Methotrexate and cardiovascular events

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the association of MTX with cardiovascular morbidity, cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality in patients with autoimmune disease. Our primary outcome was incident cardiovascular events. After screening 13,479 citations, we identified a total of 30 eligible studies. We synthesized adjusted risk estimates using a random effects model. MTX was significantly associated with a 25% reduction in cardiovascular events (pooled RR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.65, 0.86, I2: 11%), a 55% reduction in cardiovascular mortality (0.45, 95% CI: 0.26, 0.80, I2: 33%) and a 40% reduction in all-cause mortality (0.60, 95% CI: 0.48, 0.76, I2: 45%). Low-dose MTX was associated with a stronger effect size for reducing cardiovascular events compared to high-dose MTX (0.61, 95% CI: 0.51, 0.74 versus 0.88, 95% CI: 0.78, 0.99). We concluded a significant associative reduction in cardiovascular events with the use of low-dose MTX in patients with autoimmune disease

ENHANCEMENT OF SOLUBILITY AND DISSOLUTION OF NEBIVOLOL BY SOLID DISPERSION TECHNIQUE

Objective: Solubility is greater challenges for formulation which can be explain by different technological approaches during the pharmaceutical product development and to improve water solubility and drug release respectively. Methods: The solid dispersions of nebivolol were prepared in ratio 1:1, 1:3, 1:5 and 1:7 by fusion and solvent evaporation method using PEG 6000 and PVP K30 as carriers to enhance solubility of compound. Results: All the solid dispersions were evaluated for drug content, phase solubility, in vitro dissolution study. Deferential Scanning Calorimetric (DSC) and Fourier Transformer Infra Red (FTIR) showed no chemical interaction between the drug and its carriers. Solubility of PEG 6000 and PVP K30 indicates a linear relationship (AL type of curve) in the investigated polymer concentration range. The Gibb's free energy showed declined trend with increase in the carrier concentrations. The uniformly of drug content was found in all solid dispersions. The drug release obtained from different drug-carrier concentration level fitted to different kinetic model and it was found that solid dispersions exhibited fickian diffusional characteristics and best fitted to higuchi model. A PVP K30 solid dispersion (1:7 ratio) prepared by solvent evaporation method showed faster dissolution rate (94.38 %) in 30 min among studied solid dispersions.. Conclusion: The overall results showed that process of nebivolol transfer from water to carrier solution is more favorable at higher level of PVP K30. The solid dispersion of drug: PVP K 30 (1:7 ratio) prepared by solvent evaporation method was found to be optimum in term of solubility and dissolution rate. Hence, we can concluded that solubility of nebivolol can be enhanced using this carrier ratio

Deep R learning for continual area sweeping

In order to maintain robustness, autonomous robots need to constantly update their knowledge of the environment, which can be expensive when they are deployed in large, dynamic spaces. The continual area sweeping task formalizes the problem of a robot continually patrolling an area in a non-uniform way in order to efficiently use travel time. However, the existing problem formulation makes strong assumptions about the environment, and to date only a sub-optimal greedy approach has been proposed. We generalize the continual area sweeping formulation to include fewer environmental constraints, and propose a novel reinforcement learning approach. We evaluate our approach in an abstract simulation and in a high fidelity Gazebo simulation, which shows significant improvement upon the initial approach in general settingsComputational Science, Engineering, and Mathematic

Inverse scattering algorithm and an experimental set up to determine subsurface defects on planar surfaces

Includes bibliographical references (leaf 17)This thesis presents an inverse scattering algorithm that makes possible the inversion of experimental thermal wave images of planar subsurface defects. The method is based on Green’s function technique. It significantly improves the spatial resolution and removes the blurring which is otherwise characteristics of thermal wave images. An experimental procedure is set up in our lab using a steel sample which will be helpful in future research work.M.S. (Master of Science

Corneal Endothelial Safety of Intracameral Preservative-free 1% Xylocaine

<b>Purpose</b> : To evaluate the effect of intracameral preservative-free 1&#x0025; xylocaine on the corneal endothelium as an adjuvant to topical anaesthesia during phacoemulsification and Acrysof foldable IOL implantation. <b> Material &#x0026; Methods:</b> This is a prospective, controlled, randomised, double-masked study. 106 patients with soft to moderately dense (Grade 1-3) senile cataract and corneal endothelial cell density of &gt;1500/mm2 were randomised to the xylocaine group (n=53) and control group(n=53). Central endothelial specular microscopy and ultrasound corneal pachymetry were performed preoperatively. On the first postoperative day the eyes were evaluated for corneal oedema and Descemet&#x2032;s folds. Ultrasound corneal pachymetry was performed at 1, 3 and 12 months. Specular microscopy was performed at 3 and 12 months. Cell loss was expressed as a percentage of preoperative cell density. Six patients could not complete one year follow-up. Chi-square and paired t test (2 tail) statistical tests were applied for analysis. <b> Results: </b> Four (7.54&#x0025;) patients in the xylocaine group and 5 (9.43&#x0025;) in the control group had a few Descemet&#x2032;s folds associated with mild central stromal oedema. Corneal thickness increased from 549.3&#x00B5; &#x00B1; 37.2&#x00B5; to 555.5&#x00B5; &#x00B1; 36.5&#x00B5; in the xylocaine group and from 553.1&#x00B5; &#x00B1; 36.2&#x00B5; to 559.3&#x00B5; &#x00B1; 40.5&#x00B5; in the control group at the one-month postoperative visit. Thickness returned to the preoperative level in xylocaine group 549.6&#x00B5; &#x00B1; 34.5&#x00B5; and control group 554.7&#x00B5; &#x00B1; 41.1&#x00B5; at three months. (P=0.484) The percentage of cell loss was 4.47 &#x00B1; 2.53&#x0025; in the xylocaine group and 4.49 &#x00B1; 3.09 &#x0025; in the control group at one year. (P=0.97) <b> Conclusion:</b> Intracameral preservative-free 1&#x0025; xylocaine does not appear to affect corneal endothelium adversely during phacoemulsification

Management of congenital bilateral subluxated cataract with Cionni ring

Use of Cionni ring helped in the successful intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in a 30-year-old patient with bilateral congenital subluxated cataracts. The IOL was stable, well-centered without any iridodonesis or pseudophakodonesis