Reappraisal of role of angiotensin receptor blockers in cardiovascular protection

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) have shown cardioprotective and renoprotective properties. These agents are recommended as first-line therapy for the treatment of hypertension and the reduction of cardiovascular risk. Early studies pointed to the cardioprotective and renoprotective effects of ARBs in high-risk patients. The ONgoing Telmisartan Alone and in combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial (ONTARGET) established the clinical equivalence of the cardioprotective and renoprotective effects of telmisartan and ramipril, but did not find an added benefit of the combination over ramipril alone. Similar findings were observed in the Telmisartan Randomized AssessmeNt Study in aCE INtolerant subjects with cardiovascular Disease (TRANSCEND) trial conducted in ACEI-intolerant patients. In ONTARGET, telmisartan had a better tolerability profile with similar renoprotective properties compared with ramipril, suggesting a potential clinical benefit over ramipril. The recently completed Olmesartan Reducing Incidence of Endstage Renal Disease in Diabetic Nephropathy Trial (ORIENT) and Olmesartan and Calcium Antagonists Randomized (OSCAR) studies will further define the role of ARBs in cardioprotection and renoprotection for high-risk patients

VALIDATED REVERSE PHASE HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHIC METHOD FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF ARTEMETHER AND LUMEFANTRINE IN FIXED COMBINED DOSAGE FORM

ABSTRACTObjective: The present aim is to develop simple, precise, and accurate reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic method (RP-HPLC) forthe simultaneous assay of artemether and lumefantrine in fixed combined dosage form.Methods: The chromatographic study was carried out on Hypersil C18 column (250×4.6 mm, 5 μ) with mobile phase containing a mixture of KH2PO4buffer (pH-3.5) and acetonitrile in the ratio of 45:55% v/v at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/minute with ultraviolet detection at 218 nm in ambient columntemperature.Results: Using the optimized chromatographic conditions artemether and lumefantrine eluted with retention times of 2.207 and 3.733 minutes,respectively. The method was validated according to ICH guidelines with good reproducibility and linear responses, y=60.813.x+629.53 (r²=0.9982)for artemether and y=88.3108.x+2370.2 (r²=0.9912). The % relative standard deviations of intra-day precision was ranged 0.378% and 1.26% forartemether and 0.459% and 1.15% for lumefantrine, respectively. The percentage recoveries were ranged from 99.96% to 100.02% for artemetherand 99.96-99.97% for lumefantrine, respectively.Conclusions: The developed RP-HPLC method was validated as per ICH guidelines and was found to be best suitable for pharmacokinetic studies ofthese mentioned drugs.Keywords: Artemether, Lumefantrine, ICH guidelines

Resistance to Fruit Fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) and Tea Mosquito Bug, Helopeltis antonii (Sign.) in Certain Wild Psidium Species

Five wild species of Psidium viz., Psidium cattleianum lucidum, P. chinensis, P. friedrichsthalianum, P. molle and P. quadrangularis were evaluated for resistance to fruit fly [Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel)] and tea mosquito bug (TMB) [Helopeltis antonii (Sign.)], during 2002-04. Significant variations were recorded among species in their reaction to pests. Two species viz., P. chinensis and P. quadrangularis were resistant to fruit fly (<10% fruit damage) while P. quadrangularis was immune. Psidium. molle and P. cattleianum were resistant to tea mosquito bug. Pest incidence was correlated with fruit biochemical components viz., total soluble solids (TSS), total sugars, vitamin C and acidity. The TSS and total sugars were positively correlated with fruit fly infestation while acidity was negatively correlated. The TMB incidence did not exhibit significant correlation with any of these parameters

Quenching of fluorescence of aromatic molecules by graphene due to electron transfer

Investigations on the fluorescence quenching of graphene have been carried out with two organic donor molecules, pyrene butanaoic acid succinimidyl ester (PyBS, I) and oligo(p-phenylenevinylene) methyl ester (OPV-ester, II). Absorption and photoluminescence spectra of I and II recorded in mixture with increasing the concentrations of graphene showed no change in the former, but remarkable quenching of fluorescence. The property of graphene to quench fluorescence of these aromatic molecules is shown to be associated with photo-induced electron transfer, on the basis of fluorescence decay and time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopic measurements.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figure

Variability Studies in Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) with Reference to Yield Attributes

Field experiments were conducted at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Lam, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh during the rainy season 2004-2007, with ten chilli genotypes supplied by AICRP on vegetables (from different geographical sources). This was to study genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance as per cent mean for several economic characters to identify promising cultivars suitable for the Krishna-Godavari zone of Andhra Pradesh. Data were collected on eight characters, viz., plant height, plant spread and number of fruits per plant; fruit length, fruit girth, number of seeds per fruit, ripe-chilli yield and dry-chilli yield. Significant differences were observed among genotypes in respect of all the characters studied. Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation (PCV) was slightly higher than Genotypic Coefficient of Variation (GCV) for all the traits, indicating a low environmental influence on expression of these traits. High GCV and PCV were observed for ripe-chilli yield, dry-chilli yield, number of fruits per plant, number of seeds per fruit and fruit length indicating a higher magnitude of variability in these traits and, consequently, a greater scope for improvement through simple selection. Low GCV and PCV were recorded for plant height, plant spread and fruit girth suggesting a limited variability, for these traits. High heritability, coupled with high Genetic Advance as per cent mean, was observed for ripe-chilli yield, dry chilli yield, number of fruits per plant, number of seeds per fruit and fruit length, indicating the influence of additive genes. These characters-with high GCV, PCV, Heritability and Genetic Advance as per cent mean-should be considered as reliable selection criteria for crop improvement for yield and yield attributing characters in chilli