A rare case of retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma

Leiomyosarcoma, a rare malignancy of smooth muscle may arise from the retroperitoneum. They often reach a large size before diagnosis is made. Patient presents with vague symptoms, as such retroperitoneal malignancies are related to displacement of organs and obstructive phenomenon. The present paper is one of the very few case reports of retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma which illustrates the presenting symptoms, gross and microscopic findings, treatment modalities and prognostic indicators of a 70 years old male seen at Government medical college, New Civil Hospital, Surat

Evaluation of the effect of topical cefadroxil on bacterial load of pathogenic staphylococci in anterior nares in human volunteers, comparative study between oral vs. topical cefadroxil and evaluation of effect of combination of oral plus topical cefadroxil in patients with staphylococcal superficial skin infections

Background: Cefadroxil has good tissue penetration & exerts more sustained action at the site of infection after oral absorption. Our aim of the study was to check topical cefadroxil has any efficacy over staphylococcal superficial skin infection or not.Methods: Pre-treatment nasal swabs were obtained from 25 healthy human volunteers and bacterial load was recorded. After single application of topical cefadroxil 3% in left anterior nare and placebo (vehicle) in right anterior nare nasal swabs were obtained and results were compared. 150 patients with staphylococcal superficial skin infections were distributed in 4 groups: Group A - oral cefadroxil 500 mg twice daily for 5 days, Group B - topical cefadroxil (0.5 % to 5%) twice daily, Group C - cefadroxil 500 mg orally plus placebo (vehicle) topically twice daily and Group D -cefadroxil 500 mg orally plus cefadroxil preparation topically twice daily. Bacterial load was measured before treatment, on follow up &after clinical cure and results were compared.Results: Topical cefadroxil significantly reduced bacterial load after single application in anterior nare. Topical cefadroxil cured and significantly reduced bacterial load in staphylococcal superficial skin infections within 3 days of treatment. Oral plus topical cefadroxil combination therapy significantly reduced bacterial load and cured infection within 3 days of treatment in patients with moderate to heavy bacterial growth. No any adverse effect was observed during entire study period in any of groups.Conclusions: Topical preparation of cefadroxil is safe and effective in treating staphylococcal superficial skin infections. Combination of oral plus topical cefadroxil showed synergistic effect in infections with moderate to heavy growth. This study is registered at CTRI [REG ID: CTRI/2013/02/003433 REF: REF/2013/02/004576]

Revision in the first steps of the biosynthesis of the red antibiotic prodigiosin: use of a synthetic thioester to validate a new intermediate.

Funder: Frances and Augustus Newman FoundationFunder: Emmanuel College, University of CambridgeFunder: Cambridge Commonwealth TrustA biosynthetic pathway for the red-antibiotic, prodigiosin, was proposed over a decade ago but not all the suggested intermediates could be detected experimentally. Here we show that a thioester that was not originally included in the pathway is an intermediate. In addition, the enzyme PigE was originally described as a transaminase but we present evidence that it also catalyses the reduction of the thioester intermediate to its aldehyde substrate

A Machine Learning Approach for Detection of Phished Websites Using Neural Networks

Phishing is a means of obtaining confidential information through fraudulent website that appear to be legitimate .On detection of all the criteria ambiguities and certain considerations involve hence neural network techniques are used to build an effective tool in identifying phished websites There are many phishing detection techniques available, but a central problem is that web browsers rely on a black list of known phishing website, but some phishing website has a lifespan as short as a few hours. These website with a shorter lifespan are known as zero day phishing website. Thus, a faster recognition system needs to be developed for the web browser to identify zero day phishing website. To develop a faster recognition system, a neural network technique is used which reduces the error and increases the performance. This paper describes a framework to better classify and predict the phishing sites

Simultano UV-spektrofotometrijsko određivanje ramiprila, acetilsalicilne kiseline i atorvastatin kalcija u kapsulama primjenom kemometrijskih metoda

