Spread and asymmetry of typical quantum coherence and their inhibition in response to glassy disorder

We consider the average quantum coherences of typical redits and qudits - vectors of real and complex Hilbert spaces - with the analytical forms stemming from the symmetry of Haar-uniformly distributed random pure states. We subsequently study the response to disorder in spread of the typical quantum coherence in response to glassy disorder. The disorder is inserted in the state parameters. Even in the absence of disorder, the quantum coherence distributions of redits and qudits are not uniform over the range of quantum coherence, and the spreads are lower for higher dimensions. On insertion of disorder, the spreads decrease. This decrease in the spread of quantum coherence distribution in response to disorder is seen to be a generic feature of typical pure states: we observe the feature for different strengths of disorder and for various types of disorder distributions, viz. Gaussian, uniform, and Cauchy-Lorentz. We also find that the quantum coherence distributions become less asymmetric with increase in dimension and with infusion of glassy disorder.Comment: 10 pages, 13 figure

Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of Spondias pinnata

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Many diseases are associated with oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Current research is directed towards finding naturally-occurring antioxidants of plant origin. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the <it>in vitro </it>antioxidant activities of <it>Spondias pinnata </it>stem bark extract.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A 70% methanol extract of <it>Spondias pinnata </it>stem bark was studied <it>in vitro </it>for total antioxidant activity, for scavenging of hydroxyl radicals, superoxide anions, nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide, peroxynitrite, singlet oxygen and hypochlorous acid, and for iron chelating capacity, reducing power, and phenolic and flavonoid contents.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The extract showed total antioxidant activity with a trolox equivalent antioxidant concentration (TEAC) value of 0.78 ± 0.02. The IC₅₀values for scavenging of free radicals were 112.18 ± 3.27 μg/ml, 13.46 ± 0.66 μg/ml and 24.48 ± 2.31 μg/ml for hydroxyl, superoxide and nitric oxide, respectively. The IC₅₀for hydrogen peroxide scavenging was 44.74 ± 25.61 mg/ml. For the peroxynitrite, singlet oxygen and hypochlorous acid scavenging activities the IC₅₀values were 716.32 ± 32.25 μg/ml, 58.07 ± 5.36 μg/ml and 127.99 ± 6.26 μg/ml, respectively. The extract was found to be a potent iron chelator with IC₅₀= 66.54 ± 0.84 μg/ml. The reducing power was increased with increasing amounts of extract. The plant extract (100 mg) yielded 91.47 ± 0.004 mg/ml gallic acid-equivalent phenolic content and 350.5 ± 0.004 mg/ml quercetin-equivalent flavonoid content.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present study provides evidence that a 70% methanol extract of <it>Spondias pinnata </it>stem bark is a potential source of natural antioxidants.</p

Biological and materials properties of various cholesterol based systems

Liposomes composed of cationic lipids have become very popular gene delivery vehicles. A great deal of research is being pursued to make efficient vectors by varying their molecular architecture. Cholesterol being ubiquitous component in most of the animal cell membranes is increasingly being used as a hydrophobic segment of synthetic cationic lipids. In this review we describe various cholesterol based cationic lipids and focus on the effect of modifying various structural segments like linker and the head group of the cationic lipids on gene transfection efficiency with a special emphasis on the importance of ether linkage between cholesteryl backbone and the polar head group. Interaction of cationic cholesteryl lipids with dipalmitylphosphatidycholine membranes is also discussed here. Apart from cholesterol being an attractive scaffold in the drug/gene delivery vehicles, certain cholesteryl derivatives have also been shown to be attractive room temperature liquid-crystalline materials

Predatory mites fauna on medicinal and aromatic plants from Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, West Bengal, India

A regular survey was conducted in different places of Sundarban Biosphere Reserve (SBR) region of West Bengal on 32 different medicinal and aromatic plants. A total of 41 species of predatory mites belonging to 19 genera, 7 families, under 2 orders were observed during this study. Collection data, distribution and keys are given for all taxonomic categories. Many of the species and habitats reported here are new records. Ecological and behavioral remarks on all the predatory mite species reported from Sundarban Biosphere Reserve are also presented

Antioxidant and iron chelating potential of Pongammia pinnata and its role in preventing free radical induced oxidative damage in plasmid DNA

