Attributes for a Congruous Architectural Model

Now a days, architects and architecture students avoid using physical handmade models though it is a widely accepted and most prominent tool to understand and explain architectural design concepts. Physical handmade models play an essential role in converting conceptual ideas to working and working levels to design finalization and presentation for architectural design, structural design, interior design, and product design. Availability of inadequate skill to make models, excess time consumption, extensive effort, cost of model making materials, lack of knowledge about suitable material, lack of know-how about model making tools force the students of architecture to avoid using the physical model to explain or understand design. Any single model may not be appropriate for all the requirements. Each model needs to have a particular goal. The architect needs to finalize the scale, material, and tools with proper scrutiny to achieve the goal. To prepare an appropriate model for a particular purpose, one should have a thorough knowledge of model making skills or techniques, a sense of proportion, materials, tools, finishing materials. In certain times and some areas, suitable materials may not be available. In that case, the architect has to improvise and create materials using printers and using other tools. This paper discusses steps to prepare a model, criteria for selecting material and tools, and strategies to prepare an appropriate model

Tuberous sclerosis with visceral leishmaniasis: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Visceral leishmaniasis, a tropical infectious disease, is a major public health problem in India. Tuberous sclerosis, a congenital neuro-ectodermosis, is an uncommon disease which requires life long treatment.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 15-year-old Indian patient, presented to the outpatient department of our institute with a high-grade fever for two months, splenomegaly and a history of generalized tonic-clonic convulsions since childhood. The clinical and laboratory findings suggested visceral leishmaniasis with tuberous sclerosis. The patient was treated with miltefosine and antiepileptics.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The patient responded well and in a follow up six months after presentation, she was found free of visceral leishmaniasis and seizures. Diagnosis and treatment of this rare combination of diseases is difficult.</p

KAP study about diabetic retinopathy among diabetic patients: a questionnaire survey

Aim: To evaluate the awareness and practice about diabetic retinopathy among diabetic patients. Method: The present observational survey was Department of Ophthalmology, Darbhanga, Medical College and Hospital, Lasheriasarai, Darbhanga, Bihar, India from one year. A knowledge attitude practice questionnaire was prepared and pretested in a sample group of representative population. The response was analyzed as to whether the questions were understood or not. Social workers were trained in administering questionnaire. Diabetic patients were given questionnaires at primary health centre and filled in the presence of social workers. Results: Out of 400 patients 60% had no knowledge of diabetic retinopathy compared to 40% who had knowledge (p &lt;0.001). Knowledge was more in age group less than 30 years (84.61%) and least in 40 to 50 age group (32.20%) which was statistically significant with p value &lt;0.001. Knowledge was found to be high among participants with higher educational status than in those who had college level education (79.31%) which was statistically significant with p value &lt;0.001. Patients in the upper socioeconomic group had more knowledge about diabetic retinopathy (84.38%) which was statistically significant with a p value of&lt; 0.001.There was no significant association between duration of diabetes and knowledge of diabetic retinopathy. About 76.25 % of individuals in knowledge group had right attitude which was significantly higher than non knowledge group (45%) with a p value &lt;0.001. Conclusions: The attitude and practice of diabetic retinopathy was statistically significant in knowledge group compared to those who had no knowledge of diabetic retinopathy. Improving knowledge about diabetic retinopathy through awareness campaigns can increase attitude and practice. Early detection can help in preventing sight threatening complications of diabetic retinopathy. Keywords: Attitude, Diabetic retinopathy, Knowledge, Practice, Primary health centre

Early assessment of bulk powder processability as a part of solid form screening

A systematic assessment of key material attributes of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) using minimal material approach is illustrated at the particulate level and bulk level. At a bulk level, flowability improvement of an API through crystal habit manipulation is exemplified. The impact of crystal structures and particulate properties (crystal habit and crystal size) on their mechanical behaviour were addressed by measuring powder tabletability. Bulk powder flow and tabletability were assessed on a small scale using ring shear tester and using a single punch compaction simulator, which can be easily integrated during the process of solid form screening activity for early preformulation studies. In addition, mechanical responses on single crystals were evaluated with nanoindentation. Indentation performed on three faces of piroxicam single crystals resulted reproducible results when compared with the literature, indicating the efficiency of this technique to perform single crystal characterization. The study highlights that, the early assessment of key material properties during solid form screening can aid in selecting optimal solid forms provided physicochemical properties are acceptable. (C) 2018 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Ambisome plus miltefosine for Indian patients with kala-azar

The combination of one intravenous administration of 5mg/kg Ambisome and oral administration of miltefosine, 2.5mg/kg/day for 14 days, was evaluated in 135 Indian patients with kala-azar. The Intent-to-Treat cure rate at 6 months was 124 of the 135 enrolled patients (91.9%: 95% CI=86-96%), and the per protocol cure rate was 124 of 127 evaluable patients (97.6%: 95% CI=93-100%). Side effects could be attributed to each drug separately: fevers, rigors and back pain due to Ambisome; gastrointestinal side effects due to miltefosine. This combination is attractive for reasons of efficacy, tolerance, and feasibility of administration, although the gastrointestinal side effects of miltefosine require medical vigilance

Comparison of short-course multidrug treatment with standard therapy for visceral leishmaniasis in India: an open-label, non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial

Background: Improved treatment approaches are needed for visceral leishmaniasis. We assessed the efficacy and safety of three potential short-course combination treatments compared with the standard monotherapy in India. Methods: Standard treatment (1 mg/kg amphotericin B infusion on alternate days for 30 days, total dose 15 mg/kg) was compared with three drug combinations (single injection of 5 mg/kg liposomal amphotericin B and 7-day 50 mg oral miltefosine or single 10-day 11 mg/kg intramuscular paromomycin; or 10 days each of miltefosine and paromomycin) in an open-label, parallel-group, non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial in two hospital sites in Bihar, India. Patients aged 5-60 years with parasitologically confirmed visceral leishmaniasis were randomly assigned one of the four treatments by the trial statistician by use of a computer-generated list. Clinical assessments were done at the end of treatment (15 days on combination treatment; 31 days for standard treatment) and after 45 days and 6 months. The primary endpoint was definitive cure (defined as no sign or symptom of visceral leishmaniasis and parasitologically cured to the last follow-up). Analyses were done both by intention to treat and per protocol. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00696969. Findings: Between June, 2008, and July, 2009, 634 patients were assigned amphotericin B (n=157), liposomal amphotericin B with miltefosine (n=160) or paromomycin (n=158), or miltefosine and paromomycin (n=159). 618 patients were in the per-protocol population. There were two relapses in each group. The numbers with definitive cure at 6 months for the intention-to-treat population were 146 (cure rate 93.0%; CI 87·5 - 96·3) for amphotericin B, 156 (97·5%; 93·3 - 99·2) for liposomal amphotericin B and miltefosine, 154 (97·5%; 93·24-99·2) for liposomal amphotericin B and paromomycin, and 157 (98·7%; 95·1 - 99·8) for miltefosine and paromomycin. All combinations were non-inferior to the standard treatment, in both the intention-to-treat and per-protocol populations. Patients in the combination groups had fewer adverse events than did those assigned standard treatment. Interpretation: Combination treatments for visceral leishmaniasis are efficacious and safe, and decrease the duration of therapy, thereby encouraging adherence and reducing emergence of drug-resistant parasites