Development And Evaluation Of Novel Bionanoparticles Loaded With Nanosized Lamotrigine By Using The Novel Isolated Biopolymer From Phaseolus Vulgaris Seeds

The aim of this research was to isolate and characterize the novel biopolymer from Phaseolus vulgaris seeds and to formulate lamotrigine loaded bionanoparticles using this biomaterial. The biopolymer was isolated by simplified and economical process and analysed for different physico-chemical and spectral properties. The nanosizing of lamotrigine was done by bath sonication method and its particle size in nano-range was screened by UV method. The bionanosuspension loaded with nanosized lamotrigine was prepared by bath sonication for 15 cycles (1cycle equal to 3 minutes). The formulated bionanosuspension loaded with lamotrigine using biopolymer was compared with lamotrigine loaded bionanosuspension by using HPMC. The bionanosuspension was subjected for pH study, dispersibility study, % entrapment efficiency, nanosizing screening, particle size study and in vitro study for drug release and stability study of formulated bionanosuspension. The best formulation LPVu7 showed up to 90.36 ±0.9% drug release in 36 hours. having t 50% of 17 hours and t80% of 29 hours with r2 value of 0.9927 as compared to release from LSP5 with 92.43±0.68% having t 50% of 16 hours and t80% of 28 hours with r2 value of 0.9951 in 36 hours. The results reveal that isolated biopolymer may be used as an alternative to synthetic polymer because of its novel inbuilt bioretardant cum biostabilizing properties. The formulated bionanosuspension are feasible for delivering the nanosized lamotrigine in sustained manner for prolonged time for long term treatment of epilepsy.

Development And Correlation Between In Vitro Drug Release And In Vitro Permeation Of Thermally Triggered Mucoadhesive In Situ Nasal Gel Of Repaglinide Pvp K30 Complex

The aim of the investigation was to develop and evaluate thermoreversible in situ nasal gel formulations of repaglinide (REP) and to establish correlation between its in vitro release and ex vivo permeation profiles. The solubility of REP was enhanced by preparing solid dispersions (SDs) with hydrophilic carriers (PVP K30/ PEG 6000/ poloxamer 188) in different weight ratios. REP: PVP K30 (1:5) was selected as the optimized SD as it showed highest enhancement in solubility (405%). The optimized SD was characterized by SEM and DSC and incorporated into a blend of thermoreversible and mucoadhesive polymers (poloxamer 407 and carbopol 934 P) by cold technique to form in situ gels (F1-F6). The prepared in-situ gels were evaluated for various pharmacotechnical features and the formulation F3 exhibited least gelling time of 6.1± 0.20, good mucoadhesive property to ensure sufficient residence time at the site of application and a %CDR of 82.25%. The ex vivo permeation characteristics across goat mucosa can be summarized as CDP of 78.7%, flux = 6.80 mg/cm2/h; permeability coefficient of 2.02 mg/h and zero order kinetics. On correlating the CDR profile of F3 with that of its CDP profile, a R2 value of 0.991 (slope= 0.921) was observed. The value of slope approximating one, suggested that almost entire amount of drug released from F3 was capable of permeating across the nasal mucosa, ex-vivo indicating that in-situ nasal gels of REP for systemic action can be successfully developed for the management non-insulin dependent type-II diabetes mellitus.

Physicochemical Characteristics of Activated Biochar Derived from Different Sources

