AIMS: Local failure remains the major concern in grade 4 glioma or glioblastoma (GBM). Pilot studies have shown a radiotherapy (RT) dose-response relationship in GBM. Here we present our preliminary data of RT dose escalation using 68Ga-Pentixafor PET scan. High 68Ga-pentixafor uptake in glioma cells helps in sharp demarcation between tumour and normal brain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This phase II prospective study was conducted from 2018 to 2020. Thirty, biopsy-proven cases of grade 4 glioma were included. All patients underwent post-operative MRI of the brain and 68Ga-Pentixafor PET scan. RT was planned in 2-phases. Phase-1 GTV (GTV1) comprised of T2/flair abnormality, PET-avid disease and post-op cavity. A margin of 2cm was given to GTV-1 to create phase-1 CTV (CTV1), which was further expanded to 0.5cm to generate phase-1 PTV (PTV1). A radiation dose of 46Gy/23fr was prescribed to PTV-1. Phase-2 GTV (GTV2) consisted of CT/MRI contrast-enhancing lesion, PET avid disease and post-op cavity. A margin of 0.5 cm was given to GTV2 to create phase-2 CTV (CTV2) which was expanded to 0.5 cm to create phase-2 PTV (PTV2). RT dose of 14 Gy/7 fr was prescribed to PTV2. PET avid disease was delineated as GTV PET and a margin of 3mm was given to generate PTV-PET which received escalated RT dose of 21 Gy/7fr by simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) in phase 2 (Total dose to PTV PET = 67 Gy/30 fr). All patients received concurrent and adjuvant temozolomide. The data was prospectively maintained in Microsoft Excel sheet. SPSS v 23 was used for statistical analysis. The primary endpoints were estimation of the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), and secondary endpoint was to measure the incidence of radiation necrosis. Categorical variables were reported as frequency and percentage and quantitative variables were reported as median and range. RESULTS: Data from thirty patients were analysed. A median OS of 23 months was observed with estimated 1, 2 and 3 years OS of 90%, 40% and 17.8% respectively. A significant association of OS was seen with the extent of surgery (p = 0.04) and kernofsky performance status (p = 0.007). No patient developed significant radiation necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: The index study did not show any survival benefit from dose escalation RT. However, all of the patients tolerated the treatment well and none of them developed radiation necrosis. Considering the small sample size as a limitation of the index study, the role of 68Ga-pentixafor PET scan for radiation dose escalation should be further explored. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: CTRI/2019/05/019146.
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are being used to prevent, detect, and treat a broad spectrum of malignancies and infectious and autoimmune diseases. Over the past few years, the market for mAbs has grown exponentially. They have become a significant part of many pharmaceutical product lines, and more than 250 therapeutic mAbs are undergoing clinical trials. Ever since the advent of hybridoma technology, antibody-based therapeutics were realized using murine antibodies which further progressed into humanized and fully human antibodies, reducing the risk of immunogenicity. Some of the benefits of using mAbs over conventional drugs include a drastic reduction in the chances of adverse reactions, interactions between drugs, and targeting specific proteins. While antibodies are very efficient, their higher production costs impede the process of commercialization. However, their cost factor has been improved by developing biosimilar antibodies, which are affordable versions of therapeutic antibodies. Along with biosimilars, innovations in antibody engineering have helped to design bio-better antibodies with improved efficacy than the conventional ones. These novel mAb-based therapeutics are set to revolutionize existing drug therapies targeting a wide spectrum of diseases, thereby meeting several unmet medical needs. In the future, mAbs generated by applying next-generation sequencing (NGS) are expected to become a powerful tool in clinical therapeutics. This article describes the methods of mAb production, pre-clinical and clinical development of mAbs, approved indications targeted by mAbs, and novel developments in the field of mAb research.
