Emerging Strategies to Combat ESKAPE Pathogens in the Era of Antimicrobial Resistance: A Review

The acronym ESKAPE includes six nosocomial pathogens that exhibit multidrug resistance and virulence: Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp. Persistent use of antibiotics has provoked the emergence of multidrug resistant (MDR) and extensively drug resistant (XDR) bacteria, which render even the most effective drugs ineffective. Extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase producing Gram negative bacteria have emerged as an important therapeutic challenge. Development of novel therapeutics to treat drug resistant infections, especially those caused by ESKAPE pathogens is the need of the hour. Alternative therapies such as use of antibiotics in combination or with adjuvants, bacteriophages, antimicrobial peptides, nanoparticles, and photodynamic light therapy are widely reported. Many reviews published till date describe these therapies with respect to the various agents used, their dosage details and mechanism of action against MDR pathogens but very few have focused specifically on ESKAPE. The objective of this review is to describe the alternative therapies reported to treat ESKAPE infections, their advantages and limitations, potential application in vivo, and status in clinical trials. The review further highlights the importance of a combinatorial approach, wherein two or more therapies are used in combination in order to overcome their individual limitations, additional studies on which are warranted, before translating them into clinical practice. These advances could possibly give an alternate solution or extend the lifetime of current antimicrobials

Effectiveness of pegylated erythropoietin in renal anaemia patients on dialysis-a multicentre, cross-sectional, observational outcome study

Background: Low dose of pegylated erythropoietin (PegEPO) is better than conventional erythropoietin stimulating agents (ESAs) in improving hyporesponsiveness and maintaining stable haemoglobin (Hb) levels in renal anaemic patients undergoing hemodialysis. This real-world study aimed to assess effectiveness and safety of low-dose PegEPO (30 µg/0.3 mL), administered at different time-points in renal anaemia patients on dialysis. Methods: HEMEPEG (HEMoglobin outcomE with PegEPO) was a multicentre, retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study of renal anaemia patients receiving PegEPO up to 3 months. The study assessed an increase in Hb, patients achieving Hb 10-12 g/dl, and Hb increase by ≥1 and ≥2 g/dl. Results: Data from 223 out of 273 patients from 19 Indian centers were analyzed. PegEPO was administered weekly to 132 patients (59.19%), with 38.64% being diabetic and 77.27% previously treated with ESAs. Ten day dosing was given to 91 patients (40.81%), including 46.15% diabetic patients and 72.53% previously treated with ESAs. A Significant (p<0.0001) increase in mean Hb levels from baseline to day 30, 60 and 90 were observed for both studied groups, with a target Hb of 10-12 g/dl achieved in 51.08% and 52.85% of patients in the respective groups after 3 months. An increase in Hb by ≥1 and ≥2 g/dl were observed in weekly (68.67% and 45.78%) and 10-day group (77.14% and 50.00%) patients, respectively. Conclusions: PegEPO (30 µg/0.3 mL) was effective treatment of renal anaemia and diabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on dialysis when administered weekly or every 10 days over a 3-month treatment period

Synthesis and characterization of triad based rigid mesogenic diols derived from hydroquinone and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid

591-596Triad based rigid mesogenic diols have been synthesized by four step synthesis method using protection-deprotection method. Hydroquinone and 4-hydroxy benzoic acid have been used as starting materials. Synthesized diols have been characterized by IR, 1H and 13C NMR, and mass spectroscopic methods. Thermal properties have been determined by thermo gravimetric analysis method and degree of crystallinity have been measured by wide angle X-ray technique. Substituted hydroquinones (methyl and chloro) have been used to study the effect of substitution on physical and thermal properties. Synthesis of rigid mesogenic diol monomer using p-hydroxy benzoic acid and hydroquinone is reported, which is a facile route. Hydrolysis of diacetate derivatives of rigid mesogenic diols is performed in good yields, even though two types of ester groups present in the same moiety, aromatic and aliphatic. The experimental results reveal that hydroquinone based rigid triad mesogenic diol have high thermal stability and degree of crystallinity as compared to methyl-and chloro-substituted rigid triad mesogenic diols

Synthesis and characterization of azoxy based mesogenic diols

359-362  Azoxy based rigid mesogenic diols have been synthesized using two steps. Phenol/cresol is used as starting material. Synthesized diols are characterized by IR, 1H and 13C NMR, and mass spectroscopic methods. Thermal properties have been determined by thermo gravimetric analysis method and crystallinity patterns have been obtained by wide angle X-ray diffractogram. Substituted phenol (methyl) is used to study the effect of substitution on physical and thermal properties of rigid azoxy mesogenic diol. The detailed characterization of azoxy based rigid diols is reported in this communication, which is highly useful for fundamental and applied research, particularly in liquid crystals and liquid crystalline polymers. The experimental results reveal that phenol based rigid mesogenic diols have high thermal stability and degree of crystallinity than methyl substituted rigid mesogenic diols

