Diagnostic accuracy of saliva as a specimen for detection of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR.

Context: COVID-19 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emerging pandemic that is rapidly spreading with more than 114 million confirmed cases and 2.5 million deaths by far. Nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) in VTM has been used as the gold standard respiratory specimen for SARS-CoV-2 reverse-transcriptase real-time PCR (rRT-PCR) tests. But now the virus can also be detected in other clinical specimens like bronchoalveolar lavage, sputum, saliva, throat swab, blood, and stool specimens. Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic potential of saliva as a sample in comparison to NPS for detection of SARS-CoV-2 by rRT-PCR. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 256 paired samples (NPS and Saliva) received in the Department of Microbiology, SMS Medical College, Jaipur over a period of 2 months. Methods and Material: NPS from individuals were collected in a sterile tube containing Viral Transport Medium™. Before swab collection, whole saliva was collected by spitting from the suspected patient into a sterile container. Both were stored at room temperature and transferred to the diagnostic laboratory within four hours of collection where extraction was done using Perkin Elmer chemagic extractor and rRT- PCR was performed using NIV, Pune mastermix. Results: Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of RT-PCR for the diagnosis of COVID-19 in saliva were 84.26%, 100%, 100%, and 54.05%, respectively. The accuracy of detection of COVID-19 by saliva samples compared to the routinely used NPS samples (considered as the standard reference) for RT PCR was 86.72%. Conclusions: Our results show that saliva as a reliable sample type for SARS-CoV-2 detection.

Increased serotonergic neurotransmission is not responsible for the anticompulsive effect of berberine in a murine model of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid, is being extensively explored in several clinical trials for the treatment of metabolic disorder and cancer. It is also reported to be a potent inhibitor of prolyl oligopeptidase, which makes it a potential candidate for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. We have previously shown the potential of berberine in the control of seizures in various murine models of epilepsy, diabetes-induced memory dysfunction, and ethanol-induced hyperexcitability. We have now examined the effects of acute and subchronic (7 days) administration of berberine on a murine model of obsessive-compulsive disorder - the marble-burying behavior of male mice, because berberine administration is reported to increase brain monoamine levels - a desirable endpoint in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The studies showed that an acute administration of berberine [1-25 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.)] dose-dependently inhibited marble burying in male mice without altering locomotor activity. This effect was retained after its subchronic administration. Furthermore, coadministration of a subeffective dose of berberine (1 mg/kg) and fluoxetine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced marble burying in mice. Pretreatment with p-chlorophenylamine (300 mg/kg, i.p. ×3 days), a tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor and serotonin-depleting agent, completely blocked the effect of fluoxetine on marble burying, whereas it failed to alter the effect of berberine. In conclusion, the findings of the present investigation indicate that the anticompulsive and/or anxiolytic effect of berberine observed in the present investigation may be attributed to its effect on other neurotransmitter systems, such as the nitrergic or the dopaminergic system rather than to increased serotonin turnover in the brain.

Design and evaluation of patches for transdermal delivery of losartan potassium.

The present work comprises the formulation and evaluation of losartan potassium with a view to developing and preparing a losartan potassium releasing system for transdermal applications. The aim of the study was to prepare the transdermal patch of drug using different blends of polymers. Transdermal patches of losartan potassium were prepared using ethyl cellulose (EC): polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), Eudragit RL-100: Eudragit RS-100 and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA): polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) using different ratios by the solvent casting technique. Physicochemical parameters like flexibility, thickness, smoothness, moisture content, hardness, and tensile strength were studied. The in vitro permeation study was carried out using a modified Keshery diffusion cell, and the formulation followed the Higuchi diffusion mechanism. The blood pressure lowering response of all formulations was studied using hypertension-induced rats by the chronic renal hypertension method. The formulation containing Eudragit RL-100: Eudragit RS-100 as polymers showed satisfactory drug release pattern (hydrophobic polymers) compared to combination of hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymers (EC: PVP) and PVA: PVP (hydrophilic polymers). The amount of drug release from formulations containing hydrophilic polymers and combination of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymers were found to be less in comparison to the patches of hydrophobic polymers. LAY ABSTRACT: The aim of the present study was to prepare and evaluate the transdermal patch of drug using different polymers such as hydrophobic, combination of hydrophobic: hydrophilic, and hydrophilic. Losartan potassium (hydrophilic) is the antihypertensive drug used for lowering increased blood pressure. Transdermal patches of losartan potassium were prepared using different ratios of polymers by the solvent casting technique. The prepared patches were evaluated for their flexibility, thickness, smoothness, moisture content, hardness, and tensile strength. The in vitro permeation study was carried out using a diffusion cell. The blood lowering response of all formulations was studied using hypertension-induced rats. The formulation containing hydrophobic polymers showed a satisfactory drug release pattern compared to the combination of hydrophobic: hydrophilic polymers and the hydrophilic polymers. Hence, the present study reveals that formulation of hydrophilic drug (losartan potassium) withhydrophobic polymers exhibit good release properties as compared to that of hydrophilic polymers and combination of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymers.

Ethosomes and ultradeformable liposomes for transdermal delivery of clotrimazole: A comparative assessment.

THE OBJECTIVE OF WORK WAS TO FORMULATE, EVALUATE AND COMPARE THE TRANSDERMAL POTENTIAL OF NOVEL VESICULAR NANOCARRIERS: ethosomes and ultradeformable liposomes, containing clotrimazole (CLT), an anti-fungal bioactive. The ethosomal formulation (ET4) and ultradeformable liposomal (UL) formulation (TT3) showed highest entrapment 68.73 ± 1.4% and 55.51 ± 1.7%, optimal nanometric size range 132 ± 9.5 nm and 121 ± 9.7 nm, and smallest polydispersity index 0.027 ± 0.011 and 0.067 ± 0.009, respectively. The formulation ET4 provided enhanced transdermal flux 56.25 ± 5.49 µg/cm(2)/h and decreased the lag time of 0.9 h in comparison to TT3 formulation (50.16 ± 3.84 µg/cm(2)/h; 1.0 h). Skin interaction and FT-IR studies revealed greater penetration enhancing effect of ET4 than TT3 formulation. ET4 formulation also had the highest zone of inhibition (34.6 ± 0.57 mm), in contrast to TT3 formulation (29.6 ± 0.57 mm) and marketed cream formulation (19.0 ± 1.00 mm) against candidal species. Results suggested ethosomes to be the most proficient carrier system for dermal and transdermal delivery of clotrimazole.