Context: Glucose uptake may be considered the rate-limiting step for the growth and metabolism of the cancer cell. Studies on GLUT1 have shown that GLUT1 is involved in cell survival and proliferation in both healthy and pathological circumstances. GLUT1 expression is regarded as one of the crucial elements in the development of local aggressiveness, tumour invasiveness, and metastasis, particularly in malignant tumours. The role of glut1 in odontogenic cysts and tumours has remained uncertain. Aim: The aim of the study is to assess the expression of Glut1 in dentigerous cysts, odontogenic keratocysts, and ameloblastoma. Settings and Design: The study was conducted in GSL Dental College. The study design was a resprospective immunohistochemical study. Methods and Material: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks of histologically confirmed cases (n = 50), 10 cases of odontogenic keratocysts, dentigerous cysts, ameloblastomas solid, ameloblastomas unicystic, and dental follicles each. Brown colour staining was considered as positive staining for GLUT1. Quantitative analysis was performed by counting the number of labelled cells, and semi-quantitative analysis was conducted by assigning immunostaining intensity scores. Statistical Analysis: Chi-square test was used to compare differences between the groups. A P value of ≤0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Odontogenic keratocysts and unicystic ameloblastoma showed ≥50% of label cells with strong intensity of staining. Odontogenic keratocysts and solid ameloblastoma showed sub-cellular localisation of staining in the cytoplasm and membrane. Dentigerous cysts exhibited combined nucleus, cytoplasm, and membrane sub-cellular localisation of staining. Conclusions: The development of ameloblastomas, odontogenic keratocysts, and dentigerous cysts appears to be influenced by GLUT-1. Variation in its expression may aid in explanation of some of the differences in biological activity of these lesions.
Introduction: Arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a very commonly done procedure in recent times. There is a need for a long-term outcome study of ACL reconstruction with a comparison between different types of fixation techniques. The graft fixation methods vary from aperture fixation (interference screws) to suspensory fixation methods (endobutton). Failure of graft incorporation and the development of tunnel widening (TW) after ACL reconstruction have been frequently reported in the long term in present literature. TW especially complicates revision ACL surgery. This is a prospective non-randomized clinical study of arthroscopic ACL reconstruction comparing the functional results between aperture fixation and suspensory fixation. Materials and Methods: Two groups of 14 patients who underwent autogenous hamstring ACL reconstruction with a minimum of 2-year follow-up evaluation were included in the study. The first group underwent aperture fixation with bioabsorbable interference screw at tibial and femoral side. The second group underwent suspensory fixation with endobutton fixation on the femoral side and biointerference screw on the tibial side. Both group patients were examined clinically before surgery, and at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and at 2 years. They were compared for functional outcome with Tegner Lysholm knee score. Observation and Results: There was a significant improvement in functional outcome in both the groups for base and at 3 months, also for 3 months and 6 months but for 6 months-1 year. Group 2 is almost significant. This improvement in outcome in Group 2 is consistent from 1 year to 2 years. Conclusion: In our prospective study comparing the outcomes of functional outcomes of ACL reconstruction with aperture fixation versus suspensory fixation on the femur, which was evaluated using Tegner Lysholm knee score over a period of 2 years, suspensory fixation was found to be better. However, further studies involving a larger series of cases are required for a better evaluation of the outcome.
ABSTRACT: A femoral hernia is an uncommon and acquired hernia in the groin. Its incidence in adults is 2%-8% of all abdominal wall hernias, and it has a female-to-male ratio of 1.8:1. It is usually found in elderly patients and is associated with increased morbidity due to delays in diagnosis leading to a high incidence of incarceration and strangulation. Accurate preoperative diagnosis of femoral hernia is challenging, especially in obese patients in whom a small femoral hernia can be hidden under the groin fat. Unlike an inguinal hernia, it rarely reduces on its own and if asymptomatic and small, is often unnoticed by the elderly obese patient. Femoral hernia is often unsuspected and overlooked in males as it is predominant among females. Delay in diagnosis can lead to intestinal gangrene and high morbidity. We present a case of an incarcerated left femoral hernia in an elderly obese male who presented with acute intestinal obstruction. He was managed with resection of the gangrenous segment and double barrel ileostomy. Although uncommon in males, a femoral hernia has a high incidence of strangulation, and therefore should always be ruled out as a cause of acute intestinal obstruction in elderly patients. Therefore, never forget to examine the groin in case of intestinal obstruction.
