Neonatal hyperlipidemia with pancreatitis: Novel gene mutation of lipoprotein lipase.

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) deficiency is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder with varying presentation in infancy and childhood, whereas clinical manifestations are rare in neonatal period. The estimated prevalence is one in a million births. A 23-day-old baby was admitted with complaints of fever, vomiting, and lethargy. Blood sample drawn appeared lipemic. Lipemia retinalis was noted on funduscopic examination. Biochemical analysis revealed abnormal lipid profile with severe hypertriglyceridemia (10,300 mg/dL) and elevated serum lipase level (517 IU/L) indicative of LPL deficiency with acute pancreatitis. LPL deficiency was suspected and was confirmed by molecular genetic testing, which revealed a novel mutation in LPL gene. Dietary management and gemfibrozil were started following which serum triglyceride level decreased and serum lipase level normalized. The patient is following up regularly for growth and development monitoring.

Formulation and Solid State Characterization of Nicotinamide-based Co-crystals of Fenofibrate.

The present investigation deals with formulation of nicotinamide-based co-crystals of fenofibrate by different methods and solid-state characterization of the prepared co-crystals. Fenofibrate and nicotinamide as a coformer in 1:1 molar ratio were used to formulate molecular complexes by kneading, solution crystallization, antisolvent addition and solvent drop grinding methods. The prepared molecular complexes were characterized by powder X-ray diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and in vitro dissolution study. Considerable improvement in the dissolution rate of fenofibrate from optimized co-crystal formulation was due to an increased solubility that is attributed to the super saturation from the fine co-crystals is faster because of large specific surface area of small particles and prevention of phase transformation to pure fenofibrate. In vitro dissolution study showed that the formation of co-crystals improves the dissolution rate of fenofibrate. Nicotinamide forms the co-crystals with fenofibrate, theoretically and practically.

Hand hygiene behavior among urban slum children and their care takers in Odisha, India.

OBJECTIVE: To study the knowledge and practice of hand washing among mothers and children of shikharchandi slum of Bhubaneswar, Odisha and to recommend possible measures to improve the current practices. METHODOLOGY: Present cross-sectional study was carried out in the Shikharchandi slum located in the Bhubaneswar city of Orissa state in India. 150 women and 80 children were interviewed. Children questionnaire were prepared to suit to their age and according to local context. Components of sanitation like food handling and hand washing were covered in this questionnaire. RESULTS: Hand washing before preparing food is being practiced by 85% of women. Of all women interviewed, 77% wash hands before serving food. Only 15% children said soap was available in their school to wash hands. Out of total children interviewed, 76% told that their teachers tell about sanitation and hand washing in the class. Only 5% children told they were consulted by doctor/health worker during last 3 months. As many as 81% children told that they wash their hands before taking food and 19% children said they take their food without washing hands. Though most of the children told that they wash hands before taking food, but only 17.5% told that they use soap for hand washing. Only 29% children told that their teachers check hand washing in school. When asked about critical timing of hand washing, 44% children told about at least two critical timings and 56% were unaware about the critical timings of hand washing. CONCLUSION: Inadequate knowledge on this among our study participant is a point of concern. Systematic integration of health and hygiene education in schools through curricular modifications could be an appropriate strategy.

Comparative analysis of routine laboratory diagnostic tests for rabies.

Present study was undertaken to compare various routine laboratory diagnostic tests for rabies detection. Seller's staining, mouse inoculation test (MIT), Dot-ELISA, Agar gel precipitation test (AGPT) and counter immunoelectrophoresis test (CIET) were the main basic tests performed in the laboratory for the rabies diagnosis. Out of 200 brain specimens, Negri bodies were observed in 52 brain samples by Seller's staining. Rabies virus was isolated in 56 samples by intra-cerebral inoculation in newborn Swiss-albino mice. Dot-ELISA and AGPT could detect rabies antigen in 55 and 57 samples respectively. Comparative analysis revealed that the CIET is the most sensitive and rapid test among performed diagnostic tests.

