Early diagnosis and effective treatment regimens are the keys to tackle antimicrobial resistance in tuberculosis (TB): A report from Euroscicon's international TB Summit 2016

To say that tuberculosis (TB) has regained a strong foothold in the global human health and wellbeing scenario would be an understatement. Ranking alongside HIV/AIDS as the top reason for mortality due to a single infectious disease, the impact of TB extends far into socio-economic context worldwide. As global efforts led by experts and political bodies converge to mitigate the predicted outcome of growing antimicrobial resistance, the academic community of students, practitioners and researchers have mobilised to develop integrated, inter-disciplinary programmes to bring the plans of the former to fruition. Enabling this crucial requirement for unimpeded dissemination of scientific discovery was the TB Summit 2016, held in London, United Kingdom. This report critically discusses the recent breakthroughs made in diagnostics and treatment while bringing to light the major hurdles in the control of the disease as discussed in the course of the 3-day international event. Conferences and symposia such as these are the breeding grounds for successful local and global collaborations and therefore must be supported to expand the understanding and outreach of basic science research.

Repurposing drugs for treatment of tuberculosis: a role for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

INTRODUCTION

The number of cases of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), has risen rapidly in recent years. This has led to the resurgence in repurposing existing drugs, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), for anti-TB treatment.

SOURCES OF DATA

Evidence from novel drug screening in vitro, in vivo, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics analyses and clinical trials has been used for the preparation of this systematic review of the potential of NSAIDs for use as an adjunct in new TB chemotherapies.

AREAS OF AGREEMENT

Certain NSAIDs have demonstrated inhibitory properties towards actively replicating, dormant and drug-resistant clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis cells.

AREAS OF CONTROVERSY

NSAIDs are a diverse class of drugs, which have reported off-target activities, and their endogenous antimicrobial mechanism(s) of action is still unclear.

GROWING POINTS

It is essential that clinical trials of NSAIDs continue, in order to assess their suitability for addition to the current TB treatment regimen. Repurposing molecules such as NSAIDs is a vital, low-risk strategy to combat the trend of rapidly increasing antibiotic resistance.

Controllable gold nanoparticle deposition on carbon nanotubes and their application in immunosensing

A CNT–AuNPs hybrid nanocomposite platform was prepared from nanodisperse AuNPs in N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylenediamine (EDAS) sol–gel matrices with purified MWCNT.

The effect of tinted spectacle lenses on contrast sensitivity and colour vision

Aim: Spectacle wearers often prefer tintedlenses to clear or non-tinted lenses for their protection against harmful radiation, improved cos-mesis, enhancement of visual performance and effects on colour vision. Among the available tinted lenses on the market blue, brown and grey tinted spectacle lenses are popular with varying gradesranging from A to D. Due to reduced transmission of light through such lenses, the optical system of the eyes and the environmental vision may be temporarily altered. Colour vision (CV) and con-trast sensitivity (CS) are important aspects of this altered visual world. This study investigated the effect of spectacle lenses of varying grades of tint on CS and CV.Method: The study adopted a pre- and postest research design and a sample of 90 participants were selected from the University of KwaZulu-Natal student population using convenience sam-ling. Each participant was screened for patholgy, dyschromatopsia, severe dry eyes (TBUT<5 seconds), and the presence of any more than low metropia. Thereafter each successful participant was tested for CS and CV with their habitual precription and then tested randomly with a white clear) lens (placebo) and tinted (blue, brown, and grey) spectacle lenses made of CR39 material each having grades A, B and C over their habitual state. Light transmission was 85%, 75%, and 50% for grades A, B, and C respectively. The Functional Acuity Contrast Test (FACT) chart and American Optical Hardy, Rand, and Rittler (AO HRR) were used for the assessment of CS and CV respectively.Results: The data was analysed using the Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS) version18. Compared to the habitual state, contrast sensitivity was enhanced with all the tinted lensesThe greater enhancement was for low spatial frequencies (LSF) and least for high spatial frequencies (HSF). With all tints Grade C had the least enhancement for very HSF. Many subjects showed no change in CV with any of the lensesused. The grey tint showed greater enhancement of CV as the density increases. Blue and brown tints showed a similar trend with grade B enhancing CV the most while grade C resulted in theleast reduction of CV.Conclusion: Grade A, B, and C of blue, brown and grey tinted spectacle lenses do not alter colour vision significantly but for the selected levels of transmission of the tints used, contrast sensitivity can be improved to some extent. 

Paediatric trauma epidemiology in an urban scenario in India

PURPOSES

To identify the epidemiology of paediatric trauma in an urban scenario of India and compare results with studies from developed countries, and to formulate preventive measures to decrease such traumas.

METHODS

Between January 2004 and 2005 inclusive, 500 paediatric, orthopaedic trauma patients presenting to our hospital were prospectively studied. Information was recorded in a prescribed proforma.

RESULTS

The children's ages ranged from 0 to 16 years; 274 were males. Most fractures occurred in children aged 7 to 12 years and decreased in older children. The ratio of fractures in left versus right upper extremity was 2:1. In children aged 0 to 6 years, the most common injured site was the elbow, whereas in children aged 7 to 16 years it was the distal radius. In descending order, most injuries were sustained at home (47%), in school (21%), due to sports (17%), and due to vehicular accidents (13%).

CONCLUSION

An effective accident prevention programme in developing countries requires changes in lifestyle and environment, and overcoming obstacles such as ignorance, illiteracy, and inadequate resources.