Geographical distribution of primary & secondary dengue cases in India – 2017: A cross-sectional multicentric study

Background & objectives: Dengue virus infection is endemic in India with all the four serotypes of dengue virus in circulation. This study was aimed to determine the geographic distribution of the primary and secondary dengue cases in India. Methods: A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted at Department of Health Research / Indian Council of Medical Research (DHR)/(ICMR) viral research and diagnostic laboratories (VRDLs) and selected ICMR institutes located in India. Only laboratory-confirmed dengue cases with date of onset of illness less than or equal to seven days were included between September and October 2017. Dengue NS1 antigen ELISA and anti-dengue IgM capture ELISA were used to diagnose dengue cases while anti-dengue IgG capture ELISA was used for identifying the secondary dengue cases. Results: Of the 1372 dengue cases, 897 (65%) were classified as primary dengue and 475 (35%) as secondary dengue cases. However, the proportion varied widely geographically, with Theni, Tamil Nadu; Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh and Udupi-Manipal, Karnataka reporting more than 65 per cent secondary dengue cases while Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir reporting as low as 10 per cent of the same. The median age of primary dengue cases was 25 yr [interquartile range (IQR 17-35] while that of secondary dengue cases was 23 yr (IQR 13.5-34). Secondary dengue was around 50 per cent among the children belonging to the age group 6-10 yr while it ranged between 20-43 per cent among other age groups. Interpretation & conclusions: Our findings showed a wide geographical variation in the distribution of primary and secondary dengue cases in India. It would prove beneficial to include primary and secondary dengue differentiation protocol in the national dengue surveillance programme.

In Vivo Evaluation Of Tazarotene Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Gel For Topical Delivery

The purpose of this research work was to develop and optimize the Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) of Tazarotene for the effective topical delivery in the treatment of psoriasis. Tazarotene loaded SLNs were prepared by hot homogenization followed by the ultrasonication using Taguchi’s design and based on the results further investigation was made using central composite design. The lipid Dynasan-116, surfactant poloxomer-188 and co surfactant egg lecithin resulted in better percent drug loading and evaluated for particle size, zeta potential, TEM, drug entrapment efficiency, in vitro drug release and stability. All parameters were found to be in an acceptable range. In vitro drug release of optimized SLN formulation (F1) was found to be 98.12 ± 1.52%, whereas pure drug release was 42.12 after 60 min. The optimized formulation was incorporated into the gel. The release rate (flux) of tazarotene across the membrane and excised skin differs significantly. The accumulative amount of Tazarotene in skin from SLN based gel formulation and marketed gel were 41.12 ± 0.12 mg and 30.02 ± 0.04 mg respectively. This result supported our hypothesis made in skin permeation studies on rat skin. From histopathological studies the microscopic observations indicate that the optimized SLN formulation, SLN based gel formulation and marketed gel has no significant effect on the microscopic structure of the skin. The skin-irritation studies indicated that SLN based gel containing Tazarotene did not show any sign of skin irritation as compared to moderate erythema shown by marketed gel formulation (Tazret® gel) after 72 h of application. Thus, SLN based gel formulation demonstrated advantage over marketed formulation in improving the skin tolerability of Tazarotene indicating their potential in improving patient acceptance and topical delivery of Tazarotene.

Influence of cytokinins, auxins and polyamines on in vitro mass multiplication of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. SVPR2).

In the present investigation, the influence of different forms of cytokinins, auxins and polyamines were tested for mass multiplication and regeneration of cotton. Initially, for the identification of effective concentration for multiple shoot induction, various concentrations of BAP, Kin and 2iP along with IAA and NAA were tested. Among tested concentrations, media fortified with MS salts; B5 vitamins; 30 g/l, glucose; 2.0 mg/l, 2iP; 2.0 mg/l, IAA and 0.7 % agar showed best response for multiplication of shoot tip explants (20 shoots per shoot tip explants). In nodal explants, maximum of 18.6 shoots were obtained in the media fortified with MS salts, B5 vitamins, 30 g/l, glucose, 2.0 mg/l, 2iP, 1.0 mg/l, NAA and 0.7 % agar. Effect of different concentrations of polyamines like spermidine and putrescine were also tested along with the above said multiplication media. Among the various treatments, 20 mg/l of putrescine showed best response and the multiple of shoots were increased to 26.5 shoots per shoot tip explants and 24.5 shoots per nodal explants. Elongation of shoots was achieved on multiple shoot induction medium. Significant number of roots were initiated in the medium supplemented with MS salts, vitamin B5 and IBA (2.0 mg/l). The frequency of root induction was increased by addition of, PVP (10 mg/l) along with root induction medium and after 2 weeks, the roots reached the maximum length of 22 cm. Further, these plantlets were hardened by using sand, soil and vermiculate in 1:1:1 ratio. The hardened plants were transferred to the environmental growth chamber for proper acclimatization. The hardened plants were then transferred to field for boll yielding and they exhibited 100% survival.

