Genetics of Thalassemia

β-Thalassemia is a common genetic disorder caused by mutations in β-globin gene that results in reduced β-globin production. There are more than 200 different mutations that have been reported till date affecting the diverse levels of β-globin gene expression and causing β-thalassemia. Nucleotide substitutions and frameshift insertion-/deletion-type mutations interfere with the molecular mechanism like transcription of the β-globin gene, splicing process and translation of mRNA of β-globin gene, thus resulting in either absence or reduction of synthesis of β-globin chains. Molecular analysis is a must for all thalassemia patients. Definitive diagnosis and counseling of these patients will help in better management of disease

Assessment of Respiratory Disorders Using Speech Parameters

In today�s scenario detection of diseases using voice analysis has become one of the important research topic. In order to determine if the person is suffering from some kind of illness, the information extracted by voice analysis about the person�s health can be helpful, as a number of pathological disorders are related with nasal, neural, respiratory and larynx diseases etc. In this paper, the analysis of voice parameters is done in order to differentiate between normal and affected person. The speech samples are recorded and Pitch , formant frequencies, intensity was extracted from the speech signals. The mean values variation of these parameters is used in identifying the difference between normal and affected person

Study the effect of metformin, voglibose alone and in combination on body mass index in non-diabetic obese Indian subjects- A hospital based study

Background: Early detection and therapy of the obese adolescent with a family history of type 2 diabetes may interrupt the cycle of weight gain and insulin resistance that leads to glucose intolerance in adulthood. Materials & Methods: The objective of our study was to observe the effect of metformin and voglibose on BMI, as it provides a simple and convenient anthropometric index for classification of obesity. 60 non diabetic obese subjects were selected on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria, and divided into three groups of 20 subjects each. The first group received metformin 500 mg BD, second group received voglibose 0.3 mg and the third group received a combination of metformin 500 mg and voglibose 0.3mg. For the comparison we applied paired and unpaired t test. Paired t test was applied for intra group comparison and unpaired t test was applied for inter group comparison. Results: After six months of treatment with Metformin 500 mg BD alone, Voglibose 0.3mg BD alone and Metformin 500 mg with Voglibose 0.3 mg BD in combination, all three groups showed statistically significant reduction in BMI values from baseline. When we compared results of metformin group with voglibose group there was no statistically significant difference. But when we compared results of metformin alone with metformin and voglibose combination and voglibose alone with metformin and voglibose combination, the combination group showed statistically significant reduction in BMI base line values. Conclusion: Therefore, it can be concluded that Metformin + Voglibose combination is very effective in reducing body weight, but further long term studies with large sample size are needed to assess the safety and efficacy of Metformin+ Voglibose combination in treatment of obesity in non-diabetic population

Prescription audit to evaluate the pattern and errors in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Medication errors are widespread public health issue. Prescription errors commonly results in medication error. Prescription error can be largely avoidable this study was performed with aim to point out the common mistake in the prescription which may endanger patients.Methods: Our study was cross-sectional and observational, performed in Index Medical College. 320 prescriptions were reviewed. Analysis was done for presence or absence of essential components of prescription like prescriber information’s, patients information’s, details of drug like its dosage form, strength, frequency, total duration of treatment, warnings or instruction for use. The observed data was expressed in number and percentage.Results: Patient information was complete 315 (98.44%) in prescriptions. Prescriber’s information were present in 284 (88.75%). Legibility was seen in 240 (75%). Use of generic drug, capital letters for drug name, warning are seen in 9 (2.81%), 39 (12.19%), 3 (0.94%) respectively. Completeness in terms of the name of drug, dose, strength, route, frequency, duration and dosage forms of prescribed drugs was seen in 252 (78.75%) prescriptions.Conclusions: Properly framed and written prescription can largely prevent medication error. Regular prescription audit must be carried out so that common mistake can be identified and corrective measure with the help of training session, workshop can be taken

Comparative in vitro transmucosal permeation of three proprietary diclofenac gels

