Perceptions and practices on malaria in a rural population of Koraput district, Odisha

Background: Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a protozoan parasite i.e. Plasmodium parasites. It is one of the most prevalent disorders worldwide. India ranked the fourth-highest number of death cases. In Odisha, more than two-thirds of malaria cases are reported from ten southern districts. A high risk of malaria infection is found in Koraput district of Odisha. The present study aims to access the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) about malaria among the individuals of Koraput district, Odisha.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study and 258 respondents were taken randomly from five villages of Koraput district. Data on demographics as well as knowledge, attitude, and practices about malaria was collected by using self-modified and pretested schedules.Results: A significant number of the respondent (97.29%) have reported that they had heard about malaria. 37.60% of respondents answered that they knew it from television, followed by health workers (23.26%) and friends (20.54%). The majority (98.06%) of the sample reported that it is caused by mosquito bites. Almost 63% of the respondents were consulted with a doctor whereas 24.81% consulted first to traditional healers of that region. The majority (99.22%) has a mosquito net and 98.83% of them were used it after a proper wash.Conclusions: Although the study found good knowledge on malaria, still further awareness is required to elevate the present status. In this study most of the respondents had a good level of knowledge about malaria, however, attitude and practices about malaria prevention still need to be improved. 

Ultrasound Pre-treated Osmotic Dehydration of Elephant Apple (Dillenia indica) Slices

17-22Osmotic dehydration of elephant apple fruit slices was optimized using a Box-Behnken design. Sugar concentration, immersion time and drying air temperature were chosen as the experimental input variables. These were optimized by estimating the desirable osmotic properties and by evaluating the phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity and rehydration ability. The regression coefficients of all the valid response models have been determined and the possible effect of variables at individual and interactive levels has been analyzed. Osmo-air dried elephant apple slices with acceptable quality could be produced by subjecting the raw slices to sugar syrup dipping at 60°Brix, for 4h followed by air drying at a temperature of 55°C

Ultrasound Pre-treated Osmotic Dehydration of Elephant Apple (Dillenia indica) Slices

Osmotic dehydration of elephant apple fruit slices was optimized using a Box-Behnken design. Sugar concentration, immersion time and drying air temperature were chosen as the experimental input variables. These were optimized by estimating the desirable osmotic properties and by evaluating the phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity and rehydration ability. The regression coefficients of all the valid response models have been determined and the possible effect of variables at individual and interactive levels has been analyzed. Osmo-air dried elephant apple slices with acceptable quality could be produced by subjecting the raw slices to sugar syrup dipping at 60°Brix, for 4h followed by air drying at a temperature of 55°C.

Pulse oximetry as a screening tool for congenital heart disease in neonates: A diagnostic study

Introduction: Many studies have been done for screening of congenital heart disease (CHD) in the neonatal period utilizing pulse oximetry as a screening tool along with routine clinical assessment, but none of them from our province. Objective: The objective of the study was to find out the diagnostic accuracy of pulse oximeter at three different sites as a screening tool to diagnose CHD among neonates. Methods: A diagnostic study was conducted in neonatal intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital of Odisha from October 2016 to September 2018 after approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee. Three hundred and seventy-four neonates (both inborn and outborn) with gestational age >34 weeks were included in the study. Oxygen saturation (SpO2) in the right hand (RH), right foot (RF), and left foot (LF) was estimated by pulse oximeter among all participants after 10 min of postnatal life. All the study subjects were evaluated by two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography for the detection of CHDs. All the diagnostic accuracy tests (sensitivity [Sn], specificity [Sp], positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic odds ratio) were calculated taking 2D echocardiography as the gold standard with software, and for all statistical purpose, p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Cutoff value of the RH SpO2 was 90.0% with Sn of 68.80% and Sp of 98.20%; area under curve (AUC) 0.851 (0.766 and 0.914), p<0.001, for the RF, SpO2 was 90.0% with Sn 78.0% and Sp 92.1%; AUC 0.865 (0.782 and 0.925), p<0.001, and for LF, it was 87% with Sn 77.1% and Sp 94.0%; AUC 0.864 (0.781 and 0.924), p<0.001. Conclusion: Along with the clinical skills, pulse oximetry can be used as an early screening tool for the detection of CHD in the neonatal period and of three different sites, RF found to be better

Gastroretentive Mucoadhesive Microsphere for the Management of Gastric Infection

Gastric infections are mostly triggered by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a fungus that colonizes the stomach mucosa of more than 50% of the inhabitants of the world. Chronic H. Pylori diseasewas associated with stomach diseases such as peptic ulcer, chronic gastritis and stomach adenoc arcinoma. Current therapy for eradication relies on antibiotic-based therapies that are ineffective in about 20% of patients. Traditional method constraints optimize the creation of new techniques for fast, consistent and cost-effective H diagnosis. Infection with pylori. Wide-ranging study has been carried out over the previous few centuries to create a type of gastro-retentive dosage (GRDF). This sort of dosage form can advance the delivery and efficiency of stomach-active medicines because the GRDF enables the medication to remain in the stomach for a sufficient time period. Various methods were used to develop effective GRDFs such as high-density systems, low-density systems, swelling and expansion systems, hydrodynamically balanced systems, superporous hydrogels,. However, there are both merits and demerits in these kinds of schemes. Intra-individual and inter-individual dissimilarities are obstacles to the growth of effective GRDFs in gastric physiology. Examples of these individual differences include gastric pH and gastric motility that have a notable effect on the moment of stomach retention and delivery of drugs. Some of these obstacles can be overcome by developing a novel mucoadhesive microsphere. The mucoadhesive microsphere is characterized by close contact of the MDF with the mucosal layer, thereby increasing the localized absorption of the drug. H2Receptor antagonists (H2RAs) have become first-line therapy for acid related peptic disease and GRDF especially designed for H2RAs and drugs against H. pylori, including specific targeting systems and leading to a marked development in the quality of life for a large number of patients. In this relationship, new formulations with improved absorption, improved bioavailability and improved acid-suppressing regimens are welcome Keywords: H. pylori, gastro-retentive dosage, mucoadhesive microspher

