Rare case of Servelle Martorelle Syndrome

Servelle Martorelle Syndrome is a congenital vascular malformation associated with soft tissue hypertrophy and bony hypoplasia. This rarely involves whole of an extremity, with involvement of part of limbs reported in literature. We present a case of a twelve year boy who presented to the Department of Plastic Surgery SGPGIMS in April 2011 ,with history of circumferential soft tissue hypertrophy involving whole of left upper limb, scapular region and axilla since birth. The entire left upper limb length was lesser than the right upper limb. Hence this is a very rare case of Servelle Martorelle Syndrome having extensive limb involvement at a very young age. Highlighted is the role of conservative treatment and close follow-up to understand the natural history of the diseases, with prompt treatment of complications.

Effect of cell rupturing methods on the drying characteristics and lipid compositions of microalgae

This paper investigated the effect of cell rupturing methods on the drying characteristics and the lipid compositions of a green algae consortium grown in an open raceway pond. The ruptured microalgae samples obtained from French press, autoclave and sonication methods were used for conducting thin layer drying experiment at four drying temperatures (30, 50, 70 and 90 °C). The rate of moisture removal at each drying condition was recorded until no change in moisture loss. A typical drying curve for a microalgae consortium indicated that the rate of drying was limited by diffusion. Among three drying models (Newton, Page and Henderson-Pabis) used to fit the drying data, Page model fitted well on the experimental drying data with a coefficient of determination (R(2)) of 0.99. Solvent extraction of French press ruptured cells produced the highest total lipid yield with no significant change in lipid compositions.

Prophylactic effect of Withania somnifera on inflammation in a non-autoimmune prone murine model of lupus

The immunosuppressive properties of an aqueous suspension of Withania somnifera (WS) root powder were investigated in a pristine induced female Balb/c model of a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) like disease. The course of disease is initiated by peritoneal inflammation caused by pristane which results in development of SLE like symptoms, i.e. autoantibody production, proteinuria, and nephritis within a period of five to six months. The model of SLE was established by injecting 0.5 mL of pristane intraperitoneally into female Balb/c mice (12-18 weeks old). WS root powder (500 mg and 1,000 mg per kg body weight) was administered orally from one month prior to disease induction and for the following 6 months. Parameters of inflammation like nitric oxide (NO), Interleukin 6 and tumour necrosis factor-α and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in serum and/or ascitic fluid were measured. Prophylactic administration of WS root powder (500 mg and 1,000 mg per kg body weight) potently inhibits the proinflammatory cytokines, NO, and ROS in the ascetic fluid as well as in serum. Therefore, our results indicate a preventive effect of WS root powder on the mouse model of lupus.

Validated HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of taxol and ellagic acid in a Punica granatum fruit extract containing combination formulation

A simple, rapid, precise and accurate isocratic reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of paclitaxel and ellagic acid in a combination nanoformulation. Separation was achieved using a 25 x 4.6 mm column, particle size 5 microm C18 reverse phase column (Luna), with a mobile phase consisting of methanol and 0.05% H3PO4, in gradient elution mode with a mobile phase flow rate of 1 mL/min, using UV visible detection at 230 nm. Sharp and well defined peaks were obtained at retention times of 13.75 min. and 11.6 min. for paclitaxel and ellagic acid, respectively. Regression analysis showed a good linear relationship (r2 = 0.996 +/- 0.0011) and (r2 = 0.993 +/- 0.0011) over wide ranges of 5-500 microg/ml and 1-500 microg/ml for paclitaxel and ellagic acid, respectively. LOD and LOQ of paclitaxel were 30 ng/ml and 100 ng/ml, respectively, while for ellagic acid LOD and LOQ were 300 ng/ml and 1 microg/ml, respectively. The accuracy of the method was determined by recovery studies using the standard addition method and was found to be in the range of 99.61-101.21% and 98.70-102.22% for paclitaxel and ellagic acid, respectively. The relative standard deviation (% RSD) for precision, repeatability and robustness was less than 2%. The ellagic acid content in fruits of Punica granatum and combination formulation with paclitaxel was analyzed and found to be 0.04% w/w and 0.0012%w/w, respectively. The proposed, developed and validated HPLC method for the simultaneous quantification of ellagic acid and paclitaxel can be used for the quality control and standardization of several crude drugs and different combination formulations, in which ellagic acid is present.

