Preparation, Characterization and Applications of Nanoemulsions: An Insight

Nanoemulsions are defined as isotropic, thermodynamically stable, transparent or translucent; dispersions of oil and water stabilized by surfactant molecules (forms an interfacial film) having the droplet size of 20-500nm. Ease of preparation and scale-up, stability and increased bioavailability are features of these formulations which have attracted the attention of researchers. Its basic principle lies in its ability to spontaneously generate fine o/w microemulsion under mild agitation following dilution with aqueous phases. These conditions mimic the digestive motility in the GIT necessary to provide the agitation required for In vivo self emulsification. Unlike emulsions, self-nanoemulsified drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) generates microemulsion with a narrow droplet size distribution of less than 50 nm due to which these systems have also been addressed as nanoemulsions. Nanoemulsions (NE) are lipidic nanoformulations with droplet diameter in nanometer range have established tremendous attention as drug delivery formulations for lipophilic drugs due to their capability to increase solubility, permeation across biological membranes as well as their therapeutic efficiency of lipid soluble drugs due to predictable size-distribution, high drug loading and stability under biological environment. However there is still relatively narrow insight regarding preparation, characterization and applications of nanoemulsions. This limitation unfolds the premise for current review article. In this review, we attempt to explore varying intricacies, methods of preparation, characteristics, and drug delivery applications of nanoemulsions to spike interest of those contemplating a foray in this field. Keywords: Nanoemulsions, Novel drug delivery system, increased bioavailability

Medical perspective of cupping therapy (Ḥijama): a review

Traditional and alternative medicine practitioners have used cupping therapy for centuries.Growing data suggests that it may help treat disorders that are associated to pain in recentyears. An overview of the use of cupping therapy is provided in this article. One of themost effective treatments for Ilaj bil Tadbeer is hijama. A vacuum is created to eitherrelease blood from beneath the skin's surface or merely suction the area without allowingany blood out in this unique therapeutic method, which involves positioning cup-shapedveins on the body's surface. However, the effects in certain clinical trials were really strong.It is suggested that medical professionals or researchers in order to ascertain the efficacyof hijama in the treatment of various illnesses

Floating Oral In-Situ Gel: A Review

The drugs having a narrow absorption window in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) when administered by oral route are often limited by poor bioavailability due to incomplete drug release and short residence time at the site of absorption. Novel drug delivery systems in the form of gastroretentive systems such as floating systems, mucoadhesive, high-density, expandable have been developed as they provide controlled delivery of drugs with prolonged gastric residence time. Liquid orals are more prone to low bioavailability because they are eliminated quickly from the stomach since they are subjected to faster transit from the stomach/ duodenum. The problems of immediate release and short gastrointestinal residence of liquids are eliminated by formulating as oral in situ gels as they provide the best means to overcome these problems The in situ gel dosage form is a liquid before administration and after it comes in contact with gastric contents due to one or more mechanisms gets converted to gel which floats on gastric contents. This achieves increased residence as well as sustained release. This approach is useful for systemic as well as local effect of drugs administered. This review gives a brief idea about floating oral in-situ gel formation and research done by various scientists on a number of drugs and polymers. Keywords: Floating drug delivery, gastric retention time, In-situ gel

Assessment of Available Manganese in Milk by Using fodders Grown in Long-Term Wastewater Irrigated Soil

Heavy metals are considered as most important contaminations due to industrialization of countries and an influence on its existence in soil, plant and milk. A study was carried out to check manganese content in soil, forage and milk at three sites of city Jhang, Punjab, Pakistan. All samples (milk, soil, water, fodder plants and ground water) were analyzed for manganese by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Different health indices were also studied to check Mn flow in food chain. Level of Mn in samples was found within acceptable limits. Manganese level was higher in soil samples collected from Site-III than other sites. Manganese showed higher value (2.595 to 10.402 mg/kg) in soil than other samples. Fodders were found to accumulate manganese from 0.008 to 0.022 mg/kg. Manganese concentration was found to be 0.1482 to 1.241 mg/L, 0.164 to 0.9708 mg/L in water and milk, respectively. BCF and PLI values for manganese were also found to be less than 1. Estimated daily intake (EDI) and THQ of manganese are found within permissible limits in milk of cows feeding on fodders irrigated with wastewater and ground water. So, use of wastewater for irrigation purpose should be properly checked due to possible toxic effects

