The escalating environmental challenges posed by different waste sources, including agricultural residues and industrial byproducts, necessitate innovative solutions for waste utilization.
Dementia is referred to a loss of memory and decline in other mental abilities at levels critical enough to hinder performance of daily activities. It can be of several types, depending on the underlying pathophysiology. The behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are various, but the most clinically significant are depression, apathy, and anxiety. Other BPSD include agitation, aberrant motor behavior, elation, hallucinations, and alterations in sleep and appetite. About 90% of sufferers of dementia are affected by BPSD during the course of the illness. These symptoms occur in demented patients irrespective of the dementia subtype. However, there has not been significant development in the areas of disease-modifying pharmacotherapeutics for dementia. Therefore, tackling BPSD has emerged as a research avenue in the recent past. Existing antidepressants, antipsychotics, and cholinergic agents have been extensively used in the treatment of BPSD, independently and in different combinations. However, these agents have not successful in completely alleviating such symptoms. Research in this field is going on globally, but it is still limited by various factors. There is a strong need to develop new entities and test them clinically. This review focuses on emerging treatments for the management of clinically significant BPSD.
Continuous anthropogenic inputs have raised environmental concerns regarding non-degradable plastics derived from non-renewable petrochemicals, creating an urgent need for sustainable alternatives and driving a paradigm shift toward bioplastics. This review investigates the transformative role of the natural biopolymer xanthan gum as an eco-friendly additive in advancing biodegradable materials. Derived from Xanthomonas campestris, xanthan gum offers non-toxicity, biodegradability, and strong compatibility. The literature indicates that its negative charge enables interactions with positively charged molecules, enhancing composite properties such as mechanical strength. Although xanthan gum has limitations when used alone, it functions as an effective additive in packaging applications. The novelty of this work lies in exploring diverse techniques and formulations for integrating xanthan gum into bioplastic films and coatings, emphasizing its role in reinforcing biopolymer structures. As a sustainable alternative, xanthan gum-based composites preserve food quality and extend shelf life by providing protection against moisture, oxygen, UV radiation, and microbial contamination. Realizing its full potential requires optimized formulations to prevent structural disruptions and reduced stretchability at higher xanthan gum concentrations. Continued research, especially leveraging nanotechnology, is essential to amplify its advantages and address related challenges. This review highlights xanthan gum’s pivotal contribution to bioplastic innovation, presenting a strong case for its broader adoption in the food packaging industry.
16 September 2017 in Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research
Objective: To predict the biological activity of certain phytoconstituents for their anti-AD effects.Methods: Several phytoconstituents were selected on the basis of reported literature. The anti-AD activities of selected phytoconstituents were predicted by employing canonical simplified molecular-input line-entry system obtained from PubChem using PASS online.Results: Several phytoconstituents were predicted to have effects better than marketed drugs under some or the other out of the chosen six areas of pharmacological intervention. On the other hand, several new avenues were predicted in which the in vitro and in vivo evaluation of the phytoconstituents can be made on the basis of PASS predicted activities.Conclusion: PASS is an important tool for virtually screening the compounds of interest for the biological activities of interest. This helps the researchers to streamline the research. However, PASS has its own share of limitations amidst a multitude of merits.