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A simple, accurate, rapid, economical UV spectrophotometric method namely Absorption correlation method have been developed and validated for estimation of Sparfloxacin and Dexamethasone in laboratory prepared mixtures as well as in combined dosage form and can be used in routine analysis. At 360 nm Sparfloxacin shows considerable absorbance while Dexamethasone shows no interference. Dexamethasone and Sparfloxacin both showed considerable absorbance at 243 nm. Therefore, Sparfloxacin can be directly estimated at 360 nm while after correcting absorbance at 243 nm, Dexamethasone can be estimated. In Absorbance ratio method iso-absorptive point is 243nm. Mean assay was found to be 100.84% and 100.12% for Sparfloxacin and Dexamethasone respectively by Absorption correlation method. This method was found to be linear in the concentration range of 6-36μg/ml for Sparfloxacin and 2-12μg/ml for Dexamethasone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood evidence is frequently encountered at the scene of violent crimes and can provide valuable intelligence in the forensic investigation of serious offences. Because many of the current enhancement methods used by crime scene investigators are presumptive, the visualisation of blood is not always reliable nor does it bear additional information. In the work presented here, two methods employing a shotgun bottom up proteomic approach for the detection of blood are reported; the developed protocols employ both an in solution digestion method and a recently proposed procedure involving immobilization of trypsin on hydrophobin Vmh2 coated MALDI sample plate. The methods are complementary as whilst one yields more identifiable proteins (as biomolecular signatures), the other is extremely rapid (5 minutes). Additionally, data demonstrate the opportunity to discriminate blood provenance even when two different blood sources are present in a mixture. This approach is also suitable for old bloodstains which had been previously chemically enhanced, as experiments conducted on a 9-year-old bloodstain deposited on a ceramic tile demonstrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) is silenced by promoter methylation in many types of tumors, yet ASC's role in most cancers remains unknown. Here, we show that ASC is highly expressed in a model of medulloblastoma, the most common malignant pediatric brain cancer; ASC is also expressed in human medulloblastomas. Importantly, while ASC deficiency did not affect normal cerebellar development, ASC knockout mice on the Smoothened (ND2:SmoA1) transgenic model of medulloblastoma exhibited a profound reduction in medulloblastoma incidence and a delayed tumor onset. A similar decrease in tumorigenesis with ASC deficiency was also seen in the hGFAP-Cre:SmoM2 mouse model of medulloblastoma. Interestingly, hyperproliferation of the external granule layer (EGL) was comparable at P20 in both wild-type and ASC-deficient SmoA1 mice. However, while the apoptosis and differentiation markers remained unchanged at this age, proliferation makers were decreased, and the EGL was reduced in thickness and area by P60. This reduction in proliferation with ASC deficiency was also seen in isolated SmoA1 cerebellar granule precursor cells in vitro, indicating that the effect of ASC deletion on proliferation was cell autonomous. Interestingly, ASC-deficient SmoA1 cerebella exhibited disrupted expression of genes in the transforming growth factor-β pathway and increased level of nuclear Smad3. Taken together, these results demonstrate an unexpected role for ASC in Sonic hedgehog-driven medulloblastoma tumorigenesis, thus identifying ASC as a promising novel target for antitumor therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial activity of methanol extracts of Croton roxburghii Balak. (Euphorbiaceae) leaves, in different concentrations (5ìg/ml, 25ìg/ml, 50ìg/ml, 100ìg/ml, 250ìg/ml), was carried out as a part of search for new antimicrobial substance against important human pathogens. Antibacterial and antifungal activities were carried out against six human pathogens like, two Gram positive bacteria namely B.subtilis & S.aureus, two Gram negative bacteria namely E.coli & K.pneumoniae and two fungal strains namely A.flavus & C.albicans, by disc diffusion method following standard procedures. The zone of inhibition of the extract was compared with that of different standard drugs like Streptomycin, Cifpodoxime and Gentamycin, for antibacterial activity while Amphotericin, Fluconazole and Clotrimazole, for antifungal activity. The observed results (zone of inhibition) showed that methanol extract of Croton roxburghii leaves possess effective antibacterial and antifungal activities against all tested organisms comparable with that of standard drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Nelsonia canescens (Acanthaceae), commonly used in name of 'Rasna (Bodo Rasna)' in