EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF PURIFIED AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF SHILAJIT IN MODIFYING CARDIOVASCULAR RISK WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

Context: Shilajit is a natural rock exudate used to prevent and combat problems with diabetes. It also has antioxidant, hypolipidemic and hypoglycaemic properties. Aim: To evaluate the effect of Shilajit on endothelial function in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Settings and Design: Randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study. Methods and Material: After the ethics committee approval and informed consent, forty subjects were randomized to receive either Shilajit 250 mg or placebo (two capsules twice daily for 12 weeks). Endothelial function was evaluated with Reflection index (RI), Augmentation index (AIx), Subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR), Ankle Brachial Index (ABI), Pulse wave velocity(PWV) and Systemic vascular resistance (SVR) at baseline,4,8,12 weeks. Lipid profile and biomarkers Nitric oxide,MDA, Glutathione, hsCRP were evaluated at baseline and post treatment. Statistical analysis used: Data was expressed as mean ±SD. Paired and unpaired t- tests were performed for within group and between groups analysis, respectively. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: After 12 weeks of treatment, Shilajit produced statistically significant increase in mean RI from baseline (-2.29±1.43 to -8.61±2.70; p<0.001) and in mean SEVR (145.5±24.89 to 150.9±24.08; p<0.05). Compared to placebo, Shilajit produced statistically significant increase in mean percentage change with RI, AIx, SEVR, and SVR, suggesting improvement in endothelial function. There was also statistically significant reduction in hsCRP, MDA, total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglycerides and increase in NO, GSH, HDL-C. The drug was well tolerated and no subjects discontinued due to adverse drug reactions. Conclusion: Shilajit showed significant improvement in endothelial function as evidenced with change in reflection index. It also improved other cardiovascular parameters and biomarker levels. Further studies are warranted in more number of subjects

Bio-treatment of phosphate from synthetic wastewater using Pseudomonas sp YLW-7

In this study, the efficient phosphate utilizing isolates were used to remove phosphate from synthetic phosphate wastewater was tested using batch scale process. Hence the objective of the present study was to examine the efficiency of bacterial species individually for the removal of phosphate from synthetic phosphate wastewater. The most efficient phosphate reducers were isolated and screened from eutrophic lake water samples. The total heterotrophic bacterial analysis of the samples showed the presence of about 22 phosphate reducers. Among them, Pseudomonas sp YLW-7 were found to be efficient in phosphate reduction based on the maximum phosphate ultization which was observed by plate screening method using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test. The effect of carbon sources (glucose, starch, sucrose and lactose) at 0.5% on the removal of phosphate by Pseudomonas sp YLW7 was estimated. The maximum growth of Pseudomonas sp YLW7 was observed to be 0.9886 OD in glucose followed by starch (0.9456 OD), Sucrose (0.9095 OD) and lactose (0.8407 OD). The pH change in culture medium after 72 h treatment was found to be 6.0 in glucose, starch, lactose sources and 5.8 in sucrose carbon source. The phosphate removal was observed to be maximum of 68 % in synthetic phosphate wastewater with glucose carbon source followed by starch (66%), sucrose (65%) and lactose (62%) after 72 h at neutral pH (7.0\ub1 2) by Pseudomonas sp YLW-7. Thus the Pseudomonas sp YLW-7 may use the contaminants as nutrients source and might be used in the remediation of phosphate contaminated environments. @ JASE

Assessment of drug utilization pattern in patients undergoing chemotherapy for various types of metastatic cancers in a tertiary care government hospital

Background: Cancer is one among main causes of morbidity and mortality in developing and developed countries. The World Cancer Report 2014 of World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), states that in 2012 the global incidence of cancer increased to a 14 million new cases, the figure expected to rise to an annual 19.3 million by 2025. The prescription pattern of anticancer drugs has evolved considerably in recent years because of better understanding of underlying pathophysiology of carcinomas as well as introduction of newer drugs. Methods: It was a hospital-based prospective, cross-sectional study conducted in Department of Oncology, GGH, Kakinada for a period of twelve months from February 2017 to January 2018. A total of 100 patients were enrolled using convenience sampling technique. Patient demographics like age, gender, educational level, employment status, marital status, smoking category, alcohol consumption, stage of cancer was collected. Drug utilization pattern was obtained from inpatient case reports, prescriptions and medication charts used during a chemotherapy cycle.Results: Among all anticancer drugs, cisplatin and 5-flurouracil were most commonly prescribed followed by Adriamycin. The most commonly used adjuvant drugs were B-complex, diclofenac, granisetron, ranitidine, dexamethasone. Antibiotic use was found to be very limited.Conclusions: Various anticancer drug prescription patterns are being used for treatment of patient with metastatic cancers. In this study, cisplatin and 5-flurouracil were commonly used. Injudicious antibiotic prescribing was not observed. 

A RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED, PARALLEL GROUP CLINICAL STUDY TO EVALUATE THE ANALGESIC EFFECT OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF TERMINALIA CHEBULA, A PROPRIETARY CHROMIUM COMPLEX, AND THEIR COMBINATION IN SUBJECTS WITH JOINT DISCOMFORT

Objective: To evaluate the analgesic effect of an aqueous extract of Terminalia chebula (TCE), a proprietary chromium complex (PCC), and theircombination in subjects with joint discomfort.Methods: A total of 100 patients with knee joint discomfort were randomized into five treatment groups - TCE 500 mg BID, TCE 500 mg BID+PCC400 µg OD, PCC 400 µg OD alone, placebo, and TCE 250 mg BID, for 12 weeks in a double-blinded manner. Assessment of symptoms of knee joint painand discomfort was done by modified Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (mWOMAC) and knee swelling index (KSI); visualanalog scale (VAS) was used for subjective assessment of pain, stiffness, and disability. Statistical analysis was done with GraphPad Prism 6.Results: Absolute reduction in mWOMAC score in TCE 500 mg (19.82±8.35), TCE 500 mg+PCC 400 µg (13.10±5.69), PCC 400 µg (8.30±3.81), placebo(2.45±3.07), and TCE 250 mg (10.47±4.43), respectively, at the end of 12 weeks as compared to the baseline values. Absolute reduction in KSI inTCE 500 mg (28.95±16.82), TCE 500 mg+PCC 400 µg (19.14±9.50), PCC 400 µg (12.7±4.86), placebo (10.03±3.8), and TCE 250 mg (18.24±6.86),respectively, at the end of 12 weeks as compared to the baseline values (p<0.001). Similar results were seen with VAS assessments for pain, stiffness,and disability. All the treatments were well tolerated.Conclusion: TCE and PCC reduce joint discomfort.Keywords: Terminalia chebula extract, Proprietary chromium complex, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index

Physico-Chemical and Bacteriological Characteristics of Noyyal River and Ground Water Quality of Perur, India

The study was conducted to findout the physico-chemical and bacteriological characteristics of Noyyal River and ground water quality of Perur, India. The river water and ground water (bore well and open well) samples were collected in and around Perur and analyzed for various physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters. The study indicated that the mean value of studied parameters, except phosphate, biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the river water and ground water samples were within the permissible limit. The parameters include total suspended solids (TSS-132.2 mgl-1), BOD (9.55 mgl-1), COD (19.28 mgl-1), phosphate (PO42--1.58 mgl-1) and total nitrogen (TN-2.04 mgl-1) of the river water sample were found higher when compared to the ground water samples. The bacteriological study showed that the total heterotrphic bacteria (THB -124.4 x 103 CFU/ml), Total Coliforms (TC-2600 MPN/10ml), Faecal Coliforms (FC-1750 MPN/10ml), Faecal Streptococci (FS-120 MPN/10ml) and FC/FS ratio (14.6) in the river water samples were found to be greater than the standard WHO limits. The generic distribution in the samples revealed that the presence of Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus, Enterobacter, Streptococci, Bacillus and Micrococcus were predominant in river water samples. The river water was found to be unfit for human consumption due to the exceeding level of Coliforms. The quality of ground water around Noyyal River was found to be safe and utilizable for cultivation purposes. If the quality management is properly maintained, the river water could be utilized for a wide range of application viz, irrigation, drinking etc. @ JASE

Thioridazine: a potential adjuvant in pharmacotherapy of drug resistant tuberculosis Ki

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Despite advances in control strategies, inadequate treatment and failure to comply with drug regimens have resulted in TB to emerge as one of the most common and deadly infectious diseases worldwide. The emergence of drug-resistant TBhas evolved as a formidable obstacle for comprehensive TB control. Drug-resistant TB can be classified as multi-drug-resistant TB, extensively drug-resistant TB and totally drug resistant TB (TDR-TB). There is a paucity in the development of new drugs against drug-resistant mycobacteria. The focus has shifted to the exploration of anti-mycobacterial properties of drugs approved for other indications. Thioridazine, a drug approved for use in schizophrenia is one such potential agent, which has shown anti-mycobacterial activity. There is evidence of anti-mycobacterial action of Thioridazine in in-vitro and mouse models. There is a compelling need for new anti-mycobacterial drugs that are more effective and have less toxicity. Further clinical trials are advocated favoring the use of thioridazine as an adjuvant in the treatment of TB, especially TDR-TB

