Scrub typhus and spotted fever among hospitalised children in South India: Clinical profile and serological epidemiology.

BACKGROUND: Rickettsial infections are re-emerging. In India, they are now being reported from several areas where they were previously unknown. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology, clinical profile and outcome of serologically-confirmed scrub typhus and spotted fever among children in a tertiary care hospital in Bengaluru. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hospitalised children aged <18 years, with clinical features suggestive of rickettsial disease admitted between January 2010 and October 2012 were included prospectively. Diagnosis was based on scrub typhus and spotted fever-specific IgM and IgG by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Of 103 children with clinical features suggestive of rickettsial illness, ELISA test confirmed 53 cases for scrub typhus, 23 cases for spotted fever group and 14 with mixed infection. The average age was 7.3 (±3.9) years and 44 (71.0%) children were male. Majority of cases were from Karnataka (50%), Andhra Pradesh (32.3%) and Tamil Nadu (17.7%). Common clinical features included fever (100%, average duration 11 days), nausea and vomiting (44%), rash (36%); eschar was rare. Compared to the ELISA test, Weil-Felix test (OX-K titre of 1:80) had a sensitivity and specificity of 88.7% and 43.9%, respectively. Treatment with chloramphenicol or doxycycline was given to the majority of the children. Complications included meningoencephalitis (28%), shock (10%), retinal vasculitis (10%) and purpura fulminans (7%). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the burden of rickettsial infection among children in India is high, with a substantially high complication rate. Rickettsial-specific ELISA tests can help in early diagnosis and early institution of appropriate treatment that may prevent life-threatening complications.

Development and Validation of RP-HPLC Method for Simultaneous Determination of Granisetron and Dexamethasone.

A new simple, selective, rapid, precise and accurate reverse phase HPLC method has been developed for simultaneous estimation of granisetron and dexamethasone. The method was developed using CPS Hypersil CN column (250×4.6 mm I.D.) with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile:buffer (100 mM Triethylamine adjusted to pH 3.0 with o-phosphoric acid) in ratio of 25:75 at a flow rate of 2 ml/min. Detection was carried out at 242 nm. The developed method was evaluated for various system suitability parameters and validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, LOD, LOQ as per ICH guidelines. It was also evaluated for bench top stability and freeze/thaw stability. The proposed method can be used for the estimation of these drugs in their combined dosage forms.

A validated LC method for imatinib mesylate.

An isocratic reversed-phase liquid chromatography method with UV detection has been developed for the purity evaluation of imatinib mesylate in bulk drug. The method is selective and is capable of detecting all process intermediates and other related compounds, which may be present at trace levels in the drug substance. The method was validated on a Symmetry Shield RP18 analytical column (150 x 4.6 mm, 5 microm), mobile phase consisting of 30 mM sodium octane sulphonic acid in 10 mM aqueous KH2PO4 (pH 2.5 with H3PO4): MeOH in the ratio of 42:58 v/v. The flow rate was set at 1.0 ml/min and the column was maintained at room temperature. The injection volume was set to 10 microl and the detector was set at a wavelength of 237 nm. The method was validated in terms of system precision, method precision, linearity, accuracy, limit of detection and limit of quantification.

Biosorption of lead, cadmium, and zinc by Citrobacter strain MCM B-181: characterization studies.

The biosorption process for removal of lead, cadmium, and zinc by Citrobacter strain MCM B-181, a laboratory isolate, was characterized. Effects of environmental factors and growth conditions on metal uptake capacity were studied. Pretreatment of biomass with chemical agents increased cadmium sorption efficiency; however, there was no significant enhancement in lead and zinc sorption capacity. Metal sorption by Citrobacter strain MCM B-181 was found to be influenced by the pH of the solution, initial metal concentration, biomass concentration, and type of growth medium. The metal sorption process was not affected by the age of the culture or change in temperature. Equilibrium metal sorption was found to fit the Langmuir adsorption model. Kinetic studies showed that metal uptake by Citrobacter strain MCM B-181 was a fast process, requiring <20 min to achieve >90% adsorption efficiency. The presence of cations reduced lead, zinc, and cadmium sorption to the extent of 11. 8%, 84.3%, and 33.4%, respectively. When biomass was exposed to multimetal solutions, metals were adsorbed in the order Co2+ < Ni2+ < Cd2+ < Cu2+ < Zn2+ < Pb2+. Among various anions tested, only phosphate and citrate were found to hamper metal sorption capacity of cells. Biosorbent beads prepared by immobilizing the Citrobacter biomass in polysulfone matrix exhibited high metal loading capacities. A new mathematical model used for batch kinetic studies was found to be highly useful in prediction of experimentally obtained metal concentration profiles as a function of time. Metal desorption studies indicated that Citrobacter beads could, in principle, be regenerated and reused in adsorption-desorption cycles. In an expanded scale trial, biosorbent beads were found to be useful in removal/recovery of metals such as lead from industrial wastewaters.

