Abstract This study was aimed to develop the haloperidol (HPL) loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) for brain targeting through the intranasal route. SLNs were fabricated by the emulsification diffusion technique using glyceryl behenate as lipid and tween 80 as a surfactant. SLNs were evaluated for particle size, zeta potential, structure, entrapment efficiency, solid state characterization by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and in-vitro release. In-vivo biological evaluation was performed on albino Wistar rats for the determination of pharmacokinetic as well as brain targeting parameters. Particle size, PDI, zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency of optimized formulation (HPL-SLNs 6) were found to be 103±09 nm, 0.190±0.029, -23.5±1.07 mV, and 79.46±1.97% respectively. In-vitro drug release studies exhibited that 87.21± 3.63% of the entrapped drug was released from the SLNs within 24 h. DSC curves confirmed that during entrapment in SLNs, the drug was solubilized in the lipid matrix and converted into the amorphous form. Enhanced HPL targeting to the brain was observed from HPL-SLNs as compared to HPL-Sol when administered intranasally. The value of AUC 0-∞ in the brain for HPL-SLNs i.n. was found to be nearly 2.7 times higher than that of HPL-Sol i.v., whereas 3.66 times superior to HPL-Sol administered i.n. Stability studies revealed that the formulation remains unchanged when stored at 4±2 °C (refrigerator) and 25±2 °C /60 ±5% RH up to six months. Finally, it could be concluded that SLN is a suitable carrier for HPL with enhanced brain targeting through i.n administration, as compared to the HPL-Sol, administered i.n. and i.v.

Resumo Introdução: As lesões laríngeas são geralmente avaliadas por microlaringoscopia/laringoscopia direta sob anestesia para mapeamento da doença e diagnóstico tecidual. No entanto, em pacientes com comprometimento prévio das vias aéreas devido à lesão laríngea, pode ser necessária uma traqueostomia protetora ou traqueostomia de emergência para assegurar as vias aéreas. Para minimizar o risco de uma traqueostomia não planejada e facilitar o diagnóstico, realizamos punção aspirativa por agulha fina guiada por ultrassonografia transcutânea. Objetivo: Avaliar a viabilidade e o desempenho da punção aspirativa por agulha fina guiada por ultrassonografia transcutânea em lesões laríngeo-hipofaríngeas suspeitas/recorrentes. Método: A punção aspirativa por agulha fina foi realizada sob orientação ultrassonográfica. Foram recrutados 24 pacientes, 17 com lesão laríngea apenas, 6 com lesão laríngeo-faríngea e um com lesão na base da língua com extensão supraglótica. Resultados: Dos 24 pacientes, 21 apresentaram citologia positiva para carcinoma espinocelular, 2 citologia não diagnóstica (células atípicas) e o outro tecido inadequado para o diagnóstico definitivo. Os pacientes com citologia negativa e inconclusiva foram submetidos à biópsia através de laringoscopia direta, que foi positiva para lesão maligna espinocelular. Todos os pacientes toleraram bem o procedimento e nenhum evento adverso foi observado. Conclusão: Embora a laringoscopia direta continue a ser o padrão de cuidado na avaliação das lesões laríngeo-hipofaríngeas, este estudo piloto demonstrou que a punção aspirativa por agulha fina guiada por ultrassonografia transcutânea é uma técnica viável, ambulatorial, segura e sensível, permite rápido diagnóstico e evita a necessidade de laringoscopia direta sob anestesia geral para diagnóstico tecidual.

Abstract Introduction: Laryngeal lesions are usually evaluated by microlaryngoscopy/direct laryngoscopy under anaesthesia for disease mapping and tissue diagnosis. However patients with anticipated airway compromise due to laryngeal mass may require either a protective tracheotomy or emergency tracheotomy to secure the airway. To minimise risk of unplanned tracheotomy and expedite the diagnosis we performed ultrasound-guided transcutaneous fine needle aspiration cytology. Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and performance of ultrasound-guided transcutaneous fine needle aspiration cytology of suspicious/recurrent laryngo-hypopharyngeal masses. Methods: Fine needle aspiration cytology was performed under ultrasound guidance. Twenty- four patients were recruited, of which 17 had a pure laryngeal lesion; 6 patients had laryngo-pharyngeal, and one patient had a base tongue lesion with supra-glottis extension. Results: Out of 24 patients, 21 had positive cytology for squamous cell carcinoma, 2 patients had non-diagnostic cytology (atypical cells) and the other had inadequate tissue for definitive diagnosis. Patients with negative and inconclusive cytology underwent direct laryngoscopy biopsy, which was positive for squamous malignancy. All patients tolerated the procedure well and no adverse events were noted. Conclusion: Although direct laryngoscopy remains the standard of care in evaluation of laryngo-hypopharyngeal lesions, this pilot study has shown that ultrasound-guided transcutaneous fine needle aspiration cytology was feasible as an out-patient procedure, employing safe and sensitive technique enabling rapid diagnosis and avoiding the need for direct laryngoscopy under GA for tissue diagnosis.

