Evaluation of Tropaeolin 000-1 as a Colorimetric Reagent for Assay of Duloxetine and Escitalopram in Solid Dosage Form

Purpose: To explore the application of tropaeolin 000-1 reagent for the rapid, precise and accurate determination of duloxetine hydrochloride (DX) and escitalopram maleate (ECT).Methods: Determination of DX and ECT was based on the formation of complexes between the dye, DX and ECT in 0.1 M HCl. The resulting chromogen showed a maximum wavelength of absorption at 502 and 503 nm for DX and ECT, respectively. This method was validated for analytical parameters such as linearity, precision, accuracy, robustness, and ruggedness according to the guidelines of International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) and United States Pharmacopoeia (USP).Results: The absorbance of the each chromogen formed with DX and ECT was linear over the range of 4 - 30 and 2.5 - 27.5 μg mL-1 for DX and ECT, with 0.9968 and 0.9979 as the regression coefficient, respectively. The limits of detection (LOD) were 0.0045 and 0.0015 μg mL-1 for DX and ECT, respectively, with the limits of quantification (LOQ) at 0.5 and 0.08 μg mL-1. The recovery (accuracy) of the methods resulted in low RSD values of 0.856 – 0.983 % for DX and 0.765 – 0.987 % for ECT.Conclusion: The developed method shows a high degree of accuracy and precision for the determination of DX and ECT. Thus, tropaeolin 000-1 reagent is versatile for determining the contents of DX and ECT in their formulations.Keywords: Duloxetine, Escitalopram, Tropaeolin 000-1, Extractive spectrophotometry, Validatio

Development of highly efficient cost-effective CdS/Ag nanocomposite for removal of azo dyes under UV and solar light

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)Water pollution by toxic dyes is an environmental problem that threatens human health. A green technology to solve this problem is the use of highly efficient photocatalysts under visible/solar light to degrade these organic molecules. However, develop affordable photocatalytic particles with high luminescence performance, enhanced stability, and low degradation is still a challenge. Here, it is reported the hydrothermal synthesis of an advanced and cost-effective nanocomposite based on a ceramic, cadmium sulphide, covered by silver nanoparticles (CdS/Ag), with outstanding photocatalytic efficiency for toxic dyes degradation under ultraviolet and direct solar light. The CdS/Ag nanocomposite completely degrade the Reactive Red 120 (RR 120), Acid Black 1 (AB 1) and Direct Blue 15 (DB 15) dyes in both light irradiations. Without scavenger, about 93% of degradation was observed at 75 min, remaining a high stability (more than 90%) after fourth degradation cycles

Cerium oxide nanoparticle treatment ameliorates peritonitis-induced diaphragm dysfunction

The severe inflammation observed during sepsis is thought to cause diaphragm dysfunction, which is associated with poor patient prognosis. Cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles have been posited to exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities suggesting that these particles may be of potential use for the treatment of inflammatory disorders. To investigate this possibility, Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: sham control, CeO2 nanoparticle treatment only (0.5 mg/kg iv), sepsis, and sepsis+CeO2 nanoparticles. Sepsis was induced by the introduction of cecal material (600 mg/kg) directly into the peritoneal cavity. Nanoparticle treatment decreased sepsis-associated impairments in diaphragmatic contractile (Po) function (sham: 25.6±1.6 N/cm2 vs CeO2: 23.4±0.8 N/cm2, vs Sep: 15.9±1.0 N/cm2 vs Sep+CeO2: 20.0±1.0 N/cm2, P2 nanoparticles may improve diaphragmatic function in the septic laboratory rat

Dosimetric evaluation of Gammamed High Dose Rate intraluminal brachytherapy applicators

BackgroundA survey of the literature on intraluminal brachytherapy reveals that even for a given tumour site, the dose prescribed varies considerably from one centre to another for multiple reasons: the treatment intent, the association with external beam therapy or not, the dose rate, the technique used and the point of dose specification. There is no common language in the literature as to how doses should be recorded and reported.AimThe purpose of this study was to dosimetrically evaluate various intraluminal brachytherapy applicators for the Gammamed high dose rate afterloading system.Materials/MethodsDosimetric evaluation was carried out for 8mm, 10mm, 12mm and 14mm diameter intraluminal applicators available with the Gammamed high dose rate after-loading system. Treatment planning for these applicators was carried out with the Abacus treatment planning system for active source length and 8cm, 10cm and 12cm. All evaluations were carried out for a prescription dose of 5Gy at the reference point of 1cm from the source axis. Reference volume length (RVL), treated volume (TV) and hyperdose sleeve radius (HSR) were noted down from the isodose plans. Iterative, geometric and equal times optimization routines were carried out for all evaluations with step size of 0.5cm.ResultsThe isodose curves showed tapering pattern towards the distal and proximal regions. The reference volume lengths were larger than active source lengths for 8mm and 10mm diameter applicators. Reference volume lengths were smaller than active source lengths for 12mm and 14mm diameter applicators hyperdose sleeve radius decreases with increase in diameter of the applicator. For 14mm diameter applicators, the hyperdose sleeve radius was smaller than the radius of the reference isodose. Iterative optimization routine gave a better average in terms of reference volume length for all four diameter applicators.ConclusionsWe evaluated the dosimetric parameters for various intraluminal applicators available with the Gammamed high dose rate remote afterloading system. The values of RVL and HSR were within acceptable limits for the four applicators considered in this study