Biosorption of lead and zinc from solutions using Streptoverticillium cinnamoneum waste biomass.

Mycelial wastes of microbial origin from fermentation industries have been recognized as potential biosorbents for decontamination of waste waters containing heavy metals. Dried, nonliving, granulated biomass of Streptoverticillium cinnamoneum was used for the recovery of lead and zinc from solutions. It was found that pretreatment of the biomass with boiling water for 15 min increased the biosorption of lead and zinc by 52 and 41%, respectively. The optimum pH range for lead uptake was 3.5-4.5 while for zinc it was 5.0-6.0. The lead and zinc adsorption data when applied to Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm equations showed good correlation (r2 = 0.97) and hence equal conformity to both models. The Scatchard plots indicated clearly that more than one type of binding sites were involved in the adsorption of lead and zinc by the biomass. The maximum loading capacity of S. cinnamoneum biomass was found to be 57.7 mg/g for lead and 21.3 mg/g for zinc with boiling water pretreatment. The loaded metals could be desorbed effectively with dilute hydrochloric acid, nitric acid and 0.1 M EDTA. Treatment with 0.1 M sodium carbonate permitted reuse of the desorbed biomass although the metal loading capacity in the subsequent cycles decreased by 14-37%. The metal biosorbent granules prepared are a value-added product that has the potential for removal/recovery of lead and zinc from dilute solutions on a commercial scale.

Preparation and evaluation of abietic acid microcapsules by a solvent evaporation technique.

Abietic acid was isolated from rosin N Grade (ISI) by a simple process and the product was further standardized. Sulphadiazine microcapsules were prepared by the solvent evaporation technique, using abietic acid as a wall-forming material. Discrete, spherical and free-flowing microcapsules were obtained by phase separation induced by solvent evaporation using bentonite as a solid emulsifier. The prepared microcapsules were evaluated for drug content, wall thickness, flow properties, size distribution, density and in vitro dissolution studies in gastric fluid. The effect of various process variables such as agitation speed, coat-core ratio, etc., on the micromeritic and release characteristics has been described.

Microencapsulation of terbutaline sulphate by the solvent evaporation technique.

Terbutaline sulphate microcapsules were prepared by coacervation-phase separation (solvent evaporation) technique using ethyl cellulose as a coating material. Acetone, ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol were employed as solvents for coating material. Microcapsules were evaluated for their drug content, particle size distribution (microscopic method), flow properties, bulk density, in vitro dissolution, drug release kinetics and surface characteristics (scanning electron microscopy).

Microencapsulation of propranolol hydrochloride by the solvent evaporation technique.

Propranolol hydrochloride microcapsules were prepared by the coacervation-phase separation induced by solvent evaporation technique. The cellulose acetate phthalate was employed as coating material alone and in combination with ethyl cellulose. The prepared microcapsules were evaluated for their drug content, particle size distribution (microscopic method), flow properties, bulk density, in vitro dissolution and drug release kinetics.

Prolonged release terbutaline sulphate microcapsules.

Terbutaline sulphate microcapsules were prepared by coacervation-phase separation induced by solvent evaporation technique. The cellulose acetate phthalate was employed as coating material alone and in combination with ethyl cellulose. The prepared microcapsules were evaluated for their drug content, particle size distribution (microscopic method), flow properties, bulk density and in vitro dissolution.

Study of abietic acid glycerol derivatives as microencapsulating materials.

Abietic acid (85 per cent pure) was extracted from rosin N Grade and further standardized. Abietic acid derivatives were prepared by heating abietic acid with glycerol and intermediate reaction products with different acid values were collected. Salicylic acid granules were encapsulated using a 10 per cent solution of abietic acid and its derivatives by standard spray pan technique. The coated microcapsules were evaluated for moisture absorption, dissolution and flow properties. The result showed that abietic acid glycerol derivatives, AaG-54 and AaG-20 had better moisture protection properties. Dissolution studies indicate that these derivatives could be used for delayed release of drugs.

Study of shellac glycerol esters as microencapsulating materials.

Shellac esters were prepared by heating shellac with glycerol and intermediate reaction products were withdrawn. Salicyclic acid granules were encapsulated using a 20 per cent w/v alcoholic solution of shellac and shellac esters. The coated microcapsules were evaluated for moisture absorption, flow properties, and dissolution studies. The drug release from coated granules was seen to depend upon the acid value of the esters. Results indicate that shellac esters could be better encapsulating material than shellac in sustained release formulation.