An experiment was carried out to study the characteristics of biochar made from rice husk, rice straw, Toria stover and bamboo leaves. Biochar was produced by slow pyrolysis system (300 –4000C). Locally available bio-wastes viz.rice husk, rice straw, toriastover and bamboo leaves were used as raw materials to produce chars. Two samples of feedstock each from 5 development blocks of Jorhat district of Assam were collected, dried and pyrolysed for production of char for their physicochemical properties. Per cent moisture and ash content, bulk density, particle density andporosity of biochars ranged from 3.26 to 4.91%, 3.70 to 24.97%, 0.178 to 0.729 g/cm3, 0.85 to 2.02 g/cm3 and 61.54 to 78.90%, respectively. Pore volume, particle size and specific surface area ranged from 0.83 to 1.15 ml, 310×147 to 350×209 ?m2 and 89.40 to 184.75 m2/g, whereas pH ,EC, CEC, total Carbon varied from 7.74 to 9.46, 0.272 to 1.005 dsm-1, 12.74 to16.68 c mol (p+)/kg and 36.63 to 49.424%, respectively. Porosity maintained significant and positive correlation with pore volume (0.715**) and specific surface area (0.614**). CEC had significant positive correlations with total C (0.583**), total N (0.587**), total K (0.443**) and IAN (0.766**).Percent total N, P, K, and S had their value ranged from 47.27 to 60.07, 0.017 to 0.032, 0.237 to 0.453 and 0.083 to 0.099; while, Ca and Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu and Iodine adsorption number ranged from 1.11 to 5.23 and 0.148 to 1.326 c mol (p+)/kg, 16.65 to 2.91, 30 to 162, 8.6 to 43 mg/kg and 186.64 to 489.77 mg/g of biochar

In vitro chemosensitivity profile of oral squamous cell cancer and its correlation with clinical response to chemotherapy.

CONTEXT: Oral cancers represent a disparate group of tumors with diverse clinical behavior and chemosensitivity profile. Currently, it is difficult to predict whether a tumor will respond to chemotherapy and which drug(s) will achieve the maximum clinical response. AIMS: To study in vitro chemosensitivity profile of oral cancers and to correlate the in vitro chemosensitivity of oral cancer to clinical response to chemotherapy. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Prospective study in a tertiary cancer care center. METHODS AND MATERIAL: We prospectively studied the chemosensitivity profile of 57 untreated, advanced, unresectable oral cancers to cisplatin, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil and their combinations by using histoculture drug response assay (HDRA) and correlated them to the clinical response to chemotherapy. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Chi Square test. RESULTS: Biopsy samples were successfully histocultured in 52/57 (91%) cases. Of these 52 evaluable patients, 47 had primary gingivo-buccal cancers and five had tongue / floor of mouth cancers. Based on the assay, 27 (52%) tumors were sensitive to cisplatin, 27 (52%) to methotrexate, 24 (46%) to 5-fluorouracil, 38 (73%) to combination of cisplatin and methotrexate and 36 (69%) to combination of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil. Of these, 31 patients with good performance status received two cycles of chemotherapy using one or more of these test drugs. There was a significant correlation (p=0.03) between the in vitro chemosensitivity and the clinical response. Negative predictive value of the test was 80%, positive predictive value-69%, sensitivity-79% and specificity -71%. The overall accuracy of the assay was 74%. CONCLUSIONS: We found HDRA to be a fairly good predictor of chemo-response of oral cancer.

Rhabdomyosarcoma of nose and paranasal sinuses--a therapeutic challenge.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a highly malignant tumour of striated muscle and it is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in the paediatric age group. It is very uncommon in the nose and paranasal sinuses. Pinkish nasal mass and recurrent epistaxis are the most common presenting symptoms. Histologically embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common variant. The present series deals with seven such cases of different histopathological types including the embryonal, botryoid, and alveolar varieties in the paediatric age group. Multimodal treatment including limited surgery followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy resulted in survival ranging from 3 days to more than 3 years, which was also influenced by the severity of the disease at presentation and its aggressiveness.

Quality of life of head and neck cancer patient: validation of the European organization for research and treatment of cancer QLQ-C30 and European organization for research and treatment of cancer QLQ-H&N 35 in Indian patients.

AIMS: To present the first cross-culture validation of the European organization for research and treatment of cancer (EORTC) quality of life questionnaires, the EORTC-QLQ-C30, and the QLQ-H&N 35 in India. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: These questionnaires were translated into two vernacular languages and pilot test was done on 15 patients. Two hundred head and neck cancer patients completed the QLQ-C30 and the QLQ-H&N 35 at two time points during their treatment. Psychometric evaluation of the structure, reliability, and validity of the questionnaire was undertaken. RESULTS: The data supports the reliability of the scales. Validity was tested by item-scale, scale--scale correlation and by performing known group comparisons. The results demonstrated that the items correlated with their respective scale and no significant correlation was found between scales. The questionnaire was responsive to change over a period of time. SUMMARY: This data suggests that the EORTC QLO-C30 and the QLQ-H&N 35 are reliable and valid questionnaires when applied to a sample of head and neck cancer patients in India.

