Wolbachia Association and its Phylogenetic Affiliation of Brugia Malayi Parasites from India

Wolbachia have established a mutualistic association with filarial nematodes and has a phenomenal implication in its normal development, reproduction and survival. Elimination of Wolbachia by tetracycline class of antibiotic compounds have been suggested and successfully implemented for the treatment of lymphatic filarial parasites. Thereby, is necessary to assess the prevalence of the Wolbachia in B. malayi before such new strategies are employed, across the world. In the present communication, the presence of Wolbachia and phylogenetic affiliation in B. malayi collected from Sevagram, Maharashtra, India, has been addressed

Surgical management of intracapsular fracture neck femur by hemiarthroplasty between uncemented bipolar prosthesis and Austin Moore’s prosthesis: a comparative study in elderly population

Background: Intracapsular femoral neck fractures are common in elderly population after a simple fall. To avoid the drawbacks of internal fixation and for the early mobilization, hemiarthroplasty is performed in elderly. The aim of this study is to compare the outcome AMP with uncemented bipolar prosthesis in geriatric patients.Methods: 51 patients above 60 years and an acute displaced fracture of the femoral neck were randomly allocated to treatment by either AMP (Austin Moore prosthesis) or bipolar hemiarthroplasty, in the Department of Orthopaedics, Sri Siddhartha medical college, Tumkur between April 2014 and May 2017. The patients were summoned at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months and 1 year. Functional outcome was assessed and compared with modified Harris hip score and radiological parameters.Results: The mean Harris hip score in bipolar and AMP group was 86.31±12.1 and 79.86±15.42, respectively (p=0.182). The range of motion was 204.52±28.2 and 183.62±36 (p=0.014) respectively. Functional activities like use of public transport and ability to wear shoe or socks was better with bipolar group. Incidence of complications like painful hip, posterior dislocation, periprosthetic fracture and acetabular erosion was encountered in AMP group.Conclusions: The use of uncemented bipolar endoprosthesis in the management of displaced femoral neck fractures in the elderly was associated with better mean Harris hip score and incidence of complications was limited. Hence, bipolar would be a better option in elderly patients with fracture neck of femur.

Electronic structure studies of Fe- ZnO nanorods by x-ray absorption fine structure

We report the electronic structure studies of well characterized polycrystalline Zn_{1-x}Fe_xO (x = 0.0, 0.01, 0.03, and 0.05) nanorods synthesized by a co-precipitation method through x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS). X-ray diffraction (XRD) reveals that Fe doped ZnO crystallizes in a single phase wurtzite structure without any secondary phase. From the XRD pattern, it is observed that peak positions shift towards lower 2\theta value with Fe doping. The change in the peak positions with increase in Fe contents clearly indicates that Fe ions are replacing Zn ions in the ZnO matrix. Linear combination fittings (LCF) at Fe K-edge demonstrate that Fe is in mixed valent state (Fe3+/Fe2+) with a ratio of ~ 7:3 (Fe3+:Fe2+). XAFS data is successfully fitted to wurtzite structure using IFEFFIT and Artemis. The results indicate that Fe substitutes Zn site in the ZnO matrix in tetrahedral symmetry.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables, regular articl

Testing Binary Population Synthesis Models with Hot Subdwarfs

Models of binary star interactions have been successful in explaining the origin of field hot subdwarf (sdB) stars in short period systems, but longer-period systems that formed via Roche-lobe overflow (RLOF) mass transfer from the present sdB to its companion have received less attention. We map sets of initial binaries into present-day binaries that include sdBs and main-sequence stars, distinguishing "observable" sdBs from "hidden" ones. We aim to find out whether (1) the existing catalogues of sdBs are sufficiently fair samples of all the kinds of sdB binaries that theory predicts; or instead whether (2) large predicted hidden populations mandate the construction of new catalogues, perhaps using wide-field imaging surveys such as 2MASS, SDSS, and Galex. We also report on a pilot study to identify hidden subdwarfs, using 2MASS and GALEX data.Comment: 3 pages with 2 figures. Uses AIP style files. To appear in Future Directions in Ultraviolet Astronomy, ed. Michael E. VanSteenberg (AIP Conf Proc

FORMULATION OF FAST-DISSOLVING TABLETS OF DOXAZOSIN MESYLATE DRUG BY DIRECT COMPRESSION METHOD

Objective: The rationale of the current research work was to formulate and evaluate fast-dissolving tablets of doxazosin mesylate with minimum disintegration time and improved dissolution efficiency using solid dispersion method.Methods: Solid dispersions of doxazosin mesylate and polyethylene glycol 8000 in different ratios were prepared using the kneading method. The prepared solid dispersions were subjected to drug interaction and dissolution studies to select the effective solid dispersion for the formulation of fast-dissolving tablets. Fast dissolving tablets containing drug-polyethylene glycol 8000 solid dispersion (1:3) were prepared using various super-disintegrants such as crospovidone, croscarmellose sodium, mixture and coprocessed crospovidone and croscarmellose sodium in concentration range of 2% and 5% by direct compression technique. The prepared formulations (F1–F16) were evaluated for post compression parameters; hardness, thickness, friability, wetting time, disintegration time, and in–vitro drug release.Results: Drug doxazosin mesylate showed enhanced aqueous solubility of 13.3µg/ml in the presence of polyethylene glycol 8000. Differential scanning calorimetery and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies confirmed no interaction between drug and polyethylene glycol 8000and, drug-polyethylene glycol 8000 solid dispersion showed cumulative drug release of 44.48% in 60 min. Formulated FDT of drug-polyethylene glycol 8000 solid dispersion, containing coprocessed mixture of crospovidone and croscarmellose sodium (5%) exhibited disintegration time of 14.5s with percentage cumulative release of 92.46% in 60 min.Conclusion: The work reasonably concludes that for the formulated doxazosin mesylate-fast dissolving tablets, disintegration time was effectively reduced by the presence of coprocessed mixture of crospovidone and croscarmellose sodium and dissolution efficiency was improved by preparation of solid dispersion with polyethylene glycol 8000

HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF THE METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF WHOLE PLANT OF BORRERIA ARTICULARIS ON CARBON TETRACHLORIDE INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN ALBINO RATS

The hepatoprotective activity of methanolic extract of Borreria articularis (L.F) F.N. Willams: (Rubiaceae) at doses of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg were evaluated by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) intoxication in rats. The toxic group which received 25%CCl4inolive oil (1 ml/kg) per oral (p.o), alone exhibited significant increase in serum ALT, AST, ALP, TBlevels. It also exhibited significant (P<0.001) decrease in TP and ALB levels. The groups received pretreatment of Borreria articularis at a dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w.p.o. had reduced the AST, ALT, ALP and TB levels and the effects were compared withstandarddrug(Silymarin100mg/kgb.w.p.o).Thetotal protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) levels were significantly increased in the animalsreceived pretreatment of the extract at the moderate and higher dose levels and the histopathological studies also supported the protective effect of the extract

PROTOTYPE SELF EMULSIFYING SYSTEM OF ETRAVIRINE: DESIGN, FORMULATION AND IN VITRO EVALUATION

Objective: Lipid-based formulations have gained much attention, particularly on self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS), to improve the oral bioavailability of lipophilic drugs. In the present study, an attempt was made to develop and evaluate prototype SEDDS of poorly soluble antiviral BCS class IV drug etravirine.Methods: Various oils, surfactants and co-surfactants were screened for their suitability in the formulation of SEDDS. Based on the screening, gelucire 44/14, as the oil, labrasol as a surfactant and transcutol HP as the co-surfactant were selected. SEDDS with drug etravirine was formulated and evaluated for emulsifying ability, dilution potential and microscopic properties. The emulsion area for each of the combination of oil and surfactant co-surfactant mixture (Smix) was determined by the construction of pseudo-ternary phase diagrams.Results: The optimized formulation with oil (gelucire 44/14) and Smix (labrasol: transcutol HP, 6:1) in a ratio of 2:8 exhibited a rapid emulsification rate and a good polydispersibility index of 0.103±0.012 indicating uniformity of the formed droplets. The size of the droplets was determined by zetasizer and was found to be in 200 nm range. The drug release from the final formulation after 2hr was found to be 41.15%±0.5 compared to 19.3%±3.8 of pure drug indicating enhanced dissolution profile of the drug.Conclusion: In vitro study illustrated enhanced dissolution rate of formulated prototype SEDDS of BCS class IV drug etravirine for oral delivery

Recognition schemes for protein-nucleic acid interactions

The molecular forces involved in protein-nucleic acid interaction are electrostatic, stacking and hydrogen-bonding. These interactions have a certain amount of specificity due to the directional nature of such interactions and the spatial contributions of the steric effects of different substituent groups. Quantum chemical calculations on these interactions have been reported which clearly bring out such features. While the binding energies for electrostatic interactions are an order of magnitude higher, the differences in interaction energies for structures stabilised by hydrogen-bonding and stacking are relatively small. Thus, the molecular interactions alone cannot explain the highly specific nature of binding observed in certain segments of proteins and nucleic acids. It is therefore logical to assume that the sequence dependent three dimensional structures of these molecules help to place the functional groups in the correct geometry for a favourable interaction between the two molecules. We have carried out 2D-FT nuclear magnetic resonance studies on the oligonucleotide d-GGATCCGGATCC. This oligonucleotide sequence has two binding sites for the restriction enzyme Bam H1. Our studies indicate that the conformation of this DNA fragment is predominantly B-type except near the binding sites where the ribose ring prefers a3E conformation. This interesting finding raises the general question about the presence of specificity in the inherent backbone structures of proteins and nucleic acids as opposed to specific intermolecular interactions which may induce conformational changes to facilitate such binding

Compressive and Flexural Strength Property Enhancement for Fibre Reinforced M30, M50 and M80 Grade Concrete Using Foundry Sand (FS) and Crushed Concrete Waste (CCW)

Now days, many research works are carried for all grades of concrete to make the concrete most economical and durable there by adding the supplementary cementitious materials and alternative replacement aggregates. In this research work deals with the experimental investigation of mechanical properties of the M30, M50 and M80 grade concrete by replacing the fine and coarse aggregate by foundry sand and crushed concrete waste respectively. Mix design procedures were followed as per IRC44:2017 guidelines and recommendation. Proper dosage of super plasticizer (SP) was maintained in the concrete to make it better performed. In this present investigation, a Poly Propylene fibre (PPF) of 0.3% by weight of the cement is used. Mechanical properties such as Compressive strength and Flexural Strength were determined by preparing the respective mould sizes for specific test and are cured for 7, 14 and 28 days and result obtained for respective days were tabulated and discussed.