Role of reactive intermediates in the immunopathogenesis of the pristane-induced Balb/c model of lupus

Pristane-induced lupus in Balb/c mice represents an environmentally induced lupus model which is widely used for unravelling the mystery of the pathogenesis of the disease. An intraperitoneal innate immune reaction to pristane is primarily accountable for the development of the systemic lupus erythematosus-like disease in the model. In this study, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) levels were assessed (as a measure of chronic inflammation) in the peritoneum of the Balb/c model of SLE-like disease 6 months after a single intraperitoneal injection of pristane. Levels of ROS in peritoneal macrophages were significantly enhanced (mean fluorescence value  ±  SD: 648  ±  100.9) in pristane-treated mice (PT) as compared with control mice (mean fluorescence value  ±  SD: 79  ±  7.8) treated with phosphate buffer saline (PBST). An immunofluorescence study reveal the localization of ROS within nuclei, suggesting oxidative damage. Similarly, levels of NO were also markedly raised in PT mice (34.71 µmol/l  ±  8.48) as compared with PBST mice (1.36 nmol/l  ±  0.14). These new findings lead to speculation about the role of reactive intermediates in the development of disease. This study proposes that the sustained production of reactive intermediates during chronic intraperitoneal inflammation might reduce antioxidant defences and lead to a condition of oxidative stress, which might further be responsible for this autoimmune condition.

A radiometric study of factors affecting drug output of jet nebulizers

Jet nebulizers show an unreasonable variation in drug output and nebulization rates that leads to clinical and regulatory problems. Current evaluation methods appear inadequate for the purpose. Our objective was to evaluate Technetium-99m radiometry to study nebulizer parameters and the factors influencing it quantitatively. Drug output, output rate and residual mass and the effect of excipient, temperature, surface tension, air-jet speed, and equipment brand and aging were studied. Though nebulization of radiolabeled drugs followed first-order kinetics, the rates were significantly different; the heaviest drug (Tc-99m colloid) and Tc-99m salbutamol had the least nebulization. Nebulization rate for the first minute was invariably higher than the mean rate signifying the concentration effect of the solute. Drug residue was 35-75%. Drug output of different nebulizer chamber and air compressor brands was different to the extent of 270% and 180% respectively. ‘Aging’ of fluid chamber, cold drug fluid and obstruction in air-jet resulted in significant reduction in output, while addition of 2% saline as excipient did not change the output rate. Addition of ethyl alcohol resulted in a maximum of 260% enhancement (with Tc-99m salbutamol), while further reduction in surface tension was counterproductive irrespective of the drug used. We conclude that radiometry can provide valuable parametric information on the performance of different jet nebulizers.

sof gene as a specific genetic marker for detection of Streptococcus pyogenes causing pharyngitis and rheumatic heart disease

Streptococcus pyogenes is a human pathogen causing invasive and non—invasive diseases, as well as severe sequels, such as rheumatic fever. Rheumatic heart disease is a sequel of rheumatic fever results from an untreated strep throat causing damage of the heart valves. The usual detection methods of strep throat are culture, virulent test, antibiotic sensitivity, CRP, ESR and PCR. These methods are expensive, time consuming and have some limitations. All reported PCR methods are based on either 16S rRNA or specific gene based along with other methods to confirm the disease in more than 1h. Here, we have developed a PCR based diagnosis of streptococcus pyogenes using specific primers of virulent sof gene (serum opacity factor) of S. pyogenes. Our method is an improvement of the existing methods and the overall analysis completes in 1 h which is the least time reported so far for the confirmation of the disease. Amplicon of 228 bp of sof gene does not show homology with other organisms and can be used as genetic marker for S. pyogenes.