Advances in Nematode Identification: A Journey from Fundamentals to Evolutionary Aspects

Nematodes are non-segmented roundworms evenly distributed with various habitats ranging to approximately every ecological extremity. These are the least studied organisms despite being the most diversified group. Nematodes are the most critical equilibrium-maintaining factors, having implications on the yield and health of plants as well as well-being of animals. However, taxonomic knowledge about nematodes is scarce. As a result of the lack of precise taxonomic features, nematode taxonomy remains uncertain. Morphology-based identification has proved inefficacious in identifying and exploring the diversity of nematodes, as there are insufficient morphological variations. Different molecular and new evolving methodologies have been employed to augment morphology-based approaches and bypass these difficulties with varying effectiveness. These identification techniques vary from molecular-based targeting DNA or protein-based targeting amino acid sequences to methods for image processing. High-throughput approaches such as next-generation sequencing have also been added to this league. These alternative approaches have helped to classify nematodes and enhanced the base for increased diversity and phylogeny of nematodes, thus helping to formulate increasingly more nematode bases for use as model organisms to study different hot topics about human well-being. Here, we discuss all the methods of nematode identification as an essential shift from classical morphometric studies to the most important modern-day and molecular approaches for their identification. Classification varies from DNA/protein-based methods to the use of new emerging methods. However, the priority of the method relies on the quality, quantity, and availability of nematode resources and down-streaming applications. This paper reviews all currently offered methods for the detection of nematodes and known/unknown and cryptic or sibling species, emphasizing modern-day methods and budding molecular techniques

Homozygous sequence variants in the WNT10B gene underlie split hand/foot malformation

Abstract Split-hand/split-foot malformation (SHFM), also known as ectrodactyly is a rare genetic disorder. It is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of limb malformations characterized by absence/hypoplasia and/or median cleft of hands and/or feet. To date, seven genes underlying SHFM have been identified. This study described four consanguineous families (A-D) segregating SHFM in an autosomal recessive manner. Linkage in the families was established to chromosome 12p11.1–q13.13 harboring WNT10B gene. Sequence analysis identified a novel homozygous nonsense variant (p.Gln154*) in exon 4 of the WNT10B gene in two families (A and B). In the other two families (C and D), a previously reported variant (c.300_306dupAGGGCGG; p.Leu103Argfs*53) was detected. This study further expands the spectrum of the sequence variants reported in the WNT10B gene, which result in the split hand/foot malformation

<em>Salmonella</em> Infection and Pathogenesis

Salmonella genus represents most common food borne pathogens isolated from food producing animals and is responsible for causing zoonotic infections in humans and other animal species, including birds. As a result, Salmonella diseases are among the most common problems for the humans, animals, and food industry around the world. Despite rising attention about other pathogens, Salmonella continues to be the most prominent cause of food borne disease worldwide. Salmonella can be transferred to humans at any point along the farm-to-fork chain, most commonly through infected animal-derived foods such as poultry and poultry related products (eggs), pork, fish, and so on. Some Salmonella serotypes have been confined to a single serovar and are known as “host-restricted” while the others have a wide host spectral range and are known as “host-adapted” serotypes. Globally Salmonella infection causes huge mortality and the infection plays a huge role in immune response by evolving multiple mechanism to subvert immunity to its own benefit. Numerous infectivity markers and determinants have indeed been reported to play essential role in Salmonella pathogenesis to colonize its host by invading and avoiding the host’s intestinal shielding system

Nutritional and bioactive characteristics of buckwheat, and its potential for developing gluten-free products: An updated overview

In the present era, food scientists are concerned about exploiting functional crops with nutraceutical properties. Buckwheat is one of the functional pseudocereals with nutraceutical components used in the treatment of health-related diseases, malnutrition, and celiac diseases. As a preferred diet as a gluten-free product for celiac diseases, buckwheat is a good source of nutrients, bioactive components, phytochemicals, and antioxidants. The general characteristics and better nutritional profile of buckwheat than other cereal family crops were highlighted by previous investigations. In buckwheats, bioactive components like peptides, flavonoids, phenolic acids, d-fagomine, fagopyritols, and fagopyrins are posing significant health benefits. This study highlights the current knowledge about buckwheat and its characteristics, nutritional constituents, bioactive components, and their potential for developing gluten-free products to target celiac people (1.4% of the world population) and other health-related diseases