Study of serum calcium and serum magnesium levels in newly diagnosed hypertensives

Background: In normal vascular tissue physiology, calcium plays a crucial role. Calcium and magnesium metabolism have been implicated in the pathogenesis of primary hypertension. The present study aimed to assess serum calcium and serum magnesium levels and to study the association of the serum magnesium and serum calcium levels with hypertension in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients of Bikaner, Rajasthan. Methods: This cross- sectional study was carried out on 60 subjects aged between 18 years to 60 years in the department of physiology and in association with department of medicine and department of cardiology, S. P. Medical College and associated group of hospitals, Bikaner. Data was compiled and entered into Microsoft software statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. Data was summarised as frequencies, mean and standard deviations. For continuous data the means were compared between cases and controls using unpaired or independent t test; and for nominal data, chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests were applied to compare frequency distribution between cases and controls to see the statistical significance. Results: The present study shows statistically insignificant change in serum calcium and serum magnesium levels in newly detected hypertensive patients when compared to normotensive controls. Conclusions: In view of statistically insignificant change in serum calcium and magnesium levels in newly detected hypertensive patients in our study, further studies with a large sample size and more uniform population are required to find if any significant association exists between these cations and hypertension

Service Learning: A Need Of The Hour For Promoting Social Responsibility Among Students In Higher Educational Institutions Through The New Education Policy

A type of experiential learning known as "service-learning" blends academic study with community involvement. The field of service-outcomes research suffers from an absence of critical evaluation. This study used an inductive approach to discover the causes and consequences of the issue and develop strategies for dealing with them. The research strategy  was anchored on qualitative and inductive approaches. Semi-structured, in-depth, one-on-one interviews with six participants. Additionally, two focus groups were convened. The information acquired from diverse sources underwent a sequential and comparative analysis relevant to the study. The research reveals the connection between intellectual growth and personal transformation through service-learning. Although it also identifies potential drawbacks, it is suggested that service-learning is often beneficial and possibly favorable to students transformation. Furthermore, the study suggests incorporating service learning components as one of the mandatory subjects in the corresponding major course through the New Education Policy. &nbsp

High sensitivity C - reactive protein (hs-CRP) and clinical characteristics, endocrine, metabolic profile in Indian women with PCOS: a correlation

Background: Role of hs-CRP was studied in PCOS women.Methods: Correlation between serum hs-CRP and endocrine, metabolic profile was studied in 30 healthy women and 88 PCOS women. In PCOS women correlation between hs-CRP and clinical characteristics viz obesity, infertility, acne, hirsutism, acanthosis nigricans (AN) was also studied. Serum levels of hs-CRP, Luteinizing hormone (LH), Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), LH:FSH ratio, Testosterone (Testo), fasting insulin, fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (Tg), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) were estimated.Results: Mean serum hs-CRP in PCOS women was higher than that in control women (6.9 ± SE 0.84 v/s 2.0 ± SE 0.19mg/L, P=0.005).  In PCOS group overweight/obese had higher hs-CRP as compared to normal weight women (P=0.0051). In control group hs-CRP was positively correlated with age (r=0.385 p=0.035) and LDL (r=0.38 P=0.036). PCOS women showed positive correlation between hs-CRP and cholesterol, LDL, fasting insulin, HOMA. PCOS women showed a significant negative correlation between hs-CRP and LH. AN positive PCOS women showed higher serum hs-CRP levels as compared to AN negative PCOS women (11 ± SE 0.7 v/s 5.5 ± SE 2.3, P=0.0439).Conclusions: Serum hs-CRP is raised in Indian PCOS women reflecting association of low grade chronic inflammation. A positive correlation is present between hs-CRP and AN, insulin in PCOS women and obesity may aggravate this association. A positive correlation between hs-CRP and TC, LDL in the background of normal lipid profile is suggestive of precedence of chronic inflammation over dyslipidemia in PCOS

Leptin in non PCOS and PCOS women: a comparative study

Background: Leptin, a hormone secreted by adipose tissues, controls body weight through regulation of appetite and thermogenesis.  The present study was aimed to observe role of leptin in healthy and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women.Methods: Correlation between serum leptin and anthropometric, endocrine and metabolic profile was studied in 30 apparently healthy women (control group) and 38 PCOS women (PCOS group). Each group was stratified based on body mass Index (BMI), as normal weight (BMI<23) and overweight/obese (BMI>23).Results Leptin level was high in 30% control group and in 65.79% PCOS group. Mean leptin (ng/ml) in PCOS group was higher compared to control group (18±1.9 v/s 12±1.7, p<0.05). Mean leptin levels were higher in overweight/obese subgroup as compared to normal weight subgroup in both Control (p<0.05) and PCOS groups (p=<0.05). In control group, leptin showed positive correlation with waist circumference (WC) (r=-0.49, p<0.01) and negative correlation with Cholesterol: HDL ratio (p<0.05). In PCOS group, leptin showed positive correlation with BMI (r=0.377,p<0.05) and Triglyceride (r=0.34,<0.05) and negative correlation with Fasting Blood Glucose( FBG)(r=-0.33,p<0.05). In normal weight subgroup among control group (n=25), leptin showed positive correlation with LDL (r=0.49, p<0.05). In control overweight/obese subgroup (n=5), leptin showed positive correlation with Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) (r=+1.0, p<0.05) and inverse correlation with testosterone(r=-1.0,p<0.05). In normal weight subgroup among PCOS group, leptin had a positive correlation with LDL: HDL ratio (r=0.488, p<0.05). Conclusions: Hyperleptinemia is common in obesity. Leptin controls glycemic status in patients with IR. Correlation of leptin with FSH and testosterone is influenced by obesity and PCOS.  Leptin regulation of lipid homeostasis is influenced by obesity or PCOS

