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Serious consequences including septicemia and amputations can result from complex wounds, which is a serious healthcare concern. In addition, there are currently only a few choices for management, which justifies the search for novel, highly effective wound-healing medications. This research work was aimed at fabricating chitosan-based Alkanna tinctoria and Mupirocin nanoparticles by ionic gelation technique for burn wound management. Preliminary studies were conducted, and the prepared nanoparticles were characterized by various techniques that involve, high-performance liquid chromatography for the detection of components in A. tinctoria root extract, ATR-FTIR, particle size, zeta potential, percent drug content (DC%), percent entrapment efficiency (EE%), scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for surface morphology. The optimized formulation CS-AT-MU-NPs3 shows a particle size of 340.8 ± 34.46 nm and positive zeta potential 27.3 ± 3.10 mV. In vitro drug release study was also performed, which demonstrated improved and controlled release of the drug from the nanoparticles. The CS-AT-MU-NPs3 exhibited a maximum release up to 92.61% (AT) and 88.35% (MU). Antibacterial and antifungal activities of the formulation were also accessed by utilizing the agar well diffusion technique. The combination of AT and MU in chitosan-based nanoparticles was significantly effective against bacterial and fungal strains like Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans as compared to other formulations. The skin irritation study was also conducted, which shows that the prepared formulation did not cause any observable changes to the skin in terms of inflammation, erythema, edema, or any other symptoms associated with skin irritation. All the chitosan-based nanoparticles showed almost 75% reduction in wound contraction, while the optimized formulation CS-AT-MU-NPs3 showed complete wound healing on the 15th day. Based on the results, it can be assumed that chitosan-based nanoparticles containing A. tinctoria and Mupirocin demonstrated good wound healing and could be used to effectively manage burn wounds of any description.

Compared to other energy-generating technologies and energy conversion devices, intermediatetemperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs) have gained significant attention from energy experts due to its high energy density, moderate operating temperature (600--800°C), low emissions and reliability. Enhancing the performance of IT-SOFCs requires suitable and excellent cathode materials. Thus, a perovskite-type Nd0.5Ba0.5Zr0.8Fe0.2O3+δ (NBZFO) material was synthesised via traditional solid-state reaction technique and analysed as a potential cathode material for IT-SOFCs. Analysis of X-ray diffraction data (XRD) revealed a singlephase perovskite material that crystallises in cubic space group (pm-3m). The thermal and electrochemical properties were analysed with the aid of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). NBZFO has an electrical conductivity in air of 80 S cm--1 at 400°C and a polarisation resistance (Rp) of 0.106 Ω cm2 at 800°C. TGA reveals a slight loss in weight of about 0.58%, thereby suggesting a highly stable cathode material for IT-SOFC. Electrochemical investigation shows that NBZFO has good electronic and ionic conductivity and excellent oxygen stichometry. Further studies are required to understand the effects of varying B-site composition of the cathode material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) have garnered significant attention due to their ability to improve the therapeutic index of medications by reducing multidrug resistance and effectively delivering therapeutic agents through active targeting. In addition to drug delivery, MNPs have several medical applications, including in vitro and in vivo diagnostics, and they improve the biocompatibility of materials and nutraceuticals. MNPs have several advantages in drug delivery systems and genetic manipulation, such as improved stability and half-life in circulation, passive or active targeting into the desired target selective tissue, and gene manipulation by delivering genetic materials. The main goal of this review is to provide current information on the present issues and prospects of MNPs in drug and gene delivery systems. The current study focused on MNP preparation methods and their characterization by different techniques, their applications to targeted delivery, non-viral vectors in genetic manipulation, and challenges in clinical trial translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence and impact of antibiotic-resistant pathogens transmitted through food, particularly street-vended foods, is becoming a major public health concern. Although a significant proportion of the urban population in developing countries consumes street-vended foods, the role of these foods in spreading antibiotic resistance has been rarely investigated. In this study, 50 bacterial isolates were obtained from 25 samples representing five categories of street-vended foods: Phuchka, Chatpati, Sausage, Bun, and Salad. The IMVIC test revealed a notably high occurrence of Escherichia coli (n=32) within the collected samples. Three representative isolates were selected for molecular identification using DNA sequencing of 16S rDNA. They were identified as Klebsiella oxytoca, Burkholderia fungorum, and Serratia nematodiphila. The antibiotic susceptibility of the identified isolates (n=35) was investigated using twelve antibiotics following the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Around 65.63% of the E. coli isolates (n=21) exhibited multidrug resistance. Double Disc Synergy Test (DDST) and Phenotypic Confirmatory Disk Diffusion Test (PCDDT) confirmed ESBL production of Eight multidrugresistant E. coli isolates (38.09%). The multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index showed that 22 E. coli isolates had MAR above 0.2, with resistance mostly against oxacillin, ampicillin, and cefuroxime. The Klebsiella oxytoca isolate showed multidrug resistance viz., ampicillin, oxacillin, cefuroxime, and kanamycin. The Burkholderia fungorum isolate showed no distinct inhibition zone against ampicillin and chloramphenicol. Additionally, the