Isoniazid urine spectrophotometry for prediction of serum pharmacokinetics in adults with TB

BACKGROUND

Isoniazid (INH) is an important drug in many TB regimens, and unfavorable treatment outcomes can be caused by suboptimal pharmacokinetics. Dose adjustment can be personalized by measuring peak serum concentrations; however, the process involves cold-chain preservation and laboratory techniques such as liquid chromatography (LC)/mass spectrometry (MS), which are unavailable in many high-burden settings. Urine spectrophotometry could provide a low-cost alternative with simple sampling and quantification methods.

METHODS

We enrolled 56 adult patients on treatment for active TB. Serum was collected at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h for measurement of INH concentrations using validated LC-MS/MS methods. Urine was collected at 0-4, 4-8, and 8-24 h intervals, with INH concentrations measured using colorimetric methods.

RESULTS

The median peak serum concentration and total serum exposure over 24 h were 4.8 mg/L and 16.4 mg*hour/L, respectively. Area under the receiver operator characteristic curves for urine values predicting a subtherapeutic serum concentration (peak <3.0 mg/L) were as follows: 0-4 h interval (AUC 0.85, 95% CI 0.7-0.96), 0-8 h interval (AUC 0.85, 95% CI 0.71-0.96), and 0-24 h urine collection interval (AUC 0.84, 95% CI 0.68-0.96).

CONCLUSION

Urine spectrophotometry may improve feasibility of personalized dosing in high TB burden regions but requires further study of target attainment following dose adjustment based on a urine threshold.

Correlates of Defaulting from MDT among Leprosy Patients

In order to analyse the factors of demographic as well as disease related variables and their correlation with Rate of Defaulting (ROD) from Multi Drug Therapy (MDT) among leprosy patients, secondary data have been collected from 3,579 new cases registered for MDT, during a period of 4 years from 2007 to 2010 in four leprosy hospitals/ treatment centers across the four high endemic states viz. Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh; Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Year wise percentage of patients defaulted was calculated on aggregate as well as with reference to each centre and cross tabulated with demographic and disease related factors. Findings show that out of the total 3,579 new cases, 1944,(54.3%) defaulted with variation across centers ranged from 44 to 66 percent. Comparison of ROD against type of leprosy indicated that MB types defaulted (55.7%) more than PB (50.6%) types, (statistically significant difference, (p=0,04). ROD of male patients across the centers ranged from 45% to 67.7% in comparison with 42.4% to 61.5% of female patients. A-statistically significant difference (p=6.04) was found between the overall ROD of males (56.35%) and females (51.47%). The ROD among those with more severe disabilities (WHO Gr-2) ranged between 44% to 67.5% across the centers, while the same among those'with less severe disabilities (Gr-0&1) ranged from 42.6 to 72.7 percent. Comparison of ROD against severity of disability was found statistically significant only across 2 centers. No statistically significant variation was found when ROD of adult patients with refeince to each centr ranged between (43.6% to 65.4%) was compared with the same of children ranged beeIen (36.2% to 69.3%). Across each of these categories and centers,'the ROD remained consistent over the ,4 years. Based on the above findings'this may be concluded that male sex and MB types are significant correlates of default from treatment. Severity of disabilities plays significant role only in certain areas, probably due to other interfering factors, which needs to be further investiged.

Exploring stable thermoluminescence signal in natural Barite (BaSO4) for retrospective dosimetry

We explore the possible use of Barite (BaSO4) for radiation dosimetry and geochronology using thermoluminescence technique. Natural Barite with Mn as an impurity has a glow peak at 608K with a minimum detectable dose of 1.45±0.12mGy. This peak shows ~35% fading on 30 days of storage time and is photo-bleachable with excellent reproducibility on repeated read-out. The sensitivity changes with dose and evidence of athermal fading is also seen. We infer that the signal can be used for both retrospective dosimetry and geochronology of young deposits extending to 20ka.

