Articles

Background: The present study was conducted to study the donor profile and to assess the trends of cornea donation. Methodology: This was conducted as a hospital based cross sectional study at a tertiary care centre in Central India for a period of 5 years. Data was retrieved from 70 patients from eye bank who filled form of eye donation at Eye bank of our institution. Sociodemographic profile of donors, cause of death and time since death was recorded. Source of information regarding corneal donation and reason for not willing to donate the cornea for research purpose was recorded from the filled form. Further cornea enucleated were subjected to serology and their utilization for various purposes were recorded in questionnaire. Results: The present study retrieved data from a total of 70 donor forms with mean age of 65.84 ± 18.4 years. Cornea obtained from younger patients were mainly utilized for corneal transplantation whereas that from elderly age group > 60 years were mainly utilized for research/training purpose and the observed difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). The corneas retrieved and utilized immediately after death were significantly used for optical or therapeutic purposes (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The present highlights the donor profile and trends of corneal donation at the tertiary care facility of Central India. It was observed that though the younger population and older population both are aware regarding corneal donation but still they are less aware on purpose for which cornea can be utilized. Quality of donor cornea is better when death to enucleation time interval was less.

Three distinct oyster mushroom strains including Pleurotus florida (PF), Pleurotus eous (PE) and Pleurotus sajor-caju (PS) were successfully cultivated on cattail weed substrate. A comparative analysis of different parameters viz., biological efficiency (BE) and protein, carbohydrate, crude fiber and fat content in fruitbodies were evaluated. According to biological efficiencies obtained PF (90%) was superior strain, while order can be represented as 90%> 89%> 82% respectively in PF>PS>PE. The highest protein (4.8 g), lipid (0. 61 g) and dietary fiber (31.6g) values were obtained in the fruitings of Pleurotus sajor-caju. However, the utmost level of carbohydrate (41g) was recorded in Pleurotus eous. On the basis of the observation of the present study we recommend use of cattail weed substrate for cultivation of oyster mushrooms for better nutrients.

Purpose: To evaluate the levels of salusin-beta (β-SAL) in the serum in patients with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). Methods: Our study was designed as a controlled comparative clinical study. The β-SAL levels in serums of age and sex-matched 20 healthy volunteers as controls (Group 1), 20 patients with dry-age related macular degeneration (d-ARMD) (Group 2) and 20 patients with wet-age related macular degeneration (w-ARMD) (Group 3) were measured with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Results: In our study, it was found that age and gender didn’t show a statistically significant difference among the study groups (p > 0. 05). The mean serum β-SAL levels in Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 were 1372,17 ± 1126.69 pg/mL; 1423,71 ± 1196.84 pg/mL and 940,57 ± 1092.05 pg/mL, respectively. Although the meanβ-SAL levels in w-ARMD seem numerically lower than both the control and d-ARMD groups, this difference among the study groups was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Our study suggests that β-SAL levels in the patients with ARMD and healthy controls were not different than each other. Further studies with large numbers may reveal possible relationships between β-SAL and ARMD.

Microparticles (MPs) are considered important diagnostic biological markers in many diseases with promising predictive value. There are several methods that currently used for the detection of number and characterization of structure and features of MPs. Therefore, the MP detection methods have been remained pretty costly and time consuming. The review is depicted the perspectives to use coupling methods for MP measurement and structure assay. Indeed, there is large body evidence regarding that the combination of atomic force microscopy or coupling nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) with microbeads, plasmon resonance method and fluorescence quantum dots could exhibit much more accurate ability to detect both number and structure of MPs when compared with traditional flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy. Whether several combined methods would be useful for advanced MP detection is not fully clear, while it is extremely promising.

The drugs of biological origins have attracted the attention of many pharmaceutical companies where it is essential to protect the heterogeneous nature and the optimal three dimensional structures of the different macromolecules. These molecules are used in both the investigation and therapy purposes, so their maximum activities should be maintained. This requires the designing of certain delivery formulations that suits the macromolecule nature, its target organ, the required dose and delivery route, and that’s why the biotech companies invest millions of dollars towards achieving that. The first main focal point of this article includes the recent developments in the formulation technologies for several biomacromolecule classes. The second focal point concentrates on the current considerations for optimizing their delivery for a maximum performance in the body.

