Mirtazapine Is Effective in Steroid Withdrawal Syndrome Related Depression: A Case Report

Sourav Khanra,Sourav Das 대한정신약물학회 2017 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.15 No.1

Steroid withdrawal syndrome (SWS) following steroid dependence is becoming a common clinical condition. It may be associated with body image disorder. Though selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are found to be effective SWS associated depression, data for this clinical condition is limited. We present a case of SWS associated with body image disorder which improved with mirtazapine. Mirtazapine might be better option than SSRIs in this subgroup of patients for its noradrenergic property and better gastrointestinal profile. More research should explore its efficacy in this clinical condition.

Ethanolic Extract of Marsdenia condurango Ameliorates Benzo[a]pyrene-induced Lung Cancer of Rats -Condurango Ameliorates BaP-induced Lung Cancer in Rats-

Sourav Sikdar,Avinaba Mukherjee,Anisur Rahman Khuda-Bukhsh 대한약침학회 2015 Journal of pharmacopuncture Vol.18 No.2

The original article Ethanolic Extract of Marsdenia condurango Ameliorates Benzo[a]pyrene-induced Lung Cancer of Rats (J Pharmacopuncture 2014;17(2):7-17, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2014.17.011) by Sourav Sikdar, Avinaba Mukherjee, and, Anisur Rahman Khuda-Bukhsh, was published with an incorrect method in abstract due to a production error. The correct method in abstract are reported below. Methods: After one month of scheduled BaP feeding (50 mg/kg body-weight), lung cancer developed after four months. BaP-intoxicated rats were then treated with Condurango (0.06 mL) twice daily starting at the end of the four months for an additional one, two and three months, respectively. Effects of Condurango were evaluated by analyzing lung histology, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant biomarkers, DNA-fragmentation, RT-PCR (Reverese Transcriptase- Polymerase Chain Reaction), ELISA (Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) and western blot of several apoptotic signalling markers and comparing the results against those obtained for controls. We apologize to the authors and readers. Objectives: Condurango is widely used in various systems of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) against oesophageal and stomach ailments including certain types of cancer. However, until now no systematic study has been conducted to verify its efficacy and dose with proper experimental support. Therefore, we examined if ethanolic extract of Condurango could ameliorate benzo[a]pyrene (BaP)-induced lung cancer in rats in vivo to validate its use as a traditional medicine. Methods: After one month of scheduled BaP feeding (50 mg/kg body-weight), lung cancer developed after four months. BaP-intoxicated rats were then treated with Condurango (0.06 mL) twice daily starting at the end of the four months for an additional one, two and three months, respectively. Effects of Condurango were evaluated by analyzing lung histology, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant biomarkers, DNA-fragmentation, RT-PCR (Reverese Transcriptase- Polymerase Chain Reaction), ELISA (Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) and western blot of several apoptotic signalling markers and comparing the results against those obtained for controls. Results: A histological study revealed gradual progress in lung tissue-repair activity in Condurango-fed cancer- bearing rats, showing gradual tissue recovery after three months of drug administration. Condurango has the capacity to generate ROS, which may contribute to a reduction in anti-oxidative activity and to an induction of oxidative stress-mediated cancer-cell death. Condurango-activated pro-apoptotic genes (Bax, caspase-3, caspase-9, p53, cytochrome-c, apaf-1, ICAD and PARP) and down-regulated antiapoptotic-Bcl-2 expression were noted both at mRNA and protein levels. Studies on caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage by western blot analysis revealed that Condurango induced apoptosis through a caspase-3-dependent pathway. Conclusions: The anticancer efficacy of an ethanolic extract of Condurango for treating BaP-induced lung cancer in rats lends support for its use in various traditional systems of medicine.

