Timeliness metrics for screening and preventing TB in household contacts of pulmonary TB patients in Kenya.

BACKGROUND: The study assessed whether a "7-1-7" timeliness metric for screening and TB preventive therapy (TPT) could be implemented for household contacts (HHCs) of index patients with bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB under routine programmatic settings in Kenya. METHODS: A longitudinal cohort study conducted among index patients and their HHCs in 12 health facilities, Kiambu County, Kenya. RESULTS: Between January and June 2023, 95% of 508 index patients had their HHCs line-listed within 7 days of initiating anti-TB treatment ("First 7"). In 68% of 1,115 HHCs, screening outcomes were ascertained within 1 day of line-listing ("Next 1"). In 65% of 1,105 HHCs eligible for further evaluation, anti-TB treatment, TPT or a decision for no drugs was made within 7 days of screening ("Second 7"). Altogether, 62% of screened HHCs started TPT during the "7-1-7" period compared with 58% in a historical cohort. Main barriers to TPT uptake were HHCs not consulting clinicians, HHCs being unwilling to initiate TPT and drug shortages. Healthcare workers felt that a timeliness metric was valuable for streamlining HHC management and proposed "3-5-7" as a workable alternative. CONCLUSIONS: The national TB programme must generate awareness about TPT, ensure uninterrupted drug supplies and assess whether the "3-5-7" metric can be operationalised.

CONTEXTE: L'étude a évalué si une mesure de rapidité "7-1-7" pour le dépistage et le traitement préventif de la TB (TPT) pouvait être mise en œuvre pour les contacts familiaux des patients index atteints de TB pulmonaire confirmée bactériologiquement dans le cadre d'un programme de routine au Kenya. MÉTHODES: Étude de cohorte longitudinale menée auprès de patients index et de leurs contacts familiaux dans 12 établissements de santé du comté de Kiambu, au Kenya. RÉSULTATS: Entre janvier et juin 2023, 95% des 508 patients index ont eu leur centre de santé inscrit sur la liste dans les 7 jours suivant le début du traitement antituberculeux (« First 7 ¼ ). Dans 68% des 1 115 centres de santé, les résultats du dépistage ont été vérifiés dans le jour suivant l'inscription sur la liste (« Next 1 ¼). Dans 65% des 1 105 centres de santé éligibles pour une évaluation plus approfondie, le traitement antituberculeux, le TPT ou la décision de ne pas prendre de médicaments a été prise dans les 7 jours suivant le dépistage (« Second 7 ¼). Au total, 62% des patients dépistés ont commencé un traitement antituberculeux au cours de la période « 7-1-7 ¼, contre 58% dans une cohorte historique. Les principaux obstacles à l'adoption du TPT étaient les suivants : les centres de santé ne consultaient pas les cliniciens, les centres de santé n'étaient pas disposés à commencer le TPT et les pénuries de médicaments. Les professionnels de la santé ont estimé qu'une mesure de la rapidité d'exécution était utile pour rationaliser la gestion des centres de santé et ont proposé le « 3-5-7 ¼ comme solution de rechange viable. CONCLUSION: Le programme national de lutte contre la TB doit sensibiliser au TPT, garantir un approvisionnement ininterrompu en médicaments et évaluer si la mesure « 3-5-7 ¼ peut être mise en œuvre.

Using timeliness metrics for household contact tracing and TB preventive therapy in the private sector, India.