Context: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radical-mediated reactions are involved in degenerative or pathological processes. Antioxidants are believed to play an important role in preventing chronic diseases by reducing the oxidative damage to cellular components caused by ROS. Objective: In the present study, Pongamia pinnata leaf (PPL), seed (PPS), and flower (PPF) were investigated for their total phenolic and flavonoid contents, antioxidant activity by ABTS and DPPH method, scavenging activities for different free radicals such as hydroxyl, superoxide, nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide, peroxynitrite, singlet oxygen, hypochlorous acid, the inhibition of lipid peroxidation in mice brain homogenate, reducing power, iron chelating and protection of DNA damage caused by free radicals. Results: PPL showed the best antioxidant activity compared to both PPS and PPF. The extract of PPL possessed most potent activity compared to other extracts in scavenging assay for singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radical, superoxide radical and nitric oxide radical. PPF exhibited strongest inhibitory activity against hypochlorous acid and peroxynitrite anion among these three extracts. PPL was the best amongst three to inhibit lipid peroxidation and Fe2+-ferrozine complex formation. PPL was also found effective in protecting plasmid DNA nicking at lower concentration while both PPS and PPF did the same at higher concentration. PPL presented highest content of phenolics and flavonoids among these three extracts. Conclusion: The present results show that Pongammia pinnta acts as an antioxidant, iron chelator and protector of oxidative DNA damage

A morphometric and radiological study of the distal end of femur in West Bengal population

The distal end of the femur has immense importance from the anatomical, functional and clinical point of view. The present study was carried out to assess the individual condylar dimension, maximum bicondylar width, size of intercondylar notch and bicondylar angle on dry femurs and on digital radiographic plates among the population of eastern India. The study was carried out bilaterally on seventy adult dry femurs of unknown sex and also on fifty digital radiographic plates of known age and sex by using Martin’s sliding calipers, diaptograph and sigma view software. Among the different parameters, transverse and vertical dimensions of medial condyle and intercondylar width showed significant bilateral asymmetry. From radiologic evaluation, it has been observed that only bicondylar width showed sexual dimorphism on both sides. The present study also reported significant asymmetry in bicondylar width between the two sides in males but not in females, whereas comparison of bicondylar angle between right and left sides revealed significant difference in females in contrast to males. The present study may help in manufacturing a properly sized implant and also help the surgeons during instrumentation of lower end of femur

FORMULATION OF ORAL MUCOADHESIVE TABLETS OF TERBUTALINE SULPHATE USING SOME NATURAL MATERIALS AND IN VITRO-IN VIVO EVALUATION

Mucoadhesive polymers that bind to the gastric mucin or epithelial cell surface are useful in drug delivery for the purpose of increasing the intimacy and duration of contact of drug with the absorbing membrane. Several synthetic polymers are in use for this purpose. Since the biodegradability of the synthetic polymers are questionable, in this investigation an oral mucoadhesive controlled delivery system has been developed for terbutaline sulphate (TS) using natural mucoadhesive materials extracted from the edible fruits like Zizyphus mauritiana (ZM) and Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Cor. (AM) that have better mucoadhesive property than synthetic polymer hydroxypropylmethylcellulose K4M (HPMC K4M). The in vitro adhesive and mucoadhesive strength of mucoadhesive materials extracted from the fruits of ZM and AM were evaluated and compared with HPMCK4M using both Share Stress and Wilhelmy Plate. Different formulations of oral mucoadhesive coated TS tablets were prepared using these natural materials and compared with tablets prepared with HPMCK4M and hardness, thickness, friability, weight variation and drug content of tablets were tested. The in vitro release of TS was studied in buffer pH 7.2 at 370C 0.50C. Tablets were orally administered to rabbits and blood plasma concentration of TS was determined using HPLC. It was found that mucoadhesive materials extracted from the fruits of ZM and AM exhibited better adhesiveness and mucoadhesiveness as compared with the HPMC- K4M. The in vitro study of TS exhibited showed greater drug release profile for tablets prepared with natural materials than synthetic polymers and confirmed with in vivo study. In vitro and in vivo correlation showed the same release profile

Assessment of the Antioxidant and Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging Activity of Methanolic Extract of Caesalpinia crista Leaf

