Leprosy and tuberculosis concomitant infection: a poorly understood, age-old relationship

Historically, archaeological evidence, post-mortem findings and retro- spective analysis of leprosy institutions’ data demonstrates a high observed incidence of concomitant infection with leprosy and tuberculosis (TB). However, reports of concomitant infection in the modern literature remain scarce, with estimates of annual new case detection rates of concomitant infection at approximately 0·02 cases per 100,000 population. Whilst the mechanism for this apparent decline in concomitant infections remains unclear, further research on this topic has remained relatively neglected. Modelling of the interaction of the two organisms has suggested that the apparent decline in observations of concomitant infection may be due to the protective effects of cross immunity, whilst more recently others have questioned whether it is a more harmful relationship, predisposing towards increased host mortality. We review recent evidence, comparing it to previously held understanding on the epidemiological relationship and our own experience of concomitant infection. From this discussion, we highlight several under-investigated areas, which may lead to improvements in the future delivery of leprosy management and services, as well as enhance understanding in other fields of infection management. These include, a) highlighting the need for greater understanding of host immunogenetics involved in concomitant infection, b) whether prolonged courses of high dose steroids pre-dispose to TB infection? and, c) whether there is a risk of rifampicin resistance developing in leprosy patients treated in the face of undiagnosed TB and other infections? Longitudinal work is still required to characterise these temporal relationships further and add to the current paucity of literature on this subject matter

Scottish social survey data, past, present and future – does Scotland need its own data strategy?

This is the final version of the article. The article was first published in Radical Statistics by the Radical Statistics Group and is available online via the link in this recordThe UK now has a National Data Strategy. In this paper we explore whether or not in addition Scotland needs its own specific data strategy. This paper is intended to be a ‘think piece’ or critical essay, the motivation being to encourage debate about Scottish social survey data. Post-devolution, with the emergence of new forms of governance and new institutional arrangements, the political desire to research Scotland in the 21st Century has been brought into sharper resolution. Social and economic life in Scotland shares both similarities and differences with life south of the border. It is important that these characteristics are correctly identified with empirical data rather than simply being assumed. Scotland is a small territory with a good social science tradition and a healthy research sector. There is an increasing amount of survey data collecting measures relating to social and economic life in Scotland. These include both United Kingdom or Great Britain based surveys with a Scottish component, and Scotland focussed surveys. In this paper we outline a number of key issues relating to Scottish social science data resources. We provide a number of critical recommendations for social science data collection in Scotland. Finally, we examine the potential benefits of a comprehensive data strategy

Three Generations on the Quintic Quotient

A three-generation SU(5) GUT, that is 3x(10+5bar) and a single 5-5bar pair, is constructed by compactification of the E_8 heterotic string. The base manifold is the Z_5 x Z_5-quotient of the quintic, and the vector bundle is the quotient of a positive monad. The group action on the monad and its bundle-valued cohomology is discussed in detail, including topological restrictions on the existence of equivariant structures. This model and a single Z_5 quotient are the complete list of three generation quotients of positive monads on the quintic.Comment: 19 pages, LaTeX. v2: section on anomaly cancellation adde

The relevance of cortisol co-secretion from aldosterone-producing adenomas

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Adrenal adenomas are usually non-functioning, but can secrete aldosterone or cortisol. It has recently been suggested that many more adenomas than previously thought secrete more than one hormone. This has important implications for their clinical management. Our aim was to determine the frequency of cortisol co-secretion in primary hyperaldosteronism at our institution and investigate the difference in metabolic profiles and clinical outcomes between co-secreting and non-co-secreting patients. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: A retrospective study of 25 patients with primary hyperaldosteronism who also underwent formal dexamethasone suppression tests to determine cortisol co-secretion. MEASUREMENTS: Post-dexamethasone suppression test cortisol, serum ALT, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HbA1C (were recorded) and mean arterial pressure are reported in this cohort of patients with primary hyperaldosteronism. RESULTS: Four out of 25 patients with primary hyperaldosteronism failed dexamethasone suppression tests. This suggests a frequency of co-secretion ranging between 4 and 16%. No significant difference was found in serum ALT, total cholesterol, serum HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and mean arterial blood pressure at presentation between co-secretors and non-co-secretors. CONCLUSION: A frequency range of 4-16% suggests that a significant proportion of patients with primary hyperaldosteronism co-secrete cortisol. Co-secretors did not have a worse metabolic profile than non-secretors. The impact of co-secretion on metabolic profile and surgical management remains unclear and warrants further study

6D supergravity without tensor multiplets

We systematically investigate the finite set of possible gauge groups and matter content for N = 1 supergravity theories in six dimensions with no tensor multiplets, focusing on nonabelian gauge groups which are a product of SU(N) factors. We identify a number of models which obey all known low-energy consistency conditions, but which have no known string theory realization. Many of these models contain novel matter representations, suggesting possible new string theory constructions. Many of the most exotic matter structures arise in models which precisely saturate the gravitational anomaly bound on the number of hypermultiplets. Such models have a rigid symmetry structure, in the sense that there are no moduli which leave the full gauge group unbroken.Comment: 31 pages, latex; v2, v3: minor corrections, references adde

HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF HEDYOTIS LESCHENAULTIANA DC, ETHANOL EXTRACT IN CCL 4 INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN WISTAR RATS

ABSTRACT Objective: The intention of this study is to explore the hepatoprotective potential of hepatoprotective potential of ethanol extract of Hedyotis leschenaultiana whole plant in carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) induced hepatoprotective rats. Methods: Hepatotoxicity was induced in male wistar rats by intraperitoneal infection of CCl (2.5 ml/kg body weight for 14 days). The ethanol extract of H. leschenaultiana whole plant was administered to the experimental rats (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg body weight for 14 days). Silymarin (100 mg/kg) was given as a reference standard drug. In hepatotoxic rats, liver damage was studied by assessing parameters such as serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total, conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin, gamma-glutamyl transferase, concentration of proteins, and antioxidants in serum. Results: Administration of hepatotoxins (CCl 4 4 ) showed significant elevation of SGOT, SGPT, serum ALP, total bilirubin, conjugated, unconjugated, and lipid peroxidation. Treatment with H. leschenaultiana (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg) significantly reduced the above-mentioned parameters. Regarding antioxidant activity, the ethanol extract of H. leschenaultiana exhibited a significant effect showing increasing levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, reduced and glutathione, and glutathione reductase by reducing malondialdehyde levels. Conclusion: The ethanol extract of H. leschenaultiana have a significant effect on the CCl induced hepatotoxic animal models. Moreover, it is suggested that H. leschenaultiana can be used as a safe, cheap and effective alternative chemopreventive and protective against in the management of liver diseases. 4 Keywords: H. leschenaultiana, Bilirubins, Hepatotoxicity, Gamma-glutamyl transferase, Carbon tetrachloride, Melondialdehyde

Spray-Drying Cellulose Nanofibrils: Effect of Drying Process Parameters on Particle Morphology and Size Distribution

Spray-drying was chosen as an appropriately scalable manufacturing method to dry cellulose nanofibril (CNF) suspensions. Spray-drying of two different types of CNF suspensions—nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC)—was carried out using a laboratory-scale spray dryer. Effects of three spray-drying process parameters on particle morphology and particle size distribution were evaluated: 1) gas flow rate; 2) liquid feed rate; and 3) suspension solids concentration. Particle morphology was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a morphology analyzer. SEM showed that spray-drying of NFC formed fibrous particles and fibrous agglomerates, whereas spray-drying CNCs produced spherical and mushroom cap (or donut)-shaped particles. Particle morphology formation mechanisms are proposed for spray-drying nanocellulose suspensions. The effect of the three spray-drying process parameters on particle size distribution depended on the drying nature of the materials. The three parameters interacted to significantly affect particle size of CNC suspensions, whereas they did not interact to affect particle size of NFC suspensions. For the CNC suspension, a higher gas flow rate produced smaller particle sizes. The gas flow rate did not affect particle size for NFC suspensions. The effect of liquid feed rate and solids concentration on CNF particle size was negligible in this study. The smallest mean circle equivalent diameters produced in this study were 3.95 μm for NFC and 3.64 μm for CNC

Spray Drying as an Approach for Enhancement of Dissolution and Bioavailability of Raloxifene Hydrochloride.

The present study investigated the effect of spray drying raloxifene HCl (RHCL) with different classes of hydrophilic carriers (different grades of polyvinyl pyrrolidones) and cellulosic polymers) in order to determine the potential effect on dissolution rate and bioavailability of RHCL. Pre-formulation studies were conducted to select the appropriate carriers and drug:carrier ratio for preparing the spray dried compositions.The solid state interactions of the spray dried mixtures were evaluated by DSC & XRD. Preformulation studies revealed that amorphous compositions of RHCL could be obtained only with Plasdones (K12, K29/32 and S630). DSC studies showed that the crystalline nature of RHCL was significantly reduced on spray drying. Significant enhancement in dissolution rate was observed with the prepared spray dried compositions and out of the three grades of Plasdone, Plasdone K12 demonstrated the maximum enhancement in rate of release of RHCL. The pharmacokinetics of spray dried composition (1:1 RHCL: K12) and pure RHCL was evaluated following oral administration (25 mg/kg) in healthy female Sprague Dawley rats. The extent of the mean plasma exposures of RHCL was 7-fold higher in animals treated with spray dried mixture of RHCL, K12 (1:1) compared to animals treated with RHCL. Spray drying of RHCL with Plasdones, especially Plasdone K12, reduced drug crystallinity, increased the rate and extent of dissolution, and improved bioavailability