Grey wolf assisted dragonfly-based weighted rule generation for predicting heart disease and breast cancer.

Disease prediction plays a significant role in the life of people, as predicting the threat of diseases is necessary for citizens to live life in a healthy manner. The current development of data mining schemes has offered several systems that concern on disease prediction. Even though the disease prediction system includes more advantages, there are still many challenges that might limit its realistic use, such as the efficiency of prediction and information protection. This paper intends to develop an improved disease prediction model, which includes three phases: Weighted Coalesce rule generation, Optimized feature extraction, and Classification. At first, Coalesce rule generation is carried out after data transformation that involves normalization and sequential labeling. Here, rule generation is done based on the weights (priority level) assigned for each attribute by the expert. The support of each rule is multiplied with the proposed weighted function, and the resultant weighted support is compared with the minimum support for selecting the rules. Further, the obtained rule is subject to the optimal feature selection process. The hybrid classifiers that merge Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Deep Belief Network (DBN) takes the role of classification, which characterizes whether the patient is affected with the disease or not. In fact, the optimized feature selection process depends on a new hybrid optimization algorithm by linking the Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO) with Dragonfly Algorithm (DA) and hence, the presented model is termed as Grey Wolf Levy Updated-DA (GWU-DA). Here, the heart disease and breast cancer data are taken, where the efficiency of the proposed model is validated by comparing over the state-of-the-art models. From the analysis, the proposed GWU-DA model for accuracy is 65.98 %, 53.61 %, 42.27 %, 35.05 %, 34.02 %, 11.34 %, 13.4 %, 10.31 %, 9.28 % and 9.89 % better than CBA + CPAR, MKL + ANFIS, RF + EA, WCBA, IQR + KNN + PSO, NL-DA + SVM + DBN, AWFS-RA, HCS-RFRS, ADS-SM-DNN and OSSVM-HGSA models at 60th learning percentage.

Central dopaminergic system plays a role in the analgesic action of paracetamol: Preclinical evidence.

OBJECTIVE: Even after 100 years of discovery, the exact mechanisms for the analgesic action of paracetamol are under scanner. It was recently proposed that paracetamol may act through different mechanisms, especially altering the serotoninergic system. The main objective of this preclinical study was to verify the role of drugs modulating dopaminergic system (l-dopa, bromocriptine, olanzapine) on the analgesic effect of paracetamol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty adult male albino mice were divided into five groups: distilled water (0.5 ml/25 g), paracetamol (200 mg/kg), levodopa (10 mg/kg) + paracetamol, bromocriptine (5 mg/kg) + paracetamol (200 mg/kg), and olanzapine (2 mg/kg) + paracetamol (200 mg/kg). All drugs were administered orally for 14 days. Eddy's hot plate and tail immersion tests were used to determine analgesic activity. Tests were conducted 1 h after the drug administration on the 14th day. After that, animals were sacrificed and brains were dissected out, to measure the levels of dopamine. Statistical comparisons among the groups were performed by one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey-Kramer test. RESULTS: Coadministration of l-dopa and bromocriptine with paracetamol increased the antinociceptive activity of paracetamol significantly, whereas coadministration of olanzapine with paracetamol decreased the analgesic activity of paracetamol in the Eddy's hot plate and tail immersion tests considerably. There was a significant increase (P < 0.001) in the levels of dopamine in the brains of mice, which received levodopa, bromocriptine, and paracetamol. However, it was opposite in the brains of animals which received olanzapine. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that analgesic action of paracetamol is influenced by dopaminergic system.

Evaluation of the efficacy of 2% curcumin gel in the treatment of experimental periodontitis.

