Tuberculin conversion in HIV seropositives

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic is associated with increased incidence of tuberculosis. There is a need to provide prophylaxis for the same. Mycobacterium w, a non-pathogenic, atypical mycobacterium, shares antigenic determinants with Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The tuberculin response, which is a delayed hypersensitivity reaction, indicates the status of cellular immunity against tuberculosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate potential of mycobacterium w for tuberculin conversion in HIV seropositives. Fifty HIV positives (tuberculin negative) were enrolled in this study and were administered intradermal mycobacterium w. In all the patients, Mantoux test was performed to determine tuberculin like delayed type hypersensitivity reaction, by measuring the area of erythema and induration at baseline and then after ninety days. The results of the study revealed that forty-eight out of fifty, had tuberculin conversion after ninety days.     

Bat Nipah virus, Thailand

Surveillance for Nipah virus (NV) was conducted in Thailand's bat population. Immunoglobulin G antibodies to NV were detected with enzyme immunoassay in 82 of 1,304 bats. NV RNA was found in bat saliva and urine. These data suggest the persistence of NV infection in Thai bats.     

Determination of paracetamol and orphenadrine citrate in pharmaceutical tablets by modeling of spectrophotometric data using partial least-squares and artificial neural networks

The estimation of paracetamol and orphenadrine citrate in a multicomponent pharmaceutical dosage form by spectrophotometric method has been reported. Because of highly interference in the spectra and the presence of non-linearity caused by the analyte concentrations which deviate from Beer and Lambert's law, partial least-squares (PLS) and artificial neural networks (ANN) techniques were used for the calibration. A validation set of spiked samples was employed for testing the accuracy and precision of the methods. Reasonably good recoveries were obtained with PLS for paracetamol and the use of an ANN allowed the estimation of orphenadrine citrate, a minor component which could not be adequately modeled by PLS. Three production batches of a commercial sample were analysed, and there was statistically no significant difference (P<0.05) between the results with the proposed method and those obtain with the official comparative method.     

A stability-indicating HPLC method for medroxyprogesterone acetate in bulk drug and injection formulation

A stability-indicating HPLC assay method has been developed and validated for medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) in bulk drug and injectable suspension. An isocratic RP-HPLC was achieved on a Hichrom C₁₈ column (150 mm × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm) utilizing a mobile phase of methanol 0.020 M acetate buffer pH 5 (65:35, v/v) and a photodiode array detector at 245 nm. The stress testing of MPA was carried out under acidic and alkaline hydrolysis, and oxidation conditions. MPA was well resolved from its degradation products, a main related substance (megestrol acetate) and two preservatives (methyl paraben and propyl paraben) with the resolution ≥2. The proposed method was validated for selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision and solution stability. The method was found to be suitable for the quality control of MPA in bulk drug and injections as well as the stability-indicating studies.     

Arrow injuries to the eye

Two male siblings aged 10 and 17 years, respectively, presented to our hospital with two days history of being shot in the right eyes with arrows. The patients presented with severe pains, bleeding, swelling, discharge and loss of vision. There was positive history of application of traditional eye medicine and an unsuccessful attempt was made to remove the arrows. Both patients presented with panophthalmitis. X-rays of the orbits and para nasal sinuses indicated the tip of the arrow was lodged to the apex of the orbit in the younger patient, and the arrow vertically traverses the eye/ orbit and lodged in the roof of the maxillary sinus in the other patient with fluid level in the lower third of the sinus. The patients were placed on broad-spectrum systemic antibiotics, had base line investigations and prepared for exploration. The patients had evisceration with removal of the arrows.     

Recurrent tumoral calcinosis

Tumoral calcinosis is a rare, benign disease that commonly affects the African blacks. We report on a 20-year-old Nigerian presenting with recurrent multiple subcutaneous masses around the scapular, elbow, hip and gluteal regions. The X-rays, fine needle aspiration cytology and tissue biopsy confirmed the diagnosis and the patient had a successful excision with good healing.