Study on carbonization of nonwoody biomass species

Carbonization of wood for the manufacture of charcoal has been practiced since the beginning of history. The Industrial Revolution brought about a heavy demand for wood charcoal, and up until the late 1800s the largest volume was used by the iron industry. Today, coal derived cokes are used and wood carbonization, and use of distillates, is practiced more in developing countries. Despite the decline of the traditional wood pyrolysis industries, a great deal of technical information regarding cellulose (and lignocellulosic) decomposition kinetics, mechanisms, thermodynamics and byproducts has been acquired using modern analytical techniques. Several different markets provided motivation for the pursuit of this information. Those markets include: activated carbons, textiles, composite materials, fire retardant wood products and energy from biomass and refuse. While much information is available from these works, there exists a gap in knowledge regarding monolithic carbonized wood. Specifically, no studies have been found relating to methods. Biomass, especially wood, has traditionally been an important source of energy particularly attractive nowadays because of its inherent nature of being environmentally friendly and renewable The aims of the present project work have been to characterize the proximate analysis and calorific value of different components of BANMICHAI (non woody biomass species). The second aim was to carbonize the different components in the temperature range of 300-900°C From the experiments we observed that there is a significant increase in the calorific value with increase in the carbonization temperature. Therefore it is evident that for higher carbonization temperature the biomass species i.e. BANMICHAI can suitably be preferred over other conventional sources of energy. Further with increase in the carbonization temperature the fixed carbon (%) was also found to increase. The calorific value obtained from different chars samples are found to be comparable to coal. Any approach towards utilizing the non-woody biomass would be a positive step toward energy and environment crisis

ETHICAL GUIDELINES AND STUDY DESIGN FOR BIOAVAILABILITY AND BIOEQUIVALENCE STUDY

Unusual growth in pharma industry has provoked regulatory agencies to establish regulations regarding bioavailability (BA) and bioequivalence(BE) studies. The BA and BE testing are essential in drug development process, provides the information regarding the kinetics (area under the curve[AUC], Cmax, Tmax, λz, t½, AUC0→Tss, Cmaxss, Cminss, Cavgss, T) of single and multiple dose studies and the comparison of medicinal products. Indian Councilof Medical Research (ICMR), Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA), Indian National ScienceAcademy (INSA), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Guidebook (IACUC), National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration,World Health Organization (WHO) provides the informations for strengthening the ethical guidelines for using humans and animals in clinical trialsglobally. Experimental design will help for better selection of models, number of subjects/animals, study conditions, randomizations, selection ofcontrol groups. Statistical evaluation parameters like Analysis of Variance help for the better interpretation of the data. The present study was aimedto study the need for BA and BE studies, ethical guidelines, experimental designs, pharmacokinetic endpoints, and their statistical evaluations.maxssKeywords: Ethical guidelines, Study design, Bioavailability, Bioequivalence

FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF SUSTAINED RELEASE IBUPROFEN TABLETS WITH ACRYLIC POLYMERS (EUDRAGIT) AND HPMC

Objective: An attempt was made to develop sustained release matrix tablets of ibuprofen using HPMC (K4M, K15M & K100M) and eudragit (RS 100 & RL 100) as release retardant polymers.Methods: The ibuprofen matrix tablets were prepared by direct compression method using lactose as a diluent. Nineteen formulations of different polymer percentages were formulated, (F1-F19 with 7.5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30% w/w).Results: The formulations were optimized on the basis of acceptable weight variation, thickness, hardness, % friability, % drug content and in vitro drug release. The in vitro release studies were performed using USP type II apparatus using 7.2 pH phosphate buffer as a dissolution medium, showed that optimized formulation F8 consisting of eudragit RL with 20% of the polymer was found to sustain the release of ibuprofen over a period of 12 h. The formulation exhibited highest correlation (R) value in case of Hixson-Crowell model and the release kinetic study proved that the formulation showed erosion process, and shown to follow zero order kinetics.Conclusion: It was concluded that eudragit RL can be used for the preparation of sustained release tablet of ibuprofen.Â

