Development and evaluation of a gastroretentive drug delivery system for the low-absorption-window drug celecoxib.

The objective of the present study is to develop microspheres for celecoxib to enhance its bioavailability by increasing its gastric residence time. Four different polymers-polyethylene oxide, Eudragit S, cellulose acetate, and Eudragit RL-were used to form the floating microspheres using an emulsion-solvent diffusion technique. The use of two different solvents (dichloromethane and ethanol) that differed in the rate of diffusion led to formation of a hollow core in the microspheres, which was partially responsible for the flotation ability.

Effects of feeding raw or reconstituted high tannin red sorghum on nutrient utilisation and certain welfare parameters of broiler chickens.

1. A feeding trial was conducted on 360 1-d-old chicks from 0 to 6 weeks of age to assess the effect of processed high tannin red sorghum in the diet of broiler chickens on nutrient utilisation and certain welfare parameters. 2.

Pfcrt haplotypes and in-vivo chloroquine response in Sundergarh district, Orissa, India.

The Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (Pfcrt) K76T mutation and haplotype (amino acids 72-76) were analyzed as markers of chloroquine (CQ) resistance in the blood samples of patients from two sites of different intensities of malaria transmission (high, n=70; low, n=68) in Sundergarh district of Orissa, India and correlated with the in-vivo response. Early treatment failure (ETF) was significantly more frequent in the high endemic area (32.9 vs.

Molecular electrodes at the exposed edge of metal/insulator/metal trilayer structures.

Producing reliable electrical contacts of molecular dimensions has been a critical challenge in the field of molecule-based electronics. Conventional thin film deposition and photolithography techniques have been utilized to construct novel nanometer-sized electrodes on the exposed vertical plane on the edge of a thin film multilayer structure (metal/insulator/metal). Via thiol surface attachment to metal leads, an array of paramagnetic, cyanide-bridged octametal complexes, [(pzTp)FeIII(CN)3]4[NiII(L)]4[O3SCF3]4 (1) [(pzTp) = tetra(pyrazol-1-yl)borate; L = 1-S(acetyl)tris(pyrazolyl)decane], were covalently linked onto the electrodes forming a dominant conduction pathway.

Effects of supplemental vitamin E in diet of Japanese quail on male reproduction, fertility and hatchability.

1. Two experiments were conducted to examine the effect of feeding higher supplemental vitamin E (VE) concentrations on male reproductive variables, fertility and hatchability of quails. 2.

Operational feasibility of rapid diagnostic kits & blister packs use for malaria control in high transmission areas of Orissa & Chhattisgarh.

Background & Objective: Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of cases with malaria are two important components of malaria control strategy. The independent assessment of the operational feasibility of rapid diagnostic kits and blister packs for malaria in some selected high transmission areas of Orissa and Chhattisgarh was done with the objectives to assess the knowledge and skills of the paramedical personnel and their acceptability by the paramedical personnel and the community, and to assess improvement in patients' health seeking behaviour.

Methods: The basic information regarding malaria situation, epidemiological divisions, distribution data of rapid diagnostic kits and blister packs, etc.

Some bivalent metal complexes of Schiff bases containing N and S donor atoms.

Schiff bases have been synthesized by the reaction of p-nitrobenzaldehyde, o-nitrobenzaldehyde and p-toluyaldehyde with 4-amino-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole. The ligands react with Co(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) metals to yield (1:1) and (1:2) [metal:ligand] complexes. Elemental analyses, IR, 1H NMR, electronic spectral data, magnetic susceptibility measurements, molar conductivity measurements and thermal studies have investigated the structure of the ligands and their metal complexes.

Commentary on a phase III trial of bevacizumab plus XELOX or FOLFOX4 for first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer: the NO16966 trial.

Replacing infusional 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) leucovorin (LV) with oral capecitabine would be more convenient to patients, because it would lead to reduced hospital chair time and infusion-related toxicities. Previous trials with oral capecitabine-based regimens (other than XELOX [capecitabine/oxaliplatin]) have failed to demonstrate the equivalent efficacy of capecitabine based regimens to various 5-FU/oxaliplatin regimens (nonstandard FOLFOX [5-FU/LV/oxaliplatin] combinations); of note, these trials did not use the XELOX and standard FOLFOX regimens. An international phase III trial (NO16966) was initiated to demonstrate the noninferiority of XELOX to FOLFOX4 for the first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.

Synthesis and characterization of cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes with Schiff base derived from 4-amino-3-mercapto-6-methyl-5-oxo-1,2,4-triazine.

A few (1:1) and (1:2) metal complexes of cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) have been isolated with ligand derived from the condensation of 4-amino-3-mercapto-6-methyl-5-oxo-1,2,4-triazine with 2-acetylpyridine (L(1)) and characterized by elemental analysis, conductivity measurements, infrared, electronic, (1)H NMR spectral data, magnetic and thermogravimetric analyses. Due to insolubility in water and most of the common organic solvents and infusibility at higher temperatures, all the complexes are thought to be polymeric in nature. A square-planar geometry was suggested for copper(II) and octahedral proposed for cobalt(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II).

Organoiodine(III) mediated synthesis of 3,9-diaryl- and 3,9-difuryl-bis-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a][4,3-c]pyrimidines as antibacterial agents.

