Influence of Incorporated Barium Ion on the Physio-Chemical Properties of Zinc Oxide Nanodisks Synthesized via a Sonochemical Process.

Nanostructure materials are of interest in last few decades due to their unique size-dependent physio-chemical properties. In this paper, zinc oxide (ZnO) and barium doped ZnO nanodisks (NDs) were synthesized using sonochemical method and characterized by various techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), UV-vis absorption and dielectric measurements. The XRD and FTIR studies confirm the crystalline nature of ZnO NDs, and the average crystallite size was found to be ~25 nm for pure ZnO and ~22 nm for Ba doped ZnO NDs. SEM study confirmed the spherical shaped ZnO NDs with average sizes in the range of 20-30 nm. The maximum absorbance was obtained in the 200-500 nm regions with a prominent peak absorbance were observed by UV-vis spectra. The corresponding band gap for ZnO NDs and Ba doped ZnO NDs were calculated using Tauc's plot and was found to be 3.12 and 3.04, respectively. The conductivity and dielectric measurements as a function of frequency have been studied.

Effectiveness of isoniazid preventive therapy on incidence of tuberculosis among HIV-infected adults in programme setting.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: As India and other developing countries are scaling up isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) for people living with HIV (PLHIV) in their national programmes, we studied the feasibility and performance of IPT in terms of treatment adherence, outcome and post-treatment effect when given under programmatic settings. METHODS: A multicentre, prospective pilot study was initiated among adults living with HIV on isoniazid 300 mg with pyridoxine 50 mg after ruling out active tuberculosis (TB). Symptom review and counselling were done monthly during IPT and for six-month post-IPT. The TB incidence rate was calculated and risk factors were identified. RESULTS: Among 4528 adults living with HIV who initiated IPT, 4015 (89%) successfully completed IPT. IPT was terminated in 121 adults (3%) due to grade 2 or above adverse events. Twenty five PLHIVs developed TB while on IPT. The incidence of TB while on IPT was 1.17/100 person-years (p-y) [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8-1.73] as compared to TB incidence of 2.42/100 p-y (95% CI 1.90-3.10) during the pre-IPT period at these centres (P=0.017). The incidence of TB post-IPT was 0.64/100 p-y (95% CI 0.04-1.12). No single factor was significantly associated with the development of TB. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: Under programmatic settings, completion of IPT treatment was high, adverse events minimal with good post-treatment protection. After ruling out TB, IPT should be offered to all PLHIVs, irrespective of their antiretroviral therapy (ART) status. Scaling-up of IPT services including active case finding, periodic counselling on adherence and re-training of ART staff should be prioritized to reduce the TB burden in this community.

Effectiveness of symptom screening and incidence of tuberculosis among adults and children living with HIV infection in India.

BACKGROUND: WHO recommends the use of a simplified symptom-based algorithm for screening for tuberculosis (TB) among people living with HIV (PLHIV). We assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of this algorithm and determined the prevalence and incidence of TB among PLHIV attending antiretroviral treatment (ART) centres in India. METHODS: We did a prospective multicentric implementation research study in four states of India. To rule out TB, we administered the WHO symptom-screen algorithm to all PLHIV every month for 6 months. If they were found to be symptomatic any time during this period, they were referred for investigations for TB. A case of TB diagnosed during the first month of screening was taken as a prevalent case while those detected TB in the subsequent 5 months were considered cases of incident TB. We calculated the incidence rate using the person-years method. Results . Between May 2012 and October 2013, a total of 6099 adults and 1662 children living with HIV were screened for TB at the ART centres of four states. Of the 6099 adult PLHIV, 1815 (30%) had at least one symptom suggestive of TB, of whom only 634 (35%) were referred for investigations of TB. Of those referred, 97 (15%) PLHIV were diagnosed with TB. Overall, the prevalence of undiagnosed TB was 0.84 person-years and in the subsequent period, the incidence of TB was 2.4/100 person-years (95% CI 1.90-3.10). Among 1662 children, 434 (26%) had at least one symptom suggestive of TB. But only 57 (13%) children were referred for investigations of TB and 13 (23%) of them were diagnosed with TB. The prevalence of TB among children was 0.5% and its incidence among them was 2.7/100 person-years (95% CI 1.60-4.30). CONCLUSION: Prevalence and incidence of TB is high among PLHIV attending ART centres. This emphasizes the need to strengthen regular screening for symptoms of TB and further referral of those symptomatic for diagnosis of TB.

