Drop-on-powder 3d printing of tablets with an anti-cancer drug, 5-fluorouracil

This study reports the first case of an innovative drop-on-powder (DoP) three-dimensional (3D) printing technology to produce oral tablets (diameters of 10 mm and 13 mm) loaded with an anticancer model drug, 5-fluorouracil (FLU). For this study, a composition of the powder carrier containing CaSO4 hydrates, vinyl polymer, and carbohydrate was used as the matrix former, whereas 2-pyrrolidone with a viscosity like water was used as a binding liquid or inkjet ink. All tablets were printed using a commercial ZCorp 3D printer with modification. The resultant tablets were subject to coating with various polymeric solutions containing the drug. The composition of the polymeric solutions was adjusted at drug: polymer(s) 1:1 (w/w) ratio. Either Soluplus® (SOL) alone or in combination with polyethylene glycol (PEG) was used to develop the coating solution of 2.5% (w/v) concentration. The particle size analysis, flow test, and particle morphology studies revealed mono-modal narrow size distribution, good flow properties, and porous loosely bound texture (of the tablets), respectively. Moreover, the advanced application of the fluorescence microscopy showed a homogenous distribution of the drug throughout the surface of the 3D printed tablets. The in vitro dissolution studies showed that the tablet compositions, dimensions, and the coating solution compositions influenced the release of the drug from the tablets. It can be concluded that our innovative DoP 3D printing technology can be used to fabricate personalized dosage forms containing optimized drug content with high accuracy and shape fidelity. This is particularly suitable for those drugs that are highly unstable in thermal processing and cannot withstand the heat treatment, such as in fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing

Saudi SCD patients’ symptoms and quality of life relative to the number of ED visits

Background Individuals living with sickle cell disease (SCD) have significantly increased emergency department (ED) use compared to the general population. In Saudi Arabia, health care is free for all individuals and therefore has no bearing on increased ED visits. However, little is known about the relationship between quality of life (QoL) and frequency of acute care utilization in this patient population. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 366 patients with SCD who attended the outpatient department at King Fahad Hospital, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through self-administered surveys, which included: demographics, SCD-related ED visits, clinical issues, and QoL levels. We assessed the ED use by asking for the number of SCD-related ED visits within a 6-month period. Results The self-report survey of ED visits was completed by 308 SCD patients. The median number of SCD-related ED visits within a 6-month time period (IQR) was four (2-7 visits). According to the unadjusted negative binomial model, the rate of SCD-related ED visits increased by (46, 39.3, 40, and 53.5 %) for patients with fever, skin redness with itching, swelling, and blood transfusion, respectively. Poor QoL tends to increase the rate of SCD-related ED visits. Well education and poor general health positively influenced the rate of SCD-related ED visits. Well education tends to increase the rate of SCD-related ED visits by 50.2 %. The rate of SCD-related ED visits decreased by 1.4 % for every point increase in general health. Conclusion Saudi patients with sickle cell disease reported a wide range of SCD-related ED visits. It was estimated that six of 10 SCD patients had at least three ED visits within a 6-month period. Well education and poor general health resulted in an increase in the rate of SCD-related ED visits

Electrostatic Charge Polarity Effect on Respiratory Deposition in the Glass Bead Tracheobronchial Airways Model

The effects of unipolar and bipolar electrostatic charges on the deposition efficiency of therapeutic aerosols in the physical model of human tracheobronchial (TB) airways have been investigated. Respirable size aerosol particles were generated by a commonly prescribed and commercially available nebulizer and charged by a corona charger and then their size and charge distributions were characterized by an Electronic Single Particle Aerodynamic Relaxation Time analyzer to study the drug aerosol particles\u27 deposition pattern. The experiments were performed with a glass bead tracheobronchial model (GBTBM) (physical model) which was designed and developed based upon widely used and adopted dichotomous lung morphometric data presented in the Ewald R. Weibel model. The model was validated with the respiratory deposition data predicted by the International Commission on Radiological Protection and the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) approved Andersen Cascade Impactor (ACI). Unipolarly and bipolarly charged particles were characterized for two configurations: a) without TB model in place and b) with TB model in place. Findings showed that the deposition of unipolarly charged particles was about 3 times of the bipolarly charged particles. It was also found that bioengineered therapeutic aerosols with good combinations of aerodynamic size and electrostatic charge are good candidates for the administration of respiratory medicinal drugs

Antibiotic resistance pattern of HA-MRSA strains isolated from leukemia patients in Baghdad, Iraq

Digitalitzat per Artypla

Study and implementation of urogenital schistosomiasis elimination in Zanzibar (Unguja and Pemba islands) using an integrated multidisciplinary approach

