Development of floating matrix tablets of Ofloxacin and Ornidazole in combined dosage form: in vitro and in vivo evaluation in healthy human volunteers

Ofloxacin (OFX) is a synthetic broad spectrum analog of second generation fluoroquinolone antibiotic. It is used for the treatment of urinary tract, prostate, skin, urinary and respiratory tract infections. Ornidazole (ORN) is a nitroimidazole derivative. It is used in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, amoebiasis, giardiasis and infections due to anaerobic bacteria. These drugs are highly soluble in acidic media and precipitates in alkaline media thereby losing its solubility. Hence we attempted to develop a gastro retentive floating matrix type drug delivery system for Ofloxacin and Ornidazole in combined dosage form with hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) K15M, HPMC K100M and polyethylene oxide 18NF (PEO). The physicochemical compatibility of the drug and the polymers was studied by infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The results suggested no physicochemical incompatibility between the drug and the polymers. The prepared floating drug delivery systems were evaluated for physicochemical characteristics, mainly in vitro release and in vivo residence time by radiographic studies. The best formulation (F2) was selected based on in vitro release and physicochemical characteristics and used in vivo radiographic studies by incorporating BaSO4. These studies revealed that tablets 300 ± 30 minutes in healthy human volunteers in fasting state and indicated that the gastric retention was increased by floating principle. By fitting the data into zero order, first order and Higuchi models, it was concluded that drug release from matrix tablets followed Higuchi model and the mechanism of drug release was diffusion mediated. Based on the physical evaluation, in vitro drug release and in vivo characteristics, it was concluded that for potential therapeutic use, suitable for the development of a floating drug delivery system of Ofloxacin and Ornidazole in combined dosage form

Green Tea Consumption Reduces Oxidative Stress in Parkinson’s Disease Patients

Oxidative stress is one of the underlying causes of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Because of its antioxidant effect, we hypothesize that green tea consumption (3 cups daily for 3 months) would improve antioxidant status and reduces oxidative damage in Parkinson’s disease. Fifteen subjects who were within the first five years of PD, on stable PD medication, and not regular green tea consumers were recruited. Iron status, oxidative stress and PD status were evaluated before and after 3 months of green tea consumption. Hemoglobin, serum iron, iron saturation and ferritin concentrations were used to assess iron status. Antioxidant enzymes including catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured to determine antioxidant status. Lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyls were measured as oxidative damage markers. There were no changes in total motor scores of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), PDQ-39 total scores and various iron status markers after 3 months. Catalase (p \u3c 0.05) and SOD activities (p \u3c 0.005) were increased significantly indicating an improvement of antioxidant status. Both lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyls decreased by ~52% (p \u3c 0.01) with green tea consumption, indicating less oxidative stress. In conclusion, 3 cups of green tea consumption for 3 months can improve antioxidant status and reduce oxidative damage in PD patients. Further studies are needed to determine if these changes result in slowing the disease progression

An interesting case of HSV Pneumonia and PCP co-infection in a patient with AIDS: a diagnostic and management challenge

The advent of HIV and AIDS has brought about many diagnostic and management challenges regarding multiple opportunistic infections. Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is a common presentation in patients with AIDS who are not on prophylaxis or highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Herpes simplex 1 virus (HSV-1) is a ubiquitous virus that mainly causes benign disease during primary infection. However, it is known to cause severe pneumonia and disseminated disease in the immunocompromised.1 We present a case of HSV-1 pneumonitis and PCP co-infection in an HIV-positive patient with respiratory failure. To the best of our knowledge, based on Pubmed and Google Scholar searches, this is the first case to be reported in the English language literature

Bogidiella indica, A New Species of Subterranean Amphipod Crustacean (Bogidiellidae) from Wells in Southeastern India, with Remarks on the Biogeographic Importance of Recently Discovered Bogidiellids on the Indian Subcontinent

Bogidiella indica, new species, is described from three water wells in southeastern India, including a bore-well on the campus of Acharya Nagarjuna University in Nagarjunanagar, a water well in Guntur town, and an agricultural well in the Godavari and Krishna Basin, all in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. The new species is assigned to the genus Bogidiella Hertzog and to a newly designated species group within the genus. Despite the near circum-global distribution of the family Bogidiellidae, only a single, partially intact specimen of a bogidiellid had been collected from the Indian subcontinent prior to the discovery of specimens from the well in Nagarjunanagar. Including the new taxon described in this paper, the family Bogidiellidae contains 35 genera and 106 species. Although B. indica is closely similar to other species presently assigned to the genus Bogidiella, it is easily distinguished by a proportionately shorter and relatively heavily spinose pereopod 5. The sexes are generally similar except that the male bears a large, distally modified apical spine on the inner ramus of uropod 1. The location of the well sites within 45 to 50 km of the eastern coast of India strongly suggest that they lie in an area that was submerged under shallow marine water within the last 1 million years

A splenic hydatid cyst in young female: a case report

Splenic hydatid disease is a rare kind of hydatid disease, accounting for less than 8% of cases in humans. Here we present a case of 23 years old female patient came to hospital with chief complaints of pain radiating to left quadrant in the last 2 years and cough with sputum and nausea and admitted in the hospital for further evaluation. CT chest shows cystic mass in the left hypochondrium lateral to the stomach compressing the stomach, later did CT abdomen which clearly indicates the spleen is enlarged in size with well-defined hypodense non enhancing unilocular cystic lesion measuring 13×13×11 cm (CC×AP×TR) in the upper and mid poles