Although screening of household contacts (HHCs) of TB patients and provision of TB preventive therapy (TPT) is a key intervention to end the TB epidemic, their implementation globally is dismal. We assessed whether introducing a '7-1-7' timeliness metric was workable for implementing HHC screening among index patients with pulmonary TB diagnosed by private providers in Chennai, India, between November 2022 and March 2023.This was an explanatory mixed-methods study (quantitative-cohort and qualitative-descriptive).There were 263 index patients with 556 HHCs. In 90% of index patients, HHCs were line-listed within 7 days of anti-TB treatment initiation. Screening outcomes were ascertained in 48% of HHCs within 1 day of line-listing. Start of anti-TB treatment, TPT or a decision to receive neither was achieved in 57% of HHC within 7 days of screening. Overall, 24% of screened HHCs in the '7-1-7' period started TPT compared with 16% in a historical control (P < 0.01). Barriers to achieving '7-1-7' included HHC reluctance for evaluation or TPT, refusal of private providers to prescribe TPT and reliance on facility-based screening of HHCs instead of home visits by health workers for screening.Introduction of a timeliness metric is a workable intervention that adds structure to HHC screening and timely management..

Does Pectoralis Major Myocutaneous Flap Cause the Shoulder Morbidity: A Clinical Comparative Study.

The aim was to compare the morbidity of shoulder function following modified radical neck dissection with and without Pectoralis Major Myocutaneous muscle flap (PMMC) harvest in head and neck cancer patient to determine the effect of PMMC flap harvest on shoulder function and also to determine the effect of physiotherapy. Materials and methods: Prospective study involving two groups study group of 20 patients with MRND, with PMMC flap reconstruction as part of head and neck cancer surgery and control group of 20 patients who had undergone MRND(IJV & SAN sparing) without PMMC flap in same period were included. All patients were assessed at 3rd and 6th month following completion of surgery using subjective (Shoulder Disability Questionnaire) and objective (goniometer and manual muscle testing) parameters. 40 patients were included in the study, 33 (82.5%) male and 7 (17.5%) female with a mean age of 49 years with stage III/IV carcinoma In Group-1 and Group-2 the shoulder disability decreased significantly after physiotherapy intervention and also at 6thmonth postoperatively both groups showed improvements in shoulder range of motion and muscle strength. Harvesting of PMMC flap does not intensify the morbidity of shoulder which is common in RND and during MRND. A regimen of home-based exercises and patient education are effective tools to reduce shoulder disability and improving shoulder function.

Rehabilitation of a Midfacial Defect Using a Two-Piece Maxillofacial Prosthesis: A Case Report.

Maxillofacial defects and their rehabilitation are a major concern in this socially productive era. The rehabilitation of these massive defects in the oral and maxillofacial region poses a challenge to the prosthodontist in terms of selection of material, retentive aids, the adaptive capability of the patient, and cost. This case report describes the management of the midfacial defect involving the orbit, zygoma, maxilla, and their soft tissue counterparts with a removable silicone extraoral compartment and an acrylic intraoral compartment, which are retained with strong cobalt samarium magnets, an elastic loop around the occiput, and spectacles. The maxillofacial prosthesis fabricated for this patient restored the patient's facial esthetics, speech, dental articulation, lip support, mastication, and anterior maxillary seal.

Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a tertiary hospital in Nepal.

SETTING: Patan Hospital, Lalitpur, Nepal. OBJECTIVES: To describe 1) the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and its antibiotic sensitivity pattern; 2) the demographic and clinical characteristics associated with MRSA infections; and 3) the treatment outcomes of in-patients with MRSA infection among patients with S. aureus infection between January 2018 and December 2020. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study using electronic and paper-based hospital records of patients with S. aureus infection. RESULTS: Of the 1,804 patients with S. aureus infection, 1,027 patients (57%, 95% CI 55-59) had MRSA. The MRSA were susceptible to vancomycin (100%), linezolid (96%), doxycycline (96%), chloramphenicol (86%) and cotrimoxazole (70%), and resistant to erythromycin (68%), clindamycin (56%), gentamycin (58%), ciprofloxacin (92%) and ofloxacin (91%). The prevalence of MRSA was higher in 2019, among out-patients, and in respiratory samples, and lower in blood samples. Of the 142 in-patients with MRSA, 93% had a successful clinical outcome (cured/improved). CONCLUSION: More than 50% of patients with S. aureus infection had MRSA that were resistant to commonly available antibiotics. This calls for strengthening surveil-lance and good infection control practices in this hospital.

