Miniaturized double transit magnetic field measurement probe using the Faraday rotation principle.

This paper presents the design and experimental results of a double transit magnetic field measurement probe based on the Faraday rotation principle using terbium doped borosilicate glass as a sensor element. When the magnetic field is applied in the direction of propagation of light through the glass, the Faraday effect produces non-reciprocal circular birefringence. This property of the Faraday effect adds rotations when the light beam is reflected using a mirror placed at the other end of the glass and passed through the glass, making double transit of light through the sensor element. Experiments were carried out to verify the characteristics of the designed probe by inserting it inside the solenoid load coil. The Verdet constant of the glass is determined using the slope of the linear least-squares fitted curve between the Faraday rotation angle and the applied magnetic field, obtained as 89.22r a d/(T⋅m) with a relative uncertainty of 2.43%. The magnetic field was measured with 0.28% accuracy. In the optics experiments, alignment of components is the major task. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first of its kind double transit miniaturized magnetic field measurement probe configuration in which components are aligned inside the single probe structure. The probe is easily portable and can be used in inaccessible locations in various applications such as accelerators, Z/θ pinch devices, or fusion reactors such as tokamaks, in which the magnetic field is one of the main parameters.

Modular electromagnetic railgun accelerator for high velocity impact studies.

A modular electromagnetic railgun accelerator facility named "RAFTAR" (i.e., Railgun Accelerator Facility for Technology and Research) has been commissioned and its performance has been characterized for high velocity impact testing on materials in a single-shot mode. In the first tests, RAFTAR demonstrated an acceleration of more than 1000 m/s for an 8 g solid aluminum-7075 armature projectile. The current fed was 220 kA, having a muzzle time of about 1.75 ms. It is a single pulse breech-fed rectangular bore (14 × 13 mm2) railgun, and its 1.15 m long barrel assembly consists of two parallel copper bars with an inter-gap of 13 mm that are encased within 50 mm thick high strength reinforced fiberglass sheets (Garolite G10-FR4) and bolted from both the sides. RAFTAR is powered by two capacitor bank modules that have a maximum stored energy of 160 kJ each (containing eight 178 µF/15 kV capacitors), two high power ignitron switches, and a pulse shaping inductor. To obtain consistent acceleration of the armature inside the barrel, reversal of driving current is prevented, and its pulse duration is stretched by tactical integration of the crowbar switch and bitter coil inductor in the circuit. Armature projectile velocity measurement in-bore and outside in free space was performed by the time-of-flight technique using indigenously made miniature B-dot sensors and a novel shorting-foil arrangement, respectively. The time resolved measurement of the in-bore armature evidenced a velocity-skin-effect in the high acceleration phase. There is good agreement between the experimentally measured and theoretically predicted efficiency, confirming the optimal choice of operating parameters. The conclusion summarizes important experimental findings and analyzes the underlying causes that limit the performance of railguns.

Temporal dysregulation of genes in lamb testis cell during sheeppox virus infection.

The present study was aimed to elucidate the host-virus interactions using RNA-Seq analysis at 1 h and 8 h of post-infection of sheeppox virus (SPPV) in lamb testis cell. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and the underlying mechanisms linked to the host immune responses were obtained. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) illustrated the interaction between the DEGs and their involvement in cell signalling responses. Highly connected hubs viz. AURKA, CHEK1, CCNB2, CDC6 and MAPK14 were identified through PPI network analysis. IPA analysis showed that IL-6- and ERK5-mediated signalling pathways were highly enriched at both time points. The TP53 gene was identified to be the leading upstream regulator that directly responded to SPPV infection, resulting in downregulation at both time points. The study provides an overview of how the lamb testis genes and their underlying mechanisms link to growth and immune response during SPPV infection.

Molecular detection of Salmonella isolated from commercial chicken.

