Segmentation of Breast Lesions in Ultrasound Images through Multiresolution Analysis Using Undecimated Discrete Wavelet Transform.

Earliest detection and diagnosis of breast cancer reduces mortality rate of patients by increasing the treatment options. A novel method for the segmentation of breast ultrasound images is proposed in this work. The proposed method utilizes undecimated discrete wavelet transform to perform multiresolution analysis of the input ultrasound image. As the resolution level increases, although the effect of noise reduces, the details of the image also dilute. The appropriate resolution level, which contains essential details of the tumor, is automatically selected through mean structural similarity. The feature vector for each pixel is constructed by sampling intra-resolution and inter-resolution data of the image. The dimensionality of feature vectors is reduced by using principal components analysis. The reduced set of feature vectors is segmented into two disjoint clusters using spatial regularized fuzzy c-means algorithm. The proposed algorithm is evaluated by using four validation metrics on a breast ultrasound database of 150 images including 90 benign and 60 malignant cases. The algorithm produced significantly better segmentation results (Dice coef = 0.8595, boundary displacement error = 9.796, dvi = 1.744, and global consistency error = 0.1835) than the other three state of the art methods.

Nanotherapeutics to overcome conventional cancer chemotherapy limitations.

Cancer is one of the major causes of death worldwide and chemotherapy is a major therapeutic approach for the treatment which may be used alone or combined with other forms of therapy. However, conventional chemotherapy suffers lack of aqueous solubility, lack of selectivity and multidrug resistance. Nanotherapeutics is rapidly progressing aimed to solve several limitations of conventional drug delivery systems. Nonspecific target of cancer chemotherapy leads to damage rapidly proliferating normal cells and can be significantly reduced through folate and transferrin mediated nanotherapeutics which are aimed to target cancerous cells. Multidrug resistance is challenge in cancer chemotherapy which can be significantly reversed by solid lipid nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, nanoparticulated chemosensitizer, nanoparticluated poloxamer and magnetic nanoparticles. Hydrophobic nature of chemotherapeutics leads to poor aqueous solubility and low bioavailability which can be overcome by nanocrystals, albumin based nanoparticles, liposomal formulation, polymeric micelles, cyclodextrin and chitosan based nanoparticles. This review focuses the role of nanotherapeutics to overcome lack of selectivity, multidrug resistance and lack of aqueous solubility of conventional cancer chemotherapy.

Multi criteria decision making to select the suitable method for the preparation of nanoparticles using an analytical hierarchy process.

Selecting the right method for the preparation of nanoparticles is a crucial decision. A wrong decision can result in the product having to be formulated and developed again. One tool that can be useful in determining the most appropriate method is the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). AHP has been employed in almost all areas related to decision-making problems. In this paper, the results of a case study illustrate that the AHP concept can assist designers in the effective evaluation of various methods available for the preparation of nanoparticles. This paper presents the methodology of selecting the most suitable method for preparing nanoparticles using the analytical hierarchy process.

Genetic interactions effects for cancer disease identification using computational models: a review.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) provide clear insight into understanding genetic variations and environmental influences responsible for various human diseases. Cancer identification through genetic interactions (epistasis) is one of the significant ongoing researches in GWAS. The growth of the cancer cell emerges from multi-locus as well as complex genetic interaction. It is impractical for the physician to detect cancer via manual examination of SNPs interaction. Due to its importance, several computational approaches have been modeled to infer epistasis effects. This article includes a comprehensive and multifaceted review of all relevant genetic studies published between 2001 and 2020. In this contemporary review, various computational methods are as follows: multifactor dimensionality reduction-based approaches, statistical strategies, machine learning, and optimization-based techniques are carefully reviewed and presented with their evaluation results. Moreover, these computational approaches' strengths and limitations are described. The issues behind the computational methods for identifying the cancer disease through genetic interactions and the various evaluation parameters used by researchers have been analyzed. This review is highly beneficial for researchers and medical professionals to learn techniques adapted to discover the epistasis and aids to design novel automatic epistasis detection systems with strong robustness and maximum efficiency to address the different research problems in finding practical solutions effectively.

Intramolecular charge transfer effects on flutamide drug.

Spectral characteristics of flutamide drug have been studied in various solvents and beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD). The inclusion complex of flutamide with beta-CD is analysed by UV-visible, fluorimetry, FT-IR, 1H NMR, SEM, DSC and AM1 methods. In all solvents, flutamide exhibits a dual fluorescence. The longer wavelength emission (A band approximately 380 nm) is due to intramolecular charge transfer state (ICT) and the shorter wavelength emission (B band approximately 285 nm) originates from a locally excited state. In beta-CD, the increase in the fluorescence intensity of 'A' band indicates ICT emission enhanced in the beta-CD medium. beta-CD studies shows isopropyl group is present in the interior part of the beta-CD cavity whereas amino and CF(3) groups are present in the outside of the beta-CD cavity. A mechanism is proposed to explain the 1:1 inclusion process.

