Hepatitis B Virus: Inactive carriers

Inactive carriers forms the largest group in chronic HBV infected patients. Around 300 million people are inactive carriers The inactive HBsAg carrier state is diagnosed by absence of HBeAg and presence of anti-HBe, undetectable or low levels of HBV DNA in PCR-based assays, repeatedly normal ALT levels, and minimal or no necroinflammation, slight fibrosis, or even normal histology on biopsy. Inactive cirrhosis may be present in patients who had active liver disease during the replicative phase of infection. The prognosis of the inactive HBsAg carrier state is usually benign. Long-term follow- up (up to 18 years) of these carriers has indicated that the vast majority show sustained biochemical remission and very low risk of cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Rarely, patients, even noncirrhotics, may develop liver cancer during the inactive HBsAg carrier state. In addition, approximately 20 to 30% of persons in the inactive HBsAg carrier state may undergo spontaneous reactivation of hepatitis B during follow-up. Multiple episodes of reactivation or sustained reactivation can cause progressive hepatic damage and even hepatic decompensation. Introductio

CHROMATOGRAPHY: INTRODUCTION OF IMPORTANT SEPARATION METHODS AND MODERN TECHNIQUES FOR ADJUSTMENT OF COLUMN PARAMETERS AND FLOW RATE IN LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY TO REDUCE ANALYSIS TIME AND COST

Chromatographic techniques play a major role in the pharmaceutical industries for separation, including clinical applications, environmental applications, forensics, food analysis, and the analysis of biological samples. Different chromatographic techniques are available for analysis, like TLC, HPLC, UPLC, GC, LCMS, ion exchange, affinity, and Size exclusion chromatography, etc. In each chromatographic technique, the movable (Mobile) phase and fixed (Stationary) phases play a major role in the separation of mixture compounds. In Liquid chromatography, the “small particle size” of the stationary phase increased the performance of chromatographic separation after adjustment in Column parameters (length & internal diameters), resulting in reduced analysis time, consumption of chemical/Solvent, and Cost of analysis which is support to Green Chemistry. Isolation of content depends on partitioning between mobile and stationary phases which is completed with the help of Vander Waals' forces through dipole-dipole, dipole-induce dipole, л-complex bonding, hydrogen bonding interaction, adsorption/desorption, Physico-chemical interaction, capillary ways holding-bonding pattern, size and shape pattern, and ligand-receptor phenomena. In all the above techniques the movable phase is liquid or gas whereas the stationary phase contains solid material and solid support coated with a liquid material

Topical corticosteroid misuse: observational study to evaluate pattern of abuse and adverse drug reactions

Background: Topical corticosteroids (TC) have a reputation as anti-acne, anti-blemish effects and popularly used as fairness creams. In India, there has been a rise in misuse of TC in last10 years. The present study was conducted to analyse the magnitude of adverse effects of topical corticosteroids abuse in dermatology outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital.Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on patients after categorizing them as a TC misuser by dermatologists. The socio-demographic data, chief complaints, details of drugs misuse and adverse drug reaction outcome was collected.Results: A total of 1240 patients was screened, out of which 80 patients misused TC without dermatologist prescription for their skin disease. TC was mainly misused by teenagers (43.8%). Misuse of topical corticosteroids was more common among females (76.3%). Betamethasone valerate (72.5%) was most common TC misused. Most common source of advice of TC misuse was friends (37.5%). Most common purpose of TC misuse was acne (55%) followed by cosmetic purposes (21.3%). The most common morphological varieties of adverse drug reactions were burning and itching sensation (53%) followed by increase severity of acne (44%).Conclusions: TC misuse was more common in teenage females. Most common adverse effect reported is burning and itch sensation followed by increase severity of acne. The study data indicates a significance of problem and requirement of urgent measures to control TC misuse

Induction of whole-body gene deletion via R26-regulated tamoxifen-inducible Cre recombinase activity

