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Kyasanur Forest Disease is a tick-borne flavivirus is endemic in the Southern India. The recent expansion and resurgence of sporadic outbreaks in southern parts of country is the most important concern. Although only formalin inactivated vaccine is available for treatment with limited efficacy the early detection and timely identification is a only way to prevent spread of cases. If the disease can be identified prior to infection in humans like in forest areas from ticks and vectors the disease spread supposed to be managed quickly. Here we have standardized a single tube ready to use dry-down probe free real time RT-PCR targeted against virus envelope gene for detection of KFDV infection. The assay was standardized in liquid format first, later it was converted into dry-down format with addition of stabilizers with a similar sensitivity and specificity (10RNA Copies/rxn). The sensitivity was comparable to the most widely used and accepted diagnostic platform i.e. TaqMan qRT-PCR. However as the reported assay here omit the need of probes makes it cost effective and dry-down reagents makes more stability to the developed assay in this study if compare to TaqMan qPCR. The assay was evaluated with KFD positive samples and healthy sample panel which revealed high concordance with TaqMan qRT-PCR. Stability was unaffected by temperature fluctuations during transportation even in cold chain free conditions, thus reduce the maintenance of strict cold storage. These findings demonstrated that the reported assay is convenient with 100% sensitivity and specificity to TaqMan qPCR. Thus this assay has the potential usefulness for diagnosis KFDV for routine surveillance in resource limited laboratory settings omitting the use costly and heat sensitive TaqMan qRT-PCR reagents without compromising the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis assay.

Biologics have become increasingly prominent as therapeutics in recent years due to their innate immune-privileged nature, biocompatibility, and high levels of protein biofactors. The aim of the study is to characterise the biologic, lyophilized human placenta (LHP) and explore its therapeutic potential for osteoarthritis (OA). The presence of six bioactive constituents that regulate cell-extracellular matrix interaction was identified by liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QTOF/MS). Metalloproteinase inhibitor 3 (TIMP3), alpha-1 anti-trypsin (a1AT), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) were detected and quantified using ELISA. The total protein content present in LHP by Bradford assay was found to be 409.35 ± 0.005 μg/ml. The analytical techniques such as Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), solid state carbon-13 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ( ssC 13 NMR) spectroscopy, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) revealed the secondary structure and conformational stability of LHP. X-Ray diffraction (XRD) studies showed its amorphous nature. Bioactivity assessment of LHP was performed in human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The LHP was highly proliferative against skin cells and non-toxic, based on the findings of the bioactivity assay. LHP has the potential to be used as a therapeutic agent for OA, as its characterisation unveiled its physical stability, significant concentration of bioactive components that are pertinent to cartilage repair and its conformational stability. Graphical Abstract

Stable angina is characterized by chest discomfort rather than actual pain. The main goal of the treatment is to control symptoms, slow progression of the disease and reduction of major cardiovascular events. Ivabradine HCl (IBH) is a new first specific If channel blocker used to treat stable angina. In our present investigation, an attempt has been made to formulate transdermal drug delivery system of IBH to treat stable angina. The suitability of drug with respect to lower dose, low molecular weight and short half life makes this drug as a suitable candidate for administration via transdermal route. Transdermal films of IBH have been prepared by solvent casting technique using different ratios of varying degree of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers namely hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), ethyl cellulose (EC) and polyvinyl pyrrolidine (PVP) (blend ratios viz; 0.5:1.5, 1:1 and 1.5:0.5% w/v). Propylene glycol (30% w/w) and Isopropyl myristate and oleic acid (2:0.5% w/w) was incorporated as plasticizer and permeation enhancer respectively. The effect of polymers on the various physicochemical characteristics and ex-vivo skin permeation studies were evaluated. The formulations exhibited uniform thickness, weight and good uniformity in drug content. Moisture content and moisture absorption were increased for the patches containing higher amount of PVP due to its hydrophilic nature, the results of water vapour transmission rate revealed that the transdermal films were permeable to water vapours. Ex-vivo release studies showed zero order release of the drug from all the patches and the mechanism of release was diffusion mediated. Moreover, the release of the drug was sustained and extended over a period of 24 h in all the formulations. On the basis of technical properties and ex-vivo release formulation F7 emerged as the most satisfactory formulation. The stability studies revealed no morphological changes in formulations and an insignificant variation in drug content. Furthermore the results of skin irritation test revealed that the patches were seemingly free of any skin irritation. Thus it could be concluded that the transdermal films proved to be a promising drug delivery system for IBH with more patient compliance in the treatment of stable angina.

Factors like poorly suited regulatory and reimbursement systems, high capital investment, low benefit cost ratio and technical issues related to sample collection and storage can restrain the market growth to a certain extent. The various cancer type include breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, and others, among which breast cancer accounts for the largest cancer biomarker market size. Questionnaire discussion All the oncologists believed that the most commonly treated type of cancer was breast cancer followed by lung cancer (40%), cervical/prostate cancer (40%), oral cancer (33.3%) and colorectal cancer (33.3%). The most preferred diagnostic test for cancer was biopsy (93.3%) followed by CT scan , PET scan, biomarkers, clinical examination, MRI and mammogram.