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection that continues to be a major public health problem in many developing countries being responsible for an estimated burden of at least 1.4 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in Africa alone. However, morbidity due to schistosomiasis has been greatly reduced in some parts of the world, including Zanzibar. The Zanzibar government is now committed to eliminate urogenital schistosomiasis. Over the next 3--5 years, the whole at-risk population will be administered praziquantel (40 mg/kg) biannually. Additionally, snail control and behaviour change interventions will be implemented in selected communities and the impact measured in a randomized intervention trial. METHODS: In this 5-year research study, on both Unguja and Pemba islands, urogenital schistosomiasis will be assessed in 45 communities with urine filtration and reagent strips in 4,500 schoolchildren aged 9--12 years annually, and in 4,500 first-year schoolchildren and 2,250 adults in years 1 and 5. Additionally, from first-year schoolchildren, a finger-prick blood sample will be collected and examined for Schistosoma haematobium infection biomarkers. Changes in prevalence and infection intensity will be assessed annually. Among the 45 communities, 15 were randomized for biannual snail control with niclosamide, in concordance with preventive chemotherapy campaigns. The reduction of Bulinus globosus snail populations and S. haematobium-infected snails will be investigated. In 15 other communities, interventions triggering behaviour change have been designed and will be implemented in collaboration with the community. A change in knowledge, attitudes and practices will be assessed annually through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with schoolchildren, teachers, parents and community leaders. In all 45 communities, changes in the health system, water and sanitation infrastructure will be annually tracked by standardized questionnaire-interviews with community leaders. Additional issues potentially impacting on study outcomes and all incurring costs will be monitored and recorded. DISCUSSION: Elimination of schistosomiasis has become a priority on the agenda of the Zanzibar government and the international community. Our study will contribute to identifying what, in addition to preventive chemotherapy, needs to be done to prevent, control, and ultimately eliminate schistosomiasis, and to draw lessons for current and future schistosomiasis elimination programmes in Africa and elsewhere.Trial registrationISRCTN4883768

Antigenic Detection of Salmonella Infection Among Pediatric Patients with Acute Gastroenteritis

Background: Diarrheal diseases are one of the social problems in developing countries. The pathogens commonly associated with childhood diarrhea are Salmonella, Clostridium difficile, Shigella, Yersinia and Escherichia coli but the highest attack rate for salmonellosis in infancy. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the presence of Salmonella antigen in acute gastroenteritis in children admitted to a pediatric hospital. Material and Methods: The study was performed on freshly collected stool samples among 94 acute diarrheal children below two years admitted to AL-Khadymia and AL-Elweya pediatric hospitals from May 2015 to January 2016. A questionnaire was completed for each patient's name, age, gender, clinical data like fever, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. The criteria included hemorrhagic fresh stool sample in addition to containing parasite agent. Fresh stool samples were tested by immunochromatographic assay for antigenic detection of Salmonella. Results: Salmonella antigen identified in five stool samples one for male and four for females. All pediatric patients show fever, vomiting and abdominal pain, while the stool consistency distributed to 75.5% watery and 24.5% loosely. Stool samples show 69.1% with blood and 39.9% without blood, 16.9% with pus and 83.1% without pus, 83% with mucous and 17% without mucous. Four cases with giardiasis and 24 cases with entamebiasis and 14 cases with cyst of E. histolytica or G. lamblia in addition to absence the parasites ova in all stool samples. Conclusion: Salmonella antigen present in five stool samples, all the patients show vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, 65 cases with blood in comparison with, 29 without blood 15 cases with pus in comparison with 79 without pus. 78 cases with mucous in comparison with, 16 without mucous, four cases with goddesses and 24 cases with entamebiasis, 14 cases with cyst of E. histolytica or G. lamblia in addition to absence the parasites ova in all stool samples

Park availability and major depression in individuals with chronic conditions: Is there an association in urban India?

Green space exposure has been positively correlated with better mental-health indicators in several high income countries, but has not been examined in low- and middle-income countries undergoing rapid urbanization. Building on a study of mental health in adults with a pre-existing chronic condition, we examined the association between park availability and major depression among 1208 adults surveyed in Delhi, India. Major depression was measured using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. The ArcGIS platform was used to quantify park availability indexed as (i) park distance from households, (ii) area of the nearest park; and within one km buffer area around households - the (iii) number and (iv) total area of all parks. Mixed-effects logistic regression models adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics indicated that relative to residents exposed to the largest nearest park areas (tertile 3), the odds [95% confidence interval] of major depression was 3.1 [1.4-7.0] times higher among residents exposed to the smallest nearest park areas (tertile 1) and 2.1 [0.9-4.8] times higher in residents with mid-level exposure (tertile 2). There was no statistically significant association between other park variables tested and major depression. We hypothesized that physical activity in the form of walking, perceived stress levels and satisfaction with the neighborhood environment may have mediating effects on the association between nearest park area and major depression. We found no significant mediation effects for any of our hypothesized variables. In conclusion, our results provide preliminary and novel evidence from India that availability of large parks in the immediate neighborhood positively impacts mental well-being of individuals with pre-existing chronic conditions, at the opportune time when India is embarking on the development of sustainable cities that aim to promote health through smart urban design - one of the key elements of which is the inclusion of urban green spaces

IoT based security system and intelligent home automation multi monitoring and control systems

This paper presents the execution of savvy Smart Home with frameworks and propelled advances. A Home Automation System uses the technology of IoT for the screening and controlling of the electrical and electronic appliances at home from any remote area by essentially utilizing a Smartphone. The key control framework utilizes a remote Bluetooth system and a remote IoT strategy that gives remote access to the advanced cells. The framework configuration does not expel the current electrical switches yet it gives a more secure control over it with the low voltage utilization method. This framework is intended to control electrical gadgets all through the house easily by introducing it, usability, savvy plan and actualize. There has been rising interest for a secure framework that must be tried, true and fast in reaction to the ventures and organization. Arduino makes the circuit and programming technology to design and operate wireless water monitoring system. The Water level in the tank is displayed on the Smartphone by the Water level app