Why do patients with DR-TB do not complete their treatment? Findings of a qualitative study from Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: One of the major reasons for unsuccessful treatment outcomes among patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is the high rate of loss to follow-up (LTFU). However, in Pakistan, no qualitative study has been conducted to explore the perceptions of LTFU patients with regard to DR-TB treatment, the problems they face and the reasons for LTFU in detail. METHODS: This was a qualitative study that involved semistructured, indepth, face-to-face interviews of 39 LTFU patients with DR-TB. All interviews were carried out in Pakistan's national language 'Urdu' using an interview guide in two phases: the first phase was from December 2020 to February 2021 among patients with extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis and the second phase from July 2021 to September 2021 among patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. RESULTS: The inductive thematic analysis of audio-recorded interviews generated the following four key themes, which were the major reasons reported by the participants of the current study to have led to LTFU: (1) patient-related factors, such as lack of awareness about the total duration of DR-TB treatment, fatigue from previous multiple failed episodes, lack of belief in treatment efficacy and perception of DR-TB as a non-curable disease; (2) medication-related factors, such as use of injectables, high pill burden, longer duration and adverse events; (3) socioeconomic factors, such as gender discrimination, poor socioeconomic conditions, non-supportive family members, social isolation and unemployment; and (4) service provider-related factors, such as distant treatment centres, non-availability of a qualified person, lack of adequate counselling and poor attitude of healthcare professionals. CONCLUSION: In the current study, patients' perceptions about DR-TB treatment, socioeconomic condition, medication and service provider-related factors emerged as barriers to the successful completion of DR-TB treatment. Increasing patients' awareness about the duration of DR-TB treatment, interacting sessions with successfully treated patients, availability of rapid drug susceptibility testing facilities at treatment centres, decentralising treatment and using the recently recommended all-oral regimen may further decrease the rate of LTFU.

Orbital Onset: The Intricate Journey From Ear Abscess to Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis in a Diabetic Male.

Cavernous sinus thrombosis (CST) is a rare, yet severe condition often linked to infections in the nasal and facial areas. We present a case of a 43-year-old male farmer with diabetes who initially showed ear abscess symptoms that progressed to vision loss and CST-like symptoms. Self-treatment and an unidentified medication regimen may have worsened his condition. Advanced diagnostic evaluations, particularly magnetic resonance imaging with magnetic resonance venography, confirmed CST, likely originating from the ear infection spreading to the eyes, causing bilateral orbital cellulitis. Treatment with antibiotics, anticoagulants, and supportive therapy stabilized the patient's condition. This case emphasizes the importance of early detection and intervention in CST, especially in atypical presentations, and the need for comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Preparation and in Vitro Evaluation of Tamoxifen-Conjugated, Eco-Friendly, Agar-Based Hybrid Magnetic Nanoparticles for Their Potential Use in Breast Cancer Treatment.

Tamoxifen is the drug of choice as hormonal therapy for hormone receptor-positive breast cancers and can reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence. However, oral tamoxifen has a low bioavailability due to liver and intestinal metabolic passes. To overcome this problem and utilize the potential of this drug to its maximum, inorganic nanoparticle carriers have been exploited and tested to increase its bioavailability. Biocompatibility and unique magnetic properties make iron oxide nanoparticles an excellent choice as a drug delivery system. In this study, we developed and tested a "green synthesis" approach to synthesize iron nanoparticles from green tea extract and coated them with agar for longer stability (AG-INPs). Later, these hybrid nanoparticles were conjugated with tamoxifen (TMX). By using this approach, we synthesized stable agar-coated tamoxifen-conjugated iron nanoparticles (TMX-AG-INPs) and characterized them with Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The average particle size of AG-INPs was 26.8 nm, while the average particle size of tamoxifen-loaded iron nanoparticles, TMX-AG-INPs, was 32.1 nm, as measured by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The entrapment efficiency of TMX-AG-INPs obtained by the drug release profile was 88%, with a drug loading capacity of 43.5%. TMX-AG-INPs were significantly (p < 0.001) efficient in killing breast cancer cells when tested in vitro on the established breast cancer cell line MCF-7 by cell viability assay, indicating their potential to control cell proliferation.

Renal Effects of High-Dose Versus Low-Dose Lisinopril in Patients With Diabetic Nephropathy.

Background The present study was conducted to assess the renal effects of high dose versus low dose lisinopril in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Methodology A prospective observational study was conducted at the Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, between July 1, 2019, to January 1, 2020. Patients were divided into two groups. Group A patients were administered a low dose (5 mg per day) of Lisinopril and group B were administered a higher dose of therapy (20 mg/day) for three months. At the end of the study, baseline renal functions, electrolytes, and status of microalbuminuria were compared with follow-up values. The primary outcome was to assess the change in microalbuminuria levels in patients at baseline, one month, and three months of therapy. Results A total of 72 patients were included in group A (low dose) and 72 patients were enrolled in group B (high dose). The mean ages of group A and group B were 56.3 ± 12.9 years and 53.48 ± 12.2 years, respectively. The majority of the patients in the groups were male. At baseline, the mean microalbuminuria levels in the two groups were not significantly different however, at three months post treatment, the levels were significantly much lower in high dose patients as compared to patients who were on low dose lisinopril (146.06 ± 23.89 vs. 184.69 ± 26.27; p < 0.0001). The three-month urea levels were significantly lower in group A as compared to group B (38.91 ± 7.07 vs. 43.26 ± 3.02; p = 0.008). Three-month creatinine and potassium levels were not significantly different between the groups (p = 0.7 and 0.12, respectively).  Conclusion Our study revealed that even though group B (high dose lisinopril) had significantly reduced microalbuminuria, the urea levels were found to be higher in this cohort of patients as compared to group A patients on low-dose lisinopril. Moreover, the majority of the patients in group B reported significant improvements in blood pressure control as compared to group A, which indicated that a high dose of lisinopril is more effective in patients with diabetic nephropathy than a low dose of lisinopril. The levels of creatinine after three months of treatment did not differ significantly. Further randomized trials are warranted in order to ascertain the effectiveness of high dose of lisinopril in patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Raman spectroscopic characterization of selenium N-heterocyclic carbene compounds.

In this study, Raman spectroscopy is employed to analyze and characterize two salts (N-heterocyclic carbene) and their respective selenium N-heterocyclic carbene compounds. The features observed as differences among Raman spectral data of two different N-heterocyclic carbene salts are called Salt-I and Salt-II and their respective Se compounds, called Compound-I & Compound-II, are used to confirm the formation covalent bond between Se atom carbon atom of carbene. Enhancement in peak intensities and shifting of peak positions is directly related with compound formation. Raman spectral data provide a detail information about bond formation, chemical and structural differences between salts and compounds. The observed Raman spectral features of both salts and compounds are in consistent with computationally calculated Raman spectral features. Raman spectral features of each salt and its respective compound was further analyzed with principal component analysis, which was found helpful for differentiating each salt from its respective compound.