Improved anti-inflammatory effect of curcumin by designing self-emulsifying drug delivery system.

The purpose of the present study was to prepare and evaluate self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) of curcumin (Cur) to enhance its solubility and percentage release for the evaluation of anti-inflammatory effect. Curcumin loaded SEDDS formulation was prepared, and zones of self-emulsification were recognized by dilution method for the construction of phase diagram. Lauroglycol FCC, tween 80 (surfactant), and transcutol HP (co-surfactant) were selected based on their solubility and highest emulsion region in phase diagram. Thermodynamic stability of Cur-SEDDS was calculated through globule size, zeta potential, polydispersity index (PDI), viscosity, and pH. Cur-SEDDS were also characterized by encapsulation efficiency (EE %), FT-IR, in vitro release, and in vivo anti-inflammatory effect. Results revealed that droplet size of Cur-SEDDS was 19.77 ± 0.03 nm with their PDI 0.22 ± 0.19, zeta potential -19.33 ± 0.94 and viscosity 25.68 ± 0.86 cp. EE % of Cur-SEDDS was found to be 94.99 ± 0.38%, percentage release 65.83% compared with pure Cur powder. The designed formulation possesses significant anti-inflammatory activity in paw edema when compared with positive control in carrageenan induced rat paw edema assay. Newly developed Cur-SEDDS with enhanced Cur solubility, percentage release, and better anti-inflammatory action may be an alternative source of oral delivery of Cur.

Genetic polymorphism in association with susceptibility to tuberculosis: a study in a Pakistani population.

Tuberculosis is becoming a global issue with raising occurrences; particularly in developing countries, the situation is alarming. Besides environmental factors, host genetic factors are vital in disease development. A demographical and genotypic analysis in relation to tuberculosis commencement is conducted in a Pakistani population, and genotypic frequency of EBI3 (rs4740) was analyzed. Allelic frequencies of EBI3 (rs4740) were significantly associated with disease susceptibility in the reviewed population. Analysis for EBI3 (rs4740) genotyping showed a significant association of "GG" with reduced risk for disease. Moreover, females and older age found to be more perilous to develop TB while smoking and a family history of TB are additional risk factors for disease development. Further work with a larger population is necessary to identify the true causative variants of tuberculosis.

Protocol of a Pilot Study of Technology-Enabled Coproduction in Pediatric Chronic Illness Care.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric chronic illness care models are traditionally organized around acute episodes of care and may not meet the needs of patients and their families. Interventions that extend the patient-clinician interaction beyond the health care visit, allow for asynchronous and bidirectional feedback loops that span visits and daily life, and facilitate seamless sharing of information are needed to support a care delivery system that is more collaborative, continuous, and data-driven. Orchestra is a mobile health technology platform and intervention designed to transform the management of chronic diseases by optimizing patient-clinician coproduction of care. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of the Orchestra technology and intervention in the context of pediatric chronic illness care. METHODS: This study will be conducted in the cystic fibrosis and inflammatory bowel disease clinics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. We will enroll interested patients and their caregivers to work with clinicians to use the Orchestra technology platform and care model over a 6-month period. In parallel, we will use quality improvement methods to improve processes for integrating Orchestra into clinic workflows and patient/family lifestyles. We will use surveys, interviews, technology use data, and measures of clinical outcomes to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of Orchestra. Outcome measures will include assessments of: (1) enrollment and dropout rates; (2) duration of engagement/sustained use; (3) symptom and patient-reported outcome tracker completion rates; (4) perceived impact on treatment plan, communication with the clinical team, visit preparation, and overall care; (5) changes in disease self-efficacy and engagement in care; and (6) clinical outcomes and health care utilization. RESULTS: Participant recruitment began in mid-2015, with results expected in 2017. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic disease management needs a dramatic transformation to support more collaborative, effective, and patient-centered care. This study is unique in that it is testing not only the impact of technology, but also the necessary processes that facilitate patient and clinician collaboration. This pilot study is designed to examine how technology-enabled coproduction can be implemented in real-life clinical contexts. Once the Orchestra technology and intervention are optimized to ensure feasibility and acceptability, future studies can test the effectiveness of this approach to improve patient outcomes and health care value.

Diversity, Community Composition and Abundance of Anammox Bacteria in Sediments of the North Marginal Seas of China.