Solitary plexiform neurofibroma, a pitfall in diagnosis of lipoma

Plexiform neurofibromatosis is almost invariably associated with neurofibromatosis type I. A case of an isolated back plexiform neurofibroma, initially thought to be a lipoma, is presented, with emphasis on the importance of eliciting family history in reaching a diagnosis of neurofibromatosis. Currently, surgical resection is still the treatment of choice though a management plan is not well defined. Patients need appropriate regular follow-up to detect malignancy or early recurrence.

Cardioprotection and the mitochondrial permeability transition

Although in developed countries, the rates of cardiovascular mortality show a decreasing trend, both the incidence and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease are on the rise in developing countries. It is likely that the currently unfolding epidemics of diabetes and obesity will erode recent gains in decreasing cardiovascular mortality in the Western countries as well. This article will focus on recent research which suggests that induction of mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) during ischemia/ reperfusion (I/R) injury is a critical event that triggers both necrotic and apoptotic cell death. Additionally we will examine mechanisms that limit or prevent MPT which may be targeted to decrease ischemic cell death and to promote postischemic recovery of the heart. Nevertheless, the role of the mitochondria in myocardial I/R injury is complex and the signal transduction mechanisms that regulate MPT and its downstream consequences remain unclear and represent the current focus of several strategies of cardioprotection. Decades of exploration of the mitochondrial domains and the role of these organelles in regulating cell death and ischemic injury have brought us to a place where clinical interventions to limit infarct size seem to be realizable possibilities. The purpose of this review is to examine the possibility that inhibition of MPT may provide a clinically relevant target for decreasing I/R injury. Understanding MPT provide new insight into the role mitochondria play in decisions of cell survival and death.

Techniques to develop and characterize nanosized formulation for salbutamol sulfate

The present study relates to enhancing the dosing efficiency of pharmaceutical dry powder formulations administered by pulmonary inhalation. In particular, the study relates to the provision of dry powder inhalers (DPI) by forming nanosized particles of salbutamol sulfate (SBM) in order to augment the drug penetrability and deposition in the lungs. SBM, an antiasthmatic was selected to be developed into a nanosized formulation by different techniques like solvation, high-pressure homogenization, and spray drying, which were then compared on the basis of particle shape, particle size, and particle size distribution. In case of solvation method the nanosuspension was prepared by dispersing SBM into a nonsolvent and adding Tween-80 as a surfactant to prevent the agglomeration, the particles obtained therein were in the range of 2-10 mu. The second attempt was made by passing the suspension of SBM through high-pressure homogenizer at 10,000-15,000 psi. A treatment of six cycles of homogenization in presence of a Tween-80 as surfactant was found to give a nanosuspension within a size range 50-100 nm. The only drawback seemed with this technique was the low-product yield and high-processing time (3-4 h). In order to overcome this drawback spray-drying technique was further explored; the solution of SBM containing Tween-80 was stirred on magnetic stirrer at 1,200 rpm and finally dried by using spray dryer at an inlet and outlet temperature of 75 degrees C and 56 degrees C, respectively. The feed rate for spray dryer was kept to be 91 ml/h. The sample was collected and analyzed for particle size distribution which was found to be in the range of 50-100 nm. Keeping in view the positive outcomes in terms of higher yield and lower processing time, the spray-drying technique was taken to give the optimized formulation. Nanosized particles, thus obtained were evaluated for particle size, surface topology and particles size distribution, by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Quasi-elastic light scattering (QELS) technique, respectively. The nanosized particles were subjected to investigate changes on the physical stability of the powder, for this different analytical method was used as: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and thus the result indicates that there was no physical disparity when compared with the commercial SBM sample.