An Updated Systematic Review of the Therapeutic Role of Hydroxychloroquine in Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19).

Background And Objective: The world is currently experiencing the Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic. There is no approved drug for the definitive treatment of the disease. Various drugs are being tried for the treatment of COVID-19, including hydroxychloroquine (HCQ).

Synthesis, characterization and unravelling the molecular interaction of new bioactive 4-hydroxycoumarin derivative with biopolymer: Insights from spectroscopic and theoretical aspect.

In the progress of small molecule as drug candidates, 4-hydroxycoumarin based compounds bearing a crucial place as potent antibiotic agents with appreciable safety in drug invention. Being synthetically and easily obtainable, 4-hydroxycoumarin related compounds with planar structure have been promoted predominantly as DNA targeting agent. Nevertheless, here we elucidate the synthesis, characterization and theoretical study of bio-active small molecule 4-hydroxy-3,4'-bichromenyl-2,2'-dione (4HBD).

Amphiphilic Peptide-Based Supramolecular, Noncytotoxic, Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels with Antibacterial Activity.

A series of peptides with a long fatty acyl chain covalently attached to the C-terminal part and a free amine (-NH) group at the N-terminus have been designed so that these molecules can be assembled in aqueous medium by using various noncovalent interactions. Five different peptide amphiphiles with a general chemical formula [HN-(CH)CONH-Phe-CONHC (n = 1-5, C = dodecylamine)] have been synthesized, characterized, and examined for self-assembly and hydrogelation. All of these molecules [P1 (n = 1), P2 (n = 2), P3 (n = 3), P4 (n = 4), P5 (n = 5)] form thermoresponsive hydrogels in water (pH 6.

Efficacy and tolerability of topical sertaconazole versus topical terbinafine in localized dermatophytosis: A randomized, observer-blind, parallel group study.

Objective: Epidermal dermatophyte infections most commonly manifest as tinea corporis or tinea cruris. Topical azole antifungals are commonly used in their treatment but literature suggests that most require twice-daily application and provide lower cure rates than the allylamine antifungal terbinafine. We conducted a head-to-head comparison of the effectiveness of the once-daily topical azole, sertaconazole, with terbinafine in these infections.

A Suspected Case of Efavirenz-Induced Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.

A 23-year-old human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected Indian woman was admitted to a tertiary care hospital with generalized erythematosus rash all over her body with difficulty in swallowing for the previous 3 days. She also presented with swelling of the lips and redness of both eyes along with nausea, anorexia, slight headache, and fever, which appeared immediately after the initiation of a new regime of antiretroviral treatment with tenofovir (300 mg once daily), lamivudine (300 mg once daily), and efavirenz (600 mg once daily). Presumptive diagnosis of efavirenz-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome was made after excluding other causes.

Pedal edema associated with atypical antipsychotics.

This study describes a patient diagnosed as a case of bipolar affective disorder complaining of bothersome incidence of pedal edema 1 month after the initiation of atypical antipsychotic regimen with risperidone and quetiapine. All hematological and biochemical profiles were found to be normal. On discontinuation of risperidone, the condition remained unresolved even after 2 weeks, and the edema progressed reaching her calves.

Metronidazole-Induced Bullous Pemphigoid: A Case Report.

Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune cutaneous blistering disorder, the exact pathogenesis of which is still not fully elucidated. Drug-induced bullous pemphigoid eruptions are rare but have been reported earlier with the use of frusemide, psoralens, ibuprofen, galantamine hydrobromide, ACE inhibitors like captopril, spironolactone, penicillin, ampicillin, levofloxacin, penicillamine. We hereby report a case of metronidazole induced bullous pemphigoid (BP) in a 52-year-old male patient suffering from liver abscess following 4 days of drug administration.

C-deletion in exon 4 codon 63 of p53 gene as a molecular marker for oral squamous cell carcinoma: A preliminary study.

Background: Exfoliated oral cancer cells in saliva samples from patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) can be used to determine the incidence and type of mutations of the p53 tumor suppressor gene. The purpose of this study was to identify C-deletion mutation in exon 4 codon 63 of p53 gene in the saliva of OSCC patients by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Materials And Methods: Saliva samples of 20 newly histopathologically diagnosed OSCC patients and 5 healthy volunteers were subjected to isolation of the total genomic DNA and PCR amplification for C-deletion on exon 4 of p53 gene.

Shoot cultures of Hoppea fastigiata (Griseb.) C.B. Clarke as potential source of neuroprotective xanthones.

Hoppea fastigiata, an annual medicinal herb belonging to the Gentianaceae, is mostly found in South Asian countries, and is used by local tribes for various brain-related ailments. The genus possesses a unique class of compounds, xanthones, which are known for their potential against Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Limited availability and the potential pharmacological significance of the plants has led to the establishment of in vitro cultures of H.

A questionnaire-based survey to ascertain the views of clinicians regarding rational use of antibiotics in teaching hospitals of Kolkata.

