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BACKGROUND: Vancomycin is commonly used for nosocomial bacterial pathogens causing late-onset septicaemia in preterm infants. We prospectively collected pharmacokinetic data aiming to describe pharmacokinetics and determine covariates contributing to the variability in neonatal vancomycin pharmacokinetics. Further, we aimed to use the model to compare the ratio of AUC24 at steady-state to the MIC (AUC24,ss/MIC) of several intermittent and continuous dosing regimens. METHODS: Newborns receiving vancomycin for suspected or confirmed late-onset sepsis were included. Peak and trough concentrations for intermittent vancomycin dosing and steady-state concentrations for continuous vancomycin dosing were measured. NONMEM 7.3 was used for population pharmacokinetic analysis. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to compare dosing schemes. RESULTS: Data from 54 infants were used for model development and from 34 infants for the model evaluation {corrected gestational age [median (range)]?=?29 (23.7-41.9) weeks and 28 (23.4-41.7) weeks, respectively}. The final model was a one-compartment model. Weight and postmenstrual age were included a priori, and then no additional covariate significantly improved the model fit. Final model parameter estimates [mean (SEM)]: CL?=?5.7 (0.3) L/h/70 kg and V?=?39.3 (3.7) L/70 kg. Visual predictive check of the evaluation dataset confirmed the model can predict external data. Simulations using MIC of 1 mg/L showed that for neonates with gestational age =25 weeks and postnatal age =2 weeks AUC24,ss/MIC was lower with the intermittent regimen (median 482 versus 663). CONCLUSIONS: A population pharmacokinetic model for continuous and intermittent vancomycin administration in infants was developed. Continuous administration might be favourable for treating infections caused by resistant microorganisms in very young and immature infants.

Mesoporous Tubular TiO2 nanostructures were synthesised under hydrothermal condition in weak alkaline medium using high surface area mesoporous anatase TiO2 nanoparticles as seeds. These anatase TiO2 nanoparticles react with weak NaOH under hydrothermal conditions to form sheet like structures. By treating these sheets with dilute HCl multilayered nanotubes were obtained. X-ray diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, N2 sorption analysis were used for the physical characterization of the material. These nanotubes were applied as anode material for Dye-sensitized solar cell and an increase of 7.86% in current density is observed as compared to the commercial paste (Solaronix Ti-Nanoxide T/SC).

Background: Several studies pertaining to current status of Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Programme in India have revealed goiter prevalence in the range of 1.5–44.5%, mean urinary iodine excretion level ranging from 92.5–160 mcg/L and iodized salt coverage ranging from 37–62.3%. Most of these studies were based on school children. However, very few studies have focused on pregnant women. This population is very sensitive to marginalized iodine deficiency throughout their gestational period. Methods: This 40 cluster cross sectional study was done in Raipur district. Iodine content of salt was estimated by using “Rapid Salt Testing Kits” along with observing salt storage practices, at household and in shops. Pregnant women were interviewed by using semi structured comprehensive questionnaire, which was based on knowledge attitude, and practices about salt use pattern and awareness about IDDCP, UIE level were also estimated. Results: Prevalence of goiter was 0.17%. Many (41.12%) pregnant women had

Summary Standardization of anaesthetic equipment is needed for safe anaesthetic practice. Various organizations and regulatory bodies have been made throughout world to formulate and control standards for anaesthesia equipment including endotracheal tubes. All endotracheal tubes must conform to ASTM standards. This has medico-legal importance also. Regulatory bodies should look after the whole process right from the manufacturers to the actual users. The Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists promotes safe anaesthetic practice, by establishing purchase guidelines for equipments and drugs. It is working in collaboration with World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists. Standards have made anaesthesia and critical care equipment much safer over the years. There is need to form standards for various equipment in India.

Intraparenchymal pericatheter cyst is a rare complication of shunt surgery. It occurs as a consequence of increased CSF outflow resistance distal to a patent ventricular catheter. Treatment has traditionally consisted of shunt revision. We report on two such cases managed conservatively. The role of shunt revisions in cases with asymptomatic intraparenchymal pericatheter cyst is debatable.

In the conventional method of measuring photon-energy albedo using a scintillation detector coupled with a multichannel analyzer, tedious efficiency correction by the inverse matrix method was needed. The indigenously designed proportional-response photon counter, with its detection efficiency proportional to energy of incident photons, was used in the present investigation. Use of the proportional-response photon counter makes the measurement straightforward and more accurate. Measurements of energy albedo from stratified layers of aluminum, iron, lead, and concrete using 662-keV and 1250-keV photon energies are reported.

Ad-hoc networks using Bluetooth technology has gained immense popularity among the networking community. Nowadays electronic devices like cell phones come shipped with Bluetooth. Whereas Bluetooth technology has certain obvious advantages like low power consumption and reliable connection but it suffers some inherent problems including low area of operation, limit of 7 slave devices per master device. 802.11 technology on the other hand, has a wider area of operation and therefore very useful as access points and higher bandwidth to the order of 11 Mbps in 802.11b. But 802.11 have higher power consumption than Bluetooth. Cellular networks have a much wider coverage in geographical area than 802.11. Complementing Bluetooth with 802.11 and cellular network technology like GPRS would solve the shortcomings of these three technologies. With this idea we designed a handoff system called BlueMobile to integrate Bluetooth, 802.11 and GPRS technologies, by introduction of a simple extension to the already existing mobile IP implementation.