EVALUATION OF ACUTE AND DERMAL TOXICITY OF ESSENTIAL OIL OF ETLINGERA FENZLII (KURZ) K. SCHUM: AN IN VIVO STUDY

Objective: The present investigation describes the in vivo acute toxicity and dermal toxicity of essential oil of Etlingera fenzlii (E. fenzlii) in Wistar albino rats.Methods: The essential oil was extracted by hydro-distillation using Clevenger apparatus. The acute toxicity study was conducted in Wistar albino rats at different doses (175,550 and 2000 mg/kg) while dermal toxicity study was carried out with simple ointment base and essential oil at a dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight. Animals were observed for 14 d and parameters like body weight, feed intake and water intake were studied.Results: No mortality and no significant changes were observed in body weight and wellness parameters at 175,550 and 2000 mg/kg body weight doses. Further, the dermal absorption with essential oil also did not reveal any treatment-related changes in body weight, food consumption and water intake in any of the animals tested.Conclusion: These findings suggest that the acute and dermal application of the essential oil of E. fenzlii in rats did not divulge any significant toxicity, and the oil extracts were found to be safe up to 2000 mg/kg in vivo concentration.Keywords: Etlingera fenzlii, Acute toxicity, Dermal toxicity, Median Lethal Dose (LD 50

Unexpected and Abnormally Low Hdl Cholesterol Levels on Combination Hypolipidemic Therapy

Abstract In general, Indians have low HDL cholesterol levels. Fenofibrate, a drug widely used in the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia, usually also increases HDL cholesterol. There have been a few reports in the literature of a paradoxical decrease in serum HDL-cholesterol in patients treated with fenofibrate, either alone or in combination with a statin. We report three cases of paradoxical decrease in serum HDL- cholesterol in type 2 diabetic patients treated with a statin-fenofibrate combination

Optimization of Cutting Parameters for Cutting Force in Shoulder Milling of Al7075-T6 Using Response Surface Methodology and Genetic Algorithm

AbstractThis paper aims at developing a statistical model to predict cutting force in terms of machining parameters such as cutting speed, cutting feed rate and axial depth of cut. Response surface methodology experimental design was used for conducting experiments. The work piece material was Aluminum (Al 7075-T6) and the tool was a shoulder mill with two carbide insert. The cutting forces were measured using three axis milling tool dynamometer. The second order mathematical model in terms of machining parameters was developed for predicting cutting force. The adequacy of the predictive models was tested by analysis of variance and found to be adequate. The direct and interaction effect was graphically plotted which helps to study the significance of these parameters with cutting force. The optimization of shoulder mill machining parameters to acquire minimum cutting force was done by genetic algorithms (GA). A Matlab genetic algorithm solver was used to do the optimization

Antibacterial property of neem nanoemulsion against Vibrio anguillarium infection in Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer)

1222-1226Fish vibriosis is among the most common diseases that is caused by a bacteria belonging to the genus Vibrio (Vibrio anguillarium). It causes considerable economic loss in the commercial cultivation of Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer). The resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics has resulted in a growing need for developing a new antibacterial therapy that is effective in aquaculture. The aim of this study is to develop neem nanoemulsion with antibacterial activity against V. anguillarium to identify a possible alternative to the commonly used antibiotics in aquaculture. Neem nanoemulsion was prepared and the effectiveness was studied both in vitro and in vivo (agar well diffusion assay and artificial infection). Injection and immersion challenge of neem nanoemulsion formulated the fish less susceptible to V. anguillarium infection. The results confirmed the potential use of neem nanoemulsion as a source of antibacterial compounds or as a health-promoting medicine for fish culture

Study on the quality of beche-de-mer in trade and shrinkage of specimens during processing

The beche-de-mer industry in India is a cent percent export oriented industry being confined to south east coast in Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu. Chemical quality of 180 trade samples of beche-de-mer of four sizes collected from the beche-de-mer curing centres of Ramanathapuram district was studied. Moisture ranged from 6.2 to 24.4% and sand content from 0.11 to 20.42% for all grades. Mean values of sand content are for grade 1=3.47%, grade 2=4.50%, grade 3=3.68%, grade 4=6.87%. Sodium chloride was almost constant for all grades at 5.7%. TVBN values ranged from 10 to 78.4 mg%. 44 laboratory samples of different grades were prepared following trade practice and examined for chemical quality. Mean moisture values are for grade 1=13.4%, grade 2=12.44%, grade 3=12.62%, grade 4=12.08% and mean values of sand are for grade 1=0.70%, grade 2=0.90%, grade 3=1.16%, grade 4=2.15%. The percentage of shrinkage of the animals ranged from 56% to 60% for dried beche-de-mer of 7.5 cm size and above

Prevalence of Vitamin D3 deficiency among pediatric patients with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in remission - A cross-sectional observational study from Vadodara, Gujarat

