Alleviation of neuropathic pain by trazodone in rats

Neuropathic pain is generally characterised by an abnormal sensation (dysesthesia), an increased response to painful stimuli (hyperalgesia), and pain in response to a stimulus that does not normally provoke pain (allodynia). The present study was designed to investigate the effect of trazodone (5mg/kg and 10mg/kg) on peripheral neuropathic pain induced by partial sciatic nerve ligation in rats. Mechanical hyperalgesia, cold allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia were assessed by performing the pinprick, acetone, and hot plate tests, respectively. Biochemically, lipid peroxidation level and total calcium levels were measured. However, trazodone administration (5 and 10 mg/ kg i.p.) for 21days significantly diminished partial sciatic nerve ligation-induced neuropathic pain along with areduction in oxidative stress and calcium levels. The results of the present study suggest that trazodone is effective in attenuating partial sciatic nerve ligation-inducedpainful neuropathic states, which may be attributed to decreased oxidative stress and calcium levels

Every Elementary Graph is Chromatic Choosable

Elementary graphs are graphs whose edges can be colored using two colors in such a way that the edges in any induced $P_3$ get distinct colors. They constitute a subclass of the class of claw-free perfect graphs. In this paper, we show that for any elementary graph, its list chromatic number and chromatic number are equal

Flipping pharmacoepidemiology classes in a Saudi Doctor of Pharmacy program

Purpose: To examine student perceptions towards the flipped classroom approach and its impact on their learning and their course evaluation  when compared to the traditional classroom method.Methods: Five classes of the pharmacoepidemiology course were delivered using the flipped classroom approach. Student perception towards the flipped teaching method was measured using a satisfaction survey. Measuring the impact of the flipped classroom on student learning and the  student course evaluation was achieved by comparing the midterm grades and the results of the standard endof- course evaluations with the previous semester's cohort.Results: Students’ perceptions of the flipped classroom were mostly favourable. The course and its various components were viewed more favourably in the second semester than in the first semester. Statistically significant improvements were observed in the perception of the topics covered in the course (p = 0.045), fairness of the grade assessment (p = 0.004), and perception of course feedback (p = 0.021). No statistical  difference was noted between the midterm examination scores of the first semester cohort (24.53 ± 3.80) and the second semester cohort (25.15 ± 3.00); [t (22.54) = 0.53, p =0.3].Conclusion: This study demonstrates that using the flipped classroom approach for teaching pharmacoepidemiology can improve student satisfaction, as well as maintain their academic performance. Keywords: Flipped classroom, Pharmacy education, Blended learnin

Molecular modeling of 3,4-pyridinedicarbonitrile dye sensitizer for solar cells using quantum chemical calculations

AbstractThe geometries, electronic structures, polarizabilities, and hyperpolarizabilities of organic dye sensitizer 3,4-pyridinedicarbonitrile was studied based on Hartree–Fock (HF) and density functional theory (DFT) using the hybrid functional B3LYP. Ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectrum was investigated by time dependent DFT (TD-DFT). Features of the electronic absorption spectrum in the visible and near-UV regions were assigned based on TD-DFT calculations. The absorption bands are assigned to π→π∗ transitions. Calculated results suggest that the three lowest energy excited states are due to photoinduced electron transfer processes. The interfacial electron transfer between semiconductor TiO2 electrode and 3,4-pyridinedicarbonitrile is due to electron injection process from excited dye to the semiconductor’s conduction band. The role of cyanine in 3,4-pyridinedicarbonitrile in geometries, electronic structures, and spectral properties were analyzed

Geometrical, electronic structure, nonlinear optical and spectroscopic investigations of 4-(phenylthio)phthalonitrile dye sensitizer for solar cells using quantum chemical calculations

The geometries, electronic structures, polarizabilities, and hyperpolarizabilities of organic dye sensitizer 4-(phenylthio)phthalonitrile were studied based on Density Functional Theory (DFT) using the hybrid functional B3LYP. Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectrum was investigated by using a hybrid method which combines CIS-DFT (B3LYP). The absorption bands are assigned to n→π* transitions. The results were showed 4-(phenylthio) phthalonitrile used in Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC) give a good conversion efficiency

