A review on phyto-nanotechnology for therapy of alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a common chronic neurodegenerative disease (ND) that is mainly investigated nowadays because of its increased incidence and burden on the elderly population. It leads to atrophy of the brain. Clinical features of AD include loss of memory with impaired cognition and behaviour, which leads to mood instability and death. Aggregation of beta-amyloid protein(A?) and neurofibrillary tangles within the neuronal cells are the accepted pathophysiological process of AD. Studies have demonstrated that medicinal plants and herbs could improve memory and cognitive function affected by AD. The bioavailability of active herbal components is affected by rapid metabolism, less permeability, and decreased stability within the CNS. Many studies have reported that the application of nanotechnology to plant extracts enhances the efficacy of extracts. Adding herbal extracts into the nanoparticle system could improve the action of extracts, promote the sustained release of bioactive components, decrease the required dose, and lower the side effects. Using published articles from trustworthy resources like PubMed, Google Scholar, Research Gate, Web of Science, and Wiley Online Library, with keywords like "natural products," "Alzheimer's disease," and "nanotechnology," herein we reviewed and summarized recent nano-drug delivery treatment strategies for AD using natural products.

Synthesis, spectral characterization, anti-bacterial, cytotoxic evaluation and docking studies of new urea and thiourea derivatives

Isoniazid is one of the main API’s used in the combination treatment of tuberculosis recommended by the WHO. Urea and its derivatives are an important class of heterocyclic compounds that possess a wide range of therapeutic and pharmacological properties, while thiourea is an organosulphur compound in that it resembles urea except that the atom oxygen has been replaced by a Sulphur atom, but the properties of urea and thiourea are significantly different. The current work concerns the synthesis of a new class of urea and thiourea derivatives of isoniazid with various isocyanates and isothiocyanates in the presence of trimethylamine. The IR and NMR spectral data were performed for the urea and thiourea derivatives of the compounds [(3c & 3f) & (3d & 3e)], respectively. Molecular docking studies of the compounds (3a-h) revealed the binding mode involved in the active site of DNA gyrase. The synthesized urea and thiourea derivatives of isoniazid with various isocyanates and isothiocyanates were tested for their antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria using the “disc diffusion method”. Of all compounds tested, the urea derivatives (3a &3d), the thiourea derivatives (3e & 3g) showed more potent activity than the other compounds. The MTT assay revealed concentration dependent cytotoxic effects over a concentration range 25-200 µg/mL.

Impact of blood group in dengue: a study

Background: Dengue can result in high mortality. Several studies have shown an association of blood groups with the severity of dengue. In our study we attempt to associate the prevalence of blood groups with the known hematological prognosticators and thus derive its impact on the severity of dengue. We aim to study the patterns and prevalence of different ABO blood groups in dengue fever.Methods: A total of 100 serologically proven dengue cases over a month’s period in November 2016 were recruited for our study. Their relevant hematological data (obtained by automated haematology analyser and peripheral smears) and blood grouping results were recorded and analyzed.Results: The age range was 5 months to 65 years with a slight male predominance. Analysis of the blood group patterns showed prevalence of O group (42%) followed by A and B group (27% each). B group was more prevalent in children (34%) and females (31%) with dengue.The patients with B group showed increased derangement in hematological parameters namely higher number of cases with B group showed rise in haematocrit (59%), an increased number of cases with leucopenia (56%), higher proportion of cases with lymphocytosis (45%) and severe thrombocytopenia (74%) when compared to the other blood groups.Conclusions: Our study shows that blood groups can impact severity of dengue and that B group is a risk factor for severity hence, such individuals warrant close supervision especially in the presence of other risk factors.

Clinical trial of combination therapy for the efficacy, safety, tolerability and improvements in quality of life in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis

Background:Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder with clinical manifestations scales, inflammation and dryness. The psoriatic skin behaves differently in concurrence with circadian rhythm. Cell division increases in late night and early morning hours. Enzymatic activity will be more during day time. To balance these variations a 24×7 protection is required. The objective of the present study is to find the improvement in Psoriasis condition with the Combination therapy compared to single drug usage.Methods:A clinical trial for 4 weeks was conducted among psoriasis patients with psorolin oil vs. combination therapy (Dr.JRK’s 777 oil, psorolin ointment, psorolin oil and psorolin medicated bathing bar) and the clinical relief was measured among both groups by following parameters like psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), Physician’s global assessment (PGA), dermatology life quality index (DLQI), subjective self-assessment questionnaire (SSAQ) and subject investigational product feedback questionnaire (SIPFBQ).Results:Combination therapy (1-3-2 topical therapy) of Dr.JRK’s 777 oil, psorolin ointment, psorolin oil and psorolin medicatedbathing bar as a treatment regimen was found to be more effective in the treatment of psoriasis. Conclusions: 1-3-2 topical therapy is useful in severe psoriasis conditions and recommended for long term effective treatment of psoriasis

