AZIMA TETRACANTHA LAM. AGAINST CAUSATIVE AGENTS IN DIABETIC FOOT INFECTIONS

Objective: Azima tetracantha Lam.  (Salvadoraceae), a widely growing herb has been used in the traditional medicine for treating many ailments. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of aqueous extract of A. tetracantha leaves (AEAT) against the causative agents in diabetic foot infections and to understand the major phyto-constituents.Methods: Susceptibility analysis was carried out by disc diffusion method at two different concentrations of AEAT ‘viz' 500 &1000 µg/ml. UHPLC-ESI MS/MS was carried over with C18 RP column using gradient mobile system and the spectrum obtained was interpreted.Results: All the strains tested were more susceptible to AEAT with maximum of 15mm inhibition observed for Aspergillus niger and Klebseilla pneumoniae. UHPLC-ESI MS/MS study confirmed the presence of Isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside, Myricetin and Friedelin in AEAT.Conclusion:  To conclude AEAT is found to be a good source of lead compounds in diabetic foot infections.  KEYWORDS Azima tetracantha, UHPLC ESI-MS/MS, antimicrobia

Anthelminthic activity of Asta Churna

Purpose: To determine the effect of Asta churna (an ayurvedic preparation of Impcops) on Indian earthworms. Methods: Asta churna (2.5 mg/mL and 5 mg/mL) were investigated for activity in Indian earthworms (Pheretima postuma) against piperazine citrate (15 mg/mL) and albendazole (20 mg/mL) as standard references and normal saline as control. The time to achieve paralysis of the worms was determined. Results: The two concentrations of Asta churna exhibited significant anthelminthic activity (p < 0.001) when compared with the piperazine citrate, albendazole and normal saline. Conclusion: Asta chuma has paralytic effect on Indian earthworms. Keywords: Asta churna, Pheretima postuma, Anthelminthic activit

Native-like aggregates of Factor VIII (FVIII) are immunogenic von Willebrand Factor deficient and hemophilia A mice

The administration of recombinant Factor VIII (FVIII) is the first line therapy for Hemophilia A (HA), but 25–35% of patients develop an inhibitory antibody response. In general, the presence of aggregates contributes to unwanted immunogenic responses against therapeutic proteins. FVIII has been shown to form both native-like and non-native aggregates. Previously, we showed that non-native aggregates of FVIII are less immunogenic compared to the native protein. Here we investigated the effect of native-like aggregates of FVIII on immunogenicity in HA and von Willebrand Factor knockout (vWF−/−) mice. Mice immunized with native-like aggregates showed significantly higher inhibitory antibody titers compared to animals that received native FVIII. Following re-stimulation in vitro with native FVIII, the activation of CD4+ T cells isolated from mice immunized with native-like aggregates is ~4 fold higher than mice immunized with the native protein. Furthermore, this is associated with increases in the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-17 in the native-like aggregate treatment group. The results indicate that the native-like aggregates of FVIII are more immunogenic than native FVIII for both the B cell and T cell responses

Spin-lattice relaxation studies on semiquinone ions

Electron spin-lattice relaxation times of p-benzosemiquinone, durosemiquinone and 2, 5 ditertiary butyl-p-benzosemiquinone ions have been measured by the pulsed saturation recovery technique. The relaxation times of the different hyperfine components of a semiquinone ion are the same within the limits of experimental error in disagreement with the findings of Schreurs and Fraenkel. The dependence of T1 on viscosity does not follow the BPP's theory

Electron spin resonance studies of the free radicals derived from tetraphenylhydrazine

The free radicals obtained from tetraphenylhydrazine, diphenylbenzidine and diphenylamine under different conditions have been investigated with electron spin resonance techniques. The identification and differentiation between the radicals were done on the basis of their g-values and the line-widths and hyperfine structure exhibited by their spectra. The formation of the diphenylamino radical, by the thermal dissociation of tetraphenylhydrazine in non-polar solvents has been confirmed. The same radical is obtained when tetraphenylhydrazine is subjected to atmospheric oxidation in a non-polar solvent. The tetraphenylhydrazinium radical ion, is formed (1) when a solution of tetraphenyl-hydrazine in acetic acid is subjected to prolonged atmospheric oxidation, (2) when a similar, freshly prepared solution is heated and (3) when diphenylamine or diphenylbenzidine is subjected to oxidation in an acetic acid medium. It is believed that the protonated hydrazinium radical, results if an acetic acid solution of tetraphenylhydrazine is treated with a few drops of concentrated sulphuric acid. During the course of this investigation, the g-value of a 0·002 M solution of DPPH in xylene was measured to be 2·00347±0·00004

Soy Phosphatidylinositol–Containing Lipid Nanoparticle Prolongs the Plasma Survival and Hemostatic Efficacy of B-domain–Deleted Recombinant Canine Factor VIII in Hemophilia A Dogs

Soy phosphatidylinositol (PI) containing lipid nanoparticles prolong plasma survival, improve hemostatic efficacy, and decrease immunogenicity of human B-domain deleted Factor VIII (BDD FVIII) in Hemophilia A (HA) mice. We hypothesize that PI associated BDD FVIII is more potent than the free protein, and using mathematical modeling, have projected that PI associated BDD FVIII could be used for once-weekly prophylactic dosing in patients. To facilitate translation to the clinic, comparative plasma survival and ex vivo efficacy of PI associated recombinant canine FVIII (PI-rcFVIII) were evaluated in HA dogs. 2 HA dogs were administered a 50 U/kg iv dose of free or PI-rcFVIII. rcFVIII activity measurements and ex vivo efficacy analyses like whole blood clotting time (WBCT) and thromboelastography (TEG) were conducted on recovered plasma and whole blood samples. PI association decreased clearance (~25%) and increased plasma exposure (~1.4 fold) of rcFVIII. PI-rcFVIII treated animals had prolonged improvements in WBCTs and TEG parameters compared to free rcFVIII treated animals. Since rcFVIII is a BDD form of FVIII, these studies provide proof-of-principle that observations with human BDD FVIII in mice translate to higher animal species. Additionally, PI-rcFVIII has potential applications in canine HA management and as a bypass therapy in inhibitor-positive HA patients

Development of highly efficient cost-effective CdS/Ag nanocomposite for removal of azo dyes under UV and solar light

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)Water pollution by toxic dyes is an environmental problem that threatens human health. A green technology to solve this problem is the use of highly efficient photocatalysts under visible/solar light to degrade these organic molecules. However, develop affordable photocatalytic particles with high luminescence performance, enhanced stability, and low degradation is still a challenge. Here, it is reported the hydrothermal synthesis of an advanced and cost-effective nanocomposite based on a ceramic, cadmium sulphide, covered by silver nanoparticles (CdS/Ag), with outstanding photocatalytic efficiency for toxic dyes degradation under ultraviolet and direct solar light. The CdS/Ag nanocomposite completely degrade the Reactive Red 120 (RR 120), Acid Black 1 (AB 1) and Direct Blue 15 (DB 15) dyes in both light irradiations. Without scavenger, about 93% of degradation was observed at 75 min, remaining a high stability (more than 90%) after fourth degradation cycles