Investigating the effect of a simplified perfume accord and dilution on the formation of mixed-surfactant microemulsions

The phase analysis of a mixed surfactant system is much more complex than that for a single surfactant system. The addition of fragrance further enhances the complexity of such colloidal systems. The wide variation in structure and log P values of perfume raw materials influence its partitioning into the micellar phase. Herein, we have created a simplified perfume accord consisting of three perfume raw materials (3-PRM) and investigated its loading within a mixed-surfactant system consisting of sodium trideceth-2 sulfate/ST2S and cocamidopropyl betaine/CAPB, along with citric acid and dipropylene glycol. We performed a systematic phase diagram analysis and identified the isotropic phases and compositions of interest. Select compositions from the phase diagram were further investigated to learn how the geometry of the surfactant self-assembly and the localization of the PRMs within the surfactant self-assembly changed when water or perfume is added. A combined small-angle neutron scattering/SANS and NMR methodology was used to identify variation in colloidal domains and positioning of perfume molecules at varying dilutions/rinse off scenarios. The results obtained were utilized to better distinguish distorted micelles from true microemulsions. The systematic investigation here provides a fundamental understanding about the self-assembly, encapsulation and perfume release from a commercially relevant mixed surfactant system.

Structural changes and phase analyses of a three-PRM accord in sodiumtrideceth-2 sulfate and cocamidopropyl betaine, citric acid and diproplylene glycol surfactant system as a function of dilution.     

A Revisit to High Jugular Bulb: A Newer Clinical Grading

A revisit to high riding jugular bulb with a newer classification. Observational study. Patients in the age group between 15 to 60 years, who underwent various Tympanomastoid and otosclerotic surgeries from April 2015 to 2018, have been included in the study. An analysis was made on high riding jugular bulb which encountered and different anatomical variations were noticed. A total of 531 patients underwent various tympanomastoid surgeries and 48 patients underwent otosclerotic surgeries. Out of which 8% of the cases (n?=?49) were noticed to have high riding jugular bulb. In those 49 cases, 81% (n?=?37) have Grade I, 11% (n?=?5) have Grade II, 6% (n?=?3) have grade III, 6% of the case (n?=?3) have Grade IV and 2% (n?=?1) has Grade V high riding Jugular bulb. Among these the prevalence of Grade I jugular bulb is high followed by Grade II. With the observation of our clinical study the authors have made a revisit to high riding jugular bulb and proposed a new clinical grading for high jugular bulb called BPH, that is Basava Prasad’s grading clinical on High jugular bulb (Channa Basava Hubli and K. C. Prasad) as: Grade I high riding jugular bulb up to the level of inferior tympanic annulus. Grade II extending from the level of tympanic annulus up to the inferior margin of the round window niche. Grade III Completely obliterating the round window niche. Grade IV Lies between superior margin of round window niche and stapes. Grade V Abuting the Stapes Arch.     

Prevalence of hepatitis E virus viremia and antibodies among healthy blood donors in India

Background

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is transmitted primarily through contaminated water and food. Recently, HEV viremia in blood donors and transfusion-related transmission of HEV have been reported, leading to calls to screen donated blood for this virus. However, these data are from regions where genotype 3 HEV is predominant. In India, where human infections are caused only by genotype 1 HEV, the frequency of subclinical HEV viremia is unknown.

Methods

Minipools of sera prepared from three donor units each from our institution's  blood bank in Lucknow, India, were tested for HEV RNA using a sensitive amplification-based assay. A randomly selected subset was also tested for IgG anti-HEV antibodies using a commercial (Wantai) immunoassay.

Results

Sera from 1799 donors (median [range] age 30 [18–63] years; 1746 [97.0%] men) were collected (June–July 2016, 900; November–December 2016, 899). Of these, 17 (0.95%), 16 (0.90%), and 3 (0.17%) tested positive for HBsAg, anti-HCV, and anti-HIV antibodies, respectively. None of the donors tested positive for HEV RNA. Of 633 randomly selected donors (age 30 [18–63] years, 613 [96.8%] male) tested for IgG anti-HEV, 383 (60.5%) tested positive. Seropositivity rate increased with age, being 70/136 (52%), 177/299 (59%), 100/154 (65%), 30/34 (88%), and 6/10 (60%) in the 18–24, 25–34, 35–44, 45–54, and 55 years or older age groups, respectively.

