Screening and characterization of high lipid accumulating microalga Ankistrodesmus sp. from freshwater environment

Microalgae based biofuel is an attractive alternative energy source due to its rapid growth rate and high lipid accumulation efficiency. In this study, we screened high lipid content microalga with the favourable fatty acid composition suitable for biodiesel production. Totally twelve different microalgal species were isolated from freshwater habitats. The isolates were identified as Micractinium sp., Chlorella sorokiniana, Scenedesmus bajacalifornicus, Desmodesmus sp., Scenedesmus obliquus, Coelastrum proboscideum, Chlamydomonas moewusii, Chlamydomonas debaryana, Chlamydomonas dorsoventralis, Coelastrum sp., and Ankistrodesmus sp. based on morphological features and ITS region similarity. Among the isolates, highest lipid content (33±0.07%) and lipid productivity (0.27±0.06 g L-1) were obtained from Ankistrodesmus sp. Intracellular lipid droplets of Ankistrodesmus sp. were observed through Nile red staining. The lipid content was enhanced up to 45% under the nitrogen deficient (5 mg L-1) BG-11 medium. Ankistrodesmus sp. fatty acid profile shows the presence of palmitic (16.39%), stearic (15.67%), oleic (25.66%), linolenic (21.62%), and alpha-linoleic acids (14.34%). The oleic acid was the dominant fatty acid 25.66% in the nitrogen deficient condition.

Estimation of self – medication practices among rural Kanchipuram, India

Background: Interest in self-care, poor economic conditions,health-seekingbehavior, socio-cultural factors, ignorance, excessive advertisement on drugs and availability of drugs in other than medical shops are responsible for the practice of Self-Medication. Aim and objectives: To find out prevalence of Self-Medication practice among rural people in Kanchipuram and to find out possible reasons for Self-Medication and factors influencing selfmedication practice. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was done in five randomly selected villages in the field practice area of MMCH&RI. After getting informed consent, the questionnaire was administered to 250 households randomly. Results: Among 250 households surveyed, 47.6% (119) respondents were in the age group of 20-40 years, 56.8% (142) were females and 51.2% (128) households belong to the poor socio-economic class. The prevalence of self-medication in the sample was 58.4% (146). Younger age, higher educational status, and higher socioeconomic status were associated with higher prevalence. In this study, the main reason given for self-medication practice was the poor quality of care in Government hospitals (32.9%) followed by 26% of subjects said they treat themselves for similar illness from previous experience etc. The common symptoms for taking self-medication were fever (39.8%) and headache (23.45%). Majority of them (74%) kept the medicines in closet and few (15.2%) kept in bags. Commonly taken medicines are fever relieving drugs (39.04%) and cough syrups (28.08%). Adverse drug effects which were commonly encountered due to self-medication are gastritis (39.04%), rash and swelling (29.45%), sedation (15.06%) and increase in symptom (16.43%). Among the people who took painkillers, 59% of them experienced gastritis. Gayathri S, Kokila Selvaraj, Satyajith P, Mithunkumar G.H. Estimation of self - medication practices among rural Kanchipuram, India. IAIM, 2017; 4(10): 87-92. Page 88 Conclusion: Increased prevalence of self-medication even among rural people may lead to consequences such as drug interactions, drug dependence and drug resistance due to irrational use of drugs and causes increased morbidity.

Occurrence of Three Headed Sternocleidomastoid Muscle and a Common Thyro-Linguo-Facial Vein – A Case Report

Variant anatomy of muscles and veins of the neck is of importance to plastic surgeons, radiologists and general surgeons. We report the variations of sternocleidomastoid muscle and veins of the neck in the present article. Right sternocleidomastoid muscle had three heads of origin. The third head took its origin from the clavicle just lateral to the usual clavicular head. All the three heads were about 4 inches long and united with each other at the level of thyroid cartilage. There was no external jugular vein on the right side. The retromandibular vein united with facial vein to form common facial vein. Common facial vein joined with superior thyroid and lingual veins to form a thyrolinguo-facial trunk one inch below the angle of mandible. This trunk was about 2 inches long and terminated into the internal jugular vein. Knowledge of this case could be useful while raising a sternocleidomastoid flap, administering anesthesia to brachial plexus, neck surgeries and carotid endarterectomy.

Niosomal methotrexate gel in the treatment of localized psoriasis: phase I and phase II studies.

BACKGROUND: Efficacy of topical methotrexate in psoriasis is limited by its penetration. AIMS: The study involved the preparation of niosomal methotrexate in chitosan gel and to test the same for irritation and sensitization on healthy human volunteers followed by assessing the efficacy of the gel through double-blind placebo-controlled study on psoriasis patients and also comparing its efficacy with a marketed methotrexate gel. METHODS: The methotrexate niosomes were prepared by lipid layer hydration method. The characterized niosomes were incorporated in chitosan gel. The gels were tested on 10 human volunteers to check for irritation and skin sensitivity by human repeated insult patch test (HRIPT). The formulations were assessed for efficacy by double-blind placebo-controlled study in 10 psoriasis patients for each formulation. The efficacy was calculated by psoriasis area and severity index scoring method. The global score was used to assess the progress of the disease. RESULTS: The HRIPT test did not produce any significant irritation or sensitization on healthy human volunteers. The placebo and marketed gels were compared with niosomal methotrexate gel. At Week 12, with niosomal methotrexate gel, there was reduction in total score from 6.2378+/-1.4857 to 2.0023+/-0.1371. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that niosomal methotrexate gel is more efficacious than placebo and marketed methotrexate gel.