Over the past few decades, anammox bacteria have been recognized as key players that contribute significantly to the release of large amounts of nitrogen in the global marine nitrogen cycle. In the present study, the diversity, community composition, and abundance of anammox bacteria from the sediments of four diverse regions in the north marginal seas in China were determined via clone library construction and a quantitative PCR analysis. The clone libraries retrieved by the 16S rRNA gene and Hzo gene markers indicated that "Candidatus Scalindua" was the predominant group throughout the sites examined. The 16S rRNA gene clone libraries revealed exceptional diversity by identifying two potential novel anammox clades, as evidenced by the high sequence similarities between these two clades and known anammox genera, and their unique phylogenetic positions with high bootstrap values. However, their potential roles in the anammox reaction need to be validated. Six novel members of Planctomycetes, divergent from the known genera of anammox bacteria, were also detected. A phylogenetic analysis by Hzo protein sequences revealed the existence of two known genera, i.e., "Candidatus Jettenia" and "Candidatus Anammoxoglobus", which are rarely captured from marine sediments. Among all ecological parameters investigated, the distribution patterns and composition of anammox bacteria were found to be influenced by salinity, total organic matter, and temperature. The abundance of the anammox bacterial 16S rRNA gene from the sites examined ranged between 3.95×10(5) and 9.21×10(5) copies g(-1) wet sediment and positively correlated with the median size of the sediment sample.

Flavirhabdus iliipiscaria gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from intestine of flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) and emended descriptions of the genera Flavivirga, Algibacter, Bizionia and Formosa.

A Gram-stain-negative, orange-coloured, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain Th68(T), was isolated from the intestine of flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). The isolate required sea salts for growth. Gliding motility was not observed. Flexirubin-type pigments were present. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain Th68(T) represented a distinct phyletic line within the family Flavobacteriaceae with less than 96.1% similarity to members of the recognized genera of the family. The DNA G+C content was 33.0 mol%. The major fatty acids were iso-C(15 : 0), iso-C(15 : 1) G, iso-C(17 : 0) 3-OH and iso-C(15 : 0) 3-OH. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminolipids and two unidentified polar lipids. Menaquinone 6 (MK-6) was the only respiratory quinone. On the basis of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain Th68(T) represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Flavobacteriaceae , for which the name Flavirhabdus iliipiscaria gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Flavirhabdus iliipiscaria is Th68(T) ( = JCM 18637(T) = KCTC 32141(T)).

Ichthyenterobacterium magnum gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus).

A novel marine bacterium isolated from the intestine of cultured flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) was studied by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The isolate was Gram-stain-negative, pleomorphic, aerobic, yellow and oxidase- and catalase-negative. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that isolate Th6(T) formed a distinct branch within the family Flavobacteriaceae and showed 96.6% similarity to its closest relative, Bizionia hallyeonensis T-y7(T). The DNA G+C content was 29 mol%. The major respiratory quinone was MK-6. The predominant fatty acids were iso-C(15 : 1) G, iso-C(15 : 0), iso-C(15 : 0) 3-OH, iso-C(17 : 0) 3-OH and summed feature 3 (C(15 : 1)ω6c and/or C(16 : 1)ω7c). On the basis of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics, the novel bacterium has been assigned to a novel species of a new genus for which the name Ichthyenterobacterium magnum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Th6(T) ( = JCM 18636(T) = KCTC 32140(T)).

Bacteriological patterns and antibiotic sensitivities in calculus cholecystitis.

BACKGROUND: Calculus cholecystitis with its complications dominates the diseases of the biliary tract. There is an inherent difficulty in identifying patients having infected gall bladders who may have the risk of wound infection or gram negative septicaemia after cholecystectomy. This study was conducted to ascertain the bacteriological patterns and antibiotic sensitivities of bile in calculus cholecystitis patients presenting at a tertiary care hospital and formulate guidelines for prophylactic antibiotic therapy. METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted in Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi from 20th Dec 2006 to 19th Sep 2008. A total number of 150 patients presenting at CMH Rawalpindi for elective cholecystectomy were included in the study. Prophylactic antibiotics were given after the induction of anaesthesia, 5 ml of bile was aspirated from their intact gall bladder was subjected to bacteriological examination at Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. A pro forma was designed to record all the information regarding isolated bacteria and their sensitivities to various antibiotics. Data was analyzed using SPSS-11. RESULTS: Growth of bacteria was seen in 57 (38%) cases and no growth was seen in 93 (62%). Most common organism cultured was: Pseudomonas aeruginosa followed by Escherichia coli (E. Coli) and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The most effective antibiotic was Imipenem followed by Piperacillin- Tazobactum combination and Amikacin. CONCLUSIONS: Imipenem, Piperacillin-Tazobactum combination and Amikacin should be used for prophylaxis in cases of cholelithiasis undergoing elective cholecystectomy.