Antigiardial and immunostimulatory effect of Piper longum on giardiasis due to Giardia lamblia.

Piper longum fruit, used in traditional remedies as well as in the Ayurvedic system of medicine against intestinal disorders, was tested for its efficacy against experimental infection of Giardia lamblia in mice. On in vitro test, an aqueous extract of P. longum fruit powder (PF) at 250 microg/mL and its ethanol extract at 125 microg/mL showed 100% giardicidal activity. A low order activity was found in the n-butanol extract. Further fractionation in hexane and chloroform resulted in a total loss of activity. The survival of-trophozoites in mice at 900 mg/kg body weight was 11.12 in PF, 8. 54 in aqueous extract, 5.81 in ethanol extract. The antigiardial activity of PF in hexane, chloroform and n-butanol soluble fractions was comparable to the drug-untreated control (47.63). Piper longum possessed a demonstrable immunostimulatory activity, both specific and nonspecific, as evident from the standard test parameters such as haemagglutination titre (HA), plaque forming cell (PFC) counts, macrophage migration index (MMI) and phagocytic index (PI). A maximum effect was found at 225 mg/kg body weight in mice. The effect was marginally reduced at higher doses of 450 and 900 mg/kg or the lower dose of 112.5 mg/kg.     

Undiagnosed case of term heterotopic pregnancy with ectopic abdominal pregnancy

Heterotopic pregnancy involves coexisting intra-uterine and extra-uterine gestations. The incidence for natural uninduced pregnancy is 1 in 30,000 pregnancies. However the incidence is increasing with ovulation induction and artificial reproductive techniques. In more than 90% heterotopic pregnancies, the ectopic implantation is in the fallopian tube. A case of undiagnosed term heterotopic pregnancy in a 26-year-old primigravida is reported. She was referred from a practising obstetrician as a case of term twin pregnancy. Her regular antenatal records suggested intra-uterine growth restriction in one foetus of the twin. After confirmation of findings with ultrasound she was taken for emergency caesarean section. Heterotopic pregnancy was diagnosed on opening the abdomen. The term abdominal pregnancy was managed successfully. Although remained undiagnosed till term, good maternal and perinatal outcome was noted with survival of both the babies.     

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.     

Evaluation of the Universal Immunization Program and Challenges in Coverage of Migrant Children in Haridwar,Uttarakhand, India

Background:

Studies show that immunization among migrant children is poor. India has a dropout rate of 17.7% between Bacillus Calmette-Guιrin (BCG) and measles (District Level Household Survey (DLHS)-3). Haridwar district had the highest dropout rate of 27.4% from BCG to diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DPT) 3 (DLHS-3) in Uttarakhand. We evaluated the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) among migrants in Haridwar in two blocks.

Materials and Methods:

We developed input, process, and output indicators on infrastructure, human resources, and service delivery. A facility, session site and cross-sectional survey of 180 children were done and proportions for various indicators were estimated. We determined factors associated with not taking vaccination using multivariate analysis.

Results:

We surveyed 11 cold chain centers, 25 subcenters, 14 sessions, and interviewed 180 mothers. Dropouts were supposed to be tracked using vaccination card counterfoils and tracking registers. The dropout rate from BCG to DPT3 was 30%. Lack of knowledge (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 6.6,95% confidence interval (CI) 2.6–16.7), mother not being decision maker (AOR 4.0,95%CI 1.7–9.2), lack of contact by Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA; AOR 3.0,95%CI 1.1–7.7), not being given four post-vaccination messages (AOR 7.7, 95% CI 2.9–20.2), and longer duration of stay in Haridwar (AOR 3.0 95% 1.9–7.6) were risk factors for nonimmunization. The reasons stated by mothers included lack of awareness of session site location (67%) and belief that child should only be vaccinated in their resident district (43%).

Conclusions:

There was low immunization coverage among migrants within adequate supervision, poor cold chain maintenance, and improper tracking of dropouts. Mobile immunization teams, prelisting of migrant children, and change in incentives of ASHAs for child tracking were needed. A monitoring plan for sessions and cold chain needed enforcement.     

Optimization of Chitosan Succinate and Chitosan Phthalate Microspheres for Oral Delivery of Insulin using Response Surface Methodology

In the present study, a Box-Behnken experimental design was employed to statistically optimize the formulation parameters of chitosan phthalate and chitosan succinate microspheres preparation. These microspheres can be useful for oral insulin delivery system. The effects of three parameters namely polymer concentration, stirring speed and cross linking agent were studied. The fitted mathematical model allowed us to plot response surfaces curves and to determine optimal preparation conditions. Results clearly indicated that the crosslinking agent was the main factor influencing the insulin loading and releasing. The in vitro results indicated that chitosan succinate microspheres need high amount of crosslinking agent to control initial burst release compared to chitosan phthalate microspheres. The reason may be attributed that chitosan succinate is more hydrophilic than chitosan phthalate. The relative pharmacological efficacy for chitosan phthalate and chitosan succinate microspheres (18.66 ± 3.84%, 16.24 ± 4%) was almost three-fold higher than the efficacy of the oral insulin administration (4.68 ± 1.52%). These findings suggest that these microspheres are promising carrier for oral insulin delivery system.     

Hypolipidemic activity of a hydroalcoholic extract of Cyperus scariosus Linn. root in guinea pigs fed with a high cholesterol diet

Lipid-lowering and antioxidant activities of a hydroalcoholic extract of Cyperus scariosus Linn. root（HCS） were evaluated in guinea pigs fed with a high cholesterol diet. Serum lipid profile（total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, VLDL-C, and HDL-C）, atherogenic indices and serum enzymes（ALT, AST, ALP, LDH, and CK-MB） were performed in each group at 0 days and at the end of 60 days. Histological study of liver and kidney was done in groups 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7. The total phenolic and flavonoid content in HCS and its antioxidant activity were evaluated by the DPPH assay. Both doses of HCS decreased serum lipid profile and atherogenic indices（P 〈 0.05）. HCS has lipid lowering, immunosuppressive and antioxidant properties, and mays have value in atherosclerosis prevention. The higher dose of HCS also reduced serum AST, ALP, and LDH levels and rosuvastatin increased AST and ALP levels（P 〈 0.05）. Histology of the liver showed decreased lipid accumulation and improvement in hepatocytes in HCStreated animals. The antioxidant activity of HCS may be responsible for its lipid lowering and cytoprotective action. HCS had significant lipid lowering and antioxidant activity, which; may be due to the phenolic compounds. HCS may be a safe and cost effective alternative to current statin therapy for patients with dyslipidaemia.