LIQUISOLID TECHNIQUE: A NOVEL APPROACH FOR DOSAGE FORM DESIGN

The liquisolid technique is a novel approach for delivery of drugs through the oral route. This technique is suitable for poorly soluble or water insoluble drugs, highly permeable drugs (BCS Class II drugs) and also for immediate or sustained release formulations. It is a novel "Powder Solution Technology" that involves absorption and adsorption efficiencies, making use of liquid medications, drug suspensions admixed with suitable carriers, coating materials and formulated into free flowing, dry looking, non-adherent and compressible powder forms. The design of liquisolid systems are mainly intended for enhancement of solubility, dissolution rate and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble and highly lipophilic drugs. Improvement in bioavailability may be due to increased surface area, increased aqueous solubility and increased the wettability of the drug. Liquisolid technique also has the potential to be optimized for the reduction of drug dissolution rate and thereby production of sustained release systems. Overall, liquisolid technique is a most promising and novel technique for enhancing the dissolution and bioavailability of poorly water soluble drugs and sustaining drug release from tablet matrices. The current review mainly focuses on theory and applicability of liquisolid compact technique towards solubility or bioavailability enhancement. Different carriers, solvents and coating materials employed are elucidated. Literature reports on the applicability of liquisolid compact techniques over a wide range of pharmaceutical formulations are also explicated

Traumatic complete transection of dorsal spinal cord un-associated with spinal fracture or subluxation: Management review

Complete transection of spinal cord is an extremely rare occurrence, and usually associated with spinal instability, fracture or spondylolisthesis and also have associated systemic polytrauma involving multiple organs injury. However, a complete transaction of spinal cord unassociated with fracture or dislocation or without abnormality on X-ray and CT scan imaging is extremely uncommon. Kalfas et al. observed 11.2 % of cases had cord transection in the study of sixty-two cases spinal cord-injured patients, who underwent spinal MRI, were additionally had evidence vertebral injury. In 2010, Cha et al reported the first case of transection of cord in the cervical region in a 34- year- adult male, as the first case in literature, which was not associated with any vertebral body fracture or dislocation. Authors report an interesting case, 15-year boy, who had complete transection of the spinal cord associated with polytrauma following a motor vehicle accident, spinal X-ray and CT scan imaging was unremarkable, however spinal MRI scan established the diagnosis. Briefly, imaging, management and pertinent literature are reviewed

FORMULATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF ORODISPERSIBLE TABLETS OF IBUPROFEN

Objective: The present study aimed to formulate, develop and optimize orodispersible tablets of ibuprofen.Methods: Orodispersible tablets were prepared by direct compression technique using crospovidone, sodium starch glycolate, croscaramelose sodium, sodium carboxy methylcellulose as superdisintegrants at concentrations of 5, 7.5 and 10% w/w and mannitol used as diluent. The prepared powder mixtures are subjected to pre compression parameters including FTIR spectroscopy, DSC and micromeritics. The formulations were evaluated for tablet weight variation, hardness, friability, wetting time, absorption ratio, drug content, in vitro dispersion time, in vitro disintegration time and in vitro drug release studies.Results: The results of micromeritics studies revealed that all formulations were of acceptable to good flowability. Crospovidone at 10% w/w concentration (F3) showed the least in vitro disintegration time 38 seconds with acceptable hardness 3.93 kg/cm3, friability 0.652% and good dissolution profile (D5 min = 95.89%) in comparison with control (D5 min = 18.29%). The optimized formulation showed t90% drug release at 2.6 minutes. The FTIR and DSC studies were done for the optimized formula and showed no interaction between the drug and excipients.Conclusion: It is concluded that crospovidone gives the best results at 10% w/w (F3) for formulation of orodispersible tablets of ibuprofen with better pharmaceutical properties.Keywords: Orodispersible, Ibuprofen, Superdisintegrant, Crosspovidone, Direct compressio

Chitohexaose Activates Macrophages by Alternate Pathway through TLR4 and Blocks Endotoxemia

