Potential Market for Novel Tuberculosis Diagnostics: Worth the Investment?

Background. The potential available market (PAM) for new diagnostics for tuberculosis that meet the specifications of the high-priority target product profiles (TPPs) is currently unknown. Methods. We estimated the PAM in 2020 in 4 high-burden countries (South Africa, Brazil, China, and India) for tests that meet the specifications outlined in the TPPs. The yearly PAM was estimated for the most likely application of each TPP. Results. In 2020 the PAM for all 4 countries together was estimated to be (1) 12M tests/year with a value of 48M-71M USD for a sputum smear-replacement test; (2) 16M tests/year with a value of 65M-97M USD for a biomarker test; (3) 18M tests/year with a value of 18M-35M USD for a triage test; (4) 12M tests/year with a value of 59M-2238M USD for a tuberculosis detection plus drug susceptibility test (DST) all-in-one or 1.5M tests/year for a DST that follows a positive tuberculosis detection test with a corresponding value of 75M-121M for both tuberculosis detection and DST. Conclusions. Although there is a considerable potential market for novel tuberculosis diagnostics that fit the specification of the TPPs in the 4 high-burden countries, the actual market for an individual product remains uncertai

Quality of Norwegian tomatoes: Effects of hybrid supplemental lighting systems on sugar content in tomato fruits grown in greenhouses

Master's thesis in Biological chemistryThe effects of supplemental lighting on greenhouse crops have been of recent interest, especially to those countries with seasons of limited natural light. This study aims to analyze the effects of both high-pressure sodium (HPS) top lighting with intra-canopy light-emitting diodes (LED), and to find a recommended treatment for efficient growth of high-quality tomatoes in Norway. This combination lighting system is predicted to have positive effects on the sugar contents of tomato fruit, especially on glucose and fructose concentrations, thus improving tomato quality. Ion chromatography (IC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and absorption spectroscopy were used to first determine the most effective method to analyze sugar content in this study. IC was determined to be the best fit and was further utilized to analyze glucose and fructose concentrations across seven light treatments of various HPS top lights and LEDs. The concluded recommendation to Norwegian farmers from this study is a HPS top light with flux intensity of 263 W/m2 in combination with 70 W/m2 intra-canopy LEDs

Quality Improvement in Diabetes Care: A Review of Initiatives and Outcomes in the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative.

Despite immense strides in therapeutic advances, clinical outcomes continue to be less than ideal for people with type 1 diabetes. This discrepancy has prompted an outpouring of quality improvement (QI) initiatives to address the medical, psychosocial, and health equity challenges that complicate ideal type 1 diabetes care and outcomes. This article reviews a framework for QI in diabetes care that guided the development of the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative to improve care delivery and health outcomes in type 1 diabetes. Evaluation of the methodology, outcomes, and knowledge gained from these initiatives will highlight the importance of continued QI initiatives in diabetes care