Performance of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) grown on different fingermillet husk substrates

Substrate type is one of the major factors affecting the growth and yield of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). Five substrates; Finger millet husk, Fingermillet husk + Molasses, Fingermillet husk + Rice bran, Fingermillet husk + Wheat bran, Fingermillet husk +Mustard oilseed cake, were evaluated for growth and productivity of oyster mushroom. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with each treatment replicated seven times. Additives were added on finger millet husk @5% of its dry weight. Standard cultivation practice was followed with steam sterilization and spawning was done in poly bags containing 2.5 kg of wet substrate. Data were collected on time taken for full spawn run, fresh mushroom yield, biological efficiency and cropping duration upto three flushes. Molasses took the least duration (16.86 days) for full spawn run which was found to be statistically at par with wheat bran(17.13 days) and rice bran(17.75 days) whereas control treatment took the longest duration (21.62 days). Rice bran produced the highest fresh mushroom yield (793.04g/bag) with highest biological efficiency (137.92%), which was statistically at par with control, molasses and wheat bran. Similarly, rice bran had least cropping duration (66.62 days) followed by control (67.88 days), molasses (69.14 days), wheat bran (70.12 days) and mustard oilseed cake (73.86 days). The lowest fresh yield (521.84 g/bag) with lowest biological efficiency (90.75%) and the longest cropping duration (73.86 days) was observed on mustard oilseed cake supplementation. This study revealed that molasses, rice bran and wheat bran accelerated spawn run whereas mustard oilseed cake supplementation produced lowest fresh mushroom yield with least biological efficiency and highest cropping duration showing that it was ineffective for increasing yield and productivity of oyster mushroom

EVALUATION OF IMMUNOMODULATORY ACTIVITY OF EXTRACT FROM RIND OF NEPHELIUM LAPPACEUM FRUIT

Objective: Nephelium lappaceum Linn (Sapindaceae), also known as Rambutan is a tropical fruit native to Malaysia. The rind of Rambutan, which is normally discarded, has been used in the present research work to explore the immunomodulatory activity of ethanolic extract and also its protective effect against cyclophosphamide (CP) induced immunosuppression.Methods: The assessment of immunomodulatory activity was carried by testing the humoral (Haemagglutination antibody titre (HA) model), cell-mediated immunity (delayed type hypersensitivity reaction model), haematological parameters, carbon clearance assay (phagocytic index), organ index (spleen and thymus) and histopathological study of mice thymus.Results: Administration of the ethanolic extract significantly increased the antibody titre and DTH response in response to sheep red blood cells when compared to normal control and CP control group. There was a prominent increase in the WBC count, spleen index, thymus index and the phagocytic index in immune suppressed group treated with ethanolic extract of Nephelium lappaceum rind compared to the immune suppressed control group.Conclusion: The result suggests that the ethanolic extract has the potential to modulate the immune system as well has a protective effect against CP-induced immune suppression

The impetus to Africa CDC's mandate in curbing the rising trend of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Africa: the launch of the Africa CDC AMR surveillance network during the 8th advanced course in diagnostics (ACDx).

The rise of antimicrobial resistance is a global threat and Africa like any other developing setting is heavily affected. As one of its missions, the Africa CDC is poised to ensure this rising trend takes a diminishing route in the few years ahead. Diagnostics obviously play a pivotal role in AMR control and the advanced course in diagnostics (ACDx) has been instrumental in training critical decision makers over the past 7 years. This commentary presents an analysis of discussions and exchanges during the launch of the Africa CDC AMR surveillance network at the ACDX and the way forward for its implementation. The diagnostics priorities are also highlighted

Visual Field Maps of the Visual Cortex

fMRI imaging measures brain activity by detecting changes in the brain that are associated with blood flow and can be used in order to determine the size and location of visual field maps. This study measured BOLD responses in humans to understand spatial summation by showing them spatial contrast pattern images through vertical and horizontal apertures.Nonlinear responses can be computed from the visual field responses, from which the spatial summation ratio is calculated. A ratio of less than one indicates a smaller response to exposure to a full aperture or contrast image than predicted by the linear model. Datasets were analyzed using MATLAB, producing eccentricity maps of the visual cortices from stimuli. BOLD response curves identify the intensity of the maps within a particular voxel. The eccentricity maps can then be overlain on anatomical representations of the brain, characterizing the various visual field cortices. Methods of fMRI data analysis are confirmed with the results of this study

Phytochemical screening and antihelminthic activity of leaf and root extracts of Cassia tora plant

Cassia tora is one of the most important sources of medicinally important phytochemicals and widely used in Ayurvedic and Chinese system of medicine. The fresh plants of cassia tora were collected from the different locality of Dharan, Sunsari district during the month of August. In this study leaves and root extracts were subjected to extraction by soxheletion by using ethanol and water and the extracts were subjected to antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. and Citrobacter koseri, the ethanolic extracts were screened for antihelmenthic activity against Indian adult earth worm (Pheretima posthuma) with a moderate result. The result of antibacterial activity revealed that aqueous extract  of leaves and roots showed better activity in comparison to aqueous extracts particularly against gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus)

Social innovation in diagnostics: three case studies.