Synthesis, kinetic studies and pharmacological evaluation of mutual azo prodrugs of 5-aminosalicylic acid for colon-specific drug delivery in inflammatory bowel disease.

Colon-specific mutual azo prodrugs of 5-aminosalicylic acid with essential amino acids were synthesized for the management of inflammatory bowel disease. The structures were confirmed by elemental and spectral analyses. 85-88% release of 5-aminosalicylic acid was achieved in rat fecal matter with half-lives ranging from 140 to 160 min, following first order kinetics. The prodrugs exhibited comparable ameliorating effect as that of sulfasalazine on trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced experimental colitis in rats with a better safety profile.

A stability-indicating high performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of diacerein in capsules.

A stability-indicating HPLC method was developed and validated for the quantitative determination of diacerein in capsule dosage forms. An isocratic separation was achieved using a perfectsil target ODS-3, 250x4.6 mm i.d., 5 microm particle size columns with a flow rate of 1 ml/min and using a UV detector to monitor the eluate at 254 nm. The mobile phase consisted of phosphate buffer:acetonitrile (40:60, v/v) with pH 4.0 adjusted with phosphoric acid. The drug was subjected to oxidation, hydrolysis, photolysis and thermal degradation. Diacerein was found to degrade in acidic, basic, and oxidative stress and also under neutral condition. Complete separation of degraded products was achieved from the parent compound. All degradation products in an overall analytical run time of approximately 10 min with the parent compound diacerein eluting at approximately 4.9 min. The method was linear over the concentration range of 1-10 microg/ml (r(2) = 0.9996) with a limit of detection and quantitation of 0.01 and 0.05 microg/ml respectively. The method has the requisite accuracy, selectivity, sensitivity, precision and robustness to assay diacerein in capsules. Degradation products resulting from the stress studies did not interfere with the detection of diacerein and the assay is thus stability-indicating.

UV and Three Derivative Spectrophotometric Methods for Determination of Ezetimibe in Tablet Formulation.

UV, first, second and third derivative spectrophotometric methods have been developed for the determination of ezetimibe in pharmaceutical formulation. The solutions of standard and sample were prepared in methanol. For the first method, UV spectrophotometry, the quantitative determination of the drug was carried at 233 nm and the linearity range was found to be 6-16 mug/ml. For the first, second and third derivative spectrophotometric methods the drug was determined at 259.5 nm, 269 nm and 248 nm with the linearity ranges 4-14 mug/ml, 4-14 mug/ml and 4-16 mug/ml. The calibration graphs constructed at their wavelength of determination were found to be linear for UV and derivative spectrophotometric methods. All the proposed methods have been extensively validated. The described methods can be readily utilized for the analysis of pharmaceutical formulation. There was no significant difference between the performance of the proposed methods regarding the mean values and standard deviations.

Synthesis, kinetic studies and pharmacological evaluation of mutual azo prodrug of 5-aminosalicylic acid with D-phenylalanine for colon specific drug delivery in inflammatory bowel disease.

Mutual azo prodrug of 5-aminosalicylic acid with d-phenylalanine was synthesized by coupling D-phenylalanine with salicylic acid, for targeted drug delivery to the inflamed gut tissue in inflammatory bowel disease. The structure of synthesized prodrug was confirmed by elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopy. In vitro kinetic studies in HCl buffer (pH 1.2) showed negligible release of 5-aminosalicylic acid, whereas in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) only 15% release was observed over a period of 7h. In rat fecal matter the release of 5-aminosalicylic acid was almost complete (85%), with a half-life of 160.1 min, following first order kinetics. The azo conjugate was evaluated for its ulcerogenic potential by Rainsford's cold stress method. Therapeutic efficacy of the carrier system and the mitigating effect of the azo conjugate were evaluated in trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced experimental colitis model. The synthesized prodrug was found to be equally effective in mitigating the colitis in rats as that of sulfasalazine without the ulcerogenicity of 5-aminosalicylic acid.

