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Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is one of the most prevalent gastro intestinal disorder which often leads to painful sores in the stomach lining and intestinal bleeding. Untreated Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is one of the major reasons for chronic PUD which, if left untreated, may also result in gastric cancer. Treatment of H. pylori is always a challenge to the treating doctor because of the poor bioavailability of the drug at the inner layers of gastric mucosa where the bacteria resides. This results in ineffective therapy and antibiotic resistance. Current treatment regimens available for gastric ulcer and H. pylori infection uses a combination of multiple antimicrobial agents, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), H2-receptor antagonists, dual therapy, triple therapy, quadruple therapy and sequential therapy. This polypharmacy approach leads to patient noncompliance during long term therapy. Management of H. pylori induced gastric ulcer is a burning issue that necessitates alternative treatment options. Novel formulation strategies such as extended-release gastro retentive drug delivery systems (GRDDS) and nanoformulations have the potential to overcome the current bioavailability challenges. This review discusses the current status of H. pylori treatment, their limitations and the formulation strategies to overcome these shortcomings. Authors propose here an innovative strategy to improve the H. pylori eradication efficiency.

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the consumer-centric business model for rooftop solar PV installations in India. We explore areas where potential policy interventions may be introduced to improve collective stakeholder benefits and incentivize more domestic consumers to adopt rooftop solar power generation in their premises. The proposed policy framework optimizes Feed-in Tariff (FiT) rates, PV capacities and Average Billing Rates (ABRs) towards maximizing stakeholder benefits. The stakeholders considered are the consumers/prosumers and the utility. Case studies with three residential prosumers of different demand and generation profiles are presented. The models for utility profit and prosumer savings are developed, and a multi-objective problem is formulated with FiT, generation capacity (as a function of demand) and ABR as decision variables. The pareto-optimal front is identified for prosumer and utility benefits and suitable points with reasonable tradeoffs are selected based on sensitivity analysis of the impact on collective welfare. The suitability of prevailing tariff and FiT rates of two Indian utilities namely, MSEDCL and TATA POWER, Delhi are studied, and their impact on prosumer savings and utility profits is brought out. The workflow to fix tariff, FiT and local PV capacities in active residential distribution systems is devised, providing the policymakers an effective decision-making tool.

THIS ARTICLE WAS RETRACTED AFTER A PLAGIARISM INVESTIGATIONObjective: To assess the incidence, severity pattern, causality, predictability and preventability of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and to identify risk factors for adverse drug reactions in highly active antiretroviral therapy.Methods: Enrolled patients were intensively monitored for ADRs to highly active antiretroviral therapy. Predictability was assessed based on history of previous exposure to the drug or literature incidence of ADRs. Preventability was assessed using Schumock and Thornton criteria and severity was assessed using modified Hartwig and Siegel scale. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify the risk factors for ADRs.Results: Monitoring of 130 retropositive patients by active pharmacovigilance identified 74 ADRs from 57 patients. Anemia and hepatotoxicity were the most commonly observed ADRs. The organ system commonly affected by ADR was red blood cell (21.4%).The ADRs were moderate in 77% of cases. Type A reactions (77%) were more common. A total of 10.8% ADRs were definitely preventable. The incidence rate of ADRs (65.9%) was highest with Zidovudine + Lamivudine + Nevirapine combination. A total of 84% interruptions to highly active antiretroviral therapy were due to toxicity. CD4 less than 200 cells/µl, female gender and tuberculosis were observed as risk factors for ADRs.Conclusion: Incidence of ADRs in intensively monitored patients was found to be 43.8%. Anemia in HIV patients is an influential risk factor for occurrence of ADRs. With the increasing access to antiretroviral in India, clinicians must focus on early detection and prevention of ADRs to highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Background : Calcium phosphate cements (CPC) are apparently good candidates for periodontal treatment by virtue of their biocompatibility, mouldability and osteoconductivity. However, the clinical efficacy in this regard has not been established. This study is aimed at the evaluation of the efficacy of a formulation of CPC in healing human periodontal intraosseous defects in comparison with hydroxyapatite ceramic granules. Materials and Methods : In this clinical study, 60 patients with periodontal defects were divided into 2 test groups and 1 control group. The defect sites in the test groups were repaired with CPC and hydroxyapatite ceramic granules (HAG). Debridement alone was given in the control group. The progress was assessed at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months observation intervals through soft tissue parameters (probing depth, attachment level and gingival recession). Results: CPC showed significantly better outcome. Probing depth reduction values of CPC, HAG and Control at 6 months were 5.40 ± 1.43, 3.75 ± 1.71 and 2.90 ± 1.48, and those at 12 months were 6.20 ± 1.80, 4.5 ± 1.91 and 2.95 ± 1.73. Clinical attachment gain values of CPC, HAG and Control at 6 months were 5.15 ± 1.50, 3.45 ± 1.96 and 2.25 ± 1.52, and those at 12 months were 5.80 ± 2.02, 3.55 ± 2.06 and 2.30 ± 1.78, In both cases the P value was < 0.001 showing high significance. The gingival recession over 12 months, for the CPC group is lesser than that in the HAG group and the value for the control group is marginally higher than both. Soft-tissue measurements were appended by postoperative radiographs and surgical re-entry in selected cases. Conclusions: Calcium phosphate cement is found to be significantly better than hydroxyapatite ceramic granules. The material could be considered as a "barrier-graft".

SettingsKerala State, India has reported the greatest dual burden of Tuberculosis (TB) and Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Malappuram district in Kerala has monitored and recorded DM status and its control from 2010 under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP).ObjectivesTo assess, under programme conditions, comprehensiveness of recording DM status among TB cases and the TB treatment outcomes among DM patients (disaggregated by glycemic control) and compare with-non DM patients.DesignThis retrospective record review included 3,116TB patients from April 2010 to September 2011.DM was defined as per international guidelines and TB treatment outcomes were categorized as favourable(cured and treatment completed) and unfavourable(death, default, failure and transfer out). Relative Risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals(CI) were calculated to assess the risk of unfavourable outcomes.ResultsDM status was recorded in 90% of TB cases and 667 (24%) had DM. 17% of DM patients and 23% of patients with unknown DM status had unfavourable outcomes but this difference was not statistically significant. Unadjusted RR for poor glycemic control or unknown control status for unfavourable outcome were (2.00; 95% CI 0.97-4.13) and (2.14; 95% CI 1.11-4.13).ConclusionThis study could not confirm an adverse association between DM or its control during treatment and the course of response to TB treatment.DM screening in TB cases and recording of DM care needs to be improved to enable more conclusive evidence.

Bacterial nanocellulose is an innovative material that has the potential to revolutionize various aspects of dentistry. This unique form of cellulose produced by certain bacterial strains possesses exceptional properties that make it a promising candidate for a wide range of dental applications. The synthesis process of BNC plays a pivotal role in determining a material's unique properties making it a fascinating subject to know more about. This concise review provides insights into the key aspects of Bacterial nanocellulose synthesis and production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]