Clonal Identification and Molecular Characterization of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Clones

Crocus sativus is a triploid sterile plant characterized by its long red stigmas, which produce and store significant quantities of carotenoid derivatives. Saffron is widely used mainly as herbal medicine or food coloring, and as a flavoring agent. It is cultivated only in few countries around the world. Saffron selections of Kashmir showed heterogeneity for stigma length which may be due to the genetic and environmental factors. Identification of high yielding selections using the existing gene pool of saffron shows promise and potential for improving the productivity of this crop. Thirty one morphologically distinct saffron selections/clones were characterized for identification of variation in stigma characteristics and apocarotenoid content. Molecular characterization was done through SSR, ISSR and RAPD markers and comparative gene expression between diverse selections was done through semi-quantitative and quantitative PCR analysis. In present study heterogeneity among 31 saffron selections was observed with respect to stigma length. Apocarotenoid content was estimated through soxhlet extraction and was correlated with stigma length of saffron selections. Significant variation in stigma length (2.86-4.84 cm) and non-heritable change in stigma number was observed across thirty one selected saffron clones. HPLC analysis also revealed significant variation in crocin (40-45mg/g), safranal (0.17-0.28 mg/g) and picrocrocin content (0.87-1.27 mg/gm) contents between the clones. Stigma size viz-a-viz quality evaluation confirmed that saffron of Kashmir is of intrinsically high quality with respect to colouring, aroma and taste. Variability in stigma characteristics observed in saffron selections under study can thus be utilized for saffron crop improvement

Diagnostic Relevance of Primary Investigations in Early Referral and Management of Colorectal Cancer Patients

Aim: Colorectal cancers are largely considered as curable yet the high mortality rates associated with it points out at deficiency in early management of the disease. The aim of this study was to analyze the diagnostic potential of routine primary investigations with an attempt to categorize symptoms for early referral of colorectal cancers patients.Methods: This study involved retrospective analysis of a cohort of 85 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer that underwent surgery in a period of one year. The patients were arranged into different age-groups to analyze the relative incidence and prognosis of the disease with respect to generalized symptoms and clinicopathological details. Multinomial Logistic Regression analysis was employed to predict the most effective set of parameter combinations for primary prognosis of the diseased state.Results: Abdominal pain, rectal bleeding and change in bowel habits were predominantly reported symptoms; however, these were imprecise with age, sex or stage of cancer. Interestingly, almost 85% of the patients were reported anemic, with a majority of them (41.7%) having Hb 10. Anaemic patients showed significantly higher frequency of symptoms viz. change in bowel habits (p 0.023), rectal bleeding (p 0.035) and/or abdominal pain (p 0.039) compared to non-anaemic ones. The co-occurrence of any two of the symptoms further increased the likelihood of the disease in anaemic patients.Conclusion: A substantial decrease in hemoglobin count with concomitant change in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, and/or abdominal pain could be considered as potential referral markers for early management of suspected colorectal cancers patients

Association between Diabetes Consequences and Quality of Life among Patients with Diabetes Mellitus in the Aseer Province of Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major health-care burden worldwide. AIM: The aim of the study was to explore how the quality of life (QoL) of DM patients could be affected in the Aseer Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). METHODS: A cross-sectional, multicenter study in DM patients of both sexes and all age groups in Aseer Province were done using a validated self-administered questionnaire. The study was conducted between April 1, 2018 and November 25, 2018. RESULTS: A total of 418 patients completed our questionnaire, of which 240 (58%) were male and 178 (42%) were female. Furthermore, 50.23% were married and 104 (24.16%) were illiterate. We found that 403 (96.42%) respondents had type-2 DM and 315 (75.35%) had a family history of DM. In addition, 132 (31.57%) respondents were on monotherapy whereas only 61 (14.59%) were using combination therapy. Hypertension was the most prevalent comorbidity (166, 39.71%) and peripheral neuropathy the most prevalent complication of DM (157, 37.56%). CONCLUSION: DM had a significant impact on QoL among patients from Aseer Province in KSA. Our study underscores the importance of generating data on QoL among DM patients

Connecting Pharmacists and Other Health Care Providers (HCPs) towards Drug Therapy Optimization: A Pharmaceutical Care Approach

