A comparative study of thiamine with metformin on fasting blood glucose of diabetic albino rats

Background: Thiamine is a member of the vitamin B family. Thiamine is necessary for normal insulin synthesis and secretion. In diabetes thiamine and its derivative benfotiamine showed promising results in prevention of microvascular complications. Some experimental and clinical studies have shown the antihyperglycaemic effect of thiamine. This study compared the antihyperglycaemic effect of thiamine with metformin in streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic albino rats.Methods: 24 albino rats were taken and divided into four groups of six rats in each group. The groups were normal control, diabetic control, diabetic rats treated with thiamine, diabetic rats treated with metformin. Diabetes was induced in three groups by intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin in the dose of 60 mg/kg. To have an ideal type 2 diabetes model nicotinamide was administered 120 mg/ kg intraperitoneally fifteen minutes before streptozotocin administration. After successful induction of diabetes thiamine and metformin were given to the respective group for a period of 6 weeks. Fasting blood glucose was estimated on day 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 of treatment.Results: In this study both thiamine and metformin showed significant antihyperglycaemic effect (p<0.05). Further studies are needed to evaluate and compare the antihyperglycaemic effect of thiamine with other established anti diabetic drugs.Conclusions: From this study we concluded that individually both thiamine and metformin were effective in controlling hyperglycaemia but metformin was better in achieving normal mean FBS. Further studies are required to validate the antihyperglycaemic effect of thiamine. Study taking different doses of thiamine or with increasing the duration of study period can elaborate the role of thiamine in achieving proper glycemic control

Fluconazole induced multifocal bullous eruptions: a case report

The term bullous drug eruption refers to adverse drug reactions that result in fluid filled blisters. Blistering can be due to various medications. A 22 year old primigravida developed bullous lesions on upper limbs, lower legs and face after taking six doses of lumether forte (artemether 80 mg + lumefantrine 480 mg themis medicare ltd) and difenac plus (diclofenac 50 mg + paracetamol 500 mg intermed), and single dose of flucan (fluconazole 150 mg Bombay tablet Mfg co) and mebex (mebendazole 100 mg Cipla Limited). She had a previous history of localized bullous eruption 2 years back after taking a single dose of forcan (fluconazole 150 mg Cipla Limited) for vaginal candidiasis. There are reported cases of bullous eruptions due to diclofenac, mebendazole and paracetamol. However in our case past history of localized bullous eruptions after taking fluconazole, made it superior to other offenders to be suspected as the “probable” culprit. Naranjo causality score was (…+5…)

Development of doxorubicin loaded novel core shell structured nanocapsules for the intervention of visceral leishmaniasis

The aim of this study was to develop novel nanoemuslion core loaded nanocapsules (NCs) with high payload of doxorubicin (DOX) and to assess its efficacy against Leishmania donovani. The low energy emulsification method was used to obtained nanoemulsion core as template, followed by stepwise addition of additional layer components protamine sulphate and sodium alginate. Zeta potential studies revealed that there was reversal in charge after each layering. NCs were characterized on the basis of size (340 nm) and entrapment efficiency (&#8804;80%). The drug release behaviour was studied by in vitro method. The NCs loaded with DOX (NCs-DOX) is completely internalized into macrophages showing improved efficacy (IC50 of formulation is almost &#8804; 1.9-fold as compared to plain drug, p &#60; 0.05) against intracellular amastigotes

Evaluation and analysis of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K and radon exhalation rate in various grey cements

473-477The natural terrestrial gamma radiation dose rate is an important contribution to the average dose rate received by the world’s population. Natural radio nuclides in building material are sources of external and internal radiation exposure in dwellings. The natural radioactivity and radon exhalation rate of the commonly used building construction material (grey cements) have been studied. Positive correlation was found between radium concentration and radon concentration. The external radiation exposure caused by gamma emitting radionuclide is determined from obtained values of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, using high purity Germanium Detector. The absorbed dose is found to be higher in the AMB cement. This study presents the results of estimation of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K concentration, gamma absorbed dose rates and radon exhalation rates of grey cements collected from different manufacturers

Identification of a Feline Leukemia Virus Variant That Can Use THTR1, FLVCR1, and FLVCR2 for Infection▿

The pathogenic subgroup C feline leukemia virus (FeLV-C) arises in infected cats as a result of mutations in the envelope (Env) of the subgroup A FeLV (FeLV-A). To better understand emergence of FeLV-C and potential FeLV intermediates that may arise, we characterized FeLV Env sequences from the primary FY981 FeLV isolate previously derived from an anemic cat. Here, we report the characterization of the novel FY981 FeLV Env that is highly related to FeLV-A Env but whose variable region A (VRA) receptor recognition sequence partially resembles the VRA sequence from the prototypical FeLV-C/Sarma Env. Pseudotype viruses bearing FY981 Env were capable of infecting feline, human, and guinea pig cells, suggestive of a subgroup C phenotype, but also infected porcine ST-IOWA cells that are normally resistant to FeLV-C and to FeLV-A. Analysis of the host receptor used by FY981 suggests that FY981 can use both the FeLV-C receptor FLVCR1 and the feline FeLV-A receptor THTR1 for infection. However, our results suggest that FY981 infection of ST-IOWA cells is not mediated by the porcine homologue of FLVCR1 and THTR1 but by an alternative receptor, which we have now identified as the FLVCR1-related protein FLVCR2. Together, our results suggest that FY981 FeLV uses FLVCR1, FLVCR2, and THTR1 as receptors. Our findings suggest the possibility that pathogenic FeLV-C arises in FeLV-infected cats through intermediates that are multitropic in their receptor use

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy

In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. A key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers or volume of autophagic elements (e.g., autophagosomes or autolysosomes) at any stage of the autophagic process vs. those that measure flux through the autophagy pathway (i.e., the complete process); thus, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation needs to be differentiated from stimuli that result in increased autophagic activity, defined as increased autophagy induction coupled with increased delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (in most higher eukaryotes and some protists such as Dictyostelium) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). In other words, it is especially important that investigators new to the field understand that the appearance of more autophagosomes does not necessarily equate with more autophagy. In fact, in many cases, autophagosomes accumulate because of a block in trafficking to lysosomes without a concomitant change in autophagosome biogenesis, whereas an increase in autolysosomes may reflect a reduction in degradative activity. Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to monitor autophagy. In these guidelines, we consider these various methods of assessing autophagy and what information can, or cannot, be obtained from them. Finally, by discussing the merits and limits of particular autophagy assays, we hope to encourage technical innovation in the field