Sepsis is a consequence of systemic bacterial infections leading to hyper activation of immune cells by bacterial products resulting in enhanced release of mediators of inflammation. Endotoxin (LPS) is a major component of the outer membrane of Gram negative bacteria and a critical factor in pathogenesis of sepsis. Development of antagonists that inhibit the storm of inflammatory molecules by blocking Toll like receptors (TLR) has been the main stay of research efforts. We report here that a filarial glycoprotein binds to murine macrophages and human monocytes through TLR4 and activates them through alternate pathway and in the process inhibits LPS mediated classical activation which leads to inflammation associated with endotoxemia. The active component of the nematode glycoprotein mediating alternate activation of macrophages was found to be a carbohydrate residue, Chitohexaose. Murine macrophages and human monocytes up regulated Arginase-1 and released high levels of IL-10 when incubated with chitohexaose. Macrophages of C3H/HeJ mice (non-responsive to LPS) failed to get activated by chitohexaose suggesting that a functional TLR4 is critical for alternate activation of macrophages also. Chitohexaose inhibited LPS induced production of inflammatory molecules TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 by macropahges in vitro and in vivo in mice. Intraperitoneal injection of chitohexaose completely protected mice against endotoxemia when challenged with a lethal dose of LPS. Furthermore, Chitohexaose was found to reverse LPS induced endotoxemia in mice even 6/24/48 hrs after its onset. Monocytes of subjects with active filarial infection displayed characteristic alternate activation markers and were refractory to LPS mediated inflammatory activation suggesting an interesting possibility of subjects with filarial infections being less prone to develop of endotoxemia. These observations that innate activation of alternate pathway of macrophages by chtx through TLR4 has offered novel opportunities to cell biologists to study two mutually exclusive activation pathways of macrophages being mediated through a single receptor

Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BACKGROUND: Disorders affecting the nervous system are diverse and include neurodevelopmental disorders, late-life neurodegeneration, and newly emergent conditions, such as cognitive impairment following COVID-19. Previous publications from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study estimated the burden of 15 neurological conditions in 2015 and 2016, but these analyses did not include neurodevelopmental disorders, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11, or a subset of cases of congenital, neonatal, and infectious conditions that cause neurological damage. Here, we estimate nervous system health loss caused by 37 unique conditions and their associated risk factors globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2021. METHODS: We estimated mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs), by age and sex in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2021. We included morbidity and deaths due to neurological conditions, for which health loss is directly due to damage to the CNS or peripheral nervous system. We also isolated neurological health loss from conditions for which nervous system morbidity is a consequence, but not the primary feature, including a subset of congenital conditions (ie, chromosomal anomalies and congenital birth defects), neonatal conditions (ie, jaundice, preterm birth, and sepsis), infectious diseases (ie, COVID-19, cystic echinococcosis, malaria, syphilis, and Zika virus disease), and diabetic neuropathy. By conducting a sequela-level analysis of the health outcomes for these conditions, only cases where nervous system damage occurred were included, and YLDs were recalculated to isolate the non-fatal burden directly attributable to nervous system health loss. A comorbidity correction was used to calculate total prevalence of all conditions that affect the nervous system combined. FINDINGS: Globally, the 37 conditions affecting the nervous system were collectively ranked as the leading group cause of DALYs in 2021 (443 million, 95% UI 378–521), affecting 3·40 billion (3·20–3·62) individuals (43·1%, 40·5–45·9 of the global population); global DALY counts attributed to these conditions increased by 18·2% (8·7–26·7) between 1990 and 2021. Age-standardised rates of deaths per 100 000 people attributed to these conditions decreased from 1990 to 2021 by 33·6% (27·6–38·8), and age-standardised rates of DALYs attributed to these conditions decreased by 27·0% (21·5–32·4). Age-standardised prevalence was almost stable, with a change of 1·5% (0·7–2·4). The ten conditions with the highest age-standardised DALYs in 2021 were stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, epilepsy, neurological complications due to preterm birth, autism spectrum disorder, and nervous system cancer. INTERPRETATION: As the leading cause of overall disease burden in the world, with increasing global DALY counts, effective prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies for disorders affecting the nervous system are needed

