Constraining the Surface Curvature of an Anisotropic Neutron Star

The anisotropy of pressure arises due to the various complex phenomena that happen inside the neutron star (NS). In this study, we calculate the degree of anisotropy inside the NS using the scalar pressure anisotropy model. Macroscopic properties such as mass, radius, compactness, redshift, tidal deformability, the moment of inertia, and surface curvature (SC) are computed for the anisotropic NS with the equation of states spanning from relativistic to nonrelativistic cases. The variation of SC as the functions of the above-mentioned quantities are computed by changing the degree of anisotropy. Pressure anisotropy has significant effects on the magnitude of SC. The universal relations between the canonical SC$-\Lambda$ and SC$-\bar{I}$ are studied. From the GW170817 tidal deformability data constraints on SC are found to be SC$_{1.4}(10^{14}) = 3.44_{-1.0}^{+0.4}, 2.85_{-1.20}^{+0.62}, \ {\rm and} \ 2.52_{-1.02}^{+0.61}$ for $\lambda_{\rm BL} = 0.0, 1.0$, and $2.0$ respectively.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, 1 table, Published in Phys. Rev.

Hydrophilic polymers as release modifiers for primaquine phosphate: Effect of polymeric dispersion

La primaquina (PQ), un compuesto sintético con actividad antimalaria fuerte, se caracteriza por tener una vida media de plasma baja, lo que requiere una administración frecuente y provoca varios efectos colaterales no deseados, con inconformidad del paciente. El objetivo del estudio actual fue diseñar una formulación de liberación prolongada que incorpora PQ en una matriz hidrofílica compuesta de HPMC, CMC de sodio y alginato de sodio. Se estudiaron también los efectos de las dispersiones poliméricas de etilcelulosa (EC) y polivinilpirrolidona (PVP). Los comprimidos se prepararon según el método de granulación húmeda. Los resultados de la respuesta de ángulo (<30) y el índice de compresibilidad (hasta el 15%) mostraron propiedades de flujo buenas. Los comprimidos se sometieron a pruebas de variación de peso, dureza, friabilidad y contenido de fármaco. La hinchazón y el perfil de liberación del fármaco se investigaron bajo condiciones de disolución. Los resultados mostraron que el índice de inflamación y la capacidad retardada de liberación son mayores con HPMC que con CMC de sodio, y que estos a su vez son mayores que con alginato de sodio, los cuales fueron más sostenidos por dispersiones poliméricas de EC y PVC. La cinética de los fármacos mostró una liberación prolongada de hasta 20 horas (F3) siguiendo una difusión no de Fick (0,45<n<0,89).Primaquine (PQ), a synthetic compound with potent antimalarial activity is characterized by low plasma half life, requiring frequent administration leading to several undesired side effects, patient incompliance. The objective of the present study was to design an extended release formulation incorporating PQ in hydrophillic matrix composed of HPMC,Sodium CMC, Sodium alginate. Effects of polymeric dispersions of ethyl cellulose (EC) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was also studied. Tablets were prepared by wet granulation method. The results of angle of repose (<30) and compressiblity index (upto 15%) indicate good flow properties. Tablets were subjected to weight variation, hardness, friability and drug content tests. The swelling and drug release profile were investigated under dissolution condition. The result showed that the swelling index & release retarding capacity follows HPMC>Sodium CMC>Sodium alginate, which was further sustained by polymeric dispersions of EC and PVP. The kinetics of drugs showed extended release of up to 20 hrs (F3) following non fickian diffusion (0.45<n<0.89)

Zika virus infection induces endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis in placental trophoblasts

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection to a pregnant woman can be vertically transmitted to the fetus via the placenta leading to Congenital Zika syndrome. This is characterized by microcephaly, retinal defects, and intrauterine growth retardation. ZIKV induces placental trophoblast apoptosis leading to severe abnormalities in the growth and development of the fetus. However, the molecular mechanism behind ZIKV-induced apoptosis in placental trophoblasts remains unclear. We hypothesize that ZIKV infection induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the trophoblasts, and sustained ER stress results in apoptosis. HTR-8 (HTR-8/SVneo), a human normal immortalized trophoblast cell and human choriocarcinoma-derived cell lines (JEG-3 and JAR) were infected with ZIKV. Biochemical and structural markers of apoptosis like caspase 3/7 activity and percent apoptotic nuclear morphological changes, respectively were assessed. ZIKV infection in placental trophoblasts showed an increase in the levels of CHOP mRNA and protein expression, which is an inducer of apoptosis. Next, we also observed increased levels of ER stress markers such as phosphorylated forms of inositol-requiring transmembrane kinase/endoribonuclease 1α (P-IRE1α), and its downstream target, the spliced form of XBP1 mRNA, phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (P-eIF2α), and activation of cJun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) after 16–24 h of ZIKV infection in trophoblasts. Inhibition of JNK or pan-caspases using small molecule inhibitors significantly prevented ZIKV-induced apoptosis in trophoblasts. Further, JNK inhibition also reduced XBP1 mRNA splicing and viral E protein staining in ZIKV infected cells. In conclusion, the mechanism of ZIKV-induced placental trophoblast apoptosis involves the activation of ER stress and JNK activation, and the inhibition of JNK dramatically prevents ZIKV-induced trophoblast apoptosis