Orissa, its root is being recommended in cases of pain and inflammation. Ethnic people use this plant very commonly. Review of the literature did not reveal much work on this plant, but ethnomedically root is said to be good anti inflammatory properties. Hence, it was thought worth to study the root of this plant. Method: The present investigation deals with macroscopic, microscopic study of the Nelsonia canescens root including its powder characteristics following standard procedures. Results: Chief microscopical characters include parenchymatous cortical zone, inner wall of the cell get detached and embedded in different form in cell cavities, medullary rays arising from the primary bundles, uni to tri seriate and getting wider towards periphery. Conclusion: Such a study would serve as a useful gauge in standardization of the root material and ensuring quality of the formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background It is widely reported that hexose sugars slow gastric emptying (GE) via osmoreceptor stimulation but this remains uncertain. We evaluated the effects of a panel of hexoses of differing molecular structure, assessing the effects of osmolality, intra-individual reproducibility and the role of the CCK1 receptor, in the regulation of GE by hexoses. Methods Thirty one healthy non-obese male and female subjects were studied in a series of protocols, using a 13C-acetate breath test to evaluate GE of varying concentrations of glucose, galactose, fructose and tagatose, with water, NaCl and lactulose as controls. GE was further evaluated following the administration of a CCK1 receptor antagonist. Three subjects underwent repeated studies to evaluate intra-individual reproducibility. Key Results At 250 mOsmol, a hexose-specific effect was apparent: tagatose slowed GE more potently than water, glucose and fructose ( P < 0.05). Fructose ( P < 0.05) also slowed GE, but with substantial inter-, but not intra-, individual differences. As osmolality increased further the hexose-specific differences were lost. At 500 mOsmol, all hexoses slowed GE compared with water ( P < 0.05), whereas lactulose and saline did not. The slowing of GE by hexose sugars appeared to be CCK1 receptor-dependent. Conclusions & Inferences The effects of hexose sugars on GE appear related to their molecular structure rather than osmolality per se, and are, at least in part, CCK1 receptor-dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Prehospital personnel in Emergency Medical Service (EMS) systems have varying levels of accuracy in stroke recognition. Identifying the accuracy of emergency medical dispatcher using Medical Priority Dispatch Systems (MPDS) stroke protocol and paramedics may help understand the accuracy of stroke recognition in about 3000 emergency medical dispatch systems and prehospital systems world wide. Objective.Our aim was to assess the accuracy of stroke identification in emergency medical dispatchers (EMD) with high compliance to MPDS protocol and paramedics using Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CSS). Methods.This was a retrospective observational study. Data was acquired from a computer assisted dispatch (CAD) system, a computerized paramedic record database and discharge diagnosis from billing records or stroke registry containing all stroke assessments of patients who presented to the participating study hospitals within 12 hours of symptom onset. We included patients 18 years or older, identified as having stroke by EMD and city agency paramedics. We excluded patients taken to hospitals not participating in the study, patients with a dispatch determinant of Stroke (card 28) not transported by City EMS agency (SDMSE) to participating hospitals, patients in the stroke registry not transported by SDMSE or patients with no final outcome data. A stroke neurologist or hospital discharge diagnosis of stroke (physician diagnosis) was used to determine the sensitivity and predictive values of EMD and paramedic recognition of stroke. Results.Of 882 patients with a dispatch determinant of stroke using MPDS Stroke protocol, 367 had a final discharge diagnosis of stroke. This gives a sensitivity of 83% and a positive predictive value of 42% for EMD using MPDS Stroke protocol. Of 477 patients with a paramedic assessment of stroke using CSS, 193 had a final discharge diagnosis of stroke. This gives a sensitivity of 44% and a PPV of 40% for paramedics using CSS. Conclusions.In our EMS system, EMD using MPDS Stroke protocol with a high compliance has a higher sensitivity than paramedics using CSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the abstract of the paper "Exploring the Function of 'Zzuss' Alarm Vocalizations in Wild Silky Sifakas (Propithecus Candidus): Moderate Evidence for Individual Distinctiveness," by E.R. Patel and colleagues to be presented at the 21st Congress of the International Primatological Society in Entebbe, Uganda from June 25-30, 2006.

