Nanoencapsulation and characterisation of Hypericum perforatum for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

AIM: This work aimed to encapsulate Hypericum perforatum extract (HPE) into nanophytosomes (NPs) and assess the therapeutic efficacy of this nanocarrier in neuropathic pain induced by partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL). METHODS: Hydroalcoholic extract of Hypericum perforatum was prepared and encapsulated into NPs by thin layer hydration method. Particle size, zeta potential, TEM, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), entrapment efficiency (%EE), and loading capacity (LC) of NPs were reported. The biochemical and histopathological examinations were measured in the sciatic nerve. RESULTS: Particle size, zeta potential, %EE, and LC were 104.7 ± 1.529 nm, -8.93 ± 1.71 mV, 87.23 ± 1.3%, and 53.12 ± 1.7%, respectively. TEM revealed well-formed and distinct vesicles. NPHPE (NPs of HPE) was significantly more effective than HPE in reducing PSNL-inducing pain. Antioxidant levels and sciatic nerve histology were reversed to normal with NPHPE. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that encapsulating HPE with phytosomes is an effective therapeutic approach for neuropathic pain.

Assessment of radon, thoron, and their progeny concentrations in the dwellings of Shivalik hills of Jammu and Kashmir, India.

The present work determines the contents of active and passive indoor 222Rn, 220Rn, and their daughter in the 32 houses of the Reasi district of J&K, India. The passive 222Rn and 220Rn concentration was measured by dosimeters, whereas the active content was measured by active radon monitor. Progeny sensors and integrated samplers were operated for the evaluation of passive and active daughter contents of 222Rn and 220Rn. The measured averaged values of indoor 220Rn and 222Rn were 73 ± 40 and 22 ± 8 Bqm-3, respectively. The radon and thoron equilibrium factor has varied from 0.3 to 1.7 and from 0.006 to 0.6. The fine fraction of the above-mentioned gases was also calculated. The results of Mann-Whitney test statistically demonstrated significant differences between the content of indoor 222Rn, 220Rn, and their daughter for different seasons. The values of 222Rn, 220Rn, and their daughter content were appeared to be elevated in set of mud houses among all sets of houses. The values of all daughter concentration and indoor 222Rn were appeared to lie within the limit proposed by various agencies. The total doses were detected less than range commended by ICRP that suggested the district is safe as a health hazard point of view.

Age-dependent ingestion and inhalation doses due to intake of uranium and radon in water samples of Shiwalik Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir, India.

The research work involved the ingestion and inhalation doses due to the intake of radon and uranium through water samples used by the inhabitants, measured in the villages of the Shiwalik Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The uranium concentration in collected water samples was assessed by LED fluorimetric technique. All values of doses were found to be below the proposed limit of 100 µSv year-1 for all age categories except for infants due to the high-dose conversion factor. The annual effective doses for the various body organs due to the intake of radon was also calculated and found the maximum dose for lungs than other organs. The concentration of radon in water samples was assessed by Smart Rn Duo portable monitor and compared with RAD7. Statistical analysis was carried out and the Shapiro and Wilk (Biometrika, 52(3/4), 591-611, 1965) test has been also used for the distribution of the data. The physicochemical parameters were also measured in the collected water samples.

Assessment of radon concentration and heavy metal contamination in groundwater of Udhampur district, Jammu & Kashmir, India.

Radon concentration was measured in water samples of 41 different locations from Udhampur district of Jammu & Kashmir, India, by using RAD7 and Smart RnDuo monitor. The variation of radon concentration in water ranged from 1.44 ± 0.31 to 63.64 ± 2.88 Bq L-1, with a mean value of 28.73 Bq L-1 using RAD7 and 0.64 ± 0.28 to 52.65 ± 2.50 Bq L-1, with a mean value of 20.30 Bq L-1 using Smart RnDuo monitor, respectively. About 17.07% of the studied water samples recorded to display elevated radon concentration above the reference range suggested by United Nation Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiations (UNSCEAR). The mean annual effective dose of these samples was determined, and 78.95% samples were found to be within the safe limits set by World Health Organisation (WHO) and European Council (EU). The study revealed good agreement between the values obtained with two methods. Heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Fe, Cu, Ni, As, Hg, Co, Pb and Cr) were determined in water samples by microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometer, and their correlation with radon content was also analysed.

Attached, unattached fraction of progeny concentrations and equilibrium factor for dose assessments from (222)Rn and (220)Rn.