Hernia, Femoral , Intestinal Obstruction , Humans , Hernia, Femoral/surgery , Hernia, Femoral/diagnosis , Hernia, Femoral/complications , Male , Intestinal Obstruction/etiology , Intestinal Obstruction/diagnosis , Intestinal Obstruction/surgery , Aged , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Obesity/complications , Gangrene/diagnosis , Gangrene/surgery , Diagnosis, Differential
BSTS epitaxial thin film topological insulators were grown using the MBE technique on two different types of substrates i.e., Si (111) and SiC/graphene with Bi0.7Sb1.6Te1.8Se0.9 and Bi0.9Sb1.5Te1.8Se1.1, respectively. The crystallographic properties of BSTS films were investigated via X-ray diffraction, which showed the strongest reflections from the (0 0 l) facets corresponding to the rhombohedral phase. Superior epitaxial growth, homogeneous thickness, smooth surfaces, and larger unit cell parameters were observed for the films grown on the Si substrate. Polarization dependent Raman spectroscopy showed a weak appearance of the Ag mode in cross--polarized geometry. In contrast, a strong Eg mode was observed in both parallel and cross-polarized geometries which correspond to the rhombohedral crystal symmetry of BSTS films. A redshift of Ag and Eg modes was observed in the Raman spectra of BSTS films grown on the Si substrate, compared to those on SiC/graphene, which was directly associated with the unit cell parameter and composition of the films. Raman spectra showed four fundamental modes with asymmetric line shape, and deconvolution of the peaks resulted in additional modes in both the BSTS thin films. The sum of relative ratios of linewidths of fundamental modes (Ag and Eg) of BSTS films grown on Si substrate was lower, indicating a more ordered structure with lower contribution of defects as compared to BSTS film grown on SiC/graphene substrate.
Dental cement residues exacerbate peri-implant tissue irritation and peri-implantitis. The present study aims to evaluate the cytotoxicity, physiochemical, optical, and rheological properties of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) impregnated glass ionomer cement (GIC). Surface passivated fluorescent CQDs were synthesized using citric acid via thermal decomposition and blended with GIC. Characterization studies and rheological measurements were made to evaluate their performance. 3D-printed dental implant models cemented with GIC and GIC-CQD were compared to analyze excess cement residues. MTT assay was performed with human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) and statistically analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey's test. CQDs with a particle dimension of â¼2 nm were synthesized. The amorphous property of GIC-CQD was confirmed through XRD. The fluorescence properties of GIC-CQD showed three times higher emission intensity than conventional GIC. GIC-CQD attained maturation with a setting time extended by 64 s than GIC. Cement residue of size 2 mm was detected with a UV light excitation at a distance between 5 to 10 cm. Biocompatibility at 0.125 mg ml-1dilution concentrations of GIC-CQD showed viability greater than 80% to hDPSCs. For the first time, we report that CQDs-impregnated GIC is a unique and cost-effective strategy for in-situ detection of excess cement rapidly using a hand-held device. A novel in-situ rapid detection method enables the dentist to identify residual cement of size less than 2 mm during the implantation. Therefore, GIC-CQD would replace conventional GIC and help in the prevention of peri-implant diseases.
