BVRI CCD photometric standards in the field of GRB 990123

The CCD magnitudes in Johnson $BV$ and Cousins $RI$ photometric passbands are determined for 18 stars in the field of GRB 990123. These measurements can be used in carrying out precise CCD photometry of the optical transient of GRB 990123 using differential photometric techniques during non--photometric sky conditions. A comparison with previous photometry indicates that the present photmetry is more precise.Comment: Tex file, 5 pages with 1 figure. Bull. Astron. Society India, Vol. 27 (accepted

NEPHROPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF PLUMERIA RUBRA AGAINST CISPLATIN INDUCED NEPHROTOXICITY IN EXPERIMENTAL RATS

Objective: The current study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of standardized hydroalcoholic extract of Plumeria rubra (HAEPR) against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats.  Methods: HAEPR was administered orally at 3 dose levels (100,200,400 mg/kg). Vitamin E (250 mg/kg) was used as a Standard nephroprotective agent. The kidney function test (estimation of serum creatinine, albumin, blood urea nitrogen) oxidative stress study (estimation of superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde activity) and histological examination of kidneys was conducted. Results: The efficacy of HAEPR was compared with Cisplatin (CP) treated group. Serum creatinine and BUN was significantly (p<0.01) elevated in CP-treated group compared to the control group. HAEPR (100,200 mg/kg) and Vitamin E (250 mg/kg) significantly (p<0.01) decreased the serum creatinine and BUN levels. CP treated group exhibited significant (p<0.01) decrease in albumin when compared to control. Significant (p<0.01) increase in the serum albumin level was found in HAEPR (100,200 mg/kg) and Vitamin E (250 mg/kg) compared to CP group. Significant (p<0.01) decrease in the activity of SOD was observed in the CP group as compared to control. HAEPR (100 and 200 mg/kg) and Vitamin E (250 mg/kg) significantly (p<0.01) increased SOD levels. HAEPR (400 mg/kg) significantly (p<0.05) increased SOD levels. HAEPR (100,200,400 mg/kg) significantly (p<0.01) decreased MDA levels as compared to CP group. Histopathological examination of the kidneys showed that HAEPR markedly ameliorated Cisplatin-induced renal tubular necrosis. An extract was found effective at all doses, although low dose (100 mg/kg) was found to be more effective and comparable with the standard group (Vitamin E 250 mg/kg).  Conclusion: Present investigation revealed that HAEPR resulted in attenuation of Cisplatin-induced renal damage in rats

A REVIEW ON “DRY SYRUPS FOR PAEDIATRICS”

Suspensions may be defined as preparations containing finely divided drug particles (the suspensoid) distributed somewhat uniformly throughout a vehicle with or without stabilizers and other additives in which drug exhibits a minimum degree of solubility hence conventional oral suspension can be administered immediately (ready to use form) and not requiring reconstitution at the time of dispensing are simply designated as “Oral Suspension”. There is an important category of suspension that are available as dry powders intended for suspension in liquid vehicles. These are dry mixtures containing the drug and suitable suspending and dispersing agents to be diluted and agitated with a specific quantity of vehicle, most often purified water. Drugs that are instable if maintained for extended periods in the presence of aqueous vehicle (eg., many antibiotic drugs) are frequently supplied as dry powder mixtures for reconstitution at the time of dispensing. This type of preparation is designated in the USP by a title “for Oral Suspension”. The reconstituted system is the formulation of choice when the drug stability is a major concern. After reconstitution, these systems have a short but acceptable life if stored at refrigerator temperatures. Reconstitutable oral systems show the adequate chemical stability of the drug during shelf life, avoids the physical stability problems related to solubility, pH and incompatibilities with other ingredients and also reduce the weight of the final product because the aqueous vehicle is absent and consequently the transportation expenses may be reduced. Dry syrup form of the drug is also useful in case of bioavailability as it has high bioavailability rather than tablets and capsules as it disintegrates in water outside of the oral cavity and directly the suspension is gone through the gastrointestinal tract. So the suspension easily absorbs in the GIT. A number of commercial and official preparations are available as dry powder mixtures. The present review gives an account of the excipients used, methods of preparation of dry syrups along with their evaluations, their packaging, examples of research articles, few marketed preparations

Role of leptin and adiponectin in gestational diabetes mellitus: a study in a North Indian tertiary care hospital