Control of urinary risk factors of stone formation by Salvadora persica in experimental hyperoxaluria.

Urolithiasis, the process of formation of stones in the kidneys and urinary tract, is the major clinical manifestation of hyperoxaluria. Ethylene glycol feeding resulted in hyperoxaluria with increased renal excretion of oxalate, sodium, calcium and phosphate and a decrease in the excretion of magnesium. Supplementation with an aqueous and alcoholic extract of the leaves of Salvadora persica significantly reduced elevated urinary oxalate levels, indicating a regenerative action on endogenous oxalate synthesis. The deposition of stone-forming constituents in the kidneys of calculogenic rats was also significantly lowered by curative and preventive treatments with the aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Salvadora persica. The high serum creatinine level observed in ethylene glycol-treated rats was also reduced following treatment with the extracts. Histopathological findings showed signs of improvement after treatment with the extracts. These observations led to the conclusion that the aqueous and alcoholic extracts of the leaves of Salvadora persica are endowed with antiurolithiatic properties.

Design, in vitro and in vivo evaluation of glipizide Eudragit microparticles.

Glipizide microparticles made with Eudragit (RS 100 and RL 100), prepared by emulsion solvent evaporation technique were evaluated for various in-vitro properties viz. encapsulation efficiency, particle size and surface morphology, drug release pattern and in-vivo hypoglycaemic activity. The optimized formulation parameters were used to prepare smooth and spherical microparticles (2-32 microm) with higher entrapment efficiency (67-89%). Drug release patterns of glipizide microparticles of Eudragit RS 100 and Eudragit RL 100 with drug-to-polymer ratio of 1 : 4 (i.e. EGM14 and ELGM14) have shown gradual and extended release for 24 h with cumulative release of glipizide to the extent of 72.3% and 83.9%, respectively. However, EGM14 showed a significant in-vivo hypoglycaemic effect up to 12 h in rabbits while ELGM14 showed for 9 h. Hence, glipizide microparticles of Eudragit RS 100 (glipizide: polymer 1 : 4) is better suited for oral sustained release formulation.

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of Commiphora berryi (Arn) Engl bark extract against CCl(4)-induced oxidative damage in rats.

Oxidative damage is involved in the pathogenesis of various hepatic injuries. In the present study the capacity of Commiphora berryi (Arn) Engl bark as an antioxidant to protect against CCl(4)-induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity in Albino Wistar rats was investigated. Intraperitoneal injection of CCl(4), administered twice a week, produced a marked elevation in the serum levels of aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin. Histopathological analysis of the liver of CCl(4)-induced rats revealed marked liver cell necrosis with inflammatory collections that were conformed to increase in the levels of SOD, GPx and CAT. Daily oral administration of methanolic extract of C. berryi (Arn) Engl bark at 100 and 200mg/kg doses for 15 days produced a dose-dependent reduction in the serum levels of liver enzymes. Treatment with C. berryi normalized various biochemical parameters of oxidative stress and was compared with standard Silymarin. Therefore, the results of this study show that C. berryi (Arn) Engl bark can be proposed to protect the liver against CCl(4)-induced oxidative damage in rats, and the hepatoprotective effect might be correlated with its antioxidant and free radical scavenger effects.

Natural vertical transmission of dengue viruses by Aedes aegypti in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Dengue viruses are spread and maintained in an Aedes aegypti-human- Ae. aegypti cycle in urban areas of the tropics. Dengue viruses are also maintained in nature by vertical transmission by Ae. aegypti. A study was undertaken in Chennai, a known endemic city in south India, to comprehend the natural vertical transmission dynamics in Ae. aegypti and to assess its epidemiological importance. METHODS: Ae. aegypti males collected in resting and landing collections were tested for dengue virus infection by antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and further examined by insect bioassay, Toxorhynchites splendens inoculation-indirect immunofluorescence technique (Toxo-IFA) using serotype-specific monoclonal antibodies (Mabs), if found positive by ELISA. RESULTS: Of the 509 pools of Ae. aegypti males (n=5408) screened, 15 pools, collected in April, June- July, November-December in 2003 and March, May in 2004, were found positive for dengue virus infection and the minimum infection rate (MIR) among adult males was high in June 2003 (28.0/ 1000). Three positive pools could be serotyped as dengue-2 (2 pools) and dengue-3 (1 pool). INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Dengue virus isolations from wild caught males of Ae. aegypti indicate the occurrence of transovarial transmission. Vertical transmission was mainly observed in summer months when dengue infections in humans were low suggesting that dengue viruses adopt a novel strategy of surviving adverse climatic conditions.

