FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF ION-SENSITIVE IN-SITU NASAL GEL OF ZOLMITRIPTAN

In situ gel system is novel drug delivery system in which there is transition of sol to gel on external stimuli like change in pH, temperature or change in ion concentration (sol-gel transition). In the present study various formulations were prepared by using gellan gum as gelling agent and HPMC K100 as controlled or sustained release polymer. All the formulations were evaluated for various parameters like pH, viscosity, drug content, gel strength, mucoadhesive strength and drug release. At minimum concentration of polymer lose their integrity and at maximum concentration stiff gel were formed. At optimized concentration of gelling agent and HPMC K100 showed in situ gelling with all parameter in range. In Vitro release data revealed that the optimized formulation showed controlled and sustained drug release pattern. The optimized formulation also obeyed korsmer Peppas model equation and which showed the release exponent n value 0.765. Thus the ex vivo higher bioavailability can be expected from the optimized formulation.Â

Distribution of Gaseous Phase Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Rural Environment of India

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are considered as atmospheric contaminants due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic properties. In the present study, 8 selected gaseous phase PAHs were determined in ambient air representing rural environment. The gaseous phase PAHs samples were investigated for quantification of selected PAHs in various seasons and possible sources of gaseous phase PAHs in rural environment. The samples were collected using a cartridge containing XAD-2 resin placed between layers of polyurethane foam (PUF) and analyzed by fluorescence technique. The seasonal variation in selected gaseous phase individual PAHs varied between 28-496.9 ng m-3 during winter, summer and post-monsoon season respectively. The concentration of gaseous phase PAHs was dominated by Phen, Anth and Flt. The gaseous phase concentration of PAHs were 3.9 and 5.1 times higher in winter as compared to summer and post-monsoon season respectively. The higher concentration winter may be due to higher emission from biomass burning, fuel used for cooking such as coal and kerosene and other heating activities to protect from cold winter. The three ring gaseous phase PAHs were predominant than four and five membered ring PAHs and contribution varied between74.9-93.9 % of selected PAHs. The ratio analysis studies showed that traditional fuel used for cooking purposes mainly wood, kerosene, coal and biomass burning are the major contributors in rural environmen

A study on major inorganic ion composition of atmospheric aerosols

Abstract: Atmospheric aerosol samples were collected from Akola and Buldana region covering around 40 sqkm area during October-November 2002 and were analyzed for ten major inorganic ions namely F-, Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, PO42-, Na +, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and NH using ion chromatographic technique. Theaverage mass of aerosols was found to be 225.81 µg/m3 4+ with standard deviation of 31.29 and average total water soluble load of total cations and anions was found to be 4.32 µg/m3. The concentration of ions in samples showed a general pattern as SO42->NO3->Cl- >PO>Ca2+> NH4+> Mg2+>K for cations. The overall composition of the aerosols was taken into account to identify the sources. The trend showed higher concentration of sodium followed by calcium, sulfate, nitrate, phosphate and ammoinum and found to be influenced by terrestrial sources. The presence of SO42- and NO3- in aerosols may be due to re-suspension of soil particles. Ca2+, Mg2+ and Cl are to be derived from soil materials. The presence of NH+4 may be attributed to the reaction of NH3- vapors with acidic gases may react or condense on an acidic particle surface of anthropogenic origin. Theatmospheric aerosol is slightly acidic due to neutralization of basicity by SO2 and NOx

Characterization of Major Inorganic Ions in Precipitation in Area of Hisar, India