Carbon , Dental Pulp , Glass Ionomer Cements , Materials Testing , Quantum Dots , Quantum Dots/chemistry , Humans , Carbon/chemistry , Glass Ionomer Cements/chemistry , Dental Pulp/cytology , Cell Survival/drug effects , Dental Implants , Peri-Implantitis/prevention & control , Stem Cells/cytology , Printing, Three-Dimensional , Biocompatible Materials/chemistry , Rheology , Citric Acid/chemistry
The implementation of a laparoscope-holding robot in minimally invasive surgery enhances the efficiency and safety of the operation. However, the extra robot control task can increase the cognitive load on surgeons. A suitable interface may simplify the control task and reduce the surgeon load. Foot interfaces are commonly used for commanding laparoscope-holding robots, with two control strategies available: decoupled control permits only one Cartesian axis actuation, known as decoupled commands; hybrid control allows for both decoupled commands and multiple axes actuation, known as coupled commands. This paper aims to determine the optimal control strategy for foot interfaces by investigating two common assumptions in the literature: (1) Decoupled control is believed to result in better predictability of the final laparoscopic view orientation, and (2) Hybrid control has the efficiency advantage in laparoscope control. Our user study with 11 experienced and trainee surgeons shows that decoupled control has better predictability than hybrid control, while both approaches are equally efficient. In addition, using two surgery-like tasks in a simulator, users' choice of decoupled and coupled commands is analysed based on their level of surgical experience and the nature of the movement. Results show that trainee surgeons tend to issue more commands than the more experienced participants. Single decoupled commands were frequently used in small view adjustments, while a mixture of coupled and decoupled commands was preferred in larger view adjustments. A guideline for foot interface control strategy selection is provided.
Laparoscopy , Robotic Surgical Procedures , Surgeons , Humans , Laparoscopy/methods , Laparoscopy/instrumentation , Robotic Surgical Procedures/methods , Laparoscopes , Robotics/methods , Foot/surgery
Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a highly contagious disease with profound health implications. It can affect any part of the body with variable severity. Various ophthalmic manifestations of coronavirus disease have been documented. Case Presentations. We reported three cases of outer retinopathies associated with COVID-19 infection. All three patients were young females. The first two patients presented within days of COVID-19 infection with complaints of black spots in the eyes. Multimodal retinal imaging showed lesions consistent with acute macular neuroretinopathy. Lesions were bilateral in the first patient and unilateral in the second one. Our third patient presented with blurred vision in one eye, 3 months after a suspected COVID-19 infection. Retinal imaging showed outer retinopathy. Our patients' vision was good and maintained during the follow-up. All three were monitored on observation only, and symptoms and lesions improved with time. Conclusion: In conclusion, COVID-19-related thromboinflammatory response can result in localized vascular inflammation and hypoperfusion in any of the retinal capillary plexuses or choriocapillaris resulting in ischemia of the corresponding retinal or choroidal layers.
Theobaldia indica Edwards, 1920, classified as a subspecies of Culiseta (Culiseta) alaskaensis (Ludlow, 1906), was recently restored to its original species status, as Culiseta (Culiseta) indica (Edwards), based on comprehensive assessments of morphological, ecological and distributional data. Predating the recognition of indica as a separate species, we collected specimens of this nominal taxon in the Western Himalayan region of India during 20152017, and used morphological and molecular studies to assess its taxonomic status. Our detailed examination of adult morphology, male genitalia and larval characteristics revealed significant distinctions between putative Cs. alaskaensis alaskaensis and Cs. alaskaensis indica, and sequencing of the barcode region of the mitochondrial COI gene yielded a Kimura 2 parameter genetic distance of 5.9% between them, well above the standard 23% commonly accepted to indicate separate species. These results strongly support the formal recognition of Cs. indica as a separate species. Furthermore, the geographical distribution of Cs. indica provides additional evidence in support of its species status.
Culicidae , Male , Animals , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Larva , Phylogeny
Building large-scale superconducting quantum circuits will require miniaturization and integration of supporting devices including microwave circulators, which are currently bulky, stand-alone components. Here, we report the measurement of microwave scattering from a ring of Josephson junctions, with dc-only control fields. We detect the effect of quasiparticle tunneling, and dynamically classify the system at its operating design point into different quasiparticle sectors. We optimize the device within one of the quasiparticle sectors, where we observe an unambiguous signature of nonreciprocal 3-port scattering within that sector. This enables operation as a circulator, and at the optimal circulation point, we observe on-resonance insertion loss of 2 dB, isolation of 14 dB, power reflectance of -11 dB, and a bandwidth of 200 MHz, averaged over the 3 input ports.