CONTEXT: Local drug delivery (LDD) systems have been proposed for the treatment of periodontitis. Curcumin could be a suitable agent as LDD for the treatment of periodontitis. AIM: To formulate, evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity and to assess the duration of the action and the efficacy of 2% curcumin gel in the treatment of experimental periodontitis in Wistar albino rat model. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Twenty-one Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to three groups. Periodontitis was induced using ligature model. Group 1: Control; group 2: Plain gel, and group 3: 2% curcumin gel. MATERIALS AND METHODS: About 2% curcumin gel was prepared. The anti-inflammatory activity and duration of action was assessed. Silk ligature 5-0 was used to induce periodontitis. Gingival index (GI) and probing pocket depth (PPD) were measured. Treatment was done. The rats were sacrificed. Morphometric analysis was performed using stereomicroscope and ImageJ software. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Analysis of variance followed by Bonferroni's test, Wilcoxon's test for inter-group comparison, Mann-Whitney test for P value computation was used. The observations are mean ± standard deviation and standard error of the mean. P < 0.01 when compared to control was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: About 2% curcumin gel showed 42.98% inhibition of edema and peak activity was noted at 24 h. There was statistically significant change in the GI and PPD. Morphometric analysis did not show any significant difference between groups. No toxic effects were seen on oral administration of 2000 mg/kg of curcumin. CONCLUSIONS: About 2% curcumin gel was effective in the treatment of experimental periodontitis.

Preclinical screening of phyllanthus amarus ethanolic extract for its analgesic and antimicrobial activity.

BACKGROUND: To discover a new agent which possesses dual property of analgesic and antimicrobial activity, thereby reducing the burden of polypharmacy. Phyllanthus amarus was screened for its analgesic and antimicrobial activities. OBJECTIVES: The objective was to evaluate the analgesic and antimicrobial activity, of P. amarus ethanolic extract (PAEE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ethanolic extract of P. amarus was prepared using Soxhlet apparatus. An in vivo study using Swiss albino mice was done to screen the central and peripheral analgesic activity of P. amarus extract. The extract was administered at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight orally. The peripheral analgesic activity was assessed using acetic acid induced writhing test. The central analgesic activity was assessed using Eddy's hot plate apparatus. An in vitro study was carried out to study the antimicrobial activity of the above extract using selected species of Streptococcus mutans, and S. salivarius. The antimicrobial activities were determined using the agar well method. RESULTS: The ethanolic extract of P. amarus showed significant (P < 0.05) peripheral and central analgesic activity. In vitro antimicrobial screening indicated that the ethanolic extract had shown a zone of inhibition against S. mutans and S. salivarius in the agar wells. CONCLUSION: This study showed that PAEE exhibited significant analgesic and antimicrobial activities.

A case of organophosphate poisoning presenting with seizure and unavailable history of parenteral suicide attempt.

Organophosphate (OP) poisoning is common in India. Only few case reports of parenteral OP poisoning have been described. We report a case of self-injected methyl parathion poisoning, presenting after four days with seizure, altered sensorium, and respiratory distress which posed a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. Despite nonavailability of history of OP poisoning, he was treated based on suspicion and showed a good clinical response to treatment trial with atropine and pralidoxime, and had a successful recovery. Atypical presentations may be encountered following parenteral administration of OP poison, and even a slight suspicion of this warrants proper investigations and treatment for a favorable outcome. Persistently low plasma cholinesterase level is a useful marker for making the diagnosis.

Stabilities and partitioning of arenonium ions in aqueous media.

