IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL, FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING AND CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY OF SIMAROUBA GLUACA LEAVES.

Objective: To investigate the total phenolic, flavonoids, tannin contents of Simarouba glauca leaves and evaluate the antioxidant potential and cytotoxic activity in different human cell lines.Methods: The methanol, ethanol and water extracts of S. glauca leaves were examined for total phenolics, flavonoid and tannin content. Its antioxidant properties using FRAP, Phosphomolybdenum, Ferric ferrozine assays and free radical scavenging using DPPH were determined. Further, the reducing power and iron chelating effect of the extract using spectrophotometric assays were estimated. Finally, the cytotoxic activity against few human cancer cell lines were also examined using MTT assay.Results: The phytochemical investigations revealed that S. glauca leaves has only 0.14 to 0.18% of flavonoids, 250-400µg/mg phenolics and 67-200µg/mg tannin content in various solvent extracts. The extracts exhibited good reducing power with similar EC50 values aproximately in the range of 57-61µg /ml. Further, the leaf extracts showed iron chelation effect which was more pronounced in aqueous extract with IC50 value of 332µg/ml and exhibited very strong DPPH radical scavenging activity with IC50 vlaues ranging from 9-13µg/ml in various extracts. The methanolic extracts showed good antioxidant potential using FRAP and phopshomolybdenum methods, whereas the aqueous extract exihibited more pronounced antioxidant activty using sensitive ferric ferrozine assay with 580µg AAE/mg extract. The methanolic extract showed strong cytotoxic effect on SCC9 cancer cell line and less potent on HCT116 cancer cells.Conclusion: The findings suggests that Simarouba glauca leaf extract contain bioactive molecules which exhibit antioxidant activity that could be synergisticaly influencing the cytotoxic activity in selected cancer cell lines.Â

EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL AND REDUCING POWER OF CALLUS INDUCED FROM LEAVES OF ASYSTASIA GANGETICA (L.) T.ANDERSON

Objective: To evaluate the bioactive molecules and antioxidant potential of callus induced from leaves of Asystasia gangetica. Methods: In this report, the leaves of A.gangetica (AG) were incubated with Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with combinations of auxins and cytokinins for callus induction. The qualitative estimation of bioactive molecules like flavonoids, phenolics, tannins and their antioxidant potential were investigated. The ability of radical scavenging activity and reducing power of methanolic, ethanolic and aqueous extract using DPPH, FRAP and Phopshomlybdate assay were carried out. Results: Callus was induced on MS medium supplemented with various concentration and combination of auxins and cytokinins.Maximum percentage of callusing was seen on media supplemented with 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyaceticacid 5mg/L or combination of Kinetin 2mg/L and 2mg/L Napthaleneaceticacid.The total phenolic content, flavonoids and tannins in callus were estimated in various solvents. Further, the callus showed the FRAP values of 17.67 ± 0.0, 17.30 ± 1.830 and 23.81 ± 0.945 µg AAE / mg extract for methanolic, ethanolic and aqueous extract respectively. Methanolic extract showed highest DPPH scavenging activity and reducing abilty. Conclusion: A.gangetica callus had substantial amount of bioactive molecules exhibiting potent antioxidant activity and reducing ability. Development of appropriate strategies for enhancing the bioactive molecules in callus could have far-reaching implications for isolation of novel antioxidant molecules for human health

EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL AND REDUCING POWER OF CALLUS INDUCED FROM LEAVES OF ASYSTASIA GANGETICA (L.) T.ANDERSON

Objective: To evaluate the bioactive molecules and antioxidant potential of callus induced from leaves of Asystasia gangetica. Methods: In this report, the leaves of A.gangetica (AG) were incubated with Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with combinations of auxins and cytokinins for callus induction. The qualitative estimation of bioactive molecules like flavonoids, phenolics, tannins and their antioxidant potential were investigated. The ability of radical scavenging activity and reducing power of methanolic, ethanolic and aqueous extract using DPPH, FRAP and Phopshomlybdate assay were carried out. Results: Callus was induced on MS medium supplemented with various concentration and combination of auxins and cytokinins.Maximum percentage of callusing was seen on media supplemented with 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyaceticacid 5mg/L or combination of Kinetin 2mg/L and 2mg/L Napthaleneaceticacid.The total phenolic content, flavonoids and tannins in callus were estimated in various solvents. Further, the callus showed the FRAP values of 17.67 ± 0.0, 17.30 ± 1.830 and 23.81 ± 0.945 µg AAE / mg extract for methanolic, ethanolic and aqueous extract respectively. Methanolic extract showed highest DPPH scavenging activity and reducing abilty. Conclusion: A.gangetica callus had substantial amount of bioactive molecules exhibiting potent antioxidant activity and reducing ability. Development of appropriate strategies for enhancing the bioactive molecules in callus could have far-reaching implications for isolation of novel antioxidant molecules for human health

