Nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite and zinc-doped hydroxyapatite as carrier material for controlled delivery of ciprofloxacin

In bone disorders infections are common. The concentration of majority of antibiotics is very low in the bone tissue. A high local dose can be obtained from the ciprofloxacin-loaded hydroxyapatite nanoparticles. The present study is aimed at developing the use of hydroxyapatite and zinc-doped hydroxyapatite nanoparticles as a carrier for ciprofloxacin drug delivery system. The ciprofloxacin-loaded hydroxyapatite and zinc-doped hydroxyapatite have a good antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Hydroxyapatite and zinc-doped hydroxyapatite were prepared and characterized using X-ray diffraction, Transmission electron microscopy and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. They were loaded with ciprofloxacin using optimized drug loading parameters. Drug loading, in vitro drug release and antimicrobial activity were analyzed. The influence of zinc on the controlled release of ciprofloxacin was analyzed. The results show that the presence of zinc increases the drug release percentage and that the drug was released in a controlled manner.

Association of polymorphisms in 9p21 region with CAD in North Indian population: replication of SNPs identified through GWAS

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide that is influenced by both environmental as well as genetic factors. Several recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have reported the association of multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) mainly in the 9p21 region with CAD. However, the association of these SNPs with CAD has not been rigorously tested in Indian population, which accounts for the largest incidences of CAD in the world. Herein, we genotyped six such SNPs (rs10116277, rs10757274, rs1333040, rs2383206, rs2383207 and rs1994016) identified through GWAS, in 754 individuals (311 angiography-confirmed CAD patients and 443 treadmill test controls) recruited mainly from North India to evaluate if these SNPs were associated with CAD. The minor allele frequency of these six SNPs was comparable to that reported in the respective GWAS. We found that three of these SNPs (rs10116277, rs1333040 and rs2383206) present at the locus 9p21 were significantly associated with CAD even after controlling for the confounding factors such as age, sex, body mass index, homocysteine, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, diet, etc. In conclusion, the locus 9p21 found to be significantly associated with cardiovascular diseases in the Caucasian populations seems to be also important in North Indian population.

Vitamin B12 deficiency presenting as pyrexia

Vitamin B12 deficiency is an uncommon cause of pyrexia. We report the case of a patient who presented with pyrexia and anaemia, which after exclusion of infective, inflammatory or endocrine causes was attributed to megaloblastic anaemia secondary to vitamin B12 deficiency. The patient's fever responded to treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency.

Design, Synthesis and Electrospinning of a Novel Fluorescent Polymer for Optical Sensor Applications

This work describes the synthesis and electrospinning of new fluorescent polymers and their use for the fabrication of optical chemical sensors. A new fluorescent monomer was first synthesized by coupling reactions between methacryloyl chloride and a pyrene derivative, 1-pyrene butanol. Fluorescent polymers containing pyrene molecules were then obtained by the copolymerization of this monomer with methylmethacrylate using 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator. These polymers show distinct and well-defined fluorescence that is characteristic of the pyrene chromophores. Electrospinning was used to process these polymers into high surface area nanofibrous membranes for optical sensing. The resulting membranes show a high sensitivity to 2,4-dinitro toluene based on the fluorescence quenching of the pyrene chromophores. Fluorescence intensities decreased with increasing concentration of the 2,4-dinitro toluene. The quenching behavior follows Stern-Volmer bimolecular quenching kinetics. The synthesis, characterization, electrospinning fabrication, and sensing capability of these polymers will be discussed.

Photovoltaic Effects and Charge Transport Studies in Phycobiliproteins

Phycobiliproteins form highly efficient light absorbing systems in certain algae. We have investigated the charge-transport phenomena in these proteins by analyzing the dark current-voltage and photocurrent characteristics obtained across Au-phycobiliprotein-Au samples. A photovoltaic effect was observed for Au-phycoerythrin-Au sample. At low intensity levels, the photocurrent closely follows Onsager's law of geminate recombination in three dimensions.

Study of betasatellite molecule from leaf curl disease of sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) in India

Leaves of sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) showing geminiviral symptoms were collected from Lucknow, India during rainy season in 2008. DNA template isolated from the symptomatic leaf tissues were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers to amplify coat protein (CP) gene of DNA-A as well as betasatellite DNA associated with the leaf curl disease. CP gene showed 97% sequence identity with that of Cotton leaf curl Burewala virus (CLCuBwV). Further, the betasatellite DNA molecule revealed sequence similarity with previously characterized betasatellite DNA of begomoviruses affecting malvaceous crops from different regions of India and Pakistan. Maximum similarity (>90%) of betasatellite DNA under study was observed with Cotton leaf curl Multan betasatellite (CLCuMB-[Pak: Mul17:08) and other betasatellite DNA from Pakistan thus confirming possible infection of C. juncea with begomovirus. A complementary sense open reading frame (ORF) βC1 is present at nucleotide position 194-550. Sequence comparison of this ORF with other members of begomoviruses further confirmed association of a begomovirus with C. juncea. The betasatellite DNA when expressed under the control of CaMV35S promoter Nicotiana tabacum, showed leaf deformities. Our results demonstrated that a malvaceous betasatellite is adapted by a nonmalvaceous host and causes similar disease symptoms.

