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Multifunctional magnetic spinel ferrite based on CoCe and CoMnCe/silica nanocomposites (NCs) were developed for targeted cancer therapeutics. The formation of spinel ferrite and co-existence of spinel ferrite/silica/chemo-drug, surface/pore size distribution, morphological features and magnetic properties were investigated using different characterization techniques. XRD pattern confirmed the pure phase of CoCe and CoMnCe spinel ferrite with estimated crystal size of 27.9 nm. After silica coating and pegylation, the crystal size of CoCe and CoMnCe increases to 36.3 nm and 76.2 nm. Nitrogen adsorption isotherm confirm an effective embedment of both spinel ferrites into silica with large surface area (653 m2/g and 718 m2/g) and uniform pore size distributions (6.1 nm and 6.9 nm). FT-IR spectra confirm the magnetic spinel ferrite/silica interactions (977, 1705 and 3410 cm−1), cisplatin functionalization (1645 cm−1) and PEG (1275–2900 cm−1). Coating SFNPswith Si and/or Cp and/or PEG, tunes the magnetic characteristics of the NCs system. For both CoCe and CoMnCe SFNPs, saturation magnetization (Ms) of 14.96 and 10.91 emu/g, residual magnetization (Mr) of 4.40 and 2.42 emu/g, Hc(coercivity) of 1072.1 and 719.3 Oe gradually diminish upon Si, respectively. The chemical state of CoMnCe SFNPs, CoCe SFNPs, their silica and active cisplatin NCs (Pt0and Pt2+) were investigated using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The anti-cancer efficacy of pegylated nanoformulations were tested in in vitrocells (HeLa, HCT-116 and HEK-293) and Hemolysis assay. The toxicity of different nanoformulations administered in different concentrations (20–2000 mg/kg) in in vivowas estimated based on LD50 value.

AbstractThe combination of two or more nanoparticles found to be effective strategy to synthesize nanocomposites for better drug delivery and treatment. In the present study, we have combined cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), niobium (Nb), and iron oxide (Fe2O4) and prepared niobium substituted cobalt-nickel nano-ferrite nanocomposites (Co0.5Ni0.5NbxFe2-xO4(x ≤ 0.1) by using hydrothermal approach. We have characterized the structure and morphology of nanocomposites by using XRD, EDX, TEM and SEM methodologies. We have examined the impact of nanocomposites (Co0.5Ni0.5NbxFe2-xO4(x ≤ 0.1) on cancerous cells (human colorectal carcinoma cells, HCT-116) by using MTT assay. We have also checked the impact of nanocomposites on normal and non-cancerous cells (human embryonic kidney cells, HEK-293) to confirm the specificity of their actions. Post- 48 h treatment of Co0.5Ni0.5NbxFe2-xO4(x ≤ 0.1) led to dose-dependent inhibition of cancer cells growth and proliferation. However, no cytotoxic effect was observed on the normal cells (HEK-293). In addition, DAPI stained nuclear DNA staining analysis demonstrates that the Co0.5Ni0.5NbxFe2-xO4(x ≤ 0.1) treatment also caused nuclear DNA disintegration which is the marker for programmed cell death. These results demonstrate that synthesized nanocomposites Co0.5Ni0.5NbxFe2-xO4(x ≤ 0.1) selectively target the colon cancer cells and induce cancer cell death.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Hepatitis C is a chronic and pestilent disease showing a strong association with diabetes. The mechanisms responsible for the pathogenesis of diabetes in association with hepatitis C remains to be identified. Leptin, a multifunctional cytokine secreted from adipocytes has been found to have high level in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients. Leptin actions after remaining a mystery for many years are now finally beginning to yield some of its molecular secrets. Throughout this decade powerful new molecular approaches have revolutionized and broadened our molecular insight regarding the role of leptin in different diseases. The present study was designed to explore and substantiate the role of leptin in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes in hepatitis C infected patients. Serum leptin levels and insulin resistance in diagnosed cases of hepatitis C were measured and the expression of leptin and leptin receptors in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was ascertained by mRNA quantification. We discovered high serum leptin levels with decreased expression of leptin receptors in insulin resistant as compared with non insulin resistant HCV patients and normal individuals. This association of leptin resistance with insulin resistance in HCV patients through leptin receptor down regulation points towards a novel steps in mechanism implicated in disease pathogenesis which can lead to more targeted approach to therapy.

To investigate changes in follicular fluid concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and degree of oxidative damage to follicular cells, using protein carbonyl (PC) as marker of oxidative stress, were investigated during reproductive acyclicity in buffalo.