Enhancement of hydrogen embrittlement resistance by raising tempering temperature for medium-carbon high-strength steel

Sourav Kr. Saha,Byungrok Moon,Jimin Nam,Donghyeon Choi,Changhoon Lee,Junho Chung,Namhyun Kang 대한용접·접합학회 2023 대한용접학회 특별강연 및 학술발표대회 개요집 Vol.2023 No.10

Assessing channel migration dynamics and vulnerability (1977–2018) of the Torsa River in the Duars and Tal region of eastern Himalayan foothills, West Bengal, India

Sourav Dey,Sujit Mandal 대한공간정보학회 2019 Spatial Information Research Vol.27 No.1

Channel migration is perhaps the most rampant quasi-natural hazard that is commonly experienced in the eastern Himalayan foothills of Duars and Tal region, India. The present study is dealt with the Torsa River, which is situated in the Duars and Tal region. The study aims at the changing rate of channel migration and vulnerability of the Torsa River in Duars and Tal region on spatial and temporal basis using geospatial methods. The changing course of the Torsa River was detected using remote sensing and GIS since 1977–2018 (42 years). USGS Landsat MSS, ETM, OLI_TRIS sensor data (1977, 2010 and 2018) were considered to demarcate the chronological changes of the river course. Normalized Difference Water Index was used to extract the surface water bodies. Sixteen cross sections have been considered to delimit the river course migration pattern. The results showed that the Torsa River course has been migrating towards the right bank at different places of the study area. In the downstream of Patla Khawa Protected Forest, the continuous lateral migration of the river Torsa and associated river bank erosion invited the loss of agricultural land and socio-economic vulnerability in most of the villages of Cooch Behar I, Cooch Behar II and Mathabhanga II blocks of Cooch Behar district, West Bengal. Therefore, the present study may be helpful for ensuing suitable site specific management options which may check future river bank erosion as well as loss of livelihood and properties.

Alternative drug therapies are superior to epidermal growth factor receptor -targeted chemotherapeutic drug responses in non-small cell lung cancer

Sourav Sikdar,Anisur Rahman Khuda-Bukhsh 셀메드 세포교정의약학회 2013 셀메드 (CellMed) Vol.3 No.2

Cancer is one of the major dreaded diseases causing high mortality. Lung cancer is second in position of all cancer related deaths and mainly divided into two morphologic sub-types: small-cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC is an aggressive neoplasm which hardly responds to any conventional chemotherapy. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) belongs to the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinase that is mainly over-expressed in NSCLC. EGFR is mainly involved in the pathogenesis and progression of different carcinoma. In vivo and in vitro studies suggest that EGFR and EGF like peptides are often over-expressed in human NSCLC and these proteins are able to induce cell transformation. The conventional therapies mostly inhibit the EGFR activity and expression level in human NSCLC with the use of some EGFR-inhibitors like HKI-272, EKB569, CL-387785 etc. and some synthetic chemotherapeutic drugs like erlotinib, gefitinib, plumbagin, docetaxel, cisplatin etc., alone or in combination of two or more drugs. These therapies selectively act by competitive inhibition of the binding of adenosine triphosphate to the tyrosine kinase domain of the EGFR, resulting in inhibition of the EGFR signaling pathway. But these chemotherapeutic drugs have some cytotoxic activities to the normal cells and have some adverse side-effects. Recent studies on some traditional alternative therapies including some herbal and plant extracts, active ingredients like curcumin, different homeopathic drugs, etc. can target EGFR-signalling in NSCLC with less toxic side-effects are being currently developed.

Ethanolic extract of Condurango (Marsdenia condurango) used in traditional systems of medicine including homeopathy against cancer can induce DNA damage and apoptosis in non small lung cancer cells, A549 and H522, in vitro

Sourav Sikdar,Avinaba Mukherjee,Naoual Boujedaini,Anisur Rahman Khuda-Bukhsh 셀메드 세포교정의약학회 2013 셀메드 (CellMed) Vol.3 No.1

In traditional systems of medicine including homeopathy, the Condurango extract (Con) is often used to cure stomach cancer mainly, without having any scientific validation of its anti-cancer ability. Con has therefore been tested against non-small-cell lung cancer cells (NSCLC) A549 and NCI-H522 (H522) known to contain the KRAS mutation, making them resistant to most chemotherapeutic agents. As cancer cells generally defy cytotoxicity developed by chemopreventive agents and escape cell death, any drug showing the capability of preferentially killing cancer cells through apoptosis is worth consideration for judicious application. A549 and H522 cells were exposed to 0.35 µg/µl and 0.25 µg/µl of Con, respectively, for 48 h and analysed based on various protocols associated with apoptosis and DNA damage, such as MTT assay to determine cell viability, LDH assay, DNA fragmentation assay, comet assay, and microscopical examinations of DNA binding fluorescence stains like DAPI, Hoechst 33258 and acridine orange/ethidium bromide to determine the extent of DNA damage made in drug-treated and untreated cells and the results compared. Changes in mitochondrial membrane potential and the generation of reactive oxygen species were also documented through standard techniques. Con killed almost 50% of the cancer cells but spared normal cells significantly. Fluorescence studies revealed increased DNA nick formation and depolarized membrane potentials after drug treatment in both cell types. Caspase-3 expression levels confirmed the apoptosis-inducing potential of Con in both the NSCLC lines. Thus, overall results suggest considerable anticancer potential of Con against NSCLC in vitro, validating its use against lung cancer by practitioners of traditional medicine including homeopathy.