Background: Salmonella in chicken, specially, the motile salmonellae, causes the food chain unsafe from farm to table and is considered a significant global threat to public health. Aims: The present study was carried out for molecular detection of Salmonellae in commercial poultry using PCR. Methods: The study was conducted for eight months, from July 2019 to February 2020, and a total of 26 poultry farms, including 15 broiler and 11-layer farms, were visited individually. Pooled faecal samples were obtained from the sheds. A total of 189 necropsy cases were examined for gastrointestinal lesions. Isolation and identification of the organism were done using microbe culture method, and the molecular characterization was performed via PCR targeting invA and ent genes. Results: The prevalence of salmonellosis in the broiler and layer farms was recorded at 20.0% and 45.4%, respectively, through the traditional gold standard culture method. From 189 necropsy birds, salmonellosis was recorded at 1.58% dead cases. Molecular detection of Salmonella isolates by PCR targeting invA gene was confirmed in 13.33% of the broiler farms and 36.3% of the layer farms. Further detection of Salmonella enteritidis was performed by PCR targeting ent gene by which 11.11% positivity was determined. Conclusion: This study, focused on the Salmonella prevalence, highlighted the zoonotic importance of the bacterium in the commercial poultry farms, which can subsequently be dispersed into the human food chain causing harmful health effects.

Protective effects of L-arginine on cognitive deficits and biochemical parameters in an experimental model of type-2 diabetes mellitus induced Alzheimer's disease in rats.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been closely linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and insulin resistance plays a key role in the onset and development of AD. It has also been reported that NO donors play an important role in diabetes and have neuroprotective activity. The present study evaluated the effects NOS substrate, L-arginine and NOS-blocker, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on cognitive functions, brain amyloid ß levels and other associated biochemical markers in diabetes (T2DM)-induced AD in rats. T2DM was induced by a combination of high fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ) (35 mg/kg, i.p.). Pretreatment with L-arginine (100 mg/kg/day) improved diabetes related biochemical parameters viz. plasma glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol. In addition, L-arginine also improved insulin levels and glucose tolerance. On the other hand, NO synthase inhibitor, L-NAME (10 mg/kg), did not have much influence on these parameters. Further, L-arginine treatment showed ameliorative effects on cognitive deficits seen in the Morris water maze (MWM) test when compared to the vehicle (saline) treated group and similar results were observed in the passive avoidance test. These neurobehavioural changes were associated with predictable modulations in Aß levels in hippocampus and cortex in HFD + STZ + saline group, which were attenuated in the L-arginine, but not in the L-NAME-treated group. Our results indicate that L-arginine could be a considered a potential therapeutic strategy to attenuate the diabetes induced cognitive deficits in AD.

Safety and immunogenicity of a hexavalent DTwP-IPV-HB-PRP∼T vaccine versus separate DTwP-HB-PRP∼T and IPV vaccines in healthy infants in India.

Background: Multivalent vaccines containing whole-cell pertussis (wP) antigens combined with established diphtheria (D), tetanus (T), hepatitis B (HB), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and inactivated poliomyelitis (IPV) antigens allow the provision of a high-quality, affordable DTwP-IPV-HB-PRP∼T vaccine. Methods: Phase I/II, randomized, active-controlled, open-label study in healthy toddlers (Cohort I) and infants (Cohort II). Toddlers in Cohort I who had completed primary series D, T, P, HB, Hib, and polio vaccination received a booster dose of DTwP-IPV-HB-PRP∼T (N = 30) or DTwP-HB-PRP∼T + IPV (N = 15) vaccines at 15-18 months of age. After satisfactory review of safety data in Cohort I, infants in Cohort II received DTwP-IPV-HB-PRP∼T (N = 100) or DTwP-HB-PRP∼T + IPV (N = 50) at 6-8, 10-12, and 14-16 weeks of age. All infants in Cohort II had received previous oral polio and HB vaccines per country recommendations. Results: Booster and primary series vaccinations were well tolerated with no clinically significant differences between vaccine groups. Most adverse events were mild and resolved spontaneously; there were no vaccine-related serious adverse events and no deaths. In both vaccine groups, anti-D, anti-T, anti-HB, anti-Hib, and anti-polio 1, 2, and 3 seroprotection was 100% post-booster and post-primary series. For the pertussis antigens, booster response rate was > 86% in both groups. For the primary series, vaccine response rate was slightly higher for DTwP-IPV-HB-PRP∼T than DTwP-HB-PRP∼T + IPV for anti-PT (80.2% and 70.8%) and anti-FHA (81.3% and 68.8%), slightly lower for anti-PRN (72.5% and 81.3%), and similar in each group for anti-FIM (95.6% and 97.9%). Conclusions: This study demonstrated a good safety and immunogenicity profile of the hexavalent DTwP-IPV-HB-PRP∼T vaccine for infant primary series vaccination at 6-8, 10-12, and 14-16 weeks of age and booster vaccination at 15-18 months of age and supported progression to the next development phase.