Anti-nociceptive effect of gabapentin in mouse models of acute and chronic pain

Purpose: To investigate the anti-nociceptive effect of gabapentin in acute and chronic pain models. Methods: Four mouse models of pain were used in this study. These comprised thermal tests (hot plate and tail immersion tests), and chemical tests (formalin and acetic acid-induced writhing tests). A total of seventy-two (72) albino mice weighing 25 - 40 g (mean weight = 32.5 ± 5.1 g) were used. In each test, the mice were randomly assigned to three sets of 6 mice each: control group, celecoxib group and drug treatment group. Each test was performed at intervals of 30, 60 and 90 min. Results: During the acute phase, there was no significant decrease in foot raising (FR) or licking and biting (L & B) episodes among the groups (p > 0.05). However, these episodes were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in the second delayed phase, in the celecoxib and drug-treated groups, when compared with normal control group. Gabapentin significantly (p < 0.05) decreased pain response throughout the course of the thermal tests. The number of writhes within 30 min were significantly reduced in celecoxib and gabapentin-treated animals, compared with negative control group (p < 0.05). Gabapentin produced approximately 60 % protection of writhing, similar to that produced by celecoxib, the standard non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used (61 %). Conclusion: The results demonstrate that the gabapentin is effective against chronic inflammatory pain in mice and therefore can be potentially developed as an effective anti-inflammatory agent for humans

Mitigation of quorum sensing mediated virulence factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: the role of Meldrum’s acid activated furan

The rapid emergence of drug resistant pathogens is a major threat which has warranted the development of alternative strategies to combat infectious diseases. In this work, we have tested the anti-virulent activity of Meldrum’s acid activated furan (MAF) and 1,3-dimethyl barbituric acid activated furan (BAF) against Chromobacterium violaceum and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It was found that MAF significantly reduced the violacein production and biofilm formation of C. violaceum at sub-inhibitory concentrations. The quorum sensing (QS) regulated virulence factors of P. aeruginosa including biofilm formation, motility, pigment production, and elastase activity were also found to be reduced considerably at sub-inhibitory concentrations of MAF. Additionally, MAF downregulated the expression of genes in the QS circuitry of P. aeruginosa, demonstrating the potential of MAF in lowering the pathogenicity of P. aeruginosa. In silico studies demonstrated the potential of MAF to compete with the signaling molecules of C. violaceum and P. aeruginosa for the QS receptor interaction. In vivo studies using Caenorhabditis elegans demonstrated the anti-pathogenicity of MAF by enhancing the survival of P. aeruginosa-infected C. elegans. These results suggest that activated furan compounds could be potential inhibitors of QS-mediated virulence factors in C. violaceum and P. aeruginosa, encouraging their use in combating multidrug-resistant pathogens

Late recurrence of malignant melanoma presenting with hemoptysis

After a disease-free period of 10 years, a surgically treated case of cutaneous malignant melanoma is usually not followed up further and there is a tendency to assume that the disease is cured. Late recurrence (after 10 years) of cutaneous malignant melanoma, though infrequent, has been documented well in Western countries. In our country, the malignant melanoma is still considered uncommon and there is no data regarding its late recurrence. We report a case of pulmonary malignant melanoma as a late metastatic manifestation of primary plantar malignant melanoma in a 61-year-old man who presented with hemoptysis; metastatic malignant melanoma of the lung occurred 12 years after resection of primary malignant melanoma of sole of the right foot

Fibrous Pseudotumour of the Testis

Fibrous pseudotumour of the testis is a rare benign lesion involving the paratesticular region. It usually presents in nodular form and may cause diagnostic dilemma resulting in unnecessary sacrifice of the testes. We report a rare case of diffuse fibrous pseudotumour which had to be treated by orchiectomy. [J Interdiscipl Histopathol 2013; 1(4.000): 227-229