Evaluation of antiaggressive activity of Eclipta alba in experimental animals.

The occurrence of aggression for prolonged periods of time could have a hazardous impact on the health and social wellbeing of the individual. Aggression can ensue due to exposure to an intimidating situation. Aggression is prominently seen when a disturbance occurs in the fine balance of neurotransmitters such as 5-hydroxytryptamine, gamma- aminobutyric acid, dopamine and their receptor subtypes. The present study investigated the ability of 100 and 200mg/kg of aqueous extract of Eclipta alba to circumvent aggression. Foot shock induced aggression and water competition test were utilized as models for screening of antiaggressive activity. Eclipta alba significantly minimized dominance (p<0.05) which is correlated to the level of aggression particularly with 200mg/kg in the water competition test. A tangible behavioral submission was observed with 100 and 200mg/kg and of Eclipta alba in the foot shock induced test.

Multi-criteria decision making approach and experimental design as chemometric tools to optimize HPLC separation of domperidone and pantoprazole.

This paper deals with multiple response simultaneous optimization using the Derringer's desirability function for the development of a reversed-phase HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of domperidone and pantoprazole in commercial pharmaceutical preparations. Twenty experiments, taking the retention factor of the first peak, the two resolutions, and three retention times as the responses with three important factors, mobile phase composition, buffer molarity and flow rate, were used to design mathematical models. The experimental responses were fitted into a second order polynomial and the six responses simultaneously optimized to predict the optimum conditions for the effective separation of the studied compounds. The optimum assay conditions were: methanol-acetonitrile-dipotassium hydrogen phosphate (pH 7.0; 15.3 mM) (20:33:47, v/v/v) as the mobile phase and at a flow rate of 1.19 ml/min. While using this optimum condition, baseline separation with a minimum resolution of 2.0 and a run time of less than 6 min were achieved. The method showed good agreement between the experimental data and predictive value throughout the studied parameter space. The optimized assay condition was validated according to ICH guidelines to confirm specificity, linearity, accuracy and precision.

Enhancement of bioavailability and anthelmintic efficacy of albendazole by solid dispersion and cyclodextrin complexation techniques.

The objective of this study was to improve the oral bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of albendazole (ABZ) employing solid dispersion and cyclodextrin complexation techniques. Solid dispersion (dispersion) was prepared using ABZ and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) polymer (1:1 weight ratio). Ternary inclusion complex (ternary complex) was prepared using ABZ, hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin (HPbetaCD) and L-tartaric acid (1:1:1 molar ratio). In rabbits with high gastric acidity (gastric pH approximately 1), ternary complex and solid dispersion showed a bioavailability enhancement of 3.2 and 2.4 fold respectively, compared to a commercial suspension (p < 0.05). The rise in gastric pH (pH > 5) caused a 62% reduction in AUC (area under the plasma level curve) for the commercial suspension, whereas the reduction in case of PVP dispersion and ternary complex was only 43% and 37% respectively. The rapid absorption of the drug from solid dispersion and ternary complex was reflected in improved anthelmintic efficacy against the systemic phases of Trichinella spiralis. The ternary complex was significantly more efficient than solid dispersion and exhibited the highest larvicidal activity (90%) at a dose of 50 mg x kg(-1) (p < 0.05). These results suggest that the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of the ternary complex might be high even if there is a great variation in the gastric pH.

Investigation on the effect of eclipta alba on animal models of learning and memory.

Short and long term memory loss may result from deteriorating cerebral mechanisms due to varied causes which could have a tremendous impact on the quality of life. Herbs are being constantly explored to resolve cognitive deficits. Eclipta alba (Ea) commonly called as the trailing Eclipta is being examined for its memory enhancing quality as it is traditionally used for this purpose. The shade dried leaves of Eclipta alba was extracted with distilled water. The suspension of Ea containing 100 and 200 mg/kg was administered to rats to evaluate Transfer Latency (TL) on an elevated plus maze. TL was a measure of acquisition and retrieval learning. Mice were placed at the center of open field apparatus to assess spatial habitual learning, observed for 20 minutes for rearing and time spent during rearing using varied doses for 30 minutes, 24 hours and 96 hours and 144 hrs. The results revealed significant improvement of retrieval memory.

Extended Hansen's solubility approach: meloxicam in individual solvents.

