Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months among caregivers of children under five years in northern Ghana: A cross-sectional study.

Despite consistent evidence highlighting the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first six months, EBF duration sometimes falls short of six months or exceeds it. This research seeks to explore factors influencing the practice of optimal duration of EBF and identify factors associated with suboptimal EBF durations. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 16 districts across four Northern regions of Ghana with 2000 caregivers of children under five years old.

Are households with under-five children in Nigeria socioeconomically disadvantaged?

Although the sociodemographic and economic contributors to under-five mortality are well established, very little research has been done to assess the levels of disadvantage under-five children in Nigeria face along these dimensions. Nigeria has the second-highest under-five mortality rate (U5MR) in the world (111 deaths per 1000 live births) and contributed to the highest number of annual under-five deaths globally in 2020 (844,321 deaths). The country has also implemented several decades of policy interventions to reduce under-five mortality by improving sociodemographic and economic conditions at the household level.

Enhancement of in-vitro anti-oral cancer activities of silymarin using dispersion of nanostructured lipid carrier in mucoadhesive in-situ gel.

Silymarin (SME) shows multiple therapeutic actions against several cancers, however, low aqueous solubility and poor bioavailability issues restrict its clinical use. In this study, SME was loaded in nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) and further incorporated in mucoadhesive in-situ gel (SME-NLCs-Plx/CP-ISG) for localized treatment of oral cancer. Using a 3 Box-Behnken design (BBD), an optimized SME-NLC formula was developed with the ratios of solid lipids, surfactant concentration, and sonication time as independent variables, while particle size (PS), polydispersity index (PDI), and % encapsulation efficiency (EE) as dependent variables, resulting in 315.

Nanostructured lipid carrier-loaded metformin hydrochloride: Design, optimization, characterization, assessment of cytotoxicity and ROS evaluation.

Metformin hydrochloride (MET) is commonly used in diabetes treatment. Recently, it has gained interest for its anticancer potential against a wide range of cancers. Owing to its hydrophilic nature, the delivery and clinical actions of MET are limited.

Equity assessment of childhood immunisation at national and subnational levels in Myanmar: a benefit incidence analysis.

Introduction: Myanmar, a conflict-affected geographically and ethnically diverse lower middle-income country, was in the donor transition phase for health prior to the political unrest of the last year. This study analyses the distribution of benefit and utilisation of basic childhood vaccinations from the highly donor-dependent Expanded Program on Immunization for populations of different socioeconomic status (SES).

Methods: We conducted a benefit incidence analysis with decomposition analysis to assess the equity of benefit.

Coverage of social assistance in Ethiopia during the COVID-19 pandemic: a time-to-event analysis.

Objective: In a pandemic, government assistance is essential to support the most vulnerable households as they face health and economic challenges. However, government assistance is effective only when it reaches vulnerable households in time. In this paper, we estimated the timeliness of government assistance for the most vulnerable households (ie, the poor households) in Ethiopia during its COVID-19 response of 2020.

Nanostructured lipid carrier-mediated lung targeted drug delivery system to enhance the safety and bioavailability of clofazimine.

Tuberculosis (TB) disease is caused due to the infection of bacilli which reside in alveolar macrophages (AMs). Clofazimine (CLF) has been reinstated clinically for the treatment of TB. However, major challenge of using CLF is its severe side-effects after oral administration.

Mannosylated nanocarriers mediated site-specific drug delivery for the treatment of cancer and other infectious diseases: A state of the art review.

The non-modified nanocarriers-based therapies for the treatment of cancer and other infectious diseases enhanced the chemical stability of therapeutically active agents, protected them from enzymatic degradation and extended their blood circulation time. However, the lack of specificity and off-target effects limit their applications. Mannose receptors overexpressed on antigen presenting cells such as dendritic cells and macrophages are one of the most desirable targets for treating cancer and other infectious diseases.

Innovative strategies in the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis: a patent review (2014-2017).

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused due to an infection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M TB) bacilli affecting millions of people worldwide. It is the ninth leading cause of death and ranks above the HIV/AIDS. The unique intracellular life cycle, more dangerous drug-resistant forms of bacilli, and insufficient investments in the TB research and development hindered the occurrence of optimum diagnostic, preventive, and treatment strategy against this disease.

Nanostructured lipid carriers-based drug delivery for treating various lung diseases: A State-of-the-Art Review.

According to the list published by the WHO for global top ten causes of death, lung diseases contribute nearly one-third of the total mortality. The current treatment on lung diseases provide only symptomatic relief rather than restoring the complete lung functions. Nanostructured lipid carriers-based drug delivery system (NLCs-based DDS) provide a breakthrough in treating various lung diseases.

Critical Review on the Analytical Methods for the Estimation of Clofazimine in Bulk, Biological Fluids and Pharmaceutical Formulations.

Clofazimine (CFZ), a riminophenazine derivative and a crucial drug in the treatment of lepromatous leprosy, has been reintroduced clinically to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. CFZ holds both antimycobacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. But, due to its highly hydrophobic, polar and photosensitive nature, it is challenging to extract and quantify the drug from different biological fluids and its pharmaceutical formulations.

Targeting pulmonary tuberculosis using nanocarrier-based dry powder inhalation: current status and futuristic need.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by the pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Prolonged administration of high dose antibiotics using oral and injectable routes and their associated side effects show limitations to successful treatment outcome of TB. Nanocarrier-based dry powder inhalers (DPIs) may provide a breakthrough as an alternative therapeutic approach because of their stable, non-invasive nature and ability to target the drug at the site of infection.