Traditional meat products like Haleem play a pivotal role in the culinary landscapes of Indian consumers, along with high economic value and business potential. Due to anticipated gains associated with adulterating 'Haleem' and constant evasion from regulatory oversight, the susceptibility to adulteration has substantially increased. Furthermore, no reports/surveillance regarding their labelling compliance has been reported. Hence, we conducted a 2-year surveillance using 100 samples collected from Hyderabad, India, using the Chipron™ DNA macroarray analysis technique. The method was validated for sensitivity (1%), specificity, and with proficiency test samples. Following this, the surveillance samples (beef, chicken, and mutton Haleem) were tested. The surveillance revealed an alarming adulteration of 46% of the samples, with different proportions of adulterant species. Adulteration of unconventional meat like camel meat was also found. These concerning results necessitate the requirement of stricter and constant regulatory surveillance to safeguard consumer trust and preserve the authenticity of traditional meat products. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-024-05947-9.
This study aims to explore the concentrations of Se and Hg in shellfish along the Gulf of Mannar (GoM) coast (Southeast India) and to estimate related risks and risk-based consumption limits for children, pregnant women, and adults. Se concentrations in shrimp, crab, and cephalopods ranged from 0.256 to 0.275 mg kg-1, 0.182 to 0.553 mg kg-1, and 0.176 to 0.255 mg kg-1, respectively, whereas Hg concentrations differed from 0.009 to 0.014 mg kg-1, 0.022 to 0.042 mg kg-1 and 0.011 to 0.024 mg kg-1, respectively. Se and Hg content in bamboo shark (C. griseum) was 0.242 mg kg-1 and 0.082 mg kg-1, respectively. The lowest and highest Se concentrations were found in C. indicus (0.176 mg kg-1) and C. natator (0.553 mg kg-1), while Hg was found high in C. griseum (0.082 mg kg-1) and low in P. vannamei (0.009 mg kg-1). Se shellfishes were found in the following order: crabs > shrimp > shark > cephalopods, while that of Hg were shark > crabs > cephalopods > shrimp. Se in shellfish was negatively correlated with trophic level (TL) and size (length and weight), whereas Hg was positively correlated with TL and size. Hg concentrations in shellfish were below the maximum residual limits (MRL) of 0.5 mg kg-1 for crustaceans and cephalopods set by FSSAI, 0.5 mg kg-1 for crustaceans and 1.0 mg kg-1 for cephalopods and sharks prescribed by the European Commission (EC/1881/2006). Se risk-benefit analysis, the AI (actual intake):RDI (recommended daily intake) ratio was > 100%, and the AI:UL (upper limit) ratio was < 100%, indicating that all shellfish have sufficient level of Se to meet daily requirements without exceeding the upper limit (UL). The target hazard quotient (THQ < 1) and hazard index (HI < 1) imply that the consumption of shellfish has no non-carcinogenic health impacts for all age groups. However, despite variations among the examined shellfish, it was consistently observed that they all exhibited a Se:Hg molar ratio > 1. This finding implies that the consumption of shellfish is generally safe in terms of Hg content. The health benefit indexes, Se-HBV and HBVse, consistently showed high positive values across all shellfish, further supporting the protective influence of Se against Hg toxicity and reinforcing the overall safety of shellfish consumption. Enhancing comprehension of food safety analysis, it is crucial to recognize that the elevated Se:Hg ratio in shellfish may be attributed to regular selenoprotein synthesis and the mitigation of Hg toxicity by substituting Se bound to Hg.