Weed hosts of cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae).

The exotic cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) invaded India during 2006, and caused widespread infestation across all nine cotton growing states. P. solenopsis also infested weeds that aided its faster spread and increased severity across cotton fields. Two year survey carried out to document host plants of P. solenopsis between 2008 and 2010 revealed 27, 83, 59 and 108 weeds belonging to 8, 18, 10 and 32 families serving as alternate hosts at North, Central, South and All India cotton growing zones, respectively. Plant species of four families viz., Asteraceae, Amaranthaceae, Malvaceae and Lamiaceae constituted almost 50% of the weed hosts. While 39 weed species supported P. solenopsis multiplication during the cotton season, 37 were hosts during off season. Higher number of weeds as off season hosts (17) outnumbering cotton season (13) at Central over other zones indicated the strong carryover of the pest aided by weeds between two cotton seasons. Six, two and seven weed hosts had the extreme severity of Grade 4 during cotton, off and cotton + off seasons, respectively. Higher number of weed hosts of P. solenopsis were located at roadside: South (12) > Central (8) > North (3) zones. Commonality of weed hosts was higher between C+S zones, while no weed host was common between N+S zones. Paper furnishes the wide range of weed hosts of P. solenopsis, discusses their significance, and formulated general and specific cultural management strategies for nationwide implementation to prevent its outbreaks.

Biology of the mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis on cotton in the laboratory.

Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) has been the current topic of research for insect taxonomists and applied entomologists in India due to its invasiveness, rapid spread, morphological and biological variations and the need for establishing an effective control strategy. The biology of the mealybug P. solenopsis was studied on cotton under laboratory conditions between August and October of 2009 with mean temperature and relative humidity of 23.3­30.2° C and 40.5­92.5% RH, respectively, in central India. Neonate crawlers that emerged from a field population were collected and constituted the study population. The developmental period from immature crawler to adult stage was greater for males (18.7 ± 0.9 days) compared to females (13.2 ± 1.8 days), probably due to the additional molt to the pupal stage in males. Survival of second instars was lower (45.5%) than first and third instars (71.4%). Females showed dynamic patterns of fecundity with the number of crawlers produced per female ranging between 128 and 812, with a mean of 344 ± 82. The reproductive period lasted 30.2 ± 8.2 days. Parthenogenesis with ovoviviparity (96.5%) was dominant over the oviparous (3.5%) mode of reproduction. Adult females lived 42.4 ± 5.7 days. Males accounted for less than 5% of the population, and lived 1.5 ± 0.1 days. The life history parameters of P. solenopsis adult females are discussed relative to the appearance of symptoms on the cotton crop, and the importance of making management interventions during the effective reproductive period of the insect.

Modifying effects of morin on the development of aberrant crypt foci and bacterial enzymes in experimental colon cancer.

Chemopreventive agents are used to diminish the morbidity and mortality of cancer by delaying the course of carcinogenesis. Formation of ACF and amplified activity of colon biotransforming enzymes were considered to be hallmarks of colon carcinogenesis. Morin, a bioflavonoid present in fruits and show various pharmacological and biological activities. Our present study, shows the modulatory effect of morin administration on 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rat colon, and fecal and mucosal biotransforming enzyme activities. A total of 64 rats were randomized into four groups. Group 1 served as control, groups 2 and 4 received 50mg/kg b.w. of morin intragastrically for the entire period of the study (30 weeks). Groups 3 and 4 received subcutaneous injection of DMH (20mg/kg b.w.) for 15 weeks. Rats were sacrificed at the end of 30 weeks. The incidence of tumors/polyps in the colon cancer of rats and treated with morin showed reduced incidence (40%) of tumors, as compared to DMH (100%) treated rats. Morin administration significantly reduced ACF formation and lowered the activities of fecal and mucosal biotransforming enzymes. Our findings suggest that morin (50mg/kg b.w.) may be a possible chemopreventive agent against colon cancer.