Multiplex polymerase chain reaction for simultaneous quantitation of human nuclear, mitochondrial, and male Y-chromosome DNA: Application in human identification

Human forensic casework requires sensitive quantitation of human nuclear (nDNA), mitochondrial (mtDNA), and male Y-chromosome DNA from complex biomaterials. Although many such systems are commercially available, no system is capable of simultaneously quantifying all three targets in a single reaction. Most available methods either are not multiplex compatible or lack human specificity. Here, we report the development of a comprehensive set of human-specific, target-specific multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for DNA quantitation. Using TaqMan-MGB probes, our duplex qPCR for nDNA/mtDNA had a linear quantitation range of 100 ng to 1 pg, and our triplex qPCR assay for nDNA/mtDNA/male Y DNA had a linear range of 100-0.1 ng. Human specificity was demonstrated by the accurate detection of 0.05 and 5% human DNA from a complex source of starting templates. Target specificity was confirmed by the lack of cross-amplification among targets. A high-throughput alternative for human gender determination was also developed by multiplexing the male Y primer/probe set with an X-chromosome-based system. Background cross-amplification with DNA templates derived from 14 other species was negligible aside from the male Y assay which produced spurious amplifications from other nonhuman primate templates. Mainstream application of these assays will undoubtedly benefit forensic genomics. © 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Stability-indicating HPLC determination of pramipexole dihydrochloride in bulk drug and pharmaceutical dosage form

A novel stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatographic assay method was developed and validated for quantitative determination of pramipexole dihydrochloride in bulk drugs and in pharmaceutical dosage form in the presence of degradation products. An isocratic, reversed phase HPLC method was developed to separate the drug from the degradation products, using an Ace5-C18 (250×4.6 mm, 5 µm) advance chromatography column, and 10 mmol L-1 ammonium acetate and acetonitrile (75:25 v/v) as a mobile phase. The detection was carried out at a wavelength of 260 nm. The pramipexole was subjected to stress conditions of hydrolysis (acid, base), oxidation, photolysis and thermal degradation. Degradation was observed for pramipexole in base, in acid and in 30% H2O2. The drug was found to be stable in the other stress conditions attempted. The degradation products were well resolved from the main peak. The percentage recovery of pramipexole was from (99.87 to 99.98%) in the pharmaceutical dosage form. The developed method was validated with respect to linearity, accuracy (recovery), precision, system suitability, specificity and robustness. The forced degradation studies prove the stability indicating power of the method

BIOADHESIVE MULTIPARTICULATE (MICROSPHERS) DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM: A REVIEW

The concept of controlled drug delivery has been traditionally used to obtain specific release rates or targeting of active ingredients. The phenomenon of bioadhesion has been studied extensively in the last decade and applied to improve the performance of these drug delivery systems. Recent advances in polymer science and drug carrier technologies have promulgated the development of novel drug carriers such as bioadhesive microspheres that have boosted the use of “bioadhesion†in drug delivery. This article presents the spectrum of potential applications of bioadhesive microspheres in controlled drug delivery ranging from the small molecules, to peptides, and to the macromolecular drugs such as proteins, oligonucleotides and even DNA. The development of mucus or cell-specific bioadhesive polymers and the concepts of cytoadhesion and bioinvasion provide unprecedented opportunities for targeting drugs to specific cells or intracellular compartments. Developments in the techniques for in vitro and in vivo evaluation of bioadhesive microspheres have also been discussed. Keywords: - Bioadhesion, Bioadhesive Microspheres, Development, Polymers

Therapeutic efficacy of artemether–lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria from three highly malarious states in India

Additional file 1. Flowchart showing site-wise enrolment and follow-up profile

Bladder paraganglioma — A report of two cases

Introduction: Bladder paragangliomas (BP) are rare tumors, with clinical manifestations ranging from hypertension to hematuria to being asymptomatic. Histologically, they can mimic urothelial carcinomas. Around 200 cases of paragangliomas arising in the urinary bladder have been described in the world literature. Observation: We report 2 new cases of BPs presenting with subtle clinical symptoms like increased urinary frequency. On routine cystoscopic examination of the bladder, bladder tumors were detected. Conclusion: We would like to stress on the histomorphology and immunohistochemistry findings of this rare condition and its diagnosis on transurethral resection specimens. Keywords: Bladder, Paraganglioma, Immunohistochemistr