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) exposes women to a higher risk for development of type 2 diabetes mellitus in later years of life. Newborns of mothers with GDM are at increased risk for acute perinatal complications including hypoglycaemia, jaundice and being large for gestational age. One of the mechanisms underlying glucose metabolism in pregnancy are a group of substances, which includes leptin and adiponectin, produced mainly in the adipose tissue; in this paper we analyze the role of these mediators in women with GDM. This case control study was performed in 90 females (30 GDM patients and 60 control subjects without GDM) referred to a tertiary care hospital. Blood samples were analyzed for fasting blood glucose, leptin and adiponectin. Leptin andAdiponectin were analyzed using ELISA technique. In our study, the levels of fasting blood glucose were statistically significantly higher (p=0.000) in gestational diabetes patients as compared to controls. There was statistically significant positive correlation between blood glucose and leptin (p = 0.000, r = 0.585). There was statistically significant negative correlation between blood glucose and adiponectin(p = 0.000, r = -0.661). An amplification of the low-grade inflammation already existing in normal pregnancy may lead to increase in leptin and decrease in adiponectin. These factors may play a role in development of gestational diabetes mellitus. Further studies are required for establishing them as a marker for gestational diabetes mellitus.KEY WORDS: Gestational diabetes mellitus; Leptin; Adiponecti

Trends in marine fish production in Tamil Nadu using regression and autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model

Tamil Nadu is situated in the south eastern coast of the Indian peninsula with a coastal line of 1076 km (13% of the country’s coast line), 0.19 million sq.km of EEZ (9.4 % of total national EEZ) and a continental shelf of about 41,412 sq. km. This is one of the country’s leading state in marine fish production and ranks third in marine fish production. In Tamil Nadu, Ramanathapuram district is a leading maritime district followed by Nagapattinam and Thoothukudi. The objective of this study was to investigate the trends in marine fish production in Tamil Nadu. Yearly fish production data for the period of 1988-1989 to 2012-2013 were analyzed using time-series method called Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model and Regression analysis (curve estimation). In our study, the developed best ARIMA model for Tamil Nadu marine fish production was found to be ARIMA (1, 1, 1) which have the minimum BIC (Bayesian Information Criterion). ARIMA model had got a slightly higher forecasting accuracy rate for forecasting marine fish production of Tamil Nadu than Regression trend analysis. The independent sample test showed there was no significant difference between the two models. The limitations of ARIMA model include its requirement of a long time series data for better forecast. It is basically linear model assuming that data are stationary and have a limited ability to capture non-stationarities and nonlinearities in series data. Both the models indicated that Tamil Nadu marine fish production has plateaued and fishermen should be encouraged to adopt sustainable fishing practices

Comparison of safety and efficacy of tamsulosin, tadalafil, combinations and deflazacort in lower ureteric orifice negotiation by large size uretero- scope (8/9.8 Fr) prior to intracorporeal lithotripsy

Objective: To compare the safety and efficacy of tamsulosin, tadalafil, deflazacort and combination of tamsulosin with tadalafil in lower ureteric orifice negotiation by large size ureteroscope (8/9.8 Fr) prior to intracorporeal lithotripsy.Patients and methods: In this prospective study, 180 patients presented with ureteric stone of size 8–15 mm were randomly assigned to 5 groups: tamsulosin (group A), tadalafil (group B), deflazacort (group C), combination of tamsulosin with tadalafil (group D) and placebo (group E). After 10 days of drug therapy 168 patients were underwent ureteroscopy and findings like endoscopic configuration of ureteric orifice, need for ureteric dilatation, ureteroscope negotiation, operating time, drug related side effect and procedural complication were noted in each group.Results: All four groups (A, B, C, D) were significantly better than group E in terms of ureteric orifice appearance (wide) during endoscopy. Negotiation of ureteric orifice was easy in group A (70.59%), B (58.82%) and D (78.13%) as compare to group E (31.43%) which was statistically significant. Group A (32.35%) and D (34.38%) were statistically better with group E (62.86%) in terms of ureteral dilatation. Operative time was less in all four groups as compared to group E. All patients well tolerated the drugs with no serious side effects.Conclusion: Both tamsulosin and tamsulosin with tadalafil helps in forward propagation of large sizeureteroscope as compared to other groups with less operative time without any significant complications.So, we can conclude that tamsulosin alone can be helpful for lower ureteric orifice negotiation duringintracorporeal lithotripsy with minimal side effects.Keywords: Hematuria; Negotiation; Ureteroscop

CSPOB-Continuous Spectrophotometry of Black Holes

The goal of a small and dedicated satellite called the "Continuous Spectro-Photometry of Black Holes" or CSPOB is to provide the essential tool for the theoretical understanding of the hydrodynamic and magneto-hydrodynamic flows around black holes. In its life time of about three to four years, only a half a dozen black holes will be observed continuously with a pair of CSPOBs. Changes in the spectral and temporal variability properties of the high-energy emission would be caught as they happen. Several important questions are expected to be answered and many puzzles would be sorted out with this mission.Comment: 4 Pages, 3 Figures, Proceeding of the 2nd Kolkata Conference on "Observational Evidence for the Black Holes in the Universe", Published in AIP, 200