In the present work, three different spectrophotometric methods for simultaneous estimation of ramipril, aspirin and atorvastatin calcium in raw materials and in formulations are described. Overlapped data was quantitatively resolved by using chemometric methods, viz. inverse least squares (ILS), principal component regression (PCR) and partial least squares (PLS). Calibrations were constructed using the absorption data matrix corresponding to the concentration data matrix. The linearity range was found to be 1-5, 10-50 and 2-10 µg mL–1 for ramipril, aspirin and atorvastatin calcium, respectively. The absorbance matrix was obtained by measuring the zero-order absorbance in the wavelength range between 210 and 320 nm. A training set design of the concentration data corresponding to the ramipril, aspirin and atorvastatin calcium mixtures was organized statistically to maximize the information content from the spectra and to minimize the error of multivariate calibrations. By applying the respective algorithms for PLS 1, PCR and ILS to the measured spectra of the calibration set, a suitable model was obtained. This model was selected on the basis of RMSECV and RMSEP values. The same was applied to the prediction set and capsule formulation. Mean recoveries of the commercial formulation set together with other figures of merit (calibration sensitivity, selectivity, limit of detection, limit of quantification and analytical sensitivity) were estimated. Validity of the proposed approaches was successfully assessed for analyses of drugs in the various prepared physical mixtures and formulations.U radu su opisane tri različite spektrofotometrijske metode za određivanje ramiprila, acetilsalicilne kiseline i atorvastatin kalcija u sirovinama i formulacijama. Preklapanje podataka kvantitativno je riješeno pomoću kemometrijskih metoda, tj. metodama inverznih najmanjih kvadrata (ILS), regresije glavnog sastojka (PCR) i djelomičnih najmanjih kvadrata (PLS). Kalibracije su postavljene pomoću matrice podataka za apsorpciju koja odgovara matrici pripadajućih koncentracija. Područje linearnosti za ramipril iznosilo je 1–5, za acetilsalicilnu kiselinu 10–50, a za atorvastatin kalcij 2–10 µg mL–1. Matrica s apsorbancijama dobivena je mjerenjem apsorbancije nultog reda na valnim duljinama između 210 i 320 nm. Set podataka za koncentracije ramiprila, acetilsalicilne kiseline i atorvastatin kalcija u smjesi statistički je tako organiziran da osigura maksimalnu količinu informacije u spektrima i minimalizira grešku multivarijantnih kalibracija. Primjenom odgovarajućih algoritama za PLS, PCR i ILS na snimljene spektre kalibracijskog seta dobiven je dobar model, koji je odabran na temelju RMSECV i RMSEP vrijednosti. Isti model je primijenjen i na set s predviđenim vrijednostima i na kapsule sa smjesom ove tri ljekovite tvari. Određena je srednja vrijednost povrata za komercijalnu formulaciju te ostale analitičke izvedbene značajke (kalibracijska osjetljivost, selektivnost, granica dokazivanja, granica određivanja i analitička osjetljivost). Potvrđena je primjenjljivost predloženih metoda u analizama lijekova u fizičkim smjesama i u gotovim ljekovitim oblicima

Development and Validation of Dual Wavelength UV Spectrophotometric Method for simultaneous estimation of Cilnidipine and Olmesartan Medoxomil in Tablet dosage form

A simple and economical dual wavelength spectrophotometric method has been developed for the simultaneous estimation of Cilnidipine and Olmesartan Medoxomil in their tablet dosage form. The principle for dual wavelength method is “the absorbance difference between two points on the overlain spectra is directly proportional to the concentration of the component of interest”. From the UV absorption spectrum of Cilnidipine, three wavelengths were selected, which were 282.99, 337.85 and 352.92 nm. At 352.92 nm only Cilnidipine has reasonable absorbance, so it was selected for the estimation of it from combination drug product. At these two wavelengths absorbance for Cilnidipine was found to be same i.e. absorbance difference was zero for any concentration, while for Olmesartan Medoxomil concomitantly increase in absorbance difference with increase in its concentration. So, 282.99 and 337.85 nm wavelengths were selected for the estimation of Olmesartan Medoxomil from its combination drug product. The method involved solving of an equation based on measurement of absorbances at two wavelengths 282.99 and 337.85 nm. Regression analysis of Beer’s plots showed good correlation in concentration range of 10-60 μg/ml for Cilnidipine and 20-120 μg/ml for Olmesartan Medoxomil. The suitability of this method was for quantitative determination of Cilnidipine and Olmesartan Medoxomil was proved by validation and recovery study. The proposed method was found to be simple, rapid, economical, accurate and reproducible for the routine analysis of both drugs in tablet dosage forms

