A Rare Case of Refractory Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome Successfully Treated With Rituximab and Plasma Exchange.

A small subset of patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) may develop widespread thrombotic disease with organ damage, referred to as catastrophic APS (CAPS) that is associated with a high mortality. Medical therapy typically involves a combination of anticoagulation, systemic glucocorticoids, plasmapheresis, and intravenous immune globulin (IVIG). There is currently no consensus for the management of refractory cases of CAPS. However, monoclonal antibodies such as rituximab and eculizumab have shown some benefits. Herein, we present a 29-year-old female with previous pulmonary embolism who presented with necrotic left toes and was eventually diagnosed with refractory CAPS, successfully treated with Plasmapheresis and Rituximab. With this case report, we hope to encourage the usage of Rituximab in the management of CAPS.

Comparative effect of Beta blocker-Atenolol and Murraya koenigii (L.) spreng (Curry leaves) on cardiac enzyme (CK-MB) level in male albino rats.

Murraya koenigii (L.) spreng (curry leaves) have traditionally been used for its various medicinal properties. The current study was conducted to assess the comparative effect of Murraya koenigii (L.) spreng (curry leaves) and market available beta blocker drug Atenolol on cardiac enzyme (CK-MB) level in male albino rats. Out of total 26 locally bred male Albino Wistar rats (180 to 200gm weight) two rats were treated with only voltral for dose adjustment. Remaining 24 rats were randomly categorized into following 1 control (C) group and 3 experimental groups Model (M), Test 1 (T1) and Test 2 (T2) containing 6 rats in each group. Rats in C group were orally fed by 0.9% saline solution while rats of M and both test groups T1 and T2 were orally treated with voltral tablet (30mg /kg body weight) for three weeks to increase the level of CK-MB heart enzyme. After voltral treatment rats in test group T1 were treated orally with Atenolol (30 mg/kg body weight) and T2 with Murraya koenigii (L.) spreng (curry leaves) extract (180 mg/kg body weight) for last three weeks. Results show that rats treated with Atenolol showed a decrease in level of heart enzyme as compare to M group, while Murraya koenigii (L.) spreng treated rats group T2 showed more significant decrease of heart enzyme (CK-MB) level as compared to M and T1 groups with significantly improved behavioral activity including increased locomotor activity, short-term memory and reduction in depression. These results demonstrate that natural herbal treatment by curry leaves extract play an effective role in lowering the cardiac enzyme (CK-MB) level to its normal range which helps reducing the risk of CVD and CHD.

Comparative liver function assessment of natural and available drug (Ferrous sulfate) for iron-deficiency anemia in rat model.

To assess the comparative effect of anti-anaemic drug (ferrous sulfate) with naturally occurring anti-anaemic compound (Illicium verum commonly called star anise) on liver in rat model. Model and both test groups were made anaemic. Ferrous sulfate was given to T1 group of rats as 30mg/kg body weight (b.w) and Illicium verum to T2 group of rats with dose of 80mg/kg b.w for six weeks. Illicium verum treated group (T2 rats) produced depression, decreased anxiety and enhanced short-term memory, whereas ferrous sulfate treated group (T1 rats) enhanced long term memory. The liver function test of T2 rats showed that the total bilirubin was in normal range, but direct bilirubin, SGPT, ALP and GGT were significantly decreased in T2 rats in comparison with T1 and also from model group of rats. It was concluded in this study that by comparing the effect of ferrous sulfate with naturally occurring Illicium verum on iron-defficiency anaemia, illicium verum produces same effects and can be used to treat iron-defficiency anaemia without affecting liver function.

Computational study on the geometry optimization and excited - state properties of riboflavin by ArgusLab 4.0.1.

Riboflavin (vitamin B2) belongs to a group of respiratory enzymes that occur widely in animals and plants participating in vital oxidation- reduction processes in the body. A computational study was conducted on riboflavin by ArgusLab 4.0.1 to obtain the most active conformation of riboflavin and to analyze its excited-state properties. The best conformation of riboflavin was found to be -199.2173 kcal/mol which is the minimum potential energy calculated by geometry convergence function by ArgusLab software; performed according to Hartree-Fock calculation method. Electronic transition states (ground and excited), were also calculated and visualized by semi-empirical ZINDO method by ArgusLab from which molecular properties such as energies, wave function and dipole moments were established. All the results obtained from geometry optimization and excited-state properties lead us to delineate the active sites with charged groups of riboflavin to interact with the receptors. Such types of investigations are significant for drug-receptor interactions.

Investigation of piperidine derivatives in ex vivo models of pain and platelet aggregation.

Piperidine derivatives are known to exhibit analgesic activities and are likely to possess the ability to block the effects of prostaglandins through inhibition of downstream signaling pathways. The present study investigated the activity of five derivatives (PD2-6) of 4-(4'-bromophenyl)-4-piperidinol (PD1), against pain and platelet aggregation mediated by the release of prostaglandins and thromboxane A2, respectively. The results showed that compound PD1 and its two phenacyl derivatives PD3 and PD5 exhibited a highly significant analgesic effect (p < 0.01), whereas PD4 and PD6 also showed significant activity. PD3, the most active analgesic compound when docked to the opioid receptor, had interactions between the oxygen of its nitro group and the amino group of ARG 573, indicating a distance of 1.2563 Å. The antiplatelet data showed that compound PD5 (4-(4'-bromo-phenyl)-4-hydroxy-1-[2-(2″,4″-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-oxo-ethyl]-piperidinium bromide) had an IC(50) = 0.06 mM, which was the most active compound, whereas PD3 was the second most active compound against platelet aggregating factor-induced aggregation with an IC(50) = 80 mM. Acetyl salicylic acid (IC(50) = 150 µM) was used as a positive control.

Enhancement in the germination, growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) using pre-sowing magnetic treatment of seeds.

The effect of pre-sowing magnetic treatments was investigated on germination, growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus cv. Sapz pari). The dry okra seeds were exposed to sinusoidal magnetic field induced by an electromagnet. The average magnetic field exposure was 99 mT for 3 and 11 min and seeds with no magnetic field treatment were considered as control. Both treated and non-treated seeds were sown in experimental plots (120 m2) under similar conditions. Samples were collected at regular intervals for statistical analysis. A significant increase (P < 0.05) was observed in germination percentage, number of flowers per plant, leaf area (cm2), plant height (cm) at maturity, number of fruits per plant, pod mass per plant and number of seeds per plant. The 99 mT for 11 min exposure showed better results as compared to control.

Conformational analysis (geometry optimization) of nucleosidic antitumor antibiotic showdomycin by Arguslab 4 software.

Showdomycin is a naturally maleimide antitumor antibiotic of the C-nucleoside, it inhibits the nucleic acid synthesis in bacteria. Conformational analysis and geometry optimization of showdomycin was performed according to the Hartree-Fock (HF) calculation method by ArgusLab 4.0.1 software. The minimum potential energy is calculated by geometry convergence function by ArgusLab software. The most feasible position for the drug to interact with the receptor was found to be 0.269696 K.cal/mole.