FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF ACECLOFENAC PRONIOSOME LOADED ORABASE FOR MANAGEMENT OF DENTAL PAIN

Objective: The main motive is to develop proniosomes loaded orabase for enhanced permeation and prolonged release of aceclofenac for oro dental conditions.Methods: Various aceclofenac (ACL) proniosomal gels were formulated employing various surfactants, span 60 was superior and significant for loading into orabase. The formulations were scrutinized for entrapment efficiency, optical microscopy, in vitro diffusion and release studies, mucoadhesive strength, ex-vivo permeation studies and drug-excipient interactions were determined by FTIR spectroscopy.Results: Considering best entrapment efficiency with span 60 (97.60±1.85) and optimum vesicle shape, along with prolonged drug permeation (45% for 24 h) the formulation F(ACL)1 was selected and optimized for loading into orabase. The F(ACL)1 loaded orabase exhibited significant prolonged release over 14 h, and permeation profiles exhibited nearly two-fold increased flux in comparison with control. Good mucoadhesive strength was observed for proniosomal orabase 6370 dynes/cm2. No evidence of incompatibility amongst formulation components from FTIR studies. SEM images revealed the particle size range from 136 µm to 236 µm for proniosomal orabase.Conclusion: Orabase can be an effective carrier for proniosomes with enhanced permeation and prolonged release for oro-dental conditions

Utility of rabies neutralizing antibody detection in cerebrospinal fluid and serum for ante-mortem diagnosis of human rabies.

BACKGROUND:Early ante-mortem laboratory confirmation of human rabies is essential to aid patient management and institute public health measures. Few studies have highlighted the diagnostic value of antibody detection in CSF/serum in rabies, and its utility is usually undermined owing to the late seroconversion and short survival in infected patients. This study was undertaken to examine the ante-mortem diagnostic utility and prognostic value of antibody detection by rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)/serum samples received from clinically suspected human rabies cases from January 2015 to December 2017. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Samples collected ante-mortem and post-mortem from 130 and 6 patients with clinically suspected rabies respectively, were received in the laboratory during the study period. Ante-mortem laboratory confirmation was achieved in 55/130 (42.3%) cases. Real time PCR for detection of viral nucleic acid performed on saliva, nuchal skin, brain tissue and CSF samples could confirm the diagnosis in 15 (27.2%) of the 55 laboratory confirmed cases. Ante-mortem diagnosis could be achieved by RFFIT (in CSF and/or serum) in 45 (34.6%) of the 130 clinically suspected cases, accounting for 81.8% of the total 55 laboratory confirmed cases. The sensitivity of CSF RFFIT increased with the day of sample collection (post-onset of symptoms) and was found to be 100% after 12 days of illness. Patients who had received prior vaccination had an increased probability of a positive RFFIT and negative PCR result. Patients who were positive by RFFIT alone at initial diagnosis had longer survival (albeit with neurological sequelae) than patients who were positive by PCR alone or both RFFIT and PCR. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:Detection of antibodies in the CSF/serum is a valuable ante-mortem diagnostic tool in human rabies, especially in patients who survive beyond a week. It was also found to have a limited role as a prognostic marker to predict outcomes in patients

Field and agroinoculation screening of national collection of urd bean (Vigna mungo) germplasm accessions for new sources of mung bean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) resistance

Yellow mosaic disease (YMD) is a major problem in Urd bean (Vigna mungo L.) in India, which causes huge yield losses. Breeding for wide spectrum and durable Mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) resistance and cultivating resistant cultivars is the most appropriate and effective approach. However, the task has become challenging with the report of at least two species of the virus, viz., Mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) and Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) and their recombinants; the existence of various isolates of these species with varied virulence and rapid mutations noted in the virus as well as in the whitefly vector population. Thus the present study was carried out to identify and characterize novel and diverse sources of YMV resistance and develop linked molecular markers for breeding durable and broadspectrum resistant urdbean cultivars against YMV. Towards this goal, we have screened 998 accessions of urdbean national collection of germplasm against YMD Hyderabad isolate both in a field under the natural level of disease incidence and through agro inoculation in the laboratory using viruliferous clones of the same isolate. Ten highly resistant accessions identified through repeated testing have been characterized in terms of reported linked markers. We attempted to see diversity among the ten resistant accessions reported here using earlier reported resistance-linked SCAR marker YMV1 and SSR CEDG180 marker. SCAR marker YMV1 did not amplify with any of the 10 accessions. But with CEDG180, results suggested that 10 accessions shortlisted through field and laboratory tests do not carry PU31 allele and this shows that it may be likely to carry novel gene(s). Further studies are needed to genetically characterize these new sources

Prevalence of excessive internet use and its association with psychological distress among university students in South India