Tata Steel: A Benchmark in Corporate Citizenship

( Sourav Roy ) 포스코경영연구원 2019 Asian Steel Watch Vol.7 No.-

Wind induced pressure on 'Y' plan shape tall building

Sourav Mukherjee,Sujit Kumar Dalui,Souvik Chakraborty,Ashok Kumar Ahuja 한국풍공학회 2014 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.19 No.5

This paper presents a comprehensive study of pressure developed on different faces of a 'Y' plan shape tall building using both numerical and experimental means. The experiment has been conducted in boundary layer wind tunnel located at Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India for flow condition corresponding to terrain category II of IS:875 (Part 3) – 1987, at a mean wind velocity of 10 m/s. Numerical study has been carried out under similar condition using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) package of ANSYS, namely ANSYS CFX. Two turbulence models, viz., k-ε and Shear Stress Transport (SST) have been used. Good conformity among the numerical and experimental results have been observed with SST model yielding results of higher magnitude. Peculiar pressure distribution on certain faces has been observed due to interference effect. Furthermore, flow pattern around the model has also been studied to explain the phenomenon occurring around the model.

Synthesis of CeO2 Microcrystals Fabricated on Biaxially Textured Ni-W Substrate by using an E-Beam Evaporation Technique

Sourav Das,Preetam Singh,KMK Srivatsa 한국물리학회 2015 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.66 No.5

Cerium-oxide (CeO2) microcrystals have been synthesized on a biaxially textured Ni-5%W (200)substrate by using the Electron beam (e-beam) evaporation technique with CeO2 powder as thesource material. The substrate temperature and electron beam gun power at which the microcrystalswere formed were 400◦C and 400 W, respectively. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmedthe crystallinity and a (111) orientation of the CeO2 crystals. Scanning electron microscope (SEM)image showed that the CeO2 crystals had large lateral dimensions in the range from 0.5 to 2.0 μm. The Raman spectrum shows only one peak at 464 cm−1 corresponding to the of F2g mode of theCeO2 crystals. No reports are available on the preparation of CeO2 crystals with such a large sizeon textured Ni-W substrate by using e-beam evaporation technique.

Relative Apoptosis-inducing Potential of Homeopa-thic Condurango 6C and 30C in H460 Lung Cancer Cells In vitro

Sourav Sikdar,Rahman Khuda-Bukhsh,Santu Kumar Saha 대한약침학회 2014 Journal of pharmacopuncture Vol.17 No.1

Objectives: In homeopathy, it is claimed that more homeopathically-diluted potencies render more protective/curative effects against any disease condition. Potentized forms of Condurango are used successfully to treat digestive problems, as well as esophageal and stomach cancers. However, the comparative efficacies of Condurango 6C and 30C, one diluted below and one above Avogadro’s limit (lacking original drug molecule), respectively, have not been critically analyzed for their cell-killing (apoptosis) efficacy against lung cancer cells in vitro, and signalling cascades have not been studied. Hence, the present study was undertaken. Methods: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenylte-trazolium bromide (MTT) assays were conducted on H460-non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells by using a succussed ethyl alcohol vehicle (placebo) as a control. Studies on cellular morphology, cell cycle regulation, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and DNA-damage were made, and expressions of related signaling markers were studied. The observations were done in a “blinded” manner. Results: Both Condurango 6C and 30C induced apoptosis via cell cycle arrest at subG0/G1 and altered expressions of certain apoptotic markers significantly in H460 cells. The drugs induced oxidative stress through ROS elevation and MMP depolarization at 18-24 hours. These events presumably activated a caspase-3-mediated signalling cascade, as evidenced by reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blot and immunofluorescence studies at a late phase (48 hours) in which cells were pushed towards apoptosis. Conclusion: Condurango 30C had greater apoptotic effect than Condurango 6C as claimed in the homeopathic doctrine.