Drug-microbiota interactions and treatment response: Relevance to rheumatoid arthritis

Knowledge about associations between changes in the structure and/or function of intestinal microbes (the microbiota) and the pathogenesis of various diseases is expanding. However, interactions between the intestinal microbiota and different pharmaceuticals and the impact of these on responses to treatment are less well studied. Several mechanisms are known by which drug-microbiota interactions can influence drug bioavailability, efficacy, and/or toxicity. This includes direct activation or inactivation of drugs by microbial enzymes which can enhance or reduce drug effectiveness. The extensive metabolic capabilities of the intestinal microbiota make it a hotspot for drug modification. However, drugs can also influence the microbiota profoundly and change the outcome of interactions with the host. Additionally, individual microbiota signatures are unique, leading to substantial variation in host responses to particular drugs. In this review, we describe several known and emerging examples of how drug-microbiota interactions influence the responses of patients to treatment for various diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer. Focussing on rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints which has been linked with microbial dysbiosis, we propose mechanisms by which the intestinal microbiota may affect responses to treatment with methotrexate which are highly variable. Furthering our knowledge of this subject will eventually lead to the adoption of new treatment strategies incorporating microbiota signatures to predict or improve treatment outcomes

GC/MS STUDY OF DIFFERENT EXTRACTS OF PYGMAEOPREMNA HERBACEA ROXB

ABSTRACT The Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopic studies of petroleum ether and methanol fractions of Pygmaeopremna herbacea Roxb. was carried out. The GC/MS study of petroleum ether fraction afforded eight compounds in which n-Dotriacont-29-en-4-ol was the dement fraction. The methanol fraction gave a mixture of four triterpenoids of steroidal nature in which β -Sitosterol was the major fraction. Pharmaceutical Sciences International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2249-680

PROBABLE USE OF PROSOPHIS CUMANENSIS FRUIT MUCILAGE AS RELEASE RETARDANT WITH POVIDONE: TAKING NIMESULIDE AS A MODEL DRUG

ABSTRACT Aim: The present research work was aimed to prepare Nimesulide sustained release matrix tablets using Prosophis cumanensis fruit mucilage and Povidone. Method: Drug excipient compatibility studies were performed by using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic studies. Various formulations of Nimesulide P. cumanensis fruit mucilage and Povidone were prepared. The DSC and FTIR studies revealed that the P. cumanensis fruit mucilage and Povidone are compatible with Nimesulide. The formulated tablets were evaluated for pre compression and post compression parameters including swelling behavior and release rate kinetics, which were found to be satisfactory within the limits. Conclusion: In vitro dissolution study proved that the dried P. cumanensis fruit mucilage and Povidone in combination can be used as a matrix forming polymers for making sustained release matrix tablets

SIMULTANEOUS ESTIMATION OF MONTELUKAST SODIUM AND THEOPHYLLINE IN PHARMACEUTICAL DOSAGE FORM BY UV SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC METHOD

ABSTRACT A simple, precise, accurate, rapid and economical spectrophotometric method have been developed for simultaneous estimation of Montelukast sodium and Theophylline in pure and in combined tablet dosage form. Method-1 simultaneous equations and Method-2 Qabsorbance Ratio method by using nm 287 nm and 271 nm as absorbance maxima (λ max)for Montelukast sodium and Theophylline respectively and 280 nm (isoabsorptive point). A water was used as Solvent. Linearity was observed in the concentration range of 4-24 µg/ml for Montelukast sodium and 2-24 µg/ml for Theophylline respectively. The method was validated statistically and recovery study was performed to confirm the accuracy of the method

Generation of ribosome imprinted polymers for sensitive detection of translational responses

Whilst the profiling of the transcriptome and proteome even of single-cells becomes feasible, the analysis of the translatome, which refers to all messenger RNAs (mRNAs) engaged with ribosomes for protein synthesis, is still an elaborate procedure requiring millions of cells. Herein, we report the generation and use of “smart materials”, namely molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) to facilitate the isolation of ribosomes and translated mRNAs from merely 1,000 cells. In particular, we show that a hydrogel-based ribosome imprinted polymer could recover ribosomes and associated mRNAs from human, simian and mice cellular extracts, but did not selectively enrich yeast ribosomes, thereby demonstrating selectivity. Furthermore, ribosome imprinted polymers enabled the sensitive measurement of an mRNA translational regulatory event, requiring 1,000-fold less cells than current methodologies. These results provide first evidence for the suitability of MIPs to selectively recover ribonucleoprotein complexes such as ribosomes, founding a novel means for sensitive detection of gene regulation