LIEU: Hôpital de Patan, Lalitpur, Népal. OBJECTIFS: Décrire 1) la prévalence de Staphylococcus aureus résistant à la méticilline (MRSA) et son profil de sensibilité aux antibiotiques ; 2) les caractéristiques démographiques et cliniques associées aux infections à MRSA ; et 3) les résultats thérapeutiques des patients hospitalisés atteints d'infection à MRSA parmi ceux atteints d'infection à S. aureus de janvier 2018 à décembre 2020. MÉTHODE: Il s'agissait d'une étude transversale réalisée en utilisant les dossiers hospitaliers électroniques et papiers des patients atteints d'infection à S. aureus. RÉSULTATS: Sur les 1 804 patients atteints d'infection à S. aureus, 1 027 patients (57%, IC 95% 55-59) avaient un MRSA. Les MRSA étaient susceptibles à la vancomycine (100%), au linézolide (96%), à la doxycycline (96%), au chloramphénicol (86%) et au co-trimoxazole (70%), et résistants à l'érythromycine (68%), la clindamycine (56%), la gentamycine (58%), la ciprofloxacine (92%) et l'ofloxacine (91%). La prévalence des MRSA était plus élevée en 2019, parmi les patients ambulatoires, ainsi que dans les échantillons respiratoires. Elle était plus faible dans les échantillons sanguins. Sur les 142 patients hospitalisés avec MRSA, 93% ont connu un résultat clinique favorable (guérison/amélioration de l'état). CONCLUSION: Plus de 50% des patients atteints d'infection à S. aureus avaient un MRSA résistant aux antibiotiques habituellement disponibles. La surveillance et les pratiques de contrôle des infections doivent donc être renforcées dans cet hôpital.

Urgent need to address the slow scale-up of TB preventive treatment in the WHO South-East Asia Region.

In September 2018, all countries made a commitment at the first ever United Nations High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) on TB, to provide TB preventive treatment (TPT) to at least 30 million people at high-risk of TB disease between 2018 and 2022. In the WHO South-East Asia Region (SEA Region), which accounts for 44% of the global TB burden, only 1.2 million high-risk individuals (household contacts and people living with HIV) were provided TPT (11% of the 10.8 million regional UNHLM TPT target) in 2018 and 2019. By 2020, almost all 11 countries of the SEA Region had revised their policies on TPT target groups and criteria to assess TPT eligibility, and had adopted at least one shorter TPT regimen recommended in the latest WHO TPT guidelines. The major challenges for TPT scale-up in the SEA Region are resource shortages, knowledge and service delivery/uptake gaps among providers and service recipients, and the lack of adequate quantities of rifapentine for use in shorter TPT regimens. There are several regional opportunities to address these gaps and countries of the SEA Region must make use of these opportunities to scale up TPT services rapidly to reduce the TB burden in the SEA Region.

History of household member with tuberculosis or related death in newly diagnosed patients in India.

Among new smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients aged ⩾15 years from marginalised populations in India, one in four had a history of a household member with TB and one in 10 had a TB-related death in the household. This contribution of household transmission to overall TB transmission provides evidence for a potential population-level benefit of TB preventive treatment for all household contacts (without active TB). Females with TB had a significantly higher household TB exposure than males. Targeted TB preventive treatment (if implemented in a phased manner) among female household contacts may be explored after considering other factors.

Parmi les nouveaux cas de tuberculose (TB) pulmonaire confirmés par bactériologie de patients (⩾15 ans) de populations marginalisées en Inde, un quart avait eu un membre du foyer atteint de TB et un sur 10, un décès dû à la TB au sein du foyer. La contribution de la transmission domiciliaire à l'ensemble de la transmission de la TB est en faveur d'un bénéfice potentiel pour la population, du traitement préventif de la TB pour tous les membres du foyer (sans TB active). Les patients TB de sexe féminin ont une exposition domiciliaire à la TB significativement plus élevée que les hommes. Un traitement préventif de la TB ciblé (s'il est mis en œuvre par phases) sur les contacts féminins du foyer pourrait être évalué après avoir tenu compte des autres facteurs.

