Time resolved area normalized emission spectroscopy (TRANES) of DMABN confirms emission from two states

4-N, N-Dimethylaminobenzonitrile (DMABN) is a simple molecule which is extensively studied to understand the excited state kinetics and the origin of time dependent fluorescence in several organic solvents. We use a recently described method, time resolved area normalized emission spectroscopy (TRANES), for the analysis of wavelength dependent fluorescence of DMABN in acetonitrile and 1,4-dioxane. An isoemissive point was observed in the TRANES spectra, which confirms that there are only two emissive species A∗ and B∗:A→A∗⇔B∗

TRANES analysis of the fluorescence of nile red in organized molecular assemblies confirms emission from two species

Time-resolved area normalized emission spectroscopy (TRANES) is a new method for the analysis of fluorescence of dyes in complex chemical and biological systems (A S R Koti, M M G Krishna and N Periasamy, 2001,J. Phys. Chem. 105, 1767). The model-free method extends the power of time-resolved emission spectroscopy (TRES) analysis and removes the ambiguity in the interpretation when the emission spectrum is time-dependent. Observation of an isoemissive point in TRANES analysis of fluorescence is an unambiguous indication for the presence of two emissive species in the sample. The isoemissive point occurs at a wavelength where the ratio of the radiative rates of the two species is equal to the ratio of their total radiative rates. The polarity-sensitive nile red dye shows time-dependent emission spectra in the organized bilayer assemblies of TX micelle and bilayer egg-phosphotidylcholine (egg-PC) membrane. Time-dependent spectra in complex systems support many important models (solvation model and heterogeneity in the ground and/or excited state). TRANES analysis shows that the fluorescence emission of nile red in TX micelle and egg-PC membrane is due to two emissive species solubilized in different sites

Solvent exchange in excited-state relaxation in mixed solvents

The fluorescence of styrylthiazoloquinoxaline (STQ) in the solvent mixture methanol and dichloromethane (DCM) and 2-octanol have many common characteristics: biexponential fluorescence decay, wavelength-dependent amplitudes, a negative amplitude for the short-lifetime component at long emission wavelengths, and a time-dependent red shift of the emission spectrum. In octanol, the fluorescence lifetime decreases with increasing temperature, whereas the lifetime increases with temperature in the methanol/DCM mixture. The fluorescence characteristics in 2-octanol (η=7.29 cP) are readily explained by the conventional model of excited-state relaxation kinetics by solvent reorientation. This model is not applicable for low-viscosity (η=0.455 cP) solvent mixtures. A model of excited-state relaxation kinetics involving solvent exchange (versus solvent reorientation in pure solvents) in the excited state is proposed for the solvent mixture. The model assumes that the solvent compositions around the solute are different in the ground and excited states and the solvent composition is temperature dependent

Study on Prevalence and Surgical Management of Haemorrhoid’s in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in a Rural Area

Background: Haemorrhoids, which is also termed as piles characterized by the enlarged and bulged blood vessels surrounding the supporting tissues present in the anal canal of an individual. In the present study, an attempt has been made to find the prevalence of haemorrhoids and surgical management done in our geographical area. Methods: The present study was retrospective, cross-sectional study from the period of 1st January 2013 to 31st December 2017. A total of 351 haemorrhoid’s patients were admitted in inpatient surgical ward during that period. The demographic details of all the patients were noted from the medical records. Results: A total 219 (62%) patients were male and 132 (38%) were females. Most of the patients are predominantly adults above the age of 21 years. The post-operative stay in hospital is almost less than 10 days as it indicates that most of the patients were discharged without any complication. Conclusions: The male patients are predominant compared to female patients. The surgical complications are less. The exact prevalence rate may be high as some patients may either undergo a self-treatment or native medicine treatmen

Down-regulation of GST and CAT gene expression by methanolic extract of Nigella sativa seed in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

The anti-oxidant effect of Nigella sativa (NS) on human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) on a PHA (phytohemagglutinin) and a non-PHA stimulated proliferation were tested using SYBR Green based Real Time PCR analysis for antioxidant enzyme’s gene expression [glutathione-stransferase (GST) and catalase (CAT)]. Cells isolated from human PBMCs were treated with methanolic extract of NS for 48 h in two separate environments (PHA and non-PHA stimulated). The results obtained indicate that extracts from NS had down regulation effect. GST was down regulated to 1 and 1.5 fold after exposure to 2.5 μg/L NS extract for 48 h in PHA stimulated cells compared to respective controls whereas it decreased to 4 and 2 fold at dose of 5 μg/L in non-PHA stimulated cells compared to respective controls. Similarly, CAT was down regulated to 2 and 6 fold after exposure to 2.5 μg/L NS extract for 48 h whereas, it decreased to 4 and 2 fold at dose of 5 μg/L in PHA and non-PHA stimulated cells compared to respective controls. This in-vitro study reveals the effects of NS plant extract on GST and CAT gene expression in human PBMCs.Keywords: Nigella sativa methanolic extract, glutathione-stransferase (GST), catalase (CAT), oxidation, eripheral blood mononuclear cellsAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(27), pp. 4364-436

Construction of two whole genome radiation hybrid panels for dromedary (Camelus dromedarius): 5000RAD and 15000RAD