A high-resolution computed tomography based scoring system to predict ease of electrode insertion in cochlear implantation.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to formulate a scoring system based on high-resolution computed tomography scans to predict ease of electrode insertion during cochlear implantation via posterior tympanotomy in paediatric patients. METHOD: A scoring system Cochlear Implantation Radiological Assessment Score (CIRAS) was formulated based on six parameters. This score was correlated with intra-operative findings, and receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to determine the optimal cut-off score to predict difficulty of surgery and to establish the inherent validity of the scoring system by area under curve. RESULTS: Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that optimal cut-off score was 8 (93.1 per cent specificity and 56.52 per cent sensitivity), and area under the curve was 0.828. Patients with CIRAS of more than 8 had significantly higher time for surgery (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: CIRAS is an easy to administer tool by utilising classical axial and coronal sections, without any numerical measures. Pre-operative assessment by this score gives a good idea of intra-operative challenges.

Influence of tillage based crop establishment and residue management practices on soil quality indices and yield sustainability in rice-wheat cropping system of Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains.

Rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) is the most important system occupying around 26 M ha spread over the Indo Gangetic Plains in South Asia and China. Many long-term trials were led to assess the agronomic productivity and economic profitability of various combinations of conservation agricultural (CA) practices (zero tillage, residue management and crop establishment) in RWCS of Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains (EIGP) of India. The purpose of this study was to investigate the best management practices involving different tillage-based crop establishment and residue retention techniques and their contribution to agricultural system sustainability through improvement in soil health by developing soil quality index (SQI). We have used SQI as an instrument based on physical [macro aggregate stability (MAS), available water capacity (AWC) and soil penetration resistance (SPR)], chemical [soil organic carbon (OC), available N, available P and available K] and biological [microbial biomass carbon (MBC), fluorescein diacetate (FDA) and dehydrogenase activity (DHA)] properties of soil, because these are very useful indicators of soil's functions for agronomic productivity and soil fertility. Soil properties like MAS, OC, MBC, FDA and DHA were higher by 47, 18, 56, 48 and 53%, respectively, under ZTDSR-ZTW (T7: Zero-till direct seeded rice - Zero-till wheat) than RPTR-CTW (T1: Random puddled transplanted rice - Conventional till broadcasted wheat), at 0-10 cm. CA based treatment T7 also recorded lower SPR (126 N cm-1). SQI for different treatments were calculated by performing principal component analysis based on the total data set method. The higher system rice equivalent yield of 12.41 t ha-1 was observed at SQI value of 0.90 at 0-10 cm and 0.86 at 10-20 cm in T7. It can be concluded that crop residue retention on the surface with zero tillage is beneficial for the sustainability and productivity of the RWCS in EIGP of India.