Background: Vitamin D deficiency occurs in nephrotic syndrome (NS) through various mechanisms, resulting in loss of both, Vitamin D binding protein and 25-(OH) D, in the urine leading to the risk of bone disorders. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to detect the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in children with idiopathic NS during remission. Methods: This study was conducted from April to November 2016 at the pediatric nephrology clinic at a tertiary care hospital in Vadodara. A total of 34 children were enrolled with idiopathic NS in remission, of which 14 had first attack of NS and ten of Frequently Relapsing Nephrotic Syndrome (FRNS) and Infrequently Relapsing Nephrotic Syndrome each. Vitamin D levels were measured using serum levels of 25-(OH) D by chemiluminescence method. Results: Vitamin D deficiency was observed in 28 of 34 (82%) children; of which, 16 (47%) had severe deficiency and 12 (35.2%) had mild to moderate deficiency. Children with the first attack of NS had a median Vitamin D level of 8.17 ng/ml (interquartile range [IQR] 2.9–28), IFRNS had a median of 6.8 ng/ml (IQR 2.9–33), and FRNS had the lowest median of 5.3 ng/ml (IQR 2.9–16). Although there were differences among all the 3 groups, differences were not statistically significant (Kruskal–Wallis 4.89, p=0.08) which showed decreased levels of Vitamin D. Conclusion: High prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency was observed in all 3 groups of idiopathic NS; the lowest being in FRNS. There was no significant association with lower levels of Vitamin D and relapses in NS. More research is needed to assess Vitamin D deficiency and to ensure the effect of Vitamin D supplementation for children with NS

Changes in expression of VE-cadherin and MMPs in endothelial cells: Implications for angiogenesis

The mechanism of cell-cell contact dependent regulation of pericellular proteolysis in angiogenesis was examined by studying the expression of MMPs using isolated HUVECs in culture. Zymography, Immunoblot and RT-PCR analysis showed that the production and secretion of matrixmetalloproteinase-2 and matrixmetalloproteinase-9 by HUVECs in culture were high when they remain as individual cells and significantly decreased during later stages of culture when cells developed cell-cell contact and tubular network-like structure. As MMPs decreased there was significant upregulation of VE-cadherin in cells undergoing angiogenic transition. Investigations to understand the signaling pathways downstream of VE-cadherin showed a relatively high level of β-catenin in the nucleus of endothelial cells in culture during initial stages and decrease in its levels in the nucleus, associated with an increase in the cytosol during later stages of culture. The distribution of β-catenin was found to be regulated by Tyr/Ser phosphorylation status of this protein. Cell-cell contact dependent downregulation of MMPs during angiogenesis was also observed in experiments using proangiogenic substances which caused a rapid rate of downregulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and absence of downregulation of MMPs when treated with anti-angiogenic agents

Efficacy studies on commercially available probiotics to induce immune response and resistance in tilapia fish (Oreochromis mossambicus), against Vibrio infection

1175-1183The current research was undertaken to determine the potency of two distinct probiotics Biogut® Aqua (feed probiotic) and Bioclean® Aqua (water and soil probiotic) to induce immunity and protection faced due to Vibrio pathogen during cultivation of Mozambique tilapia under controlled laboratory trials. Assessment was carried out using immune gene expression and immunological assays. During the initial phase of treatment, nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) assay, antiprotease assay and peroxidase assay displayed a convincing raise in serum activity of the probiotic managed feed when compared to the control groups. In addition, qPCR real time analysis displayed in which nutritional implementation with feed probiotic vitally increased the interpretation of immune related genes, particularly TNF and MCP gene expression which are involved in immune response. The results revealed that the probiotics Bioclean® Aqua and Biogut® Aqua have beneficial effects through efficiently enhancing immune system and protection in tilapia model facing Vibriosis. Hence it can be stated that the application of probiotics like Biogut® Aqua and Bioclean® Aqua in aquaculture environment may significantly reduce the antibiotic usage, thereby preventing the entry of these chemicals into the food chain. Additionally it was demonstrated that the ammonia level in water can be reduced significantly with the application of Bioclean® Aqua (water and soil probiotic). The toxicity studies proved that both the probiotic are non-toxic and safe for the use in aquaculture environment

Response of surface chlorophyll to aerosol dust input in the Central Arabian Sea

The decadal trends in satellite-derived surface chlorophyll in conjunction with Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) are explored in a unique area in the central Arabian Sea, known to mimic High Nutrient and Low Chlorophyll (HNLC) like conditions during late summer monsoon. The analysis indicates two recurring seasonal blooms, possibly associated with distinct biogeochemical processes in the studied region. Furthermore, the mineral dust deposition in July every year coincides with one such increase in surface chlorophyll followed by a lag period until winter monsoon. This rapid increase in the phytoplankton biomass just after the aeolian input is possibly due to an enhancement in soluble iron within the mixed layer, as suggested by AOD dust data. Most likely, this rapid increase in biomass may induce further depletion of soluble iron leading to HNLC-like conditions during the late Summer Monsoon, as reported earlier. This hypothesis is consistent with the satellite observation, which shows a decrease in surface chlorophyll during subsequent months until the convective mixing between December – January (winter monsoon). The study reveals that the presence of the HNLC region in the central Arabian Sea during the summer monsoon is not perennial like the Southern Ocean. Instead, it is a transient phenomenon primarily controlled by aerosol deposition and rapid uptake of soluble iron, which facilitate the diatom blooms as suggested by the recent output from the NASA Ocean Biogeochemical Model (NOBM)

Negative refraction of a three-dimensional metallic photonic crystal

A metamaterial with a negative effective index of refraction is made from a three-dimensional hexagonal lattice photonic crystal with a metallic basis embedded in foam. It has been simulated with Ansoft HFSSTM in a frequency range from 7.0 to 12.0 GHz. Simulated results tested experimentally and negative refraction verified in some frequencies. Experimental results are in excellent agreement with simulations