The phenathrenonium ion is formed as a reactive intermediate in the solvolysis of 9-dichloroacetoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene in aqueous acetonitrile and undergoes competing reactions with water acting as a base and nucleophile. Measurements of product ratios in the presence of azide ion as a trap and 'clock' yield rate constants kp = 3.7 x 10(10) and kH2O = 1.5 x 10(8) s(-1), respectively. Combining these with rate constants for the reverse reactions (protonation of phenanthrene and acid-catalyzed aromatization of its water adduct) gives equilibrium constants pKa = -20.9 and pK(R) = -11.6. For a series of arenonium and benzylic cations, correlation of log kp with pKa, taking account of the limit to kp set by the relaxation of water (10(11) s(-1)), leads to extrapolation of kp = 9.0 x 10(10) s(-1) and pKa = -24.5 for the benzenonium ion and kp = 6.5 x 10(10) s(-1) and pKa = -22.5 for the 1-naphthalenonium ion. Combining these pKa's with estimates of equilibrium constants pKH2O for the hydration of benzene and naphthalene, and the relationship pKR = pKa + pKH2O based on Hess's law, gives pKR = -2.3 and -8.0 respectively, and highlights the inherent stability of the benzenonium ion. A correlation exists between the partitioning ratio, kp/kH2O, for carbocations reacting in water and KH2O the equilibrium constant between the respective reaction products, i.e., log(kp/kH2O) = 0.46pKH2O - 3.7. It implies that kp exceeds kH2O only when KH2O > 10(8). This is consistent with the proton transfer (a) possessing a lower intrinsic reactivity than reaction of the carbocation with water as a nucleophile and (b) being rate-determining in the hydration of alkenes (and dehydration of alcohols) except when the double bond of the alkene is unusually stabilized, as in the case of aromatic molecules.

Tiagabine in the treatment of acute affective episodes in bipolar disorder: efficacy and acceptability.

BACKGROUND: Bipolar disorder is a common recurrent illness with high levels of chronicity. Treatment resistance persists despite the use of established medications, such as lithium and valproate. New medications are required for the treatment of refractory cases. Some open-label reports have suggested that the anticonvulsant tiagabine may be efficacious in bipolar disorder. There is a need to clarify the evidence available, in the form of randomised controlled trials, for its use in the treatment of acute affective episodes in bipolar disorder OBJECTIVES: To review the evidence for the efficacy and acceptability of tiagabine in the treatment of acute mood episodes in bipolar disorder. SEARCH STRATEGY: The following databases were searched on 13-10-2005. The Cochrane Collaboration Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Controlled Trials Registers (CCDANCTR-Studies and CCDANCTR-References),The Cochrane Controlled Clinical Trials Register (CCCTR),EMBASE,MEDLINE,LILACS,PsycLIT andPsyndex. Reference lists of relevant papers and major textbooks of mood disorder were searched. Handsearches were done (specialist journals and conference proceedings). Authors, other experts in the field and pharmaceutical companies were contacted for knowledge of suitable published or unpublished trials. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials, which compared tiagabine with placebo or with active agents in the treatment of any acute mood episodes in bipolar disorder, were selected. Studies of participants with bipolar disorder were to be included. Subjects could be of either sex and of all ages. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data extraction and methodological quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers. For analysis, relative risk was used for binary efficacy outcomes and the weighted mean difference or standardised mean differerence was used for continuously distributed outcomes MAIN RESULTS: We did not find any studies which fulfilled the Cochrane criteria of randomised controlled trials. However, one uncontrolled open label study and one case series were found. There were also three case reports/series of acute treatment which were continued into maintenance therapy, and one open non-randomised study with this design. The results of these studies are inconsistent. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: We found no randomised controlled trials of tiagabine in bipolar disorder. In the reported cases, a significant proportion of patients suffered episodes of syncope or seizure. There is a need for randomised controlled trials examining the efficacy and acceptability of tiagabine in the acute treatment of bipolar disorder, after the nature of these episodes has been clarified.

Tiagabine in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorders.

