Real-world experience of metformin 1000 mg/day in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and comorbidities from Myanmar

Background: The study was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of 1000 (mg/day) metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) with comorbidities and special reference to elderly people in Myanmar.Methods: This was a retrospective, post surveillance study conducted in patients diagnosed with T2DM receiving treatment of metformin (1000 mg/day). Baseline characteristics, comorbidities, random blood sugar level (RBS) and RBS changes pre- and post-therapy were retrieved from patient’s medical records. A paired sample t-test was used for comparing the pre- and post-treatment RBS levels.Results: A total of 303 patients with T2DM were included. A total of 88, 115 and 100 patients belonged to age groups ≤50, >50-≤60 and >61 years, respectively. Duration of T2DM was significantly higher in elderly patients (>61 years) compared to ≤50 and >50-≤60 age group. Hypertension was the most common comorbid condition observed in all age groups followed by cardiovascular disease. However, both hypertension and cardiovascular disease were significantly higher among elderly patients (>61 years) compared to ≤50 and >50-≤60 age group (p50-≤60 years, 86.2 mg/dL and >61 years, 97.2 mg/dL). Metformin was well tolerated with minimal gastrointestinal adverse events (n=27).Conclusions: In this post marketing surveillance study, metformin (1000 mg/day) was found to be effective in reducing RBS in T2DM patients with comorbidities especially older adults and well tolerated with no risk of hypoglycemia

Experimental and numerical analysis on the thermal performance of the aluminium absorber

The absorber is a vital part of a solar air collector and has a significant impact on the overall efficiency of a solar air heating unit. The objective of this research is to examine and compare the performance of two distinct aluminium absorbers with and without aluminium fins by using experimental and numerical (computational fluid dynamics – CFD) methods. The studies were conducted in Mandalay, Myanmar, which is located at latitude 21.98° N and longitude 96.1° E, during December 2022. A plate absorber solar air collector (PASAC) and finned absorber solar air collector (FASAC) with the same absorber area of 0.889 m2 are compared in terms of their thermal performance. At a mass flow rate of 0.0389 kg/s, the average thermal efficiency, as computed numerically, is 53.5 % for FASAC, and the experimental results show a thermal efficiency of 54.2 %. Similarly, for PASAC, the numerical computation yields an average thermal efficiency of 44.4 %, while the experimental results indicate a thermal efficiency of 47.3 %. The FASAC outperforms PASAC in terms of thermal performance. The improved thermal performance of the double-pass solar air collectors with aluminium-finned absorbers can be advantageous for employment as a drying process unit

Long-term outcomes of second-line antiretroviral treatment in an adult and adolescent cohort in Myanmar.

BACKGROUND: Myanmar has a high burden of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and second-line antiretroviral treatment (ART) has been available since 2008 in the public health sector. However, there have been no published data about the outcomes of such patients until now. OBJECTIVE: To assess the treatment and programmatic outcomes and factors associated with unfavorable outcomes (treatment failure, death and loss to follow-up from care) among people living with HIV (aged ≥ 10 years) receiving protease inhibitor-based second-line ART under the Integrated HIV Care Program in Myanmar between October 2008 and June 2015. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study using routinely collected program data. RESULTS: Of 824 adults and adolescents on second-line ART, 52 patients received viral load testing and 19 patients were diagnosed with virological failure. However, their treatment was not modified. At the end of a total follow-up duration of 7 years, 88 (11%) patients died, 35 (4%) were lost to follow-up, 21 (2%) were transferred out to other health facilities and 680 (83%) were still under care. The incidence rate of unfavorable outcomes was 7.9 patients per 100 person years follow-up. Patients with a history of injecting drug use, with a history of lost to follow-up, with a higher baseline viral load and who had received didanosine and abacavir had a higher risk of unfavorable outcomes. Patients with higher baseline C4 counts, those having taken first-line ART at a private clinic, receiving ART at decentralized sites and taking zidovudine and lamivudine had a lower risk of unfavorable outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term outcomes of patients on second-line ART were relatively good in this cohort. Virological failure was relatively low, possibly because of lack of viral load testing. No patient who failed on second-line ART was switched to third-line treatment. The National HIV/AIDS Program should consider making routine viral load monitoring and third-line ART drugs available after a careful cost-benefit analysis

Observational study of adult respiratory infections in primary care clinics in Myanmar: understanding the burden of melioidosis, tuberculosis and other infections not covered by empirical treatment regimes.

BACKGROUND: Lower respiratory infections constitute a major disease burden worldwide. Treatment is usually empiric and targeted towards typical bacterial pathogens. Understanding the prevalence of pathogens not covered by empirical treatment is important to improve diagnostic and treatment algorithms. METHODS: A prospective observational study in peri-urban communities of Yangon, Myanmar was conducted between July 2018 and April 2019. Sputum specimens of 299 adults presenting with fever and productive cough were tested for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (microscopy and GeneXpert MTB/RIF [Mycobacterium tuberculosis/resistance to rifampicin]) and Burkholderia pseudomallei (Active Melioidosis Detect Lateral Flow Assay and culture). Nasopharyngeal swabs underwent respiratory virus (influenza A, B, respiratory syncytial virus) polymerase chain reaction testing. RESULTS: Among 299 patients, 32% (95% confidence interval [CI] 26 to 37) were diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB), including 9 rifampicin-resistant cases. TB patients presented with a longer duration of fever (median 14 d) and productive cough (median 30 d) than non-TB patients (median fever duration 6 d, cough 7 d). One case of melioidosis pneumonia was detected by rapid test and confirmed by culture. Respiratory viruses were detected in 16% (95% CI 12 to 21) of patients. CONCLUSIONS: TB was very common in this population, suggesting that microscopy and GeneXpert MTB/RIF on all sputum samples should be routinely included in diagnostic algorithms for fever and cough. Melioidosis was uncommon in this population