In this study, measurements of indoor radon ((222)Rn), thoron ((220)Rn) and their equilibrium equivalent concentration (EEC) were carried out in 96 dwellings from 22 different villages situated in Hamirpur district, Himachal Pradesh, India, by using LR-115 type II-based pinhole twin cup dosimeters and deposition-based progeny sensors (DRPS/DTPS). The annual average indoor (222)Rn and (220)Rn concentrations observed in these dwellings were 63.82 and 89.59 Bq/m(3), respectively, while the average EEC (attached + unattached) for (222)Rn and (220)Rn was 29.28 and 2.74 Bq/m(3). For (222)Rn (f Rn) and (220)Rn (f Tn), the average values of unattached fraction were 0.11 and 0.09, respectively. The equilibrium factors for radon (F Rn) and thoron (F Tn) varied from 0.12 to 0.77 with an average of 0.50, and from 0.01 to 0.34 with an average of 0.05, respectively. The annual inhalation dose due to mouth and nasal breathing was calculated using dose conversion factors and unattached fractions. The indoor annual effective doses for (222)Rn (AEDR) and (220)Rn (AEDT) were found to be 1.92 and 0.83 mSv a(-1), respectively. The values of (222)Rn/(220)Rn concentrations and annual effective doses obtained in the present study are within the safe limits as recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection for indoor dwelling exposure conditions.

A CFD-based approach to study the deposition and distribution behaviour of 212Pb in a calibration chamber.

Among the several aspects of decay products behavior, deposition is of special significance because of its prominent role in the activity removal from the environment, which eventually results in the occurrence of decay product disequilibrium with the parent gas. This point is particularly important in case of thoron dosimetry where thoron progeny 212Pb accounts for the most of the radiological dose. The deposition depends on the size distribution of decay products and the structure of air turbulence at the air-surface interface. In the present work, the effect of varying air-flow (fan speed) and aerosol count median diameter (CMD) was studied on the deposition and distribution profile of 212Pb using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The simulations have been carried out in a cubical calibration chamber of volume 8 m3, facilitated at RP&AD, BARC. Simulated results showed that the increase of total depositional loss rate of attached fraction of 212Pb due to increase of the fan speed was significant for CMD up to 400 nm, beyond which this effect started becoming less prominent with increasing diameter. Besides, a minimum of the total depositional loss rate curve was seen to be shifted to the higher CMD with increase of the fan speed. CFD results were found to be in good agreement with experimental observations obtained in the controlled conditions with thoron source.

A case study on seasonal and annual average indoor radon, thoron, and their progeny level in Kohima district, Nagaland, India.

Indoor radon and thoron survey has been carried out in 50 dwellings under Kohima district, Nagaland, India, using the latest measurement technology. The survey has been carried out for a one-year period in 3 different seasons, and the dwellings were selected according to the building materials used for construction. Indoor radon and thoron concentrations, as well as their progeny, followed a predictable pattern with greater levels in the winter and lower levels in the summer. Concrete housing had greater radon and thoron concentrations than bamboo and semi-wood/bamboo homes. The equilibrium factor (E.F.) and inhalation dose due to radon, thoron, and their corresponding progeny were also studied in the present study.

PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 size fraction distribution under steady-state conditions in a walk-in type 222Rn calibration chamber facility.

Attachment of 222Rn progenies, upon their formation, to the atmospheric aerosols and inhalation of these radioactive aerosols causes inhalation dose to the human being. Aerosols have the characteristics of small particle size, long-time suspension and long-distance transmission and easy access to the deep respiratory tract. Aerosols are responsible for viral infection risk such as the recent worldwide pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2, or COVID-19). Understanding the formation and behaviour of aerosols in a confined environment in various human habitations is essential to combat such detrimental exposures. Experiments have been performed to study the distribution of aerosol size fractions in the walk-in type 222Rn calibration chamber. The real-time applied particle technology monitors (APT-Maxima stationary monitors) were used for the simultaneous measurements of PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 size fractions. The variation of the mass densities (µg m-3) of different size fractions at different positions inside the chamber was monitored by placing APTs. The PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 sizes fractions were distributed homogeneously within the chamber volume and the concentration ratios of these fractions were 1:1.5:1.6 for concentration values of < 1500 µg m-3, and 1:7:9 for the concentration values of > 1500 µg m-3.

