Development and in-vitro Evaluation of Once Daily Tablet Dosage Form of Loxoprofen Sodium

Purpose: To formulate and characterize once daily controlled release tablet of loxoprofen sodium.Methods: Eudragit RS-100, hydroxylpropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and pectin were used as release retarding polymers. All the formulations were prepared by direct compression method. Various precompression studies were carried out to determine Hausner’s ratio, Carr’s index, angle of repose, bulk density and tapped density Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies and also post-compression studies to evaluate hardness, friability, weight variation, drug content, in-vitro drug release were conducted on the tablets. The drug release data were subjected to kinetic models, including zero order, first order, Hixon Crowell, Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas.Results: Compressibility index (7.6 ± 1.32 - 12.5 ± 1.43%), Hausner’s ratio (1.08 ± 0.04 - 1.14 ± 0.03), angle of repose (27.78 ± 0.47 - 30.49 ± 0.46°), hardness (6.25 ± 0.27 - 7.21±0.21 kg/cm2), friability (0.14 ± 0.06 - 0.28 ± 0.0 %), weight variation (249.5 ± 2.09 - 251.35 ± 2.41 mg) and drug content  (97.30 ± 0.28 - 103.70 ± 0.31 %) were within generally accepted limits for the pre-and post-compression formulations, respectively. The tablets having the maximum amount of among the three polymers tested as matrix materials, HPMC, represented by F3 tablets, exerted better sustained release properties after 12 h. Release pattern was more of Fickian diffusion followed by Higuchi mechanism.Conclusion: The release of the loxoprofen sodium was optimized up to 12 h.Keywords: Loxoprofen, Sustained release, hydroxypropyl methylcelluose, Pectin, Eudragit, Matrix tablet

A Parallel Framework for Multipoint Spiral Search in ab Initio Protein Structure Prediction

Protein structure prediction is computationally a very challenging problem. A large number of existing search algorithms attempt to solve the problem by exploring possible structures and finding the one with the minimum free energy. However, these algorithms perform poorly on large sized proteins due to an astronomically wide search space. In this paper, we present a multipoint spiral search framework that uses parallel processing techniques to expedite exploration by starting from different points. In our approach, a set of random initial solutions are generated and distributed to different threads. We allow each thread to run for a predefined period of time. The improved solutions are stored threadwise. When the threads finish, the solutions are merged together and the duplicates are removed. A selected distinct set of solutions are then split to different threads again. In our ab initio protein structure prediction method, we use the three-dimensional face-centred-cubic lattice for structure-backbone mapping. We use both the low resolution hydrophobic-polar energy model and the high-resolution 20×20 energy model for search guiding. The experimental results show that our new parallel framework significantly improves the results obtained by the state-of-the-art single-point search approaches for both energy models on three-dimensional face-centred-cubic lattice. We also experimentally show the effectiveness of mixing energy models within parallel threads

Nanoengineering of NiO/MnO2/GO Ternary Composite for Use in High-Energy Storage Asymmetric Supercapacitor and Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER).

Designing multifunctional nanomaterials for high performing electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices has been very challenging. A number of strategies have been reported to introduce multifunctionality in electrode/catalyst materials including alloying, doping, nanostructuring, compositing, etc. Here, we report the fabrication of a reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-based ternary composite NiO/MnO2/rGO (NMGO) having a range of active sites for enhanced electrochemical activity. The resultant sandwich structure consisted of a mesoporous backbone with NiO and MnO2 nanoparticles encapsulated between successive rGO layers, having different active sites in the form of Ni-, Mn-, and C-based species. The modified structure exhibited high conductivity owing to the presence of rGO, excellent charge storage capacity of 402 F·g-1 at a current density of 1 A·g-1, and stability with a capacitance retention of ~93% after 14,000 cycles. Moreover, the NMGO//MWCNT asymmetric device, assembled with NMGO and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as positive and negative electrodes, respectively, exhibited good energy density (28 Wh·kg-1), excellent power density (750 W·kg-1), and capacitance retention (88%) after 6000 cycles. To evaluate the multifunctionality of the modified nanostructure, the NMGO was also tested for its oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity. The NMGO delivered a current density of 10 mA·cm-2 at the potential of 1.59 V versus RHE. These results clearly demonstrate high activity of the modified electrode with strong future potential

Depression, sleeping pattern, and suicidal ideation among medical students in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional pilot study