Global burden and strength of evidence for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Understanding the health consequences associated with exposure to risk factors is necessary to inform public health policy and practice. To systematically quantify the contributions of risk factor exposures to specific health outcomes, the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 aims to provide comprehensive estimates of exposure levels, relative health risks, and attributable burden of disease for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, from 1990 to 2021. Methods: The GBD 2021 risk factor analysis used data from 54 561 total distinct sources to produce epidemiological estimates for 88 risk factors and their associated health outcomes for a total of 631 risk–outcome pairs. Pairs were included on the basis of data-driven determination of a risk–outcome association. Age-sex-location-year-specific estimates were generated at global, regional, and national levels. Our approach followed the comparative risk assessment framework predicated on a causal web of hierarchically organised, potentially combinative, modifiable risks. Relative risks (RRs) of a given outcome occurring as a function of risk factor exposure were estimated separately for each risk–outcome pair, and summary exposure values (SEVs), representing risk-weighted exposure prevalence, and theoretical minimum risk exposure levels (TMRELs) were estimated for each risk factor. These estimates were used to calculate the population attributable fraction (PAF; ie, the proportional change in health risk that would occur if exposure to a risk factor were reduced to the TMREL). The product of PAFs and disease burden associated with a given outcome, measured in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), yielded measures of attributable burden (ie, the proportion of total disease burden attributable to a particular risk factor or combination of risk factors). Adjustments for mediation were applied to account for relationships involving risk factors that act indirectly on outcomes via intermediate risks. Attributable burden estimates were stratified by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile and presented as counts, age-standardised rates, and rankings. To complement estimates of RR and attributable burden, newly developed burden of proof risk function (BPRF) methods were applied to yield supplementary, conservative interpretations of risk–outcome associations based on the consistency of underlying evidence, accounting for unexplained heterogeneity between input data from different studies. Estimates reported represent the mean value across 500 draws from the estimate's distribution, with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) calculated as the 2·5th and 97·5th percentile values across the draws. Findings: Among the specific risk factors analysed for this study, particulate matter air pollution was the leading contributor to the global disease burden in 2021, contributing 8·0% (95% UI 6·7–9·4) of total DALYs, followed by high systolic blood pressure (SBP; 7·8% [6·4–9·2]), smoking (5·7% [4·7–6·8]), low birthweight and short gestation (5·6% [4·8–6·3]), and high fasting plasma glucose (FPG; 5·4% [4·8–6·0]). For younger demographics (ie, those aged 0–4 years and 5–14 years), risks such as low birthweight and short gestation and unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing (WaSH) were among the leading risk factors, while for older age groups, metabolic risks such as high SBP, high body-mass index (BMI), high FPG, and high LDL cholesterol had a greater impact. From 2000 to 2021, there was an observable shift in global health challenges, marked by a decline in the number of all-age DALYs broadly attributable to behavioural risks (decrease of 20·7% [13·9–27·7]) and environmental and occupational risks (decrease of 22·0% [15·5–28·8]), coupled with a 49·4% (42·3–56·9) increase in DALYs attributable to metabolic risks, all reflecting ageing populations and changing lifestyles on a global scale. Age-standardised global DALY rates attributable to high BMI and high FPG rose considerably (15·7% [9·9–21·7] for high BMI and 7·9% [3·3–12·9] for high FPG) over this period, with exposure to these risks increasing annually at rates of 1·8% (1·6–1·9) for high BMI and 1·3% (1·1–1·5) for high FPG. By contrast, the global risk-attributable burden and exposure to many other risk factors declined, notably for risks such as child growth failure and unsafe water source, with age-standardised attributable DALYs decreasing by 71·5% (64·4–78·8) for child growth failure and 66·3% (60·2–72·0) for unsafe water source. We separated risk factors into three groups according to trajectory over time: those with a decreasing attributable burden, due largely to declining risk exposure (eg, diet high in trans-fat and household air pollution) but also to proportionally smaller child and youth populations (eg, child and maternal malnutrition); those for which the burden increased moderately in spite of declining risk exposure, due largely to population ageing (eg, smoking); and those for which the burden increased considerably due to both increasing risk exposure and population ageing (eg, ambient particulate matter air pollution, high BMI, high FPG, and high SBP). Interpretation: Substantial progress has been made in reducing the global disease burden attributable to a range of risk factors, particularly those related to maternal and child health, WaSH, and household air pollution. Maintaining efforts to minimise the impact of these risk factors, especially in low SDI locations, is necessary to sustain progress. Successes in moderating the smoking-related burden by reducing risk exposure highlight the need to advance policies that reduce exposure to other leading risk factors such as ambient particulate matter air pollution and high SBP. Troubling increases in high FPG, high BMI, and other risk factors related to obesity and metabolic syndrome indicate an urgent need to identify and implement interventions

