A SELECTIVE AND SENSITIVE LC-MS/MS METHOD FOR QUANTIFICATION OF FOUR POTENTIAL GENOTOXIC IMPURITIES IN ATAZANAVIR SULFATE DRUG SUBSTANCE IN TRACE LEVEL

Objective: The main objective of current research work is to develop and validate a rapid, sensitive and selective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the trace analysis of four potential genotoxic impurities in Atazanavir Sulfate drug substance. Methods: LC-MS/MS analysis of four potential genotoxic impurities was done on Acquity UPLC CSH C18 (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) column. In this method, mobile phase A (10 mM ammonium acetate) mobile phase B (methanol: acetonitrile (90:10, v/v) with gradient run with the flow rate of 0.2 ml/min. The method was developed with the short run time of 13 min. Triple quadrupole mass detector coupled with positive electrospray ionization was used for the quantification of genotoxic impurities in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Results: The method was linear in the range of 0.3 ppm to 4.5 ppm for BOC Hydrazine Acid impurity, BOC Epoxide and Keto impurity with a correlation coefficient not less than 0.9994. The accuracy of the method was in the range of 99.26% to 105.71% for all four potential genotoxic impurities (PGIs). No impurities were identified in the Atazanavir Sulfate active pharmaceutical ingredient sample. Conclusion: The proposed method is specific, linear, precise, accurate, robust and stable for the quantification of the four genotoxic impurities at very low levels

A rare case of Nabothian cyst presenting as mass per vagina

Nabothian cysts are benign non neoplastic disorder rarely of any clinical significance usually appear as bumps on the surface of the cervix which may be single or in groups and they appear as a sequalae to chronic cervicitis, are asymptomatic unless they are sizeable presenting with rare and varied symptoms. Generally, Nabothian cysts do not require any therapy. The therapy is recommended when a patient becomes symptomatic with pain or when the lesion character is not clear and malignancy cannot be ruled out. Here we reported a case of 23-year young unmarried girl nulligravida with complaints of mass per vagina. On local examination an irregular polypoidal mass was seen protruding outside the introitus measuring about 4×4 cm soft to cystic in consistency. Ultrasound revealed a well-defined anechoic cyst of 3.6×5.7 cm noted in the right ovary with no evidence of internal septation/solid component and wall calcification suggestive of right ovarian simple cyst with left ovary and uterus being normal. Surgical management was planned. Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed which revealed right ovarian simple cyst of 6×4 cm which was punctured using cautery and drained. Following this vaginal exploration revealed a polypoidal structure of 5×4 cm cystic consistency seen arising from right upper anterolateral lip of cervix. Polyp was resected with cautery and haemostasis achieved. Post operative period was uneventful. Such rare presentations do pose a diagnostic dilemma and hence it should be kept in mind to ensure adequate treatment

Nutrient uptake and soil fertility status after harvest of Bt cotton as influenced by graded levels of NPK fertilizers in Alfisol

Field studies were conducted at farmer’s fields in Jodalli (Kalghatgi taluk) and Pale (Hubballi taluk) villages in 2012-13 and 2013-14, respectively to investigate the effect of NPK fertilizers on uptake of nutrients by Bt cotton and soil fertility status at harvest in Alfisol. Among the different treatment combinations, the application of 150:50:75 kg N:P2O5:K2O ha-1 (N3P1K2) recorded significantly (P=0.05) higher nitrogen (132.63 kg ha-1), phosphorus (31.26 kg ha-1) and potassium (128.94 kg ha-1) uptake by cotton. The interaction effect with respect to total micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu) uptake remained non significant at all the growth stages. Graded levels of fertilizers failed to exert significant impact on pH and electrical conductivity, soil organic carbon and available micronutrients during both the years of experimentation. The application of 100:50:50 kgN:P2O5:K2O ha-1 (N1P1K1) recorded significantly (P=0.05) highest available nitrogen (150.39 kg ha-1), available phosphorus (37.98 kg ha-1) and available potassium (230.99 kg ha-1) compared to rest of the treatments. The lowest available nitrogen (134.92 kg ha-1), available phosphorus (31.65 kg ha-1) and available potassium (217.63 kg ha-1) were recorded in treatment receiving 150:50:75 kg N:P2O5:K2O ha-1 (N3P1K2)

Expression of miRNAs Regulates Growth and Development of French Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris) under Salt and Drought Stress Conditions

