Laparoscopy as a diagnostic tool in evaluation of female factors in infertility

Background: Infertility leads to considerable personal suffering and disruption of family life. According to United Nations "Reproductive health is a state of complete physical mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes". The objective of present study was to find out different causes of female infertility with diagnostic laparoscopy and their comparative frequency in primary and secondary infertility.Methods: It is a prospective study conducted on all infertile women and they underwent diagnostic laparoscopy for primary and secondary infertility during the study period. Couples who had not lived together for at least 12 months, and those with male factor infertility were excluded. Data were collected on a proforma, and analyzed on SPSS package for windows version 10. Frequencies were calculated for laparoscopic findings regarding primary and secondary infertility.Results: Fifty infertile women underwent laparoscopy during the study period, 35 (70%) had primary infertility while 15 (30%) secondary infertility. 10 (28.5%) patients with primary and 3 (20%) patients with secondary infertility had no visible abnormality. The common finding was tubal blockage in 10 (28.5%) and 5 (33.3%) cases of primary and secondary infertility respectively. 9 (25.7%) cases of primary infertility were detected as polycystic ovaries (PCO) and 2 (13.3%) in cases of secondary infertility. Endometriosis was found in 1 case with primary infertility and 2 (13.3%) cases with secondary infertility. Fibroid was found in 3 (8.57%) and 1 (6.6%) cases of primary and secondary infertility respectively.Conclusions: Most common causes responsible for infertility were tubal occlusion and polycystic ovary. Infertile couple should be thoroughly investigated. Laparoscopy in infertility can be used for a definitive diagnosis

Direct conversion of tosylhydrazones to tert-butyl ethers under Bamford-Stevens reaction conditions

A new method for the preparation of tert-butyl ethers is described starting from aryl aldehyde and ketone tosylhydrazones under Bamford-Stevens reaction conditions (t-BuOK/t-BuOH)

The co-encapsulated antioxidant nanoparticles of ellagic acid and coenzyme Q10 ameliorate hyperlipidemia in high fat diet fed rats

Obesity is the major cause of type 2 diabetes with hyperlipidemia as one of its complications and antioxidants were found to be beneficial in such disease conditions. The present investigation is geared towards reduction of the dose required/improve the bioavailability of the combination of antioxidants, ellagic acid and coenzyme Q10 by co-encapsulating them into nanoparticles and study the possible synergism in ameliorating hyperlipidemia in high fat diet fed rats. The co-encapsulated particles at 10% (w/w of polymer) loading of ellagic acid and coenzyme Q10 have particle size of 260 nm. Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats on feeding high fat diet for over 4 weeks developed hyperlipidemia. The hyperlipidemic rats on 2 weeks post treatment with antioxidant combination administered as oral suspension or nanoparticles found to ameliorate the hyperlipidemic conditions and nanoparticles were found to be equally/more effective at 3 times lower dose in sustaining cholesterol lowering effect for extended periods, lowering glucose and triglycerides and in improving endothelial functioning, indicating the ability of the nanoparticles in improving efficacy of the duo. The results promise the potential of nanoparticles in improving the efficacy of ellagic acid and coenzyme Q10 in treating high fat diet induced hyperlipidemia in rats

A potential therapeutic strategy for diabetes and its complications in the form of co-encapsulated antioxidant nanoparticles (NanoCAPs) of ellagic acid and coenzyme Q10: Preparation and evaluation in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder and is associated with serious complications caused by oxidative stress. The existing therapies only delay or reduce the severity of these complications but cannot completely prevent or reverse them. Antioxidant therapy is one promising alternative strategy to assuage these complications. However, the poor biopharmaceutical properties of many antioxidants limit their use as first line therapies. Here we propose a new therapeutic strategy to treat diabetes using biodegradable nano-co-encapsulated antioxidant particles (NanoCAPs) of ellagic acid (EA) and coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)). The combination of EA and CoQ(10) showed beneficial effects in ameliorating lipid peroxidation, dyslipidemia and in preventing organ damage in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Significantly lower dose of EA and CoQ(10) in NanoCAPs showed equal and sometimes more prominent results in comparison to simple suspension suggesting improved efficacy Additionally, a statistically significant increase was observed in plasma insulin levels with nanoparticulate formulation of EA and CoQ(10) combination in comparison to simple suspension of EA, CoQ(10) alone or in combination as well as CoQ(10) nanoparticles. Collectively, this data indicates the potential use of NanoCAPs of EA and CoQ(10) in diabetes and reducing the associated complications

Oral nanoparticulate atorvastatin calcium is more efficient and safe in comparison to Lipicure® in treating hyperlipidemia

Atorvastatin calcium (AC) is a second-generation 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitor approved for clinical use as a lipid lowering agent. AC, the world's best selling drug is associated with poor oral bioavailability and serious adverse effects like rhabdomyolysis on chronic administration. A biodegradable nanoparticulate approach was introduced here with a view to improving the efficacy and safety of AC. Poly lactide-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles containing atorvastatin calcium were prepared using two stabilizers i.e. didodecyl dimethyl ammonium bromide (DMAB) and Vitamin E tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (Vit E-TPGS) using a co-solvent approach by emulsion-diffusion-evaporation method. AC loaded PLGA nanoparticles prepared using DMAB and Vit E-TPGS were found to be 120.0 ± 4.2 nm and 140.0 ± 1.5 nm (z-average) in size respectively. In vitro release studies at pH 7.4 revealed a zero order release profile for nanoparticles. Efficacy and safety parameters of the prepared nanoparticles against marketed formulation were evaluated in high fat diet fed (hyperlipidemic) rats. It was found that atorvastatin calcium nanoparticles were equally effective in comparison to Lipicure®, at a 66%-reduced dose in treating the hyperlipidemia characterized by alterations in PTC, LDL-C, VLDL-C, HDL-C, PTG and PGL in the high fat diet fed rats. On the other hand, when evaluated for safety, nanoparticulate formulation showed no/negligible myotoxicity characterized by lower PC, BUN, CK, LDH and AST levels in comparison to the marketed formulation