A Quantitative Study on Information-Seeking Behaviour about Wellness and Nutrition in the Digital Age

The use of E-resources has become a way of life. Seeking nutrition information has been seen to be directly related to wellness. The objective of the study was to assess and ascertain the use of the Internet and digital information seeking among students and professionals. The study also aimed to assess the preference of allopathic therapy over home remedies among the respondents. 275 respondents- 155 students and 120 professionals residing in Chandigarh Tricity were assessed. A self-designed questionnaire with five items on a five-point scale was used to procure information. The results showed that respondents agreed that they searched information digitally. Following healthy tips showed a neutral to agreeing on response whereas whether libraries were visited received a neutral response. In comparison, it was seen that there was a statistical difference (p\u3c0.01**) among seeking digital information among students and professionals. Use of the library for information seeking was higher among students (3.510± 1.32) than professionals (2.600± 1.19), p\u3c0.01**. It can be inferred that respondents relied more on digital information rather than the use of libraries. The overall neutral response was seen for preference of allopathy over home remedies, but, professionals were seen to be more inclined towards home remedies (p\u3c0.01**). A significant correlation was seen between the preference of medication and E-resources (p\u3c0.01**). It can be concluded that students utilized both E-resources and libraries more than the professionals. Education plays an important role in choosing the type of medication. Thus, E-resources have gained more momentum as an information-seeking tool

An Appraisal of e-Health Information Literacy of Students

Health Information Literacy (HIL) is the competence to make sound health decisions in context of everyday life, which is pivotal in abridging illness and wellness. While the emergent Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have facilitated access to information to users’ palms, the bewildering nature of abundance of information available makes it difficult for users’ to decide which information is to be trusted and which is to be ignored. Thus, HIL in contemporary electronic era assumes more significance to have a healthy global society. The present study was conducted for desideratum of e-Health Information Literacy skills of college students, to have an overview of the status quo and suggest necessary measures to fill the gaps. An online survey of 946 students was conducted using a pre-developed and validated e-Health Literacy Scale. Findings revealed a strong need for taking measures to strengthen the eHealth Literacy amongst students for having a healthy society

Curcumin inhibits compound 48/80 induced systemic anaphylaxis

Curcumin, the active component of turmeric, is a polyphenolic phytochemical with anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-allergic properties. Mast cells participate in allergic inflammation by virtue of their ability of being activated to allergens and lead to the release of number of biologically active mediators including histamine, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, various cytokines etc. In this report, we have investigated effects of curcumin on non-immunological stimulations like Compound 48/80 induced systemic anaphylaxis. In vitro experiments have confirmed non-toxicity of curcumin (50µM) as assessed by MTT test but 100µM dose was found toxic. Curcumin (50µM) inhibited Compound 48/80 induced mouse peritoneal mast cell (MPMC) degranulation and histamine release in dose-dependent manner. Therefore, it is worth to study effect of curcumin on non-immunological stimulations as most often it occurs without IgE involvement. Whether it has mast cell membrane stabilizing activity or some other signaling mechanisms are involved underlying its potential could be explored further

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from purple acid phosphatase apoenzyme isolated from a new source <i>Limonia acidissima</i>

<div><p>Green synthesis of nanoparticles is regarded as a safe and non-toxic process whereas conventional synthesis using chemical methods produces toxic substance. This study provides a novel insight for enzymatic synthesis method of silver nanoparticles using purple acid phosphatase, isolated from <i>Limonia acidissima</i> (wood apple) as a new source and used in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. Stable silver nanoparticles were produced by sonochemical method using apoenzyme as a stabilising and capping agent and were characterised by various physicochemical techniques like UV–Visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. X-ray study shows that nanoparticles are composed of silver and silver oxide. The synthesised nanoparticles exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity against <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>.</p></div

