Objective: To explore the biotechnological potential of Ophiorrhiza mungos for micropropagation and camptothecin (CPT) production from in vitro grown plants.Methods: Surface sterilized explants of O. mungos were transferred aseptically in MS media containing various combinations of phytohormones for callus initiation and multiple shoot proliferation. The content of CPT was quantified in the methanolic extract of O. mungos plants and in in vitro grown plants by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: Maximum fresh weight and dry weight biomass of O. mungos callus was obtained from MS medium supplemented with IAA (2 ppm)+ BAP (2 ppm) + GA (1 ppm). The maximum shoot proliferation (25) and elongation (6.5 cm) was found in MS medium supplemented with Picloram + Thidiazuron + Gibberellic Acid in 1:2:1 ratio after four weeks of incubation. The maximum content of CPT (0.0768 % w/w) was found in wholein vitro plants whereas the minimum CPT was observed in adventitious buds (0.0026 % w/w) as compared to the naturally grown O. mungos plants (0.0030% w/w).Conclusions: Present findings indicate that O. mungos plants respond favourably for in vitro propagation and also produce higher amount of CPT as compared to naturally grown plants.

Background Autoimmune pemphigus is a potentially life threatening bullous disease. The cornerstone of treatment is systemic corticosteroids. However, adjuvant therapy with immunosuppressant drugs is commonly used to improve disease control and alleviate the high morbidity and mortality associated with the use of corticosteroids. Adjunctive treatment with pulse intravenous cyclophosphamide may be more efficacious and less toxic than other immunosuppressants. Objective To retrospectively review the clinical outcome of 18 patients with recalcitrant pemphigus who were treated with cyclophosphamide over the past 10 years. Methodology A retrospective study was conducted between 1985 and 2009 in thirteen Malaysian dermatology centres. Data collected were analysed for comparison of relapse rates, compliance rates and adverse drug effects between the 2 regimes. Results Eighteen patients were included in this audit of which 12 patients had pemphigus vulgaris and 6 patients had pemphigus foliaceous. Prior to treatment with cyclophosphamide, fourteen patients were on azathioprine, three were given intravenous immunoglobulin, and two were prescribed dapsone; however all these patients were either unresponsive, intolerant or suffered serious side-effects with these drugs. Subsequently, 7 patients (median age: 31 years) received a combination of pulse intravenous cyclophosphamide and either intravenous dexamethasone or methylprednisolone. These seven patients received between 2 to 21 pulses of intravenous cyclophosphamide and steroids at monthly intervals with oral prednisolone and cyclophosphamide (50-100mg) in between pulses. The remaining 11 patients (median age: 46 years) received oral cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids. Of the 18 patients in our cohort, 15 achieved control and consolidation of disease activity at an average of 4 weeks and 10 weeks respectively. The remaining three patients are yet to achieve disease control. The total duration of treatment with cyclophosphamide ranged from 2 to 62 months with a cumulative dose ranging from 2.95g to 93.55g. Four patients achieved partial remission on minimal therapy and 3 achieved complete remission. None of patients experienced serious side effects. Conclusion Cyclophosphamide may be an alternative treatment option in patients in patients with pemphigus who fail to respond to standard therapy. Controlled trials are needed to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of this therapy.

A simple and reliable strategy was proposed to engineer the glutathione grafted graphene oxide/ZnO nanocomposite(glutathione-GO/ZnO)as electrode material for the high-performance piroxicam sensor.The prepared glutathione-GO/ZnO nanocomposite was well characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD),Fourier transform infrared spectrum(FTIR),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),field emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM),cyclic voltammetry(CV),electrochemical impedance spectros-copy(EIS)and differential pulse voltammetry(DPV).The novel nanocomposite modified electrode showed the highest electrocatalytic activity towards piroxicam(oxidation potential is 0.52 V).Under controlled experimental parameters,the proposed sensor exhibited good linear responses to piroxicam concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 500 μM.The detection limit and sensitivity were calculated as 1.8 nM and 0.2 μA/μM·cm2,respectively.Moreover,it offered excellent selectivity,reproducibility,and long-term stability and can effectively ignore the interfering candidates commonly existing in the pharmaceutical tablets and human fluids even at a higher concentration.Finally,the reported sensor was successfully employed to the direct determination of piroxicam in practical samples.