Differentiating Biliary Atresia From Idiopathic Neonatal Hepatitis: A Novel Keratin 7 Based Mathematical Approach on Liver Biopsies.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Differentiating biliary atresia (BA) from idiopathic neonatal hepatitis (INH) is vital in routine pediatric practice. However, on liver biopsy, few cases offer a diagnostic challenge to discriminate these entities with certainty. Bile ductular reaction (DR), intermediate hepatobiliary cells (IHBC) and extra-portal ductules (EPD) indicate progenitor cell activation, as a response to various hepatic insults. The present study aims to quantify DR, IHBC and EPD by Keratin 7 (CK7) immunohistochemistry (IHC) in BA and INH and to devise a mathematical approach to better differentiate the two, especially in histologically equivocal cases. METHODS: A total of 98 cases were categorized on biopsy as BA, INH or equivocal histology, favoring BA or INH. CK7 DR mean, IHBC mean and EPD mean values were compared between BA and INH. A formula was derived to help distinguish these two entities, the cut-off value, sensitivity and specificity of which were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. This formula was applied and validated on histologically equivocal cases. RESULTS: Univariate logistic regression revealed significant difference between BA and INH with respect to CK7 DR and CK7 EPD mean (p < 0.001 in both); however, CK7 IHBC mean was not significant (p = 0.08). On multivariate logistic regression, only CK7 DR had significant impact on diagnosis (p < 0.001). A formula: (CK7 DR)2 + (CK7 EPD)/(CK7 IHBC) was derived to help distinguish BA from INH. Cut off value of 10.5 and above, determined by ROC curve, favored a diagnosis of BA (sensitivity= 93.4%, specificity= 94.6%). Histologically equivocal and discrepant cases could be correctly categorized using this formula. CONCLUSIONS: Formula using CK7 IHC parameters may aid pathologists better distinguish BA from INH, especially in histologically equivocal cases.

Availability of Pediatric Formulations in Public Health Care System in India: A Case Study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the availability of pediatric formulations in Essential Medicines Lists and public health care facility in India. METHODS: Availability of pediatric formulations in the public health sector was evaluated by assessing inclusion of pediatric formulations in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), Delhi Essential Medicine List (DEML), Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) Essential Medicines Lists (EML) and comparing it with the World Health Organization's list of essential medicines for children (WHO, EMLc). In addition, availability of 30 essential medicines in a public, tertiary care hospital was assessed over a period of 1 y. RESULTS: Many medicines present in WHO EMLc were not there in NLEM and DEML. The number of pediatric medicines formulations not available in pediatric doses as compared to WHO EMLc was 98,97 and 97 in NLEM, DEML and IAP respectively. Palliative care was the most neglected area in all the lists. In the public health care facility, only 53% of the tracer pediatric medicines were available. CONCLUSIONS: There is less availability of pediatric formulations in the Indian NEML and state DEML. Availability of key tracer pediatric medicine formulations in public health facility is poor. A separate pediatric EML is required in the country to improve focus on availability of child-specific formulations.

Does dissemination of guidelines alone increase the use of palliative single-fraction radiotherapy? Initial report of a longitudinal change management campaign at a provincial cancer program.

Background: Despite level 1 evidence demonstrating the equivalence of single-fraction radiotherapy (sfrt) and multiple-fraction radiotherapy (mfrt) for the palliation of painful bone metastases, sfrt remains underused. In 2015, to encourage the sustainable use of palliative radiation oncology resources, CancerCare Manitoba disseminated, to each radiation oncologist in Manitoba, guidelines from Choosing Wisely Canada (cwc) that recommend sfrt. We assessed whether dissemination of the guidelines influenced sfrt use in Manitoba in 2016, and we identified factors associated with mfrt. Methods: All patients treated with palliative radiotherapy for bone metastasis in Manitoba from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016 were identified from the provincial radiotherapy database. Patient, treatment, and disease characteristics were extracted from the electronic medical record and tabulated by fractionation schedule. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors associated with mfrt. Results: In 2016, 807 patients (mean age: 70 years; range: 35-96 years) received palliative radiotherapy for bone metastasis, with 69% of the patients having uncomplicated bone metastasis. The most common primary malignancies were prostate (27.1%), lung (20.6%), and breast cancer (15.9%). In 62% of cases, mfrt was used-a proportion that was unchanged from 2015. On multivariable analysis, a gastrointestinal [odds ratio (or): 5.3] or lung primary (or: 3.3), complicated bone metastasis (or: 4.3), and treatment at a subsidiary site (or: 4.4) increased the odds of mfrt use. Conclusions: Dissemination of cwc recommendations alone did not increase sfrt use by radiation oncologists in 2016. A more comprehensive knowledge translation effort is therefore warranted and is now underway to encourage increased uptake of sfrt in Manitoba.

