Significance of Peripheral Blood Smear in Diagnosis of Blood Parasitic Infection

Bancroftian filariasis is a tropical and subtropical disease caused by Wuchereria bancrofti and transmitted by the Culex mosquitoes. It is conventionally diagnosed made by demonstrating microfilariae in the peripheral blood smear. Microfilariae and adult filarial worm have been incidentally detected in the blood. We here report an unusual case of Bancroftian microfilariasis in a 28-year-old male coming from endemic area with history of fever since 1 month. Patient had history of yellowish discoloration of skin and sclera

Macrophage-targeted chitosan anchored PLGA nanoparticles bearing doxorubicin and amphotericin B against visceral leishmaniasis

Novel chitosan-coated nanoparticles with a high payload of amphotericin B (AmB) and doxorubicin (Dox) were formulated employing a nanoprecipitation technique and evaluated for antileishmanial activity against Leishmania donovani. FTIR, DSC and TG-DTA analysis ensured the physicochemical compatibility of drugs and polymers. The chitosan-coated optimized nanoparticle formulation resulted in a mean particle size; 374.4 ± 4.8 nm, PDI; 0.227 ± 0.035 and zeta potential; (+) 32.9 ± 1.10 mV. The entrapment efficiency was determined to be 70.2 ± 4.76 and 93.86 ± 2.61% for AmB and Dox respectively. An in vitro drug release study demonstrated the release of 27.29 and 36.93% AmB and Dox, respectively after 24 h from chitosan-coated PLGA nanoparticles which is slower than the release obtained from uncoated PLGA nanoparticles of AmB and Dox (32.82 and 57.93% AmB and Dox respectively after 24 h). Stability studies confirmed no remarkable alterations in the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles. Cs-PLGA-ABDx was less hemotoxic (22.87 ± 0.487%) than PLGA-ABDx (36.71 ± 2.08%) and the ABDx suspension (97.04 ± 5.01%) at 42.78 μg mL⁻¹ AmB and 80 μg mL⁻¹ Dox. Cell uptake investigation showed the mean florescence intensity of chitosan-coated PLGA-FITC was 2.02 fold higher than uncoated PLGA-FITC nanoparticles. The cytotoxicity in J774A.1 cells revealed Cs-PLGA-ABDx was less cytotoxic compared to the ABDx suspension and PLGA-ABDx, whereas the IC₅₀ of Cs-PLGA-ABDx against infected macrophages was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than PLGA-ABDx indicating the effectiveness of Cs-PLGA-ABDx. No significant increase in the biomedical markers AST, BUN and PC was observed in Cs-PLGA-ABDx treated groups at 1 and 3 mg kg⁻¹ dose. These experimental findings put forward Cs-PLGA-ABDx to be a suitable alternative in the management of visceral leishmaniasis

Development of Ahmedabad’s Air Information and Response (AIR) Plan to Protect Public Health

Indian cities struggle with some of the highest ambient air pollution levels in the world. While national efforts are building momentum towards concerted action to reduce air pollution, individual cities are taking action on this challenge to protect communities from the many health problems caused by this harmful environmental exposure. In 2017, the city of Ahmedabad launched a regional air pollution monitoring and risk communication project, the Air Information and Response (AIR) Plan. The centerpiece of the plan is an air quality index developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology’s System for Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research program that summarizes information from 10 new continuous air pollution monitoring stations in the region, each reporting data that can help people avoid harmful exposures and inform policy strategies to achieve cleaner air. This paper focuses on the motivation, development, and implementation of Ahmedabad’s AIR Plan. The project is discussed in terms of its collaborative roots, public health purpose in addressing the grave threat of air pollution (particularly to vulnerable groups), technical aspects in deploying air monitoring technology, and broader goals for the dissemination of an air quality index linked to specific health messages and suggested actions to reduce harmful exposures. The city of Ahmedabad is among the first cities in India where city leaders, state government, and civil society are proactively working together to address the country’s air pollution challenge with a focus on public health. The lessons learned from the development of the AIR Plan serve as a template for other cities aiming to address the heavy burden of air pollution on public health. Effective working relationships are vital since they form the foundation for long-term success and useful knowledge sharing beyond a single city

Click Biotinylation of PLGA Template for Biotin Receptor Oriented Delivery of Doxorubicin Hydrochloride in 4T1 Cell-Induced Breast Cancer

PLGA was functionalized with PEG and biotin using click chemistry to generate a biotin receptor targeted copolymer (biotinylated–PEG-PLGA) which in turn was used to fabricate ultrafine nanoparticles (BPNP) of doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) for effective delivery in 4T1 cell induced breast cancer. However, adequate entrapment of a hydrophilic bioactive like DOX in a hydrophobic polymer system made of PLGA is not usually possible. We therefore modified a conventional W/O/W emulsion method by utilizing NH₄Cl in the external phase to constrain DOX in dissolved polymer phase by suppressing DOX’s inherent aqueous solubility as per common ion effect. This resulted in over 8-fold enhancement in entrapment efficiency of DOX inside BPNP, which otherwise is highly susceptible to leakage due to its relatively high aqueous solubility. TEM and DLS established BPNP to be sized below 100 nm, storage stability studies showed that BPNP were stable for one month at 4 °C, and <i>in vitro</i> release suggested significant control in drug release. Extensive <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> studies were conducted to propound anticancer and antiproliferative activity of BPNP. Plasma and tissue distribution study supplemented by pertinent <i>in vivo</i> fluorescence imaging mapped the exact fate of DOX contained inside BPNP once it was administered intravenously. A comparative safety profile via acute toxicity studies in mice was also generated to out rightly establish usefulness of BPNP. Results suggest that BPNP substantially enhance anticancer activity of DOX while simultaneously mitigating its toxic potential due to altered spatial and temporal presentation of drug and consequently deserve further allometric iteration