Abstract Introduction Sigmoid sinus (SS) variations have been classified variously in the literature. These classifications suffer from some form of shortcoming from a clinical point of view for their application. Objective We propose a clinically relevant classification of the SS in relation to the posterior semicircular canal (PSCC) and to the exposure of the presigmoid dural plate. The positioning of the SS was analyzed with reference to the volume of themastoid and to the level of mastoid pneumatization. Methods A total of 94 formalin-preserved human cadaveric temporal bones were microdissected to carry out a complete mastoidectomy. The SS, the presigmoid dural plate, and the PSCCwere exposed, and the position of the former was analyzed in relation to the latter two in order to classify the position of the SS into three grades. Results GradeI hadthebest exposureof the presigmoid dura andof the PSCC,while grade III had the poorest exposure of the presigmoid dura and of the PSCC. Grade I SS was associated with good pneumatization and highermastoid volumescompared with grades II and III. Conclusions The SS exhibits considerable anatomic variability. A favorable positioning of the SS is associated with a large mastoid volume and pneumatization. A careful preoperative study of the imaging may help in understanding the positioning of the SS and the safety of various transmastoid approaches.

Resumen El propósito principal de este artículo gira en torno de la influencia que tienen ciertos parámetros relacionados con la pirólisis de biomasa sobre las soluciones numéricas del modelo de energía de activación distribuida (MEAD) de orden n, usando la distribución Gamma. Se estudian el límite superior de la integral 'dE', el factor de frecuencia, el orden de reacción, y los parámetros de forma y velocidad de la distribución Gamma. El análisis del modelo matemático es realizado con ayuda de una expansión asintótica.

Abstract The main aim of this paper pivoted around the influence of some parameters relevant to biomass pyrolysis on the numerical solutions of the nth order distributed activation energy model (DAEM) using the Gamma distribution. The upper limit of ‘dE’ integral, frequency factor, reaction order, and the shape and rate parameters of the Gamma distribution are investigated. Analysis of the mathematical model is done with the help of asymptotic expansion.

Resumo O objetivo principal deste artigo gira em torno da influencia de certos parâmetros relacionados à pirólise de biomassa nas soluções numéricas do modelo de energia de ativação distribuída (MEAD) de orden n, usando a distribuição Gamma. São estudados o limite superior da integral 'dE', o fator de frequência, a ordem da reação, e os parâmetros de forma e velocidade da distribuição Gamma. A análise do modelo matemático é realizada com a ajuda de uma expansão assintótica.

Resistance gene analog (RGA)-anchored amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP-RGA) marker system was used in order to evaluate genetic relationships among 22 pigeon pea genotypes with varied responses to Fusarium wilt and sterility mosaic disease. Five AFLP-RGA primer combinations (E-CAG/wlrk-S, M-GTG/wlrk-S, M-GTG/wlrk-AS, E-CAT/S1-INV and E-CAG/wlrk-AS) produced 173 scorable fragments, of which 157 (90.7%) were polymorphic, with an average of 31.4 fragments per primer combination. The polymorphism rates obtained with the five primers were 83.3%, 92.0%, 92.3%, 93.0% and 93.1%, respectively. Mean polymorphic information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.24 (with E-CAT/S1-INV) to 0.30 (with E-CAG/wlrk-AS), whereas resolving power (RP) values varied from 11.06 (with M-GTG/wlrk-S) to 25.51 (with E-CAG/wlrk-AS) and marker index (MI) values ranged from 5.98 (with M-GTG/wlrk-S) to 12.30 (with E-CAG/wlrk-AS). We identified a positive correlation between MI and RP (r²=0.98, p<0.05), stronger that that observed for the comparison between PIC and RP (r²=0.88, p<0.05). That implies that either MI or RP is the best parameter for selecting more informative AFLP-RGA primer combinations. The Jaccard coefficient ranged from 0.07 to 0.72, suggesting a broad genetic base in the genotypes studied. A neighbor-joining tree, based on the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean, distinguished cultivated species from wild species. The grouping of resistant genotypes in different clusters would help in the selection of suitable donors for resistance breeding in pigeon pea.