Risk Stratification in Multiple Myeloma in Indian Settings.

Multiple myeloma (MM) constitutes 10% of all hematological malignancies. The last one decade has seen a phenomenal progress in the therapeutic options available for the management. Although it still remains incurable, with the advent of newer therapies, the median survival in many risk groups is now around 10 years. Conventional karyotyping of bone marrow samples has a positivity rate of 20-30% at diagnosis in patients of Multiple Myeloma. However, array Comparative Genomic Hybridisation (aCGH) has revealed that almost all MM patients have cytogenetic abnormalities which may affect the pathophysiology, selection of therapy and outcomes of the disease. The progress in the field of exploring the genetic landscape of multiple myeloma with multiple tools like Fluorescent in-situ hybridization, aCGH, Next Generation Sequencing, Flow cytometry, etc., combined with the traditional risk stratification markers like albumin, ß2 microglobulin and LDH, is gradually leading towards a risk-adapted therapy. The recent R-ISS risk stratification has combined these two group of information to validate a prognostic score which is an improvement over the past tools like DSS and ISS. In view of the plethora of information available on the multitude of cytogenetic markers there is a tendency to evaluate for all of them at diagnosis, especially in research centers. This leads to a significant increase in the cost of therapy of Multiple Myeloma in day-to-day clinical practice and an increased out-of-pocket spending to the patient, especially in resource-limited settings like India. Also, there is a variable approach to pre-therapy cytogenetic evaluation and risk stratification at different Hematology centres in the country, often dictated by financial constraints and availability of specialized tests. This review discusses the risk stratification markers and tools available in MM in 2019 and how it can be adapted in the resource constraint settings so as to derive the maximum prognostic information from a minimal prognostic panel, as well as lead to standardization of the prognostic protocols in resource limited settings across various Hematology centres in India.

Effect of Rehydration With Normal Saline Versus Ringer Lactate on Serum Sodium Level of Children With Acute Diarrhea and Severe Dehydration: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the equivalence of Normal Saline (NS) and Ringer Lactate (RL) for change in serum sodium levels during correction of severe dehydration in children with acute diarrhea based on World Health Organization (WHO) plan C. DESIGN: Equivalence randomized control trial. SETTING: Pediatric diarrhea unit of a tertiary care hospital from May, 2016 to April, 2017. PARTICIPANTS: 72 children of 1-12 years with acute diarrhea and severe dehydration were enrolled. Children with dysentery, severe acute malnutrition, severe anemia, meningitis, and known surgical and systemic diseases were excluded. INTERVENTION: RL (n=36) or NS (n=36) were used as per WHO plan C. Blood samples were drawn before intravenous fluid correction and 3 h post-intervention. OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean change in serum sodium level from the baseline between the RL and NS groups. RESULTS: 70 children (35 in each group) completed the study. The difference in mean serum sodium levels from baseline in RL and NS groups were 1.4 (4.5) mEq/L and 2.1(4.9) mEq/L, respectively (P=0.58). CONCLUSION: Both RL and NS are equivalent in terms of change in serum sodium from baseline for intravenous rehydration in children with acute diarrhea and severe dehydration.

Pediatric prescribing in tertiary care teaching hospital of Delhi (India): fragmenting medicines for use.

