Effect of Al atom Doping on Band Gap of Rectangular Cross Section Si nanowire

In this work band gap of hydrogen-passivated, free-standing silicon nanowires, oriented along [111] direction with rectangular cross section was studied. Further the effect of doping of Al atom on band structure is also analyzed by using GGA approximation. it is found that the band gap of H-SiNW  dramatically reduced upon doping and  nanowire start behaving as  bulk silicon. Keywords:DFT, GGA, nanowir

Evaluation of gastric motility of Phyllanthus emblica and Asparagus racemosus in cold stress induced gastric damage

Background: Gastric emptying is known to be delayed in gastritis and gastric ulcer. Phyllanthus emblica and Asparagus racemosus are known to be gastroporotective. The objective if the study is to evaluate the effects of Phyllanthus emblica and Asparagus racemosus on gastric motility per se and by using the cold stress model of gastric damage.Methods: 84 wistar rats were used and divided into 7 groups. Different extracts of Phyllanthus emblica was administered to rats. Other groups received distilled water (control), Asparagus racemosus and ranitidine.  All rats were given a test meal of methyl cellulose (1.5%) mixed with phenol red (50 mg/100 ml) orally and gastric emptying was measured 20 minutes later.Results: Gastric emptying was found to be 58.00±8.36 in normal rats (group I). None of the study drugs had any per se effect on gastric motility. Cold stress significantly reduced the gastric emptying 35.33±5.46 (p<0.05). Phyllanthus emblica and Asparagus racemosus showed increase in gastric motility 82.66±6.43 (phyllanthus emblica hot water extract) and 68.50±4.54 respectively which was statistically significant (p<0.01). Ranitidine also showed statistically significant increase in gastric motility 70.00±5.40 (p<0.01).Conclusions: Phyllanthus emblica and Asparagus racemosa have gastric motility enhancing effect and this could be one of the mechanisms of decrease in gastric erosions

Evaluation of the anti-depressant potential of metformin in conditioned defeat model in golden Syrian hamsters

Background: Depression is a prevalent mood condition that has an impact on daily functioning. Globally, depression affects 264 million people. The current pharmacotherapy of depression has a lot of shortcomings. Therefore, there is a need to explore newer therapy that alleviate the symptoms of depression. Metformin was found to possess antioxidant potential and hypothesized to decrease the levels of branched-chain amino-acids essential for tryptophan uptake (precursor for serotonin synthesis). The study was designed to validate the efficacy of metformin as an anti-depressant in conditioned defeat model in male golden Syrian hamsters using open field test (OFT), forced swim test (FST) and Serum serotonin levels. Methods: After obtaining IAEC approval, the study was carried out using 8 golden Syrian hamsters each that were randomly assigned to four groups. The disease control group received 1mL normal saline, positive control was given fluoxetine 12 mg/kg, two groups of metformin 240 mg/kg given pre-insult and post-insult. The variables assessed on every third day included OFT and FST. Following the behavioral tests, serotonin-ELISA was done. To analyse the outcomes, appropriate statistical tests were applied. Results: On standardization, the model was established to a 16-day model. Further, results highlighted a significant difference in OFT, FST and serotonin levels with the metformin group and fluoxetine compared to disease control (p&lt;0.001). However, no significant difference was observed between the fluoxetine and metformin groups (p&gt;0.05), signifying the comparable results. Conclusions: Metformin (240 mg/kg) alleviated the depressive symptoms by modulating both behavioral and serotonin levels

Study of evaluation of hepatoprotective potential of lycopene in rat models of paracetamol and antitubercular drugs (isoniazid + rifampicin) induced hepatotoxicity

Background: The exact role of lycopene has not been studied in the past for its hepatoprotective effects. Hence it was decided to explore its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in acute and chronic models of drug- induced hepatotoxicity with the aim to evaluate hepatoprotective potential in rat models of paracetamol and antitubercular drugs (isoniazid + rifampicin) induced hepatotoxicity.Methods: The study was carried out in 70 Wistar rats in two phases. In phase I, models of paracetamol and anti-tubercular drugs induced hepatotoxicity were standardized in 22 Wistar rats and in phase II, hepatoprotective potential of lycopene was evaluated in paracetamol and anti-tubercular drugs induced hepatic damage using 48 Wistar rats. The effects of lycopene were compared with silymarin.Results: There was a significant (p &lt;0.05) reduction in serum bilirubin levels with silymarin and lycopene 10mg/kg treated groups signifying protection against hepatic damage, while vehicle control and lycopene 5mg/kg treated groups had high bilirubin values. Similarly, significant (p &lt;0.001) reduction in the levels of serum transaminases were observed with all the treatment groups though more evident in the positive control and lycopene 10mg/kg treated groups.Conclusions: The results of the present study prove that lycopene exerts hepatoprotective effect against paracetamol and anti-tubercular drugs induced hepatic damage in rats. Lycopene needs to be evaluated in other models of hepatotoxicity and further studies are required to delineate its mechanism of action. Lycopene could be a potential hepatoprotective for clinical use in future

To evaluate and compare the efficacy of alcoholic and aqueous extract of Lagenaria siceraria in high fat diet model in wistar rats

