Progressive Disseminated Histoplasmosis with Coomb's Positive Hemolytic Anemia in an Immunocompetent Host.

Progressive Disseminated Histoplasmosis (PDH) is mainly described in immuno-compromised individuals and rare in immuno-competent subjects. Here we report a case of progressive disseminated histoplasmosis with Comb's positive hemolytic anemia, which is infrequently reported from a country like India where histoplasmosis is not an endemic mycosis.

Extrusion-spheronization: process variables and characterization.

Multiparticulate systems have undergone great development in the past decade fueled by the better understanding of their multiple roles as a suitable delivery system. With the passage of time, significant advances have been made in the process of pelletization due to the incorporation of specialized techniques for their development. Extrusion-spheronization seems to be the most promising process for the optimum delivery of many potent drugs having high systemic toxicity. It also offers immense pharmaceutical applicability due to the benefits of high loading capacity of active ingredient(s), narrow size distribution, and cost-effectiveness. On application of a specific coat, these systems can also aid in site-specific delivery, thereby enhancing the bioavailability of many drugs. The current review focuses on the process of extrusion-spheronization and the operational (extruder types, screen pressure, screw speed, temperature, moisture content, spheronization load, speed and time) and formulation (excipients and drugs) variables, which may affect the quality of the final pellets. Various methods for the evaluation of the quality of the pellets with regard to the size distribution, shape, friability, granule strength, density, porosity, flow properties, and surface texture are discussed.

Influence of formulation and excipient variables on the pellet properties prepared by extrusion spheronization.

Four commercial grades of microcrystalline cellulose, Avicel PH 101, Avicel PH 102, Avicel PH 112 and Avicel PH 302 were compared for extrusion spheronization. Model mixes containing Avicel PH 101 with different proportions of fillers like lactose and dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) were also compared to observe the influence of these fillers on the pellet properties. The amount of water used for granulation of Avicel/ Avicel mixes was kept constant so as to evaluate and quantitate the influence of these excipients/fillers on the pellet properties. The various pellet properties evaluated included, drug release, size and size distribution, shape, density, friability and flow. Mean pellet diameter did not vary among the Avicel grades. Pellets prepared with different proportions of Avicel PH 101 and lactose were more or less similar in mean diameter. The same phenomena were observed in case of DCPD as well. Plain lactose pellets were the largest in size. Therefore, it can be inferred that the presence of Avicel suppressed the change in pellet size. Circularity was found to be significantly linear function of log of bulk density of Avicel powders. As revealed by the SEM photographs, pellets of Avicel PH 101 were fairly round where as those containing Avicel PH 302 were dumbbell shaped. Formulations containing DCPD showed the highest circularity. Drug release rate varied in all the formulations. Among the Avicel grades, Avicel PH 302 showed the highest drug release rate where as Avicel PH 101 showed the least. Drug release also varied as a function of the type of filler and their proportion in the pellets. For both the fillers, the drug release increased with an increase in their proportion. Less water was required for formulations containing higher amounts of lactose and DCPD. Plain DCPD failed to spheronize, although pellets of plain lactose could be formed at the investigated level of water.

Mercuric chloride induced enzymological changes in kidney and ovary of a teleost fish, Channa punctatus.

The effect of LC(50) (1.8 MG/L) and a sublethal concentration (0.03 mg/L) of in vivo mercuric chloride exposure on the activities of acid and alkaline phosphatases, glucose-6-phosphatase, lipase and urease in the kidneys and ovaries of a teleost fish, Channa punctatus has been studied after 96 hr and 30 days respectively. It has been observed that the activities of all the enzymes except acid phosphatase were significantly inhibited in both the tissues. However, treatment for 96 hr resulted in more marked inhibition than 30 days of treatment. Acid phosphatase showed elevation in activity in the kidney after 96 hr of treatment.

Effects of lead nitrate on the activities of a few enzymes in the kidney and ovary Heteropneustes fossillis.

The effect of LC(50) and a sublethal concentration of lead nitrate on the activities of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, glucose-6-phosphatase, lipase and urease in the kidneys and ovaries of a teleost fish, Channa punctatus has been examined after 96 hr and 30 days respectively. The results show that all the five enzymes in the two tissues are inhibited significantly at both the experimental stages. However, the inhibition produced after 30 days by the sublethal concentration ish higher indicating the cumulative action of lead. Further, the inhibition of enzymes is, more marked in kidney than in the ovary.

Audiological and vestibular function tests in hypothyroidism.

A battery of audiological and vestibular function tests have been performed in 72 cases of confirmed hypothyroidism. The severity of hypothyroidism was graded as mild, moderate or severe depending upon serum protein-bound iodine estimation. The incidence of hearing impairment, tinnitus and vertigo was correlated with the severity of the disease process. The site of lesion causing sensorineural hearing impairment in 25 cases was pinpointed audiologically.