Pest scenario of Helicoverpa armigera (Hub.) on pigeonpea during future climate change periods under RCP based projections in India.

Gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hub.) is the major insect pest of pigeonpea and prediction of number of generations (no. of gen.) and generation time (gen. time) using growing degree days (GDD) approach during three future climate change periods viz., Near (NP), Distant (DP) and Far Distant (FDP) periods at eleven major pigeonpea growing locations of India was attempted. Multi-model ensemble of Maximum (Tmax) and Minimum (Tmin) temperature data of four Representative Concentration Pathways viz., RCP 2.6, 4.5, 6.0 and 8.5 of Coupled Model Inter comparison Project 5 (CMIP5) models was adopted here. The increase in projected Tmax and Tmin are significant during 3 climate change periods (CCPs) viz., the NP, DP and FDP over base line (BL) period under four RCP scenarios at all locations and would be higher (4.7-5.1 °C) in RCP 8.5 and in FDP. More number of annual (10-17) and seasonal (5-8) gens. are expected to occur with greater percent increase in FDP (8 to 38%) over base line followed by DP (7 to 22%) and NP (5to 10%) periods with shortened annual gen. time (4 to 27%) across 4 RCPs. The reduction of crop duration was substantial in short, medium and long duration pigeonpeas at all locations across 4 RCPs and 3 CCPs. The seasonal no.of gen. is expected to increase (5 to 35%) with shortened gen. time (4 to 26%) even with reduced crop duration across DP and FDP climate periods of 6.0 and 8.5 RCPs in LD pigeonpea. More no. of gen. of H. armigera with reduced gen. time are expected to occur at Ludhiana, Coimbatore, Mohanpur, Warangal and Akola locations over BL period in 4 RCPs when normal duration of pigeonpeas is considered. Geographical location (66 to 72%), climate period (11 to 19%), RCPs (5-7%) and their interaction (0.04-1%) is vital and together explained more than 90% of the total variation in future pest scenario. The findings indicate that the incidence of H. armigera would be higher on pigeonpea during ensuing CCPs in India under global warming context.

Electrocorticography Analysis in Patients With Dual Neurostimulators Supports Desynchronization as a Mechanism of Action for Acute Vagal Nerve Stimulator Stimulation.

PURPOSE: Both vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) and responsive neurostimulation (RNS System) are treatment options for medically refractory focal epilepsy. The mechanism of action of both devices remains poorly understood. Limited prior evidence suggests that acute VNS stimulation may reduce epileptiform activity and cause EEG desynchronization on electrocorticography (ECoG). Our study aims to isolate effects of VNS on ECoG as recorded by RNS System in patients who have both devices, by comparing ECoG samples with and without acute VNS stimulation. METHODS: Ten 60-second ECoGs each from 22 individuals at 3 epilepsy centers were obtained-5 ECoGs with VNS "off" and 5 ECoGs with VNS "on." Electrocorticograps containing seizures or loss of telemetry connection artifact were excluded from analysis (total of 169 ECoGs were included). Electrocorticographs were analyzed for differences in spectral content by generating average spectrograms for "on" and "off" states and using a linear mixed-effects model to isolate effects of VNS stimulation. RESULTS: Acute VNS stimulation reduced average power in the theta band by 4.9%, beta band by 3.8%, and alpha band by 2.5%. The reduction in theta power reached statistical significance with a P value of <0.05. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence that acute VNS stimulation results in desynchronization of specific frequency bands (salient decrease in theta and beta bands, smaller decrease in alpha band) in ECoGs recorded by the RNS device in patients with dual (VNS and RNS) neurostimulators. This finding offers support for desynchronization as a theorized mechanism of action of VNS. Further research may lead to future improved neurostimulator efficacy by informing optimal stimulation programming parameters.

Congenital insensitivity to pain in a 1-year-old boy.

Congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic condition which causes reduced pain sensation, thermal sensation, and habit of self-mutilation. It is a life-threatening condition where due to reduced pain sensation, patient might not understand the severity of the injury which can eventually lead to death. Such people live a compromised life and can also affect them psychologically. Here, we are reporting a case of an infant with clinical features suggestive of CIP with a mutation in exon 5 of PRDM12 gene. The child has minimal response to pain along with self-mutilation and mental retardation.

Frying of the Dispersion Droplets with Varying Contents of Chickpea Flour and Gum Arabic: Product Characterization and Modeling.

