Drug discovery and developments in developing countries: bottlenecks and way forward

Infectious and parasitic diseases continue to threaten the health of million of people throughout the world, with the major burden being in developing countries. Many of the currently available drugs for the treatment of these diseases face setbacks such as insufficient efficacy, increasing loss of effectiveness due to emergence of resistance, high levels of toxicity, inaccessibility and/or high costs. The driving force for drug discovery and development by pharmaceutical firms has been the foreseeable profit from drug sells. Since most infectious diseases prevail in developing countries and the fact that people living in these countries have poor purchasing power, the market for such drugs are unattractive to these firms. Thus, there has been reluctance for the pharmaceutical companies to engage in the development of drugs addressing diseases that mainly affect developing countries. Although a lot of research to discover new effective and cheap drugs is in progress in the disease endemic countries, it is not yet possible to fully develop leads and drug candidates from natural products, hence people in these countries continue to rely on traditional medicines. Poor economies and technological capabilities, lack of human resources and good management in these countries are the major constraints to progress in research and development work for new drugs. This paper discusses these major bottlenecks in drug discovery and development and suggests the way forward. Keywords: drug discovery, traditional medicine, infectious diseases, developing countries Tanzania Health Research Bulletin Vol. 7(3) 2005: 154-15

Penggunaan Protein Akibat Pemberian Porsi Ransum Berbeda Dikombinasikan Dengan Lama Pencahayaan Pada Ayam Broiler (the Use of Protein Due to Combination of Feed Serving and Lighting Period on Broiler)

The research was aimed to determine the combining effect of dietary restrictions and lighting periode at day and night on protein digestibility, nitrogen retention and body weight gain in broiler chickens. The experimental animals were 320 bird of day old chicks (DOC) broilers with average weight gain 95,34±4,12 g, given feed containing protein19% and metabolizable energy 3007,70 kcal/ kg. Experiment was assigned in a completely randomized design of 3x2 split plot pattern with five replicates (10 bird each). Main plot was lighting periode (T1 4 hours, T2 6 hours, and T3 2D:2L) and sub-plots was different ration portion (R1 30% at day:70% at night and R2 40% at day:60% at night). The results showed that the treatment T2 (6 hours lighting at night) produced protein digestibility, nitrogen retention, protein efficiency ratio and body weight gain better than T1(4 hours lighting periode) and T3 (intermittent lighting). However, restriction of ration portion showed similar result for all parameters. Protein digestibility and broiler perform shows the highest result due to 6 hours lighting periode

Upaya Pengembangan Agribisnis Padi (Oryza Sativa L.) di Kabupaten Indramayu

This research aims to formulate priority of the alternative strategy of the development rice agribusiness and the alternative strategy priority that can be applied to the development of rice agribusiness in Indramayu Regency. This research was done through a survey approach, using descriptive and qualitative analysis. The sampling was done by multistage purposive sampling to 120 rice farmers, and purposive sampling of 15 key persons, namely experts, policy experts, practitioners, businesses, experienced farmers and related agencies. The analysis method used was the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method with Expert Choice 9.0 Program. The research was conducted from February to August 2014 in Sliyeg, Lelea, and Gabuswetan Districts, Indramayu Regency. The results of this research were the five alternative priorities as the formula of the development strategy of rice agribusiness in Indramayu Regency were the consistency of local government of rice farming development, assurance and protection of the rice price through the modern village barns, the enhancement of agricultural extension workers quality and quantity, development of modern village barns infrastructures, and capital assistance from the Local Owned Enterprises. The key priority alternative strategy of the development rice agribusiness in Indramayu Regency was the consistency of local goverment of rice farming development

Total Bakteri Asam Laktat Dan Escherichia Coli Pada Ayam Broiler Yang Diberi Campuran Herbal Dalam Ransum

Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengkaji pengaruh penambahan campuran herbal dalam ransum terhadap total bakteri asam laktat (BAL) dan Escherichia coli (E. coli) pada saluran pencernaan, serta pertambahan bobot badan ayam broiler. Penelitian menggunakan ayam broiler day old chick (DOC) sebanyak 200 ekor dengan bobot badan 37 g ± 3,08 g dalam rancangan acak lengkap (RAL) dengan 4 perlakuan dan 5 ulangan. Ransum yang digunakan terdiri dari jagung, bungkil kedelai, tepung ikan, dedak, dan mineral dengan campuran herbal, yaitu bawang putih, kunyit, jahe dan kencur. Perlakuan yang diterapkan adalah T0 = ransum tanpa penambahan herbal (kontrol), T1 = ransum + 0,5% campuran herbal, T2 = ransum + 1,0% campuran herbal, T3 = ransum + 1,5% campuran herbal. Parameter yang diamati adalah total BAL, total E. coli dan pertambahan bobot badan. Sampel diambil pada saat ayam umur 42 hari secara acak pada setiap unit percobaan. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian bahwa penambahan campuran herbal dalam ransum ayam broiler tidak berpengaruh nyata (p>0,05) terhadap total BAL, total E.coli dan pertambahan bobot badan. Penambahan campuran herbal dalam ransum ayam broiler menghasilkan total BAL berkisar dari yang terendah 4,69 x 109 cfu/g (T1) sampai yang yang tertinggi 2,41 x 1010 cfu/g (T3) dan total E.coli terendah 6,47 x 104 cfu/g (T2) tertinggi 3,57 x 105 cfu/g (T3), sedangkan pertambahan bobot badan berkisar dari 57 g/ekor/hari (T1) sampai 60 g/ekor/hari (T0). Simpulan dari penelitian adalah peningkatan level penambahan campuran herbal dalam ransum belum dapat meningkatkan total BAL atau menurunkan E.coli sehingga menghasilkan pertambahan bobot badan yang sama

Pengaruh Taraf Protein Dan Lisin Ransum Terhadap Performans Produksi Ayam Kampung (Effect of Dietary Protein and Lysine Level on the Production Performance of Native Chicken)

This research aimed to examine level of dietary protein and lysine which is optimum for native chicken performance. Parameters measured were feed consumption, body weight gain, feed conversion, carcass percentage, and meat bone ratio. The research used completely randomized design in 2 x 3 factorial pattern with dietary protein level as the first factor and lysine level as the second factor. Each treatment had 4 replications with 10 heads per trial unit. Treatments applied were P1L1 (protein level 17% + lysine addition 0.6% of diet), P1L2 (protein level 17% + lysine addition 0.7% of diet), P1L3 (protein level 17% + lysine addition 0.8% of diet), P2L1 (protein level 14% + lysine addition 0.6% of diet), P2L2 (protein level 14% + lysine addition 0.7% of diet), P2L3 (protein level 14% + lysine addition 0.7% of diet). The treatment was started to be offered from 1-day-old and completed when the chicken were 12-week-old. The data was analyzed using F test to determine the effect of treatment, continued with Duncan's multiple range test at 5% probability level if any significant effect was found. The results showed no effect of the interaction between dietary protein and lysine on feed consumption, body weight gain, feed conversion, carcass percentage, and meat bone ratio. Based on the results, it was concluded that lysine addition was not give significant effect on native chicken performance

Quantum Enhancement of the Zero-Area Sagnac Interferometer Topology for Gravitational Wave Detection

Only a few years ago, it was realized that the zero-area Sagnac interferometer topology is able to perform quantum nondemolition measurements of position changes of a mechanical oscillator. Here, we experimentally show that such an interferometer can also be efficiently enhanced by squeezed light. We achieved a nonclassical sensitivity improvement of up to 8.2 dB, limited by optical loss inside our interferometer. Measurements performed directly on our squeezed-light laser output revealed squeezing of 12.7 dB. We show that the sensitivity of a squeezed-light enhanced Sagnac interferometer can surpass the standard quantum limit for a broad spectrum of signal frequencies without the need for filter cavities as required for Michelson interferometers. The Sagnac topology is therefore a powerful option for future gravitational-wave detectors, such as the Einstein Telescope, whose design is currently being studied.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Assessment of natural radioactivity and radiation hazards of building materials in Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Natural radionuclides from building materials are one of the potential sources of external as well as internal radiation exposure to the human body. Currently, this exposure has been increasing since people spend more than 80% of their time indoors (ICRP 1991). Commonly used building materials from Kinondoni District were investigated using γ-spectrometry; their activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in Bq/kg were measured. The results showed that average values of activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were 15.62, 21.51 and 237.99 Bq/kg, respectively. All the activity concentrations in the studied samples were lower than the world average values of 35 Bq/kg for 226Ra, 30 Bq/kg for 232Th and 400 Bq/kg for 40K. The radium equivalent activity ( ), external ( ), internal hazard index ( ) and gamma activity concentration index () were calculated to assess the radiological hazards due to presence of natural radionuclides in the building materials. The results showed that the average values of Raeq, Hex, and Iγ were 64.7 Bq/kg, 0.17, 0.21 and 0.24, respectively. These values were lower than the world criteria values 370 for Raeq, ≤ 1 for Hex, ≤ 1 for Hin and ≤ 1 for Iγ, respectively. The obtained results indicated that all the investigated building materials were safe for inhabitants. Keywords: Building materials, Natural radionuclides, Radiation hazards, Gamma ray spectrometry, Activity concentratio