© 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. Background: Depression is a major morbidity and the most common mental disorder among the medical students in medical schools globally. Undergraduate students suffer stress more due to their academic curriculum than the students of other faculties. In low-resource settings like Bangladesh, there is a dearth in research on the mental health of undergraduate medical students. This pilot study was conducted to add to the existing limited evidence by reporting the prevalence of depression and describing sleeping pattern and suicidal tendencies among medical students. Relevantly, we have investigated the overall mental health status among the medical students in Bangladesh. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in two medical colleges of Dhaka between July 2013 and December 2013, among 221 Bangladeshi medical students from first to fifth year. By the convenience sampling technique, data were collected by a pretested, structured, self-administered questionnaire and analysis was done by SPSS version 18.0. Depression was assessed by the validated Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) tool among the respondents. Goldberg’s General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) was used for assessing overall mental health status. Results: Depression was found in 38.9% of participants, with 3.6%, 14.5%, and 20.8% being severe, moderate, and mild depression, respectively. 17.6% of medical students had suicidal tendency or attempted suicide at least once after attending medical school. The sleeping hours were inadequate and altered after starting this stressful academic course. 33.5% of medical students had poor mental health status. There was a statistically significant association between poor mental health status in the age group less than 22 years old and initial academic study year (1st to 3rd of MBBS). Conclusion: The findings are suggestive of a higher prevalence of depression among early-year medical students and marginal predominance in males. Suicidal tendency is also higher. This calls for further investigation with situation analysis, qualitative explorations, and surveys to explore the burden of such disorders in Bangladesh

An Approach to Enhance the Solubility of an Atypical Antipsychotic Drug, Aripiprazole: Design, Characterization, and Evaluation of Arabinoxylan-Based Nanoparticles

Mehwish Sikander,1 Ume Ruqia Tulain,1 Nadia Shamshad Malik,2 Arshad Mahmood,3,4 Mohammed S Alqahtani,5 Alia Erum,1 Muhammad Tariq Khan2,6 1Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan; 2Faculty of Pharmacy, Capital University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan; 3Faculty of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi Campus, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; 4AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center (HBRC) Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; 5Nanobiotechnology Unit, Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Pharmacy, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, PakistanCorrespondence: Ume Ruqia Tulain, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan, Tel +00923316668588, Email [email protected]: Natural polymers have emerged as versatile and sustainable alternatives to synthetic polymers in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. This study focuses on the extraction of arabinoxylan (AX) from maize husk and its potential as a promising excipient to enhance the solubility and oral bioavailability of Aripiprazole (APZ), a poorly water-soluble antipsychotic drug, offering a robust strategy for overcoming challenges associated with hydrophobic drugs.Methods: APZ-loaded AX nanoparticles were synthesized using the ionotropic gelation technique. The formulation with the highest encapsulation efficiency designated as FN4 was selected for detailed characterization. Various analytical techniques, including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), were employed to assess the morphological, crystalline, and thermal properties of the nanoparticles. In vitro release studies were conducted on both simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.2) and simulated intestinal fluid (pH 6.8) to evaluate drug dissolution behaviour. The everted sac method was utilized to assess the permeation and transport of APZ from the AX-based nanoparticles.Results: The FN4 formulation exhibited an encapsulation efficiency of 88.9% ± 1.77%, with a particle size of 284.4 nm, a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.346, and a zeta potential of 20.7 mV. SEM analysis revealed a uniform distribution of polyhedral-shaped nanoparticles. XRD and DSC analyses indicated that APZ was in an amorphous state within the nanoparticles. Drug release was more pronounced at pH 6.8, with the AX nanoparticles showing sustained release. The everted sac method demonstrated enhanced permeation of APZ across intestinal membranes, supporting the potential of AX nanoparticles in improving drug absorption.Discussion: The AX-based nanoparticle formulation significantly improved the solubility, pH-dependent release profile, and sustained release of APZ, offering a promising strategy to enhance the oral bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs. These findings suggest that AX nanoparticles could serve as an effective delivery system for enhancing the therapeutic potential of hydrophobic drugs like APZ.Keywords: arabinoxylan, aripiprazole, nanoparticles, bioavailability, solubilit

Phenotypic characterisation of four naked neck chicken ecotypes indigenous to Pakistan

