Combination therapy with lansoprazole and cholecalciferol is associated with a slower decline in residual beta-cell function and lower insulin requirements in children with recent onset type 1 diabetes: results of a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of combination therapy with cholecalciferol and lansoprazole on residual ß-cell function and glycemic control in children with new-onset type 1 diabetes. METHODS: Children aged 6-12 years with type 1 diabetes were allocated to receive cholecalciferol and lansoprazole (Group 1) or no treatment (Group 2). Children were maintained on their respective insulin regimens and kept records of blood sugar and insulin doses taken. Children were followed at three-month intervals for six months. Changes in mean fasting C-peptide and HbA1c levels, daily insulin doses, fasting blood glucose and mean blood glucose levels from baseline to end of the study were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-eight children (14 per group) met the eligibility criteria. Fasting C-peptide levels decreased significantly from baseline to study end in both groups (mean decrease -0.19±0.09ng/mL and -0.28±0.08ng/mL, p=0.04 and p=0.001; Group 1 and Group 2 respectively). However, fasting C-peptide level drop was significantly smaller in Group 1 compared to Group 2 (30.6% and 47.5% respectively; p=0.001). Likewise, daily insulin doses decreased significantly in both groups (-0.59±0.14units/kg and -0.37±0.24units/kg respectively; p=0.001). All patients recruited completed the study. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: Combined therapy with cholecalciferol and lansoprazole for six months was associated with smaller decline in residual ß-cell function and lower insulin requirements in children with new-onset type 1 diabetes. Preliminary findings of this small-scale study need to be confirmed by larger studies. REGISTRY OF CLINICAL TRIALS: (www.ctri.nic.in) under number REF/2021/03/041415 N.

Combination therapy with lansoprazole and cholecalciferol is associated with a slower decline in residual beta-cell function and lower insulin requirements in children with recent onset type 1 diabetes: results of a pilot study

Abstract Objective To investigate the effects of combination therapy with cholecalciferol and lansoprazole on residual β-cell function and glycemic control in children with new-onset type 1 diabetes. Methods Children aged 6-12 years with type 1 diabetes were allocated to receive cholecalciferol and lansoprazole (Group 1) or no treatment (Group 2). Children were maintained on their respective insulin regimens and kept records of blood sugar and insulin doses taken. Children were followed at three-month intervals for six months. Changes in mean fasting C-peptide and HbA1c levels, daily insulin doses, fasting blood glucose and mean blood glucose levels from baseline to end of the study were analyzed. Results Twenty-eight children (14 per group) met the eligibility criteria. Fasting C-peptide levels decreased significantly from baseline to study end in both groups (mean decrease -0.19±0.09ng/mL and -0.28±0.08ng/mL, p=0.04 and p=0.001; Group 1 and Group 2 respectively). However, fasting C-peptide level drop was significantly smaller in Group 1 compared to Group 2 (30.6% and 47.5% respectively; p=0.001). Likewise, daily insulin doses decreased significantly in both groups (-0.59±0.14units/kg and -0.37±0.24units/kg respectively; p=0.001). All patients recruited completed the study. No adverse events were reported. Conclusion Combined therapy with cholecalciferol and lansoprazole for six months was associated with smaller decline in residual β-cell function and lower insulin requirements in children with new-onset type 1 diabetes. Preliminary findings of this small-scale study need to be confirmed by larger studies. Registry of Clinical Trials (www.ctri.nic.in) under number REF/2021/03/041415 N.

Effect of Artificial Ageing Using Different Wood Chips on Physico-chemical, Sensory and Antimicrobial Properties of Apple Tea Wine