Carbon source dependent somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. SVPR2 through suspension cultures.

Highly reproducible and simple protocol for cotton somatic embryogenesis is described here by using different concentrations of maltose, glucose, sucrose and fructose. Maltose (30 g/l) is the best carbon source for embryogenic callus induction and glucose (30 g/l) was suitable for induction, maturation of embryoids and plant regeneration. Creamy white embryogenic calli of hypocotyl explants were formed on medium containing MS basal salts, myo-inositol (100 mg/l), thiamine HCI (0.3 mg/l), picloram (0.3 mg/l), Kin (0.1 mg/l) and maltose (30 g/l). During embryo induction and maturation, accelerated growth was observed in liquid medium containing NH3NO4 (1 g/l), picloram (2.0 mg/l), 2 ip (0.2 mg/l), Kin (0.1 mg/l) and glucose (30 g/l). Before embryoid induction, large clumps of embryogenic tissue were formed. These tissues only produced viable embryoids. Completely matured somatic embryos were germinated successfully on the medium fortified with MS salts, myo-inositol (50 mg/l), thiamine HCl (0.2 mg/l), GA3 (0.2 mg/l), BA (1.0 mg/l) and glucose (30 g/l). Compared with earlier reports, 65% of somatic embryo germination was observed. The abnormal embryo formation was highly reduced by using glucose (30 g/l) compared to other carbon sources. The regenerated plantlets were fertile but smaller in height than the seed derived control plants.

Bioequivalence study of rabeprazole sodium on healthy human volunteers.

The newly developed proton pump inhibitor rabeprazole sodium is expected to have beneficial effects in the treatment of peptic ulcer. The pharmacokinetic parameters (C(max), AUC(o-t), t(max)) of this drug have been evaluated to compare the single dose (20 mg) bioavailability of rabeprazole sodium with the standard reference. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with UV detector set at 280 nm has been used to determine plasma concentration of 12 human volunteers as per Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) guidelines. The method has been validated over a linear range of 20-480 ng/ml from plasma. The minimum quantifiable concentration was set at 10 ng/ml [co-efficient of variance (CV) < 10%]. By comparing AUC(o-t) the relative bioavailability of test preparation has been found to be 100.88% of that of reference preparation.

High performance liquid chromatographic determination of cox-2 inhibitor rofecoxib in human plasma.

A convenient, sensitive and simple method for the determination of rofecoxib in human plasma is presented. The analytical technique is based on reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography coupled with UV detector (Knauer, Germany) set at 272 nm. The retention time of rofecoxib after recovery from plasma, was 8.9 minutes. The method has been validated over a linear range of 50-450 ng/ml from plasma. After validation the method was used to study the pharmacokinetic profile of rofecoxib in 6 healthy volunteers as per DCGI guidelines after administration of a single oral dose (50 mg). The extraction efficiency from plasma varied from 93.95-99.58%. The minimum quantifiable concentration was set at 50 ng/ml (% CV < 10%). The pharmacokinetic parameters were Cmax = 318.58 +/- 30.65 ng/ml at tmax = 2.66 +/- 0.25 hours, AUC0-t = 4007.88 +/- 438.32 ng hour/ml, AUC0-yen = 5454.66 +/- 822.29 ng hour/ml, Kel = 0.0433 +/- 0.0067/hour, and t1/2 = 16.36 +/- 2.89 hours.