The correlation of cardiovascular risk factors and angiographic findings with serum vitamin D levels in patients undergoing coronary angiography

Background: Studies regarding correlation of various conventional risks factors for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) are many. Keeping in mind the scarcity of studies regarding Vit-D Deficiency (VDD), a new risk factor in CAD, present study was conducted to correlate Vit-D level with conventional risk factors and Coronary Angiography (CAG).Methods: Hundred adult patients admitted to Medicine and Cardiology undergoing CAG with suspected or established CAD were kept in study. Patients having renal, hepatic, parathyroid disease, osteomalacia and patients taking drugs interfering with Vitamin D (Vit-D) metabolism were excluded. After detailed history and thorough clinical examination, routine investigations and 25-(OH) D level was estimated. Subsequently patients underwent CAG. Statistical analysis by Mann Whitey test and Chi-square Test was done and inference was drawn.Results: 100 patients in different age groups had hypertension (HTN) in 53, diabetics mellitus (DM) 39, dyslipidemia 62, smokers 38 and family history of CAD 19. CAG showed normal coronaries in 4, Single Vessel Disease (SVD) in 30, double vessel diseases (DVD) 43 and triple vessel disease (TVD) 22. Vit-D level 30ng/ml (normal) in 10. VDD was profound in 51-60 and 61-70 years age groups. Statistical correlation of VDD was not significant with conventional risk factors, but statistically significant correlation of VDD was observed with dyslipidemia and CAG findings in our study.Conclusions: Like earlier studies we observed significant correlation of Vit-D levels with CAD. Though dyslipidemia was significantly correlated with VDD, correlation of other conventional risk factors like age, sex, HTN, DM, smoking and family history was not found. We conclude from this study presence of significant association of VDD with severe CAD. DVD and TVD by CAG were common with low Vit-D levels

Antagonistic activity of cellular components of Pseudomonas species against Aeromonas hydrophila

Antagonistic effects of Pseudomonas fluorescens, P. aeruginosa and P. putida were studied against 12 strains of Aeromonas hydrophila (Ah1–Ah12). Four different fractions of cellular component (i.e. whole cell product, heat killed whole cell product, intra cellular product and extra cellular product) of all Pseudomonas species were equally effective in reducing growth of A. hydrophila strains, as measured by the zone of inhibition in an in vitro sensitivity test and have potential action against A. hydrophila infection in fishes

An Attenuated Zika Virus Encoding Non-Glycosylated Envelope (E) and Non-Structural Protein 1 (NS1) Confers Complete Protection against Lethal Challenge in a Mouse Model

Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-transmitted flavivirus, emerged in the last decade causing serious human diseases, including congenital microcephaly in newborns and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. Although many vaccine platforms are at various stages of development, no licensed vaccines are currently available. Previously, we described a mutant MR766 ZIKV (m2MR) bearing an E protein mutation (N154A) that prevented its glycosylation, resulting in attenuation and defective neuroinvasion. To further attenuate m2MR for its potential use as a live viral vaccine, we incorporated additional mutations into m2MR by substituting the asparagine residues in the glycosylation sites (N130 and N207) of NS1 with alanine residues. Examination of pathogenic properties revealed that the virus (m5MR) carrying mutations in E (N154A) and NS1 (N130A and N207A) was fully attenuated with no disease signs in infected mice, inducing high levels of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, and protecting mice from subsequent lethal virus challenge. Furthermore, passive transfer of sera from m5MR-infected mice into naïve animals resulted in complete protection from lethal challenge. The immune sera from m5MR-infected animals neutralized both African and Asian lineage viruses equally well, suggesting that m5MR virus could be developed as a potentially broad live virus vaccine candidate

An Attenuated Zika Virus Encoding Non-Glycosylated Envelope (E) and Non-Structural Protein 1 (NS1) Confers Complete Protection against Lethal Challenge in a Mouse Model

Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-transmitted flavivirus, emerged in the last decade causing serious human diseases, including congenital microcephaly in newborns and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. Although many vaccine platforms are at various stages of development, no licensed vaccines are currently available. Previously, we described a mutant MR766 ZIKV (m2MR) bearing an E protein mutation (N154A) that prevented its glycosylation, resulting in attenuation and defective neuroinvasion. To further attenuate m2MR for its potential use as a live viral vaccine, we incorporated additional mutations into m2MR by substituting the asparagine residues in the glycosylation sites (N130 and N207) of NS1 with alanine residues. Examination of pathogenic properties revealed that the virus (m5MR) carrying mutations in E (N154A) and NS1 (N130A and N207A) was fully attenuated with no disease signs in infected mice, inducing high levels of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, and protecting mice from subsequent lethal virus challenge. Furthermore, passive transfer of sera from m5MR-infected mice into naïve animals resulted in complete protection from lethal challenge. The immune sera from m5MR-infected animals neutralized both African and Asian lineage viruses equally well, suggesting that m5MR virus could be developed as a potentially broad live virus vaccine candidate