Background. Pharmaceutical care services offered by pharmacists rationalize drug therapy, improve patient quality of life, and save patients’ lives. This study was designed to optimize patient drug therapy through pharmaceutical care services offered by a pharmacist in consultation with other health care providers (HCPs) at a tertiary care hospital. Methods. This descriptive study was conducted to assess the role and effectiveness of pharmacists in optimizing drug therapy outcomes. The study was carried out at an internal and pulmonary medicine unit of a tertiary care hospital in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India, with a total of 50 health care providers (HCPs) (24 doctors, 16 nurses, and 10 pharmacists). A total of 182 patients (males and females) of all age groups were recruited into the study over a period of nine months. Patient-specific pharmaceutical care plans initiated by the pharmacist based on drug therapy-related needs and problems were used to address and optimize drug therapy outcomes in consultation with other HCPs. Results. A total of 388 drug-related problems (DRPs) with an average of 2.29 DRPs per patient were identified, for which 258 pharmaceutical care plans as interventions were proposed, out of which 233 (90.31%) were accepted and implemented. Preassessment and postassessment by HCPs on services rendered by the pharmacist showed a positive change in attitude among HCPs with respect to their endorsement and acceptance of the pharmacist’s services in providing direct patient care. Conclusions. Pharmaceutical care services offered by pharmacists helped in optimizing drug therapy and patient care

DEVELOPMENT OF AN INDICATOR BASED TOOL FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF MEDICINES SELECTION PRACTICES IN VARIOUS PUBLIC SECTOR HOSPITALS

Objective: To develop and validate an indicator based assessment tool for carrying out an in-depth assessment of drug selection practices prevalent at various public health facilities.Methods: The study was designed across the different levels of healthcare settings. One super specialty children's tertiary care hospital (CH), one government medical college hospital (MCH), one district hospital (DH), one sub-district hospital (SDH) and one primary health center (PHC) was selected for the study. A set of 29 qualitative and 7 quantitative indicators was developed and validated to evaluate and assess drug selection practices in these public healthcare facilities.Results: All the surveyed healthcare facilities managed and stored essential medicines except solid oral dosage forms, contraceptives, antiretrovirals and anti-tubercular drugs. The selection process for medicines was not carried out at SDH and PHC level. National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), manufacturer's information, and expert faculty opinion were used as basic tools for carrying out a selection of drugs. None of the facilities were found to have Drugs and Therapeutics Committee (DTC) in place or its own Hospital Formulary (HF). Insufficient and irregular disbursement of funds was found to be the main constraint in selecting drugs for procurement. None of the facilities had any policy and procedural manual or standard operating procedures for governing their drug selection and quantification processes. Quantitative assessments showed that disbursement of the budget was fragmented. On the basis of NLEM children's hospital was found to have highest medicines percentage availability of eighty percent (80%) with the lowest at SDH and PHC of twenty percent each (20%). Facility wise percentage adherence to various indicators for policies and procedures was found to be 50% in MCH, CH, and DH respectively and 66.6% adherence for NLEM indicator was recorded in MCH, CH and DH respectively.Conclusion: Drug selection process for public health facilities is a highly technical and professional activity that can only be achieved efficiently by having a well-defined document containing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and comprehensive policy framework for drug selection, quantification, procurement, storage, distribution, and use besides having suitably qualified, adequately trained, sufficiently skilled manpower both at managerial and ground level

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Not AvailableSaffron is an important spice derived from the stigmas of Crocus sativus, a species belonging to the family Iridaceae. Due to its triploid nature it is sterile and is not able to set seeds, so it is propagated only by corms. The natural propagation rate of most geophytes including saffron is relatively low. Anin vitro multiplication technique like micropropagation has been used for the propagation of saffron. In the present study, various explants were cultured on different nutrient media supplemented with various concentrations of plant growth regulators to standardize the best media combination for obtaining optimum response with respect to corm production and development of Stigma Like Structures (SLS). Highest response (60%) was observed with half ovaries on G-5 media supplemented with 27μM NAA and 44.4μM BA followed by 55% on LS media with 27μM NAA and 44.4μM BA. Maximum size (1.3 g) of microcorms were obtained from apical buds on the LS media supplemented with 21.6μM NAA and 22.2μM. Stigma Like Structures were developed from half ovary explants both directly and indirectly. Maximum number (120 indirectly and 20 directly) and size (5.2 cm) of SLS were obtained in G-5 medium supplemented with 27μM NAA and 44.4μM BA followed by 100 indirectly and 20 directly and 4.5 cm long on LS medium supplemented with 27μM NAA and 44.4μM BA.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableTwo cherry root stocks mazzard (Prunus avium L.) and mahaleb (Prunus mahaleb) were used for in vitro multiplication studies. Different media combinations were treid to optimize the best combination fast and efficient proliferation and multiplications of root stocks. Meristem culture was done to produce virus free clonal root stocks. The best combination for meristem establishment and proliferation in culture was MS media with 1 mg/l Benzyl Adenine (BA) and for multiplication it was MS with 0.5 mg/l IBA plus 1 mg/l BA. The shoot elongation and multiplication was found better in mazzard rootstock than in mahaleb in all the treatments used. The rooting medium was half strength of Murashige and Skoog medium containing 2.0 mg/l Indole Butyric Acid (IBA). Rooted shoots showed very low survival rate.Not Availabl