Lack of availability of age-appropriate dosage forms for children often results in use of adult dosage forms, which are administered to children after crushing or breaking. This can result in inappropriate doses being given to the children. This study was done to assess the prescribing pattern of use of medicines that had to be fragmented or crushed for use in relation to the age of the child. A prescription audit of 1200 outpatients and 400 inpatient records was done in the pediatric department of Lok Nayak tertiary care teaching hospital in the National Capital New Delhi, India. A structured pro forma was used for collecting the data. The total medicines prescribed, use of adult formulations, and number of adult medicines that had to be fragmented or broken for administration to pediatric patients were assessed. A total of 880 medicines were prescribed among inpatients and 2701 in outpatients. In inpatients, 230 (26.1%) medicines and in outpatients, 1013 (37.5%) medicines were fragmented before use. Some of these medicines were available in liquid oral dosage forms in Delhi Essential Medicine List (DEML) and should be available in the hospital. Medicines for use for common conditions were fragmented. Maximum use of fragmented medicines was in the age group of 6-9 years, both among inpatients and outpatients. Association of fragmentation with age was significant (p value < 0.05).Conclusion: Children are being prescribed dosage forms, requiring manual fragmentation or crushing. Policy changes and measures to make available age-appropriate pediatric dosage formulations need to be taken to improve pediatric pharmacotherapy in the hospital and health system. What is Known: • The dosage formulation prescribed to a patient can impact the patient's compliance with the therapy, accuracy of dosing, and patient and care providers' safety. • Lack of availability of age-appropriate dosage forms is common for children and often results in administration of adult dosage forms after crushing or breaking. What is New: • Some regularly prescribed medicines (14) including amoxicillin, albendazole, chloroquine, carbamazepine, valproate, and phenytoin that had to be fragmented were available in liquid oral dosage forms in the Delhi Essential Medicine List (DEML). • Despite being included in the EML, the patient has been denied access to appropriate medicines. It indicates a lack of concern and sensitivity about what is required for rational prescribing to children.

Human occupation of northern India spans the Toba super-eruption ~74,000 years ago.

India is located at a critical geographic crossroads for understanding the dispersal of Homo sapiens out of Africa and into Asia and Oceania. Here we report evidence for long-term human occupation, spanning the last ~80 thousand years, at the site of Dhaba in the Middle Son River Valley of Central India. An unchanging stone tool industry is found at Dhaba spanning the Toba eruption of ~74 ka (i.e., the Youngest Toba Tuff, YTT) bracketed between ages of 79.6 ± 3.2 and 65.2 ± 3.1 ka, with the introduction of microlithic technology ~48 ka. The lithic industry from Dhaba strongly resembles stone tool assemblages from the African Middle Stone Age (MSA) and Arabia, and the earliest artefacts from Australia, suggesting that it is likely the product of Homo sapiens as they dispersed eastward out of Africa.

A comparison of lancets and evaluation of various manoeuvres in reducing finger prick pain during pre-donation haemoglobin estimation.

OBJECTIVES: Three different types of lancets have been compared to identify and implement the one that causes the least pain. Simple manoeuvres during the lancing procedure have been evaluated to determine their effectiveness in reducing the intensity of perceived pain. BACKGROUND: Pre-donation haemoglobin estimation is performed by pricking the donor's finger with a lancet. Pain associated with the procedure causes fear and anxiety, which dissuades the donors from donating blood. METHODS: In 100 subjects, finger prick was performed using three different lancets, and the subjects were asked to score their pain on a numerical rating scale (NRS). A further 150 blood donors were subjected to routine finger pricking for Hb estimation and were asked to score their pain on an NRS. After 15 min, they underwent a second prick with application of a manoeuvre (breath holding, coughing trick or looking away) and again marked their pain scores on the NRS. RESULTS: Participants reported the least pain scores with lancing devices that have a spring mechanism to retract the lancets soon after penetration into the skin. Breath holding and the cough trick manoeuvre reduced the perceived pain scores significantly. CONCLUSION: Lancing devices merit consideration for routine use, and a simple manoeuvre may be applied to reduce perceived pain.

Oncological benefits of postoperative radiotherapy in node-negative early stage cancer of the oral cavity with isolated perineural invasion.