Abstract: Freshly prepared apple tea wine (a combination of tea extract and apple juice) is having yeasty and dull flavour, which needs to be improved to increase the acceptability of this product. Therefore, an attempt has been made for artificial ageing of apple tea wine using different wood chips to improve its physico-chemical, sensory and antimicrobial attributes. Different types of wood chips (Quercus spp., Bombax spp. and Acacia spp.) were added respectively (2.5 g/L to the freshly prepared apple tea wine) and allowed for ageing in carboys for the six months at the room temperature. The influence of each wood species on physico-chemical, sensory and antimicrobial attributes was tested upto 6 months of storage. Storage intervals significantly affected all the physico-chemical attributes (except total sugars, volatile acidity, and antioxidant activity), whereas, the addition of wood chips affected titratable acidity, ethanol, higher alcohols, total phenols, and amino acid. Cluster analysis of the physico-chemical attributes data revealed the same and showed that storage intervals exerted more effect on the physico-chemical and antimicrobial properties of the apple tea wine rather than the wood chips. The antimicrobial activity of 6 months aged wine was low as compared to the fresh wine. Among all the wood chips, apple tea wine aged with Quercus spp. possesses a significantly higher score (according to desirability) than the wine aged with other wood chips and control. In nutshell, apple tea wine matured with Quercus spp. wood chips for 6 months were the best with improved physico-chemical and sensory attributes.

Genetic dissection of grain zinc concentration in spring wheat for mainstreaming biofortification in CIMMYT wheat breeding.

Wheat is an important staple that acts as a primary source of dietary energy, protein, and essential micronutrients such as iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) for the world's population. Approximately two billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiency, thus breeders have crossed high Zn progenitors such as synthetic hexaploid wheat, T. dicoccum, T. spelta, and landraces to generate wheat varieties with competitive yield and enhanced grain Zn that are being adopted by farmers in South Asia. Here we report a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using the wheat Illumina iSelect 90 K Infinitum SNP array to characterize grain Zn concentrations in 330 bread wheat lines. Grain Zn phenotype of this HarvestPlus Association Mapping (HPAM) panel was evaluated across a range of environments in India and Mexico. GWAS analysis revealed 39 marker-trait associations for grain Zn. Two larger effect QTL regions were found on chromosomes 2 and 7. Candidate genes (among them zinc finger motif of transcription-factors and metal-ion binding genes) were associated with the QTL. The linked markers and associated candidate genes identified in this study are being validated in new biparental mapping populations for marker-assisted breeding.

Ce(3+)-ion-induced visible-light photocatalytic degradation and electrochemical activity of ZnO/CeO2 nanocomposite.

In this study, pure ZnO, CeO2 and ZnO/CeO2 nanocomposites were synthesized using a thermal decomposition method and subsequently characterized using different standard techniques. High-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements confirmed the oxidation states and presence of Zn(2+), Ce(4+), Ce(3+) and different bonded oxygen species in the nanocomposites. The prepared pure ZnO and CeO2 as well as the ZnO/CeO2 nanocomposites with various proportions of ZnO and CeO2 were tested for photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange, methylene blue and phenol under visible-light irradiation. The optimized and highly efficient ZnO/CeO2 (90:10) nanocomposite exhibited enhanced photocatalytic degradation performance for the degradation of methyl orange, methylene blue, and phenol as well as industrial textile effluent compared to ZnO, CeO2 and the other investigated nanocomposites. Moreover, the recycling results demonstrate that the ZnO/CeO2 (90:10) nanocomposite exhibited good stability and long-term durability. Furthermore, the prepared ZnO/CeO2 nanocomposites were used for the electrochemical detection of uric acid and ascorbic acid. The ZnO/CeO2 (90:10) nanocomposite also demonstrated the best detection, sensitivity and performance among the investigated materials in this application. These findings suggest that the synthesized ZnO/CeO2 (90:10) nanocomposite could be effectively used in various applications.

International experiences in assessing vitamin A status and applying the vitamin A-labeled isotope dilution method.

Inadequate vitamin A (VA) nutrition continues to be a major problem worldwide, and many interventions being implemented to improve VA status in various populations need to be evaluated. The interpretation of results after an intervention depends greatly on the method selected to assess VA status. To evaluate the effect of an intervention on VA status, researchers in Cameroon, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Senegal and Zambia have used serum retinol as an indicator, and have not always found improvement in response to supplementation. One problem is that homeostatic control of serum retinol may mask positive effects of treatment in that changes in concentration are observed only when status is either moderately to severely depleted or excessive. Because VA is stored mainly in the liver, measurements of hepatic VA stores are the “gold standard” for assessing VA status. Dose response tests such as the relative dose response (RDR) and the modified relative dose response (MRDR), allow a qualitative assessment of VA liver stores. On the other hand, the use of the vitamin A-labeled isotope dilution (VALID) technique, (using 13C or 2H-labeled retinyl acetate) serves as an indirect method to quantitatively estimate total body and liver VA stores. Countries including Cameroon, China, Ghana, Mexico, Thailand and Zambia are now applying the VALID method to sensitively assess changes in VA status during interventions, or to estimate a population’s dietary requirement for VA. Transition to the use of more sensitive biochemical indicators of VA status such as the VALID technique is needed to effectively assess interventions in populations where mild to moderate VA deficiency is more prevalent than severe deficiency.