BACKGROUND: Tiagabine, an anticonvulsant, has been reported to have efficacy in prophylactic treatment of bipolar disorder in case reports and in case series. OBJECTIVES: To review the efficacy and acceptability of tiagabine, relative to placebo, and other agents in the prevention and/or attenuation of episodes of bipolar affective disorder. The efficacy and acceptability of tiagabine were considered in terms of mood symptoms, mortality, general health, social functioning, adverse effects and overall acceptability to patients. SEARCH STRATEGY: The following databases were searched on 13-10-2005. The Cochrane Collaboration Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Controlled Trials Registers (CCDANCTR-Studies and CCDANCTR-References),The Cochrane Controlled Clinical Trials Register (CCCTR),EMBASE,MEDLINE,LILACS,PsycLIT andPsyndex. Reference lists of relevant papers and major textbooks of affective disorder were examined.Authors, other experts in the field and pharmaceutical companies were contacted for knowledge of suitable published or unpublished trials. Specialist journals and conference proceedings were handsearched. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials which compare tiagabine with placebo, alternative mood stabilisers or antipsychotics, where the stated intent of intervention was the maintenance treatment of bipolar affective disorder, were sought. Bipolar patients, male and female, of all ages were to be included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data were to be extracted from the original reports if they met our inclusion criteria. The main outcomes to be assessed were:(1) The efficacy of tiagabine treatment in preventing or attenuating further episodes of bipolar affective disorder, including its efficacy in rapid cycling disorder.(2) The acceptability of tiagabine treatment to patients.(3) The prevalence of side effects.(4) Mortality, if any, on tiagabine treatment.Outcomes concerning relapse or recurrence were to be analysed excluding data from studies using discontinuation protocols, which were to be analysed separately. Sub-group analyses were to be performed to examine the effects of tiagabine treatment in rapid cycling bipolar disorder and previous mood stabiliser non-responders. Data were to be analysed using Review Manager version 4.2.8. MAIN RESULTS: No randomised controlled trials of tiagabine in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder were found. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is an insufficient methodologically rigorous evidence base to provide guidance on the use of tiagabine in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. There is a need for randomised controlled trials examining the therapeutic potential of this agent in bipolar disorder, after the nature of reported episodes of syncope or seizure in tiagabine-treated bipolar patients has been established.

Is povidone-iodine a hemostyptic? A clinical study.

Povidone-iodine (PVP-I) is an antiseptic agent commonly used on intact skin in preparation for surgery and on open wounds. In oral surgery it is used for irrigating alveolar sockets following extraction. The present authors found by chance that irrigation of extraction sockets with povidone-iodine led to cessation of bleeding in patients without recurrence. Fifty patients were selected and divided equally into treatment and control groups. Povidone-iodine (1%, w/v) was used for irrigation of extraction sockets in the treatment group and saline was used in the control group. In the treatment group, 19 patients showed cessation of bleeding compared to only 5 in the control group. Povidone-iodine significantly (P<0.01) controlled bleeding as compared to saline. Iodine is corrosive due to its oxidizing potential while povidone is a thickening and granulating agent; together they may have a chemocauterizing effect that could be the reason for the cessation of bleeding. These results suggest that povidone-iodine may act as a hemostyptic as well as an antiseptic.

Guillain-Barré syndrome-like presentation in borderline leprosy with type-2 reaction.

A 46-year-old man with borderline lepromatous leprosy with type-2 reaction being treated with multi-bacilliary-multiple drug therapy and steroids presented with an acute onset of flaccid quadriparesis. A nerve conduction study and CSF analysis were similar to that seen in Guillain Barre syndrome. Muscle weakness improved considerably with an increased dose of corticosteroid; after 6 months the patient recovered completely.

Co-existence of lepromatous leprosy and myasthenia gravis.

Various circulating autoantibodies are known to occur commonly in patients with lepromatous leprosy. However, the association with autoimmune diseases has rarely been reported. One such association of lepromatous leprosy with myasthenia gravis is being reported.

Oxidative stress and antioxidants in tubercular meningitis.

Oxidative stress is implicated in the etiopathogenesis of a variety of human diseases. Therefore, in the present study, erythrocyte lipid peroxidation, percentage hemolysis, antioxidant enzymes viz., glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and plasma antioxidants viz., ceruloplasmin, vitamins A,E and C have been determined in 19 patients with tubercular meningitis (TBM) and 50 normals. Six patients who were treated with antibiotics were considered for the follow up. The statistical analysis was carried out by Mann Whitney U test and Wilcoxon rank sum test. Lipid peroxidation (P<0.02), percentage hemolysis (P<0.001) and plasma ceruloplasmin (P<0.0001) of TBM patients were significantly higher, whereas erythrocyte glutathione reductase (P<0.05) and plasma antioxidant vitamins A, E and C (P<0.01, P<0.05 respectively) were significantly lower than those of the controls. In the follow up patients the glutathione reductase and catalase levels were significantly high (P<0.05) compared to their pre-treated condition. Vitamin C and E levels have attained normal range. This study indicated that the blood antioxidant status of TBM patients which was low compared to controls improved after treatment, suggesting the role of free radicals in TBM.