Rubia cordifolia L. Attenuates Diabetic Neuropathy by Inhibiting Apoptosis and Oxidative Stress in Rats.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic neuropathy is a debilitating manifestation of long-term diabetes mellitus. The present study explored the effects of the roots of Rubia cordifolia L. (R. cordifolia L.) in the Wistar rat model for diabetic neuropathy and possible neuroprotective, antidiabetic, and analgesic mechanisms underlying this effect. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were divided into five experimental groups. An amount of 0.25% carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) in saline and streptozotocin (STZ) (60 mg/kg) was given to group 1 and group 2, respectively. Group 3 was treated with STZ and glibenclamide simultaneously while groups 4 and 5 were simultaneously treated with STZ and hydroalcoholic extract of the root of R. cordifolia, respectively. Hot plate and cold allodynias were used to evaluate the pain threshold. The antioxidant effects of R. cordifolia were assessed by measuring Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). At the end of the study, sciatic nerve and brain tissues were collected for histopathological study. Bcl-2 proteins, cleaved caspase-3, and Bax were assessed through the Western blot method. RESULTS: R. cordifolia significantly attenuated paw withdrawal and tail flick latency in diabetic neuropathic rats. R. cordifolia significantly (p < 0.01) improved the levels of oxidative stress. It was found to decrease blood glucose levels and to increase animal weight in R. cordifolia-treated groups. Treatment with R. cordifolia suppressed the cleaved caspase-3 and reduced the Bax:Bcl2 ratio in sciatic nerve and brain tissue compared to the diabetic group. Histopathological analysis also revealed a marked improvement in architecture and loss of axons in brain and sciatic nerve tissues at a higher dose of R. cordifolia (400 mg/kg). CONCLUSION: R. cordifolia attenuated diabetic neuropathy through its antidiabetic and analgesic properties by ameliorating apoptosis and oxidative stress.

A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON INDOOR RADON, THORON AND THEIR PROGENY LEVEL IN DIMAPUR DISTRICT OF NAGALAND, INDIA.

Indoor radon (222Rn), thoron (220Rn) and their progeny concentrations were detected in several homes in Dimapur district, Nagaland, utilizing Direct Radon and Thoron progeny sensors based on solid-state Nuclear Track Detectors (Type-2 film) and pinhole type radon-thoron discriminating dosemeters. For three separate seasons, the annual inhalation dose has been determined in 80 residences in the research regions. The residences were chosen to have various types of housing, such as concrete, semi-wood/bamboo and bamboo, with varying levels of ventilation that contribute to indoor 222Rn, 220Rn and their progeny. The inhalation dose in the survey area lies between 0.33 and 3.04 mSvy-1 and is within the reference value as suggested by ICRP, 2018.

EFFECT OF AIR VELOCITY ON INHALATION DOSES DUE TO RADON AND THORON PROGENY IN A TEST CHAMBER.

Inhalation doses due to radon and thoron are predominantly due to the inhalation of progeny of Radon and Thoron. The progeny/decay-products of radon and thoron are particulates unlike their parent gas and exhibit different physical properties like attachment to the aerosols and deposition on different surfaces. All these properties in turn depend on the environmental conditions such as air velocity, aerosol concentration, attachment rate, etc. The role of air velocity on deposition on surfaces decides the progeny particles left in the air for inhalation. Therefore, in the present work, we have studied the effect of air velocity on the inhalation dose due to radon and thoron progeny at the centre of a 0.5-m3 calibration chamber as well as on all surfaces. Hence, the studies were carried out at different air velocities, and inhalation doses were measured using deposition-based direct radon and thoron progeny sensors.

EFFECTIVE DOSES ESTIMATED FROM THE RESULTS OF DIRECT RADON AND THORON PROGENY SENSORS (DRPS/DTPS), EXPOSED IN SELECTED REGIONS OF BALKANS.

The main contribution to population exposure is due to radon and thoron progenies and not radon itself. The aim of this study was therefore to estimate annual effective dose using the results of Direct Radon and Thoron Progeny Sensors were exposed in 69 selected schools and 319 dwellings in several regions of Balkans: in Serbia: regions of Sokobanja and Kosovo and Metohija, Republic of Macedonia, Republic of Srpska and Slovenia. Obtained average total effective doses are in the range from 0.22 mSv a-1 (schools in Republic of Srpska) to 2.5 mSv a-1 (dwellings in Kosovo) and are below the reference level of 10 mSv a-1 recommended by International Commission on Radiological Protection.

Assessment of progeny concentrations of 222Rn/220Rn and their related doses using deposition-based direct progeny sensors.