Background: Obesity is not only affecting the affluent society but also affecting developing countries like India. The incidence of obesity is rapidly increasing throughout the world. However, the current anti-obesity drugs have numerous limitations.Methods: The obesity was induced in male wistar rats by giving high-fat diet over 12 weeks. The variables assessed were body weight, abdominal girth, blood triglyceride level, liver weight and fat mass and histopathology of liver. Aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Lagenaria siceraria (200mg/kg and 400mg/kg Doses) were compared to orlistat (treatment control) and high-fat diet group (disease control) for different variables.Results: Alcoholic and aqueous extracts high dose (400mg/kg) of Lagenaria siceraria significantly reduced total body weight (p&lt;0.05), abdominal girth (p &lt;0.05) at week 10 and 12 compared to high fat diet group. Alcoholic extract (400mg/kg) significantly reduced total blood triglyceride level (p &lt;0.05) and total liver weight (p &lt;0.05) compared to high-fat diet group. None of the study drugs reduced % liver weight. Alcoholic extract high dose (p &lt;0.05) has shown improvement in histopathological score. Both aqueous and alcoholic extracts have shown reduced fat mass compared to high-fat diet group.Conclusions: The alcoholic extract (400mg/kg) of Lagenaria siceraria alleviated high fat diet induced obesity and dyslipidemic changes in rats. The alcoholic extract of Lagenaria siceraria is having better anti-obesity potential than aqueous extract

Tribbles 2 pseudokinase confers enzalutamide resistance in prostate cancer by promoting lineage plasticity

Enzalutamide, a second-generation antiandrogen, is commonly prescribed for the therapy of advanced prostate cancer, but enzalutamide-resistant, lethal, or incurable disease invariably develops. To understand the molecular mechanism(s) behind enzalutamide resistance, here, we comprehensively analyzed a range of prostate tumors and clinically relevant models by gene expression array, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot, which revealed that enzalutamide-resistant prostate cancer cells and tumors overexpress the pseudokinase, Tribbles 2 (TRIB2). Inhibition of TRIB2 decreases the viability of enzalutamide-resistant prostate cancer cells, suggesting a critical role of TRIB2 in these cells. Moreover, the overexpression of TRIB2 confers resistance in prostate cancer cells to clinically relevant doses of enzalutamide, and this resistance is lost upon inhibition of TRIB2. Interestingly, we found that TRIB2 downregulates the luminal markers androgen receptor and cytokeratin 8 in prostate cancer cells but upregulates the neuronal transcription factor BRN2 (Brain-2) and the stemness factor SOX2 (SRY-box 2) to induce neuroendocrine characteristics. Finally, we show that inhibition of either TRIB2 or its downstream targets, BRN2 or SOX2, resensitizes resistant prostate cancer cells to enzalutamide. Thus, TRIB2 emerges as a potential new regulator of transdifferentiation that confers enzalutamide resistance in prostate cancer cells via a mechanism involving increased cellular plasticity and lineage switching

Structural and Electronic Properties of Si Nanostructures

Abstract The stability and electronic structure of a single monatomic Silicon nanowire has been studied using density functional theory. The Si nanowire undergoes two structural rearrangements when it undergoes compression, i.e., zigzag configurations. Cohesive energy and bond length of Si nanostructures (chains and monolayers) are examined by using Generalized geo metry appro ximation and Local density approximation. The relation between low dimensional 1D structure (chain) to high dimensional 3D bulk Si is estimated

Bladder outlet obstruction in women

Bladder outlet obstruction in females remains a poorly understood condition and is much rarer as compared to males. More difficult is the objective diagnosis of this condition. There is no general agreement on the Urodynamic parameters to define the condition with certainty. A number of conditions are involved particularly in urinary retention in females are not completely understood. Besides, external sphincter dysfunction and post surgical retentions add another group of conditions which are distinct from retentions seen in the males. This article takes a review of various aetiological factors of Bladder outlet obstruction in women. An attempt is made to standardise the Urodynamic parameters for use in females, based on our data and experimentation on the models of the bladder and urethra. This article also takes a review of uncommon conditions such as Fowler's syndrome which often complicate evaluation of this condition

Analysis of Salivary Flow Rate, Buffering Capacity and Isolation Of Strep- tococcus mutans Using Selective MSKB Media in Caries Active and Caries Free School Children

INTRODUCTION Dental caries is an irreversible microbial disease of the calcified tissues of the teeth, characterized by demineralization of the inorganic portion and destruction of the organic substance of the tooth, which often leads to cavitation. Among the oral diseases, dental caries is the most common chronic disease of mankind. It affects persons of both sexes in all races, all socioeconomic strata and any age group. As children reach school age, they have an increasing incidence of carious lesions because of change in dietary habits which includes refined carbohydrates and sweeteners ABSTRACT Background: Dental caries is a multifactorial disease and the important etiologic factors include streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli counts, salivary flow rate, buffering capacity and past caries experience. It is also modified by factors like type of diet, oral hygiene practices, uses of fluoride and other preventive measures. Although immense research has been done on all variables affecting dental caries, models having better predictive power in caries risk assessment have not been validated among Indian population. Hence, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether salivary counts of S. mutans combined with measurement of salivary flow rate and buffer effect can be used for diagnostic and predictive purpose in cariology