Crystal Structure, Dielectric Response and Thermal analysis of Ammonium Pentaborate (APB)

International audienceNonlinear optical material Ammonium Pentaborate (APB) crystals have been grown using slow evaporation method from aqueous solution. From Powder XRD analysis the orthohrombic crystal structure was found. Various vibrations in FTIR spectrum were assigned. Thermo gravimetric analysis suggested that the crystal remained stable up to 173℃ and then decomposed through various stages and endothermic reactions were identified by DTA. The variation of dielectric constant, dielectric loss and ac conductivity with frequencies was studied at room temperature. Further investigation of dielectric properties with higher temperature is under progress. Introduction. Borate crystals have received much attention because of their excellent physical and chemical properties. Alkali borate crystals generally possess chemical stability as well as wide range of optical transparency extended into the ultraviolet due to large difference in the electro negativities of B and O atoms [1]. For majority of borates, it is necessary to use complex and long lasting high temperature solution top-seeding methods [2]. In the current study, authors have employed inexpensive and relatively simple slow solvent evaporation method to grow ammonium pentaborate (APB) crystals. The grown crystals were characterized by Powder XRD, FTIR, thermal and dielectric analysis

Green Tea Potentially Ameliorates Bisphenol A-Induced Oxidative Stress: An In Vitro and In Silico Study

The present investigation was an attempt to elucidate oxidative stress induced by bisphenol A on erythrocytes and its amelioration by green tea extract. For this, venous blood samples from healthy human adults were collected in EDTA vials and used for preparation of erythrocytes suspension. When erythrocyte suspensions were treated with different concentrations of BPA/H2O2, a dose-dependent increase in hemolysis occurred. Similarly, when erythrocytes suspensions were treated with either different concentrations of H2O2 (0.05–0.25 mM) along with BPA (50 μg/mL) or 0.05 mM H2O2 along with different concentrations of BPA (50–250 μg/mL), dose-dependent significant increase in hemolysis occurred. The effect of BPA and H2O2 was found to be additive. For the confirmation, binding capacity of bisphenol A with erythrocyte proteins (hemoglobin, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) was inspected using molecular docking tool, which showed presence of various hydrogen bonds of BPA with the proteins. The present data clearly indicates that BPA causes oxidative stress in a similar way as H2O2 . Concurrent addition of different concentrations (10–50 μg/mL) of green tea extract to reaction mixture containing high dose of bisphenol A (250 μg/mL) caused concentration-dependent amelioration in bisphenol A-induced hemolysis. The effect was significant (P<0.05). It is concluded that BPA-induced oxidative stress could be significantly mitigated by green tea extract

A Patient with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia with Pancreatic Involvement

A 78-year-old female with a past medical history of hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia was hospitalized for poor appetite, weight loss, and night sweats. On physical exam, there was no palpable lymphadenopathy, and her abdomen was soft and nondistended. Laboratory results showed a hemoglobin count of 13.3 g/dl, hematocrit 41.3%, white blood cell 68.4 × 103 μL with lymphocytes 92.0%, total bilirubin 0.4 mg/dL, aspartate transaminase 14 U/L, and alanine transaminase 15 U/L. CT of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis showed hypodense lesions within the pancreatic body (1.4 × 1.4 cm) and medial aspect of the pancreatic head (1.2 cm) as well as mild splenomegaly (13 cm craniocaudally). She subsequently underwent endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the pancreatic mass. Flow cytometry revealed expression of CD5 and CD23, consistent with chronic lymphocytic leukemia