RISK FACTORS OF HUMAN RABIES IN SOUTH ASIA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Background Rabies as a zoonotic viral disease is one of the neglected tropical diseases with high incidence among the poorest communities of least developed and developing countries of Africa and Asia. Aim This study aims to investigate the risk factors of human rabies in south Asia, with focus on Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. Method A systematic review approach was adopted, which included studies that identified the risk factors of human rabies in the three south Asian countries from 2007 to 2016. Electronic databases searched include PsycINFO, PubMed Central [PMC] and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature [CINAHL]. Appropriate data screening was carried out to extract relevant articles. Finally, the articles were quality appraised and synthesized with a narrative synthesis approach. Result Eight relevant studies were finally identified, with either moderate or high quality. The studies identified one or more risk factors of human rabies. The findings include; animal bite mostly from certain stray animals (dog, cat, monkey and rat). Secondly, poor knowledge/awareness of the people about human rabies, thus people were ignorant of the need to seek for immediate treatment following animal bites. Thirdly, poor traditional/cultural practices following bites from infected animals. Fourthly, socioeconomic factors and finally, poor use of preventive measures against rabies. Conclusion Based on the findings, it is concluded that most of the factors predisposing to rabies infection in south Asia are preventable, hence; Government authorities, non-governmental organizations and philanthropists should be more committed toward increasing awareness about the consequences of the infection as well as providing free and accessible treatments across each country. Keywords: risk, factors, rabies, Bangladesh, India, Pakista

Troxerutin flavonoid has neuroprotective properties and increases neurite outgrowth and migration of neural stem cells from the subventricular zone.

Troxerutin (TRX) is a water-soluble flavonoid which occurs commonly in the edible plants. Recent studies state that TRX improves the functionality of the nervous system and neutralizes Amyloid-ß induced neuronal toxicity. In this study, an in vitro assay based upon Neural stem cell (NSCs) isolated from the subventricular zone of the postnatal balb/c mice was established to explore the impact of TRX on individual neurogenesis processes in general and neuroprotective effect against ß-amyloid 1-42 (Aß42) induced inhibition in differentiation in particular. NSCs were identified exploiting immunostaining of the NSCs markers. Neurosphere clonogenic assay and BrdU/Ki67 immunostaining were employed to unravel the impact of TRX on proliferation. Differentiation experiments were carried out for a time span lasting from 48 h to 7 days utilizing ß-tubulin III and GFAP as neuronal and astrocyte marker respectively. Protective effects of TRX on Aß42 induced depression of NSCs differentiation were determined after 48 h of application. A neurosphere migration assay was carried out for 24 h in the presence and absence of TRX. Interestingly, TRX enhanced neuronal differentiation of NSCs in a dose-dependent manner after 48 h and 7 days of incubation and significantly enhanced neurite growth. A higher concentration of TRX also neutralized the inhibitory effects of Aß42 on neurite outgrowth and length after 48 h of incubation. TRX significantly stimulated cell migration. Overall, TRX not only promoted NSCs differentiation and migration but also neutralized the inhibitory effects of Aß42 on NSCs. TRX, therefore, offers an interesting lead structure from the perspective of drug design especially to promote neurogenesis in neurological disorders i.e. Alzheimer's disease

Phytonutrient and antinutrient components profiling of Berberis baluchistanica Ahrendt bark and leaves

Objectives: Plants are the most prevalent primary natural source of active medications. Berberis baluchistanica Ahrendt is known for the treatment of various ailments. Bioactive components, nutritional and antioxidant capacity of Berberis baluchistanica bark and leaves ethanolic extracts were evaluated in this study. Methods: Total phenolics, flavonoids, antioxidant, nutritional and anti-nutritional contents were analyzed. Analysis of bioactive components identified the presence of tannins, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, coumarin, alkaloids, phenolics, saponins, steroids, anthraquinones and terpenoids. The capability of donating hydrogen was analyzed by their 50% inhibition concentration (IC50). Results: The bark possessed lower IC50 = 0.678 mg/mL and higher inhibition percentage of DPPH radical, compared to leaves IC50 = 0.785 mg/mL. The Ferric reducing antioxidant power of bark was relatively higher IC50 = 0.871 mg/mL than leaves IC50 = 0.996 mg/mL. The phenolic content of bark was 37.52 ± 1.56 mg GAE/g and that of leaves 28.32 ± 0.66 mg GAE/g, the total flavonoid contents in bark and leaves were 8.68 ± 0.93 and 11.81 ± 1.49 mg QE/g. Total proteins of the bark and leaves were 7.69 ± 0.65 mg BSAE/g and 3.63 ± 0.54 mg BSAE/g and carbohydrate contents of the bark and leaves were 4.46 ± 0.55 mg GE/g and 8.38 ± 0.71 mg GE/g respectively. The oxalate contents of bark were 0.12 ± 0.02 mg/g and leaves were 0.14 ± 0.19 mg/g and the phytate % composition of bark was 0.17 ± 0.24 % and leaves were 0.25 ± 0.08 % respectively. Conclusions: The determination of these compounds attaining a range of medicinal properties helps in maintaining the traditional use of bark and leaves extracts of Berberis baluchistanica in various biomedical fields