The article presents an abstract of the symposium "Scent-marking in wild silky sifakas (Propithecus candidus) in Madagascar: sex differences and seasonal effects in usage and response across multiple scent-mark types," presented at the 21st Congress of the International Primatological Society held June 25-30, 2006 at Entebbe, Uganda.

The article presents the abstract of the paper "The Existence and Potential Function of "Totem-Tree" Scent-Marking in Silky Sifakas (Propithecus Candidus)," by A. Ritchie and E.R. Patel, that will be presented at the 21st Congress of the International Primatological Society in Entebbe, Uganda, from June 25-30, 2006.

The article presents an abstract of the paper "Silkya Sifaka (Propithecus candidus) ranging, activity budget and demography," by C.J. Santorelli and colleagues, to be presented at the 21st Congress of the International Primatological Society at the Imperial Resort Beach Hotel in Entebbe, Uganda, from June 25-30, 2006.

Background: There is evidence that pain is under detected and undertreated for people with communication difficulties, including people with dementia (Scott et al, 2011 BMC Geriatrics, 11:61). Pain tools exist but there is evidence that they are not used in everyday practice (Manias, E. 2012 International Journal of Nursing Studies 49(10): 1243–1254).Innovation: A group of multidisciplinary clinicians identified a lack of a pain assessment tool for patients with communication difficulties.Observations were carried out on medical and surgical wards which showed that cognitively impaired patients were less likely to be asked about pain.Six existing pain tools were examined in workshops and evaluated for likely ease of use. Three were identified as the most suitable and were trialled on six wards.Each tool was used on two wards and evaluated by nursing and physiotherapy staff, with qualitative and quantitative results. A crossover evaluation was carried out with each ward using a second tool.This showed that pain assessment tools could be used successfully, but practical problems were identified.Evaluation: Using these results a Bolton Pain Assessment Tool (BPAT) was devised which combined elements from the other tools as well as prompts to ask carers' opinions. BPAT was well received and used across the hospital. BPAT was then trialled at another hospital in four clinical areas. All staff agreed that it was easy and quick to use. Family involvement was limited but relevant. Nurses administered analgesia in 76% of cases. Staff rated the scale as a median of 8/10 and the majority rated it as better than other pain assessment tools.Conclusions: A multidisciplinary collaborative approach enabled the development of a Pain Tool that was effective and easy to use. Using a pain tool leads to increased interventions from the nursing staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is evidence that pain is under detected and undertreated for people with communication difficulties, including people with dementia (Scott et al, 2011 BMC Geriatrics, 11:61). Pain tools exist but there is evidence that they are not used in everyday practice (Manias, E. 2012 International Journal of Nursing Studies 49(10): 1243–1254).Innovation: A group of multidisciplinary clinicians identified a lack of a pain assessment tool for patients with communication difficulties.Observations were carried out on medical and surgical wards which showed that cognitively impaired patients were less likely to be asked about pain.Six existing pain tools were examined in workshops and evaluated for likely ease of use. Three were identified as the most suitable and were trialled on six wards.Each tool was used on two wards and evaluated by nursing and physiotherapy staff, with qualitative and quantitative results. A crossover evaluation was carried out with each ward using a second tool.This showed that pain assessment tools could be used successfully, but practical problems were identified.Evaluation: Using these results a Bolton Pain Assessment Tool (BPAT) was devised which combined elements from the other tools as well as prompts to ask carers' opinions. BPAT was well received and used across the hospital. BPAT was then trialled at another hospital in four clinical areas. All staff agreed that it was easy and quick to use. Family involvement was limited but relevant. Nurses administered analgesia in 76% of cases. Staff rated the scale as a median of 8/10 and the majority rated it as better than other pain assessment tools.Conclusions: A multidisciplinary collaborative approach enabled the development of a Pain Tool that was effective and easy to use. Using a pain tool leads to increased interventions from the nursing staff. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]