The availability of genomic resources including linkage information for camelids has been very limited. Here, we describe the construction of a set of two radiation hybrid (RH) panels (5000RAD and 15000RAD) for the dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) as a permanent genetic resource for camel genome researchers worldwide. For the 5000RAD panel, a total of 245 female camel-hamster radiation hybrid clones were collected, of which 186 were screened with 44 custom designed marker loci distributed throughout camel genome. The overall mean retention frequency (RF) of the final set of 93 hybrids was 47.7%. For the 15000RAD panel, 238 male dromedary-hamster radiation hybrid clones were collected, of which 93 were tested using 44 PCR markers. The final set of 90 clones had a mean RF of 39.9%. This 15000RAD panel is an important high-resolution complement to the main 5000RAD panel and an indispensable tool for resolving complex genomic regions. This valuable genetic resource of dromedary RH panels is expected to be instrumental for constructing a high resolution camel genome map. Construction of the set of RH panels is essential step toward chromosome level reference quality genome assembly that is critical for advancing camelid genomics and the development of custom genomic tools

Bimodality and hysteresis in systems driven by confined L\'evy flights

We demonstrate occurrence of bimodality and dynamical hysteresis in a system describing an overdamped quartic oscillator perturbed by additive white and asymmetric L\'evy noise. Investigated estimators of the stationary probability density profiles display not only a turnover from unimodal to bimodal character but also a change in a relative stability of stationary states that depends on the asymmetry parameter of the underlying noise term. When varying the asymmetry parameter cyclically, the system exhibits a hysteresis in the occupation of a chosen stationary state.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, 30 reference

Chloroform Extract of Rasagenthi Mezhugu, a Siddha Formulation, as an Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine for HPV-Positive Cervical Cancers

Rasagenthi Mezhugu (RGM) is a herbomineral formulation in the Siddha system of traditional medicine and is prescribed in the southern parts of India as a remedy for all kinds of cancers. However, scientific evidence for its therapeutic efficacy in cervical cancer is lacking, and it contains heavy metals. To overcome these limitations, RGM was extracted, and the fractions were tested on HPV-positive cervical cancer cells, ME-180 and SiHa. The extracts, free from the toxic heavy metals, affected the viability of both the cells. The chloroform fraction (cRGM) induced DNA damage and apoptosis. Mitochondria-mediated apoptosis was indicated. Though both the cells responded to the treatment, ME-180 was more responsive. Thus, this study brings up scientific evidence for the efficacy of RGM against the HPV-mediated cervical cancer cells and, if the toxic heavy metals are the limitation in its use, cRGM would be a suitable candidate as evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine for HPV-positive cervical cancers

Assessment of drug utilization among geriatric patients based on defined daily dose concept in a rural tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: The objectives of the study were to use the anatomical therapeutic chemical classification (ATC) /defined daily dose (DDD) concept to study the drug utilization pattern in geriatric patients in a rural tertiary care teaching hospital.Methods: An observational study was conducted at Rajah Muthiah Medical College Hospital (OPD and IPD) over a period of six months from November 2018 to April 2019. The data was collected from 204 patients using specially designed data collection form. The patients were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: A total of 204 patients were included in this study. The study population consisting of males 130 (63.7%) and females 74 (36.2%). Diseases related to the cardiovascular system 67 (32.84%) were the most common cause for the geriatric patients to attend the hospital, followed by surgical diseases 47 (23.03%), Oncological diseases 2 (0.98%) were the least frequency encountered. The average number of drugs prescribed per prescription was 8.79. Out of 1795 drugs prescribed, 60.86% of drugs were prescribed in generic form, and 39.14% were prescribed in brand name. The study analysed that 71.25% of drugs prescribed were from essential drug list (EDL) 2016-2018. Number of prescriptions with an injection was 74.04%. Paracetamol (N02B01) was the most frequently prescribed drug, followed by Amlodipine (C08CA01), Dexamethasone (H02AB02), Clopidogrel (B01AC04), Ferrous sulfate (B03AA07), Acetylsalicylic acid (B01AC06), Hydrocortisone (H02AB09), Tamsulosin (G04CA02), Atorvastatin (C10AA05), Furosemide (C03CA01).Conclusions: Drug utilization study can help in evaluating the quality of care given to the geriatric patients and promote rational use of medicines

Study on antibiotic use among geriatric patients based on anatomical therapeutic classification or defined daily dose methodology and world health organization-essential medicine list access, watch and reserve concept in tertiary care hospital of South India

Background: Geriatric patients are more vulnerable to infections and need special consideration on antibiotic use. Resistance to antibiotics among infectious bacteria has developed within a short span. There is a direct correlation between the consumption of antibiotics and the development of resistance. And surprisingly very few literatures were available on antibiotic consumption in geriatric population using defined daily dose (DDD) concept which paved the idea to conduct this study.Methods: A prospective observational study was carried out from November 2018 to April 2019. A total of 206 prescriptions of elderly patients were included in the study. The antibiotics were categorized by anatomical therapeutic classification (ATC) and DDD indicator/1000 inhabitants/day (DID) was used to figure out antibiotic consumption.Results: About 25.2% of patients were treated with antibiotics for respiratory tract infections. The patients received antibiotics empirically (53.8%) and without bacteriological investigation (58.73%). The overall consumption of antibiotics was 20.47 DID in which oral antibiotics was (8.5 DID) 42% and parenteral antibiotics (11.8 DID) 58%. Cephalosporins was observed to be the most consumed antibiotics (33.2%), specifically cefotaxime (14.6%) and ceftriaxone (12.6%). Moreover, 54.4% of antibiotics consumed from watch category of World Health Organisation (WHO) essential medicines list (EML) which was completely against WHO standard proportion.Conclusions: Higher consumption of cephalosporins, which falls into watch category was analysed in geriatric patients. These broad-spectrum antibiotics have high potential to develop antimicrobial resistance. A strict antibiotic policy is needed to be framed that enhance rational prescribing practices in geriatrics