Glucose intolerance and gestational diabetes risk in relation to sleep duration and snoring during pregnancy: a pilot study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Insufficient sleep and poor sleep quality, considered endemic in modern society, are associated with obesity, impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes. Little, however, is known about the consequences of insufficient sleep and poor sleep quality during pregnancy on glucose tolerance and gestational diabetes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cohort of 1,290 women was interviewed during early pregnancy. We collected information about sleep duration and snoring during early pregnancy. Results from screening and diagnostic testing for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) were abstracted from medical records. Generalized linear models were fitted to derive relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of GDM associated with sleep duration and snoring, respectively.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After adjusting for maternal age and race/ethnicity, GDM risk was increased among women sleeping ≤ 4 hours compared with those sleeping 9 hours per night (RR = 5.56; 95% CI 1.31-23.69). The corresponding RR for lean women (<25 kg/m²) was 3.23 (95% CI 0.34-30.41) and 9.83 (95% CI 1.12-86.32) for overweight women (≥ 25 kg/m²). Overall, snoring was associated with a 1.86-fold increased risk of GDM (RR = 1.86; 95% CI 0.88-3.94). The risk of GDM was particularly elevated among overweight women who snored. Compared with lean women who did not snore, those who were overweight and snored had a 6.9-fold increased risk of GDM (95% CI 2.87-16.6).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These preliminary findings suggest associations of short sleep duration and snoring with glucose intolerance and GDM. Though consistent with studies of men and non-pregnant women, larger studies that include objective measures of sleep duration, quality and apnea are needed to obtain more precise estimates of observed associations.</p

NetMets: software for quantifying and visualizing errors in biological network segmentation

One of the major goals in biomedical image processing is accurate segmentation of networks embedded in volumetric data sets. Biological networks are composed of a meshwork of thin filaments that span large volumes of tissue. Examples of these structures include neurons and microvasculature, which can take the form of both hierarchical trees and fully connected networks, depending on the imaging modality and resolution. Network function depends on both the geometric structure and connectivity. Therefore, there is considerable demand for algorithms that segment biological networks embedded in three-dimensional data. While a large number of tracking and segmentation algorithms have been published, most of these do not generalize well across data sets. One of the major reasons for the lack of general-purpose algorithms is the limited availability of metrics that can be used to quantitatively compare their effectiveness against a pre-constructed ground-truth. In this paper, we propose a robust metric for measuring and visualizing the differences between network models. Our algorithm takes into account both geometry and connectivity to measure network similarity. These metrics are then mapped back onto an explicit model for visualization

Allergic rhinitis in northern vietnam: increased risk of urban living according to a large population survey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Little is known about prevalence and risk factors of allergic rhinitis and chronic nasal symptoms among adults in Vietnam. We aimed to estimate the prevalence, risk factor patterns and co-morbidities of allergic rhinitis and chronic nasal symptoms in one urban and one rural area in northern Vietnam.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted from August 2007 to January 2008 in urban Hoankiem and rural Bavi in Hanoi among adults aged 21-70 years. Of 7008 randomly selected subjects, 91.7% participated in Bavi and 70.3% in Hoankiem.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Allergic rhinitis ever or chronic nasal symptoms were reported by 50.2%. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis ever was considerably higher in Hoankiem compared to Bavi, 29.6% vs 10.0% (p < 0.001). Allergic rhinitis ever and chronic nasal symptoms were both significantly associated with asthma and respiratory symptoms, respectively (p < 0.001). Exposure to gas, dust or fumes at work was significantly associated with allergic rhinitis ever, OR 1.57 (95% CI 1.34 - 1.84), nasal blocking, OR 1.90 (95% CI 1.68 - 2.15) and runny nose, OR 1.32 (95% CI 1.17 - 1.49), while somewhat surprisingly no association with smoking was found. Female sex was a significant risk factor for both nasal blocking and runny nose.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Allergic rhinitis ever was considerably more common in the urban area. Nasal blocking and runny nose was each reported by about one third of the studied sample with no major urban-rural difference. Further, exposure to air pollution at work was significantly associated with allergic rhinitis ever, nasal blocking and runny nose.</p