Mercury , Selenium , Water Pollutants, Chemical , Pregnancy , Animals , Child , Adult , Female , Humans , Mercury/analysis , Selenium/analysis , Biological Monitoring , Fishes/metabolism , Shellfish/analysis , Crustacea , Risk Assessment , Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis
A fully liquid hexavalent containing Diphtheria (D), Tetanus (T) toxoids, whole cell Pertussis (wP), Hepatitis B (Hep B), type 1, 2, 3 of inactivated poliovirus (IPV) and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine (DTwP-HepB-IPV-Hib vaccine, HEXASIIL®) was tested for lot-to-lot consistency and non-inferiority against licensed DTwP-HepB-Hib + IPV in an open label, randomized Phase II/III study. In Phase III part, healthy infants received DTwP-HepB-IPV-Hib or DTwP-HepB-Hib + IPV vaccines at 6, 10 and 14 weeks of age. Blood samples were collected prior to the first dose and 28 days, post dose 3. Non inferiority versus DTwP-HepB-Hib + IPV was demonstrated with 95% CIs for the treatment difference for seroprotection/seroconversion rates. For DTwP-HepB-IPV-Hib lots, limits of 95% CI for post-vaccination geometric mean concentration ratios were within equivalence limits (0.5 and 2). Vaccine was well-tolerated and no safety concerns observed.Clinical Trial Registration - CTRI/2019/11/022052.
The Indian coastal waters are stressed due to a multitude of factors, such as the discharge of industrial effluents, urbanization (municipal sewage), agricultural runoff, and river discharge. The coastal waters along the eastern and western seaboard of India exhibit contrasting characteristics in terms of seasonality, the magnitude of river influx, circulation pattern, and degree of anthropogenic activity. Therefore, understanding these processes and forecasting their occurrence is highly necessary to secure the health of coastal waters, habitats, marine resources, and the safety of tourists. This article introduces an integrated buoy-satellite based Water Quality Nowcasting System (WQNS) to address the unique challenges of water quality monitoring in Indian coastal waters and to boost the regional blue economy. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has launched a first-of-its-kind WQNS, and positioned the buoys at two important locations along the east (Visakhapatnam) and west (Kochi) coast of India, covering a range of environmental conditions and tourist-intensive zones. These buoys are equipped with different physical-biogeochemical sensors, data telemetry systems, and integration with satellite-based observations for real-time data transmission to land. The sensors onboard these buoys continuously measure 22 water quality parameters, including surface current (speed and direction), salinity, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, phycocyanin, phycoerythrin, Coloured Dissolved Organic Matter, chlorophyll-a, turbidity, dissolved methane, hydrocarbon (crude and refined), scattering, pCO2 (water and air), and inorganic macronutrients (nitrite, nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, silicate). This real-time data is transmitted to a central processing facility at INCOIS, and after necessary quality control, the data is disseminated through the INCOIS website. Preliminary results from the WQNS show promising outcomes, including the short-term changes in the water column oxic and hypoxic regimes within a day in coastal waters off Kochi during the monsoon period, whereas effluxing of high levels of CO2 into the atmosphere associated with the mixing of water, driven by local depression in the coastal waters off Visakhapatnam. The system has demonstrated its ability to detect changes in the water column properties due to episodic events and mesoscale processes. Additionally, it offers valuable data for research, management, and policy development related to coastal water quality.
Ecosystem , Water Quality , India , Oceans and Seas , United Nations , Environmental Monitoring , Seawater/chemistry
An insight into the dynamics of soil phosphorus (P) pools with long-term cropping/management practices would help in designing efficient and sustainable management module(s). The study aimed to investigate the long-term impact of diversified rice-based rotations and variable nutrient management practices on the dynamic composition of P pools and their influence on systems' base-crop productivity in an alkaline soil of Indo-Gangetic plain (Fluvisol). Treatments consisted of four rotations [rice-wheat (R-W), rice-wheat-mungbean (R-W-Mb), rice-wheat-rice-chickpea (R-W-R-C), rice-chickpea (R-C)] each with three nutrient treatments [control (CT), integrated nutrient management (INM), sole-chemical fertilizers (CF)]. Notably, R-C exhibited higher levels of bioavailable-P (soluble-P, Ca2-P, labile-Po), particularly in subsurface soil depth (0.2-0.4 m) compared to other rotations. Likewise, the inclusion of chickpea every alternate year (R-W-R-C) resulted in higher Ca2-P (40%), labile-Pi (15%), labile-Po (11%), and moderately labile Po (8%) compared to R-W rotation demonstrating an increased significance of chickpea in maintaining a favorable soil P regime in alkaline soil. Both R-C and R-W-R-C reduced the surface-to-subsurface depth ratio (SSBR) of soluble-P and Ca2-P while increasing the ratio for microbial biomass P. Even with a suboptimal fertilizer-P rate, INM significantly increased soluble-P (4-33%), labile-Po (13-17%), microbial biomass P (10-26%), moderately labile-Po (4-17%) compared to CF and exhibited higher SSBR values. Correlation analysis demonstrated the substantial influence of very-labile carbon, microbial and phosphatase activities on P availability. The treatment-induced changes in labile-P pools significantly influenced rice (base-crop) yields. In conclusion, chickpea-inclusive diversification and INM could be a sustainable approach to enhance P bioavailability and crop productivity in tropical rice soils.
