Development of HPTLC method for simultaneous determination of quercetin and kaempferol in leaf extract of Hibiscus mutabilis.

The aim of this study was to develop and validate a densitometric High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) method for the simultaneous quantification of quercetin (Q) and kaempferol (K) in Hibiscus mutabilis leaf extracts. The analyses were performed on silica gel 60 F254 plates using a mobile phase composed of toluene, formic acid, and ethyl acetate (6:0.4:4, v/v/v). Detection was carried out at a wavelength of 272 nm using a deuterium and tungsten light source. The method exhibited excellent linearity over the concentration range of 100-600 ng/spot for quercetin and 500-3000 ng/spot for kaempferol, with determination coefficients (r2) of 0.9989 and 0.9973, respectively. The method showed no interferences from the plant matrix. The relative standard deviation (RSD) values for intra- and inter-day precision were less than 2% for both flavonoids. Recovery rates ranged from 97.69% to 99.20% for quercetin and from 89.91% to 95.87% for kaempferol. The limits of detection (LOD) were 190.23 ng/spot for quercetin and 187.23 ng/spot for kaempferol, while the limits of quantification (LOQ) were 570.10 ng/spot for quercetin and 566.12 ng/spot for kaempferol. This validated HPTLC method is reliable, precise, and accurate, making it suitable for the quality control of Hibiscus mutabilis leaf extracts. The study's findings can be broadly applied to the quality control of herbal products, pharmacological research, and the development of nutraceuticals. The method's ability to provide rapid and accurate quantification makes it an invaluable tool for researchers across various disciplines.

Teaching biologics design using molecular modeling and simulations.

Teaching chemistry and biology students about biologics design remains challenging despite its increasing importance in pharmaceutical development. Monoclonal antibodies, commonly called mAbs, are the most popular biologics. They have been developed into drugs to treat various diseases in the past decades. Multiple challenges exist for designing proper formulations to stabilize mAbs, such as preventing aggregation and mitigating viscosity. Molecular modeling and simulations can improve pharmaceutical products by examining the interactions between mAbs and other compounds, such as excipients. To introduce students to biopharmaceuticals, eight students at the Stevens Institute of Technology participated in a semester-long course to learn the challenges of pharmaceutical development and different computational skills to study biologics design. The students started with a limited background in this field. Throughout one semester, they were introduced to various literature and software tools for modeling antibodies and studying their interactions with excipients. This paper aims to develop a course structure to be replicated at other universities and institutions to teach biopharmaceutical development to students.

Correlation of hepatorenal dysfunction in pediatric malaria.

BACKGROUND: Malaria is the most prevalent infectious diseases in the world. This study aims to assess the correlation of hepatorenal dysfunction in malaria patients in pediatric age group. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY: This study was conducted on patients of malaria admitted in the Department of Paediatrics, PBM hospital, Bikaner (Rajasthan), during resurgence of various outbreaks of malaria in the year 2011 and 2012. The diagnosis of malaria was confirmed by examination of thick and thin smear/optimal test; malarial hepatic and renal patients were included in the study. RESULTS: The mean age of patients with hepatic and/or renal dysfunction in malaria was 5-10 years and preponderance of males. Association between hepatic and renal dysfunction was significant as 9 (40.9%) in 22 patients with serum bilirubin >3 mg/dl had renal failure in Plasmodium falciparum (PF) and 5 (71.43%) out of 7 patients in mixed (Plasmodium vivax [PV] and PF) patients. This association was not significant in PV as 6 (10.52%) out of 57 patient with serum bilirubin >3 mg/dl had renal failure. CONCLUSION: The specific reason for presenting our observation is to develop awareness regarding the early complications of malaria and to prevent them prompt action can be taken.

A study of neurosonogram abnormalities, clinical correlation with neurosonogram findings, and immediate outcome of high-risk neonates in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal sonography of the brain is now an essential part of newborn care, particularly in high risk and unstable premature infants. Cranial ultrasound is the most available and easily repeatable imaging technique for the neonatal brain showing brain development and the most frequently occurring forms of cerebral injury in the preterm and terms. This study aims to assess the importance of cranial ultrasound as an investigatory modality for high-risk neonates and to find out the morphology of various cerebral lesions and correlate clinically. METHODOLOGY: An observational correlation clinical study was conducted at Sardar Patel Medical College, Bikaner involving 100 high-risk neonates admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) who was subjected to neurosonography on selected days as per protocol. Perinatal details were recorded, and clinical examination with appropriate investigations was done. The cranial ultrasound was done, and morphology of various findings was studied and recorded. Clinical correlation with cranial ultrasound findings and follow-up was done. RESULTS: On cranial ultrasound, 38% of neonates had abnormal findings. Twelve percent of these had evidence of intracranial bleed, 13% periventricular echogenicity, 7% had ventriculomegaly, 2% had cerebral edema, and 1% had leukomalacia. Three neonates had findings suggestive of simple cyst in middle cranial fossa, agenesis of corpus callosum, and choroid plexus cyst. CONCLUSIONS: Cranial ultrasonography is the best point of care neuroimaging method available for high-risk neonates. It is critical as an investigatory modality in NICU and effectively documents morphology of cerebral damage.