Manik Chandra Shill

Prevalence of uropathogens in diabetic patients and their corresponding resistance pattern: results of a survey conducted at diagnostic centers in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

OBJECTIVES Urinary tract infection is the second most common clinical indication for empirical antibiotic treatment in primary and secondary health care settings. The incidence of diabetes mellitus throughout the world is increasing strikingly and in the long run, it has some major effects on the genitourinary system which makes diabetic patients more liable to urinary tract infection. This study is designed to reveal the distribution of uropathogens in diabetic patients according to age and sex, and corresponding resistance patterns. METHODS A six-month retrospective review of urine culture assay data from August 2009 to January 2010 from randomly selected 85 patients who suffered from both urinary tract infection and diabetes was conducted. Relevant information was retrieved and analyzed statistically using Microsoft® Excel 2002 software. RESULTS The study showed that females are more vulnerable to pathogenic attack than males throughout a wide age distribution. In terms of pathogenic distribution, Escherichia coli was the highest followed by Streptococcus sp., Acinetobacter, Klebsiella pneumoniae and few others. Though Meropenem showed no resistance with E. coli, Acinetobacter and Klebsiella pneumoniae, in the case of Streptococcus sp. it exhibited resistance of 25%. Amikacin exhibited only 3% resistance with E. coli, whereas no resistance with Acinetobacter and Klebsiella pneumoniae, and most interestingly showed 75% resistance with Streptococcus sp. Gentamicin exhibited no resistance with Acinetobacter while 26.9%, 50% and 87.5% resistance with E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus sp. respectively. Hence, Nitrofurantoin exhibited less resistance 11.9% compared to 12.5% resistance with E. coli and Streptococcus sp. Nitrofurantoin was highly prone to resistance with Acinetobacter and Klebsiella pneumoniae (100%, 50% respectively). Cephalosporins (cephradine, cefixime, ceftriaxone, cefepime etc.) showed moderate resistance (avg. 50%), whereas amoxicillin and ciprofloxacin showed the highest resistance in all these cases. CONCLUSION Pathogens are mostly resistant to antibiotics including amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, cephalosporins and nitrofurantoin, with few exceptions including gentamicin, amikacin and meropenem.

Functionalized hBN as targeted photothermal chemotherapy for complete eradication of cancer cells

The development of combined anticancer therapeutic techniques has drawn increased attention for enhanced therapeutic efficacy. In this work, we synthesized Near Infrared (NIR) responsive ICG (I) functionalized hexagonal boron-nitride (hBN) as photothermal therapeutic agent (hBNI) and Doxorubicin (Dox)-conjugated Hyaluronic acid (HA) as tumor targeted chemotherapeutic agent (d-HA-Dox). Using adhesion properties of Dopamine (d), the hBNI has been integrated with d-HA-Dox to make a tumor targeted photothermal chemotherapeutic agent (hBNI/d-HA-Dox). The nanostructure of hBNI/d-HA-Dox has been studied using 1H NMR, FTIR, UV-vis-NIR and AFM images. Our in vitro results have provided evidence that hBNI/d-HA-Dox can efficiently damage targeted cancer cells while healthy cells are less affected suggesting that the targeted hBNI/d-HA-Dox nanoparticles work as a complementary antitumor agent with its synergistic co-therapeutic power.

Correlations between Risk Factors for Breast Cancer and Genetic Instability in Cancer Patients- A Clinical Perspective Study

Molecular epidemiological studies have identified several risk factors linking to the genes and external factors in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. In this sense, genetic instability caused by DNA damage and DNA repair inefficiencies are important molecular events for the diagnosis and prognosis of therapies. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze correlation between sociocultural, occupational, and lifestyle risk factors with levels of genetic instability in non-neoplastic cells of breast cancer patients. Total 150 individuals were included in the study that included 50 breast cancer patients submitted to chemotherapy (QT), 50 breast cancer patients submitted to radiotherapy (RT), and 50 healthy women without any cancer. Cytogenetic biomarkers for apoptosis and DNA damage were evaluated in samples of buccal epithelial and peripheral blood cells through micronuclei and comet assay tests. Elder age patients (61–80 years) had higher levels of apoptosis (catriolysis by karyolysis) and DNA damage at the diagnosis (baseline damage) with increased cell damage during QT and especially during RT. We also reported the increased frequencies of cytogenetic biomarkers in patients who were exposed to ionizing radiation as well as for alcoholism and smoking. QT and RT induced high levels of fragmentation (karyorrhexis) and nuclear dissolution (karyolysis) and DNA damage. Correlations were observed between age and karyorrhexis at diagnosis; smoking and karyolysis during RT; and radiation and karyolysis during QT. These correlations indicate that risk factors may also influence the genetic instability in non-neoplastic cells caused to the patients during cancer therapies.