Synthesis, kinetic studies and pharmacological evaluation of mutual azo prodrug of 5-aminosalicylic acid for colon-specific drug delivery in inflammatory bowel disease.

Mutual azo prodrug of 5-aminosalicylic acid with l-tyrosine was synthesized by coupling l-tyrosine with salicylic acid, for targeted drug delivery to the inflamed gut tissue in inflammatory bowel disease. The structure was confirmed by elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopy. In vitro kinetic studies in rat fecal matter showed 87.18% release of 5-aminosalicylic acid with a half-life of 140.28min, following first order kinetics. Therapeutic efficacy of the carrier system and the mitigating effect of the azo conjugate were evaluated in trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced experimental colitis model. Myeloperoxidase activity was determined by the method of Krawisz et al. The synthesized prodrug was found to produce comparable mitigating effect as that of sulfasalazine on colitis in rats.

Plasminogen activators: a comparison.

Thrombolytic drugs play a crucial role in the management of patients with acute myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, arterial thrombosis, acute thrombosis of retinal vessel, extensive coronary emboli, and peripheral vascular thromboembolism. Recognition of the importance of fibrinolytic system in thrombus resolution has resulted in the development of different fibrinolytic agents. Now a days several newer plasminogen activators with different pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties have been developed to treat thrombotic disease, which are fibrin specific with prolonged half-life and can be administered as a single bolus.

Influenza surveillance in Pune, India, 2003.

Influenza surveillance was conducted in Pune, India in 2003. A total of 573 throat swabs/ nasal swabs (TS/NS) and 190 nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) were collected from 763 in- and out-patients who were mostly children aged 0-16 years. TS/NS (507/573) and NPA (42/190) specimens were processed in MDCK cell cultures and identified with the hemagglutination inhibition test (HI). A total of 37 influenza viruses was isolated: twenty-three type A (H3N2) and 14 type B of the Yamagata lineage were isolated from 29 children and 8 adults. Three type A (H3N2) isolates were characterized as being similar to A/Panama/2007/99 like, A/Korea/770/2000 like, and B/Sichuan/379/99 like strains.

Preparation and characterization of flurbiprofen beads by melt solidification technique.

A melt solidification technique has been developed to obtain sustained-release waxy beads of flurbiprofen. Low glass transition temperature (t(g)) and shear-induced crystallization of flurbiprofen made it a suitable candidate for melt solidification technique. The process involved emulsification and solidification of flurbiprofen-cetyl alcohol melt at significantly low temperature (5 degrees C). The effect of variables, namely, the amount of cetyl alcohol and the speed of agitation, was studied using 3(2)factorial design. The technique and the beads were evaluated on the basis of process and desired yield, surface topography, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), particle size distribution, crushing strength, and drug release. Average values for process and desired yields were 97% wt/wt and 26% wt/wt, respectively. No interaction was observed between drug and excipient. Multiple regression analysis was carried out, and response surfaces were obtained. A curvilinear relationship was observed between percentage of desired yield and the amount of cetyl alcohol. Linear decrease in crushing strength was observed with increase in the amount of cetyl alcohol. Drug released from the beads followed zero order kinetics. Burst release was shown to a greater extent in beads containing a lower amount of cetyl alcohol. Response surfaces of time required for certain percentage of drug (t(D)%) showed that after critical concentration of about 20% of cetyl alcohol (400 mg/batch), no significant release retardant effect was observed.

Isolation of recent variant influenza types A(H3N2), A (H1N1) & B strains in Pune, India.

A total of 293 patients with influenza like illness were investigated during the course of continuous surveillance on influenza in Pune, India in 2000. The throat/nasal swab specimens collected from these patients were inoculated in MDCK cell culture and influenza types A(H3N2), A(H1N1) and type B strains were isolated. They were identified as similar to the recently prevalent variant strains; A/Sydney/05/97(H3N2), A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1) and B/Sichuan/379/99. The latter two were the new variant strains reported for the first time in Pune. It is important to note that A(H1N1) strains were isolated in Pune during 2000 after a gap of 10 yr.

