Antifungal Activity of Alcoholic Leaf Extracts of Terminalia Catappa and Terminalia Arjuna on Some Pathogenic and Allergenic Fungi

Abstract Ethanol and methanol leaf extracts of Terminalia catappa and Terminalia arjuna were investigated for in-vitro antifungal activity. Four fungi tested were Aspergillus niger, Alternaria alternata, Curvularia lunata and Trychophyton tonsurans.The in-vitro antifungal activity was evaluated by food poison technique. Both the plants should antifungal activity on comparision with T. arjuna better antifungal efficacy was shown by methanol extract of T. catappa. Methanol extract showed significant antifungal activity against most susceptible mould was Curvularia lunata. The results were compared with standard antifungals. Key words: Terminalia species, medicinal plants, antifungal activity, Aspergillus niger, Alternaria alternata, Curvularia lunata, Trychophyton tonsurans, pathogenic, allergenic in-vivo

Formulation And Development Of Transdermal Patch Of Amlodipine Besylate Using Novel Polymers As Rate Controlling Membrane

This research study aims to formulate, prepare and evaluate transdermal drug delivery system for the purpose of controlled release of Amlodipine Bebesylate as a model drug using different polymers as a rate controlling membraneamlodipine undergoes first pass metabolism and also has easy permeability through skin therefore transdermal system of Amlodipine Bebesylate can be developed. The transdermal patches for the delivery were prepared by evaporation method i.e., solvent evaporation method. A matrix-type amlodipine besylate transdermal drug delivery system was prepared using novel polymers such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC) and Carbopol P 934 as a rate controlling or rate limiting membrane which delivers the drug or releases the therapeutic drugin controlled and a predetermined manner and rate. The formula for the transdermal patch was optimized using the experimental design. On the basis of the Data from drug release studies and the drug content the optimized batch was found to be F14 showing 80.1% of drug release and 95.62% of drug content. The patches were also evaluated forvarious evaluation parameters such as thickness uniformity,weight variation, moisture content determination, hygroscopicity &tensile strength

Taurine as a potential therapeutic agent interacting with multiple signaling pathways implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD): An in-silico analysis

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a complex sequelae of neurodevelopmental disorders which manifest in the form of communication and social deficits. Currently, only two agents, namely risperidone and aripiprazole have been approved for the treatment of ASD, and there is a dearth of more drugs for the disorder. The exact pathophysiology of autism is not understood clearly, but research has implicated multiple pathways at different points in the neuronal circuitry, suggesting their role in ASD. Among these, the role played by neuroinflammatory cascades like the NF-KB and Nrf2 pathways, and the excitotoxic glutamatergic system, are said to have a bearing on the development of ASD. Similarly, the GPR40 receptor, present in both the gut and the blood brain barrier, has also been said to be involved in the disorder. Consequently, molecules which can act by interacting with one or multiple of these targets might have a potential in the therapy of the disorder, and for this reason, this study was designed to assess the binding affinity of taurine, a naturally-occurring amino acid, with these target molecules. The same was scored against these targets using in-silico docking studies, with Risperidone and Aripiprazole being used as standard comparators. Encouraging docking scores were obtained for taurine across all the selected targets, indicating promising target interaction. But the affinity for targets actually varied in the order NRF-KEAP > NF-κB > NMDA > Calcium channel > GPR 40. Given the potential implication of these targets in the pathogenesis of ASD, the drug might show promising results in the therapy of the disorder if subjected to further evaluations

Detection of inflammatory bowel disease by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H MRS) using an animal model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study was to analyze the potential of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H MRS) in diagnosing early inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Thirty male Sprague Dawley rats were fed 2% carrageenan in their diet for either 1 or 2 weeks. ¹H MRS was performed <it>ex-vivo </it>on colonic mucosal samples (n = 123) and the spectra were analyzed by a multivariate method of analysis. The results of the multivariate analysis were correlated with histological analysis performed using H & E stain for the presence of inflammation in the samples from each group.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Multivariate analysis classified the samples in their respective groups with an accuracy of 82%. Our region selection algorithm identified four regions in the spectra as being discriminatory. The metabolites assigned to these regions include creatine, phosphatidylcholine, the -C<b>H</b>₂HC= group in fatty acyl chain, and the glycerol backbone of lipids. The differences in concentration of these metabolites in each group offer insight into the biochemical changes occurring during IBD and confer diagnostic potential to ¹H MRS as a tool to study colonic inflammation in conjunction with biopsy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>¹H MRS is a sensitive tool to detect early colonic inflammation in an animal model of IBD.</p

Drug-interaction-induced hemodynamically mediated acute renal failure in postsurgical patient

Acute renal failure is a life threatening condition. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and cephalosporins are widely used postoperative drugs. NSAID-induced acute renal failure has been reported in the past. In this case, drug interaction and decompensated state of the patient precipitate the condition. NSAIDs inhibit prostaglandins synthesis and thus aggravate ischemia to the kidney that is already facing volume crisis due to surgery. Due to renal dysfunction, plasma ceftriaxone level increases due to decrease clearance and it also acts as nephrotoxic by unknown mechanism. On the other hand, ceftriaxone on its interaction with diclofenac for renal tubular clearance also increases the level of diclofenac and thus further aggravate the ischemia. It is a reversible condition with excluding diclofenac from the treatment regimen and giving adequate hydration to the patient. This highlights the importance of hydration and knowledge of drugs interactions in a postsurgical patient

Relevance of opt-out screening for HIV in emergency and pre-surgery patients in a tertiary care center in Northern India: A pilot study

<b>Objective:</b> A preliminary opt-out screening study for HIV was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in India according to Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. A total of 876 cases were screened for HIV during August 2007 to December 2007 using tests approved by the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO). <b>Results:</b> Data indicates that the prevalence of HIV in emergency and pre-surgical setting was 21 per thousand at the tertiary care center. Positivity rate in the pediatric population was 20.9 per thousand while in adults it was 21.4 per thousand. Most patients were totally unsuspected. Nearly 40000 patients seek admission annually to the emergency department alone. Thus nearly 700 to 800 patients may be missed every year if one does not resort to such a practice. <b>Conclusion: </b>Since India has the second largest number of HIV cases in the world, opt-out screening program and testing in an emergency setting, as recommended by CDC, is extremely relevant. Logistics of implementation of this policy need to be worked out at a national level