Effects of various penetration enhancers on percutaneous absorption of piroxicam from emulgels

A suitable emulgel formulation of piroxicam was prepared and its percutaneous permeation was investigated using Wistar rat skin and diffusion cell technique. The concentrations of the drug in receptor phase of diffusion cells were measured using HPLC method. The effect of three types of penetration enhancers (Myrj 52, cineol and Transcutol P) with different concentrations on transdermal permeation of the drug was also evaluated. Flux, Kp and enhancement ratios (ERs) of piroxicam in the presence of enhancers was measured and compared with emulgel base alone and simple commercial gel. The results showed a significant enhancement in the flux from emulgel base compared to hydroalcoholic gel formulation (9.91 folds over simple gel). The highest enhancement ratio (ER=3.11) was observed for Myrj 52 at the concentration of 0.25%. Higher concentrations of Myrj 52did not show any enhancement in the drug flux due to micelle formation and solubilization of the drug by micelles. The increase in solubility, in turn, increases the saturated concentration and reduces the thermodynamic activity of the drug. Transcutol® P with concentrations higher than 0.25% w/w showed burst transportation of the drug through the skin. All concentrations of cineol and Transcutol did not show any enhancing effects over emulgel base alone (ER <1)

Genetic characterization of Echinococcus granulosus from a large number of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples of human isolates in Iran

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus, presents an important medical and veterinary problem globally, including that in Iran. Different genotypes of E. granulosus have been reported from human isolates worldwide. This study identifies the genotype of the parasite responsible for human hydatidosis in three provinces of Iran using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples. In this study, 200 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples from human CE cases were collected from Alborz, Tehran, and Kerman provinces. Polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing of the partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene were performed for genetic characterization of the samples. Phylogenetic analysis of the isolates from this study and reference sequences of different genotypes was done using a maximum likelihood method. In total, 54.4%, 0.8%, 1%, and 40.8% of the samples were identified as the G1, G2, G3, and G6 genotypes, respectively. The findings of the current study confirm the G1 genotype (sheep strain) to be the most prevalent genotype involved in human CE cases in Iran and indicates the high prevalence of the G6 genotype with a high infectivity for humans. Furthermore, this study illustrates the first documented human CE case in Iran infected with the G2 genotype. Copyright © 2015 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Technologies for the global energy transition

The availability of reliable, affordable and mature technologies is at the basis of an effective decarbonization strategy, that should be in turn supported by timely and accurate policies. Due to the large differences across sectors and countries, there is no silver bullet to support decarbonization, but a combination of multiple technologies will be required to reach the challenging goal of decarbonizing the energy sector. This chapter presents a focus on the current technological solutions that are available in four main sectors: power generation, industry, transport and buildings. The aim of this work is to highlight the main strengths and weaknesses of the current technologies, to help the reader in understanding which are the main opportunities and challenges related to the development and deployment of each of them, as well as their potential contribution to the decarbonization targets. The chapter also provides strategies and policy recommendations from a technology point of view on how to decarbonize the global energy systems by mid-century and of the necessity to take a systems approach

Correction to: Isolated Human and Livestock Echinococcus granulosus Genotypes Using Real-Time PCR of cox1 Gene in Northeast Iran (Acta Parasitologica, (2019), 64, 3, (679-685), 10.2478/s11686-019-00117-w)

Unfortunately, the affiliation of Majid Fasihi-Harandi needs to be edited. The correct affiliation is Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

Predicting the environmental suitability for onchocerciasis in Africa as an aid to elimination planning

Recent evidence suggests that, in some foci, elimination of onchocerciasis from Africa may be feasible with mass drug administration (MDA) of ivermectin. To achieve continental elimination of transmission, mapping surveys will need to be conducted across all implementation units (IUs) for which endemicity status is currently unknown. Using boosted regression tree models with optimised hyperparameter selection, we estimated environmental suitability for onchocerciasis at the 5 × 5-km resolution across Africa. In order to classify IUs that include locations that are environmentally suitable, we used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to identify an optimal threshold for suitability concordant with locations where onchocerciasis has been previously detected. This threshold value was then used to classify IUs (more suitable or less suitable) based on the location within the IU with the largest mean prediction. Mean estimates of environmental suitability suggest large areas across West and Central Africa, as well as focal areas of East Africa, are suitable for onchocerciasis transmission, consistent with the presence of current control and elimination of transmission efforts. The ROC analysis identified a mean environmental suitability index of 0·71 as a threshold to classify based on the location with the largest mean prediction within the IU. Of the IUs considered for mapping surveys, 50·2% exceed this threshold for suitability in at least one 5 × 5-km location. The formidable scale of data collection required to map onchocerciasis endemicity across the African continent presents an opportunity to use spatial data to identify areas likely to be suitable for onchocerciasis transmission. National onchocerciasis elimination programmes may wish to consider prioritising these IUs for mapping surveys as human resources, laboratory capacity, and programmatic schedules may constrain survey implementation, and possibly delaying MDA initiation in areas that would ultimately qualify

Predicting the environmental suitability for onchocerciasis in Africa as an aid to elimination planning

