Relationship between T2* magnetic resonance imaging-derived liver and heart iron content and serum ferritin levels in transfusion-dependent thalassemic children

Context: T2* magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is being increasingly used for the assessment of organ iron content in thalassemics, but cost is a major prohibitive factor for repeated measurements. If serum ferritin correlates well with the T2* MRI liver and heart, it will be economical and more simple tool to assess organ iron deposition. Aims: The aim of this study was to find out the relationship between serum ferritin level and T2* MRI-derived liver and heart iron content in transfusion-dependent thalassemic children Settings: Thalassemia day-care center of a teaching hospital Design: This was a cross-sectional study Subjects And Methods: Seventy-three transfusion-dependent beta thalassemic children belonging to 2–18 years of age were subjected to T2* MRI of heart and liver to assess their iron content. Values obtained here were related to serum ferritin. Statistical Analysis Used: Keeping the correlation between serum ferritin and T2* MRI as primary outcome, spearman's correlation coefficient was calculated. Results: We found poor (negative) correlation between serum ferritin level and T2* MRI liver (r = -0.448, P = 0.000) but no correlation between serum ferritin and T2*MRI heart (r = -0.221, P = 0.060). Conclusions: Serum ferritin cannot reliably predict the liver and heart iron content in Indian children with β thalassemia

Development and performance evaluation of novel nanoparticles of a grafted copolymer loaded with curcumin

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an inflammatory condition with mucosal ulceration, edema and hemorrhage of gastrointestinal tract. Curcumin has been shown to mitigate colitis in animal models. However, its usefulness is reduced due to poor pharmacokinetic behavior and low oral bioavailability. To address this, novel pH-sensitive hydrolyzed polyacrylamide-grafted-xanthan gum (PAAm-g-XG) nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with curcumin were prepared for colonic delivery. Optimized nanoparticles (CN20) were spherical, with an average size of 425 nm. A negligible amount of curcumin (approximate to 8%) was released from CN20 NPs in pH 1.2 and 4.5 solutions. When the pH was increased to 7.2, curcumin release was comparatively faster than that observed with pH 1.2 and 4.5 collectively. In pH 6.8 solution, excellent release of curcumin was observed. Highest curcumin release was observed when rat caecal contents were incorporated in pH 6.8 solution, indicating microflora-dependent drug release property of NPs. In acetic acid-induced IBD in rats, curcumin NPs reduced myeloperoxidase and nitrite levels, prevented weight loss and attenuated colonic inflammation. Curcumin was better absorbed systemically in nanoparticulate form with increased C-max (similar to 3 fold) and AUC (similar to 2.5 fold) than when delivered as free curcumin. We demonstrate successful development of grafted co-polymeric NPs containing drug suitable for colon targeting. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Methods of Ensuring Information Security in BIM

Information security in BIM (Building Information Model) platforms is crucial, especially for mission-critical projects. Improper distribution and loss of confidential information can potentially lead to threats to physical security, financial losses, and loss of trust and reputation. The article discusses common methods of ensuring cybersecurity, potential threats, and measures to prevent them for the preparation and development of conceptual foundations for the Information Security Strategy of the process of building and structure information modeling. Tasks: 1) Identification of the most common information protection methods and identification of BIM security elements; 2) Analysis of potential cybersecurity threats for the information modeling process; 3) Consideration of common collaboration models in BIM. This work will allow developing an Information Security Strategy in BIM processes, improving the approach to ensuring an appropriate level of cybersecurity in BIM platforms, and developing universal steps for planning and implementing an effective information security strategy