Monitoring anthelmintic resistance in strongyle nematodes by the faecal egg count reduction test and a commercial larval development assay on an organized sheep farm in the semi-arid area of Rajasthan revealed the emergence of resistance to benzimidazoles and rafoxanide and a potential risk of the development of levamisole/tetramisole resistance. A benzimidazole/levamisole combination, avermectins and closantel were each found to be efficacious.

The thermoelectric power S of (Fe1—xMnx)75P15C10 ferromagnetic metallic amorphous alloys with x = 0, 0.05, 0.20, 0.30 has been measured in the temperature range 30 K < T < 350 K. For all compounds, the sign of S is negative, suggesting that the transport properties are dominated by electrons. A humplike structure at low temperatures which is superimposed to a linear rise and seemingly correlated to magnetic order suggests in particular magnon drag added on diffusion thermopower as the main contributions to S(T).

The strategic use of single therapeutic doses of closantel, tetramisole or sustained low-level administration of albendazole in feed pellets in controlling naturally acquired parasitic gastroenteritis in sheep was investigated on a farm in semi-arid Rajasthan, India. A total of 303 5- to 6-month-old sheep were divided into three groups. Two groups were dosed with single therapeutic doses of closantel and tetramisole and the third group was given a low-level medication with albendazole through feed pellets for 30 days. Faecal egg counts revealed significantly lower counts (p<0.001) in the group treated with closantel compared to the other two groups. The faecal egg counts in the group receiving sustained low-level albendazole rose after withdrawal of the medication but remained significantly lower than those in the group treated with tetramisole up to 7 weeks after treatment (p<0.05). On the other hand, in the group treated with tetramisole, the mean faecal egg count rose from 3 weeks after treatment and remained continuously higher than those in any other group up to 12 weeks after treatment. The closantel-treated group gained more body weight but the first six-monthly greasy fleece yield was greater in the group treated with medicated pellets. During the first 3 months of the experiment, three animals in the group treated with tetramisole died of parasitic gastroenteritis. Following sustained low-level administration of albendazole in feed pellets, the plasma disposition curve of both the sulphoxide and sulphone metabolites reached its plateau level by day 5 and remained almost constant thereafter. The comparative cost-effectiveness of the three treatment regimes during the first 3 months of treatment was best for the group treated with closantel followed by the group treated with medicated feed pellets.

The influence of the quality and quantity of diets on the disposition kinetics of albendazole were studied in sheep in two different experiments. The plasma concentration profiles of albendazole sulphoxide and albendazole sulphone were measured following intraruminal administration of albendazole at 5.0 mg/kg body weight in weaner sheep offered three different diets: 100% green Sorghum spp., 100% dry mature Cenchrus ciliaris hay and a 50:50 mix of these two diets. The peak plasma concentrations and the availability of the albendazole metabolites, as measured by the area under the concentration–time curve, were significantly higher (p<0.01) in the animals offered exclusively dry fodder compared to other diets. Changing the diet from dry to green fodder resulted in a significantly lower systemic availability of the drug metabolites. It is suggested that a decreased transit time of the digesta in the bowel on the green diet, with its high water content, limited the systemic availability of the drug by reducing the time available for gastrointestinal absorption. An experiment on the influence of different levels of pretreatment fasting on the pharmacokinetics of albendazole revealed significantly higher (p<0.05) plasma concentrations of the anthelmintically active sulphoxide metabolite from 12 h onwards following administration of the drug in animals subjected to 24 h of pretreatment fasting compared to other groups with pretreatment fasting of 8, 12 or 18 h. The area under the concentration–time curve and the minimum residence time of the drug metabolites were significantly greater (p<0.05) in animals that had been fasted for 24 h. It is suggested that fasting induces a decrease in the flow of digesta through the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants and prolongs the duration of dissolution of the drug, resulting in enhancement of the absorption of albendazole and of the systemic availability of its metabolites.

The pharmacokinetics of albendazole was studied in sheep following single oral and intraruminal administration at nematocidal dose rates. The disposition curves of its metabolites indicated increased uptake of the drug in sheep following intraruminal as compared to oral dosing (p<0.05). The increased bioavailability of benzimidazole anthelmintics given by the intraruminal route could be exploited for optimizing the use of anthelmintic for sustained parasite control in small ruminants.

