A Review on Drug of Pediatric Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH), their Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms

Hypertension, specifically pulmonary hypertension, is a syndromethat can affect pediatric patients as well as adults. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in pediatric patients, while rare, can be a lifethreateningcondition. There is no cure for PAH, only treatment options forchildren that are largely based on the results of adult studies. These therapies, however, can improve quality of life and survival. Treatment can be challenging because of the less approved medications and tolerable dosage forms for pediatric patients. Pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) shares common features of adult disease, but is associated with several additional disorders and challenges that require unique approaches. Current classes of medications primarily used to treat pediatric hypertension include phosphodiesterase inhibitors, endothelin receptor antagonists, and prostacyclins. Additional agents that may be utilized in selected pediatric patients include calcium channel blockers, anticoagulants, and inhalednitric oxide. Updates are provided on issues related to utility of the previous classification system to reflect pediatric-specific aetiologies and approaches to medical and interventional management of PAH. Also updates are provided about currently available drug substance and their details, pharmaceutical dosage forms and their details along with the mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics of the drug. These emerging data are improving the identification of appropriate targets for goal-oriented therapy inchildren. Such data will likely improve future advanced pharmaceutical dosage development and product design to enhance outcomes in pediatric PAH. Keywords: Pulmonary arterial hypertension, pediatric hypertension, PA

Diagnosis of Dry Eye

Dry eye is a multifactorial disease and hence single test cannot diagnose dry eye. Diagnosis of dry eye needs careful assessment of the symptoms along with battery of investigations. Many questionnaires have been developed to assess the symptoms of dry eye disease (DED). Some of the important questionnaires are Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5), Impact of Dry Eye on Everyday Living (IDEEL), National Eye Institute’s Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) and Dry Eye-Related Quality-of-Life Score (DEQS). Investigations for dry eye mainly target on the tear secretion, tear clearance, tear volume, tear film stability, tear evaporation, ocular surface damage, lipid layer of the tear film, chemical properties of the tear film and inflammation of the ocular surface. There are many investigations that target on the above parameters and helps in accurate diagnosis of Dry eye disease (DED)

Study of metabolic changes-glycoprotein and phospholipids levels in patients of malaria

Background: In erythrocytic stage, malarial parasites meet their high glucose requirement only by modulating the host cell membrane by increasing transport of sugar across the host cell membrane. This leads to a transmembrane gradient of the substrate and finally leading to alterations of metabolic changes and permeability of RBC membrane. Therefore, the aim of present study was to determine the parameters which reflect the status of RBC membrane and their association with the severity of malaria in a large cohort of known patients of malaria, which was caused by the Plasmodium Species.Methods: Blood sample were collected in EDTA bulb at the time of admission (day-1) and on third day (day-3). The samples were analyzed within 24 hours of collection. Erythrocytic total phospholipid is measured by modified connerty method, Total sialic acid (TSA) is measured by TBA/dimethyl sulphoxide method.Results: The mean levels of erythrocytic phospholipid, plasma TSA and PBSA in the cases of malaria were significantly increase (P<0.001) as compared to those in the control group. In the follow up study the same parameters were studied in patients post anti-malarial treatment day-3. The level of erythrocyte phospholipid, plasma TSA and PBSA were reversed.Conclusions: On the basis of the present study it is suggested that the anti-malarial drug regimen must be supported by antioxidants and trace elements supplementation to improve the status of deviated biochemical parameters towards normalcy

Study of antioxidant status in malaria patients

Background: Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of metabolic changes in malaria patients. During infection RBCs are exposed to continual oxidative stress. The univalent reduction of oxygen results in a series of cytotoxic oxygen species such as O2-, H2O2, OH•. Objective was to determine the level of oxidative stress in patients suffering from malaria.Methods: The present study was conducted on 551 malaria patients and 211 age-sex matched controls, in department of Biochemistry, C U Shah Medical College, Surendranagar, Gujarat from April 2012 to May 2013.  In stage-I, day-1 malaria patient’s v/s control group, In stage-II, day-3 v/s day-1 after anti-malarial treatment and in Stage-III day-3 v/s day-1 after anti-malarial + antioxidant treatment.Results: The mean erythrocytic activity of SOD, CAT, GST were decreased (0.71±0.25EU, 9.9±2.4μmol/sec, and 11.7±3.9 U/gmHb% respectively), mean level of GSH and MDA were increased (42.1±6.06gm/Hb%, 10.9±2.83 respectively) significantly (P<0.001) as compared to control group. In the follow up study with anti-malarial treatment the mean levels of erythrocytic GSH and MDA (28.7±7.54gm/Hb% and 8.08±1.95nM/L) decreased significantly (P<0.001 and P<0.01 respectively), whereas mean activity of erythrocytic enzymes like SOD, CAT and GST (0.99±0.15 EU, 15.8±2.68μmol/sec and 22.5±5U/gmHb%) were increased significantly (P<0.001) as compared to day-1.Conclusions: Erythrocytic antioxidant enzymes, GSH and MDA may be considered to be reliable biochemical markers for diagnostic and therapeutic potential in malaria

Extraction and Partial Characterization of Collagen from Different Animal Skins

Collagen is a wonder triple helix fibrous protein. Basically, it connects and supports other bodily tissues, such as skin, bone, tendons, muscles and cartilage. In fact, it makes up about 25% of the total amount of proteins. Collagen possesses great tensile strength. In the present investigation, three methods of collagen extraction were employed. Out of which the method of George and Chandrakasan (1996) proved to be a better method for collagen extraction in chicken and human skins. Regarding Goat and Buffalo skins, collagen was extracted using TCA method wherein the extracted fibrous protein got hydrolyzed, getting denatured therefore, a definite band pattern was not obtained. By comparing the electrophoretic profile of various animal skins, a definite band pattern can be obtained which will indicate differences in collagen structure thereby facilitating species and generic differentiation