Isolation of recent variant influenza types A (H3N2) & B strains in Pune, India during 1998.

A total of 456 patients with influenza like illness were investigated during the course of continuous surveillance on influenza in Pune, India in 1998. The throat and nasal swab specimens collected from these patients were processed in MDCK cell culture. Influenza type A (H3N2) and type B strains were isolated in MDCK cell culture. They were identified as similar to the recently prevalent globally circulating variant strains; A/Sydney/05/97 (H3N2) and B/Harbin/07/94.

Effects of dry heat treatments to peanut kernels on the functional properties of the defatted meal.

Dry heat treatments at 140 degrees C for 20 min or 160 degrees C for 10 min of peanut kernels significantly improved protein solubility, water and oil absorptions, foaming capacity and stability, and least gelation concentration of the defatted meal. However, heat treatments at 160 degrees C for 30 min or more than 30 min period resulted in significant decrease in these properties. Such heat treatments significantly decreased the level of albumin and globulin fraction with concomitant increase in glutelin fraction in the meal.

Nutritional enrichment of bakery products by supplementation with nonwheat flours.

Bakery products are important ready-to-eat processed foods. The nutritional quality of these products is low because of the inferior nutritional composition of wheat grain per se. This is further accentuated with the use of refined flours in their preparations. Nutritional composition of these products can be improved by using quality wheat for milling, increased extraction rates, air classification of flours to obtain protein-rich nonwheat flours and their products. The flours and protein products of legumes, oilseeds, other cereals, tubers, corn gluten and germ, and rice bran can be used effectively as vegetable protein sources for nutritional enrichment of the bakery products. In this article, recent literature concerning the nutritional composition of major bakery products, sources of vegetable proteins for product enrichment, and modifications in conventional processing methods to maintain the rheological and sensory properties of supplemented bakery products are reviewed critically.

Utilization of expeller pressed partially defatted peanut cake meal in the preparation of bakery products.

Expeller pressed partially defatted peanut cake obtained from skin-free kernels was used as graded supplements in the preparation of breads, sweet buns, cupcakes and yeast-raised doughnuts. Incorporation of cake meal lowered the specific volume and sensory properties, but improved the fresh weight, water holding capacity and protein content of the products. The products containing 10% peanut cake meal were found to be acceptable.

Processing of commercial peanut cake into food-grade meal and its utilization in preparation of cookies.

The commercial cake produced during expeller pressing of peanuts was extracted with n-hexane, and 80% ethanol followed by sieving through 80 mesh, to remove residual oil, pigments, bitter taste and fibrous material. The processed meal exhibited comparable composition with defatted peanut flour prepared in the laboratory by solvent extraction of full-fat peanut meal. However, the processed cake meal exhibited low methionine content and in vitro protein digestibility as compared with defatted peanut flour. The processed cake meal can be blended with wheat flour to the extent of 10% (w/w) to prepare acceptable cookies with improved protein and mineral contents.

Effects of roasting and storage on proteins and oil in peanut kernels.

Peanut kernels, untreated or soaked in salt solution, were roasted at 160 degrees C for 30 min in a hot air oven or oil roasted at 147 degrees C for 2 min and, stored at 27 degrees C and 5 degrees C up to 150 days. The heat treatments significantly decreased methionine, tryptophan and in vitro protein digestibility (IVPD) and, increased the soluble proteins and acid value of kernel oil. Storage of heated peanuts caused an increase in water-soluble proteins, IVPD, acid value and saponification value and a decrease in methionine, tryptophan and iodine value. The oil roasting was found to be more detrimental to nutritional quality and storage stability of peanuts as compared to dry roasting. The storage of heated peanuts at 5 degrees C was found to be beneficial in lowering the undesirable nutritional changes in the peanut kernels.