Studies to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of various topical NSAIDS compared to oral NSAIDS have been reported but little research has been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of topical NSAIDS from different manufacturers containing the same concentation of medicament. The aim of this study was to make comparison of the in vitro release rate of three proprietary Diclofenac gels. To study the in vitro potential of these formulation permeation studies were performed with Franz diffusion cell by using cellulose acetate membrane. In vitro permeation study was found that the diffusion profile of A gel was equivalent to Voveran Emulgel while B gel was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than Voveran Emulgel. This data indicates that the simple denotation of Diclofenac sodium 1% w/w gel is inadequate as a means of distinguishing between similar formulations of different manufacturers that might contain the same types of excipients. This highlights the potential problems that may arise from the mistaken assumption that generic prescriptions and formulations are pharmaceutically and clinically equivalent and interchangeableColegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

The Drug Discovery Development for Treatment of Tuberculosis

Since decades Tuberculosis (TB) has been a foremost cause of mortality and morbidity with more than one-third of the world population infected with latent TB. Recent fight with an age old disease continuously smack with a dawdling approach toward its treatment. In spite of extensive researches in this field for combating the disease we are lacking behind in race with its causing agent Microbacterium Tuberculosis. Multidrug (MDR) and extensively drug resistant (XDR) Mycobacterium tuberculosis creates the worldwide open threat to human welfare. Thus there is a need of swift researches for its combat. Here in this review we are giving a brief description towards various chemical agents which have been used for its therapy and new families arrived as a potential drug candidate till date. Keywords: Tuberculosis (TB), Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Multidrug resistance (MDR), Extensively drug resistance (XDR), Directly Observed Treatment (DOTs), Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Short-course, Nanoparticles, Drug deliver

Antinociceptive activity of the leaf essential oil of Coleus aromaticus Benth

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the possible antinociceptive effect of Coleus aromaticus Benth oil. The pain sensitivity was assessed by the acetic acid induced writhing and hotplate models in mice. The essential oil exhibited a significant reduction in acetic acid induced writhing response, a dose dependent increase in reaction time against thermal pain and a moderate motor impairment at analgesic doses and significant reduction in endurance time at higher dose on rotarod apparatus. These experimental results suggest that essential oil (250 and 500 mg/kg) produced analgesic effect in mice and may be a candidate for the development of pharmacological agents used in the pain management.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Optimization of process variables for enhanced lactic acid production utilizing paneer whey as substrate in SMF

In the present study lactic acid production was enhanced by optimizing the three process variables viz; inoculum size, temperature and pH using three factor five level CCRD (central composite rotatable design) by Lactobacillus delbruckii under SMF (submerged fermentation process). Paneer (dairy by-product) whey was used as sole substrate for lactic acid production. Design Expert 8.0.2.0 software depicted that an optimum concentration of 8% (v/v) size of inoculum, 5.50 pH and 36.53C temperature gave lactic acid and biomass yield of 5.61 g/L and 4.27 g/L, respectively. Lactic acid production was scale up in 7.5 L bioreactor under optimized conditions and it gave lactic acid and biomass yield of 39.2±1.4 and 47.6±0.8 g/L, respectively. μg, YP/S, YP/X and productivity were found to be 0.14 h-1, 0.66 g/g, 0.7 g/g and 1.98 g/L. h, respectively. Leudking Piret equation deduced that lactic acid production was growth associated which varies from earlier reports. Lactic acid was characterized by FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) and HPLC (High performance liquid chromatography)

Reassessing the status of antiphospholipid syndrome in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The antiphospholipid syndrome was initially described in 1986. To reassess the validity of antiphospholipid antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 95 patients with SLE were studied. Their antiphospholipid antibody profile was analysed and correlated with clinical findings such as thrombosis, abortions, or thrombocytopenia. A low prevalence of these antibodies was found (13 patients; 14%) with a high specificity for thrombosis (92%) and abortions (92%). The importance of anticardiolipin antibodies as a risk factor for thrombosis or abortions, or both, in patients with SLE is reaffirmed by this work

Synthesis and biological evaluation of thiazolidinedione derivatives of chalcones and flavones as antihyperglycemic and antidyslipidemic agents

A series of chalcone and flavone derivatives (6a-d, 9a-f) based on 2,4-thiazolidinedione have been synthesized and evaluated for in vivo antihyperglycemic activity in sucrose loaded (SLM) and streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic animal models and also for antidyslipidemic activity in the triton model. Compounds 9d, 9e, and 9f exhibited potent blood glucose-lowering activity in both SLM and STZ models. Compounds 6c, 6d, and 9c, 9e, and 9f showed moderate lipid-lowering activity. The selected most potent compounds 6d and 9e were also studied in db/db mice for both antihyperglycemic and antidyslipidemic activity