FORMULATION AND IN VITROEVALUATION OF FLOATING TABLETS OF CEFPODOXIME PROXETIL

Objective: The objective of research work was to formulate and evaluate the floating drug delivery system containing Cefpodoxime Proxetil using polymer HPMC K4M, Guar Gum.Methods: Effervescent floating tablets containing Cefpodoxime proxetil were prepared by direct compression technique using varying concentrations of different grades of polymer.Results: Physical parameters like hardness, weight variation, thickness and friability were within pharmacopoeial limit. Percentage drug content in all floating tablet formulations was found to be 90% to 110%. The floating time was found to be more than 12 H. floating lag time was found to be 10±2.99 second. Formulation batch F8 was selected as an optimum formulation, as possessing less disintegration time, higher water absorption ratio and good content uniformity i.e. within acceptable limit.% drug release of formulation batch F8 was found to be 96.66% in 0.1 N HCL.Conclusion: The FT-IR studies of batch F8 was carried out which showed the peak values within the spectrum corresponding to the peak values of pure drug

Bianchi Type I Massive String Magnetized Barotropic Perfect Fluid Cosmological Model in General Relativity

Bianchi type I massive string cosmological model with magnetic field of barotropic perfect fluid distribution through the techniques used by Latelier and Stachel, is investigated. To get the deterministic model of the universe, it is assumed that the universe is filled with barotropic perfect fluid distribution. The magnetic field is due to electric current produced along x-axis with infinite electrical conductivity. The behaviour of the model in presence and absence of magnetic field together with other physical aspects is further discussed.Comment: 10 pages, no figure. Chin. Phys. Lett., Vol. 24, No. 8 (2007), to appea

Household Transmission of Rotavirus in a Community with Rotavirus Vaccination in Quininde, Ecuador

Background: We studied the transmission of rotavirus infection in households in peri-urban Ecuador in the vaccination era. Methods: Stool samples were collected from household contacts of child rotavirus cases, diarrhea controls and healthy controls following presentation of the index child to health facilities. Rotavirus infection status of contacts was determined by RT-qPCR. We examined factors associated with transmissibility (index-case characteristics) and susceptibility (householdcontact characteristics). Results: Amongst cases, diarrhea controls and healthy control household contacts, infection attack rates (iAR) were 55%, 8% and 2%, (n = 137, 130, 137) respectively. iARs were higher from index cases with vomiting, and amongst siblings. Disease ARs were higher when the index child was ,18 months and had vomiting, with household contact ,10 years and those sharing a room with the index case being more susceptible. We found no evidence of asymptomatic infections leading to disease transmission. Conclusion: Transmission rates of rotavirus are high in households with an infected child, while background infections are rare. We have identified factors associated with transmission (vomiting/young age of index case) and susceptibility (young age/sharing a room/being a sibling of the index case). Vaccination may lead to indirect benefits by averting episodes or reducing symptoms in vaccinees

Strange metals and the AdS/CFT correspondence

I begin with a review of quantum impurity models in condensed matter physics, in which a localized spin degree of freedom is coupled to an interacting conformal field theory in d = 2 spatial dimensions. Their properties are similar to those of supersymmetric generalizations which can be solved by the AdS/CFT correspondence; the low energy limit of the latter models is described by a AdS2 geometry. Then I turn to Kondo lattice models, which can be described by a mean- field theory obtained by a mapping to a quantum impurity coupled to a self-consistent environment. Such a theory yields a 'fractionalized Fermi liquid' phase of conduction electrons coupled to a critical spin liquid state, and is an attractive mean-field theory of strange metals. The recent holographic description of strange metals with a AdS2 x R2 geometry is argued to be related to such mean-field solutions of Kondo lattice models.Comment: 19 pages, 4 figures; Plenary talk at Statphys24, Cairns, Australia, July 2010; (v2) added refs; (v3) more ref

Minimally Invasive Subaxial Cervical Pedicle Screw Placement with Routine Fluoroscopy: Cadaveric Feasibility Study and Report of 6 Clinical Cases