Antioxidants: elixir of life

There has been a current upsurge in the medical implications of free radicals and related species during the past several decades. These chemical species are integral components produced during normal biochemical and physiological processes but leads to oxidative stress when produce in excess and causes potential damage to cells. A wide range of non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant defenses exists to counteract the damaging effects of free radicals. There exist epidemiological evidences correlating higher intake of antioxidant rich foodstuffs with greater free radical neutralizing potential to lower incidence of several human morbidities or mortalities. Gene therapy to produce more antioxidants in the body, novel biomolecules and the use of functional foods enriched with antioxidants are milestones to newer approaches to reduce free radical damage. This paper reviews the biology of reactive species, their pathways through which they relate to the pathology of various diseases and discusses the putative roles that antioxidants, from different sources, play in controlling oxidative stress and reduce the incidence of concerned diseases

EVALUATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF PROSOPIS JULIFLORA (SW.) DC. LEAVES

Background: The ethnobotanical importance of Prosopis juliflora is well-known in the folkloric system of medicine for the treatment of various ailments. Although, the study related to the antibacterial potential of this plant, from Central India is scanty. Material and methods: The in vitro antibacterial activity of Prosopis juliflora leaves collected from the local area was evaluated against ten bacterial type cultures by agar well diffusion assay. The crude extracts prepared by two methods separately with three different solvents were examined for the preliminary antibacterial activity and phytochemical screening, the results of which were used for the choice of solvent and mass extraction of crude extract. Solvent fractionation of crude extract was done employing two sets of solvents namely Set-PCE and Set-HDB which resulted in total, six organic and two aqueous fractions, which were finally subjected to antibacterial activities. Results: Varying degrees of growth inhibition was shown by all the fractions against tested microorganisms. The highest antibacterial activity was observed in aqueous fractions as compared to solvent fractions. Conclusion: Isolation and characterization of the bioactive components can be further done by systematic screening of the most active solvent fraction which could lead to the possible source of new antibacterial agents

Phospholipase C: underrated players in microbial infections

During bacterial infections, one or more virulence factors are required to support the survival, growth, and colonization of the pathogen within the host, leading to the symptomatic characteristic of the disease. The outcome of bacterial infections is determined by several factors from both host as well as pathogen origin. Proteins and enzymes involved in cellular signaling are important players in determining the outcome of host–pathogen interactions. phospholipase C (PLCs) participate in cellular signaling and regulation by virtue of their ability to hydrolyze membrane phospholipids into di-acyl-glycerol (DAG) and inositol triphosphate (IP3), which further causes the activation of other signaling pathways involved in various processes, including immune response. A total of 13 PLC isoforms are known so far, differing in their structure, regulation, and tissue-specific distribution. Different PLC isoforms have been implicated in various diseases, including cancer and infectious diseases; however, their roles in infectious diseases are not clearly understood. Many studies have suggested the prominent roles of both host and pathogen-derived PLCs during infections. PLCs have also been shown to contribute towards disease pathogenesis and the onset of disease symptoms. In this review, we have discussed the contribution of PLCs as a determinant of the outcome of host-pathogen interaction and pathogenesis during bacterial infections of human importance

Crossing boundaries:bras, lingerie and rape myths in postcolonial urban middle-class India

With the processes of modernization, urbanization and the entry of women in the formal labour market in Indian metropolitan spaces, this paper examines how the modern middle-class woman’s sartorial choices become enmeshed in popular rape myths (false beliefs) that serve to blame her for the wearing of western clothing. The paper articulates the ways in which middle-class women’s social realities are shaped by historical, colonial and nationalist ideologies of modernization, constructed and mediated through moral codes of dressing. By drawing upon original and contemporary empirical narratives from the urban spaces of Delhi and Mumbai, we emphasise how everyday sartorial choices, in relation to particularly the bra and lingerie, can reveal the nuanced ways in which Urban Indian Professional Women (UIPW) seek to understand, negotiate, and resist patriarchal power. Our findings shed light on conflicting and contradictory spatial experiences, where some women internalize and negotiate moral codes of dressing, out of fear, and others who transgress are subject to sanctions. Given the paucity of scholarly literature in this area, the paper makes an important theoretical and empirical contribution with its focus on postcoloniality and everyday discursive material spaces of gendered and sexualized dress practices. It argues for the consciousness raising of everyday urban geographies of dress that reveal complicated structures of power that are often deemed hidden

Optimization of stepped-cone CVT for lower-limb exoskeletons

SummaryWearable exoskeletons offer interesting possibilities to address the global concerns of the ageing society and hence many researchers and industries are investing significant resources to develop new innovations in the area of physical assistance. An important issue in providing effective physical assistance is how the needed torques can be generated efficiently and effectively. This paper considers this area and explores the use of continuous variable transmissions (CVT) for up-grading/downgrading torques so that the torque variations for performing motions of normal daily living can be provided. The knee joint is focused upon to develop the key stages of the CVT based approach in generating motion torques. From our on-going research to developing assistive exoskeletons for support activities of daily living it has been found that 6.3–20.6Nm torque is required to provide 10–20% assistance at the knee joint of a healthy elderly person having weight 70–90kg. The challenge here is to miniaturize conventional CVTs developed for the automobiles where large torques are needed. To achieve the required torque range for supporting human joints in various motions, a CVT is designed and its parameters optimized. Results are validated via a professional optimization software