Effects of Overgrowth, Growth Rate, and Capping of InAs Quantum Dots Grown on Cross-hatch Surfaces by Molecular Beam Epitaxy

The size, shape and distribution of InAs quantum dots (QDs) grown on cross-hatch InGaAs virtual substrates via molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) are investigated by systematic variations in the degree of QD overgrowth, QD growth rate and GaAs capping layer thickness. It is found that increasing overgrowth and/or growth rate, in combination with migration-enhanced epitaxy, results in the formation of uniform, high-density QDs where preferential alignment along the two orthogonal cross-hatch directions, [110] and [1-10], is maintained. Capping of QD hatch results in asymmetrical shape transformation where quantum dashes along [110] direction and wires along [1-10] can be formed on the same substrate in one continuous MBE process. The various shapes, sizes, and distributions of QD hatches provide means for engineering of optoelectronic devices

Effect of Annealing Temperature on Photovoltaic Parameters of Al doped ZnO Thin Film Solar Cell

Al doped ZnO nanoparticles were prepared by mechanochemical milling process. Al doped ZnO (AZO) films were deposited onto p-Si substrates using spin coating technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique was employed to examine the crystal structure and phase identification of AZO thin film at different annealing temperatures. Microstructural properties of AZO films were observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). UV- Vis spectrometer was used to study the optical properties of AZO film at different annealing temperatures. Illuminated I-V characteristics were measured under helogen lamp. From I-V characteristics curves, convection efficiency and fill factor were determined at different annealing temperatures. From results obtained, it meets the special requirements for the development of cost effective thin film solar cell

Synthesis and Characterization of LaMnO3Nanofibers by Electrospinning Techique

This paper aimed to prepare the synthesis of LaMnO3 nanofibers by electrospinning technique using a solution that contained polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and a sol-gel solution of LaMnO3. LaMnO3/PVA perovskite-type nanofibers were obtained after annealed at 500°C, 600°C, 700°C and 800°C for 2h respectively. Thermal properties of LaMnO3 samples were examined by TG-DTA. Phase formation and crystal structure of LaMnO3 nanopowders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). FESEM images revealed that LaMnO3 as-spun nanofibers on Al foils were attracted to be between 60-120 nm in diameters with electrospinning set-up for 15 min. The crystal structure, fiber diameters and morphology of LaMnO3 nanofibers were influenced by the calcination temperatures. The qualifications of LaMnO3 nanofibers were successfully yielded by the electronspinning technique as final products

Binary oxide, XRD, DSSC, conversion efficiency, fill factor.

SnO2 (x) – ZnO (1-x) binary system with two different SnO2 composition (x= 3, 5 mol%) were prepared by solid state reaction at high temperature employed as photoanode for dye sensitized solar cell(DSSC) fabrication. SnO2-ZnO binary oxide was characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD) and UV-VIS Spectroscopy to examine their structure and optical properties. High performance carbon electrode was prepared onto glass and used as counter electrode. Coffee powder was used as natural dye-sensitized. The improvement in device efficiency was achieved by larger SnO2 composition. The overall power conversion efficiency increased from 0.18% for SnO2:ZnO (3:97mol %) device to 0.26% for a device with SnO2:ZnO (5:95mol %) photoanode

Growth and Characterization of Electrospun LaMnO3 Nanofibers by Electrospinning Technique

The polycrystalline perovskite structure of LaMnO3 nanofibers was obtained by calcination of the PVA/[LaCl3+MnCl2+(NH4)2CO3] composite at 600°C with electrospinning technique. The decomposition and crystalline behavior of sample were examined by Thermogravimetric and Simultaneous Differential Thermal Analysis (TG-DTA). The crystal structure and phase formation were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was performed and the diameters of the LaMnO3 nanofibers were calculated to be 42 nm and 55 nm with different spinning intervals at 600°C. SEM analysis was also carried out to examine the fiber diameters and morphological properties

Ferroelectric Properties of Nanoscale PbTiO3 Films by Hydrothermal Method

Lead (II) nitride (Pb(NO3)2), titanium dioxide (TiO2) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) were used as starting materials. Lead titanate powder was formed by hydrothermal method at 150 C for 6h. The calcuim fluoride (CaF2) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) were separately adapted as intermediate layer on p-Si (100) substrate. Lead titanate thin film was formed onto CaF2/Si and TiO2/Si substrates by spin processor. 100kHz C-V characteristics of PbTiO3 films were measured by impedance analyzer (LCR meter). Polarization-electric field (P-E) characteristics were measured for both MFIS (Metal/ Ferroelectric/ Insulator/ Semiconductor) structures by applying the same triangular wave electric field in order to allow their application in NVFRAM (Non Volatile Ferroelectric Random Access Memory)