Dispersions having chickpea (37%, 40%, and 43%, w/w) and gum arabic (0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5%, w/w) solids were prepared. These dispersion droplets were fried, and the physical, sensory, and microstructural characteristics of the fried products were determined. The oil content in the fried snack decreased up to 20.3% when the level of chickpea and/or gum in the dispersions was increased. The compression curve for fried snack showed 5 major zones and exhibited the failure phenomenon. Failure force (6.5 to 11.4 N) increased with chickpea flour in the dispersions. Fracture strain (12.0% to 19.5%) indicated that all the fried samples were soft-crisp products. An increase in chickpea flour concentration offered an ovoid/oblong shape of dispersion droplets while falling to oil, and changed the spherical shape of the fried snack. The near-spherical product could be obtained by using 37% chickpea flour containing 0 to 2% of gum arabic, or with the 40% and 0 to 1% combinations. The hue or dominant wavelength increased from 578.5 nm (flour) to 581.0 to 582.7 nm (product) indicating a shift toward red coloration. A porous microstructure with scattered small cavities and large vacuoles of the fried snack were observed; big vacuoles were located in the inner portion of the fried product. The cells were divided into closed and open cells and were characterized by image analysis. The air cells usually had an elliptical shape with varying sizes; the cell wall thickness was between 12 and 80 µm. An artificial neural network (ANN) structure of 2-9-2 was developed for the prediction of sensory overall acceptability and oil content of the fried snack. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Chickpea flour is used in several food preparations. The addition of gum arabic affects the textural and structural characteristics, and the sensory acceptance; the fried dispersion droplets have a lower fat content when gum arabic is used compared to samples fried without the addition of gum arabic. The fried dispersion droplets change their shape with the level of the ingredients used in the dispersion.

Standardization of homeopathic mother tincture of Toxicodendron pubescens and correlation of its flavonoid markers with the biological activity.

BACKGROUND: Standardization and quality control of homeopathic drugs is very challenging. As mother tinctures are derived from complex natural resources, there is a need of systematic evaluation of chemical markers which correlate with the proposed biological activities of mother tinctures. METHODS: In present study, High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) standardization method of homeopathic mother tinctures of Toxicodendron pubescens using quercitrin and rutin as chemical markers is validated and correlations of content of these markers with its anti-inflammatory effects are established. For HPTLC analysis, precoated silica gel plates were used as stationary phase. Two flavonoids, namely quercitrin and rutin were used as markers. Separation was achieved using methylene chloride:methanol:water:glacial acetic acid (15:1.5:1:8 v/v/v) as mobile phase. The developed plates were scanned at 365 nm. RESULTS: It was observed that quercitrin (Rf value 0.63) and Rutin (Rf value 0.41) are well resolved. The minimum detectable concentrations for quercitrin and rutin were 5 ng/spot. The linearity range was between 100 and 2000 ng/spot for both the markers. Subsequently, anti-inflammatory activity of these formulations was determined against carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats, pain threshold determined by electronic Von-Frey apparatus and paw withdrawal latency (PWL) on hot-plate. All the tested formulations of Rhus Tox showed anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity against carrageenan induced paw edema in rats. Quantitative correlation between the content of markers and anti-inflammatory activity of mother tinctures was established. RESULTS: Anti-inflammatory effect as well as effect on paw withdrawal and pain threshold, at third hour after carrageenan injection, correlated with quercitrin and rutin content in the respective formulations. CONCLUSIONS: This study validates a quantitative HPTLC method for standardization of homeopathic mother tincture of Rhus Tox and establishes quercitrin and rutin as markers corresponding its biological activity. Contents of quercitrin and rutin in T. pubescens mother tincture correlates with its anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions and the validated HPTLC method can be used in standardization of homeopathic mother tincture of T. pubescens.

Challenges and issues with streptozotocin-induced diabetes - A clinically relevant animal model to understand the diabetes pathogenesis and evaluate therapeutics.

Streptozotocin (STZ) has been extensively used over the last three decades to induce diabetes in various animal species and to help screen for hypoglycemic drugs. STZ induces clinical features in animals that resemble those associated with diabetes in humans. For this reason STZ treated animals have been used to study diabetogenic mechanisms and for preclinical evaluation of novel antidiabetic therapies. However, the physiochemical characteristics and associated toxicities of STZ are still major obstacles for researchers using STZ treated animals to investigate diabetes. Another major challenges in STZ-induced diabetes are sustaining uniformity, suitability, reproducibility and induction of diabetes with minimal animal lethality. Lack of appropriate use of STZ was found to be associated with increased mortality and animal suffering. During STZ use in animals, attention should be paid to several factors such as method of preparation of STZ, stability, suitable dose, route of administration, diet regimen, animal species with respect to age, body weight, gender and the target blood glucose level used to represent hyperglycemia. Therefore, protocol for STZ-induced diabetes in experimental animals must be meticulously planned. This review highlights specific skills and strategies involved in the execution of STZ-induced diabetes model. The present review aims to provide insight into diabetogenic mechanisms of STZ, specific toxicity of STZ with its significance and factors responsible for variations in diabetogenic effects of STZ. Further this review also addresses ways to minimize STZ-induced mortality, suggests methods to improve STZ-based experimental models and best utilize them for experimental studies purported to understand diabetes pathogenesis and preclinical evaluation of drugs.