Attrition during pre-ART and ART time periods among adolescents enrolled in Integrated HIV Care Programme in Myanmar, 2005-2017.

Retaining adolescents (aged 10-19 years), living with HIV (ALHIV) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) is challenging. In Myanmar, 1269 ALHIV were under an Integrated HIV Care (IHC) Programme by June 2017 and their attrition (death and lost to follow-up) rates were not assessed before. We undertook a cohort study using routinely collected data of ALHIV enrolled into HIV care from July 2005 to June 2017 and assessed their attrition rates in June 2018 by time-to-event analysis. Of 1269 enrolled, 197(16%) and of 1054 initiated ART, 224 (21%) had an attrition defining event. The pre-ART and ART attrition rates were 21.8 (95% CI 19.0-25.1) and 6.4 (95% CI 5.6-7.3) per 100 person-years follow-up, respectively. The factors 'at enrolment' that were associated with higher hazards of attrition were: (1) WHO stage 3 or 4; (2) haemoglobin <10 gm/dl; (3) no documented CD4 cell counts, hepatitis B and C test results; and (4) injection drug use. Baseline hazards were high during the initial 1-2 years and after 5-6 years. The pre-ART and ART attrition rates in ALHIV were lower than those in Africa but higher than the children under IHC. This warrants designing and implementing additional care tailored to the needs of ALHIV under IHC.

Synthesis, spectral studies, DNA binding, photocleavage, antimicrobial and anticancer activities of isoindol Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes.

Three new Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes [Ru(phen)2CIIP]2+ (1) {CIIP = 2-(5-Chloro-3a H-Isoindol-3-yl)-1H-Imidazo[4,5-f][1, 10]phenantholine} (phen = 1, 10 phenanthroline), [Ru(bpy)2CIIP]2+ (2) (bpy = 2, 2' bipyridine) and [Ru(dmb)2CIIP]2+ (3) (dmb = 4, 4'-dimethyl 2, 2' bipyridine) were synthesized and characterized by different spectral methods. The DNA-binding behavior of these complexes was investigated by absorption, emission spectroscopic titration and viscosity measurements, indicating that these three complexes bind to CT-DNA in an intercalative mode, but binding affinities of these complexes were different. The DNA-binding constants Kb of complexes 1, 2 and 3 were calculated in the order of 106. All three complexes cleave pBR322 DNA in photoactivated cleavage studies and exhibit good antimicrobial activity. Anticancer activity of these Ru(II) complexes was evaluated in MCF7 cells. Cytotoxicity by MTT assay showed growth inhibition in a dose dependent manner. Cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry data showed an increase in Sub G1 population. Annexin V FITC/PI staining confirms that these complexes cause cell death by the induction of apoptosis.

IPT in people living with HIV in Myanmar: a five-fold decrease in incidence of TB disease and all-cause mortality.

SETTING: Myanmar, a country with a high human immunodeficiency virus-tuberculosis (HIV-TB) burden, where the tuberculin skin test or interferon-gamma release assays are not routinely available for the diagnosis of latent tuberculous infection. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of isoniazid (INH) preventive therapy (IPT) on the risk of TB disease and mortality among people living with HIV (PLHIV). DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study of routinely collected data on PLHIV enrolled into care between 2009 and 2014. RESULTS: Of 7177 patients (median age 36 years, interquartile range 31-42; 53% male) included in the study, 1278 (18%) patients received IPT. Among patients receiving IPT, 855 (67%) completed 6 or 9 months of INH. Patients who completed IPT had a significantly lower risk of incident TB than those who never received IPT (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.21, 95%CI 0.12-0.34) after controlling for potential confounders. PLHIV who received IPT had a significantly lower risk of death than those who never received IPT (PLHIV who completed IPT, aHR 0.25, 95%CI 0.16-0.37; those who received but did not complete IPT, aHR 0.55, 95%CI 0.37-0.82). CONCLUSION: Among PLHIV in Myanmar, completing a course of IPT significantly reduced the risk of TB disease, and receiving IPT significantly reduced the risk of death.