Objective Conventional cervical pedicle screw insertion necessitates extensive paraspinal muscle dissection and retraction in order to achieve the lateral to medial angulation needed to achieve the optimal screw trajectory. Minimally invasive transmuscular approach can comfortably achieve this angulation without significant injury to the midline structures and its musculo-ligamentous attachments. Methods Minimally invasive cervical pedicle screws were inserted in 4 fresh frozen cadaveric specimens. Pre-procedure and post-procedure CT scans were done to assess the pedicle dimensions, suitability for screw insertion and integrity of the screws. The same technique was applied in a clinical cohort of six cases – 3 cases of traumatic subluxation; one case of traumatic vertebral fracture and 2 cases of infective facet destruction (Koch’s). Results Among the 38 screws in the cadaver specimens, a total of 11 screws (28.9%) had breached the pedicle wall(Lateral wall breach–9; Medial wall breach–2). Of the 9 screws (23.6%) that had a lateral breach into the vertebral canal, 4 (10.5%) each had Grade IIa breach and one (2.6%) had Grade III breach. Among the 22 screws inserted in the clinical cohort of 6 cases, 4 screws (18.1%) had breached the pedicle wall. All the identified breaches were in the lateral wall(Grade IIa – 3; Grade IIb–1; Grade III–nil). Conclusion Minimally invasive subaxial pedicle screw insertion provides robust posterior cervical fixation, either in isolation or as an adjunct to anterior surgery, in cases where a direct posterior decompression is not warranted. It is a safe and effective approach which minimizes injury to the paraspinal structures and midline attachments

First principles study of strain/electronic interplay in ZnO; Stress and temperature dependence of the piezoelectric constants

We present a first-principles study of the relationship between stress, temperature and electronic properties in piezoelectric ZnO. Our method is a plane wave pseudopotential implementation of density functional theory and density functional linear response within the local density approximation. We observe marked changes in the piezoelectric and dielectric constants when the material is distorted. This stress dependence is the result of strong, bond length dependent, hybridization between the O $2p$ and Zn $3d$ electrons. Our results indicate that fine tuning of the piezoelectric properties for specific device applications can be achieved by control of the ZnO lattice constant, for example by epitaxial growth on an appropriate substrate.Comment: accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Maternal and Newborn Health in Karnataka State, India: The Community Level Interventions for Pre-Eclampsia (CLIP) Trial's Baseline Study Results.

Existing vital health statistics registries in India have been unable to provide reliable estimates of maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity, and region-specific health estimates are essential to the planning and monitoring of health interventions. This study was designed to assess baseline rates as the precursor to a community-based cluster randomized control trial (cRCT)-Community Level Interventions for Pre-eclampsia (CLIP) Trial (NCT01911494; CTRI/2014/01/004352). The objective was to describe baseline demographics and health outcomes prior to initiation of the CLIP trial and to improve knowledge of population-level health, in particular of maternal and neonatal outcomes related to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, in northern districts the state of Karnataka, India. The prospective population-based survey was conducted in eight clusters in Belgaum and Bagalkot districts in Karnataka State from 2013-2014. Data collection was undertaken by adapting the Maternal and Newborn Health registry platform, developed by the Global Network for Women's and Child Health Studies. Descriptive statistics were completed using SAS and R. During the period of 2013-2014, prospective data was collected on 5,469 pregnant women with an average age of 23.2 (+/-3.3) years. Delivery outcomes were collected from 5,448 completed pregnancies. A majority of the women reported institutional deliveries (96.0%), largely attended by skilled birth attendants. The maternal mortality ratio of 103 (per 100,000 livebirths) was observed during this study, neonatal mortality ratio was 25 per 1,000 livebirths, and perinatal mortality ratio was 50 per 1,000 livebirths. Despite a high number of institutional deliveries, rates of stillbirth were 2.86%. Early enrollment and close follow-up and monitoring procedures established by the Maternal and Newborn Health registry allowed for negligible lost to follow-up. This population-level study provides regional rates of maternal and newborn health in Belgaum and Bagalkot in Karnataka over 2013-14. The mortality ratios and morbidity information can be used in planning interventions and monitoring indicators of effectiveness to inform policy and practice. Comprehensive regional epidemiologic data, such as that provided here, is essential to gauge improvements and challenges in maternal health, as well as track disparities found in rural areas