Abstract: Wheat (T. aestivum) cvs. Kalyansona and Kundan grown under atmospheric (CA) and elevated CO2 concentrations (650±50 cm3 m-3 - CE) in open top chambers were examined for net photosynthetic rate (PN), stomatal limitation (l s) of P N, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPC) activity, and saccharide content of the leaves. The P N values of both CA- and CE-grown plants compared at the same CO2 concentration showed a down regulation under CE at the post-anthesis stage. The negative acclimation of P N appeared to be due to both stomatal and mesophyll components, and the RuBPC activity got also adjusted. There was a decrease in activation state of RuBPC under CE. In connection with this, an increased accumulation of saccharides in wheat leaf under CE was observed. Kalyansona, owing to its larger sink potential in terms of the number of grains, showed a greater enhancement under CE in both post-ear emergence dry matter production and grain yield. Under CE, this cultivar also showed a lower down regulation of P N than Kundan.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (7-36) amide (GLP-1) is released from the gut into the circulation after meals and is the most potent physiological insulinotropic hormone in man. In contrast to presently available therapeutic agents for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), GLP-1 has the advantages of both suppressing glucagon secretion and delaying gastric emptying. We report the first chronic study of subcutaneous (s/c) GLP-1 treatment in NIDDM. Five patients with poorly controlled NIDDM were entered into a six-week, double-blind crossover trial. Each received three weeks treatment with s/c GLP-1 40 nmol or saline, given three times a day immediately before meals. A standardized test meal was given at the beginning and end of each treatment period. GLP-1 reduced plasma glucose area under the curve (AUC) following the standard test meal by 25% (AUC, 0-180 mins, GLP-1 start of treatment 482.2 ± 38.2 vs. saline start of treatment 635.7 ± 45.4 mmol min L -1 , F = 16.4, P &lt; 0.02). The beneficial effect of GLP-1 on plasma glucose concentration was fully maintained for the three-week treatment period. Plasma glucagon levels were significantly lower for 60 min postprandially after GLP-1 treatment. In this group of patients there was no significant increase in postprandial insulin levels with GLP-1. We have demonstrated a significant improvement in postprandial glycaemic control with s/c GLP-1 treatment that was fully maintained over a three-week treatment period. GLP-1 improves glycaemic control even in the absence of an insulinotropic effect and is a potential treatment for NIDDM.

Twenty-six patients with clicking or locking of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and 28 age- and sex-matched controls were assessed for generalized joint hypermobility by Beighton's method. Function of the masticatory apparatus was measured with Fricton's Craniomandibular Index. The TMJ patients had significantly higher joint mobility scores, but within the patient group there was no correlation between either the dysfunction or palpation scores and the hypermobility scores. The findings are interpreted as supporting multiple causes of TMJ internal derangement, one of which is a systemic joint factor.

Intra-operative bradycardia is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias observed in clinical anaesthetic practice and can lead to a potentially dangerous outcome. In a randomised double-blind trial, 50 female patients undergoing elective abdominal hysterectomy were divided into two groups. Group I received atracurium and group II received vecuronium as a neuromuscular blocking agent in a balanced anaesthetic technique. The incidence of bradycardia was compared among the two groups. Bradycardia was defined as a heart rate of less than 60 beat.min-1. A heart rate of less than 45 beat.min-1 was labelled as severe bradycardia and symptomatic bradycardia was defined as bradycardia associated with hypotension. The two groups were similar in their demographic characteristics. The results showed that there was no statistically significant difference among the two groups regarding the incidence of simple bradycardia. However, the incidence of severe bradycardia or symptomatic bradycardia requiring treatment was significantly higher in the vecuronium group.

Using inductively coupled plasma reactive ion etching (ICP-RIE), recessed 0.25 µm gate-length AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) have been fabricated. A post-etch anneal eliminated the plasma-induced damage resulting in an improvement of the gate-drain breakdown voltage from –27 V for the as-etched to over –90 V for the annealed devices. The gate leakage current reduced from 91 to 4 µA at Vgd = –25 V, after annealing. These devices exhibited maximum drain current density of 770 mA/mm, unity gain cutoff frequency (fT) of 48 GHz, and maximum frequency of oscillation (fmax) of 108 GHz.

A two year study of cases of chronic suppurative otitis media admitted in the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Department of Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital from January 1991 to December 1992 was done. 112 patients of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) were admitted during this two year period, out of which 100 patients (89.3%) presented with different types of complications and only 12 patients (10.7%) presented with no complications. Factors associated with the late presentation of the disorder, including poor socioeconomic conditions and lack of hospital facilities, are identified. Measures to prevent the rate of conmplications and hearing loss in children are suggested.

Metal organic chemical vapour deposition-grown AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) having record high transconductance of over 400 4;mS/mm have been fabricated on sapphire substrates. These 0.25 4;µm gate-length devices exhibited maximum drain current density as high as 1.4 4;A/mm, unity gain cutoff frequency ( 4;fT) of 85 4;GHz, and maximum frequency of oscillation ( 4;fmax) of 151 4;GHz. The fT of 85 4;GHz and fmax of 151 4;GHz are the highest ever reported values for 0.25 4;µm gate-length GaN-based HEMTs.