CONTRIBUTION OF VANGASENA IN THE FIELD OF PANCHAKARMA

There are many references for Panchakarma in Brihat trayi and many Yogas for Shodhana therapy. Vangasena samhita is unique which covers all the subjects of Astangas with some specific Panchakarma procedures which are unique one. It contains many points explained in Brihat trayi along with some special things like Yogas, Matras.Yogas- mentioned some new Yogas for Shodhana (Aushadhi Kalpana)Matra -mentioned specific dosage of Snehapana and Dravya matra for Shodana based on Agni and Kostha.Speciality-some special Basti’s like Kshara basti and Vaitarana basti explained under the Amavata context which is most effective one.Highlights-For the first time mentioned Vardhamana matra of Snehapana with dosage and Vardhamana matra of Matra basti with dosage and duration.Many such unique concepts explained by Vangasena under Panchakarma. Most of the Yogas and procedure are not being in present day to day practice hence for the reason here an attempt made to highlight the important Yogas and concepts of Panchakarka explained by Vangasena and make implementation of concepts in practice for the maximum efficacy and beneficial

ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROSCOPY AND ITS PHARMACEUTICAL APPLICATIONS- A BRIEF REVIEW

 Rapid and easy analytical methods are needed due to increasing number of multicomponent formulations, biotherapeutic products and samples of complex matrix in que. Number of Ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometric methods used for these purpose. Different types of UV spectrometric methods developed on the basis of principle of additivity, absorbance difference, processing absorption spectra. The aim of this review is to present information on simultaneous equation method, difference spectrophotometry, derivative spectrophotometry, absorbance ratio spectra, derivative ratio spectra, successive ratio - derivative spectra, Q-absorbance ratio method, absorptivity factor method, dual wavelength method, absorption factor method, multivariate chemometric methods, and isosbestic point method. A brief summary on theories, mathematical background and some applications of these methods are presented here

POLYMER GRAFTING AND APPLICATIONS IN PHARMACEUTICAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS - A BRIEF REVIEW

  Selection of proper polymer system is a critical step involved in the formulation of dosage form. Type of polymer/s incorporated in pharmaceutical formulation majorly decides the stability of formulation and drug itself, mechanism, and rate of drug release. Pharmaceutical and biological therapeutics are suffered from disadvantages such as short half-lives, poor bioavailability, and physical and chemical instability. Delivery of drugs to target site at a specific concentration for a specific time can be successfully achieved by the use of suitable polymer/s. Thus, it is not necessary that available polymer till the date should have all ideal properties with respect to above. This makes a demand of tailored polymers with desired features and introduces concept of grafting for making new polymers to be used in dosage forms. Grafting can be achieved by various techniques described herein and can be analyzed by various modern analytical techniques including infrared, NMR, X-ray diffractometer, and differential scanning calorimeter. These grafted polymers offer many applications in terms of site drug/biological carrying capacity, tailored physicochemical properties based dosage form modifications and with desired features, and also to deliver therapeutics at specific sites. Considering these advantages, a number of applications of grafted polymers developed and many patents were filed in this area till the date. This review highlights the basic concept of grafting and its various techniques and their significant pharmaceutical applications

Handwritten Script Recognition using DCT, Gabor Filter and Wavelet Features at Line Level

In a country like India where more number of scripts are in use, automatic identification of printed and handwritten script facilitates many important applications including sorting of document images and searching online archives of document images. In this paper, a multiple feature based approach is presented to identify the script type of the collection of handwritten documents. Eight popular Indian scripts are considered here. Features are extracted using Gabor filters, Discrete Cosine Transform, and Wavelets of Daubechies family. Experiments are performed to test the recognition accuracy of the proposed system at line level for bilingual scripts and later extended to trilingual scripts. We have obtained 100% recognition accuracy for bi-scripts at line level. The classification is done using k-nearest neighbour classifier

Research Notes : Pakistan : Variability for some quantitative traits in soybean

Abstract: Studies on variability in soybean were taken up to work out the magnitude of genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance among 36 varieties of soybean. Considerable genetic variability was observed for pods per plant, plant height, and grain yield per plant. High heritability and genetic advance were recorded for number of pods per plant and branches per plant. Thus, yield could be considerably improved through intensive selection pressure based on number of pods per plant and branches per plant

Research Notes : Pakistan : Path-coefficient analysis of developmental and yield components in soybean

Abstract: Interrelationships among different characters were determined by simple correlations and path-coefficient analysis using 36 diverse and elite cultivars representing different geographical origin. The results revealed a highly significant positive association of the branches per plant and pods per plant with grain yield. The pods per plant also showed a high direct influence on grain yield. Thus, from this investigation, it is suggested that pods per plant and number of branches per plant are the primary yield components that should be given due emphasis in selecting high yielding genotypes in soybean

Is Parkinson's disease a vesicular dopamine storage disorder?: Evidence from a study in isolated synaptic vesicles of human and nonhuman primate striatum

The cause of degeneration of nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) neurons in idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD) is still unknown. Intraneuronally, DA is largely confined to synaptic vesicles where it is protected from metabolic breakdown. In the cytoplasm, however, free DA can give rise to formation of cytotoxic free radicals. Normally, the concentration of cytoplasmic DA is kept at a minimum by continuous pumping activity of the vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT)2. Defects in handling of cytosolic DA by VMAT2 increase levels of DA-generated oxy radicals ultimately resulting in degeneration of DAergic neurons. Here, we isolated for the first time, DA storage vesicles from the striatum of six autopsied brains of PD patients and four controls and measured several indices of vesicular DA storage mechanisms. We found that (1) vesicular uptake of DA and binding of the VMAT2-selective label [ 3H]dihydrotetrabenazine were profoundly reduced in PD by 87–90% and 71– 80%, respectively; (2) after correcting for DA nerve terminal loss, DA uptake per VMAT2 transport site was significantly reduced in PD caudate and putamen by 53 and 55%, respectively; (3) the VMAT2 transport defect appeared specific for PD as it was not present in Macaca fascicularis (7 MPTP and 8 controls) with similar degree of MPTP-induced nigrostriatal neurodegeneration; and (4) DA efflux studies and measurements of acidification in the vesicular preparations suggest that the DA storage impairment was localized at the VMAT2 protein itself. We propose that this VMAT2 defect may be an early abnormality promoting mechanisms leading to nigrostriatal DA neuron death in P

Benign cystic peritoneal mesothelioma

A well-defined but rare entity of Benign Cystic Peritoneal Mesothelioma (BCPM) is reported. The aetiology of this neoplasm remains obscure. The presenting features make a precise preoperative diagnosis difficult but information provided by computed tomography and cytology may help. A firm diagnosis can only come from an electronic microscopy or immunohistological examination of the tumour. Diagnostic accuracy and diligent follow up are essential because, although the tumour is considered benign, it does tend towards local recurrence