Post synthetically modified IRMOF-3 for efficient recovery and selective sensing of U(vi) from aqueous medium

A simple and efficient route to develop various novel functionalized MOF materials for rapid and excellent recovery of U(vi) from aqueous medium, along with selective sensing has been demonstrated in the present study. In this connection, a set of four distinct post synthetically modified (PSM) iso-reticular metal organic frameworks were synthesized from IRMOF-3 namely, IRMOF-PC (2-pyridine carboxaldehyde), IRMOF-GA (glutaric anhydride), IRMOF-SMA (sulfamic acid), and IRMOF-DPC (diphenylphosphonic chloride) for the recovery and sensing of U(vi) from aqueous medium. The MOFs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powder XRD, BET surface area analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), NMR (¹³C, ¹H and ³¹P), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Among all MOFs, post synthetically modified IRMOF-SMA showed enhanced thermal stability of about 420 °C. The MOFs were investigated for U(vi) sorption studies using a batch technique. All the MOFs exhibit excellent sorption capacity towards U(vi) (>90%) and maximum uptake was observed at pH 6. Sorption capacity of MOFs have the following order; IRMOF-3-DPC (300 mg U g⁻¹) > IRMOF-SMA (292 mg U g⁻¹) > IRMOF-PC (289 mg U g⁻¹) > IRMOF-GA (280 mg U g⁻¹) > IRMOF-3 (273 mg U g⁻¹). IRMOF-DPC shows rapid sorption of uranium within 5 min with excellent uptake of U(vi) (>99%). The desorption of U(vi) was examined with different eluents and 0.01 M HNO₃ was found to be most effective. The fluorescence sensing studies of U(vi) via IRMOF-3 and its PSM MOFs revealed high sensitivity and selectivity towards U(vi) over other competing rare earth metal ions (La³⁺, Ce⁴⁺, Sm³⁺, Nd³⁺, Gd³⁺, and Eu³⁺), wherein IRMOF-GA displayed an impressive detection limit of 0.36 mg L⁻¹ for U(vi).

Four IRMOFs following PSM strategy were prepared. The MOFs were characterized by different techniques and were investigated for U(vi) sorption. PSM MOFs displayed impressive fluorescent sensing and selectivity of U(vi) over competing metal ions.     

Neuroprotection in glaucoma

Neuroprotective therapies in glaucoma may play a role in preventing ischemia and oxidative damage that results in apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells and optic nerve damage. Although intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only known modifiable risk factor for glaucoma, disease progression commonly occurs despite IOP control, suggesting that factors other than IOP play a role in its pathogenesis and can potentially act as targets for neuroprotection. Factors including mediators of apoptosis, ischemic changes, poor ocular blood flow and neurotoxins have been hypothesized to play a role in glaucoma progression. Neuroprotective targets include glutamate-induced neurotoxicity, nitric oxidase synthetase, neurotropins, calcium channel receptors, free radicals, vascular insufficiency, the rho-kinase pathway, and more. Drugs related to these factors are being evaluated for their role in neuroprotection, although this area of investigation faces several challenges including limited evidence for these agents’ efficacy in clinical studies. Additionally, while IOP-lowering therapies are considered neuroprotective as they generally slow the progress of glaucoma progression, they are limited by the extent of their effect beyond IOP control. The aim of this article is to review the current treatment options available for neuroprotection and to explore the drugs in the pipeline.     

Podophyllum hexandrum Offers Radioprotection by Modulating Free Radical Flux: Role of Aryl-Tetralin Lignans

We have evaluated the effect of variation in aryl-tetralin lignans on the radioprotective properties of Podophyllum hexandrum. Two fractionated fractions of P. hexandrum [methanolic (S1) and chloroform fractions (S2)], with varying aryl-tetralin lignan content were utilized for the present study. The peroxyl ion scavenging potentials of S1 and S2 were found to be comparable [i.e. 45.88% (S1) and 41% (S2)] after a 48 h interval in a time-dependent study, whereas in a 2 h study, S2 exhibited significant (P < 0.05) antioxidant activity in different metal ion + flux states. In the aqueous phase, S2 exhibited non-site-specific reactive oxygen species scavenging activity, i.e. 73.12% inhibition at 500 mug ml(-1). S1 exhibited 58.40 +/- 0.8% inhibition (at 0.025 mug ml(-1)) of the formation of reactive nitrite radicals, comparable to S2 (52.45 +/- 0.825%), and also showed 45.01% site-specific activity (1000 mug ml(-1)), along with significant (P < 0.05) electron donation potential (50-2000 mug ml(-1)) compared to S2. Such activities of S1 could be attributed to the significantly (P < 0.05) higher levels of podophyllotoxin beta-d-glucopyranoside (16.5 times) and demethyl podophyllotoxin glucoside (2.9 times) compared with S2. Together, these findings clearly prove that aryl-tetralin lignan content influences the radiation protective potential of the Podophyllum fractions to a great extent.     

CEACAM-1 Induced CSF3-receptor Downregulation in Bone Marrow Associated With Refractory Neutropenia in Advanced Cirrhosis

Background and Aims: Cirrhosis patients exhibit cyto-penia, and, at times refractory neutropenia to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), which acts th...     

