Anti-leprosy drugs inhibit the complement-mediated solubilization of pre-formed immune complexes in vitro.

Incubation of pre-formed immune complexes (IC) (125I-HSA--anti-HSA) with normal human serum resulted in solubilization of IC. When various anti-leprosy drugs were added to human sera, solubilization of IC was fairly explicit with clofazimine, whereas this effect was marginal with dapsone. Rifampicin hardly displayed this effect. Aspirin, chloroquine, and prednisolone, the drugs used in addition to multi-drug therapy to control reactions in leprosy, were in a position to inhibit the solubilization of 125I HSA--anti-HSA by normal serum only at a very high dose. From the current data of the inhibition of solubilization of pre-formed IC along with our earlier observations on the modulation of complement-mediated haemolysis by these drugs, it may be possible to postulate that clofazimine as well as chloroquine affect early complement components. This may in turn be responsible for preventing the deposition of C3 complement onto IC.     

STUDY ON INTEROBSERVER AGREEMENT IN A GOITRE PREVALENCE SURVEY

Observers differ in their judgment while assessing physical signs in a patient. We had undertaken a goitre prevalence survey amongst school students in a Rural Health Training Centre, Pune district (Maharashtra) during October 1992. Four teams of trained observers were used for detection of goitre. This study was undertaken to estimate the extent and acceptability of interobserver agreement amongst the four teams. Observer variation/agreement was measured by two methods viz. kappa coefficient and proportion of agreement. The proportion of agreement appears to be a better measure of observer agreement as it could make a distinction between normality (absence of goitre) and abnormality (presence of goitre). In the present study, the proportion of agreement for abnormality ranged between 0.62 – 0.83. This measure was considered as indicating a good interobserver agreement in detecting goitre in the survey that was undertaken.KEY WORDS: Confidence intervals, Epidemiologic methods, Health surveys, Observer variation     

Triphenylphosphine catalyzed polymerization of maleic anhydride

The polymerization of maleic anhydride initiated by triphenylphosphine was investigated in acetic anhydride as well as in dimethylformamide. It was found that the polymer conversion increases with the increase of the concentration of monomer and initiator and the reaction temperature. It was also found that the rate of polymerization is higher in dimethylformamide than in acetic anhydride under the same set of experimental conditions. The apparent overall activation energy was found to be about 26,4kJ · mol^-1 and 39,8 kJ · mol^-1 in acetic anhydride and dimethylformamide, respectively. The polymerization rate depends upon the basicity of the initiator as well as on the dielectric constant of the solvent.     

Two-staged reverse sural flap: a versatile flap with consistent results in the soft tissue reconstruction of distal leg and heel defects—an institutional experience

European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology - Reverse sural flap (RSF) is commonly used for soft tissue reconstruction of distal leg and heel defects. The classic method of flap...     

The emergence of subclades A1 and A3 avipoxviruses in India

During the years 2010–2018, avipoxvirus (APV) outbreaks were observed in the domestic chickens and pigeons present in the eastern Indian state of Odisha. Based on typical pox lesions, followed by molecular techniques, the overall morbidity was found to be 18%–19.23% and 16.92%–23% in chickens and pigeons, respectively. The cutaneous forms of the disease were observed with varied rates of mortality, being 47.36%–52.77% in chickens and 39.13%–92% in pigeons. PCR amplification targeting the viral P4b core protein‐coding gene and the DNA polymerase gene confirmed the presence of APV strains in 10 birds. Subsequent phylogenetic analysis of these two genes confirmed that the circulating strains were members of APV clade A. The subclade analysis revealed the introduction of A1 and A3 subclades in Indian chickens and pigeons, respectively. This study is the first molecular record of APVs circulating in eastern Indian birds (Odisha) and involves the first use of the polymerase gene to reveal the circulating clades of Indian APVs.     

Contribution of ionic silver to genotoxic potential of nanosilver in human liver HepG2 and colon Caco2 cells evaluated by the cytokinesis‐block micronucleus assay