Prediction of organophosphorus acetylcholinesterase inhibition using three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) methods.

Neurotoxic organophosphorous compounds are known to modulate their biological effects through the inhibition of a number of esterases including acetylcholinesterase (AChE), the enzyme responsible for the degradation of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. In this light, molecular modeling studies were performed on a collection of organophosphorous acetylcholinesterase inhibitors by the combined use of conformational analysis and 3D-QSAR methods to rationalize their inhibitory potencies against the enzyme. The Catalyst program was used to identify the structural features in the group of 8 inhibitors whose IC(50) values ranged from 0.34 nM to 1.2 microM. The 3-D pharmacophore models are characterized by at least one hydrogen bond acceptor site and 2-3 hydrophobic sites and demonstrate very good correlation between the predicted and experimental IC(50) values. Our models can be useful in screening databases of organophosphorous compounds for their neurotoxicity potential via the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. Also, the pharmacophores offer an additional means of designing AChE inhibitors as potential therapeutic agents for central nervous system diseases.

N-Methyl-N-(1-phenylsulfonylindol-2-ylmethyl)aniline.

In the title compound, 2-[(methylphenylamino)methyl]-1-(phenylsulfonyl)indole, C22H20N2O2S, the indole system is not strictly planar and the dihedral angle between the fused rings is 2.7 (1) degrees. The angles around the S atom of the sulfonyl substituent deviate significantly from the ideal value for tetrahedral geometry. The pyramidalization at the indole N atom is very small. Of the two C-H...O interactions, one influences the orientation of indole with respect to the sulfonyl group and the other determines the orientation of the phenyl bound to sulfonyl. The phenyl ring of the sulfonyl substituent makes a dihedral angle of 89.6 (1) degrees with the best plane of the indole. The molecular packing is stabilized by C-H...pi and C-H...O hydrogen bonds.

Elimination of cross-talk and modulation of function in an organized heterosupramolecular assembly.

A close-packed monolayer of TiO2 nanocrystals was deposited on a conducting glass support using Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) techniques and fired. A close-packed mixed monolayer of eicosyl phosphonic acid (I) and the viologen. 1,1'-dieicosyl-4,4'-bipyridinium dichloride (II) was then deposited on the TiO2 substrate, also using LB techniques. At sufficiently high dilutions of II in II a single viologen molecule is adsorbed with a known orientation at the surface of each nanocrystal. The resulting assembly was incorporated as the working electrode in an electrochemical cell. Under open circuit conditions, bandgap excitation of a TiO2 nanocrystal results in electron transfer to a viologen molecule. No electron transfer between the viologen molecules adsorbed at different nanocrystals is observed. At a positive applied potential, electron transfer following bandgap excitation is largely suppressed. Considered are the implications of these findings for the development of practical devices based on modulatable function addressable on the nanometer scale.

Mutations in the alpha-synuclein gene in Parkinson's disease among Indians.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of G88C, G209A and any other mutation(s) in exons 3 and 4 of the alpha-synuclein gene in Indian patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: A total of 169 PD patients comprising 18 familial, 3 juvenile, 48 early onset and 100 sporadic cases were included in this study. Genomic DNA was amplified by PCR using primers specific for Exons 3 and 4. Mutations at G88C and G209A were screened following restriction enzyme digestion of the PCR product. Direct PCR product sequencing of entire exons 3 and 4 was carried out for at least one proband each from the 10 familial cases. RESULTS: Neither G88C and G209A mutations nor any other mutation in exons 3 and 4 was found in the PD patients analysed. CONCLUSION: The G88C and G209A mutations do not seem to be the predominant genetic determinant of PD among Indians.