Background: Excessive internet use, psychological distress, and its inter-relationship among university students can impact their academic progress, scholastic competence, career goals, and extracurricular interests. Thus, a need exists to evaluate the addictive internet use among university students. Objectives: This study was set up to examine the internet use behaviors, internet addiction (IA), and its association with psychological distress primarily depression among a large group of university students from South India. Methods: Totally 2776 university students aged 18–21 years; pursuing undergraduate studies from a recognized university in South India participated in the study. The patterns of internet use and socioeducational data were collected through the internet use behaviors and demographic data sheet, IA test (IAT) was utilized to assess IA and psychological distress primarily depressive symptoms were evaluated with Self-Report Questionnaire-20. Results: Among the total n = 2776, 29.9% (n = 831) of university students met criterion on IAT for mild IA, 16.4% (n = 455) for moderate addictive use, and 0.5% (n = 13) for severe IA. IA was higher among university students who were male, staying in rented accommodations, accessed internet several times a day, spent more than 3 h per day on the Internet and had psychological distress. Male gender, duration of use, time spent per day, frequency of internet use, and psychological distress (depressive symptoms) predicted IA. Conclusions: IA was present among a substantial proportion of university students which can inhibit their academic progress and impact their psychological health. Early identification of risk factors of IA can facilitate the effective prevention and timely initiation of treatment strategies for IA and psychological distress among university students

Fluorescence properties of Nd3+-doped tellurite glasses

The compositional and concentration dependence of luminescence of the F-4(3/2) -> I-4(J) (J = 13/2, 11/2 and 9/2) transitions in four Nd3+-doped tellurite based glasses has been studied. The free-ion energy levels obtained for 60TeO(2) + 39ZnO(2) + 1.0Nd(2)O(3) (TZN10) glass have been analysed using the free-ion Hamiltonian model and compared with similar results obtained for Nd3+ :glass systems. The absorption spectrum of TZN10 glass has been analysed using the Judd-Ofelt theory. Relatively longer decay rates have been obtained for Nd3+-doped phosphotellurite glasses. The emission characteristics of the F-4(3/2) -> I-4(11/2) transition, of the Nd3+ :TZN10 glass, are found to be comparable to those obtained for Nd3+ :phosphate laser glasses. The non-exponential shape of the emission decay curves for the F-4(3/2) -> I-4(11/2) transition is attributed to the presence of energy transfer processes between the Nd3+ ions

Knowledge of Australian primary education providers towards dental avulsion injuries: a cross-sectional study

Background/aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of school professionals regarding the emergency management of dental avulsion. Methods This cross‐sectional study utilised a self‐administered, pilot‐tested questionnaire for school staff from primary schools. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis – the prevalence and univariate associations between a categorical outcome and the variables under consideration, were evaluated using Pearson’s Chi‐squared test. Results This survey yielded a response rate of 43.5% (n = 313). Approximately 60% of participants held valid first‐aid certificates and 23% had received avulsion advice previously. Over 80% of participants expressed an unwillingness to replant an avulsed tooth, and over 90% believed that there should be greater awareness in this area. This unwillingness to replant was influenced by respondents’ age (x2 = 8.13 df = 3, P = 0.043) and receiving advice previously (x2 = 13.15, df = 1, P < 0.001). Under‐preparedness was related to years of experience (x2 = 15.03, df = 5, P = 0.010), first‐aid training (x2 = 6.41, df = 1, P = 0.011) and receiving advice previously (x2 = 43.47, df = 1, P < 0.001). It was also evident that first‐aid training positively influenced appropriate dental referral in the management pathway (x2 = 10.49, df = 1, P = 0.001). Conclusion This study suggests that there is an inadequate level of knowledge on the appropriate management of dental avulsion injuries amongst primary school professionals in Australia

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices about Blood Donation among Urban Slums Dwellers – A Cross Sectional Study

Background: It has been estimated that more than half of the donations are paid in developing countries like India. People do not know about the organizations engaged in voluntary blood donation. They are afraid about the blood donation. They have wrong concepts about the blood donations. Objective: To study Knowledge, Attitude and Practices about Blood Donation among Urban Slums Dwellers Methods: A community based cross sectional study was carried out at an Urban slum area, Shapur, Hyderabad for 4 months among 210 people. Data was collected using a predesigned , Pretested and structured questionnaire Results: About half-half subjects were aware and not aware of their blood groups. Half of the subjects did not know their own blood group. Majority of the subjects i.e. 88.1% were aware that there is a phenomenon called blood donation and what is it. 17.6% of the subjects were aware that HIV test should be performed on the donated blood before it is given to the needed person. Only 2.4% knew about the malaria test. Overall 20.9% told about the other test names which are routinely done on the donated blood. But majority i.e. 59.1% did not know that any test should be performed on the donated blood. Majority i.e. 72.4% of the subjects were not aware about the knowledge on duration between each blood donation. The maximum subjects donated the blood only once contributing to 50%. The maximum subjects donated blood to their friends contributing to 38.46% and 31% of the subjects donated to their relatives. Conclusion: Knowledge and attitudes related to blood donation was poor among the slum dwellers. Only 12.4% had donated blood but voluntary blood donation rate was very poor