Indoor radon and thoron concentrations in the domestic environment result in natural radiation exposure to the public due to the inhalation of their short-lived decay products. Keeping this in view, the annual effective dose and other radiation risks due to radon/thoron progenies have been calculated. In this study, newly developed time deposition-based progeny sensors (DTPS/DRPS) were used for long-term passive determination of progeny concentrations in the environment of Jammu and Kashmir, Himalayas, India. The total equilibrium equivalent radon (EECRA + U) and thoron (EECTA + U) concentrations ("A" and "U" referring to attached and unattached fractions) were found to vary from 5 to 38 Bq m-3 with an average value of 18 Bq m-3 and from 0.48 to 5.49 Bq m-3 with an average value of 1.69 Bq m-3, respectively. The aerosol concentration, equilibrium factors, and unattached fractions for radon and thoron progeny have been estimated in normal living conditions and their dependence on each others have also been studied. The annual equilibrium factor for radon and thoron progeny has been determined from the calculated data. The estimated annual effective dose due to radon progeny (0.34 to 2.42 mSv y-1) and thoron progeny (0.13 to 1.54 mSv y-1) is found to be below the world's recommended level. Based on measurements of mean values of the unattached fraction, dose conversion factors (DCFs) in units of mSv per working level month (WLM) has been calculated and the average calculated values of DCFs are 24, 10, and 13 mSv WLM-1. The variability of equilibrium factor and radon/thoron progeny with different seasons, ventilation conditions, and types of houses were also analyzed.

Comparative Study of Radon Concentration with Two Techniques and Elemental Analysis in Drinking Water Samples of the Jammu District, Jammu and Kashmir, India.

The level of radon concentration has been assessed using the Advanced SMART RnDuo technique in 30 drinking water samples from Jammu district, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The water samples were collected from wells, hand pumps, submersible pumps, and stored waters. The randomly obtained 14 values of radon concentration in water sources using the SMART RnDuo technique have been compared and cross checked by a RAD7 device. A good positive correlation (R = 0.88) has been observed between the two techniques. The overall value of radon concentration in various water sources has ranged from 2.45 to 18.43 Bq L, with a mean value of 8.24 ± 4.04 Bq L, and it agreed well with the recommended limit suggested by the European Commission and UNSCEAR. However, the higher activity of mean radon concentration was found in groundwater drawn from well, hand and submersible pumps as compared to stored water. The total annual effective dose due to radon inhalation and ingestion ranged from 6.69 to 50.31 µSv y with a mean value of 22.48 ± 11.03 µSv y. The total annual effective dose was found to lie within the safe limit (100 µSv y) suggested by WHO. Heavy metal analysis was also carried out in various water sources by using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS), and the highest value of heavy metals was found mostly in groundwater samples. The obtained results were compared with Indian and International organizations like WHO and the EU Council. Among all the samples, the elemental analysis is not on the exceeding side of the permissible limit.

Assessment of indoor radon, thoron concentrations, and their relationship with seasonal variation and geology of Udhampur district, Jammu & Kashmir, India.

Background The inhalation doses resulting from the exposure to radon, thoron, and their progeny are important quantities in estimating the radiation risk for epidemiological studies as the average global annual effective dose due to radon and its progeny is 1.3 mSv as compared to that of 2.4 mSv due to all other natural sources of ionizing radiation. Objectives The annual inhalation dose has been assessed with an aim of investigating the health risk to the inhabitants of the studied region. Methods Time integrated deposition based 222Rn/220Rn sensors have been used to measure concentrations in 146 dwellings of Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir. An active smart RnDuo monitor has also been used for comparison purposes. Results The range of indoor radon/thoron concentrations is found to vary from 11 to 58 Bqm-3 with an average value of 29 ± 9 Bqm-3 and from 25 to 185 Bqm-3 with an average value of 83 ± 32 Bqm-3, respectively. About 10.7% dwellings have higher values than world average of 40 Bqm-3 prescribed by UNSCEAR. The relationship of indoor radon and thoron levels with different seasons, ventilation conditions, and different geological formations have been discussed. Conclusions The observed values of concentrations and average annual effective dose due to radon, thoron, and its progeny in the study area have been found to be below the recommended level of ICRP. The observed concentrations of 222Rn and 220Rn measured with active and passive techniques are found to be in good agreement.

Inhalation Dose and Source Term Studies in a Tribal Area of Wayanad, Kerala, India.

Among radiation exposure pathways to human beings, inhalation dose is the most prominent one. Radon, thoron, and their progeny contribute more than 50 per cent to the annual effective dose due to natural radioactivity. South west coast of India is classified as a High Natural Background Radioactivity Area and large scale data on natural radioactivity and dosimetry are available from these coastal regions including the Neendakara-Chavara belt in the south of Kerala. However, similar studies and reports from the northern part of Kerala are scarce. The present study involves the data collection and analysis of radon, thoron, and progeny concentration in the Wayanad district of Kerala. The radon concentration was found to be within a range of 12-378 Bq/m3. The thoron concentration varied from 15 to 621 Bq/m3. Progeny concentration of radon and thoron and the diurnal variation of radon were also studied. In order to assess source term, wall and floor exhalation studies have been done for the houses showing elevated concentration of radon and thoron. The average values of radon, thoron, and their progeny are found to be above the Indian average as well as the average values reported from the High Natural Background Radioactivity Areas of Kerala. Exhalation studies of the soil samples collected from the vicinity of the houses show that radon mass exhalation rate varied from below detectable limit (BDL) to a maximum of 80 mBq/kg/h. The thoron surface exhalation rate ranged from BDL to 17470 Bq/m2/h.