Eplerenone attenuates cardiac dysfunction and oxidative stress in ß-receptor stimulated myocardial infarcted rats.

Eplerenone is a competitive antagonist of the aldosterone receptor with an additional PI3K-Akt activity. The existing cram has been intended to explore, whether eplerenone treatment attenuates the expansion of myocardial infarction in isoproterenol treated rats by restoring hemodynamic, biochemical, and histopathological changes. Isoproterenol induced cardiotoxicity was evidenced by marked ST elevation, decrease in systolic, diastolic, mean arterial pressures. Maximal positive rate of developed left ventricular pressure (+LVdP/dt max, a indicator of myocardial contraction), maximal negative rate of developed left ventricular pressure (-LVdP/dt max, a meter of myocardial relaxation) and an increase in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP, a marker of pre-load) were also shown. In addition, a significant reduction in activities of myocardial creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme, lactate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and reduced glutathione level along with increase in malondialdehyde content were observed. Oral pre-treatment with eplerenone (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg) daily for a period of 14 days, constructively modulated the studied parameters in isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury. The protective role of eplerenone on isoproterenolinduced myocardial damage was further confirmed by histopathological examinations. Eplerenone at doses of 100 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg produced more pronounced protective effects than 50 mg/kg body weight. Together, our study provides evidence for protective effects of eplerenone on myocardium in experimentally induced myocardial infarction.

Development of pH sensitive microparticles of Karaya gum: By response surface methodology.

The objective of the proposed work was to prepare pH sensitive microparticles (MP) of Karaya gum using distilled water as a solvent by spray drying technique. Different formulations were designed, prepared and evaluated by employing response surface methodology and optimal design of experiment technique using Design Expert(®) ver 8.0.1 software. SEM photographs showed that MP were roughly spherical in shape and free from cracks. The particle size and encapsulation efficiency for optimized MP was found to be between 3.89 and 6.5 µm and 81-94% respectively with good flow properties. At the end of the 12th hour the in vitro drug release was found to be 96.9% for the optimized formulation in pH 5.6 phosphate buffer. Low prediction errors were observed for Cmax and AUC0-∞ which demonstrated that the Frusemide IVIVC model was valid. Hence it can be concluded that pH sensitive MP of Karaya gum were effectively prepared by spray drying technique using aqueous solvents and can be used for treating various diseases like chronic hypertension, Ulcerative Colitis and Diverticulitis.

Calcipotriol delivery into the skin as emulgel for effective permeation.

The objective of this work is to formulate and evaluate an emulgel containing calcipotriol for treatment of psoriasis. Emulgels have emerged as a promising drug delivery system for the delivery of hydrophobic drugs. Isopropyl alcohol and polyethylene glycol have been employed as permeation enhancers. Formulation chart is made with seven formulations, evaluated for physical parameters, drug content, viscosity, thixotropy, spreadability, extrudability, mucoadhesion, diffusion studies, skin irritation test along with short term stability studies. Carbopolis is reported to have a direct influence on appearance and viscosity of final formulation. The photomicroscopic evaluations showed the presence of spherical globules in size range of 10-15 µm. Rheograms revealed that all the formulations exhibited pseudoplastic flow. Optimized formulation (F6) had shown 86.42 ± 2.0% drug release at the end of 8 h study. The release rate through dialysis membrane and rat skin is higher when compared to commercial calcipotriol ointment. Hence it is concluded that calcipotriol can be delivered topically with enhanced penetration properties when formulated as emulgel.

Computer-Aided Diagnosis and Localization of Lateralized Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Using Interictal FDG-PET.