Investigations on selected ecological parameters of Tuticorin Bay, Gulf of Mannar, south-east coast of India with emphasis on suitability for mariculture

A study was conducted for a period of two years from 2017 to 2018 to assess the health of Tuticorin Bay, south-east coast of India. Water and sediment quality parameters, total clam density, heavy metal content in the sediment and clam tissue samples from four sites were used as the criteria for health assessment. High values of parameters like salinity (38.3±5.04 ppt) and ammonia (0.09±0.04 mg l-1) were observed at the station close to the thermal power station and high nitrite (0.688±0.13 μg l-1) and total suspended solids (380.3±0.04 mgl-1) were observed at the station close to Koramballam freshwater creek. Most of the water quality variables were within the standard limit prescribed for aquaculture activities. The organic matter content in the sediment of the bay ranged from 0.26 to 5.17%. Comparatively low heavy metal concentration was observed both in the sediment and clam tissue samples. The metals were found accumulated in the order of Fe>Mn> Pb>Cu>Ni>Cd in the sediment samples and in the order Fe>Pb>Mn>Cu>Cd>Ni in clam tissue samples. The estimated levels were also within the permissible limits for most of the metals. The study indicated that Tuticorin Bay is suitable for mariculture activities

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF Î’-CYCLODEXTRIN PRODUCTION FROM THE CGTASE PRODUCING NOVEL STRAINS- ITS CHARACTERIZATION AND HOST-GUEST COMPLEX FORMATION

The enzymatic synthesis of β-CD by CGTase produced from different strains of alkaliphilic bacterial culture which was isolated from the cultivated sugarcane fields and standard MTCC cultures using starch as substrate. An alkalophilic bacteria were grown for six days at static conditions at pH 10.5. The time course of CGTase activity was studied with the maximum activity observed on 6th day. The activity check and its confirmation were done by Dextrinising and Phenolphthalein assay. The soluble starch was best substrate to produce the cyclodextrin. Extraction of β-CD was done using complexing agents, these agents binds only to β-CD and forms complex, the complex thus formed was recovered. The obtained β-CD was made inclusion complex with guest molecule and was further characterized using UV absorption spectrophotometer, FT-IR and melting point.   Keywords: Cyclodextrin glycosyltransferases, Cyclodextrins, Bacillus licheniformis

Oxygen Activation and Radical Transformations in Heme Proteins and Metalloporphyrins

As a result of the adaptation of life to an aerobic environment, nature has evolved a panoply of metalloproteins for oxidative metabolism and protection against reactive oxygen species. Despite the diverse structures and functions of these proteins, they share common mechanistic grounds. An open-shell transition metal like iron or copper is employed to interact with O_2 and its derived intermediates such as hydrogen peroxide to afford a variety of metal–oxygen intermediates. These reactive intermediates, including metal-superoxo, -(hydro)peroxo, and high-valent metal–oxo species, are the basis for the various biological functions of O_2-utilizing metalloproteins. Collectively, these processes are called oxygen activation. Much of our understanding of the reactivity of these reactive intermediates has come from the study of heme-containing proteins and related metalloporphyrin compounds. These studies not only have deepened our understanding of various functions of heme proteins, such as O2 storage and transport, degradation of reactive oxygen species, redox signaling, and biological oxygenation, etc., but also have driven the development of bioinorganic chemistry and biomimetic catalysis. In this review, we survey the range of O_2 activation processes mediated by heme proteins and model compounds with a focus on recent progress in the characterization and reactivity of important iron–oxygen intermediates. Representative reactions initiated by these reactive intermediates as well as some context from prior decades will also be presented. We will discuss the fundamental mechanistic features of these transformations and delineate the underlying structural and electronic factors that contribute to the spectrum of reactivities that has been observed in nature as well as those that have been invented using these paradigms. Given the recent developments in biocatalysis for non-natural chemistries and the renaissance of radical chemistry in organic synthesis, we envision that new enzymatic and synthetic transformations will emerge based on the radical processes mediated by metalloproteins and their synthetic analogs