Dynamics of differential count in dengue

Background: Dengue can occur as epidemics in India. Early diagnosis reduces mortality. Differential white cell count can aid in diagnosing and prognosticating Dengue in resource limited areas. Aim and objectives of this study were to assess patterns and utility of Differential counts in Dengue.Methods: A total of 132 serologically positive Dengue cases were analysed over the month of November 2016. Hematology data obtained from analysers and Leishman smears were tabulated and analysed.Results: The study showed lymphocytosis as the predominant pattern (65%) followed by neutropenia (30%), neutrophilia (11%), eosinophilia (5%), monocytosis (5%) and basophilia (4%). Atypical lymphocytosis ? 15% were noted in 65% of the cases with 83% showing Plasmacytoid lymphocytes, 8% apoptotic lymphocytes and 43% showed other atypical lymphocytes. Also, 52% of lymphocytosis and 33% of neutrophilia cases showed severe thrombocytopenia (? 0.5 lakhs per cu mm). Lymphocytosis was noted to be an early event but was established in later stages as seen with serology pattern association, 28% associated with NS1 antigen test (non-structural protein 1) and 42% with antibody pattern. However, neutrophilia with 60% of cases seen in antibody pattern was a late event. Plasmacytoid lymphocytosis was noted uniformly through all serology patterns in contrast with other atypical lymphocytosis which was seen mostly (48%) in antibody pattern. Apoptotic lymphocytosis was also a late event associated mainly with antibody pattern (55%).Conclusions: The Differential white cell count can be a useful supplementary test along with serology in resource limited peripheral areas. It additionally serves to drastically reduce morbidity and mortality.

Compliance and tolerability evaluation of diacerein versus s-adenosyl methionine in osteoarthritis patients

Background: Diacerein and S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe) are symptomatic slow-acting drugs in osteoarthritis (SYSADOA). Diacerein is a semisynthetic, anthraquinone derivative, an interleukin 1beta inhibitor with anti-inflammatory, anti-catabolic and pro-anabolic properties on cartilage and synovial membrane. SAMe is a dietary supplement used in the management of OA. The objective of this study is to find out compliance and tolerability evaluation of Diacerein versus S-adenosyl methionine inpatients suffering from Osteoarthritis. Materials and methods: This was a prospective, randomized, interventional study conducted in Orthopedic OPD and ward in Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital for a period of one year. A total of 80 patients were enrolled in this study as per the inclusion criteria. 40 patients in each group were randomly assigned to receive either diacerein 50mg BD or SAMe 200 mg TDS for12 weeks. The NSAID diclofenac 50 mg BD was administered orally for a short course of one week to both the groups to relieve acute symptoms. Efficacy of both the drugs was assessed using Lysholm knee scoring scale. The tolerability profile was evaluated during each clinical visit on weeks 1, 4 and 12. Gayathri C.R., Vanitha Samuel, Senthilnathan A, Nirmala P. Compliance and tolerability evaluation of diacerein versus sadenosyl methionine in osteoarthritis patients. IAIM, 2017; 4(11): 6-13. Page 7 Results: Diacerein and SAMe which were symptomatic slow-acting drugs show a profound reduction in pain starting from 4th to 12th week of treatment. Lower GI side effects like diarrheawere observed in the diacerein group and insomnia was reported in the SAMe group. Though the overall adverse effects were more in the diacerein group, compliance was better with regard to drug intake Conclusion: Both diacerein and SAMe were found to be effective in reducing the pain in Osteoarthritis patients. Diacerein with a good compliance factor was less tolerable because of the incidence of diarrhea. SAMe though better tolerated has a compliance score of fair to good.

Atypical Presentation of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in an Infant.

Tuberculosis of the skeletal muscle is very rare which is often missed in the early stages. This leads to delay in treatment resulting in irreversible limb deformity and loss of function. The authors describe a case of healthy child with an intramuscular cystic swelling above the elbow joint. The pus showing acid fast bacilli morphologically resembling Mycobacterium tuberculosis was also isolated in culture. Following the diagnosis and confirmation, the child was treated successfully with anti tubercular drugs.

Isolation of Mycobacterium chelonae from wound infection following laparoscopy: A Case Report.

M. chelonae is a rare cause of human infection and is difficult to diagnose unless suspected for the same. A 55 year old healthy gynaecologist, diagnosed to have right inguinal hernia, underwent laparoscopic hernioplasty, after which he showed signs of post-operative wound infection which was confirmed to be due to M. chelonae. Definitive identification of this species of mycobacterium was possible by growth characteristics and biochemical tests. The organism was sensitive to Kanamycin, Clarithromycin, Ciprofloxacin and Amikacin. However, complete recovery from infection was possible after prolonged treatment with antibiotics to which the organism was sensitive.