Conclusions

In healthy blood donors from northern India, HEV viremia is infrequent though anti-HEV antibody prevalence is high. This suggests that asymptomatic HEV viremia may be less frequent in areas with genotype 1 predominance than those with genotype 3 predominance.

     

Genotyping of hepatitis B virus isolates from Lahaul and Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh,India

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has several genotypes. In the Indian population, genotypes A and D are the most frequent. HBV infection is hyper-endemic in the Lahaul and Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh; however, the virus genotype in this area is not known. We sequenced a 398-nucleotide segment of HBV genome that included parts of pre-S1/S2 and polymerase genes from 17 specimens from this district, and assigned a viral genotype to these. Of the 17 specimens studied, 13 (76% [95% confidence interval?=?50–92%]) showed the presence of genotype C HBV; the remaining four were genotype D (n?=?4; 24%) HBV. Prevalence of genotype C HBV was much higher in the district than in other parts of India. This may reflect the historical mixing of this population with that in China. Since genotype C has a higher risk of chronicity and mother-to-child transmission, prevention of HBV infection may need particular emphasis in this area.     

Improving diagnosis of primary cytomegalovirus infection in pregnant women using immunoblots

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common infectious cause of mental disability in newborns of developed countries. Transmission of CMV from mother to baby is more frequent in maternal primary infection, although CMV reactivation causes more congenital infections overall. Current diagnostic tests for distinguishing primary and reactivation CMV have problems with interpretation and immunoblots may assist with diagnosis. Sera from 60 pregnant women were analyzed using conventional serology in parallel with a commercial immunoblot assay (using Recomblot, Mikrogen Diagnostik). Comparison of detection of CMV IgG, IgM, IgG avidity in maternal primary infection showed the immunoblot relative to conventional serology had sensitivity and specificity of 100% for IgG identification. The detection of IgM on immunoblot showed sensitivity of 75%, specificity of 62.5%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 81.8% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 52.6%. The immunoblot IgG avidity assay had sensitivity of 94.1%, with a PPV of 100% when identifying low avidity serum samples, and sensitivity of 100% with a PPV of 97.1% for high avidity serum samples. Overall agreement between conventional serology (IgM, IgG avidity) and immunoblot (IgM, IgG avidity) for detection of primary CMV infection was 65%. Although the immunoblot is effective in detecting IgG and determining IgG avidity, it showed no significant benefits in performance or utility as a first line diagnostic technique for IgM or primary CMV infection in pregnant women. J. Med. Virol. 85:315–319, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Evaluation of hydro-alcoholic extract of Eclipta alba for its anticancer potential: an in vitro study

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Eclipta alba is traditionally used as hepatoprotective agent. The study was designed to explore its antiproliferative activity on liver and other related cancer.

Aim of the study

The present study was designed to assess and establish the role of Eclipta alba as anti-cancer agent using HepG2, C6 glioma and A498 cell lines as model system.

Materials and methods

Antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of the Eclipta alba hydroalcoholic extract (EAE) was determined using MTT assay. The expression level of NF-kB was analysed by western blotting and RT PCR. Gelatin zymography was done for gelatinase matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and 9) analysis.

Results

EAE inhibited the cell proliferation in dose dependent manner in HepG2, A498 and C6 glioma cell lines with an IC50 of 22 ± 2.9, 25 ± 3.6 and 50 ± 8.7 μg/ml, respectively. The expression of MMP (2 and 9) was down-regulated with EAE treatment. DNA damage was observed following 72 h of extract treatment, leading to apoptosis. Additionally, the expression level of NF-kB was evaluated with western blotting and RT-PCR and was found to be down-regulated/inactivated.

Conclusions

The data establish the existence of anti-proliferative, DNA damaging and anti-metastasis properties in EAE which is yet unexplored and hold high therapeutic impact.