The rainwater samples were collected on event basis during June-July-August-2012 and were analyzed for pH, major anions (Cl, NO , SO ) and cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K, NH ). The pH value varied from 6.0 to 3 4 4 7.2 indicating alkaline nature of rainwater. The pH of the rainwater was found well above the reference pH (5.6), showing alkalinity during the monsoon season. The average and standard deviation of ionic composition was found to be 98.1 ± 9.8 l eq L-1. The total anions contribute 48 % and cations 52 %, respectively to rainwater. Neutralization factors (NF) followed a sequence of NFCaNFMg (NFNH ) with factors of 1.1, 0.36 4 and 0.16 indicating the crystal components are responsible for neutralization of anions. The average ratio of (NO + Cl)/SO observed as 1.2 indicates that nitric and hydrochloric acid influences the acidity of rainwater. 3 4 The ratio of NH /NO and NH /SO was observed as 0.7 and 0.3 thus indicates that the possible compounds 4 3 4 4 which may predominate in the atmosphere are NH NO and (NH ) SO . Ionic correlation was established to 4 3 4 2 4 identify sources of origin. Agood correlation was seen between Ca and Mg (r = 0.98); suggesting the common occurrence of these ions from crustal origin. Similarly, the acidic ions SO and NO correlated well (r = 70) 4 3 indicating their origin from similar sources. Other relatively significant correlations were observed between Ca and SO (r = 0.93), Mg and SO (r = 0.76), Ca and NO (r = 0.07), Ca and Cl (r = 0.28) and Mg and Cl (r = 0.32), 4 4 3 and Mg and NO (r = 0.69). The observed rainwater ratio of Cl/Na (1.4) is closer to that of seawater ratio (1.18) 3 indicates fractionation of sea-salt and modifications by non-marine constituents as the site is 2040 km away from the sea coast. The nss-Ca contribution was observed as 95.7% suggesting their crustal origin whereas nss-Mg and nss-K shows their contribution as 86.8% and 83.9% indicating influence of soil sources. The nss- SO contributed as 86.7% shows anthropogenic origin

Characterization and Source Identification of PM bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAHs) in Semi-Arid Region of India

Respirable particulate (PM10) and particulate phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ambient air were measured by collecting samples during winter, summer and post-monsoon season at rural environment in north-western part of India. The concentration of 8 selected PAHs, Acenaphthene (Ace), Fluorene (Flu), Phenanthrene (Phen), Anthracene (Anth), Fluoranthene (Flt), Pyrene (Pyr), Chrysene (Chr), Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) were quantified and characterized for different seasons. The ratio of average total PAHs concentration of winter to summerand winter to post-monsoon were assessed for rural environment was 5.7 and 6.4 for summer and pot-monsoon season respectively which is in agreement with the general trend of 1.5-10. The four membered ring PAHs were predominant and contributed to about 62% of total PAHs during winter season. A correlation study was performed among selected PAHs for source identification for all the three seasons. The results are in agreement with the traditional method of burning biomass, wood, coal and agricultural waste for cooking, a practice still followed in rural environmen

Vadose zone monitoring system installation report for McClellan AFB

Two vadose zone monitoring systems (VZMS) have been installed at Site S-7, in Investigation Cluster 34 (IC 34), in Operable Unit A (OU A) of McClellan AFB. The two boreholes, VZMS-A and VZMS-B were instrumented at depths ranging from approximately 6 ft to 113 ft. Instruments were installed in clusters using a custom-made stainless steel cage with a spring-loaded mechanism allowing instruments to be in contact with the well bore wall once in place. Each cluster contains a tensiometer, suction lysimeter, soil gas probe and thermistor for measuring hydraulic potential, liquid- and gas-phase pressure, temperature of the formation and for collecting samples for chemical analyses in both the liquid and gas phases. Neutron probe logging is performed in two separate, smaller borings, VZMS-NP-1 and VZMS-NP-2, to obtain soil moisture content data. Preliminary details of soil gas analyses, laboratory field testing of soil samples, particle size analyses and neutron probe data are presented

Chemical Characterization of rainwater at Akkalkuwa, India

The chemical composition of rainwater changes from place to place and region to region under the influence of several major factors, viz., topography, its distance from sea and overall rainfall pattern. The present study investigated the chemical composition of precipitation at Akkalkuwa, district Nandurbar, in the State Maharashtra during southwest monsoon. The rainwater samples were collected on event basis during June-September 2008 and were analyzed for pH, major anions (F, Cl, NO3, SO4) and cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K, NH4). The pH varied from 6.0 and 6.8 with an average of 6.29 ± 0.23 indicating alkaline nature and dominance of Ca in precipitation. The relative magnitude of major ions in precipitation follows the pattern as Ca>Cl>Na>SO4>NO3>HCO3>NH4>Mg>K>F>H. The Neutralization factor (NF) was found to be NFCa = 0.95, NFNH4 = 0.31, NFMg = 0.27 and NFK = 0.08 indicating below cloud process in which crustal components are responsible for neutralization of anions. Significant correlation of NH4 with SO4 and NO3 was observed with correlation coefficient of r = 0.79 and 0.75, respectively

Effect of aspirin on the diagnostic accuracy of the faecal immunochemical test for colorectal advanced neoplasia