Nine 3,9-diaryl- and 3,9-difuryl-bis-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a][4,3-c]pyrimidines (3a-i) have been synthesized by the oxidation of bis-2,4-pyrimidinylhydrazones of various araldehydes and furfural with 2equiv of iodobenzene diacetate (IBD) in dichloromethane and tested in vitro for their antibacterial activity. Three compounds, namely 3,9-di-(4'-fluorophenyl)-bis-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a][4,3-c]pyrimidine (3f), 3,9-di-(4'-nitrophenyl)-bis-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a][4,3-c]pyrimidine (3g) and 3,9-di-(5'-nitro-2'-furyl)-bis-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a][4,3-c]pyrimidine (3i), were associated with substantially higher antibacterial activity than some commercial antibiotics against Gram-positive bacteria namely Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Bacillus subtilis; two Gram-negative bacteria namely Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli at MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) 10microg/ml.

Antibacterial Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes of Schiff bases derived from fluorobenzaldehyde and triazoles.

Antibacterial Schiff bases derived from 1,2,4-triazoles as well as their metal complexes incorporating cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) have been synthesized and characterized. Physico-chemical studies suggest that an octahedral geometry for the cobalt(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II)and square-planer geometry for the copper(II) complexes. These complexes have been screened for antibacterial activity against three Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Bacillus subtilis) and two Gram-negative (Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacterial strains, and results compared with the activity of the free ligands.

Intraprostatic capsaicin injection as a novel model for nonbacterial prostatitis and effects of botulinum toxin A.

Objectives: An animal model for nonbacterial prostatitis in rats was developed with the use of intraprostatic injection of capsaicin, an agent thought to excite C-afferent fibers and cause neurogenic inflammation. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) was tested in this model.

Methods: Adult male Spraque-Dawley rats were injected with varying doses of capsaicin into the prostate.

Wash resistance and bioefficacy of Olyset net--a long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito net against malaria vectors and nontarget household pests.

During recent years, long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) have been developed to overcome the problems of low retreatment rates, washing, and erratic dose of the insecticide resulting in the dilution of efficacy of the conventional insecticide-treated mosquito nets. These nets are treated at factory level with insecticide either incorporated into or coated around fibers. Olyset net, a polyethylene net with 2% permethrin incorporated within fibers, is one type of LLIN.

Local drug delivery to bladder using technology innovations.

Local delivery of drugs directly into the bladder by way of a urethral catheter is a clever approach to optimize drug delivery to the disease site while reducing systemic bioavailability. Pharmacotherapy by this route is referred to as intravesical delivery. In recent years, intravesical delivery has been used in combination with and oral regimen of drugs or as second-line treatment for neurogenic bladder and detrusor overactivity.

Qualitative and quantitative expression profile of muscarinic receptors in human urothelium and detrusor.

Purpose: We compared the complete spectrum of receptor subtypes expressed by human detrusor and its primary culture with the expression profile in a human urothelium immortalized cell line, and in fresh urothelium tissue and its primary cell culture.

Materials And Methods: The levels of mRNA expressed for receptor subtypes M1 through M5 were determined with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and quantitative polymerase chain reaction in total RNA extracted individually from different human bladder specimens, including fresh tissue of human urothelium and detrusor, and their respective primary cultures, as well as from the UROtsa cell line.

Results: All 5 muscarinic receptors were detected in fresh human bladder tissue by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction RNA.

Removal of self-expandable metallic wallstent--a case report.

Self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) have become the preferred palliative treatment for patients with malignant biliary obstruction; endoscopic stent placement is less invasive than surgery and is rapidly effective. A longer duration of patency makes SEMS superior to plastic stents for palliation of patients with malignant stricture. Few cases of removal of an uncovered SEMS are reported in case of a blocked stent.

Diaphragm disease of the ileum: a case report.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs induced diaphragm like lesions are a rare cause of small intestinal obstruction. They occur most commonly in elderly patients who have been consuming these drugs for prolonged periods for pain relief. We report the first case of ileal diaphragm disease from Asia.

Intravesical antisense therapy for cystitis using TAT-peptide nucleic acid conjugates.

The present study investigated the potential of intravesical instillation for localized reduction of NGF (nerve growth factor) expression in the urinary bladder. Overexpression of NGF has been linked to the pathogenesis of interstitial cystitis (IC). A minimum free energy algorithm was used to predict suitable regions in mRNA of rat betaNGF, which can be targeted for an antisense approach.

Recent advances in intravesical drug/gene delivery.

Targeting of drugs administered systemically relies on the higher affinity of ligands for specific receptors to obtain selectivity in drug response. However, achieving the same goal inside the bladder is much easier with an intelligent pharmaceutical approach that restricts drug effects by exploiting the pelvic anatomical architecture of the human body. This regional therapy involves placement of drugs directly into the bladder through a urethral catheter.

Comparative apparent metabolisable energy values of high, medium and low tannin varieties of sorghum in cockerel, guinea fowl and quail.

1. Nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolisable energy values (AMEN) of three varieties of sorghum (white-low tannin, brown-medium tannin and red-high tannin) were measured in three species of poultry (cockerel, guinea fowl and Japanese quail) by a practical diet replacement (total collection) method. 2.