Germline deletion of certain genes causes embryonic lethality, therefore, understanding the effect of deletion of such genes on mammalian pathophysiology remains challenging. Tamoxifen (TAM)-inducible Cre recombinase is widely used for tissue-specific and temporal induction of gene deletion in mice. However, the tamoxifen treatment regimen for the generation of whole-body deletion of a gene is not yet fully standardized for the majority of organs/tissues. Accordingly, we employed GtROSA26 (R26) promoter-regulated Cre and a reporter gene expression strategy. GtROSA26 (R26) is an ubiquitous promoter and mice carrying the R26Cre−ERT2 transgene express Cre-ERT2 in all the cells. Similarly, mice carrying the R26mTOM-mEGFP transgene express mTOM (membrane-targeted tdTomato), in the absence of Cre or mEGFP (membrane-targeted enhanced green fluorescent protein), in the presence of Cre, in all the cells. The progeny carrying one allele of both transgenes were subjected to different TAM regimens, i.e., IP injections (4 injections; 1.35 mg/injection), diet (400 mg TAM-citrate/kg food), or diet (400 mg TAM-citrate/kg food) combined with either TAM-oral gavage (4 gavages; 1.35 mg/gavage) or TAM IP injections (4 injections; 1.35 mg/injection) for 2-weeks beginning at postnatal day (PND) 21 and the extent of Cre recombination in different tissues was determined at PND35. Tamoxifen administration resulted in a transient loss of body weight in all the treatment regimens with a relatively slower rate of weight gain in the TAM-diet plus TAM-oral gavage group compared to other groups. While the efficiency of Cre recombination, as determined by the expression of mEGFP protein, was variable among tissues, major tissues such as the liver, heart, lungs, spleen, and thymus—showed almost complete recombination. No recombination was evident in any of the tissues examined from the control mice. In general, the efficiency of Cre recombination was better with a combined regimen of TAM-diet with either TAM-injections or TAM-oral gavage compared to TAM-diet alone or TAM-injections alone. Our results demonstrate that a combination of TAM-diet with either TAM-injections or TAM-oral gavage can be employed for the efficient deletion of a gene in the whole body. Our findings will provide technical expertise to the researchers employing TAM-inducible Cre for the deletion of floxed genes in varied tissues

In vivo antioxidant potential of lepidium sativum l. Seeds in albino rats using cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity

The present study was designed to investigate to possible potential nephrocurative, nephroprotective activity and in vivo antioxidant potential of 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg ethanolic extract of Lepidium sativum L. seeds was use to against cisplatin (5mg/kg, i.p.) induced nephrotoxicity. The experimental protocol designed as the animals were divided into six groups (n=6) like control, model control, two curative (200mg/kg and 400mg/kg), and two protective groups (200mg/kg and 400mg/kg, were received vehicle, cisplatin, cisplatin + extract, and extract + cisplatin respectively. After 6th days, blood collected from retro-orbital sinus of rats and determined urea and creatinine level in serum of each group after then rats were sacrificed for quantitative estimation of various enzymes and ATPase content in kidney tissue. A single dose of cisplatin induced loss in body weight, increase urine excretion, increased urea & creatinine level in serum; it was significantly recovered by 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg in curative and protective groups. The enzyme estimation in kidney tissue it found that increase malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase and reduced glutathione level, it was significantly monitored by 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg in curative and protective groups. These are defined as vivo antioxidant potential. The level of brush border enzymes like Na+ / K+ ATPase, Ca++ ATPase and Mg++ATPase were found significantly reduced after single dose cisplatin injection. It was overcome by treatment of same extract in curative and protective groups. Finally it is concluded that the present study data conformed nephrotoxicity induced by cisplatin due oxidative stress and ethanolic extract of Lepidium sativum L. seeds may have nephroprotective and curative activity.Keywords: Cisplatin; Nephrotoxicity; urea; creatinine; glutathione; Lipid peroxidatio

In vivo antioxidant potential of lepidium sativum l. Seeds in albino rats using cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity

The present study was designed to investigate to possible potential nephrocurative, nephroprotective activity and in vivo antioxidant potential of 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg ethanolic extract of Lepidium sativum L. seeds was use to against cisplatin (5mg/kg, i.p.) induced nephrotoxicity. The experimental protocol designed as the animals were divided into six groups (n=6) like control, model control, two curative (200mg/kg and 400mg/kg), and two protective groups (200mg/kg and 400mg/kg, were received vehicle, cisplatin, cisplatin + extract, and extract + cisplatin respectively. After 6th days, blood collected from retro-orbital sinus of rats and determined urea and creatinine level in serum of each group after then rats were sacrificed for quantitative estimation of various enzymes and ATPase content in kidney tissue. A single dose of cisplatin induced loss in body weight, increase urine excretion, increased urea & creatinine level in serum; it was significantly recovered by 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg in curative and protective groups. The enzyme estimation in kidney tissue it found that increase malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase and reduced glutathione level, it was significantly monitored by 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg in curative and protective groups. These are defined as vivo antioxidant potential. The level of brush border enzymes like Na+ / K+ ATPase, Ca++ ATPase and Mg++ATPase were found significantly reduced after single dose cisplatin injection. It was overcome by treatment of same extract in curative and protective groups. Finally it is concluded that the present study data conformed nephrotoxicity induced by cisplatin due oxidative stress and ethanolic extract of Lepidium sativum L. seeds may have nephroprotective and curative activity.Keywords: Cisplatin; Nephrotoxicity; urea; creatinine; glutathione; Lipid peroxidatio

Quantifying the Impact of Digital Transformation on Economic Growth: A Longitudinal Analysis

This study examined how digital transformation and economic development interact in a longitudinal analysis that went from 2016 to 2020. A persistent commitment to digitalization was shown by the statistics, which showed a constant growth in digital transformation measures including investment, adoption rates, talent development, and preparedness. Indicators of economic development, including GDP growth, employment, productivity, and corporate investments, all showed positive trends at the same time. The percentages of the calculated digital transformation impact indicated an increasing effect over time. An examination conducted over a period of five years highlighted the overall effect of digital transformation and emphasized its ongoing contribution to economic development. Policymakers, companies, and academics should take note of this research's important implications, which underscore the pivotal role that digital transformation plays in determining economic advancement in the digital era

Innovation Strategies in Indian Textile Sector – Evidence from Surat Textile Cluster

Though India has comparative advantage in labour intensive sector like textile, India’s performance in this sector is not too impressive on the export front. In this context, this paper argues that lack of innovation culture could be one of the principal reasons for India’s poor performance. This hypothesis is tested by conducing primary survey in one of the more dynamic textile cluster in Northern India namely, Surat and adjoining areas. Our findings do indicate lack of product as well as organisational innovation culture in this region, which may be a serious bottleneck in competitive export market. We do find that firms score well in respect of marketing innovation which probably suggests that competitive pressure has increased due to the globalization of the economy. Firms are also found to be keen in respect of process innovation to reduce cost in the aftermath of increased pace of competition in the sector

Neonatal Pulmonary Macrophage Depletion Coupled to Defective Mucus Clearance Increases Susceptibility to Pneumonia and Alters Pulmonary Immune Responses

Resident immune cells (e.g., macrophages [MΦs]) and airway mucus clearance both contribute to a healthy lung environment. To investigate interactions between pulmonary MΦ function and defective mucus clearance, a genetic model of lysozyme M (LysM) promoter–mediated MΦ depletion was generated, characterized, and crossed with the sodium channel β subunit transgenic (Scnn1b-Tg) mouse model of defective mucus clearance. Diphtheria toxin A–mediated depletion of LysM+ pulmonary MΦs in wild-type mice with normal mucus clearance resulted in lethal pneumonia in 24% of neonates. The pneumonias were dominated by Pasteurella pneumotropica and accompanied by emaciation, neutrophilic inflammation, and elevated Th1 cytokines. The incidence of emaciation and pneumonia reached 51% when LysM+ MΦ depletion was superimposed on the airway mucus clearance defect of Scnn1b-Tg mice. In LysM+ MΦ-depleted Scnn1b-Tg mice, pneumonias were associated with a broader spectrum of bacterial species and a significant reduction in airway mucus plugging. Bacterial burden (CFUs) was comparable between Scnn1b-Tg and nonpneumonic LysM+ MΦ-depleted Scnn1b-Tg mice. However, the nonpneumonic LysM+ MΦ-depleted Scnn1b-Tg mice exhibited increased airway inflammation, the presence of neutrophilic infiltration, and increased levels of inflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid compared with Scnn1b-Tg mice. Collectively, these data identify key MΦ–mucus clearance interactions with respect to both infectious and inflammatory components of muco-obstructive lung disease