion is made to include the non-linear sinewave fitting application. For multiple sinewave fitting applications two iterative algorithms are proposed. The first method is a combination of the standardized sinewave fit algorithm and the expectation maximization algorithm. The second algorithm is an extension of a single sinewave model to a multiple sinewave model employing the standardized sinewave fitting algorithm. Both algorithms are analysed by numerical means and are shown to accurately resolve multiple sinewaves and produce efficient estimates. Initialization issues of such algorithms are included to some extent.QC 2010083

Analysis of mitochondrial genome revealed a rare 50bp deletion and substitutions in a family with hypertension

We have sequenced the complete mtDNA of a family with Hypertension (HT), Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). Our analysis revealed two novel mutations (C3519T, G13204A); of which G13204A replaces valine to isoleucine. In silico analysis of a rare missense mutation (T8597C) showed a deleterious effect. We also observed a 50 bp deletion (m.298_347del50) in the hypervariable region II (HVSII) of all the individuals, who had a common maternal lineage. This (50 bp) deletion was not found in 17,785 individuals from different ethnic populations of India or in a variety of different disease phenotypes. We predict that the mtDNA mutations might be responsible for the HT. Analysis of POLG (polymerase gamma) gene revealed 14 variants which might be responsible for some of the mtDNA mutations seen in this family