A systematic review on the neuroprotective perspectives of beta-caryophyllene: Neurobiological effects of β-caryophyllene

Beta (β)‐caryophyllene (BCAR) is a major sesquiterpene of various plant essential oils reported for several important pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, anticancer, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, gastroprotective, nephroprotective, antimicrobial, and immune‐modulatory activity. Recent studies suggest that it also possesses neuroprotective effect. This study reviews published reports pertaining to the neuropharmacological activities of BCAR. Databases such as PubMed, Scopus, MedLine Plus, and Google Scholar with keywords “beta (β)‐caryophyllene” and other neurological keywords were searched. Data were extracted by referring to articles with information about the dose or concentration/route of administration, test system, results and discussion, and proposed mechanism of action. A total of 545 research articles were recorded, and 41 experimental studies were included in this review, after application of exclusion criterion. Search results suggest that BCAR exhibits a protective role in a number of nervous system‐related disorders including pain, anxiety, spasm, convulsion, depression, alcoholism, and Alzheimers disease. Additionally, BCAR has local anesthetic‐like activity, which could protect the nervous system from oxidative stress and inflammation and can act as an immunomodulatory agent. Most neurological activities of this natural product have been linked with the cannabinoid receptors (CBRs), especially the CB2R. This review suggests a possible application of BCAR as a neuroprotective agent.

Phytol: A review of biomedical activities

Phytol (PYT) is a diterpene member of the long-chain unsaturated acyclic alcohols. PYT and some of its derivatives, including phytanic acid (PA), exert a wide range of biological effects. PYT is a valuable essential oil (EO) used as a fragrance and a potential candidate for a broad range of applications in the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industry. There is ample evidence that PA may play a crucial role in the development of pathophysiological states. Focusing on PYT and some of its most relevant derivatives, here we present a systematic review of reported biological activities, along with their underlying mechanism of action. Recent investigations with PYT demonstrated anxiolytic, metabolism-modulating, cytotoxic, antioxidant, autophagy- and apoptosis-inducing, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, immune-modulating, and antimicrobial effects. PPARs- and NF-κB-mediated activities are also discussed as mechanisms responsible for some of the bioactivities of PYT. The overall goal of this review is to discuss recent findings pertaining to PYT biological activities and its possible applications.

Caffeic acid rich Citrus macroptera peel powder supplementation prevented oxidative stress, fibrosis and hepatic damage in CCl 4 treated rats

BackgroundCitrus macroptera has been used as a culinary fruit and medicinal plant in traditional medicine system in Bangladesh. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of phenolic compounds in Citrus macroptera peel powder and the protective effect of Citrus macroptera against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury in rats.MethodsThe hepatoprotective activity was assessed using various biochemical parameters such as liver marker enzymes (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP)) and oxidative stress parameters. Histopathological changes in the liver of different groups were also studied.ResultsAdministration of CCl4 increased the serum ALT, AST, ALP enzymatic activities and lipid peroxidation products but decreased the cellular antioxidant activities and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in rats which were brought back to near normal levels by the treatment with Citrus macroptera. Citrus macroptera administration has also shown to decrease the necrotic zones, fibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration in CCl4 treated rats. HPLC-DAD analysis of Citrus macroptera extract showed the great presence of caffeic acid and (−) epicatechin.ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that Citrus macroptera exerts hepatoprotective activity via promoting the antioxidant defense against CCl4-induced oxidative liver damage.

Anticonvulsant effect of anacardic acid in murine models: Putative role of GABAergic and antioxidant mechanisms

Epilepsy is a neurological disease affecting people of all ages worldwide. Side effects of antiepileptic drugs and their association with oxidative stress stimulate the search for new drugs, which would be more affordable with fewer adverse effects. Accordingly, the aim of the present work is to evaluate the anticonvulsant effect of anacardic acid (AA), a natural compound extracted from cashew liquid (Anacardium occidentalis), in murine models, as well as its antioxidant actions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. AA (>90% purity) was tested, in vivo, in male Swiss mice (25-30 g) with four convulsive models, (1) pentylenetetrazole, (2) pilocarpine, (3) electroshock, and (4) kainic acid, at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, body weight (B.W.) Additionally, the effective dose, toxic dose, and protective index studies were also performed. Results revealed that AA exhibits anticonvulsive effects in models 1, 3, and 4, with a mean effective dose (ED50) of 39.64 (model 1) >100 mg/kg, B.W. (model 2), and 38.36 (model 3); furthermore, AA displays a protection index of 1.49 (model 1), <0.6 (model 2, and 1.54 (model 3). In addition, AA showed antioxidant activities in S. cerevisiae mutated for superoxide dismutases (SOD). In conclusion, these results show that AA exhibits significant anticonvulsant and antioxidant activities and may be used as a promising natural product for the treatment of epilepsy.