Global, regional, and national burden of diabetes from 1990 to 2021, with projections of prevalence to 2050: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

This online publication has been corrected. The corrected version first appeared at thelancet.com on September 28, 2023BACKGROUND : Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, and affects people regardless of country, age group, or sex. Using the most recent evidentiary and analytical framework from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD), we produced location-specific, age-specific, and sex-specific estimates of diabetes prevalence and burden from 1990 to 2021, the proportion of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in 2021, the proportion of the type 2 diabetes burden attributable to selected risk factors, and projections of diabetes prevalence through 2050. METHODS : Estimates of diabetes prevalence and burden were computed in 204 countries and territories, across 25 age groups, for males and females separately and combined; these estimates comprised lost years of healthy life, measured in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs; defined as the sum of years of life lost [YLLs] and years lived with disability [YLDs]). We used the Cause of Death Ensemble model (CODEm) approach to estimate deaths due to diabetes, incorporating 25 666 location-years of data from vital registration and verbal autopsy reports in separate total (including both type 1 and type 2 diabetes) and type-specific models. Other forms of diabetes, including gestational and monogenic diabetes, were not explicitly modelled. Total and type 1 diabetes prevalence was estimated by use of a Bayesian meta-regression modelling tool, DisMod-MR 2.1, to analyse 1527 location-years of data from the scientific literature, survey microdata, and insurance claims; type 2 diabetes estimates were computed by subtracting type 1 diabetes from total estimates. Mortality and prevalence estimates, along with standard life expectancy and disability weights, were used to calculate YLLs, YLDs, and DALYs. When appropriate, we extrapolated estimates to a hypothetical population with a standardised age structure to allow comparison in populations with different age structures. We used the comparative risk assessment framework to estimate the risk-attributable type 2 diabetes burden for 16 risk factors falling under risk categories including environmental and occupational factors, tobacco use, high alcohol use, high body-mass index (BMI), dietary factors, and low physical activity. Using a regression framework, we forecast type 1 and type 2 diabetes prevalence through 2050 with Socio-demographic Index (SDI) and high BMI as predictors, respectively. FINDINGS : In 2021, there were 529 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 500–564) people living with diabetes worldwide, and the global age-standardised total diabetes prevalence was 6·1% (5·8–6·5). At the super-region level, the highest age-standardised rates were observed in north Africa and the Middle East (9·3% [8·7–9·9]) and, at the regional level, in Oceania (12·3% [11·5–13·0]). Nationally, Qatar had the world’s highest age-specific prevalence of diabetes, at 76·1% (73·1–79·5) in individuals aged 75–79 years. Total diabetes prevalence—especially among older adults—primarily reflects type 2 diabetes, which in 2021 accounted for 96·0% (95·1–96·8) of diabetes cases and 95·4% (94·9–95·9) of diabetes DALYs worldwide. In 2021, 52·2% (25·5–71·8) of global type 2 diabetes DALYs were attributable to high BMI. The contribution of high BMI to type 2 diabetes DALYs rose by 24·3% (18·5–30·4) worldwide between 1990 and 2021. By 2050, more than 1·31 billion (1·22–1·39) people are projected to have diabetes, with expected age-standardised total diabetes prevalence rates greater than 10% in two super-regions: 16·8% (16·1–17·6) in north Africa and the Middle East and 11·3% (10·8–11·9) in Latin America and Caribbean. By 2050, 89 (43·6%) of 204 countries and territories will have an age-standardised rate greater than 10%. INTERPRETATION : Diabetes remains a substantial public health issue. Type 2 diabetes, which makes up the bulk of diabetes cases, is largely preventable and, in some cases, potentially reversible if identified and managed early in the disease course. However, all evidence indicates that diabetes prevalence is increasing worldwide, primarily due to a rise in obesity caused by multiple factors. Preventing and controlling type 2 diabetes remains an ongoing challenge. It is essential to better understand disparities in risk factor profiles and diabetes burden across populations, to inform strategies to successfully control diabetes risk factors within the context of multiple and complex drivers.Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.http://www.thelancet.comam2024School of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH)SDG-03:Good heatlh and well-bein