The human skin is one of the most readily accessible organ/surface of the human body for drug delivery. Skin of an average adult body covers a surface of approximately 2 m2 and receives about one-third of the blood circulating through the body. Today about 74% of drugs taken orally are not effective as desired. Transdermal drug delivery system has emerged as an effective delivery system to improve such characters. Transdermal Drug Delivery System (TDDS) is the system in which the delivery of the drug occurs by the means of skin and deliver specific dose of the medicine (drug) into the bloodstream over a period of time. This includes high bioavailability, absence of first pass hepatic metabolism effect, steady drug plasma concentration, and the fact that therapy is non-invasive and also reduces dosing frequency. This review article covers a brief outline of TDDS, its advantages over conventional dosage forms, drug delivery routes across human skin, penetration enhancers, the principles of transdermal permeation, various components of transdermal patch, types of Transdermal patches, approaches of transdermal patch, its application with its limitation with relevant examples, when these are used and when their use should be avoided.

Background : Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) are a group of severe life threatening drug reactions. The drugs commonly implicated as the cause of these drug reactions vary depending on host factors and the prescription pattern of drugs in that particular area. Aim : The aim of the study was to find the drugs implicated as the cause of SJS/TEN in the patients admitted in the dermatology ward at the Medical College, Thrissur and to find the clinical outcome. Methods : It was a retrospective study of 7 years from 1997 to 2004. The case records of all patients with a clinical diagnosis of TEN or SJS were studied in detail regarding the drugs implicated as the cause, the management and the clinical outcome. Results : During the study period, 41 patients in the age group ranging from 12 to 72 years were treated as inpatients, of which 20 were males and 21 were females. The commonest drug implicated as the cause of SJS/TEN was carbamazepine (44%). The indication for carbamazepine was control of pain in more than 50% of the cases. Presence of a major systemic disease before the onset of SJS/TEN was associated with a bad prognosis. Conclusion : The increased use of carbamazepine, especially for control of pain, may be the reason for the increased incidence of SJS/TEN due to the same drug. Awareness about the drugs implicated in life threatening drug reactions will help physicians in preventing them by judicious use of the drugs.

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNP) have several applications in the field of biotechnology, including their use as anti-cancer drugs. The purpose of the present study is to analyze the efficacy of green synthesis on the preparation of SeNP and its effect on their anti-cancer properties. A bacterial strain isolated from a freshwater source was shown to efficiently synthesize SeNP with potential therapeutic properties. The quality and stability of the NP were studied by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, zeta-potential and FTIR analysis. A cost-effective medium formulation from biowaste having 6% banana peel extract enriched with 0.25 mM tryptophan was used to synthesize the NP. The NP after optimization was used to analyze their anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic activity. For this purpose, first, the cytotoxicity of the NP against cancer cells was analyzed by MTT assay and then chorioallantoic membrane assay was performed to assess anti-angiogenic activity. Further, cell migration assay and clonogenic inhibition assay were performed to test the anti-tumor properties of SeNP. To assess the cytotoxicity of SeNP on healthy RBC, hemolysis assay was performed. The strain identified as (MH191156) produced phenazine carboxylic acid, which aids the conversion of Se oxyanions to reduced NP state, resulting in particles in the size range of 75 nm to 200 nm with improved stability and quality of SeNP, as observed by zeta (ξ) potential of the particles which was found to be -46.2 mV. Cytotoxicity of the SeNP was observed even at low concentrations such as 5 µg/mL against cervical cancer cell line, ie, HeLa cells. Further, neovascularization was inhibited by upto 30 % in CAMs of eggs coinoculated with SeNp when compared with untreated controls, indicating significant anti-angiogenic activity of SeNP. The NP also inhibited the invasiveness of HeLa cells as observed by decreased cell migration and clonogenic proliferation. These observations indicate significant anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic activity of the SeNP in cervical cancer cells. (MH191156) is an efficient source of Se NP production with potential anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor properties, particularly against cervical cancer cells.

Production of exopolysaccharides (EPS) can be used as a criteria for the isolation of stress tolerant microorganisms. In the present study, EPS-producing fluorescent pseudomonads were isolated from alfisols, vertisols, inseptisols, oxisols, and aridisols of different semiarid millet growing regions of India and were screened in vitro for drought tolerance in trypticase soy broth supplemented with different concentrations of polyethylene glycol (PEG6000). Out of the total 81 isolates, 26 could tolerate maximum level of stress (−0.73 MPa) and were monitored for the amount of EPS produced under maximum level of water stress. The strain GAP-P45, isolated from alfisol of sunflower rhizosphere, showed the highest level of EPS production under water stress conditions, was identified as Pseudomonas putida on the basis of 16S rDNA sequence analysis, and was used as seed treatment to study its effect in alleviating drought stress effects in sunflower seedlings. Inoculation of Pseudomonas sp. strain GAP-P45 increased the survival, plant biomass, and root adhering soil/root tissue ratio of sunflower seedlings subjected to drought stress. The inoculated bacteria could efficiently colonize the root adhering soil and rhizoplane and increase the percentage of stable soil aggregates. Scanning electron microscope studies showed the formation of biofilm of inoculated bacteria on the root surface and this, along with a better soil structure, might have protected the plants from the water stress.