Perineural invasion has been widely regarded as a poor prognostic factor in cancer of the oral cavity, but adjuvant treatment based only on this is still debatable. We have made an effort to address the question in a retrospective analysis of data from 2009-15 of patients with early node-negative cancers of the oral cavity. Patients with perineural invasion were divided into those who were treated with radiotherapy and those who were not. The records of a total of 169 patients were analysed, and 118 were given adjuvant radiotherapy and 51 were not. The median (range) duration of follow up was 45 (26-86) months. Of 169 patients, 47 (28%) developed recurrence, 28 in the treated, and 19 in the untreated, group. There was a significant disease-free survival benefit for adjuvant treatment (p = 0.047) but no overall survival benefit (p = 0.54). We conclude that adjuvant radiotherapy should be considered for patients with perineural invasion, even in early cancers of the oral cavity.

A Phase III open-label, randomized, active controlled clinical study to assess safety, immunogenicity and lot-to-lot consistency of a bovine-human reassortant pentavalent rotavirus vaccine in Indian infants.

BACKGROUND: A heat-stable bovine-human rotavirus reassortant pentavalent vaccine (BRV-PV, ROTASIIL®) was developed in India. In this study, the vaccine was tested for safety, immunogenicity and clinical lot-to-lot consistency. METHODS: This was a Phase III, open label, randomized, equivalence design study. The primary objective was to demonstrate lot-to-lot consistency of BRV-PV. Subjects were randomized into four arms, three arms received Lots A, B, and C of BRV-PV and the control arm, received Rotarix®. Three doses of BRV-PV or two doses of Rotarix® and one dose of placebo were given at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age. Blood samples were collected four weeks after the third dose to assess rotavirus IgA antibody levels. The three lots of BRV-PV were equivalent if the 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) of the geometric mean concentration (GMC) ratios were between 0.5 and 2. Solicited reactions were collected by using diary cards. RESULTS: The study was conducted in 1500 randomized infants, of which 1341 infants completed the study. The IgA GMC ratios among the three lots were around 1 (Lot A versus Lot B: 1.07; Lot A versus Lot C: 1.06; and Lot B versus Lot C: 0.99). The 95% CIs for the GMC ratios were between 0.78 and 1.36. The IgA GMCs were: BRV-PV group 19.16 (95% CI 17.37-21.14) and Rotarix® group 10.92 (95% CI 9.36-12.74) (GMC ratio 1.75; 90% CI 1.51-2.04). Seropositivity rates were 46.98% (95% CI 43.86-50.11) and 31.12% (95% CI 26.17-36.41). The incidence of solicited reactions was comparable across the four arms. No serious adverse events were associated with the study vaccines, except two gastroenteritis events in the BRV-PV groups. CONCLUSION: Lot-to-lot consistency of BRV-PV was demonstrated in terms of GMC ratios of IgA antibodies. The vaccine safety and immunogenicity profiles were similar to those of Rotarix®. Clinical Trials.Gov [NCT02584816] and Clinical Trial Registry of India [CTRI/2015/07/006034].

Synthesis and characterization of monodispersed water dispersible Fe3O4 nanoparticles and in vitro studies on human breast carcinoma cell line under hyperthermia condition.

Monodispersed Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) having size of 7 nm have been prepared from iron oleate and made water dispersible by functionalization for biomedical applications. Three different reactions employing thioglycolic acid, aspartic acid and aminophosphonate were performed on oleic acid coated Fe3O4. In order to achieve a control on particle size, the pristine nanoparticles were heated in presence of ferric oleate which led to increase in size from 7 to 11 nm. Reaction parameters such as rate of heating, reaction temperature and duration of heating have been studied. Shape of particles was found to change from spherical to cuboid. The cuboid shape in turn enhances magneto-crystalline anisotropy (Ku). Heating efficacy of these nanoparticles for hyperthermia was also evaluated for different shapes and sizes. We demonstrate heat generation from these MNPs for hyperthermia application under alternating current (AC) magnetic field and optimized heating efficiency by controlling morphology of particles. We have also studied intra-cellular uptake and localization of nanoparticles and cytotoxicity under AC magnetic field in human breast carcinoma cell line.