Use of 64 slice CT in scimitar syndrome

INTRODUCTION

Scimitar Syndrome is a relatively rare variety of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection in which the right pulmonary veins form an anomalous confluence which drains into the infra-diaphragmatic inferior vena cava. The X-ray chest in these patients shows the typical Scimitar Sign.

CASE REPORT

We are presenting a patient who was diagnosed to have Scimitar Syndrome on the basis of X-ray chest and echocardiography. Confirmation of diagnosis and precise anatomical characterization was achieved by 64 slice CT angiocardiography. The patient underwent successful surgical correction. Adequacy of procedure was demonstrated by the same procedure.

DISCUSSION

scimitar syndrome is a type of partial anomalous venous connection. It consists of sinus venosus type of atrial septal defect, anomalous confluence of right upper and lower pulmonary veins draining into the infra-diaphragmatic inferior vena cava and right lung lower lobe hypoplasia. The X-ray chest shows the characteristic Scimitar Sign. Precise anatomical characterization in required for operative correction and cannot usually be achieved by echocardiography and requires invasive angiocardiography, multi-detector CT angiocardiography or cardiac MRI. We used CT angiocardiography for diagnosis and post-operative confirmation of adequacy of correction.

Haematolohical profile of subacute oral toxicity of molybdenum and ameliorative efficacy of copper salt in goats

Molybdenum toxicity produces a state of secondary hypocuprosis, resulting into alterations in normal hematological profile. In the present study, ammonium molybdate alone and with copper sulfate (II) pentahydrate (ameliorative agent) was administered orally for 30 consecutive days in healthy goats of group 1 and 2, respectively, to access the effect on the hematological profile on different predetermined days of dosing. Administration of ammonium molybdate alone produced significant decline in the mean values of hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), total leukocyte count (TLC), total erythrocyte count (TEC), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), with a significant increase in neutrophil level and mean corpuscular volume (MCV). However, values of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and differential leukocyte count were not significantly altered. On comparing observations of ameliorative group with the group 1 goats, it is concluded that the ameliorative copper salt has beneficial effects in alleviating the alterations in the values of Hb, PCV, TLC, TEC, MCV, MCHC, and neutrophils.

Identification and molecular characterization of begomovirus and associated satellite DNA molecules infecting Cyamopsis tetragonoloba

Monopartite begomoviruses comprise DNA-A as the main genome and associated satellite DNAs. Viral DNA extracted from guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) showing leaf curl symptoms exhibited positive amplification of coat protein (CP) gene of DNA-A component, suggesting the presence of begomovirus. Full length DNA-A was amplified by primer pair re-designed from CP gene nucleotide sequence. The associated alphasatellite and betasatellite DNA molecules were amplified and sequenced, confirming the presence of monopartite begomovirus. Sequence comparisons showed 89% identity with other begomoviruses. The Neighbor-Joining tree based on full length DNA-A nucleotide sequence showed that the guar infecting begomovirus clustered separately from other known begomoviruses. The betasatellite shared a high (96%) nucleotide identity to Cotton leaf curl Multan betasatellites. The alphasatellite showed 91% nucleotide identity to alphasatellite associated with begomovirus infecting Okra. Recombination analyses showed three recombinant fragments in DNA-A, two in betasatellite, and four in alphasatellite. The results suggest that the begomovirus identified in this study was a new recombinant virus. Its name was proposed as Cyamopsis tetragonoloba leaf curl virus (CyTLCuV).

Identification and molecular characterization of begomovirus and associated satellite DNA molecules infecting Cyamopsis tetragonoloba

Monopartite begomoviruses comprise DNA-A as the main genome and associated satellite DNAs. Viral DNA extracted from guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) showing leaf curl symptoms exhibited positive amplification of coat protein (CP) gene of DNA-A component, suggesting the presence of begomovirus. Full length DNA-A was amplified by primer pair re-designed from CP gene nucleotide sequence. The associated alphasatellite and betasatellite DNA molecules were amplified and sequenced, confirming the presence of monopartite begomovirus. Sequence comparisons showed 89% identity with other begomoviruses. The Neighbor-Joining tree based on full length DNA-A nucleotide sequence showed that the guar infecting begomovirus clustered separately from other known begomoviruses. The betasatellite shared a high (96%) nucleotide identity to Cotton leaf curl Multan betasatellites. The alphasatellite showed 91% nucleotide identity to alphasatellite associated with begomovirus infecting Okra. Recombination analyses showed three recombinant fragments in DNA-A, two in betasatellite, and four in alphasatellite. The results suggest that the begomovirus identified in this study was a new recombinant virus. Its name was proposed as Cyamopsis tetragonoloba leaf curl virus (CyTLCuV).