Intranasal curcumin and its evaluation in murine model of asthma

Curcumin, a phytochemical present in turmeric, rhizome of Curcuma longa, has been shown to have a wide variety of pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and anti-asthmatic properties. Curcumin is known for its low systemic bioavailability and rapid metabolization through oral route and has limited its applications. Over the recent decades, the interest in intranasal delivery as a non-invasive route for drugs has increased as target tissue for drug delivery since nasal mucosa offers numerous benefits. In this study, we evaluated intranasal curcumin following its absorption through nasal mucosa by a sensitive and validated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the determination of intranasal curcumin in mouse blood plasma and lung tissue. Intranasal curcumin has been detected in plasma after 15 min to 3 h at pharmacological dose (5 mg/kg, i.n.), which has shown anti-asthmatic potential by inhibiting bronchoconstriction and inflammatory cell recruitment to the lungs. At considerably lower doses has proved better than standard drug disodium cromoglycate (DSCG 50 mg/kg, i.p.) by affecting inflammatory cell infiltration and histamine release in mouse model of asthma. HPLC detection revealed that curcumin absorption in lungs has started after 30 min following intranasal administration and retained till 3 h then declines. Present investigations suggest that intranasal curcumin (5.0 mg/kg, i.n.) has effectively being absorbed and detected in plasma and lungs both and suppressed airway inflammations at lower doses than the earlier doses used for detection (100–200 mg/kg, i.p.) for pharmacological studies (10–20 mg/kg, i.p.) in mouse model of asthma. Present study may prove the possibility of curcumin as complementary medication in the development of nasal drops to prevent airway inflammations and bronchoconstrictions in asthma without any side effect

Nanoemulsion: An Emerging Novel Technology for Improving the Bioavailability of Drugs

The pharmaceutical sector has made considerable strides recently, emphasizing improving drug delivery methods to increase the bioavailability of various drugs. When used as a medication delivery method, nanoemulsions have multiple benefits. Their small droplet size, which is generally between 20 and 200 nanometers, creates a significant interfacial area for drug dissolution, improving the solubility and bioavailability of drugs that are weakly water-soluble. Additionally, nanoemulsions are a flexible platform for drug administration across various therapeutic areas since they can encapsulate hydrophilic and hydrophobic medicines. Nanoemulsion can be formulated in multiple dosage forms, for example, gels, creams, foams, aerosols, and sprays by using low-cost standard operative processes and also be taken orally, topically, topically, intravenously, intrapulmonary, intranasally, and intraocularly. The article explores nanoemulsion formulation and production methods, emphasizing the role of surfactants and cosurfactants in creating stable formulations. In order to customize nanoemulsions to particular medication delivery requirements, the choice of components and production techniques is crucial in assuring the stability and efficacy of the finished product. Nanoemulsions are a cutting-edge technology with a lot of potential for improving medication bioavailability in a variety of therapeutic contexts. They are a useful tool in the creation of innovative pharmaceutical formulations due to their capacity to enhance drug solubility, stability, and delivery. Nanoemulsions are positioned to play a crucial role in boosting medication delivery and enhancing patient outcomes as this field of study continues to advance

Lipid Horizons: Recent Advances and Future Prospects in LBDDS for Oral Administration of Antihypertensive Agents

The lipid-based drug delivery system (LBDDS) is a well-established technique that is anticipated to bring about comprehensive transformations in the pharmaceutical field, impacting the management and administration of drugs, as well as treatment and diagnosis. Various LBDDSs verified to be an efficacious mechanism for monitoring hypertension systems are SEDDS (self-nano emulsifying drug delivery), nanoemulsion, microemulsions, vesicular systems (transferosomes and liposomes), and solid lipid nanoparticles. LBDDSs overcome the shortcomings that are associated with antihypertensive agents because around fifty percent of the antihypertensive agents experience a few drawbacks including short half-life because of hepatic first-pass metabolism, poor aqueous solubility, low permeation rate, and undesirable side effects. This review emphasizes antihypertensive agents that were encapsulated into the lipid carrier to improve their poor oral bioavailability. Incorporating cutting-edge technologies such as nanotechnology and targeted drug delivery, LBDDS holds promise in addressing the multifactorial nature of hypertension. By fine-tuning drug release profiles and enhancing drug uptake at specific sites, LBDDS can potentially target renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system components, sympathetic nervous system pathways, and endothelial dysfunction, all of which play crucial roles in hypertension pathophysiology. The future of hypertension management using LBDDS is promising, with ongoing reviews focusing on precision medicine approaches, improved biocompatibility, and reduced toxicity. As we delve deeper into understanding the intricate mechanisms underlying hypertension, LBDDS offers a pathway to develop next-generation antihypertensive therapies that are safer, more effective, and tailored to individual patient needs