Results from the centers for disease control and prevention's predict the 2013-2014 Influenza Season Challenge

Background: Early insights into the timing of the start, peak, and intensity of the influenza season could be useful in planning influenza prevention and control activities. To encourage development and innovation in influenza forecasting, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) organized a challenge to predict the 2013-14 Unites States influenza season. Methods: Challenge contestants were asked to forecast the start, peak, and intensity of the 2013-2014 influenza season at the national level and at any or all Health and Human Services (HHS) region level(s). The challenge ran from December 1, 2013-March 27, 2014; contestants were required to submit 9 biweekly forecasts at the national level to be eligible. The selection of the winner was based on expert evaluation of the methodology used to make the prediction and the accuracy of the prediction as judged against the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet). Results: Nine teams submitted 13 forecasts for all required milestones. The first forecast was due on December 2, 2013; 3/13 forecasts received correctly predicted the start of the influenza season within one week, 1/13 predicted the peak within 1 week, 3/13 predicted the peak ILINet percentage within 1 %, and 4/13 predicted the season duration within 1 week. For the prediction due on December 19, 2013, the number of forecasts that correctly forecasted the peak week increased to 2/13, the peak percentage to 6/13, and the duration of the season to 6/13. As the season progressed, the forecasts became more stable and were closer to the season milestones. Conclusion: Forecasting has become technically feasible, but further efforts are needed to improve forecast accuracy so that policy makers can reliably use these predictions. CDC and challenge contestants plan to build upon the methods developed during this contest to improve the accuracy of influenza forecasts. © 2016 The Author(s)

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles via Aloe barbadensis miller leaves: Anticancer, antioxidative, antimicrobial and photocatalytic properties

Current work reports biogenic synthesis and physico-chemical characterization of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by using Aloe barbadensis miller leaves extract (ALE). The prepared biogenic AgNPs have been characterized physico-chemically by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), UV-visible spectrometry, attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR), Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Field emission- scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The characteristic highest absorption peak at 439 nm confirmed the synthesis of AgNPs. Further, the biomedical and catalytic potential of AgNPs was investigated by their anticancer, antioxidative, antimicrobial, and photocatalytic properties. The anticancer potential of AgNPs was evaluated against the breast cancer (MCF-7) cells using MTT cytotoxicity assay. AgNPs proved to be anticancer even for the minimum concentrations of 10 µg/ml, and the anticancer efficiency was increased with increase in concentration. AgNPs showed 42.51% free radical scavenging activity due to their antioxidative nature. 0.3 M AgNPs showed maximum antimicrobial activity with 20 mm zone of inhibition against E. coli bacteria. Additionally, the AgNPs were tested for photocatalytic dye degradation of eosin, crystal violet, carbol fuchsin, methylene blue, and saffranine dyes with maximum % degradation 70.76%, 95.54%, 94.63%, 93.53%, and 90.12%, respectively. The study is unique as the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles by using Aloe barbadensis miller leaves extract shows promising anticancer, antioxidative, antimicrobial, and photocatalytic properties. Herein, the present study reveals the potential of biosynthesized AgNPs for improved therapeutic and catalytic applications

The Indian consensus guidance on stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: An emphasis on practical use of nonvitamin K oral anticoagulants

The last ten years have seen rapid strides in the evolution of nonvitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). For the preparation of this consensus, a comprehensive literature search was performed and data on available trials, subpopulation analyses, and case reports were analyzed. This Indian consensus document intends to provide guidance on selecting the right NOAC for the right patients by formulating expert opinions based on the available trials and Asian/Indian subpopulation analyses of these trials. A section has been dedicated to the current evidence of NOACs in the Asian population. Practical suggestions have been formulated in the following clinical situations: (i) Dose recommendations of the NOACs in different clinical scenarios; (ii) NOACs in patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD); (iii) Monitoring anticoagulant effect of the NOACs; (iv) Overdose of NOACs; (v) Antidotes to NOACs; (vi) Treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) with AF using NOACs; (vii) NOACs dose in elderly, (viii) Switching between NOACs and vitamin K antagonists (VKA); (ix) Cardioversion or ablation in NOAC-treated patients; (x) Planned/emergency surgical interventions in patients currently on NOACs; (xi) Management of bleeding complications of NOACs; (xii) Management of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in AF with NOACs; (xiii) Management of acute ischemic stroke while on NOACs