Inverse correlation of CD3 & vascular endothelial growth factor in incisional oral squamous cell carcinoma biopsies predicts nodal metastasis & poor survival of patients

Background & objectives: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is widely prevalent in the Indian subcontinent mainly due to habit-associated aetiologies. Immune regulation and angiogenesis are the part of tumourigenesis that play a crucial role in metastasis and survival. However, the concurrent expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and CD3 (immune regulator receptor on T-lymphocyte) in the same OSCC tissue samples has not been reported in the Indian population. The present study evaluated the expression of CD3+ T-cells and VEGF in OSCC tissue samples and studied the clinicopathological correlation and survival analysis in an Indian population. Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted on 30 formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded sections which were histologically diagnosed as OSCC cases comprising of 15 metastatic OSCC and 15 non- metastatic OSCC with available clinical data and survival status. Results: Reduced expression of CD3+ T-cells and increased VEGF expression were observed in metastatic OSCC samples. The correlation of expression of CD3+ T-cells and VEGF with clinicopathological parameters showed a significant association between these markers with age, nodal status, site of the lesion and survival. Interpretation & conclusions: Reduced expression of CD3+ T-cells in OSCC was found to be associated with a significantly poor survival. VEGF was found to be over expressed in metastatic OSCC as compared to that in non-metastatic OSCC. The study findings suggest that the evaluation of CD3 and VEGF in incisional OSCC biopsies can be considered for predicting the survival outcome and metastasis

Design and optimization of novel in situ gel of mercaptopurine for sustained drug delivery

Mercaptopurine is a purine antagonist, belonging to the class of antimetabolites. Its oral absorption is erratic and variable throughout GIT, with bioavailability of 5-37% and belongs to Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS) class IV. The focus of the present study was to improve solubility of mercaptopurine and to release the drug uniformly throughout the GIT by formulating into a novel in situ gel tablet. By in vitro swelling studies, xanthan gum was selected as the best gelling polymer and the tablets were prepared by direct compression. Sodium chloride was used as a release modifier to improve the release of drug from the tablet. A 32 full factorial design was applied to optimize the percentage of xanthan gum and sodium chloride to get desired swelling index and release profile. Tablets were evaluated for weight variation, hardness, friability, disintegration time, drug content, in vitro swelling studies and in vitro dissolution studies. The best optimized formulation showed good swelling index and extended the release up to 12 h, where as conventional tablet released the drug within 45 min. The results indicate that mercaptopurine loaded in situ gel tablet could be effective in sustaining drug release for a prolonged period of time throughout the GIT, which can possibly improve the oral bioavailability.

Mercaptopurine é um antagonista da purina, pertencente à a classe dos antimetabólitos. A sua absorção oral é errática e variável através do TGI, com biodisponibilidade de 5-37 % e pertence à classe IV, de acordo com o Sistema de Classificação Biofarmacêutica. O foco do presente estudo foi melhorar a solubilidade da mercaptopurina e liberar o fármaco uniformemente através do TGI, por meio da nova formulação de comprimidos que se tornam gel in situ. Por meio de estudos de inchamento, a goma xantana foi selecionada como o o melhor polímero gelificante e os comprimidos foram preparados por compressão direta. O cloreto de sódio também foi usado como agente modificador de liberação para aprimorar a liberação do fármaco do comprimido. Aplicou-se planejamento fatorial 32 para otimizar a porcentagem de goma xantana e de cloreto de sódio para se alcançar o índice de inchamento e o perfil de liberação desejáveis. Os comprimidos foram avaliados quanto à variação de peso, dureza, friabilidade, tempo de desintegração, conteúdo de fármaco, estudos in vitro de inchamento e de dissolução. A formulação mais bem otimizada mostrou bom índice de inchamento e liberação prolongada acima de 12 h, em comparação com um comprimido convencional, que libera o fármaco em 45 minutos. Os resultados indicam que a 6-mercaptopurina carregada no comprimido de gelificação in situ poderia ser eficaz para a liberação controlada por período de tempo prolongado através do TGI, o que pode, possivelmente, aprimorar a biodisponibilidade oral.

A survey of soil fertility status of cashew nut gardens of South Goa, India.

Characterization of surface soil for fertility was studied by taking ten representative samples of traditional cashew nut gardens in south Goa. Study revealed that soils are acidic (slight to moderate) in nature with non saline low cation exchange capacity. The available nitrogen content varied from 108 (low) to 945kg/ha (high). The data on available phosphorus ( P2O5 ) indicate low 16.13 to high 18.82 kg/ha indicating low nutrient indices. Potassium status was from 44.8 to 291.2 kg/ha. The exchangeable cation is in the ratio of 1:3 with high fertility rating.