The impact of digital health technologies on tuberculosis treatment : a systematic review

Digital technologies are increasingly harnessed to support treatment of persons with tuberculosis (TB). Since in-person directly observed treatment (DOT) can be resource intensive and challenging to implement, these technologies may have the potential to improve adherence and clinical outcomes. We reviewed the effect of these technologies on TB treatment adherence and patient outcomes. We searched several bibliographical databases for studies reporting the effect of digital interventions, including short message service (SMS), video-observed therapy (VOT) and medication monitors (MMs), to support treatment for active TB. Only studies with a control group and which reported effect estimates were included. Four trials showed no statistically significant effect on treatment completion when SMS was added to standard care. Two observational studies of VOT reported comparable treatment completion rates when compared with in-person DOT. MMs increased the probability of cure (RR 2.3, 95% CI 1.6-3.4) in one observational study, and one trial reported a statistically significant reduction in missed treatment doses relative to standard care (adjusted means ratio 0.58, 95% CI 0.42-0.79). Evidence of the effect of digital technologies to improve TB care remains limited. More studies of better quality are needed to determine how such technologies can enhance programme performance

Proteomic study uncovers molecular principles of single-cell-level phenotypic heterogeneity in lipid storage of Nannochloropsis oceanica

Abstract Background Nannochloropsis oceanica belongs to a large group of photoautotrophic eukaryotic organisms that play important roles in fixation and cycling of atmospheric CO2. Its capability of storing solar energy and carbon dioxide in the form of triacylglycerol (TAG) of up to 60% of total weight under nitrogen deprivation stress sparked interest in its use for biofuel production. Phenotypes varying in lipid accumulation among an N. oceanica population can be disclosed by single-cell analysis/sorting using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS); yet the phenomenon of single cell heterogeneity in an algae population remains to be fully understood at the molecular level. In this study, combination of FACS and proteomics was used for identification, quantification and differentiation of these heterogeneities on the molecular level. Results For N. oceanica cultivated under nitrogen deplete (−N) and replete (+N) conditions, two groups differing in lipid content were distinguished. These differentiations could be recognized on the population as well as the single-cell levels; proteomics uncovered alterations in carbon fixation and flux, photosynthetic machinery, lipid storage and turnover in the populations. Although heterogeneity patterns have been affected by nitrogen supply and cultivation conditions of the N. oceanica populations, differentiation itself seems to be very robust against these factors: cultivation under +N, −N, in shaker bottles, and in a photo-bioreactor all split into two subpopulations. Intriguingly, population heterogeneity resumed after subpopulations were separately recultivated for a second round, refuting the possible development of genetic heterogeneity in the course of sorting and cultivation. Conclusions This work illustrates for the first time the feasibility of combining FACS and (prote)-omics for mechanistic understanding of phenotypic heterogeneity in lipid-producing microalgae. Such combinatorial method can facilitate molecular breeding and design of bioprocesses

Numerical Study of Natural Convection in Vertical Enclosures Utilizing Nanofluid

Enhancement of buoyancy-driven convection heat transfer within vertical cavities containing nanofluids subjected to different side wall temperatures and various aspect ratios is investigated. The computations are based on an iterative, finitevolume numerical procedure (SIMPLE) that incorporates the Boussinesq approximation to simulate the buoyancy term. With the base fluid being water, three different nanoparticles (Cu, TiO2, and Al2O3) are considered as the nanofluids. This study has been carried out for the pertinent parameters in the following ranges: the Rayleigh number, Raf = 105–107 and the volumetric fraction of nanoparticle between 0 and 5 percent. The results are presented for different length-to-height ratios varying from 0.1 to 1.0. The comparisons show that the mean Nusselt numbers and velocity magnitudes increase with volume fraction for the whole range of the Rayleigh numbers. The predictions show a noticeable heat transfer enhancement compared to pure fluid. It is also found that the heat transfer enhancement utilizing nanofluid is more pronounced at low aspect ratios than high aspect ratios. Moreover, the results depict that the addition of nanoparticles to the pure fluid has more effects at lower Rayleigh numbers

Nontuberculous mycobacteria among patients who are suspected for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis-need for earlier identification of nontuberculosis mycobacteria.

In this study, we intended to find the prevalence of nontuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) among patients who are referred as suspected multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases to the only referral center in Iran. All patients referred to our center in 2002-2006 as MDR-TB with histories of treatment with standard and CAT II World Health Organization regimens were included in the study. Sputum smear and culture for acid-fast bacilli were performed for all patients 3 times. Sputum polymerase chain reaction was also performed for all patients. Mycobacterial identification was performed via polymerase chain reaction and routine identification tests for all culture-positive cases. Of the 105 patients in the study, 12 (11.43%) were identified to have NTM infection. The identified mycobacteria were classified in order of prevalence as Chelonae (8 cases), Simiae (2 cases), Aloei (1 case), and Farcinogen (1 case). Based on radiologic findings, most of the cases demonstrated bilateral nodularity (83.3%) and also multifocal bronchiectasis (75%). Notably, cavitary lesions were present in 41.7% of the cases. Based on the findings of this study, it is essential that such cases be identified before commencing MDR-TB treatment