1.Nanodiamonds with powerful ability for drug delivery and biomedical applications: Recent updates on in vivo study and patents
Chauhan SWATI ; Jain NEHA ; Nagaich UPENDRA
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2020;10(1):1-12
Nanodiamonds are novel nanosized carbon building blocks possessing varied fascinating mechanical, chemical, optical and biological properties, making them significant active moiety carriers for biomedical application. These are known as the most'captivating' crystals attributed to their chemical inertness and unique properties posing them useful for variety of applications in biomedical era. Alongside, it becomes increasingly important to find, ascertain and circumvent the negative aspects associated with nano-diamonds. Surface modification or functionalization with biological molecules plays a significant role in managing the toxic behavior since nanodiamonds have tailorable surface chemistry. To take advantage of nanodiamond potential in drug delivery, focus has to be laid on its purity, surface chemistry and other considerations which may directly or indirectly affect drug adsorption on nanodiamond and drug release in biological environment. This review emphasizes on the basic properties, synthesis techniques, surface modification techniques, toxicity issues and biomedical applications of nanodiamonds. For the devel-opment of nanodiamonds as an effective dosage form, researchers are still engaged in the in-depth study of nanodiamonds and their effect on life interfaces.
2.Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Random Omental Fine Needle Aspiration: A Novel Technique for the Diagnosis of Peritoneal Carcinomatosis
Pradeep Kumar SIDDAPPA ; Neha JAIN ; Naveen K. AGARWAL ; Monika JAIN ; Gurwant Singh LAMBA
Clinical Endoscopy 2020;53(5):594-599
Background/Aims:
Diagnostic abdominal paracentesis has been described in literature to have variable sensitivity of 50%–75% for the detection of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). We believe that random needle aspirates from the omentum, even in the absence of obvious deposits by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), could prove malignancy in patients with PC.
Methods:
Consecutive patients who underwent EUS for diagnosis and staging of cancer and found to have ascites were included after obtaining informed consent. EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) from random sites in the omentum was performed through the transgastric route using a linear echoendoscope.
Results:
Fifty-four patients underwent EUS during October 2015 to April 2017 for detection, staging, or FNA of a suspected malignant lesion. Ascites was seen in 17 patients and 15 patients who fulfilled the criteria were included. The procedure was successful in all patients. Cytology was suggestive of malignancy in 12 (80%) but not suggestive of malignancy in 3 (20%) patients. Three patients who tested negative had hyperbilirubinemia with biliary obstruction. Their ascitic fluid analysis result was also negative.
Conclusions
Random FNA of the omentum in patients with malignancy-related ascites is highly effective in the diagnosis of PC and could be employed during EUS evaluation of malignancies.
3.An Exploration of Nutritional Status in Relation to Diet Quality, Functional and Mental Ability among Elderly in Tonk, India
Monika Jain ; Payal Jain ; Anjali Kumari ; Neha Jain
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2021;17(No.3):232-238
Introduction: Ageing is a natural and irreversible process, associated with deterioration of physiological, social and
cognitive activities. The nutritional status of the elderly is adversely affected by declining cognitive and functional
ability. The association of nutritional status with diet quality, functional and cognitive ability and depression among
the elderly is not well understood. This study aimed to compute the association of nutritional status with diet quality,
functional and cognitive ability and depression among the elderly. Method: A cross-sectional study was undertaken
on 250 elderly (146 men, 104 women) of ≥65 years, residing in Tonk district of Rajasthan (India). Self-developed
elderly dietary index (EDI) was used to evaluate diet quality and standardized tools, viz., geriatric depression scale
(GDS), activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), mini nutritional assessment
(MNA), and short portable mental status questionnaire (SPMSQ) were used to assess depression, functional status,
nutritional status and cognition respectively. Results: Two-thirds of the elderly in this study were at risk of malnutrition (66.67%, n= 167). MNA scores had significant association with Indian EDI (χ2
= 47.50, p=0.000), ADL (χ2
=
32.37, p= 0.000) and SPMSQ (χ2
=18.61, p= 0.001), whereas MNA scores had non significant association with IADL
(χ2
= 14.30, p= 0.006) and GDS scores (χ2
= 5.44, p= 0.066). IADL scores were found to be significantly correlated
with GDS (r= -0.255) and SPMSQ (r= -0238) Conclusion: Present study shows that the nutritional status of the elderly
is associated with diet quality, functional and cognitive ability, but is not associated with depression in the elderly
of Tonk.