Objectives: The objective was to assess the views of clinicians in teaching hospitals of Kolkata regarding the use of antibiotics in their own hospitals, focusing on perceived misuse, reasons behind such misuse and feasible remedial measures.

Materials And Methods: A total of 200 clinicians from core clinical disciplines was approached in six teaching hospitals of Kolkata through purposive sampling. A structured, validated questionnaire adopted from published studies and modified to suit the responding population was completed by consenting respondents through face-to-face interaction with a single interviewer.

Oxcarbazepine induced maculopapular rash - a case report.

Unlike carbamazepine, newer anti epileptic drug like oxcarbazepine, reports fewer side effects. In this report we describe a case of oxcarbazepine induced maculopapular rash probably happened because of a drug interaction with isoniazid, and a brief review of the existing literature is presented herewith. A 40-year-old male patient received oxcarbazepine 300mg twice daily along with other anti-tubercular drugs including isoniazid (300mg) once daily since two days.

A Case of Self-treatment Induced Recurrent Fixed Drug Eruptions Associated with the Use of Different Fixed Dose Combinations of Fluoroquinolone-Nitroimidazole.

A young male patient used fixed dose combinations of different fluoroquinolones and nitroimidazoles several times in the last few years for self-treating repeated episodes of diarrhea and loose motion. Each time, he experienced fixed drug eruptions that increased in number and severity on subsequent occasions. Suspecting association between the drug and the rashes, the patient each time discontinued the treatment prematurely, and preferred to switch to a similar formulation next time, but with different molecules of fluoroquinolone (ciprofloxacin or ofloxacin) and nitroimidazole (tinidazole or ornidazole).

Azithromycin-induced rash in a patient of infectious mononucleosis - a case report with review of literature.

Antibiotic induced skin rash in setting of infectious mononucleosis is often encountered in clinical practice. However, macrolides like azithromycin are considered relatively safe and till date only two cases of azithromycin induced rash in setting of infectious mononucleosis have been reported. The following report illustrates the case of a 23-year-old man suffering from infectious mononucleosis who exhibited a generalized cutaneous rash following treatment with azithromycin.

Diclofenac-serratiopeptidase combination induced stevens - johnson syndrome - a rare case report with review of literature.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCAR) which are frequently caused by exposure to drugs and cause significant morbidity and mortality. A careful literature search revealed that only a few reports of diclofenac induced and one case of serratiopeptidase associated case report of SJS or TEN have been published till date. However, to our knowledge, no case report of diclofenac-serratiopeptidase combination induced SJS have been published till date.

Exploration of novel rhizospheric yeast isolate as fertilizing soil inoculant for improvement of maize cultivation.

Background: Chemical input in agriculture is a common practice but makes a serious impact to the environment. In this context, soil isolates having multiple plant growth-promoting (PGP) attributes have been studied. The isolates were tested for their PO4 and Zn solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production and N2 fixation ability.

Non-healing Scalp Ulcer Accompanying Chronic Arsenicosis: A Case Report.

Arsenic, an environmental toxin, significantly contributes to the development of several health problems. Epidemiological studies done across the globe have reported that a prolonged arsenic exposure has been associated with characteristic skin lesions, neuropathy and an increased risk of skin, lung, liver (angiosarcoma), bladder, kidney and colon cancers. In present study, we are reporting a case of a 60-year-old male, who presented with a large (5cm x 4cm) painless ulcer in fronto-parietal area of scalp, with occasional oozing of blood.

Production, purification and characterization of a novel thermotolerant endoglucanase (CMCase) from Bacillus strain isolated from cow dung.

In an attempt to screen out cellulase producing bacteria from herbivorous animal fecal matter it was possible to isolate a potent bacterium from cow dung. The bacterium was identified as Bacillus sp. using 16S rDNA based molecular phylogenetic approach.

Production and partial characterisation of an inducer-dependent novel antifungal compound(s) by Pediococcus acidilactici LAB 5.

Background: Pediococcus acidilactici LAB 5 produces an antifungal compound under in vitro conditions in an inducer-dependent manner. The main objective of the present study was to partially characterise this antifungal compound by UV-visible, IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and GC/MS analyses and also to assess its potentiality against a number of food spoilage, plant-pathogenic and human-pathogenic fungal species.

Results: The strain produced a broad-spectrum antifungal compound(s) that was induced by certain constituent factors of MRS and malt extract media.

Isolation and Characterization of Pediocin NV 5 Producing Pediococcus acidilactici LAB 5 from Vacuum-Packed Fermented Meat Product.

A potentially novel antimicrobial compound producing Pediococcus acidilactici LAB 5 was isolated from vacuum-packed fermented meat product. This compound was found active against some species of Enterococcus, Leuconostoc, Staphylococcus and Listeria, many of which are associated with food spoilage and food related health hazards. The strain was found to be a paired cocci which can utilize a broad range of carbohydrates and produce acid identical to the P.