The Evolution of Alcohol Use in India

This paper traces the role of alcohol production and use in the daily lives of people in India, from ancient times to the present day. Alcohol use has been an issue of great ambivalence throughout the rich and long history of the Indian subcontinent. The behaviors and attitudes about alcohol use in India are very complex, contradictory and convoluted because of the many different influences in that history. The evolution of alcohol use patterns in India can be divided into four broad historical periods (time of written records), beginning with the Vedic era (ca. 1500–700 BCE). From 700 BCE to 1100 CE, (“Reinterpretation and Synthesis”) is the time of emergence of Buddhism and Jainism, with some new anti-alcohol doctrines, as well as post-Vedic developments in the Hindu traditions and scholarly writing. The writings of the renowned medical practitioners, Charaka and Susruta, added new lines of thought, including arguments for “moderate alcohol use.” The Period of Islamic Influence (1100–1800 CE), including the Mughal era from the 1520s to 1800, exhibited a complex interplay of widespread alcohol use, competing with the clear Quranic opposition to alcohol consumption. The fourth period (1800 to the present) includes the deep influence of British colonial rule and the recent half century of Indian independence, beginning in 1947. The contradictions and ambiguities—with widespread alcohol use in some sectors of society, including the high status caste of warriors/rulers (Kshatriyas), versus prohibitions and condemnation of alcohol use, especially for the Brahmin (scholar-priest) caste, have produced alcohol use patterns that include frequent high-risk, heavy and hazardous drinking. The recent increases in alcohol consumption in many sectors of the general Indian population, coupled with the strong evidence of the role of alcohol in the spread of HIV/STI infections and other health risks, point to the need for detailed understanding of the complex cross-currents emerging from the past history of alcohol use and abuse in India.     

Effects of histamine H1R—H4R—agonist on the airway epithelium of rabbits

ObjectiveTo explore the exact role of histamine receptors in respiratory system.MethodsThe cohort comprised of six groups (group I control and group II-VI treated) containing five rabbits in each group. Control-group received vehicle (sterile distilled water) and treated groups received subcutaneous histamine (100 μg/kg, b.i.d.), and H1R-agonist (HTMT), H2R-agonist (amthamine), H3R-agonist (R-(?)-α-methylhistamine) and H4R-agonist (clobenpropit) each in a dose of 10 μg/kg, b.i.d. for 30 subsequent days. After completion of treatment, animals were euthanized and perfused with 10% buffered formalin. Small tissue blocks of trachea and lungs were processed for paraffin embedding. Observations were recorded in sample photomicrographs taken from 10 μm thick. Haematoxylin and eosin stained sections.ResultsIt was observed that trachea and bronchi from histamine, H1R and H4R groups had only patches of hyperplastic and hypertrophied epithelium and in general, cells in the affected region were taller heaped up. The bronchiolar epithelia from all treated groups showed hypertrophy and hyperplasia throughout with most of the cells having rounded profile and appeared to bud out from the basal cells.ConclusionsIt is concluded that histamine receptors on induction via its specific agonist can induce hypertrophy, hyperplasia of respiratory tract epithelia suggesting its role akin to growth stimulating factor and warranting further long-term study.     

Pars plana modified Baerveldt implant versus neodymium:YAG cyclophotocoagulation in the management of neovascular glaucoma

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relative effectiveness of neodymium:YAG cyclophotocoagulation (NCYC) and pars plana modified Baerveldt implant (PPBI) surgery on intraocular pressure (IOP) control in eyes with neovascular glaucoma (NVG). PARTICIPANTS: In this retrospective comparative group study, 30 patients with NVG treated with contact NCYC were compared with 18 patients who underwent PPBI. Patients groups were not statistically dissimilar with respect to the underlying disorder-causing angle and iris neovascularization, intraocular pressure, and patient's age. RESULTS: During a follow up of 6 months, an IOP control of > or = 6 and < or = 21 mm Hg was achieved in 23 eyes (76.6%) treated with NCYC compared with 17 eyes (94.4%) receiving PPBI (P = 0.13). Among eyes that had unsuccessful outcome in both groups, the proportions with persistently high IOP or hypotony were greater in the NCYC group than in the PPBI group. Based on our criteria, the cumulative proportion of failure in the NCYC group was 23.3% at 6 months as compared to 5.6% in the PPBI group. Seven eyes (23.3%) in the NCYC group lost light perception versus 1 eye (5.6%) in the PPBI group. The incidence of postoperative choroidal effusion (36%) was higher in the PPBI group. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that in the management of NVG, PPBI surgery more frequently controls IOP in a medically acceptable range with less hypotony and greater preservation of visual acuity than NCYC.     

Dendrimer grafts for delivery of 5-fluorouracil

Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers were prepared by linking methyl methacrylate and ethylenediamine successively on an amine core. Surface modification of PAMAM dendrimer was done by fatty acid grafting converting them to a unimolecular micellar system (Dendrimer grafts). IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR studies confirmed the structure. The drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was entrapped in dendrimer grafts. The effects of various solvents (ethanol, dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran), pH and ionic strength on solubilization of 5-FU were determined. Phospholipid was further coated on the dendrimer grafts. The product was lyophilized and obtained as yellowish-white powder. Average particle size was ca. 375 nm as determined by Malvern's Mastersizer 4. Drug loading was ca. 53% by weight. Stability studies were conducted for 1 month at room temperature and 40 degrees C, where the systems were relatively stable. Release rate was sustained across cellulose tubing in PBS. In vivo studies were performed in albino rats and pharmacokinetic parameters and bioavailability were determined from the plasma profile of 5-FU. The phospholipid coated dendrimer graft formulation was found to be more effective orally than free drug. The lymphatic uptake was also increased indicating absorption of the developed formulation through the lymphatic route.