Inrad Optics (United States)

A series of newer previously synthesized fluorinated chalcones and their 2-amino-pyridine-3-carbonitrile and 2-amino-4H-pyran-3-carbonitrile derivatives were screened for their in vitro antitubercular activity and in silico methods. Compound 40 (MIC~ 8 μM) was the most potent among all 60 compounds, whose potency is comparable with broad spectrum antibiotics like ciprofloxacin and streptomycin and three times more potent than pyrazinamide. Additionally, compound 40 was also less selective and hence non-toxic towards the human live cell lines-LO2 in its MTT assay. Compounds 30, 27, 50, 41, 51, and 60 have exhibited streptomycin like activity (MIC~16-18 μM). Fluorinated chalcones, pyridine and pyran derivatives were found to occupy prime position in thymidylate kinase enzymatic pockets in molecular docking studies. The molecule 40 being most potent had shown a binding energy of -9.67 Kcal/mol, while docking against thymidylate kinase, which was compared with its in vitro MIC value (~8 μM). These findings suggest that 2-aminopyridine-3-carbonitrile and 2-amino-4H-pyran-3-carbonitrile derivatives are prospective lead molecules for the development of novel antitubercular drugs.

BackgroundThis document describes a research protocol for a study designed to estimate the impact of implementing a reminder system for medical providers on the use of isoniazid preventative therapy (IPT) for adults living with HIV in western Kenya. People living with HIV have a 5% to 10% annual risk of developing active tuberculosis (TB) once infected with TB bacilli, compared to a 5% lifetime risk in HIV-negative people with latent TB infection. Moreover, people living with HIV have a 20-fold higher risk of dying from TB. A growing body of literature suggests that IPT reduces overall TB incidence and is therefore of considerable benefit to patients and the larger community. However, in 2009, of the estimated 33 million people living with HIV, only 1.7 million (5%) were screened for TB, and about 85,000 (0.2%) were offered IPT.Methods/DesignThis study will examine the use of clinical decision-support reminders to improve rates of initiation of preventative treatment in a TB/HIV co-morbid population living in a TB endemic area. This will be a pragmatic, parallel-group, cluster-randomized superiority trial with a 1:1 allocation to treatment ratio. For the trial, 20 public medical facilities that use clinical summary sheets generated from an electronic medical records system will participate as clusters. All HIV-positive adult patients who complete an initial encounter at a study cluster and at least one return encounter during the study period will be included in the study cohort. The primary endpoint will be IPT prescription at 3 months post the initial encounter. We will conduct both individual-level and cluster-level analyses. Due to the nature of the intervention, the trial will not be blinded. This study will contribute to the growing evidence base for the use of electronic health interventions in low-resource settings to promote high-quality clinical care, health system optimization and positive patient outcomes.Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01934309, registered 29 August 2013.

Dilithium tetraborate (DLTB) is a piezoelectric material for frequency control and signal processing applications. The growth and fabrication technology of DLTB crystals are discussed, together with recent worldwide efforts to grow large bulk crystals and thin films. Special emphasis is given to: (1) the Czochralski technique, including the effort to eliminate a number of crystal defects arising from the use of this method and the activity for the growth of large diameter crystal boules: and (2) the sol-gel method for thin film preparation, including the effect of acid and water on crystallization and side products. Other lesser-used techniques for bulk and thin film production of DLTB, such as Bridgman growth, RF sputtering, vapor deposition, and laser ablation deposition, are discussed.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>