Identification of stress-regulated miRNAs is crucial for understanding how plants respond to environmental stimuli. We are interested in the identification of miRNAs in French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) to uncover different plant strategies to cope with adverse conditions and because of its relevance as a crop in developing countries. In this study, we investigated the effect of salt and drought stress in expression of small regulatory RNAs. Both salt and drought stresses altered the expression pattern of miRNA in a dose-dependent manner. However, each miRNA responded to drought stress in a different pattern. Salt and drought stress changed the expression level of miRNAs mainly from 0.9-fold up-regulation to 0.7-fold down-regulation. Micro RNAs were less sensitive to drought than salinity, as evidenced by the narrow fold change in expression levels. Although the range of change in expression level of miRNAs was similar under salt and drought stress, no miRNAs displayed significant change in expression level under all tested salt conditions. Micro RNAs, miR156 and miR162, showed significant change in expression level under high drought stress. This suggests that miR156 and miR162 may attribute to the adaption to drought stress and are good candidates for improving the vegetable crop by transgenic technology

DIABETIC RETINOPATHY: AN INCLUSIVE REVIEW ON CURRENT TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT APPROACHES

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a complication which occurs due to diabetes mellitus leading to loss of vision and hindering the quality of patient life by damaging the layer of retina at the posterior segment of the eye. According to the survey around 285 million peoples are suffering from visual loss out of these 65% of people are more than 50 years old and 82% of blind patients are more than 50 years old. The diseases that occur in the posterior segment of the eye like, cytomegalovirus retinitis, posterior uveitis, age related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy needs a novel delivery system that can improve the concentration of drugs that reaches posterior segment of the eye. The development of new drug delivery system gained more importance in the field of research in which nanotechnology is the most considered approach. The nanotechnology-based systems such as nanoparticles, nanoliposomes, niosomes, nanomicelles, nanoemulsions, nanogels, cyclodextrins, dendrimers, and quantum dots are developed as a new formulation for drug delivery. The rationale behind the nanoparticle systems is its ability to formulate a sustained, controlled release dosage form, painless, safe, non-invasive system to overcome the major barriers in the treatment of DR. Based on the nanoparticles, some approaches are exploited for more effective conveyance of drug toward the posterior segment. Thus, these advanced delivery systems progress the therapeutic efficacy of the drug and patient's obedience and life quality. In this review, the new therapeutic treatments and their managements were discussed and methods of drug delivery to reach the posterior segment of eye

Expression of miRNAs Confers Enhanced Tolerance to Drought and Salt Stress in Finger Millet (Eleusine coracona)

Plants respond to the environmental cues in various ways, recent knowledge of RNA interference in conferring stress tolerance had become a new hope of developing tolerant varieties. Here we attempt to unfold the molecular mechanism of stress tolerance through miRNA profiling and expression analysis in Finger millet (Eleusine coracona) under salt and drought stress conditions. The expression analysis of 12 stress specific conserved miRNAs was studied using semi-quantitative real time PCR and Northern blot assay. Our studies revealed that, although most of the miRNAs responded to the stresses, the expression of particular miRNA differed with the nature of stress and the tissue. The expression analysis was correlated with the existing data of their target genes. Abiotic stress up-regulated miRNAs are expected to target negative regulators of stress responses or positive regulators of processes that are inhibited by stresses. On the other hand, stress down-regulated miRNAs may repress the expression of positive regulators and/or stress up-regulated genes. Thus the current study of miRNAs and their targets under abiotic stress conditions displays miRNAs may be good candidates to attribute the stress tolerance in plants by transgenic technology

Trends in world tuna fishery

Since the nineteenth century, indeed since a ncient times tuna fishing has been carried out in many places in the world. These fisheries were local and generally near the coasts. As most species of tunas are highly migratory, fishers caught them only at certain points in their life cycle. In other words, the fishing had to be seasonal

Studies on the effect of post harvest treatments on shelf life and quality of mango [Mangifera indica l.] cv. Amrapali

he physicochemical characteristics and shelf life of mango[Mangifera indica L.] fruits treated with calci- um chloride (CaCl2-1%, 2%), calcium nitrate (Ca(NO3)2-1%, 2%), potassium nitrate (KNO3-1%, 2%) and carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC - 0.5, 1%) were studied. Untreated fruits served as the control. All tested treatments indicated a significant delay in the change of weight loss (16.84%), ripening (51.66%), decaying percentage (46.66) and retained firmness (3.23 kg/cm2) of fruits and biochemical qualities viz., total soluble solids(22.33Brix), sugar accumulation (18.17%) and tritratable acidity on 16th day in mango fruits compared to control. The significant (5%) impact of treatment is found on the least decay percentage in the order of fruits treated with calcium nitrate (2%) followed by 1% Ca(NO3)2, 2% CaCl2 and 1% CaCl2. Hence, it could be concluded that post harvest chemical treatment with calcium nitrate, calcium chloride (1%, 2%) has the potential to control spoilage, prolong the storage life and preserve valuable attributes of post harvest quality of mango, presumably because of its effect on inhibition of ripening and senescence processes by lowering the respiration rate