Serratia nematodiphila isolate showed no distinct inhibition zone against three antibiotics, including ampicillin, oxacillin, and cefuroxime. These findings might contribute to the knowledge of emerging antibioticresistant foodborne pathogens and raise concerns about the safety of street-vended foods in Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem Bangladesh has no national system for registering deaths and determining their causes. As a result, policy-makers lack reliable and complete data to inform public health decisions. Approach In 2016, the government of Bangladesh introduced a pilot project to strengthen the civil registration and vital statistics system and generate cause of death data in Kaliganj Upazila. Community- based health workers were trained to notify births and deaths to the civil registrar, and to conduct verbal autopsy interviews with family members of a deceased person. International experts in cause-of-death certification and coding trained master trainers on how to complete the international medical certificate of cause of death. These trainers then trained physicians and coders. Local setting Kaliganj Upazila has an estimated population of 304 600, and 5600 births and 1550 deaths annually. Health assistants and family welfare assistants make regular visits to households to track certain health outcomes. Relevant changes Following the start of the project in 2016, the number of births registered within 45 days rose from 873 to 4630 in 2018. The number of deaths registered within 45 days increased from 458 to 1404. During this period, health assistants conducted 7837 verbal autopsy interviews. Between January 2017 and December 2018, 105 master trainers and more than 7000 physicians were trained to complete the international medical certificate of cause of death and they completed more than 12 000 certificates. Lessons learnt Training community-based health workers, physicians and coders were successful approaches to improve death registration completeness and availability of cause-of-death data. Probleme Le Bangladesh n'est dote d'aucun systeme national pour enregistrer les deces et determiner leurs causes. Les responsables politiques ne disposent done pas de donnees fiables et completes pouvant servir de base a la prise de decisions en matiere de sante publique. Approche En 2016, le gouvernement du Bangladesh a mis en place un projet pilote destine a renforcer le systeme des registres et des statistiques de l'etat civil et a obtenir des donnees sur les causes de deces dans l'upazila de Kaliganj. Des agents sanitaires de proximite ont appris a notifier les naissances et les deces a l'officier de l'etat civil, et a realiser des autopsies verbales aupres des membres de la famille d'une personne decedee. Des experts internationaux de la certification des causes de deces et du codage ont appris a des formateurs principaux a remplir le certificat medical international indiquant la cause du deces. Ces formateurs ont ensuite forme des medecins et des codeurs. Environnement local L'upazila de Kaliganj compte quelque 304 600 habitants et enregistre environ 5600 naissances et 1550 deces par an. Des aides-soignants et des auxiliaires en matiere de protection de la famille effectuent des visites a domicile regulieres pour suivre certains resultats cliniques. Changements significatifs A la suite du lancement du projet en 2016, le nombre de naissances enregistrees en 45 jours est passe de 873 a 4630 en 2018. Le nombre de deces enregistres en 45 jours est passe de 458 a 1404. Au cours de cette periode, les aides-soignants ont realise 7837 autopsies verbales. Entre janvier 2017 et decembre 2018, 105 formateurs principaux et plus de 7000 medecins ont appris a remplir le certificat medical international indiquant la cause du deces, et ils ont rempli plus de 12 000 certificats. Lemons tirees La formation d'agents sanitaires de proximite, de medecins et de codeurs s'est revelee efficace pour ameliorer l'enregistrement des deces et accroitre la disponibilite de donnees sur les causes de deces. Situacion Bangladesh no tiene un sistema nacional para registrar las muertes y determinar sus causas. Como resultado, los responsables de formular politicas carecen de datos fiables y completos que sirvan de base para la toma de decisiones en materia de salud publica. Enfoque En 2016, el gobierno de Bangladesh introdujo un proyecto piloto para fortalecer el registro civil y el sistema de estadisticas vitales y generar datos sobre las causas de muerte en Kaliganj Upazila. Se capacito a los trabajadores sanitarios de la comunidad para que notificaran los nacimientos y las defunciones al registro civil, y para que realizaran entrevistas de autopsia verbal con los familiares de una persona fallecida. Expertos internacionales en la certificacion de la causa de muerte y la codificacion de formadores expertos capacitados sobre como completar el certificado medico internacional de causa de muerte. Estos formadores luego capacitaron a medicos y codificadores. Marco regional Kaliganj Upazila tiene una poblacion estimada de 304 600 habitantes y 5 600 nacimientos y 1 550 defunciones anuales. Los asistentes sanitarios y los asistentes de bienestar familiar realizan visitas periodicas a los hogares para hacer un seguimiento de ciertos resultados sanitarios. Cambios importantes Tras el inicio del proyecto en 2016, el numero de nacimientos registrados en un plazo de 45 dias aumento de 873 a 4 630 en 2018. El numero de muertes registradas en 45 dias aumento de 458 a 1 404. Durante este periodo, los asistentes sanitarios realizaron 7 837 entrevistas de autopsia verbal. Entre enero de 2017 y diciembre de 2018, 105 formadores expertos y mas de 7 000 medicos recibieron capacitacion para completar el certificado medico internacional de causa de defuncion y completaron mas de 12 000 certificados. Lecciones aprendidas La capacitacion de los trabajadores sanitarios, los medicos y los codificadores de la comunidad fueron enfoques exitosos para mejorar la integridad del registro de defunciones y la disponibilidad de datos sobre la causa de la muerte., Introduction In 2018, Bangladesh had a population of approximately 165 million, of these around 104 million (63%) people were living in rural areas and about 48 million (29%) people were [...]