Liposomes in Biology and Medicine

Drug delivery systems (DDS) have become important tools for the specific delivery of a large number of drug molecules. Since their discovery in the 1960s liposomes were recognized as models to study biological membranes and as versatile DDS of both hydrophilic and lipophilic molecules. Liposomes--nanosized unilamellar phospholipid bilayer vesicles--undoubtedly represent the most extensively studied and advanced drug delivery vehicles. After a long period of research and development efforts, liposome-formulated drugs have now entered the clinics to treat cancer and systemic or local fungal infections, mainly because they are biologically inert and biocompatible and practically do not cause unwanted toxic or antigenic reactions. A novel, up-coming and promising therapy approach for the treatment of solid tumors is the depletion of macrophages, particularly tumor associated macrophages with bisphosphonate-containing liposomes. In the advent of the use of genetic material as therapeutic molecules the development of delivery systems to target such novel drug molecules to cells or to target organs becomes increasingly important. Liposomes, in particular lipid-DNA complexes termed lipoplexes, compete successfully with viral gene transfection systems in this field of application. Future DDS will mostly be based on protein, peptide and DNA therapeutics and their next generation analogs and derivatives. Due to their versatility and vast body of known properties liposome-based formulations will continue to occupy a leading role among the large selection of emerging DDS

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010–19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND: Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. METHODS: The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk–outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. FINDINGS: Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4·45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4·01–4·94) deaths and 105 million (95·0–116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44·4% (41·3–48·4) of all cancer deaths and 42·0% (39·1–45·6) of all DALYs. There were 2·88 million (2·60–3·18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50·6% [47·8–54·1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1·58 million (1·36–1·84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36·3% [32·5–41·3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20·4% (12·6–28·4) and DALYs by 16·8% (8·8–25·0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34·7% [27·9–42·8] and 33·3% [25·8–42·0]). INTERPRETATION: The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden

Global Market and Local Players: A Value Chain System of Collaborative Strategies

Since independence, different institutional arrangements have been tried to reorganize the land and production relations for bringing change in farming systems and enhancing crop yield of small farmers. But, these interventions have not been successful in bringing any meaningful improvement. Non-viability of small landholdings, inadequacies in the availability of inputs, poor extension and infrastructural support and insufficient marketing avenues have been found to be the primary reasons for the low crop productivity. However, it is believed that changes in institutional arrangements of land tenure system like land leasing, contract farming and corporate farming can make the small farms economically viable. By forging strategic alliance with farmers and banks, the corporate sector, which is known for its efficient management, can provide a sound business framework and prove to be a panacea for the ills of agricultural sector in general and small farmers in particular. The experience of some the Indian companies and multi-national companies are quite encouraging in this area. This paper has made an attempt to integrate small farmers and corporate sector and establish a link between small farmers and global market through effective value chain system. Besides, it has described the role of various players in the value chain and has discussed how the government, keeping the interests of the farmers in view, can facilitate greater participation of the corporate sector through appropriate policy framework

Effect of engine parameters and type of gaseous fuel on the performance of dual-fuel gas diesel engines--A critical review

Petroleum resources are finite and, therefore, search for their alternative non-petroleum fuels for internal combustion engines is continuing all over the world. Moreover gases emitted by petroleum fuel driven vehicles have an adverse effect on the environment and human health. There is universal acceptance of the need to reduce such emissions. Towards this, scientists have proposed various solutions for diesel engines, one of which is the use of gaseous fuels as a supplement for liquid diesel fuel. These engines, which use conventional diesel fuel and gaseous fuel, are referred to as 'dual-fuel engines'. Natural gas and bio-derived gas appear more attractive alternative fuels for dual-fuel engines in view of their friendly environmental nature. In the gas-fumigated dual-fuel engine, the primary fuel is mixed outside the cylinder before it is inducted into the cylinder. A pilot quantity of liquid fuel is injected towards the end of the compression stroke to initiate combustion. When considering a gaseous fuel for use in existing diesel engines, a number of issues which include, the effects of engine operating and design parameters, and type of gaseous fuel, on the performance of the dual-fuel engines, are important. This paper reviews the research on above issues carried out by various scientists in different diesel engines. This paper touches upon performance, combustion and emission characteristics of dual-fuel engines which use natural gas, biogas, producer gas, methane, liquefied petroleum gas, propane, etc. as gaseous fuel. It reveals that 'dual-fuel concept' is a promising technique for controlling both NOx and soot emissions even on existing diesel engine. But, HC, CO emissions and 'bsfc' are higher for part load gas diesel engine operations. Thermal efficiency of dual-fuel engines improve either with increased engine speed, or with advanced injection timings, or with increased amount of pilot fuel. The ignition characteristics of the gaseous fuels need more research for a long-term use in a dual-fuel engine. It is found that, the selection of engine operating and design parameters play a vital role in minimizing the performance divergences between an existing diesel engine and a 'gas diesel engine'.Combustion Carbon dioxide Dual-fuel Efficiency Emissions Gaseous fuel