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

BACKGROUND: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of uncorrectable severe vision loss in people aged 55 years and older in the developed world. Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to AMD accounts for most cases of AMD-related severe vision loss. Intravitreous injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents aims to block the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the eye to prevent vision loss and, in some instances, to improve vision. OBJECTIVES: • To investigate ocular and systemic effects of, and quality of life associated with, intravitreous injection of three anti-VEGF agents (pegaptanib, ranibizumab, and bevacizumab) versus no anti-VEGF treatment for patients with neovascular AMD• To compare the relative effects of one of these anti-VEGF agents versus another when administered in comparable dosages and regimens SEARCH METHODS: To identify eligible studies for this review, we searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Trials Register (searched January 31, 2018); MEDLINE Ovid (1946 to January 31, 2018); Embase Ovid (1947 to January 31, 2018); the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature Database (LILACS) (1982 to January 31, 2018); the International Standard Randomized Controlled Trials Number (ISRCTN) Registry (www.isrctn.com/editAdvancedSearch - searched January 31, 2018); ClinicalTrials.gov (www.clinicaltrials.gov - searched November 28, 2018); and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) (www.who.int/ictrp/search/en - searched January 31, 2018). We did not impose any date or language restrictions in electronic searches for trials. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated pegaptanib, ranibizumab, or bevacizumab versus each other or versus a control treatment (e.g. sham treatment, photodynamic therapy), in which participants were followed for at least one year. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently screened records, extracted data, and assessed risks of bias. We contacted trial authors for additional data. We compared outcomes using risk ratios (RRs) or mean differences (MDs). We used the standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. MAIN RESULTS: We included 16 RCTs that had enrolled a total of 6347 participants with neovascular AMD (the number of participants per trial ranged from 23 to 1208) and identified one potentially relevant ongoing trial. Six trials compared anti-VEGF treatment (pegaptanib, ranibizumab, or bevacizumab) versus control, and 10 trials compared bevacizumab versus ranibizumab. Pharmaceutical companies conducted or sponsored four trials but funded none of the studies that evaluated bevacizumab. Researchers conducted these trials at various centers across five continents (North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia). The overall certainty of the evidence was moderate to high, and most trials had an overall low risk of bias. All but one trial had been registered prospectively.When compared with those who received control treatment, more participants who received intravitreous injection of any of the three anti-VEGF agents had gained 15 letters or more of visual acuity (risk ratio [RR] 4.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.32 to 7.55; moderate-certainty evidence), had lost fewer than 15 letters of visual acuity (RR 1.40, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.55; high-certainty evidence), and showed mean improvement in visual acuity (mean difference 6.7 letters, 95% CI 4.4 to 9.0 in one pegaptanib trial; mean difference 17.8 letters, 95% CI 16.0 to 19.7 in three ranibizumab trials; moderate-certainty evidence) after one year of follow-up. Participants treated with anti-VEGF agents showed improvement in morphologic outcomes (e.g. size of CNV, central retinal thickness) compared with participants not treated with anti-VEGF agents (moderate-certainty evidence). No trial directly compared pegaptanib versus another anti-VEGF agent and followed participants for one year; however, when compared with control treatments, ranibizumab and bevacizumab each yielded larger improvements in visual acuity outcomes than pegaptanib.Visual acuity outcomes after bevacizumab and ranibizumab were similar when the same RCTs compared the same regimens with respect to gain of 15 or more letters of visual acuity (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.12; high-certainty evidence) and loss of fewer than 15 letters of visual acuity (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.02; high-certainty evidence); results showed similar mean improvement in visual acuity (mean difference [MD] -0.5 letters, 95% CI -1.5 to 0.5; high-certainty evidence) after one year of follow-up, despite the substantially lower cost of bevacizumab compared with ranibizumab. Reduction in central retinal thickness was less among bevacizumab-treated participants than among ranibizumab-treated participants after one year (MD -11.6 µm, 95% CI -21.6 to -1.7; high-certainty evidence); however, this difference is within the range of measurement error, and we did not interpret it to be clinically meaningful.Ocular inflammation and increased intraocular pressure (IOP) after intravitreal injection were the most frequently reported serious ocular adverse events. Researchers reported endophthalmitis in less than 1% of anti-VEGF-treated participants and in no cases among control groups. The occurrence of serious systemic adverse events was comparable across anti-VEGF-treated groups and control groups; however, the numbers of events and trial participants may have been insufficient to show a meaningful difference between groups (evidence of low- to moderate-certainty). Investigators rarely measured and reported data on visual function, quality of life, or economic outcomes. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Results of this review show the effectiveness of anti-VEGF agents (pegaptanib, ranibizumab, and bevacizumab) in terms of maintaining visual acuity; studies show that ranibizumab and bevacizumab improved visual acuity in some eyes that received these agents and were equally effective. Available information on the adverse effects of each medication does not suggest a higher incidence of potentially vision-threatening complications with intravitreous injection of anti-VEGF agents compared with control interventions; however, clinical trial sample sizes were not sufficient to estimate differences in rare safety outcomes. Future Cochrane Reviews should incorporate research evaluating variable dosing regimens of anti-VEGF agents, effects of long-term use, use of combination therapies (e.g. anti-VEGF treatment plus photodynamic therapy), and other methods of delivering these agents.

