Impact of UDST: A step forward to end TB.

BACKGROUND: India is determined to eliminate TB by 2025 despite being a high burden country. Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) is being strengthened with introduction of Universal Drug Susceptibility Testing (UDST) for Rifampicin to achieve the elimination status. METHODOLOGY: We used a before-after comparison of baseline and intervention periods (12 months each) and analyzed data viz CBNAAT performed and case detection for both drug sensitive and drug resistant TB cases. RESULTS: After implementation of Universal DST, CBNAAT performed raised from 1252 to 3137 (increased by 2.5 times); Rif sensitive cases detected raised from 458 to 1241 (increased by 2.7 times) and Rif resistant cases detected raised from 54 to 82 (increased by 1.5 times) during baseline period (2017) and intervention period (2018). CONCLUSION: We conclude that introduction of UDST for Rifampicin in RNTCP has given a significant impact with increased case detection in our study.

Structural, transport and optical properties of (La0.6Pr0.4)0.65Ca0.35MnO3 nanocrystals: a wide band-gap magnetic semiconductor.

(La0.6Pr0.4)0.65Ca0.35MnO3 system has been synthesized via a sol-gel route at different sintering temperatures. Structural, transport and optical measurements have been carried out to investigate (La0.6Pr0.4)0.65Ca0.35MnO3 nanoparticles. Raman spectra show that Jahn-Teller distortion has been decreased due to the presence of Ca and Pr in A-site. Magnetic measurements provide a Curie temperature around 200 K and saturation magnetization (MS) of about 3.43µB/Mn at 5 K. X-ray photoemission spectroscopy study suggests that Mn exists in a dual oxidation state (Mn(3+) and Mn(4+)). Resistivity measurements suggest that charge-ordered states of Mn(3+) and Mn(4+), which might be influenced by the presence of Pr, have enhanced insulating behavior in (La0.6Pr0.4)0.65Ca0.35MnO3. Band gap estimated from UV-Vis spectroscopy measurements comes in the range of wide band gap semiconductors (∼3.5 eV); this makes (La0.6Pr0.4)0.65Ca0.35MnO3 a potential candidate for device application.

In vivo wound healing performance of drug loaded electrospun composite nanofibers transdermal patch.

Acute injuries or wound is required the fast delivery of drug to control infections without any side effect. In this direction in the present investigation, antibiotic ciprofloxacin loaded hydrophilic biodegradable poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) and sodium alginate (NaAlg) electrospun composite nanofiber based transdermal patch was developed for local delivery of antibiotic drug. The antibiotic drug ciprofloxacin was loaded in it by active loading. The drug entrapped in the composite nanofibers was confirmed by the scanning electron microscopy and swelling behavior. The in vivo studies were carried on male rabbits by using the drug loaded and unloaded composite nanofibers transdermal patch and marketed one. It is observed that, in vitro activity provides a sustained and controlled release pattern of the drug from transdermal patch. The mechanism of drug release was also studied using different models. The nanofiber transdermal patch follows the Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas model for drug release. The in vivo studies demonstrate that, wound healing takes place in less time as compared drug unloaded patch. Hydroxyproline produced in wound bed with time shows that it content is maximum in case drug loaded PAV-NaAlg patch. This demonstrates that wound healing rate is higher in case drug loaded PVA-NaAlg transdermal patch.

Electrospun composite nanofiber-based transmucosal patch for anti-diabetic drug delivery.

The intention of the present investigation was to develop an oral formulation for an anti-diabetic drug that not only could deliver it in the active form but also provide a sustained and controlled release profile. A biodegradable poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and sodium alginate (NaAlg) electrospun composite nanofiber based transmucosal patch was developed and the anti-diabetic drug insulin was loaded in it by active loading. The drug entrapment in the composite nanofibers during the processing was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The in vivo studies were carried on male Wistar rats by the sublingual route. The mucoadhesive strength results confirmed that the drug loaded PVA-NaAlg nanofiber patch had the highest strength among the PVA, PVA-NaAlg and drug loaded PVA-NaAlg samples, due to its higher water holding capacity. The in vitro activity provided a sustained and controlled release pattern of the drug from the nanofiber patch. In vivo activity validated the fact that insulin was delivered in its active state and showed appreciable results when compared to the commercial formulation. The insulin release follows first order kinetics followed by an initial burst release necessary to produce the desired therapeutic activity. Furthermore an encapsulation efficacy of 99% of the experimental formulation provides sufficient indication that the composite nanofibers serve as an ideal carrier for the delivery of insulin via the sublingual route. Thus the present investigation gives impetus to work in the direction of delivering anti-diabetic drugs (proteins and peptides) via the oral route using electrospun composite nanofiber transmucosal patches.

Electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibrous membranes for chitosanase immobilization and its application in selective production of chitooligosaccharides.

Polyacrylonitrile nanofibrous membranes (PANNFM) were prepared by electrospinning from 10 wt.% of PAN solution and its surface was modified by amidination reaction. A new chitosan degrading enzyme from Aspergillus sp. was covalently immobilized on PANNFM. Immobilization efficiency of 80% was achieved by activating PANNFM surface for 30 min followed by 2 h treatment with enzyme solution. The optimum temperature and pH for immobilized enzyme were 50°C and 5.8, respectively. The immobilized chitosanase retained >70% activity after ten repeated batch reaction and could be stored up to 60 days at 4°C with minor loss in activity. Chitosan hydrolysis using different substrates were studied using immobilized chitosanase in batch conditions. Continuous selective production of chitooligosaccharides (dimer to hexamer) by changing the temperature was achieved by PANNFM-chitosanase.

Ultrasonic evaluation of pleural opacities.

Fifty patients of pleural effusion were subjected to radiological and ultrasonic examinations. The results of both examinations were compared and presented here. The study was undertaken to assess the comparative efficacy of ultrasonography in diagnosing pleural effusion.