BACKGROUND: Diagnostics are essential for identifying and controlling diseases. However, limited access to diagnostics hinders public health efforts in many settings. Social innovation may provide a framework for expanding access to diagnostics in the global south. Here social innovation is defined as implementing a known public health tool via a novel, community-driven technique. MAIN BODY: In this article, we discuss three diverse cases that show the potential for using social innovation in diagnostics. The cases chosen for inclusion here demonstrate the importance of social innovation in diagnostics across different geographic, cultural, and health system contexts. They include malaria testing via schools in Malawi, cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) sample self-collection in Peru, and crowdsourcing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing in China. For each case, we present the public health problem and the impact of using social innovation to increase accessibility of diagnostics. We discuss implications of each diagnostic approach and the importance of social innovation in creating these potential solutions. We argue that social innovation is useful in improving the delivery of essential diagnostic tools in low- and middle-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions in Malawi, Peru, and China suggest social innovation increases uptake of diagnostics. The same tools and principles utilized in these cases can be adapted for use in other contexts. Such diagnostic innovations may help improve identification of and linkage to care for many diseases. The approach presents a unique opportunity to better address public health issues and increase accessibility in LMIC health systems

PRODRUG AS A NOVEL APPROACH OF DRUG DELIVERY- A REVIEW

Prodrugs are bioreversible derivatives of drug molecules that undergo an enzymatic and/or chemical transformation in vivo to release the active parent drug, which can then exert the desired pharmacological effect. Prodrug design is a choice of approach in solving many of the problems like stability, toxicity, solubility, permeability and drug targeting that affect drug discovery and development. Prodrug design is fruitful approach for drug targeting by changing the physiochemical, biopharmaceutical or pharmacokinetic properties of drugs. About 10-14% of drugs approved worldwide can be classified as prodrugs. The present article takes a review of introduction, classification, applications of prodrug design in various areas of drug development and basic functional groups that are amenable to prodrug design.Keywords: Prodrugs, objectives, classification, application, functional groups, limitation

A REVIEW ON PHARMACEUTICAL PROCESS VALIDATION OF SOLID DOSAGE FORM [TABLETS]

The article gives an introduction and general overview on process validation of pharmaceutical tablet manufacturing process. Process Validation is one of the important steps in achieving and maintaining the quality of final product. Process validation emphasizes the role of statistical tools and analyses, knowledge, detection, and control of variability and thus gives assurance on consistency of quality product. The validation study provides the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility of the established and documented test methods employed by the manufacturer. Thus, validation is an essential part of the quality assurance. This review examines the need for pharmaceutical validation, the various approaches, process and steps to be monitored during tablet manufacturing process. Key words: Process Validation, Types, Validation Stages, Guidelines and Process.Â

Sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic tests for Lassa fever: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Lassa fever virus has been enlisted as a priority pathogen of epidemic potential by the World Health organization Research and Development (WHO R & D) Blueprint. Diagnostics play a crucial role in epidemic preparedness. This systematic review was conducted to determine the sensitivity and specificity of Lassa fever diagnostic tests for humans. METHODS: We searched OVID Medline, OVID Embase, Scopus and Web of Science for laboratory based and field studies that reported the performance of diagnostic tests for Lassa fever in humans from 1 January 1990 to 25 January 2019. Two reviewers independently screened all the studies and included only studies that involved the evaluation of a Lassa fever diagnostic test and provided data on the sensitivity and specificity. The quality of the studies was assessed using the QUADAS-2 criteria. Data on the study location, study design, type of sample, index test, reference tests and diagnostic performance were extracted from the studies. RESULTS: Out of a total of 1947 records identified, 1245 non-duplicate citations were obtained. Twenty-six (26) full-text articles examined which identified 08 studies meeting pre-defined criteria. Only one study was a field evaluation study. The sensitivity and specificity of the point of care (RDT) against the Nikisins qPCR were 91.2%(95% CI:75.2-97.7) and 86%(95% CI: 71.4-94.2) at temperatures 18-30 °C, while the sensitivity and specificity of the single IgM ELISA assay against standard RT-PCR were 31.1%(95%CI: 25.6-37) and 95.7%(95%CI:92.8-97.7). The sensitivity of the combined ELISA Antigen/IgM assay(against virus isolation), the recombinant IgM/IgG ELISA(against standard RT-PCR), and the IgM/IgG immunoblot(against IFA) were 88%(95%CI:77-95), 25.9%(95%CI:20.8-31.6), and 90.7%(95%CI:84.13-97.27) respectively. The specificity of the combined ELISA Antigen/IgM assay(against virus isolation), the recombinant IgM/IgG ELISA(against standard RT-PCR), and the IgM/IgG immunoblot(against IFA) were 90%(95%CI:88-91), 100%(95%CI:98.2-100), and 96.3%(95%CI:92.2-100) respectively. CONCLUSION: Lassa fever has assays for antigenaemia, IgM, IgG and PCR detection. The RDT reportedly performed well but more data are needed from other countries and at temperatures above 30 °C. Most combined immunoassays perform better than the single IgM. Multiplex and pan-Lassa assays are needed. More well conducted field studies are needed. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Prospero registration number: CRD42018091585

A SHORT COMPILATION ON ZIKA VIRUS TRANSMISSION AND ITS COMPLICATION DURING PREGNANCY

Zika virus, a mosquito borne flavivirus transmitted primar­ily by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes is a pathogen affecting humans. These vectors also trans­mit dengue and chikungunya virus and are found throughout much of the world, including parts of the United States. An estimated 80% of persons infected with Zika virus are asymptomatic. Microcephaly is the greater risk for the infant born from the Zika Virus infected pregnant mother. This virus also causes neurological syndromes. Zika virus disease can often be diagnosed by performing reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on serum. Keywords: Zika Virus, Pregnancy, Microcephaly, Aedes aegypti mosquito, Brazil