Challenges and opportunities to prevent tuberculosis in people living with HIV in low-income countries.

People living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLHIV) are at high risk for tuberculosis (TB), and TB is a major cause of death in PLHIV. Preventing TB in PLHIV is therefore a key priority. Early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in asymptomatic PLHIV has a potent TB preventive effect, with even more benefits in those with advanced immunodeficiency. Applying the most recent World Health Organization recommendations that all PLHIV initiate ART regardless of clinical stage or CD4 cell count could provide a considerable TB preventive benefit at the population level in high HIV prevalence settings. Preventive therapy can treat tuberculous infection and prevent new infections during the course of treatment. It is now established that isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) combined with ART among PLHIV significantly reduces the risk of TB and mortality compared with ART alone, and therefore has huge potential benefits for millions of sufferers. However, despite the evidence, this intervention is not implemented in most low-income countries with high burdens of HIV-associated TB. HIV and TB programme commitment, integration of services, appropriate screening procedures for excluding active TB, reliable drug supplies, patient-centred support to ensure adherence and well-organised follow-up and monitoring that includes drug safety are needed for successful implementation of IPT, and these features would also be needed for future shorter preventive regimens. A holistic approach to TB prevention in PLHIV should also include other important preventive measures, such as the detection and treatment of active TB, particularly among contacts of PLHIV, and control measures for tuberculous infection in health facilities, the homes of index patients and congregate settings.

Study of the interaction of Co(III) polypyridyl complexes with DNA: an experimental and computational approach.

Three new cobalt(III) polypyridyl complexes, [Co(L - L)2IIP]3+ where IIP = 2-(2H-isoindol-1-yl)-2H-imidazo[4,5-f][1, 10]phenanthroline, L = 1) phen (1,10-phenanthroline), 2) bpy (2,2'bipyridyl), 3) dmb (4, 4-dimethyl 2, 2'-bipyridine) have been synthesized, characterized (UV -VIS, IR, 1HNMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy) and screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against E.coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. The binding of these complexes with calf-thymus DNA (CT-DNA) has been investigated by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, viscosity measurements. The experimental studies indicate that complexes bind to CT-DNA by means of intercalation, but with different binding affinities due to differences in the planarity of the ancillary ligand. The complexes promote photocleavage of plasmid DNA from super coiled form I to the open circular form II. The antibacterial activities suggest that the metal complexes are more active as compared to the prepared un-complexed IIP ligand. In addition, a conformational search was carried out by Molecular Dynamics Simulations, and docking revealed that complexes intercalate between base pairs of DNA. The experimental and computational approaches reveal that the length of the intercalator and the nature of ancillary ligand are highly important factors for DNA binding.