Background: Ocular diseases affect every individual in this world, with the only difference being in the pattern of occurrence of disease depending on age, gender, region, and climatic conditions. In Ethiopia there is shortage of literatures stating pattern of ocular diseases which is very important for planning preventive, curative and rehabilitative health service concerning prevalence of eye problems. Objective: This study is aimed to determine the pattern of eye diseases at Borumeda Hospital, Amhara region, Ethiopia from July 10 to December 15, 2018. Method: Institutional based cross- sectional retrospective study was conducted among 384 patients attending in ophthalmic OPD of Borumeda primary hospital. Nine hundred three newly diagnosed patients who were registered on OPD registration book in the study period were study population. Systematic random sampling was conducted to select study participants from study population. The collected data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and frequency percentage). Results: From all study participants who had ocular disorders 92(24%) of them were came by Allergic conjunctivitis, followed by cataract 16.9%, refractory disorders 13%, Glaucoma 7.1%, infective conjunctivitis 4.7%, Pterygium 3.1%, Blepharitis 3.1%, NLDO 2.6%, Pseudoaphekia 2.4% and Corneal opacity 2.1%. Conclusion: Significant number of patients 182(47.5%) of them came for treatment of adnexa (lid, margin, conjunctiva, lacrymal system) disorders. So every health professional should be responsible to deliver preventive, curative and rehabilitative services to control the most prevalent ocular disorders. Significance of study: This study will be very important for health managers to distribute medical resources and staffs according to the prevalence of ocular disorders. This study result will be useful for health care workers for planning preventive, curative and rehabilitative health services for those common eye disorders.

tRNA-dependent amidotransferases (AdT) are essential enzymes for protein biosynthesis in many bacteria and in all archaea. As AdT is essential for a number of pathogenic bacteria, and it is absent from mammalian cytoplasm, it is considered as a putative target for novel inhibitors that could be lead compounds to develop a new class of antibiotics. Besides GatFAB of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondria and GatAB of Plasmodium falciparum apicoplast, all reported AdT can be divided into two groups: heterodimeric GatDE and heterotrimeric GatCAB. The latter is required to catalyze the conversion of Glu-tRNAGln and/or Asp-tRNAAsn into Gln-tRNAGln and/or Asn-tRNAAsn in many pathogenic bacteria. Recently determined high resolution crystal structures of several GatCAB could be used to design new inhibitors. In this review, we highlight the essential role of AdT for the faithful translation of glutamine and/or asparagine codons, we describe important features of the crystal structures of several GatCAB as well as tRNA/AdT/aaRS complexes for the formation of Gln-tRNAAsn and Asn-tRNAAsn, we finally summarize discoveries of AdT inhibitors based on their analogy to glutamine, adesosine tripoliphosphate and 3’-end of tRNA.