This study characterised four naked neck chicken phenotypes (black, white-and-black, light brown, and dark brown) at 20 weeks of age, based on both qualitative and quantitative traits. A total of 320 birds were evaluated, with 40 males and 40 females per phenotype. Qualitative traits assessed included head shape, comb type, wattle size, plumage pattern, shank colour, spur presence, and number of toes. Quantitative traits measured included neck length, keel length, wingspan, shank length, shank circumference, drumstick length, drumstick circumference, and body length. Both sexes of all phenotypes exhibited a plain head and a single comb. Wattle size varied by sex, being medium-sized in females and highly developed in males. Feathers in the breast, wing bow, wing bar, wing bay, saddle, and tail areas most commonly had a plain pattern, followed by stippled, pencilled, and laced patterns. Shank colouration differed between the sexes, with males most commonly having yellow shanks, followed by grey, off-white, and green shanks. In contrast, females predominantly had grey shanks, followed by yellow, green, and off-white shanks. Among the phenotypes, white-and-black, light brown, and dark brown chickens exhibited the highest frequency of yellow shanks, while grey shanks were most commonly found in black birds. Males were significantly larger than females for most morphometric traits. Additionally, the light brown and dark brown phenotypes exhibited higher values for quantitative traits than the black and white-and-black phenotypes. All birds of the naked neck phenotype, regardless of sex, had four toes, normal spurs, and tufted feathers on the ventral neck region above the crop. Submitted 23 September 2021; Accepted 8 April 2025; Published April 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Significance of research to South African science The article by Shafiq et al. (2025) provides valuable insights for South African poultry science and sustainable livestock development in similar agroecological zones. Although based in Nigeria, the study evaluates key phenotypic traits - such as body weight, growth rate, and heat tolerance - of naked neck chickens under heat-stress conditions, which are increasingly relevant due to climate change. For South Africa, where smallholder and rural poultry systems remain important for food security and livelihoods, the findings support breed selection strategies that prioritise adaptability, resilience, and productivity in hot climates. This research contributes to regional efforts in promoting climate-smart animal agriculture and preserving indigenous genetic resources

Prognostic model to predict postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery based on a national prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Acute illness, existing co-morbidities and surgical stress response can all contribute to postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery. The aim of this study was prospectively to develop a pragmatic prognostic model to stratify patients according to risk of developing AKI after major gastrointestinal surgery. Methods: This prospective multicentre cohort study included consecutive adults undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection, liver resection or stoma reversal in 2-week blocks over a continuous 3-month period. The primary outcome was the rate of AKI within 7 days of surgery. Bootstrap stability was used to select clinically plausible risk factors into the model. Internal model validation was carried out by bootstrap validation. Results: A total of 4544 patients were included across 173 centres in the UK and Ireland. The overall rate of AKI was 14·2 per cent (646 of 4544) and the 30-day mortality rate was 1·8 per cent (84 of 4544). Stage 1 AKI was significantly associated with 30-day mortality (unadjusted odds ratio 7·61, 95 per cent c.i. 4·49 to 12·90; P < 0·001), with increasing odds of death with each AKI stage. Six variables were selected for inclusion in the prognostic model: age, sex, ASA grade, preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate, planned open surgery and preoperative use of either an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker. Internal validation demonstrated good model discrimination (c-statistic 0·65). Discussion: Following major gastrointestinal surgery, AKI occurred in one in seven patients. This preoperative prognostic model identified patients at high risk of postoperative AKI. Validation in an independent data set is required to ensure generalizability

Facile synthesis of iron–nickel–cobalt ternary oxide (FNCO) mesoporous nanowires as electrode material for supercapacitor application

Transition Metal Oxides have drawn significant attention due to their reversible chemical redox reaction and long-life stability. Inexorable agglomeration and shrinkage/expansion of transition metal oxides in the nanosize regime have a noticeable effect on their electrochemical properties. Here in this work, mesoporous nanowires (NWs) with a typical composition of iron-nickel-cobalt ternary oxide (FNCO) are synthesized using a simple, facile and cost-effective hydrothermal process followed by furnace annealing. These NWs are then extensively investigated as an electrode material for supercapacitor application. To compare the electrochemical properties, nanowires of nickel-cobalt oxide (NCO), iron-cobalt oxide (FCO) and cobalt oxide (CO) were also produced by following the same protocol. The FNCO NWs are found to overcome the shortcomings in the electrochemical energy storage devices by exhibiting higher values of specific capacitance (2197 Fg-1) and energy density (109 Whkg−1) at 1 Ag-1 current rate. Moreover, the FNCO NWs also showed a cyclic charge/discharge stability of 96% even up to 20,000 cycles. Furthermore, a FNCO//graphene asymmetric device, fabricated with FNCO NWs and graphene as positive and negative electrodes, respectively, which exhibit high energy density (47 Whkg−1), power density (375 Wkg-1) and excellent capacitance retention (86%) after 15,000 cycles

Evaluation of the realism of an MRI simulator for stroke lesion prediction using convolutional neural network

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