Mössbauer Spectroscopic Analysis of Iron Containing Allopathic, Homeopathic and Ayurvedic Pharmaceutical Compounds.

Mössbauer spectroscopy is an analytical tool to investigate the oxidation state and distortion in chemical bonds around iron moiety of iron containing pharmaceutical compounds (allopathic, homeopathy and ayurvedic). In the present work, Mössbauer spectroscopic studies of different parameters like; isomer shift, quadrupole splitting and line width in different unexpired and expired pharmaceutical compounds have been recorded. Changes in the value of these parameters have been observed according to nature of compound. Line width and quadrupole splitting values of the outdated allopathic samples containing ferrous ascorbate (C18H21FeO18), ferrous fumarate (C4H2FeO4) and ferric hydroxide Fe(OH)3 increased significantly as compared to respective fresh samples. This is attributed due to the weakening and distortion of bonds around iron moiety prior to change in the valence state. Ayurvedic and homeopathic iron supplements exhibited remarkable consistency of Mössbauer parameters even after long period of storage owing to the presence of stoichiometrically pure and chemically stable ferric oxide (α-Fe2O3) in loh bhasam and ferrous phosphate Fe3(PO4)2 in biochemic tablets.

In vitro comparative kinetics of adhesive and haemolytic potential of T. vaginalis isolates from symptomatic and asymptomatic females.

The host parasite relationship and pathogenic mechanisms of the commonly reported sexually transmitted urogenital disease, trichomoniasis, are poorly understood. This study was planned to correlate the adhesion properties of Trichomonas vaginalis isolates from symptomatic and asymptomatic women to vaginal epithelial cells in vitro (in presence and absence of L. acidophilus) and to ascertain the haemolytic activity of the isolates, in order to assess these properties as possible markers of pathogenicity. Cytoadherence assay study shows the significant difference in adhesion only up to first 15 minutes of incubation in symptomatic versus asymptomatic isolates. The presence of L. acidophilus was found to be more effective in enhancing the attachment of T. vaginalis in a time dependent manner mostly operative through its pH lowering effect, whereas the excretory secretory products of L. acidophilus reduced the attachment in case of both symptomatic and asymptomatic isolates. Amount of haemoglobin released by isolates from symptomatic patients was significantly higher than by the isolates from asymptomatic women. This investigation forms the basis for future studies to explore the role of other known virulence factors of T. vaginalis in initiation and persistence of vaginal infection by the parasite.

Induction & resolution of lobar pneumonia following intranasal instillation with Klebsiella pneumoniae in mice.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Pneumonia caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae is important due to its high morbidity and mortality, especially in context of nosocomial infections. Many experimental studies have focused on the induction and progression of infection till it peaks, but the process of resolution has not been described. In the present study, we successfully attempted to establish an acute respiratory tract infection model in BALB/c strain of mice with K. pneumoniae employing a simple, reproducible intranasal instillation method. METHODS: Experimental pneumonia was induced by two strains of K. pneumoniae in BALB/c mice following intranasal instillation, and the course of pneumonia was studied by bacteriological and histopathological evaluation of the lung tissue. RESULTS: Both the strains were similar in their ability to induce infection which peaked on day 3, post infection. However, a strain dependent difference in relation to bacterial load and the process of resolution was observed. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The present study provides a model of lobar pneumonia produced by K. pneumoniae which can be useful for studying therapeutic and preventive interventions.