Design, Characterization and Anti-ulcerogenic Effect of Amoxicillin trihydrate Thiolated Chitosan Mucoadhesive Microspheres for Effective Treatment of H. pylori

See full PD

Inverted Meckel’s diverticulum: a rare cause of intussusception in children

Invagination of proximal segment of intestine to distal one results in intussusceptions and is a common cause of intestinal obstruction in children. In most of the cases of intussusceptions, the cause is idiopathic in nature; the other causes may be infection, polyp or anatomical abnormalities. Occasionally, Meckel’s diverticulum may cause intussusception and inverted Meckel’s diverticulum leading to intussusceptions is very rare in children. It is difficult to diagnose inversion of Meckel’s diverticulum preoperatively. Here in we report a case of 6 yrs old male child, who was operated for intussusception and found to have inverted Meckel’s diverticulum as lead point.     

Conformational transitions of the sodium-dependent sugar transporter, vSGLT.

Sodium-dependent transporters couple the flow of Na+ ions down their electrochemical potential gradient to the uphill transport of various ligands. Many of these transporters share a common core structure composed of a five-helix inverted repeat and deliver their cargo utilizing an alternating-access mechanism. A detailed characterization of inward-facing conformations of the Na+-dependent sugar transporter from Vibrio parahaemolyticus (vSGLT) has previously been reported, but structural details on additional conformations and on how Na+ and ligand influence the equilibrium between other states remains unknown. Here, double electron-electron resonance spectroscopy, structural modeling, and molecular dynamics are utilized to deduce ligand-dependent equilibria shifts of vSGLT in micelles. In the absence and presence of saturating amounts of Na+, vSGLT favors an inward-facing conformation. Upon binding both Na+ and sugar, the equilibrium shifts toward either an outward-facing or occluded conformation. While Na+ alone does not stabilize the outward-facing state, gating charge calculations together with a kinetic model of transport suggest that the resting negative membrane potential of the cell, absent in detergent-solubilized samples, may stabilize vSGLT in an outward-open conformation where it is poised for binding external sugars. In total, these findings provide insights into ligand-induced conformational selection and delineate the transport cycle of vSGLT

Enhanced dissolution and bioavailability of gliclazide using solid dispersion techniques

Gliclazide is practically insoluble in water and its bioavailability is limited by dissolution rate. To enhance the dissolution rate and bioavailability the present study was aimed to formulate solid dispersions using different water soluble polymers such as polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG 4000), polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000) using fusion method and polyvinyl pyrrolidone K- 30 (PVP K 30) by solvent evaporation method. The interaction of gliclazide with the hydrophilic polymers was studied by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Fourier Transformation-Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-Ray diffraction analysis. Solid dispersions were characterized for physicochemical properties like drug content, surface morphology and dissolution studies. Various factors like type of polymer and ratio of the drug to polymer on the solubility and dissolution rate of the drug were also evaluated. Pharmacokinetic studies of optimized formulation were compared with pure drug and marketed formulation in wistar rats. The dissolution of the pure drug and solid dispersion prepared with PVP K 30 (1:1) showed 38.3 + 4.5 % and 95 + 5.2 % release respectively within 30 min. Peak plasma concentration of pure drug, solid dispersion (PVP K 30) and marketed formulation was found to be 8.76 + 2.5, 16.04 + 5.5 and 9.24 + 3.6 μg/ml respectively, from these results it was observed that there is two fold increase in peak plasma concentration compared to pure drug. Solid dispersion is an effective technique in increasing solubility, dissolution rate and bioavailability of the poorly soluble drugs.Keywords: Gliclazide; solubility; solid dispersion; pharmacokinetics; peak plasma concentration; half lif

Effect of Pre-drying and Microwave-assisted Vacuum Frying on Elephant Apple

Elephant apple slices were pre-dried before being microwave-fitted vacuum-fried to limit the amount of oil absorbed while maintaining the ideal quality. Elephant apple slices were initially dried at 60°C for 27.5 min to attain the MC level of 200% db, and then trials with frying were conducted using a microwave-fitted vacuum fryer. For evaluation, three frying times of 6, 4, and 2 min at power levels of 1000, 600, and 400 W were taken into consideration.The final qualities of the fresh slices and pre-dried slices were studied in terms of colour, oil absorption and hardness. The impact of oil penetration during frying indicated that drying temperature did not affect the amount of oil or moisture in the slices after they were fried. Lower oil content and rapid colour changes resulted from higher frying temperatures. Combined pre-dried and MVF may produce fried food that is crispier (lower breaking force), healthier (lower oil content), and have a better colour