First principles calculations of the thermodynamic stability of Ba, Zr, and O vacancies in BaZrO3.

The temperature dependence of the stability of bulk BaZrO3 (BZO) and of the vacancies in this material are investigated by considering phonon contributions to the free energy. The stability diagram of BZO is determined for different chemical environments. With increasing temperature the stability region becomes smaller which is particularly caused by the strong temperature dependence of the chemical potential of gaseous oxygen. The free formation energy of Ba, Zr, and O vacancies in BZO is calculated for all possible charge states and for different atomic reservoirs. While the free formation energy of Zr vacancies is strongly influenced by temperature a weaker dependence is found for Ba and O vacancies. This also has an effect on the charge transition levels at different temperatures. The present results demonstrate that O poor reservoir conditions and a Fermi level close to the valence band maximum favour a high concentration of doubly positively charged O vacancies which is a prerequisite to get a large number of protonic defects and good proton conductivity. In such a chemical environment the number of Ba and Zr vacancies is low so that Ba and Zr deficiencies are not an important issue and BZO remains sufficiently stable.

Childhood TB in Myanmar: trends in notification, profile and treatment outcomes in the private sector.

SETTING: Myanmar National Tuberculosis (TB) programme (NTP). OBJECTIVE: To describe 1) the trends in childhood TB (aged ⩾ 14 years) notification from 2014 to 2017 and quantify the private sector contribution to this notification; and 2) the profile and treatment outcomes of childhood TB managed in the private sector in 2016. STUDY DESIGN: This was an observational study involving the review of routine records and reports of the NTP public-private mix (PPM) projects managed by the Myanmar Medical Association and Population Service International. RESULTS: The total number of childhood TB notified has declined from 36 314 in 2014 to 28 723 in 2017 (average annual decline = 2607 cases per year). The private sector contribution to the notification remained between 17% and 19%. Of the 5616 childhood TB cases diagnosed and treated under the two PPM projects in 2016, 99% were clinically diagnosed and 5459 (97.7%) had successful treatment outcomes. Children aged ⩾10 years, males, those with bacteriologically confirmed TB, those treated in the regions or states of Mandalay, Chin and Shan had a higher risk of an unfavourable outcome (lost to follow-up, death, move to second-line treatment and not evaluated). CONCLUSION: Childhood TB notification is showing a declining trend. One of five notified childhood TB cases was diagnosed and treated in the private sector, where the successful treatment rate was high.

How can integrated care and research assist in achieving the SDG targets for diabetes, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS?

Integrating the management and care of communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune-deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), and non-communicable diseases, particularly diabetes mellitus (DM), may help to achieve the ambitious health-related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3.3 and 3.4) by 2030. There are five important reasons to integrate. First, we need to integrate to prevent disease. In sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, HIV infection is the main driver of the TB epidemic, and antiretroviral therapy combined with isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) can reduce TB case notification rates. In Asia, DM is another important driver of the TB epidemic, and preventing or controlling DM can reduce the risk of TB. Second, we need to integrate to diagnose cases. Between a third to a half of those living with HIV, TB or DM do not know they have the disease, and bi-directional screening, whereby TB patients are screened for HIV and DM or people living with HIV and DM are screened for TB, can help to identify these 'missing cases'. Third, we need to integrate to better treat and manage patients who have a combination of two or more of these diseases, so that treatment success and retention on treatment can be optimised. Fourth, we should integrate to ensure better infection control practices for both TB and HIV infection in health facilities and congregate settings, such as prisons. Finally, we should integrate and learn how to monitor, record and report, particularly in relation to the cascade of events implicit in the HIV/AIDS and TB 90-90-90 targets.