Radon and thoron inhalation doses in dwellings with earthen architecture: Comparison of measurement methods.

The radioactive noble gas radon (222Rn) and its decay products have been considered a health risk in the indoor environment for many years because of their contribution to the radiation dose of the lungs. The radioisotope thoron (220Rn) and its decay products came into focus of being a health risk only recently. The reason for this is its short half-life, so only building material can become a significant source for indoor thoron. In this study, dwellings with earthen architecture were investigated with different independent measurement techniques in order to determine appropriate methods for reliable dose assessment of the dwellers. While for radon dose assessment, radon gas measurement and the assumption of a common indoor equilibrium factor often are sufficient, thoron gas has proven to be an unreliable surrogate for a direct measurement of thoron decay products. Active/time-resolved but also passive/integrating measurements of the total concentration of thoron decay products demonstrated being precise and efficient methods for determining the exposure and inhalation dose from thoron and its decay products. Exhalation rate measurements are a useful method for a rough dose estimate only if the exhalation rate is homogeneous throughout the house. Before the construction of a building in-vitro exhalation rate measurements on the building material can yield information about the exposure that is to be expected. Determining the unattached fraction of radon decay products and even more of thoron decay products leads to only a slightly better precision; this confirms the relative unimportance of the unattached thoron decay products due to their low concentration. The results of this study thereby give advice on the proper measurement method in similar exposure situations.

MEASUREMENT OF RADON, THORON AND THEIR PROGENY CONCENTRATIONS IN THE DWELLINGS OF PAURI GARHWAL, UTTARAKHAND, INDIA.

It is well known that inhalation of radon, thoron and their progeny contributes more than 50 % of natural background radiation dose to human being. The time-integrated passive measurements of radon, thoron and their progeny concentrations were carried out in the dwellings of Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India. The measurements of radon and thoron concentrations were performed by LR-115 detector-based single-entry pin-hole dosemeter, while for the measurement of progeny concentrations, LR-115 deposition-based direct radon and thoron progeny sensors technique was used. The experimental techniques and results obtained are discussed in detail.

STUDY OF RADIATION EXPOSURE DUE TO RADON, THORON AND PROGENY IN THE INDOOR ENVIRONMENT OF YAMUNA AND TONS VALLEYS OF GARHWAL HIMALAYA.

Long-term measurements of indoor radon, thoron and their progeny concentrations have been carried out in dwellings of Yamuna and Tons Valleys of Uttarkashi, Garhwal Himalaya to investigate the health risk associated with inhalation of radon, thoron and progeny. The experimentally determined values of radon, thoron and progeny concentrations were used to estimate the annual inhalation doses and annual effective doses. The annual inhalation dose has been found to vary from 0.8 to 3.9 mSv y-1 with an average of 1.8 mSv y-1 The annual effective dose from the exposure to radon and its progeny in the study area has been found to vary from 0.1 to 2.4 mSv with an average of 1.2±0.6 mSv. Similarly, the annual effective dose due to thoron and its progeny has been found to vary from 0.2 to 1.5 mSv with an average of 0.6±0.4. The measurement techniques and results obtained are discussed in detail.

INNOVATIVE EASY-TO-USE PASSIVE TECHNIQUE FOR 222RN AND 220RN DECAY PRODUCT DETECTION.

The decay products of radon and thoron are essentially the radioisotopes of polonium, bismuth and lead, and are solid particulates, which deposit in different parts of the respiratory tract upon inhalation, subsequently emitting high-energy alpha particles upon their radioactive decay. Development of passive deposition-based direct progeny sensors known as direct radon and thoron progeny sensors have provided an easy-to-use technique for time-integrated measurements of the decay products only. These dosemeters are apt for large-scale population dosimetry to assign inhalation doses to the public. The paper gives an insight into the technique, the calibration, comparison with the prevalently used active grab filter paper sampling technique, alpha track diameter analysis in these progeny sensors, progeny deposition velocity measurements carried out using these detector systems in the indoor as well as outdoor environment, and applications of these sensors for time-integrated unattached fraction estimation.