Plasma levels, pharmacokinetics and dosage regimen of intravenously administered gatifloxacin in buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis) on coadministration with meloxicam / Os níveis plasmáticos, farmacocinética e regime de dosagem de gatifloxacina administrado por via intravenosa em bezerros búfalos (Bubalus bubalis) na administração concomitante com meloxicam

The pharmacokinetics of intravenously administered gatifloxacin, upon concomitant administration with meloxicam was investigated in buffalo calves. Meloxicam was administered subcutaneously (0.5 mg.kg-1) immediately followed by intravenous administration of Gatifloxacin (4 mg.kg-1). The concentration of gatifloxacin was estimated in plasma by microbiological assay. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated and appropriate dosage schedule was computed. The therapeutic plasma drug concentration was maintained up to 12 h. Gatifloxacin was rapidly distributed from blood to tissue compartment, which was evident from the high values of distribution rate constant, α1 (11.9 ± 0.52 h-1) and the ratio of rate constant of transfer of drug from central to peripheral compartments and vice versa, K12/K21 (3.05 ± 0.36) and K13/K31 (2.04 ± 0.12). The area under the plasma drug concentration-time curve and apparent volume of distribution were 12.0 ± 0.68 µg.ml-1.h and 2.69 ± 0.14 L.kg-1, respectively. The elimination half-life (t1/2β), total body clearance (ClB) and the ratio of drug present in peripheral to central compartment (P/C) were 5.59 ± 0.40 h, 337.6 ± 19.9 ml.kg-1.h-1 and 8.04 ± 0.50, respectively. The present study revealed that the most suitable dosage regimen of gatifloxacin when concomitantly administered with meloxicam in buffalo calves would be 2.5 mg.kg-1 followed by 2.0 mg.kg-1 at 12 h intervals.

Investigou-se a farmacocinética da gatifloxacina, administrada por via intravenosa, concomitante à aplicação de meloxicam em bezerros búfalos. O meloxicam foi administrado por via subcutânea (0,5 mg.kg-1), imediatamente seguido pela administração intravenosa de gatifloxacina (4 mg.kg-1). A concentração plasmática de gatifloxacina foi estimada por ensaio microbiológico. Os parâmetros farmacocinéticos foram calculados e a posologia adequada foi computada. A concentração plasmática do fármaco-terapêutico foi mantida por 12 h. A gatifloxacina foi rapidamente distribuída a partir de sangue para o compartimento de tecido, o que ficou evidente a partir dos valores elevados da taxa constante de distribuição, α1 (11.9 ± 0.52 h-1) e a proporção de velocidade constante de transferência de droga a partir de centrais para os compartimentos periféricos e vice-versa, K12/K21 (3.05 ± 0.36) e K13/K31 (2.04 ± 0.12). A área sob a curva plasmática de concentração-tempo da droga e o volume aparente de distribuição foi de 12.0 ± 0.68 µg.ml-1.h e 2.69 ± 0.14 L.kg-1, respectivamente. A meia-vida (t1/2β), a depuração corporal total (ClB) e relação da droga presente no sangue periférico para o compartimento central (P/C) foram 5.59 ± 0.40 h, 337.6 ± 19.9 ml.kg-1.h-1 e 8.04 ± 0.50, respectivamente. O presente estudo revelou que o regime de dosagem mais adequado de gatifloxacina quando administrada concomitantemente com meloxicam em bezerros búfalos seria 2,5 mg.kg-1 seguida de 2,0 mg.kg-1 em intervalos de 12 h.