Background: Aspirin (ASA) is a drug that can cause gastrointestinal lesions and symptoms. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most prevalent type of cancer in Western countries. We assessed the effect of aspirin on the diagnostic accuracy of the faecal immunochemical test (FIT) for CRC and/or advanced neoplasia (AN) in patients undergoing colonoscopy for gastrointestinal symptoms. Methods: We conducted a prospective multicentre observational study of diagnostic tests that included patients with gastrointestinal symptoms undergoing colonoscopy between March 2012 and 2014 (the COLONPREDICT study). Symptoms were assessed and a FIT and blood tests assessing haemoglobin and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were performed. Results: The study included 3052 patients: A total of 2567 did not take aspirin (non-user group) and 485 (16%) took aspirin (user group). Continuous treatment with ASA did not change the AUC (0.88, 0.82; p = 0.06), sensitivity (92%, 88%; p = 0.5) or specificity (71%, 67%; p = 0.2) of the FIT for CRC detection. Similarly, we found no differences in the AUC (0.81, 0.79; p = 0.6), sensitivity (74%, 75.5%; p = 0.3) or specificity (76%, 73.6%; p = 0.3) for AN detection. Patients with an aspirin use of = 300 mg/day had a lower prevalence of AN and the sensitivity, specificity and AUC for AN for these patients were 54%, 68% and 0.66, significantly lower than for the non-user group (p = 0.03). Conclusions: Aspirin does not modify the diagnostic accuracy of FIT for CRC and/or AN in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms. Aspirin use of = 300 mg/day decreases the accuracy of the test

Retrospective cohort study: Risk of gastrointestinal cancer in a symptomatic cohort after a complete colonoscopy: Role of faecal immunochemical test

BACKGROUND: Faecal immunochemical test (FIT) has been recommended to assess symptomatic patients for colorectal cancer (CRC) detection. Nevertheless, some conditions could theoretically favour blood originating in proximal areas of the gastrointestinal tract passing through the colon unmetabolized. A positive FIT result could be related to other gastrointestinal cancers (GIC). AIM: To assess the risk of GIC detection and related death in FIT-positive symptomatic patients (threshold 10 µg Hb/g faeces) without CRC. METHODS: Post hoc cohort analysis performed within two prospective diagnostic test studies evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of different FIT analytical systems for CRC and significant colonic lesion detection. Ambulatory patients with gastrointestinal symptoms referred consecutively for colonoscopy from primary and secondary healthcare, underwent a quantitative FIT before undergoing a complete colonoscopy. Patients without CRC were divided into two groups (positive and negative FIT) using the threshold of 10 µg Hb/g of faeces and data from follow-up were retrieved from electronic medical records of the public hospitals involved in the research. We determined the cumulative risk of GIC, CRC and upper GIC. Hazard rate (HR) was calculated adjusted by age, sex and presence of significant colonic lesion. RESULTS: We included 2709 patients without CRC and a complete baseline colonoscopy, 730 (26.9%) with FIT = 10 µgr Hb/gr. During a mean time of 45.5 ± 20.0 mo, a GIC was detected in 57 (2.1%) patients: An upper GIC in 35 (1.3%) and a CRC in 14 (0.5%). Thirty-six patients (1.3%) died due to GIC: 22 (0.8%) due to an upper GIC and 9 (0.3%) due to CRC. FIT-positive subjects showed a higher CRC risk (HR 3.8, 95%CI: 1.2-11.9) with no differences in GIC (HR 1.5, 95%CI: 0.8-2.7) or upper GIC risk (HR 1.0, 95%CI: 0.5-2.2). Patients with a positive FIT had only an increased risk of CRC-related death (HR 10.8, 95%CI: 2.1-57.1) and GIC-related death (HR 2.2, 95%CI: 1.1-4.3), with no differences in upper GIC-related death (HR 1.4, 95%CI: 0.6-3.3). An upper GIC was detected in 22 (0.8%) patients during the first year. Two variables were independently associated: anaemia (OR 5.6, 95%CI: 2.2-13.9) and age = 70 years (OR 2.7, 95%CI: 1.1-7.0). CONCLUSION: Symptomatic patients without CRC have a moderate risk increase in upper GIC, regardless of the FIT result. Patients with a positive FIT have an increased risk of post-colonoscopy CRC