A Pan-cancer analysis reveals high-frequency genetic alterations in mediators of signaling by the tgf-β superfamily

We present an integromic analysis of gene alterations that modulate transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)-Smad-mediated signaling in 9,125 tumor samples across 33 cancer types in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Focusing on genes that encode mediators and regulators of TGF-β signaling, we found at least one genomic alteration (mutation, homozygous deletion, or amplification) in 39% of samples, with highest frequencies in gastrointestinal cancers. We identified mutation hotspots in genes that encode TGF-β ligands (BMP5), receptors (TGFBR2, AVCR2A, and BMPR2), and Smads (SMAD2 and SMAD4). Alterations in the TGF-β superfamily correlated positively with expression of metastasis-associated genes and with decreased survival. Correlation analyses showed the contributions of mutation, amplification, deletion, DNA methylation, and miRNA expression to transcriptional activity of TGF-β signaling in each cancer type. This study provides a broad molecular perspective relevant for future functional and therapeutic studies of the diverse cancer pathways mediated by the TGF-β superfamily

Quorum quenching and antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles synthesized from Sargassum polyphyllum

Development of efficient methodology for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using marine algae is a modern area of research in the field of phyconanotechnology. In this regard, the present study deals with green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by using aqueous extracts of marine brown seaweed Sargassum polyphyllum.  UV-visible spectral analysis reveals the formation of AgNPs by showing absorption maximum at 420 nm wavelength and SEM analysis clearly elucidate the polydispersed structure of AgNPs without aggregation and ranged in size from 37-43 nm. X-ray Diffraction pattern confirmed the AgNPs crystalline personality. The synthesized AgNPs showed more enduring antibacterial activity against test bacterial pathogens. Furthermore, the synthesized AgNPs exhibited varying level of inhibition of violacein production and swarming motility. In the near future, silver nanoparticles can be extremely useful in clinical medicine as an alternative method for the treatment of wound infection

Aetiology and Laboratory Diagnosis of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome with Special Reference to India

Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) which encompasses infections of the central nervous system (CNS), such as encephalitis, meningitis, and meningoencephalitis, is quite commonly encountered in clinical practice and contributes to significant mortality and morbidity in the community. Several organisms including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites are known to cause AES in humans. The cardinal clinical and laboratory findings are largely similar regardless of the causative agent and consist of fever, headache, and altered mental status, which are often accompanied by seizures and focal neurological abnormalities. Therefore, identification of the causative pathogen is paramount in AES, as rapid detection and confirmation of aetiological agent will have a tremendous impact on the management of outbreaks as well as patient’s illness. This article reviews the aetiological and laboratory diagnostic aspects of AES with special reference to the Indian context

Curcuminoid extraction from turmeric (curcuma longal.): efficacy of bromine-modified curcuminoids against food spoilage flora

Curcuminoids are nutraceutical compounds used worldwide for medicine as well as in food preparations. In the present study, curcuminoid extraction was optimized using response surface methodology. The antimicrobial properties of curcuminoids and bromine-modified curcuminoids (BMCs) were determined against food spoilage flora and foodborne pathogens. The maximum curcuminoid yield was obtained when turmeric, methanol and time were 5.77g, 22.52mL and 12.53h, respectively. The high-performance liquid chromatogram of the extracted curcuminoids indicated three peaks at 9.5, 10.1 and 10.7min, which correspond to bisdemethoxycurcumin, demethoxycurcumin and curcumin in the ratio of 28:24:48, respectively. Curcuminoids had a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration value of BMCs was significantly decreased to 34.5, 14.7 and 30.2% for the tested gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria and fungi, respectively. Practical Applications: This finding suggests that bromine-modified curcuminoids would be a good candidate for food manufacturing industries to control food spoilage flora and foodborne pathogens

Cerium oxide nanoparticle treatment ameliorates peritonitis-induced diaphragm dysfunction

The severe inflammation observed during sepsis is thought to cause diaphragm dysfunction, which is associated with poor patient prognosis. Cerium oxide (CeO(2)) nanoparticles have been posited to exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities suggesting that these particles may be of potential use for the treatment of inflammatory disorders. To investigate this possibility, Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: sham control, CeO(2) nanoparticle treatment only (0.5 mg/kg iv), sepsis, and sepsis+CeO(2) nanoparticles. Sepsis was induced by the introduction of cecal material (600 mg/kg) directly into the peritoneal cavity. Nanoparticle treatment decreased sepsis-associated impairments in diaphragmatic contractile (P(o)) function (sham: 25.6±1.6 N/cm(2) vs CeO(2): 23.4±0.8 N/cm(2) vs Sep: 15.9±1.0 N/cm(2) vs Sep+CeO(2): 20.0±1.0 N/cm(2), P<0.05). These improvements in diaphragm contractile function were accompanied by a normalization of protein translation signaling (Akt, FOXO-1, and 4EBP1), diminished proteolysis (caspase 8 and ubiquitin levels), and decreased inflammatory signaling (Stat3 and iNOS). Histological analysis suggested that nanoparticle treatment was associated with diminished sarcolemma damage and diminished inflammatory cell infiltration. These data indicate CeO(2) nanoparticles may improve diaphragmatic function in the septic laboratory rat