Development and in vitro evaluation of Letrozole loaded biodegradable nanoparticles for breast cancer therapy

The objectives of our study were to prepare and evaluate a biodegradable nanoparticulate system of Letrozole (LTZ) intended for breast cancer therapy. LTZ loaded poly(lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles (LTZ-PLGA-NPs) were prepared by emulsion-solvent evaporation method using methylene chloride and polyvinyl alcohol. Percentage of drug (with respect to polymer) was selected as formulation variable. LTZ-PLGA-NPs were characterized by particle size, zeta potential, infrared spectra, drug entrapment efficiency and in vitro release. Sonication was done with an ultrasound pulse sonicator at 70 W, 30 kHz for 90 sec to produce stable NPs of mean size range from 64 nm to 255 nm with high entrapment efficiency (68% to 82%). Percentage of drug significantly influenced particle size, entrapment efficiency and release (pOs objetivos de nosso estudo foram preparar e avaliar o sistema de nanopartícula biodegradável de letrozol na terapia de câncer mamário. Nanopartículas de poli(lactídeo-co-glicolídeo) carregadas com LTZ (LTZ-PLGA-NPs) foram preparadas pelo método de emulsão-evaporação de solvente, utilizando dicloro metano e álcool polivinílico. A porcentagem do fármaco (com relação ao polímero) foi selecionada como variável da formulação. LTZ-PLGA-NPs foram caracterizadas pelo tamanho da partícula, potencial zeta, espectros no infravermelho, eficiência de inclusão e liberação in vitro. A sonicação foi realizada com sonicador de ultrassom, de pulso a 70W e 30 kHz por 90 segundos para produzir NPs estáveis, de faixa de tamanho médio de 64 nm a 266 nm, com alta eficiência de inclusão (68% a 82%). A porcentagem do fármaco foi significativamente influenciada pelo tamanho da partícula, eficiência de inclusão e liberação (

FORMULATION AND IN VITRO EVALUATION OF OIL ENTRAPPED BUOYANT BEADS FOR STOMACH SPECIFIC DELIVERY OF METRONIDAZOLE

Objective: This work focused on the development of floating alginate beads for stomach specific delivery of Metronidazole towards the effective eradication of Helicobacter pylori, a major causative agent of peptic ulcers.Methods: Different formulations of sunflower oil entrapped gel beads were prepared by emulsion gelation technique using sodium alginate as gelling agent. The prepared beads were evaluated for size, surface morphology, drug entrapment efficiency, in vitro floatuing and in vitro drug release properties.Results: It was found that the percentage of oil plays an important role in controlling the floating of oil-entrapped alginate beads. All batches of beads floated for >24 hours with a very short lag time of 151–187 seconds. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the beads were spherical in shape with small pores on the surface. SEM of the cross section of the beads demonstrated minute oil globules throughout the inner portion of the beads confirming oil entrapment. The results clearly indicated that amount of polymer (% w/v) and amount of sunflower oil (% v/v) affected the bead size, floating, encapsulation efficiency and drug release of the beads. It was observed that the drug release kinetics was best fitted with the Higuchi model and drug release from the polymer matrix system was non fickian (anomalous transport) type.Conclusion: The results provide evidence that formulated gel beads may be used to incorporate antimicrobials like Metronidazole and may be effective when administered locally in the stomach to cure Helicobacter pylori infection.Â

Impact of diseases on fish production of baors in Jessore, Bangladesh

The study was carried out to assess the impact of diseases on fish production in baors of Jessore district, Bangladesh from March 2012 to January 2013. Studied baors were selected randomly from each sub-district which covered 39.22% of total baors and 71.87% baor areas in Jessore district. All the surveyed baors were affected more or less by various diseases and in 80% baors noticeable production loss occurred almost every year. The main diseases were epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS), dropsy, gill rot and fin rot; out breaking time ranged from November to February each year. EUS was recorded in 85% baors whereas other diseases were found in various baors at various percentages: dropsy (75%), gill rot (45%) and fin rot (55%). Conferring to the number of affected fishes, 31.25% were affected by EUS, 37.5% by dropsy, 12.5% by gill rot and 18.75% by fin rot. In the year 2012, 0.513% loss of production has occurred that designated 0.7599 million BDT. Through successful work on disease control and management, production loss may be minimized

Socio-economic status of fishermen of the Marjat Baor at Kaligonj in Jhenidah district, Bangladesh

This study was carried out to assess the socio-economic status of fishermen of the Marjat Baor at Kaligonj of Jhenidah district. Fifty fishermen from 50 families were interviewed. Results revealed that 94% respondents were married and age varied between 30 and 45 years. Almost all the fishermen were Hindus (96%). Most of the people of the community were illiterate (60%) and among all of the school going children (58%) were boys and (42%) were girls. Above fifty percent people lived in nuclear family. 40% people lived in earthen house, constructed by grass leaves and mud. Only a few (18%) of them were found to be use electricity. Primary occupation of 60% respondents was fishing and few were also involved in agriculture. They were often found to suffer from various diseases due to lack of pure drinking water. Majority of them got fever and receive treatment from quack. Only twelve percent (12%) women were engaged in making nets for fishing. Annual household income of maximum beneficiaries (44%) was below BDT 30,000 and above BDT 50,000 found in only 4% cases. In the present study, educational, organizational, and technical credit support were very crucial to develop their better socio-economic conditions

Farming of giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) in Bagerhat, Bangladesh