Knowledge Organization and Inference Engine for the WVU Face Decision Support System

The knowledge-based organization for the West Virginia University Face Decision Support System is given, along with the initial development of the associated inference engine. The knowledge base contains generic knowledge about underground coal mines that utilize continuous miners. A typical knowledge entry is given, and the inference engine methodology is explained. The engine utilizes this knowledge with data from monitoring systems and from interaction with the section foreman, to assist in making section management decisions and plans

Indian Jujuba Seed Powder as an Eco-Friendly and a Low-Cost Biosorbent for Removal of Acid Blue 25 from Aqueous Solution

Indian jujuba seed powder (IJSP) has been investigated as a low-cost and an eco-friendly biosorbent, prepared for the removal of Acid Blue 25 (AB25) from aqueous solution. The prepared biomaterial was characterized by using FTIR and scanning electron microscopic studies. The effect of operation variables, such as IJSP dosage, contact time, concentration, pH, and temperature on the removal of AB25 was investigated, using batch biosorption technique. Removal efficiency increased with increase of IJSP dosage but decreased with increase of temperature. The equilibrium data were analyzed by the Langmuir and the Freundlich isotherm models. The data fitted well with the Langmuir model with a maximum biosorption capacity of 54.95 mg g−1. The pseudo-second-order kinetics was the best for the biosorption of AB25 by IJSP, with good correlation. Thermodynamic parameters such as standard free energy change (ΔG0), standard enthalpy changes (ΔH0), and standard entropy changes (ΔS0) were analyzed. The removal of AB25 from aqueous solution by IJSP was a spontaneous and exothermic adsorption process. The results suggest that IJSP is a potential low-cost and an eco-friendly biosorbent for the AB25 removal from synthetic AB25 wastewater

DRUG UTILIZATION EVALUATION AND COST ANALYSIS OF ANTIEMETIC DRUGS PRESCRIBED IN ONCOLOGY WARD IN A QUATERNARY CARE HOSPITAL

Objective: Drug utilization is defined by the World Health Organization as the marketing, distribution, prescription, and use of drugs in society, withspecial emphasis on the resulting medical, social, and economic consequences. Our study is done to obtain the variation of drug use and costs of drug therapy, from which medical and social qualitative consequences can be found. Our study emphasizes on knowing the drug utilization and costincluded for antiemetics in patients undergoing chemotherapy in oncology ward.Methods: It was observational, prospective and non-interventional study.Results: Total of 141 patients were studied, out of which 77 (54.6%) patients were female and 64 (45.4%) patients were males. The majority of thepatients in this study belong to the age group of 40-49 (29%) and 60-69 (20%) years. The comparison with the standard protocol was made accordingto the use of antiemetics in the patients. Out of which, 137 (97%) patient profiles were found to be deviating from standard protocol, and 4 (3%)patient profiles were found following the standard protocol because of including prochlorperazine which is not mentioned in the standard protocol.Conclusion: As of future approach, education to physician for rational drug use and review of medication chart with patient consideration can givebetter health care and also cost effective treatment.Keywords: Drug use evaluation, Antiemetics, Chemotherapy

Studies on the cytokinins in fruits I. Occurrence and levels of cytokinin-like substances in grape berries at different developmental stages

The occurrence and levels of cytokinin-like substances in the berries of Bangalore Blue grapes were studied at different stages of growth. The concentration of cytokinins was maximum cluring anthesis ancl the first rapid growth period. The level of cytokinins cleclined markedly cluring the lag and subsequent rapid growth phase. Two growth promoting zones were cletectecl by soybean callus bioassay in the thin layer chromatographs of berry extracts, at all stages of sampling. Although the identity of cytokinin-like substances has not been establishecl, the present study supports the hypothesis that besides auxins, gibberellins, abscisic acid and ethylene, cytokinins are also involvecl in the growth and development of grape berries.Untersuchungen über die Cytokinine in FrüchtenI. Vorkommen und Gehalt cytokininartiger Substanzen in Traubenbeeren verschiedenen EntwicklungszustandesIn verschiedenen Entwicklungsstadien der Beeren von Bangalore Blue wurden das Auftreten und die Menge cytokininartiger Substanzen untersucht. Die Cytokininkonzentration war während der Anthese und der ersten Phase raschen Wachstums am höchsten. Während der anschließenden Phase verlangsamten Wachstums und der darauf folgenden Phase erneuten starken Wachstums fiel die Cytokininkonzentration deutlich ab. Mit Hilfe des Sojabohnenkallus-Tests wurden auf den Dünnschichtchromatogrammen von Beerenextrakten aller Entwicklungsstadien zwei wachstumsfördernde Zonen nachgewiesen. Obgleich die cytokininartigen Substanzen nicht identifiziert wurden, wird durch die vorliegende Untersuchung doch die Hypothese gestützt, daß neben Auxinen, Gibberellinen, Abscisinsäure und Äthylen auch Cytokinine in das Wachstums- und Entwicklungsgeschehen der Traubenbeeren eingeschaltet sind