Interictal FDG-PET (iPET) is a core tool for localizing the epileptogenic focus, potentially before structural MRI, that does not require rare and transient epileptiform discharges or seizures on EEG. The visual interpretation of iPET is challenging and requires years of epilepsy-specific expertise. We have developed an automated computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) tool that has the potential to work both independent of and synergistically with expert analysis. Our tool operates on distributed metabolic changes across the whole brain measured by iPET to both diagnose and lateralize temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). When diagnosing left TLE (LTLE) or right TLE (RTLE) vs. non-epileptic seizures (NES), our accuracy in reproducing the results of the gold standard long term video-EEG monitoring was 82% [95% confidence interval (CI) 69-90%] or 88% (95% CI 76-94%), respectively. The classifier that both diagnosed and lateralized the disease had overall accuracy of 76% (95% CI 66-84%), where 89% (95% CI 77-96%) of patients correctly identified with epilepsy were correctly lateralized. When identifying LTLE, our CAD tool utilized metabolic changes across the entire brain. By contrast, only temporal regions and the right frontal lobe cortex, were needed to identify RTLE accurately, a finding consistent with clinical observations and indicative of a potential pathophysiological difference between RTLE and LTLE. The goal of CADs is to complement - not replace - expert analysis. In our dataset, the accuracy of manual analysis (MA) of iPET (∼80%) was similar to CAD. The square correlation between our CAD tool and MA, however, was only 30%, indicating that our CAD tool does not recreate MA. The addition of clinical information to our CAD, however, did not substantively change performance. These results suggest that automated analysis might provide clinically valuable information to focus treatment more effectively.

Balancing Clinical and Pathologic Relevence in the Machine Learning Diagnosis of Epilepsy.

The application of machine learning to epilepsy can be used both to develop clinically useful computer-aided diagnostic tools, and to reveal pathologically relevant insights into the disease. Such studies most frequently use neurologically normal patients as the control group to maximize the pathologic insight yielded from the model. This practice yields potentially inflated accuracy because the groups are quite dissimilar. A few manuscripts, however, opt to mimic the clinical comparison of epilepsy to non-epileptic seizures, an approach we believe to be more clinically realistic. In this manuscript, we describe the relative merits of each control group. We demonstrate that in our clinical quality FDG-PET database the performance achieved was similar using each control group. Based on these results, we find that the choice of control group likely does not hinder the reported performance. We argue that clinically applicable computer-aided diagnostic tools for epilepsy must directly address the clinical challenge of distinguishing patients with epilepsy from those with non-epileptic seizures.

Relevance of psychiatry in dermatology: Present concepts.

Skin is an organ that has a primary function in tactile receptivity and reacts directly upon emotional stimuli. Dermatological practice involves a psychosomatic dimension. A relationship between psychological factors and skin diseases has long been hypothesized. Psychodermatology addresses the interaction between mind and skin. It is divided into three categories according to the relationship between skin diseases and mental disorders. This article reviews different dermatological conditions under each of the three categories namely psychosomatic disorders, dermatological conditions due to primary and secondary psychiatric disorders. Dermatological conditions resulting from psychiatric conditions like stress/depression and those caused by psychiatric disorders are discussed. This review intends to present the relationship between the 'skin' and the 'mind' specifically from the dermatology point of view. The effects on the quality of life as a result of psychodermatological conditions are highlighted. A multidisciplinary approach for treatment from both dermatologic and psychiatric viewpoints are suggested.

Biopolymers as transdermal drug delivery systems in dermatology therapy.

The skin is considered a complex organ for drug delivery because of its structure. Drug delivery systems are designed for the controlled release of drugs through the skin into the systemic circulation, maintaining consistent efficacy and reducing the dose of the drugs and their related side effects. Transdermal drug delivery represents one of the most rapidly advancing areas of novel drug delivery. The excellent impervious nature of the skin is the greatest challenge that must be overcome for successful drug delivery. Today, polymers have been proven to be successful for long-term drug delivery applications as no single polymer can satisfy all of the requirements. Biopolymers in the field of dermal application are rare and the mechanisms that affect skin absorption are almost unknown. Biopolymers are widely used as drug delivery systems, but as such the use of biopolymers as drug delivery systems in dermatologic therapy is still in progress. Commonly used biopolymers include hydrocolloids, alginates, hydrogels, polyurethane, collagen, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), chitosan, proteins and peptides, pectin, siRNAs, and hyaluronic acid. These new and exciting methods for drug delivery are already increasing the number and quality of dermal and transdermal therapies. This article reviews current research on biopolymers and focuses on their potential as drug carriers, particularly in relation to the dermatologic aspects of their use.

Quality of life in HIV/AIDS.

Given the longevity achievable with current prophylactic and therapeutic strategies for persons with HIV infection, quality of life (QOL) has emerged as a significant medical outcome measure, and its enhancement has an important goal. This review highlights the relevance and complexity of physical, psychological, and social factors as determinants of health-related quality of life in HIV-infected persons. Existing data suggest that physical manifestations, antiretroviral therapy, psychological well-being, social support systems, coping strategies, spiritual well-being, and psychiatric comorbidities are important predictors of QOL in this population. Consequently, the impact of HIV infection on the dimensions of QOL, including physical and emotional well-being, social support systems, and life roles, has emerged as a key issue for persons infected with HIV.