Background: Corneal abrasions are a common result of eye trauma. Corneal injuries are very common in both the adult and pediatric population and account for a significant proportion of the workload of most emergency departments. Although abrasion heals well with preservative treatment, it still causes pain and job lost. The abrasion result from the scrabble of the corneal epithelium. These injuries cause pain, tearing, lids spasm, light scare, foreign body sensation, decreased visual acuity/blurring, and a gritty feeling. The light, friction & wink was worse the condition. Most abrasion cure within 24-27 hours and seldom proceed to erosion or infection. The study aims to use bandage soft contact lens [BSCL] as a primary treatment for traumatic corneal abrasion [TCA] instead of traditionally use pressure patch [PP]. Patients and methods: The present prospective study has been conducted on 50 patients attending the out-patient department of ophthalmology in an Alyarmouk teaching hospital for six months after taking ethical permission. Before subjecting the patient to the treatment of bandage soft contact lens therapy, a detailed clinical history and thorough local examination have been done. A history indicating the occurrence of recent ocular trauma followed by severe pain, redness, lids spasm, photophobia, and tearing of the involved eye is suggestive of a corneal abrasion. Always we ask about contact lens wear as this can complicate the presence of an abrasion. To confirm the diagnosis of traumatic corneal abrasion we examine the cornea by slit-lamp under cobalt-blue filtered light after the application of tetracaine eye drops & fluorescein strips. The treatment of 50 consecutive patients presenting with traumatic corneal abrasion has been treated with anesthetic eye drop (tetracaine 0.5%) to relieve pain and lids spasm, antibiotic eye drop (ofloxacin 0.3%), therapeutic bandage soft contact lens was applied to provide pain relief and once again act as a splint to promote epithelial healing, then visual acuity was measured by Snellen chart, a cycloplegic eye drop (cyclopentolate 1%) was applied to relieve ciliary spasm & then preservative-free lubricant eye drop were applied lastly. This criterion dramatically relieves most, if not all of the pain the patient may be experiencing (which is a big plus for the patient and earns instantaneous trust), but it also allows the patient to return to work/school or any other daily activities. Patients have been evaluated after 24hours, 72hours and after 1week regarding pain, visual acuity, and complications. Though pressure patch [PP] occasionally advice in abrasion therapy, it does not assist and may prevent recovery. Employ the protective eyewear can preclude the traumatic corneal abrasion. Results: A total of 50 cases were enrolled in our study during the study period of 6 months. Out of 50 patients, there were 30males and 20 females and the male/female ratio was 3:2. The patient’s age was ranged from 5-35years. The commonest cause of injury was direct minor trauma (80% of cases), with cosmetic & optical contact lenses related problems accounting for 20% of presentations, visual acuity was documented correctly in 90% of adult and pediatric group and difficult to documented in children less than 6-year-old 10%. Traumatic corneal abrasion treated with bandage soft contact lens has an apparent advantage over the traditional pressure patch in terms of reduced pain, speedier healing, and an advantage of faster rehabilitation, facilitation epithelial healing, and proper surface hydration. Evaluation of pain revealed sufficient comfort with this regimen, allowing 45 patients (90%) to go back immediately to their occupations. Moreover, visual function is retained without any complication. Healing of the traumatic corneal abrasion occurred within 1 to 3 days in all patients, with minimal or no pain. The infection did not occur at the time of the follow up. We remove the bandage soft contact lens after 1 week to allow epithelial migration and attachment without the interference of the shearing forces of the upper lid. Conclusion: The use of bandage soft contact lens as a primary treatment for a traumatic corneal abrasion is a safe and effective method with anesthetic eye drop (tetracaine 0.5%), antibiotic eye drop (ofloxacin 0. 3%), cycloplegic eye drop (cyclopentolate 1%), preservative-free lubricant drop instead of traditionally pressure patch. Bandage soft contact lens causes dramatic improvement from pain, lid spasm, tearing & visual function is retained without any complication, and patients can immediately resume their regular activities.

The so-called “biotechnological revolution” is changing the structure of the Pharmacopoeia [1]. The space of biological products, previously limited to blood products and vaccines, grew from the introduction of first recombinant therapeutics in the 1980s until attaining a 25% by value of the pharmaceutical market. This share is expected to reach 50% in the coming years. More than 80 biotechnology drugs have entered the market in the last ten years. It is estimated that there are more than 900 biological products on development for more than 100 diseases [2].

Interferons are multifunctional cytokines widely used in clinical settings as an anti-viral drug. In addition, interferon’s exhibit anti-cancer and anti-bacterial effects. Nearly two thousand papers related to interferon are published each year, which illustrates the importance placed by researchers on the study of interferon. This review focuses on recent advances in the study of interferon, particularly in the areas of its mechanism of anti-cancer effect and signal transduction. We also describe the tumor resistance to interferon and the side-effect of interferon-based therapy, which leads to an expectation of future research of interferon.