Dose–Response Relationship of Photobiomodulation Therapy on Matrix Metalloproteinase in Healing Dynamics of Diabetic Neuropathic Ulcers—An in vivo Study

Individuals with diabetic foot ulcers have overlapped the inflammatory, proliferative and remodeling phase, making the tissue vulnerable to delayed healing responses. We aimed to establish the dose–response relationship of photobiomodulation therapy of different doses and matrix metalloproteinases in the healing dynamics of diabetic neuropathic ulcers. Diabetes was induced in 126 Albino Wistar rats, and neuropathy was induced to the hind paw by a sciatic nerve injury method. An excisional wound was created on the neuropathy-induced leg. Photobiomodulation therapy of dosages 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 15 J cm⁻² and wavelength 655 nm and 808 nm was irradiated. Photobiomodulation therapy of dosages 4, 6 and 8 J cm⁻² showed better wound healing properties with optimized levels of matrix metalloproteinases-1 and 8. We observed a strong dose response in the experimental group treated with 6 and 8 J cm⁻². The findings from the present study conclude that photobiomodulation therapy of dosages 4, 6 and 8 J cm⁻² is suggestive of usefulness in diabetic neuropathic ulcer healing. Markers like matrix metalloproteinases may give a clear direction on response to the therapy. Based on the findings from the present study, we recommend to validate the findings for safety and efficacy in future through human prospective randomized controlled clinical trials.     

Process and purification for manufacture of a modified insulin intended for oral delivery

Oral delivery of insulin is convenient and physiologically desirable in the treatment of diabetes. However, this route of administration has presented substantial challenges as insulin is degraded enzymatically in the gut, resulting in low bioavailability. We have developed a conjugated insulin product (IN-105) that has high bioavailability and is currently undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of diabetes. A process for the manufacture of IN-105 was developed. Initially, recombinant human insulin was conjugated covalently with a monodisperse, short-chain methoxypolyethylene glycol derivative. The desired product, IN-105, was purified from its closely related species using RP-HPLC and cation exchange chromatography to a purity of 98.5%. The elution pool from cation exchange chromatography was crystallized and lyophilized into the dry active pharmaceutical ingredient.     

Self-image (autoidolon) techniques for the realisation of optical computing type operations

Self-images of a number of spatially periodic (e.g., gratings) and quasiperiodic (e.g., halftone picture) objects have been systematically studied. These studies indicate that self-imaging techniques could be useful in optical computing type operations. It is also established that the Rayleigh relation in the context of self-imaging is quantitatively in error.     

Determination of niobium in steels

The determination of niobium at levels of 0.01% and below is required in certain specifications for stainless-steel welding electrodes, containing 2-3% molybdenum and 0.01% titanium. A method has been developed, based on initial extraction of niobium thiocyanate into butyl acetate followed by stripping with fluoride and re-extraction of niobium thiocyanate after masking of the fluoride by addition of boric acid. The absorbance of the extract is measured at 385 nm. Mo, Ti, V and W can be tolerated at 50 times the concentration of Nb. For higher amounts of Mo, corrections can also be applied. Ta should, however, be restricted to ten times the Nb level. Precision and accuracy of the method are satisfactory. The time taken for an individual determination is about an hour. The method is applicable to mild, low-alloy, stainless and niobium-stabilized steels.     

A difference-equation formalism for the nodal domains of separable billiards

Recently, the nodal domain counts of planar, integrable billiards with Dirichlet boundary conditions were shown to satisfy certain difference equations in Samajdar and Jain (2014). The exact solutions of these equations give the number of domains explicitly. For complete generality, we demonstrate this novel formulation for three additional separable systems and thus extend the statement to all integrable billiards.     

Shelf-Life Studies on B-Stage Novolac Epoxy Glass Mica Tapes

Activation energy for the curing process of epoxy glass mica tape has been experimentally determined from differential scanning calorimetric measurements and found to be 20 kcal/ mol. Thermochemical calculation shows that the rate controlling step is the dissociation of the C-O bond in the epoxide leading to ring opening and its subsequent reaction with amine hardener. Shelf life has been determined from the measurement of the enthalpy loss corresponding to the curing during the aging process. The kinetics of the aging process also yields an activation energy of 20 kcal/mol which corresponds to the slow curing of the epoxy resin.