Recent evidence suggests that, in some foci, elimination of onchocerciasis from Africa may be feasible with mass drug administration (MDA) of ivermectin. To achieve continental elimination of transmission, mapping surveys will need to be conducted across all implementation units (IUs) for which endemicity status is currently unknown. Using boosted regression tree models with optimised hyperparameter selection, we estimated environmental suitability for onchocerciasis at the 5 × 5-km resolution across Africa. In order to classify IUs that include locations that are environmentally suitable, we used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to identify an optimal threshold for suitability concordant with locations where onchocerciasis has been previously detected. This threshold value was then used to classify IUs (more suitable or less suitable) based on the location within the IU with the largest mean prediction. Mean estimates of environmental suitability suggest large areas across West and Central Africa, as well as focal areas of East Africa, are suitable for onchocerciasis transmission, consistent with the presence of current control and elimination of transmission efforts. The ROC analysis identified a mean environmental suitability index of 0.71 as a threshold to classify based on the location with the largest mean prediction within the IU. Of the IUs considered for mapping surveys, 50.2% exceed this threshold for suitability in at least one 5×5-km location. The formidable scale of data collection required to map onchocerciasis endemicity across the African continent presents an opportunity to use spatial data to identify areas likely to be suitable for onchocerciasis transmission. National onchocerciasis elimination programmes may wish to consider prioritising these IUs for mapping surveys as human resources, laboratory capacity, and programmatic schedules may constrain survey implementation, and possibly delaying MDA initiation in areas that would ultimately qualify

The Correlation between Clinical Signs and Genotypes of Giardia duodenalis Isolated from Patients with Giardiasis in Kerman City

abstract: Background & Aims: Giardiasis is one of the human parasitic diseases caused by a flagellate protozoan named Giardia duodenalis (G.lamblia). Giardia is one of the most common organisms causing diarrhea in human and also a common gastrointestinal parasite in vertebrates. Methods: A total of 352 stool samples were collected from patients infected with giardiasis referred to health centers in Kerman city. Samples were examined by formalin- ether concentration procedure. First, DNA extraction was performed on 30 stool samples containing adequate Giardia cysts and then PCR-RFLP was done on glultamate dehydrogenase (gdh) marker. Clinical signs of patients were recorded in a questionnaire and their relationships with molecular results were analyzed. Results: The highest rate of infection was in the age group of 0-12 years with significant difference with other age groups (P<0.0001). The most common clinical signs were abdominal pain (71.7%), diarrhea (69%), abdominal cramping (54.1%) and the least common signs were malaise (20.4%) and fever (16.1%). Of all 30 isolates, 18 samples (60%) were found as genotype All, 5 ones (16.7%) belonged to Al assemblage and 7 samples (23.3%) were BIII assemblage. There was a significant difference between genotyping of Giardia and clinical signs of diarrhea, abdominal signs and nausea (P<0.05). Conclusion: Higher prevalence of Giardiasis was found in the age group below 12 years, but clinical signs in different age groups and two sexes were identical. Assemblage A showed correlation with mild intermittent diarrhea and assemblage B had correlation with persistent diarrhea. Keywords: Giardia, Signs and symptoms, Genotype, Glutamate dehydrogenase, Kerman » XM

Differentiation of Exudates from Transudate Pleural Effusion by Measuring Cholesterol and Bilirubin

Introduction & Objective: Differentiating exudates from transudate is the first step in examining pleural effusion. Moreover, it is a guide for determination of pathologic trend of background diseases and differential diagnosis. Although Light’s criteria are considered as standard in differentiating exudates from transudate, in some studies pleural fluid cholesterol, ratio of pleural fluid cholesterol to serum and ratio of pleural fluid bilirubin to serum have been considered. This study was performed to investigate the diagnostic efficacy of cholesterol and bilirubin of pleural fluid in differentiating exudates from transudate pleural effusion. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in Al-Zahra Hospital, Isfahan in 1384, where 86 cases of pleural effusion were assessed by easy and consecutive sampling method. After differentiation of patients with exudates from transudate pleural effusion, based on light’s criteria, related parameters were measured. Using ROC (Receiver Operative Characteristics) curves, area under the curve was determined following by determination of sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values. Results were analyzed by MC Nemar test. Results: From 86 studied patients, 59 cases were exudates and 27 cases were transudates. Considering the pleural cholesterol above 43 mg/dl as cut off, a sensitivity of 73.8% and specificity of 92% were obtained for the method. Decreasing the cut off level to 35.5 mg/dl, the sensitivity was increased and reached to 81.4%. Ratio of pleural fluid cholesterol to serum more than 0.3 had a sensitivity of 65%, 88% specificity and 85% efficiency for differentiation of pleural effusion while ratio of pleural fluid bilirubin to serum more than 0.6 had 76.3% sensitivity, 74.1% specificity and 75.6% efficacy. Conclusion: The criterion on 3 g/dl protein had the highest sensitivity and specificity in differentiating exudates from transudate pleural effusion and can be used as the best determinant alone. Also pleural fluid cholesterol more than 35.5 mg/dl has suitable sensitivity and specificity and the combination of pleural fluid protein and cholesterol can be used as the best practical determinant. The criterion of pleural fluid cholesterol to serum ratio more than 0.3 has low sensitivity and with reduction of this ratio to 0.14, its sensitivity increases but its specificity will decrease