Voriconazole Cyclodextrin Based Polymeric Nanobeads for Enhanced Solubility and Activity: In Vitro/In Vivo and Molecular Simulation Approach

Hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) based polymeric nanobeads containing voriconazole (VRC) were fabricated by free radical polymerization using N, N′-methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) as a cross-linker, 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) as monomer and ammonium persulfate (APS) as reaction promoter. Optimized formulation (CDN5) had a particle size of 320 nm with a zeta potential of −35.5 mV and 87% EE. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) depicted porous and non-spherical shaped beads. No evidence of chemical interaction was evident in FT-IR studies, whereas distinctive high-intensity VRC peaks were found superimposed in XRD. A stable polymeric network formation was evident in DSC studies owing to a lower breakdown in VRC loaded HPβCD in comparison to blank HPβCD. In vitro release studies showed 91 and 92% drug release for optimized formulation at pH 1.2 and 6.8, respectively, with first-order kinetics as the best-fit model and non-Fickian diffusion as the release mechanism. No evidence of toxicity was observed upon oral administration of HPβCD loaded VRC polymeric nanobeads owing to with cellular morphology of vital organs as observed in histopathology. Molecular docking indicates the amalgamation of the compounds highlighting the hydrophobic patching mediated by nanogel formulation. It can be concluded that the development of polymeric nanobeads can be a promising tool to enhance the solubility and efficacy of hydrophobic drugs such as VRC besides decreased toxicity and for effective management of fungal infections

Voriconazole Cyclodextrin Based Polymeric Nanobeads for Enhanced Solubility and Activity: In Vitro/In Vivo and Molecular Simulation Approach

Hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) based polymeric nanobeads containing voriconazole (VRC) were fabricated by free radical polymerization using N, N′-methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) as a cross-linker, 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) as monomer and ammonium persulfate (APS) as reaction promoter. Optimized formulation (CDN5) had a particle size of 320 nm with a zeta potential of −35.5 mV and 87% EE. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) depicted porous and non-spherical shaped beads. No evidence of chemical interaction was evident in FT-IR studies, whereas distinctive high-intensity VRC peaks were found superimposed in XRD. A stable polymeric network formation was evident in DSC studies owing to a lower breakdown in VRC loaded HPβCD in comparison to blank HPβCD. In vitro release studies showed 91 and 92% drug release for optimized formulation at pH 1.2 and 6.8, respectively, with first-order kinetics as the best-fit model and non-Fickian diffusion as the release mechanism. No evidence of toxicity was observed upon oral administration of HPβCD loaded VRC polymeric nanobeads owing to with cellular morphology of vital organs as observed in histopathology. Molecular docking indicates the amalgamation of the compounds highlighting the hydrophobic patching mediated by nanogel formulation. It can be concluded that the development of polymeric nanobeads can be a promising tool to enhance the solubility and efficacy of hydrophobic drugs such as VRC besides decreased toxicity and for effective management of fungal infections

S1 Fig -

Figure presents a taxonomically arranged list of morphologically identified Hymenopterans insects: (A) Anthidium punctatum (B) Bethylidae sp. (C) Camponotus compressus (D) Ceropales seyrigi (D) Evaniidae sp. (F) Formicidae sp. (G) Lasioglossum sp. (H) Megachile leachella (I) Hymenoptera sp. (J) Sphecidae sp. (K) Tachysphex incertus (L) Tachysphex sp. The datasets presented in the study have been deposited to the NCBI GenBank repository (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), and the obtained accession numbers are OR923389 (Cerceris rybyensis), OR924175 (Megachile leachella), OR923376 (Anthidium punctatum), OR924115 (Camponotus compressus), OR924210 (Tachysphex incertus), OR924219 (Tachytes freygessneri), OR939445 (Tachysphex sp.), OR924342 (Lasioglossum sp.), OR924339 (Bethylidae sp.), OR924340 (Formicidae sp.), OR924341 (Evaniidae sp.), OR939444 (Sphecidae sp.), and OR939995 (Hymenoptera sp.). (TIF)</p

Month-wise (April 2019 to November 2019) distribution of Hymenopteran insects.

Month-wise (April 2019 to November 2019) distribution of Hymenopteran insects.</p

Identification of Hymenoptera insect species through DNA barcoding method and their close matching results are presented.

Identification of Hymenoptera insect species through DNA barcoding method and their close matching results are presented.</p