Farm Mechanization by using Seed Planting Machine

Abstract: In the agricultural field, seed planting operation is very time consuming in farming process. Also more labours are required for seed planting. Hence the total cost of the farming increases. The conventional seed sowing machines requires more seed and quantity of seed per unit area increases and this affects the yield. Also conventional seed sowing machines have constraints to use in the ridge and furrow method. But to reduce the risk of draught due to unpredictable rainy season and for irrigation purpose farmers accepts ridge and furrow method. Here in this study efforts are taken to design and develop a seed planting machine which is suitable for ridge and furrow method and also plant the seed at specific distance with specific quantity and reduce the requirement of seed per unit area

Can knockoffs knock out your business? (practical limits to efforts expended to prevent product counterfeiting)

Purpose - To discuss the limits to which the chief executive officer (CEO) of a manufacturing company should go in its efforts to prevent the counterfeiting of the company's products. Design/methodology/approach - A fictional case study is presented depicting the efforts made by the CEO of a sports clothing manufacturer and retailer to prevent fake versions of the company's products from being sold following his almost-fatal experience with one such counterfeit product. Describes the lengths to which the CEO went in his efforts to tackle the counterfeiting, including the introduction of anti-counterfeiting measures, in the form of special fake-proof designs for the clothing, and the employment of ever-increasing amounts of expensive and time-consuming litigation. Explains how the CEO finally reached the point where he started to question his own motives and wondered whether there might be a limit to the extent to which he should pursue his quest against the counterfeiters. Illustrates the issues involved by means of commentaries and advice from three experts. Findings - Giorgio Brandazza (Bocconi School of Management, Milan) expressed shock that the CEO was driven by personal motivations when the problem was chiefly one of business, while J. Merrick Taggart (Victorinox Swiss Army North America) advised that the CEO should press on with his attack but use a more targeted and less 'scattershot' approach, while relying more on his management team. Concludes with advice from Candace S. Cummings (VF Corporation) to the effect that the CEO needs to professionalize his anti-counterfeiting programme and employ an outside investigator and legal team with sufficient depth of experience in these matters. Originality/value - Offers valuable advice to managers not to let their emotions and personal zeal get in the way of good judgement when dealing with the vexing issue of prodyct counterfeiting

Photocatalytic activity of MnTiO3 perovskite nanodiscs for the removal of organic pollutants

MTO nanodiscs synthesized using the hydrothermal approach were explored for the photocatalytic removal of methylene blue (MB), rhodamine B (RhB), congo red (CR), and methyl orange (MO). The disc-like structures of ~16 nm thick and ~291 nm average diameter of stoichiometric MTO were rhombohedral in nature. The MTO nanodiscs delivered stable and recyclable photocatalytic activity under Xe lamp irradiation. The kinetic studies showed the 89.7, 80.4, 79.4, and 79.4 % degradation of MB, RhB, MO, and CR at the rate constants of 0.011(±0.001), 0.006(±0.001), 0.007(±0.0007), and 0.009 (±0.0001) min−1, respectively, after the 180 min of irradiation. The substantial function of photogenerated holes and hydroxide radicals pertaining to the dye removal phenomena is confirmed by radical scavenger trapping studies. Overall, the present studies provide a way to develop pristine and heterostructure perovskite for photocatalysts degradation of various organic wastes

Pengelolaan Uang Saku Siswa pada Masa Pandemi Covid-19 di SMK Bina Mandiri Multimedia

Tujuan dari Kegiatan Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat adalah untuk melaksanakan salah satu Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi. Selain itu agar para siswa dan siswi SMK Bina Mandiri Multimedia Cileungsi, Bogor dapat lebih memahami bagaimana penggunaan dan pemanfaatan uang dimasa Pandemi seperti saat ini agar lebih tepat, cermat dan hemat sesuai dengan kebutuhan, tidak boros atau mempergunakan uang dengan tidak tepat. Secara umum penggunaan metode pada kegiatan ini adalah dengan memberikan pengetahuan dan pendampingan berupa sosialisasi kepada siswa dan siswi SMK Bina Mandiri Multimedia Cileungsi tentang bagaimana cara mengelola keuangan terutama uang saku yang baik. Tujuan agar para siswa dan siswi mampu mengelola keuangan harian mereka dengan cermat yang tentunya harus didasari dengan memiliki pengetahuan manajemen keuangan yang baik. Hasil pengabdian masyarakat yang diperoleh adalah bertambahnya keilmuan dan pengalaman para siswa siswi SMK Bina Mandiri Cileungsi , Bogor yang selama ini masih minim tentang manajemen keuangan, cara memanfaatkan serta mengelola uang saku atau jajan yang diberikan oleh orang tua sehingga masih bisa menyisihkan untuk menabung atau bahkan untuk membeli quota untuk proses belajar mengajar atau berkomunikasi dengan keluarga