The solubility behaviour of meloxicam in individual solvents ranging from non-polar to highly polar was studied. For understanding the solute-solvent interactions, partial solubility parameters concept was utilized. The extended Hansen's method was used for analyzing the solubility data and for obtaining partial solubility parameters of meloxicam. The analysis was not successful though correlations were 81%. The Flory-Huggins size correction term 'B' was found to improve the prediction of solubility. The correlations were high (92%) and total solubility parameter was 11.6 H. The four-parameter approach involving proton-donor and proton-acceptor parameters was also used in fitting the solubility data. The correlations were appreciable (87%) and total solubility parameter was 11.2 H. The term 'B' combined with four-parameter approach was also used in order to improve the data, and was found to be improved the correlations (R2=0.94). This new approach may thus be used in fitting the experimental solubility data and to predict solubility behaviour of meloxicam in untested solvents. The total solubility parameter of meloxicam was assigned at 11.2 H.

Inhibition of albendazole crystallization in poly(vinylpyrrolidone) solid molecular dispersions.

The main aim of the study was to investigate the mechanisms of the stabilizing effect of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) on amorphous albendazole (ABZ). Solid dispersions of ABZ with PVP polymers and with a copolymer containing poly(vinylacetate) (PVP/VA) were prepared using the solvent casting method. The effects of PVP molecular weight, composition and content on the crystallization of ABZ from the amorphous state were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry. Stability of the amorphous drug with respect to isothermal crystallization was studied at different polymer concentrations and storage temperatures. Solid dispersions were found to be X-ray amorphous and exhibited a single glass transition temperature (Tg). Onset of crystallization and extent of inhibition increased with concentration and molecular weight of the homopolymer. In spite of its having a higher molecular weight, replacement of about 40% of vinylpyrrolidone monomers with vinylacetate groups (as in the copolymer) resulted in reduced inhibition of crystallization. ABZ crystallized from the amorphous state in the absence of polymer even when stored below the Tg. The solvent casting method greatly reduced the requirement for polymer to achieve X-ray amorphous solid dispersions. Such dispersions exhibited a significant increase in induction time and reduction in the rate of crystallization at polymer concentrations as low as 5% and at temperatures as high as 70 degrees C. Factors other than mobility, such as drug-polymer hydrogen bonding' were also found to be involved in crystallization inhibition.

Studies on antipyretic and anti-inflammatory activities of Scaevola frutescens.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects of a methanolic extract of Scaevola frutescens leaves by carrageenan-induced paw edema and yeast-induced pyrexia in rats. The plant extract showed a significant reduction in yeast-induced hyperthermia and carrageenan induced paw edema and the effects were comparable to the standard drugs, paracetamol and indomethacin respectively.

Hypolipidemic effect of methanolic extract of Dolichos biflorus Linn. in high fat diet fed rats.

High fat diet fed rats showed significant increased levels of plasma and tissue total cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids, phospholipids, plasma LDL cholesterol and decreased level of plasma HDL cholesterol. Methanolic extract of D. biflorus administration to high fat diet fed rats showed near to normal levels of the above lipids in plasma and tissues. Higher dose of the extract (400 mg/kg body weight) showed comparable results with standard drug atorvastatin. It is concluded that the methanolic extract of D. biflorus possesses hypolipidemic activity in high fat diet fed rats.

Effect of dietary protein on vitamin A levels in plasma and liver of hypervitaminotic-A rats.

Level of vitamin A increased in plasma and liver in hypervitaminotic A albino rats fed normal quantity of protein in diet. In low protein fed state vitamin A level in liver increased due to accumulation of vitamin A and lack of carrier protein with an associated decrease of plasma vitamin A. In high protein fed rats the level of vitamin A in plasma increased due to enhanced transport while in liver it decreased. The results indicate that for normal transport of vitamin A adequate plasma protein level is essential.

Erythrocyte, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in hypervitaminotic A rats and their modification by dietary protein.

Rats fed excess vitamin A showed decreased body weight gain and protein efficiency ratio. In rats fed low protein vitamin A level increased in liver but with an associated decrease in plasma. These changes were reversed in high protein fed state. The amount of protein in diet had little effect on haemoglobin level in erythrocyte, but excess vitamin A in diet significantly decreased haemoglobin level in erythrocyte. Lipid peroxidation (LP) increased in rats fed low protein and decreased in high protein fed rats. Rats fed high protein and excess vitamin A showed minimum level of LP. Result showed that high protein in diet increased the levels of antioxidant enzymes, catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and that excess vitamin A supplementation functions synergistically with high protein in diet to increase antioxidant enzymes level.