A cross-sectional study among defaulters of DOTS under RNTCP in tuberculosis units of Solapur city

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a specific infectious disease caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis affecting pulmonary and extra-pulmonary organs. Default is one of the unfavorable outcomes for patients on DOTS and represents an important challenge for the control programme. Inadequate treatment adherence is considered as a potential cause of drug resistance. This study was conducted ascertain causes of defaults & to study socio-demographic corelates of defaulters.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 1st January 2014 to 31st December 2014. All default patients registered from 1st January 2014 to 31st December 2014 under RNTCP in both Tuberculosis Units of Municipal Corporation are considered for this study.Results: Total 104 cases of defaulters were registered under RNTCP in both TB units; 83 (79.8%) defaulters were males and remaining 21 (21.2%) were females and difference was statistically significant. Side effects of DOTS drugs were the most common reason of defaulting the treatment. Default of DOTS was significantly associated with socioeconomic status, educational status, addiction, religion and marital status of the patients.Conclusions: Poverty has effect on illness and completion of treatment.

Safety and efficacy of Intacs in Indian eyes with keratoconus: an initial report.

CONTEXT: In contact lens-intolerant keratoconus patients, intrastromal placement of Intacs is becoming a promising new modality of treatment. AIMS: To study the safety and efficacy of implantation of microthin corneal inserts (Intacs) in Asian-Indian keratoconus patients. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Retrospective interventional case series, in the cornea and refractive surgery service, at a tertiary care eye hospital in South India, between May 2006 and July 2007. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Intacs (Addition Technology, USA) were successfully implanted by mechanically creating tunnels, in 12 eyes of 12 keratoconus patients, who were contact lens-intolerant. The patients (mean age 25.58 years, nine male and three female) had a minimum follow-up of six months. Five patients had severe keratoconus (mean K > 53 D) and nine had central cones. RESULTS: All patients improved or retained visual acuity. The uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) improved from a mean value of 0.06, (SD +/- 0.08) to 0.19 postoperatively (SD+/- 0.15) ( P = 0.01). The change in mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was from 0.51, (SD +/- 0.24), to 0.69, (SD +/-0.00) ( P = 0.01) postoperatively. The average central keratometry reading was 52.55 D. The change in mean K from 52.84 to 49.16 and 49.15 at one and six months respectively, was statistically significant. We did not have any major intra- or early postoperative complications. Eight of 12 eyes became contact lens-tolerant post-surgery. CONCLUSION: The procedure of Intacs implantation appears to be safe and effective in a small group of Indian population at an intermediate follow-up.

A molecular weight study of the rat brain delta opioid receptor.

The molecular weight of the rat brain delta opioid receptor, studied with antiidiotypic antibodies to anti-leucine enkephalin that mimic leucine enkephalin in binding to the receptor, was examined by molecular sieving and Western Blots under nondenaturing, denaturing and reducing conditions. The receptor appeared to be 55-65 kDa, which on solubilization may exist in equilibrium with receptor oligomers of 130-150 kDa and aggregates of > 200 kDa. These forms may also represent aggregation due to solubilization. A 38-43 kDa molecule was considered a minor form of the receptor in the brain.

Ontogeny, glycosylation and modulation by dialysis, sodium and nucleotides of the rat brain delta opioid receptor studied with anti-idiotypic antibodies to anti-leucine enkephalin.

Ontogeny of the rat brain delta opioid receptor in 1-60 days old animals has been studied with anti-idiotypic antibodies to anti-leucine enkephalin. It is found that delta opioid receptors are present in rats from birth and attain adult levels by 28 days and these receptors are glycosylated and inhibited by Na+, GTP, ATP and CTP at all ages. Adult membrane-bound and solubilized delta opioid receptors are inhibited to similar extents by Na+ (100 mM), GTP, ATP and CTP (50 microM). Dialysis of the adult membrane-bound receptor led to 81% loss in binding which was restored by 100 mM Na+, 50 microM GTP, ATP and CTP to 77, 72, 87 and 94% respectively and by 100 mM NH4+, Mg2+, Ca2+ and Mn2+ to 63, 43, 57 and 73% respectively. Dialysis of the solubilized receptor resulted in 23% loss in binding with Na+ (100 mM), GTP and ATP (50 microM) inhibiting receptor binding to 46, 62 and 54% respectively, while CTP (50 microM) restored binding to 88%. These studies indicate that the delta opioid receptor can be probed with anti-idiotypic antibodies to anti-leucine enkephalin, that functional, glycosylated receptors are present at birth in rats and that the adult membrane-bound and solubilized receptors are modulated differently by dialysis.

Immunohistochemical mapping of rat brain delta opioid receptor.

Delta opioid receptors were immunohistochemically mapped in the rat brain with anti-idiotypic antibodies to anti-leucine enkephalin specific for the receptor. Regions of highest receptor binding were in the cerebral cortex and caudate putamen Lower receptor binding was mapped to the hypothalamus and claustrum.

The rat brain delta opioid receptor studied with anti-idiotypic antibodies to anti-leucine enkephalin.

Anti-idiotypic antibodies to anti-leucine enkephalin raised in rabbits immunized with leucine enkephalin conjugated to BSA, were purified and characterized for their ability to mimic leucine enkephalin in binding to the rat brain delta opioid receptor. An ELISA was standardized to assay the delta opioid receptor using these antibodies. The rat brain receptor was purified to 308 fold with a yield of 1.5% using these antibodies for assay. The receptor, probed with these anti-idiotypic antibodies, was characterized with respect to binding parameters, molecular weight and effect of divalent cations.