Synthesis of novel 2-alkyl triazole-3-alkyl substituted quinoline derivatives and their cytotoxic activity

The propargyl alcohol on reaction with alkylazides under Sharpless conditions through click chemistry concept gave exclusively 1,4-disubstituted triazoles 2. The compounds 2 were oxidized to aldehydes 3 followed by reaction with aniline resulted Schiff's bases 4. The compounds 4 was further reacted with various aldehydes having α-hydrogen using molecular iodine as a catalyst and obtained 2-alkyl triazole-3-alkyl substituted quinoline derivatives 5. All the final compounds were screened against four human cancer cell lines (THP-1, Colo205, U937 & HeLa) and promising compounds have been identified.

Spectroscopic investigations of Fe3+ doped poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) capped ZnSe nanoparticles

Fe(3+) doped poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) capped ZnSe nanoparticles have been synthesized by using chemical method at room temperature. The prepared sample is characterized by X-ray diffraction, optical, photoluminescence (PL), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and FT-IR techniques. Different physical parameters are evaluated by using measured values of refractive index and density. From the X-ray diffraction pattern, the average crystallite size is calculated by using Scherrer's formula and it is about 9 nm. Optical absorption spectrum reveals that the Fe(3+) ion enter into the lattice as octahedral symmetry. Crystal field (Dq) and inter-electronic repulsion parameters (B, C) are evaluated for Fe(3+) doped ZnSe nanoparticles as Dq=720, B=720 and C=2500 cm(-1). Photoluminescence spectrum of Fe(3+) doped ZnSe exhibits emission bands in UV and yellow regions. EPR spectrum showed various resonance signals at g=7.3, 3.5 and 2.0. FT-IR spectrum of Fe(3+) doped PVA capped ZnSe indicates the presence of O-H, C-H, C=C and C=O molecular groups.

Utilization of kidneys with similar kidney donor risk index values from standard versus expanded criteria donors

With the shortage of standard criteria donor (SCD) kidneys, efficient expanded criteria donor (ECD) kidney utilization has become more vital. We investigated the effects of the ECD label on kidney recovery, utilization and outcomes. Using data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients from November 2002 to May 2010, we determined recovery and transplant rates, and modeled discard risk, for kidneys within a range of kidney donor risk index (KDRI) 1.4-2.1 that included both SCD and ECD kidneys. To further compare similar quality kidneys, these kidneys were again divided into three KDRI intervals. Overall, ECD kidneys had higher recovery rates, but lower transplant rates. However, within each KDRI interval, SCD and ECD kidneys were transplanted at similar rates. Overall, there was increased risk for discard for biopsied kidneys. SCD kidneys in the lower two KDRI intervals had the highest risk of discard if biopsied. Pumped kidneys had a lower risk of discard, which was modulated by KDRI for SCD kidneys but not ECD kidneys. Although overall ECD graft survival was worse than SCD, there were no differences within individual KDRI intervals. Thus, ECD designation adversely affects neither utilization nor outcomes beyond that predicted by KDRI.

Mixed alkali effect and optical properties of Ni2+ doped 20ZnO+xLi2O+(30-x)Na2O+50B2O3 glasses

Optical and physical properties of Ni2+ doped 20ZnO+xLi2O+(30-x)Na2O+50B2O3 (5≤x≤25) glasses are carried out at room temperature. Powder XRD pattern of all the glass samples confirms the amorphous nature. Several physical parameters are evaluated for all the glasses with respect to the composition. The optical absorption spectra confirm the site symmetry of the Ni2+ doped glasses are near octahedral. Crystal field and inter-electronic repulsion parameters are also evaluated. It is interesting to observe that the optical band gap and Urbach energies exhibit the mixed alkali effect. The FT-IR spectral investigations of Ni2+ doped glasses exhibit characteristic vibrations of BO3 and BO4 units.

Onion dehydration: a review

Onion (Allium cepa), a very commonly used vegetable, ranks third in the world production of major vegetables. Apart from imparting a delicious taste and flavour due to its pungency in many culinary preparations, it serves several medicinal purposes also. Processing and preservation of onion by suitable means is a major thrust area since a long time. The various kinds of treatments followed for dehydration of onion such as convective air drying, solar drying, fluidized bed drying, vacuum microwave drying, infrared drying and osmotic drying are reviewed here. These techniques are mainly used for preservation and value addition of onion. Several researchers have tried for decades to model the drying kinetics and quality parameters, which are also compiled here briefly.