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Organism descriptor(s) : Azospirillum, Bacteria, Solanum lycopersicum Descriptor(s) : crop yield, enzyme activity, farmyard manure, fruits, growth, oxidoreductases, plant height, poultry manure, respiration, soil bacteria, soil enzymes, soil flora, tomatoes, vermicompost Identifier(s) : bacterium, FYM, Lycopersicon esculentum, Orissa, poultry litter, redox enzymes Geographical Location(s) : India, OdishaA field experiment was conducted during 2013 to study the effect of farm yard manure (FYM), poultry manure and vermicompost along with Azospirillum strain on soil biological properties, growth and yield of tomato var Utkal Kumari. The treatment, vermicompost @ 10 t ha-1 along with Azospirillum strain @ 5 kg ha-1, showed higher fruit (27.61 t/ha) and stover yield (9.38 t/ha) in comparison to other treatments. Plant height at 30, 60 and 90 days after planting and fruits/cluster (3.90) were maximum in the same treatment. Interestingly, it was also observed that the performance of tomato with respect to fruit diameter (5.23 cm), fruit height (4.90 cm) and girth of plant (4.67 cm) were statistically significant in the same treatments. The soil dehydrogenase activity (125.26 µg TPF g-1 soil day-1), soil respiration (250.22 µg CO2-Cg-1 soil day-1) and the soil bacterial population (88×106 no. CFU per 1 g soil) was also observed highest in the plot where Azospirillum strain was applied along with vermicompost.Not Availabl

Formulation and in vitro evaluation of Eudragit® microspheres of stavudine

Purpose: The aim of this study was to formulate and evaluate microencapsulated controlled release preparations of a highly water-soluble drug, stavudine, using Copolymers synthesized from acrylic and methacrylic acid esters (Eudragit RS 100 and RL 100) as the retardant material. . Methods: Microspheres were prepared by solvent evaporation method using an acetone / liquid paraffin system. Magnesium stearate was used as the droplet stabilizer and n-hexane was added to harden the microspheres. The prepared microspheres were characterized for their micromeritic properties and drug loading, as well by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry, x-ray powder diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy. The in vitro release studies were performed in pH 6.8, phosphate buffer. Results: The prepared microspheres were white, free flowing and spherical in shape. The drug-loaded microspheres showed 67-91% of entrapment and release was extended upto 6 to 8 h. The infrared spectra and differential scanning calorimetry thermographs showed stable character of stavudine in the drug-loaded microspheres and revealed the absence of drug-polymer interactions. X-ray diffraction patterns showed that there was decrease in crystallinity of the drug. Scanning electron microscopy study revealed that the microspheres were spherical and porous in nature. Conclusion: The best-fit release kinetics was achieved with Higuchi plot followed by zero order and First order. The release of stavudine was influenced by the drug to polymer ratio and particle size & was found to be diffusion controlled

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Effect of different drying treatments on the physicochemical, functional, and antioxidant properties of Bacopa monnieri

Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst is a very high-value medicinal plant that is commonly used for improving cognitive functions. However, the availability of very limited information on the drying method of B. monnieri has prompted to optimize a suitable drying method. The present study therefore aimed to evaluate the influence of the following six drying treatments on the quality of B. monnieri sample: microwave drying at 300 W and 600 W, hot air-drying at 50EC and 70EC, solar drying, and freeze-drying (FD). The quality attributes of the dried samples were comparatively analyzed in terms of color, total color difference, moisture content, water activity (a w), antioxidant activity, and bacoside A and bacopaside I content. The results of this study showed significant differences (P < 0.05) among the different drying methods in International Commission on Illumination (CIE) parameters, namely lightness index (L*), red-green index (a*), and yellow-blue index (b*), ΔE and a w values. Among the samples dried with the six drying methods, freeze-dried B. monnieri samples had an attractive color with the lowest total color difference value (11.415%), a w value (0.15%), and maximum bacoside A (3.389%) and bacopaside I (0.620%) content. Moreover, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis showed no major difference in the functional groups in B. monnieri samples processed by the different drying methods. Considering the retention of quality after drying, FD was found to be very effective for future large-scale production of good quality dried B. monnieri products