Detection and classification of epileptic seizures from the EEG signals have gained significant attention in recent decades. Among other signals, EEG signals are extensively used by medical experts for diagnosing purposes. So, most of the existing research works developed automated mechanisms for designing an EEG-based epileptic seizure detection system. Machine learning techniques are highly used for reduced time consumption, high accuracy, and optimal performance. Still, it limits by the issues of high complexity in algorithm design, increased error value, and reduced detection efficacy. Thus, the proposed work intends to develop an automated epileptic seizure detection system with an improved performance rate. Here, the Finite Linear Haar wavelet-based Filtering (FLHF) technique is used to filter the input signals and the relevant set of features are extracted from the normalized output with the help of Fractal Dimension (FD) analysis. Then, the Grasshopper Bio-Inspired Swarm Optimization (GBSO) technique is employed to select the optimal features by computing the best fitness value and the Temporal Activation Expansive Neural Network (TAENN) mechanism is used for classifying the EEG signals to determine whether normal or seizure affected. Numerous intelligence algorithms, such as preprocessing, optimization, and classification, are used in the literature to identify epileptic seizures based on EEG signals. The primary issues facing the majority of optimization approaches are reduced convergence rates and higher computational complexity. Furthermore, the problems with machine learning approaches include a significant method complexity, intricate mathematical calculations, and a decreased training speed. Therefore, the goal of the proposed work is to put into practice efficient algorithms for the recognition and categorization of epileptic seizures based on EEG signals. The combined effect of the proposed FLHF, FD, GBSO, and TAENN models might dramatically improve disease detection accuracy while decreasing complexity of system along with time consumption as compared to the prior techniques. By using the proposed methodology, the overall average epileptic seizure detection performance is increased to 99.6% with f-measure of 99% and G-mean of 98.9% values.
Epilepsy , Grasshoppers , Animals , Seizures/diagnosis , Epilepsy/diagnosis , Neural Networks, Computer , Electroencephalography
Exploring the significant role of natural polymers in developing drug delivery systems has been a promising area of research interest. The current investigation uses a D-optimal quadratic mixture design to design and evaluate neem and tamarind gum-based vildagliptin extended-release matrix tablets. Studying the combination effect of gums is one of the major objectives. Initial screening studies were performed to select the factors and their levels. The variables selected at different levels in mg/tablet are neem gum, tamarind gum, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and lactose monohydrate. Based on the screening experiments with both gums, the polymer content of 165 mg was chosen as the highest level in the DOE. Nineteen runs were generated to screen the desired parameters as responses. The total weight of the formulation was kept constant at 275 mg. Time (hours) required for 50 %, 90 % and 100 % of drug release and tablet hardness were selected as the responses for each run. The wet granulation method was adopted, and the critical variables were optimised using the design of experiments following Design Expert software. Statistical analysis was conducted, and the optimised formulations were prepared and evaluated to compare with the predicted responses. Stability studies were performed for the optimised batches. Results indicated that the prepared batches met the compendial limits and confirmed the application of neem and tamarind gum in the development of extended-release tablets of vildagliptin for 24 h. An optimised formulation comprising of 16.52 mg of neem gum and 148.48 mg of tamarind gum with a hardness of 7.5-8.5 kp produced 50 %, 90 % and 100 % drug release in 12, 22 and 25 h.
Tamarindus , Delayed-Action Preparations , Vildagliptin , Plant Gums , Tablets