Plasma levels, pharmacokinetics and dosage regimen of intravenously administered gatifloxacin in buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis) on coadministration with meloxicam / Os níveis plasmáticos, farmacocinética e regime de dosagem de gatifloxacina administrado por via intravenosa em bezerros búfalos (Bubalus bubalis) na administração concomitante com meloxicam

The pharmacokinetics of intravenously administered gatifloxacin, upon concomitant administration with meloxicam was investigated in buffalo calves. Meloxicam was administered subcutaneously (0.5 mg.kg-1) immediately followed by intravenous administration of Gatifloxacin (4 mg.kg-1). The concentration of gatifloxacin was estimated in plasma by microbiological assay. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated and appropriate dosage schedule was computed. The therapeutic plasma drug concentration was maintained up to 12 h. Gatifloxacin was rapidly distributed from blood to tissue compartment, which was evident from the high values of distribution rate constant, α1 (11.9 ± 0.52 h-1) and the ratio of rate constant of transfer of drug from central to peripheral compartments and vice versa, K12/K21 (3.05 ± 0.36) and K13/K31 (2.04 ± 0.12). The area under the plasma drug concentration-time curve and apparent volume of distribution were 12.0 ± 0.68 µg.ml-1.h and 2.69 ± 0.14 L.kg-1, respectively. The elimination half-life (t1/2β), total body clearance (ClB) and the ratio of drug present in peripheral to central compartment (P/C) were 5.59 ± 0.40 h, 337.6 ± 19.9 ml.kg-1.h-1 and 8.04 ± 0.50, respectively. The present study revealed that the most suitable dosage regimen of gatifloxacin when concomitantly administered with meloxicam in buffalo calves would be 2.5 mg.kg-1 followed by 2.0 mg.kg-1 at 12 h intervals. (AU)

Investigou-se a farmacocinética da gatifloxacina, administrada por via intravenosa, concomitante à aplicação de meloxicam em bezerros búfalos. O meloxicam foi administrado por via subcutânea (0,5 mg.kg-1), imediatamente seguido pela administração intravenosa de gatifloxacina (4 mg.kg-1). A concentração plasmática de gatifloxacina foi estimada por ensaio microbiológico. Os parâmetros farmacocinéticos foram calculados e a posologia adequada foi computada. A concentração plasmática do fármaco-terapêutico foi mantida por 12 h. A gatifloxacina foi rapidamente distribuída a partir de sangue para o compartimento de tecido, o que ficou evidente a partir dos valores elevados da taxa constante de distribuição, α1 (11.9 ± 0.52 h-1) e a proporção de velocidade constante de transferência de droga a partir de centrais para os compartimentos periféricos e vice-versa, K12/K21 (3.05 ± 0.36) e K13/K31 (2.04 ± 0.12). A área sob a curva plasmática de concentração-tempo da droga e o volume aparente de distribuição foi de 12.0 ± 0.68 µg.ml-1.h e 2.69 ± 0.14 L.kg-1, respectivamente. A meia-vida (t1/2β), a depuração corporal total (ClB) e relação da droga presente no sangue periférico para o compartimento central (P/C) foram 5.59 ± 0.40 h, 337.6 ± 19.9 ml.kg-1.h-1 e 8.04 ± 0.50, respectivamente. O presente estudo revelou que o regime de dosagem mais adequado de gatifloxacina quando administrada concomitantemente com meloxicam em bezerros búfalos seria 2,5 mg.kg-1 seguida de 2,0 mg.kg-1 em intervalos de 12 h. (AU)

Influence of medium constituents on the biosynthesis of cephalosporin-C

Acremonium chrysogenum NCIM 1069 was used for the biosynthesis of cephalosporin-C (CPC) in batch mode of cultivation. The effect of different medium constituents for better yield of CPC was thoroughly investigated. From the results of the fermentation, it was found that ammonium sulphate as inorganic nitrogen source and methionine at the concentration of 0.4 percent are most suitable for higher yield of antibiotic. The variation in the C/N ratio on the biosynthesis of CPC showed that a C/N ratio of 8.0 is most suitable for maximum production of CPC