A prospective study of pharyngocutaneous fistulas following total laryngectomy.

Pharyngocutaneous (PC) fistula is a common complication following laryngectomy. It leads to increased morbidity, delay in adjuvant treatment, prolonged hospitalization and an increase in treatment costs. Although a number of factors that result in PC fistula have been described, there is still no agreement on the most significant factors. We undertook a prospective study to critically analyze PC fistula and its association with various tumors, patient and treatment related factors. This was a prospective study that included 143 patients who underwent laryngeal surgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and pyriform sinus. Use of pectoralis major myocutaneous flap to reconstruct the neopharynx, primary disease in pyriform and extensive soft tissue infiltration were significantly associated with PC fistula. Prior treatment (radiotherapy and chemotherapy), type of closure (T closure, Y closure and vertical closure), Layers of closure (full thickness interrupted, submucosal interrupted, submucosal continuous) type of suture material (silk, vicryl ), age, sex, stage, preoperative tracheostomy, cut margin status, pre/postoperative hemoglobin and experience of surgeons did not relate significantly.

Mesenteric fibromatosis: a report of three cases and literature review.

Fibromatosis is a group of relatively uncommon benign diseases showing proliferation of fibrous tissues and is liable to be confused with fibrosarcoma, thereby causing diagnostic as well as therapeutic dilemmas. Even after the correct diagnosis is made, one is not sure about the most effective treatment is in a given setting. Surgery seems to provide the best results but is not feasible at many times due to the extent of the disease, hence the need for non-surgical modalities for unresectable and incompletely resected tumors. Mesenteric fibromatosis is one of the rarer forms of fibromatosis. Three such cases are being presented here with a brief review of the literature.

Carcinoembryonic antigen: an invaluable marker for advanced breast cancer.

Serial serum Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were measured in 150 individuals (50 patients with breast cancer, 50 benign breast diseases and 50 other controls). These levels were correlated with clinicopathological parameters and follow-up information. Serum CEA levels were independent of the primary tumor status, their histology, lymphoreticular response and the patients' characteristics as well as the age, sex and the menstrual status. However, the nodal status, number of involved nodes and the grade of the tumors had significant influence on the level of serum CEA. Breast cancer patients especially those with metastasis had significantly higher serum CEA levels as compared to the controls and those with localised disease, irrespective of the site of metastasis. These levels were lowered appreciably by the disease regression and were raised or stable during the disease progression. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed metastasis to be more frequent in patients with pretreatment serum CEA levels above 25 ng/ml and persistent post treatment CEA levels above 15 ng/ml. Serum CEA level was found to be a valuable prognostic indicator for advanced breast cancer and serial serum CEA levels provided an average lead time of about 3.9 months before the clinical appearance of metastasis.

The 'small spleen' in malaria.

A cardinal feature of malaria, splenomegaly, is usually absent in adult patients who have already suffered from falciparum malaria or who are natives of an endemic falciparum zone. This is an attribute of the past episode of clinical or sub-clinical malaria which usually results in regression of the splenic size to below-normal. An ultrasonographic evaluation of spleens was done in 90 healthy adult males, who had suffered from vivax (n = 28) or falciparum (n = 25) malaria in the past, except the controls (n = 22) and natives from an endemic falciparum area (n = 15) who never suffered from malaria. Their ultrasonographic details of spleens, including the size, were compared. Besides other conspicuous differences in the ultrasonographic picture, spleen size was found significantly decreased (p < 0.01) in the group who had been affected by P. falciparum malaria; the smallest measured 7.8 cms. In P. vivax group the decrease was not significant (p < 0.1), but was highly significant in inhabitants of endemic falciparum region (p < 0.001). The present study establishes the 'Small Spleen' and looks at echotexture pattern variations thereof for the first time.

Situs inversus with cholelithiasis.

Situs inversus totalis is a form of heterotaxia which is usually detected accidentally while investigating for any associated condition. If undetected, this condition can create a diagnostic puzzle. We report one such case in which situs inversus was associated with cholelithiasis.