The study was carried out to know the present status of Macrobrachium rosenbergii culture in Bagerhat district, Bangladesh from March 2012 to January 2013. Education levels  of farmers were found as illiterate (12.3%), primary (36.19%), secondary (20%), SSC (13.33%), HSC (12.38%) and graduate (5.71%). M. rosenbergii culture was the primary and secondary occupation of 80% and 20% farmers respectively. Average stocking density and production in extensive, improved extensive and semi-intensive culture were 9609, 11502 and 22847 per ha and 193, 284 and 488 kg/ha/year respectively; rearing period ranges from 6-10 months and survival rate varied from 55 to 60%. In improved extensive and semi-intensive culture 82.86% and 71.43% farmers applied farm-made feed instead of company feeds respectively and 11.43% and 37.14% farmers used both feeds. 91.43%, 80% and 68.57% respondents responded on normal to high mortality in extensive, improved extensive and semi-intensive culture respectively. Lack of finance and appropriate technology, scarcity of quality PL, diseases and inadequate extension work were major problems of prawn culture

Efficacy of expressed breast milk alone or in combination with paracetamol in reducing pain during retinopathy of prematurity screening: A randomized controlled trial

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of expressed breast milk (EBM) alone or in combination with oral paracetamol for pain reduction during retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening.  Methods: A randomized control trial was conducted in two departments of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. A total of 60 preterm neonates who underwent ROP screening were randomized into three equal groups. Group A got nesting and swaddling as per institutional protocol (control). Group B received 2 ml EBM two minutes prior to the ROP screening and Group C received 15 mg/kg syrup paracetamol 30 minutes prior to the ROP screening and EBM like Group B. Premature infant pain profile (PIPP) scores was used prior, during and 2 minutes after ROP screening procedure. Results: The three groups were similar in terms of baseline characteristics. The mean (standard deviation) PIPP scores during the procedure were 16.4 (1.1), 15.0 (1.8) and 13.4 (1.8) in control, EBM, and EBM with paracetamol groups respectively. The PIPP scores were significantly lower in the EBM and EBM with paracetamol groups during the procedure compared to control group. In the EBM and EBM with paracetamol groups, the mean difference in PIPP scores (between before and during the procedure) was also substantially lower. Conclusion: Breast milk alone or in combination with paracetamol can reduce significant pain during ROP screening than control group. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Journal 2023;16(2): 106-11

Research prioritisation on prevention and management of preterm birth in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) with a special focus on Bangladesh using the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) method

Background Fifteen million babies are born preterm globally each year, with 81% occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Preterm birth complications are the leading cause of newborn deaths and significantly impact health, quality of life, and costs of health services. Improving outcomes for newborns and their families requires prioritising research for developing practical, scalable solutions, especially in low-resource settings such as Bangladesh. We aimed to identify research priorities related to preventing and managing preterm birth in LMICs for 2021-2030, with a special focus on Bangladesh. Methods We adopted the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) method to set research priorities for preventing and managing preterm birth. Seventy-six experts submitted 490 research questions online, which we collated into 95 unique questions and sent for scoring to all experts. A hundred and nine experts scored the questions using five pre-selected criteria: answerability, effectiveness, deliverability, maximum potential for burden reduction, and effect on equity. We calculated weighted and unweighted research priority scores and average expert agreement to generate a list of top-ranked research questions for LMICs and Bangladesh. Results Health systems and policy research dominated the top 20 identified priorities for LMICs, such as understanding and improving uptake of the facility and community-based Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), promoting breastfeeding, improving referral and transport networks, evaluating the impact of the use of skilled attendants, quality improvement activities, and exploring barriers to antenatal steroid use. Several of the top 20 questions also focused on screening high-risk women or the general population of women, understanding the causes of preterm birth, or managing preterm babies with illnesses (jaundice, sepsis and retinopathy of prematurity). There was a high overlap between research priorities in LMICs and Bangladesh. Conclusions This exercise, aimed at identifying priorities for preterm birth prevention and management research in LMICs, especially in Bangladesh, found research on improving the care of preterm babies to be more important in reducing the burden of preterm birth and accelerating the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 3 target of newborn deaths, by 2030

Clinical Predictors and Outcome of Metabolic Acidosis in Under-Five Children Admitted to an Urban Hospital in Bangladesh with Diarrhea and Pneumonia

BACKGROUND: Clinical features of metabolic acidosis and pneumonia frequently overlap in young diarrheal children, resulting in differentiation from each other very difficult. However, there is no published data on the predictors of metabolic acidosis in diarrheal children also having pneumonia. Our objective was to evaluate clinical predictors of metabolic acidosis in under-five diarrheal children with radiological pneumonia, and their outcome. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled all under-five children (n = 164) admitted to the Special Care Ward (SCW) of the Dhaka Hospital of icddr, b between September and December 2007 with diarrhea and radiological pneumonia who also had their total serum carbon-dioxide estimated. We compared the clinical features and outcome of children with radiological pneumonia and diarrhea with (n = 98) and without metabolic acidosis (n = 66). RESULTS: Children with metabolic acidosis more often had higher case-fatality (16% vs. 5%, p = 0.039) compared to those without metabolic acidosis on admission. In logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for potential confounders such as age of the patient, fever on admission, and severe wasting, the independent predictors of metabolic acidosis in under-five diarrheal children having pneumonia were clinical dehydration (OR 3.57, 95% CI 1.62-7.89, p = 0.002), and low systolic blood pressure even after full rehydration (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.04, p = 0.005). Proportions of children with cough, respiratory rate/minute, lower chest wall indrawing, nasal flaring, head nodding, grunting respiration, and cyanosis were comparable (p>0.05) among the groups. CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: Under-five diarrheal children with radiological pneumonia having metabolic acidosis had frequent fatal outcome than those without acidosis. Clinical dehydration and persistent systolic hypotension even after adequate rehydration were independent clinical predictors of metabolic acidosis among the children. However, metabolic acidosis in young diarrheal children had no impact on the diagnostic clinical features of radiological pneumonia which underscores the importance of early initiation of appropriate antibiotics to combat morbidity and deaths in such population