Extensive human exposure to food‐ and cosmetics‐related consumer products containing nanosilver is of public concern because of the lack of information about their safety. Genotoxicity is an important endpoint for the safety and health hazard assessment of regulated products including nanomaterials. The in vitro cytokinesis‐block micronucleus (CBMN) assay is a very useful test for predictive genotoxicity testing. Recently, we have reported the genotoxicity of 20 nm nanosilver in human liver HepG2 and colon Caco2 cells evaluated using the CBMN assay. The objective of our present study was three‐fold: (i) to evaluate if HepG2 and Caco2 cells are valuable in vitro models for rapid genotoxicity screening of nanosilver; (ii) to test the hypothesis that the nanoparticle size and cell types are critical determinants of its genotoxicity; and (iii) to determine if ionic silver contributes to the nanosilver genotoxicity. With these objectives in mind, we evaluated the genotoxic potential of 50 nm nanosilver of the same shape, composition, surface charge, obtained from the same commercial source, under the same experimental conditions and the same genotoxic CBMN endpoint used for the previously tested 20 nm silver. The ionic silver (silver acetate) was also evaluated under the same conditions. Results of our study show that up to the concentrations tested in these cell types, the smaller (20 nm) nanosilver induces micronucleus formation in both the cell types but the larger (50 nm) nanosilver and the ionic silver provide a much weaker response compared with controls under the same conditions. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.     

Chitosan Engineered PAMAM Dendrimers as Nanoconstructs for the Enhanced Anti-Cancer Potential and Improved <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">In vivo</Emphasis> Brain Pharmacokinetics of Temozolomide

Purpose

To establish a platform for the possibility of effective and safe delivery of Temozolomide (TMZ) to brain via surface engineered (polyamidoamine) PAMAM dendrimer for the treatment of glioblastoma.

Methods

The present study aims to investigate the efficacy of PAMAM-chitosan conjugate based TMZ nanoformulation (PCT) against gliomas in vitro as well as in vivo. The prepared nanoconjugated formulation was characterized by ¹H NMR, FT-IR spectroscopy and for surface morphological parameters. The reported approach was also designed in such a way to ensure toxicity before in vivo delivery through conducting the hemolytic study.

Result

Surface morphology was found as per nanoformulation via size, pdi and zeta potential measurement. PCT was more efficacious in terms of IC₅₀ values compared to pure TMZ against U-251 and T-98G glioma cell lines. The in vivo pharmacokinetic parameters proved sustained release fashion such as half-life (t_1/2) of 22.74 h (PCT) rather than15.35 h (TMZ) only. Higher concentration was found in heart than brain in bio-distribution studies. This study exhibits the potential applicability of dendrimer and CS in improving the anticancer activity and delivery of TMZ to brain.

Conclusion

The attractive ex vivo cytotoxicity against two glioma cell lines; U-251 and T-98G and phase solubility studies of TMZ revealed remarkable results. In vivo studies of prepared nanoformulation were significant and promising that explored the double concentration of TMZ in brain due to surface functionality of dendrimer. The reported work is novel and non- obvious as none of such approaches using chitosan anchored dendrimer for TMZ delivery has been reported earlier.

     

Utility of glomerular morphometry in diagnosing pediatric renal disease

BackgroundMorphometry has now become a useful adjunct to the diagnostic armamentarium of light, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy, as it provides a deep insight into quantitative parameters of nephropathies. There has been a limited study on its utility especially in diagnosing pediatric renal diseases. This study is probably the first in India to assess the contribution of this diagnostic modality in pediatric renal disease to the best of authors’ knowledge.MethodsIt''s a retrospective cross-sectional study covering a period of 05 years at a tertiary care hospital. The study includes 28 cases of pediatric (age till 14 years) nephropathies. The diseases were divided into two groups—nephrotic presentation and nephritic presentation. Glomerular morphometry was performed and mean was calculated for Bowman''s capsule area, glomerular capillary tuft area, and Bowman''s space area; for the three groups, respectively. Renal parameters serum creatinine, blood urea, 24 h urine protein were studied along with hemoglobin and serum cholesterol for the cases. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 25, for one-way ANOVA comparing mean in the three groups.ResultsWe found a positive and significant correlation between Bowman''s capsule area with proteinuria, blood urea, and serum creatinine. There was positive and significant correlation between glomerular capillary tuft area and serum creatinine and Bowman''s space area and proteinuria in both the groups.ConclusionGlomerular morphometry may contribute to the diagnosis of some glomerulopathies and the association between glomerular morphometric parameters and laboratory data may promote better understanding of the prognosis of these patients.     

Internal jugular vein thrombosis after assisted conception therapy

Superovulation therapy during assisted conception may result in a hypercoagulable state. Five cases of upper extremity venous thrombosis were identified in women who conceived after ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization (IVF). They presented between 7 and 10 weeks' gestation with neck pain and swelling. Three had been treated for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and two had evidence of inherited thrombophilia. Four patients received thromboprophylaxis before presentation. Although thrombosis is an uncommon complication of IVF, patients should be counselled before treatment. Thrombophilia screening may be considered for 'high-risk' patients, although current regimes for thromboprophylaxis remain suboptimal.