Disability in clinically stable patients of schizophrenia.

Purpose: Disability associated with schizophrenia affects every aspect of life. In India, persons with schizophrenia are eligible for disability benefits. Only a handful of patients are aware and able to avail the benefits.

Correlation of severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with potential biomarkers.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a non-specific inflammation, which involves the airways, lung parenchyma and pulmonary vessels. The inflammation causes the activation of inflammatory cells and the release of various inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a). The present study was designed to assess the serum cytokines [Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)] levels in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and they were correlated with severity of disease by spirometric measurements.

Effects of a standardized Ayurvedic formulation on diabetes control in newly diagnosed Type-2 diabetics; a randomized active controlled clinical study.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a standardized polyherbal formulation consists of aqueous extracts from six herbs, in patients with Type-2 diabetes mellitus.

Design: Randomized, active control study.

Interventions: 93 patients, newly diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes mellitus were randomly allocated to group 1 (received polyherbal capsules 500 mg/day, up titrated weekly to a maximum of 3 g/day) and group 2 (received Metformin 500 mg/day, up titrated weekly to a maximum of 2 g/day).

HDVDB: a data warehouse for hepatitis delta virus.

Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV) is an RNA virus and causes delta hepatitis in humans. Although a lot of data is available for HDV, but retrieval of information is a complicated task. Current web database 'HDVDB' provides a comprehensive web-resource for HDV.

An in silico approach for identification of novel inhibitors as a potential therapeutics targeting HIV-1 viral infectivity factor.

Currently available antiviral drugs target the pol-encoded retroviral enzymes or integrases, in addition, inhibitors that target HIV-1 envelope-receptor interactions have also been recently approved. Recent understanding of the interactions between HIV-1 and host restriction factors has provided fresh avenues for development of novel antiviral drugs. For example, viral infectivity factor (Vif) now surfaced as an important therapeutic target in treatment of HIV infection.

Molecular docking analysis of RN18 and VEC5 in A3G-Vif inhibition.

The HIV-1 protein Vif is essential for in vivo viral replication that targets the human DNA-editing enzyme, APOBEC3G (A3G), which inhibits replication of retroviruses. The Vif-A3G interactions are believed to be important targets for antiviral drug development. Since the interactions of A3G and Vif evade the ubiquitination pathways in human host, the viral replication precedes which otherwise spreads infection.

Computational analysis of the 3-D structure of human GPR87 protein: implications for structure-based drug design.

The G-protein coupled receptor 87 (GPR87) is a recently discovered orphan GPCR which means that the search of their endogenous ligands has been a novel challenge. GPR87 has been shown to be overexpressed in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) or adenocarcinomas in lungs and bladder. The 3D structure of GPR87 was here modeled using two templates (2VT4 and 2ZIY) by a threading method.

Design of potential siRNA molecules for hepatitis delta virus gene silencing.

Hepatitis D is a liable reason of mortality and morbidity worldwide. It is caused by an RNA virus known as Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV). Genetic studies of HDV have shown that delta antigen protein is responsible for replication of genome and play a foremost role in viral infection.

Identification and characterization of novel small-molecule inhibitors against hepatitis delta virus replication by using docking strategies.

Background: The small delta antigen protein of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) has been shown to be important for replication of the virus and essential for the viral life cycle. Therefore, it may be an appropriate target for designing biological experiments for drug development to identify the potential inhibitors of hepatitis D.

Objectives: To identify a novel molecule as possible drug candidate for the treatment of Hepatitis D.

PARFLEX--a very useful drug for management of surgical pain.

The aim was to assess and document the efficacy and tolerability of parflex (FDC of aceclofenac with paracetamol and serratiopeptidase) in management of pain and inflammation in adult patients undergoing surgical procedures (or operations). The design was open, prospective, non-comparative and multi-dose study of patients undergoing surgical procedures at a leading, tertiary-care, teaching hospital (setting) in Lucknow, the name being, King George's Medical College, Lucknow 226003. The patients were 50 adult patients of either sex undergoing surgery.