4D Printing: The Dawn of “Smart” Drug Delivery Systems and Biomedical Applications

With the approval of first 3D printed drug “spritam” by USFDA, 3D printing is gaining acceptance in healthcare, engineering and other aspects of life. Taking 3D printing towards the next step gives birth to what is referred to as “4D printing”. The full credit behind the unveiling of 4D printing technology in front of the world goes to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), who revealed “time” in this technology as the fourth dimension.  4D printing is a renovation of 3D printing wherein special materials (referred to as smart materials) are incorporated which change their morphology post printing in response to a stimulus. Depending upon the applicability of this technology, there may be a variety of stimuli, most common among them being pH, water, heat, wind and other forms of energy.  The upper hand of 4D printing over 3D printing is that 3D printed structures are generally immobile, rigid and inanimate whereas 4D printed structures are flexible, mobile and able to interact with the surrounding environment based on the stimulus. This capability of 4D printing to transform 3D structures into smart structures in response to various stimuli promises a great potential for biomedical and bioengineering applications. The potential of 4D printing in developing pre-programmed biomaterials that can undergo transformations lays new foundations for enabling smart pharmacology, personalized medicine, and smart drug delivery, all of which can help in combating diseases in a smarter way. Hence, the theme of this paper is about the potential of 4D printing in creating smart drug delivery, smart pharmacology, targeted drug delivery and better patient compliance. The paper highlights the recent advancements of 4D printing in healthcare sector and ways by which 4D printing is doing wonders in creating smart drug delivery and tailored medicine. The major constraints in the approach have also been highlighted. Keywords: 4D printing, smart, drug delivery system, patient compliance, biomaterials, tailored medicin

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Not AvailableTotal phenol content of the walnut genotypes was determined to explore the relationship between total phenols and regeneration response for different walnut genotypes. Walnut leaves from ten genotypes (CITH-Walnut-I, CITH-Walnut-II, BBW-8, CITH-Walnut-IV, BP-3, SP-1, LG-11, Hamdan, Suleiman, and Opex Culchery) were used for extraction of total phenols through modified Folin-Ciocalteu method. Total leaf phenolic content ranges from 140 μg g-1 (WGB-1) to 285 μg g-1 (BBW-8). Phenolic interactions expressed as darkening of the explants lead to death. Among different antioxidants used ascorbic acid @ 350 mg/l was found best with almost no phenol exudation in the medium and shoot initiation occurred after 8 days of inoculation. The number of shoots was highest (10), followed by citric acid used @ 350 mg/l showing low degree of exudation where shoot initiation was noted in 15 days and with 15.0 shoots per explant.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe purpose of investigation was to assess the phytochemical and nutraceutical of walnut in leaf extracts through diverse quantitative and qualitative phytochemical tests followed by array of assays. The screening of 50 elite walnut genotypes which exhibited wide range of discrepancy in terms of phytochemicals as well as their anti-oxidant potential was done. Walnut genotypes displayed maximum divergence in quercetin content (2.86–5.78 mg/ 100 g) as represented by cluster analysis. The phenolic rich genotypes exhibiting total phenols (37.61–46.47 mg/g GAE) having higher DPPH potential (IP of 32.82–73.50) where as genotypes that accumulate flavonoids/flavanols 5.52–28.48 mg/g QE and 4.11–21.76 mg/g QE showed immense FRAP activity (418.92–1067.94 lM Fe 2?/g FW). There was positive correlation between the phenolics content and anti-oxidant potential. The results showed oil content of 50.1–85.08% and kernel percentage 25.21–81.92% of all walnut genotypes. To evaluate the anti-proliferative potential of walnut genotypes, Trypan blue exclusion test, MTT assay and Griess assay was used. Each assay was repeated with different positive controls against a panel of human cancer cell lines viz THP-1, U2OS, IMR-32 and HBL-100 and then compared with the walnut extracts for their efficiency in anti-proliferative activity. The SPS 1 walnut extract at concentration of 500 lg/ml exhibited 10% cell viability and with 1000 lg/ ml walnut extract there was consequent decline towards (6.25%) viability. The results indicated that walnut leaf constitutes an excellent source of effective natural antioxidants and chemo-preventive agents that can act as anticancer agents.Not Availabl