“Oxidative stress” is initiated by reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are responsible for majority of the diseases. However, antioxidants with ROS scavenging ability may have great relevance in the prevention of oxidative stress. The present study was undertaken, using a 70% methanolic extract of Caesalpinia crista leaves, to examine different in vitro tests in diversified fields including total antioxidant activity, scavenging activities for various ROS, iron chelating activity and phenolic and flavonoid contents. Total antioxidant activity was evaluated as trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity value of 0.546 ± 0.014. The extract was investigated for different ROS scavenging activities and IC50 values were found to be 0.44 ± 0.1 mg/ml, 24.9 ± 0.98 μg/ml, 33.72 ± 0.85 μg/ml, 61.13 ± 3.24 μg/mL and 170.51 ± 4.68 μg/mL for hydroxyl, superoxide, nitric oxide, singlet oxygen and hypochlorous acid, respectively; however, no significant results were obtained in scavenging of hydrogen peroxide and peroxynitrite anion. The extract was found to be a potent iron chelator with IC50 = 279.85 ± 4.72 μg/mL. The plant extract (100 mg) yielded 50.23 ± 0.003 mg/mL gallic acid equivalent phenolic content and 106.83 ± 0.0003 mg/mL quercetin equivalent flavonoid content. In the in vivo experiments, the extract treatment showed significant increase in the level of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-S-transferase and reduced glutathione. In a word, it may be concluded that 70% methanol extract of C. crista leaves acts as an antioxidant and ROS scavenger; which may be due to the presence of phenolic and flavonoid compounds

Antibiotic usage pattern among inpatients of a paediatric ward in a tertiary care hospital in Eastern India

Background: The inevitable consequence of the widespread use of antimicrobial agents has been the emergence of antibiotic resistant pathogens. The rising incidence of bacterial resistance to common antibiotics, particularly, multi-drug resistant pneumococci, has prompted the need to use antibiotics judiciously in paediatric practice. The present study thus attempted to understand the antibiotic usage pattern among inpatients in a paediatric ward of a tertiary care hospital.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out for three months among the inpatients in the Department of Pediatrics in a tertiary care teaching hospital, Kolkata. The data regarding patient’s demographics and antibiotic use was collected daily in a pre-structured proforma. A descriptive statistical analysis of the data was performed.Results: A total of 124 patients were screened of which males and females represented 58.06% and 41.94% of the cases respectively with age group of 2-14 years presenting in majority. Among various causes of hospitalization, prevalence of respiratory disorders were maximum (25.81%), followed by hematological disorders (25%). Among various categories of prescribed drugs, antibiotics were found to be maximum (39.25%). Beta-lactum antibiotics were prescribed in majority (64.41%) with 56.91% being of cephalosporin group. The preferred route of administration was found to be parenteral (64%). 61.29 % cases were ordered laboratory investigations prior to the antimicrobial therapy initiation.  About 63.16% of the total samples for culture & sensitivity tested were reported positive. 39.58% of these positive cases showed resistance to empirical antibiotic therapy on lab reports.Conclusions: The study enables to obtain information on the antibiotic usage pattern in the pediatric population, focusing on prevalence of antibiotic misuse in our set-up and suggesting strategies of its minimization.

Bioimpedimetric analysis in conjunction with growth dynamics to differentiate aggressiveness of cancer cells

Determination of cancer aggressiveness is mainly assessed in tissues by looking at the grade of cancer. There is a lack of specific method to determine aggressiveness of cancer cells in vitro. In our present work, we have proposed a bio-impedance based non-invasive method to differentiate aggressive property of two breast cancer cell lines. Real-time impedance analysis of MCF-7 (less aggressive) and MDA-MB-231 cells (more aggressive) demonstrated unique growth pattern. Detailed slope-analysis of impedance curves at different growth phases showed that MDA-MB-231 had higher proliferation rate and intrinsic resistance to cell death, when allowed to grow in nutrient and space limiting conditions. This intrinsic nature of death resistance of MDA-MB-231 was due to modulation and elongation of filopodia, which was also observed during scanning electron microscopy. Results were also similar when validated by cell cycle analysis. Additionally, wavelet based analysis was used to demonstrate that MCF-7 had lesser micromotion based cellular activity, when compared with MDA-MB-231. Combined together, we hypothesize that analysis of growth rate, death resistance and cellular energy, through bioimpedance based analysis can be used to determine and compare aggressiveness of multiple cancer cell lines. This further opens avenues for extrapolation of present work to human tumor tissue samples