Protocols

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Browsing Protocols by Subject "Research Subject Categories::MEDICINE"

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    Biological and physicochemical characteristics of nanocellulose from sugarcane molasses
    (Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, 2021-03-17) Tembo, Sandra; Lingson, Pilirani
    Type of study/Place of study: The research design is an experimental method and will be conducted at the Pharmacy laboratories. Background and Introduction: Cellulose is the most abundant polymer on earth and is regarded as a very important raw material for several purposes. Potential applications include barrier films, antimicrobial films, biomedical implants, pharmaceuticals and drug delivery. By extracting cellulose at the nanoscale, the majority of the defects associated with the hierarchical structure of cellulose can be minimized, and a new cellulose based ‘‘building block’’ is available for the next generation of cellulose based composites. Therefore, this experimental study focusing on determining the suitability of nanocellulose extracted from sugarcane molasses as excipients in manufacturing pharmaceutical products. Study Objectives: The aim of the study is to investigate the biological and physicochemical characteristics of nanocellulose from sugarcane molasses. The specific objectives are three-fold: i) to determine the cytotoxicity of nanocellulose sugarcane molasses, ii) to assess the physical characteristics of nanocellulose from sugarcane molasses, iii) to evaluate chemical properties of nanocellulose of sugarcane molasses. Methodology: Sugarcane molasses will be collected from Nchalo Sugar Mill, followed by cellulose extraction by acid hydrolysis to obtain nanocellulose. The generated nanocellulose will be subjected to various biological and physicochemical standard assays in order to elucidate their suitability as excipients in pharmaceutical products. Data Management and Dissemination: The results will be presented to the College of Medicine (COM) staff and the pharmacy department and copies will be made available to the undergraduate research coordinators, College of Medicine Research and Ethics Committee (COMREC) and College of Medicine library. It is expected that the findings from this study will provide useful information for use of nanocellulose extracted from sugarcane molasses can be suitable excipients in manufacturing pharmaceutical products
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    Evaluation of pharmaceutical waste and wastewater management in health facilties
    (Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, 2021-03-17) Banda, Ella; Zulu, Daisy
    Type of study/Place of study: This is a descriptive cross sectional design study, which will involve structured questionnaires, face to face interviews and direct observation by investigators. The study will be conducted in six health facilities in Blantyre. Background and Introduction: Pharmaceutical waste is any waste which contains expired, spilt, unused and contaminated pharmaceutical products like drugs and vaccines. It also includes vials, bottles, IV bags/tubing, oral medications, ointments, creams and other items that are used in handling pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceutical wastewater is defined as water that is not clean because it has already been used in the pharmaceuticals. The management practices of these wastes involve a series of processes from segregation; treatment; storage; transportation and final disposal of the waste through landfills, incineration, sewer, burning in open containers. Pharmaceutical waste and wastewater produced in health facilities pose a risk to health of the public and the environment. However, there is paucity of information on the management and disposal practices by the health facilities in Blantyre. Study Objectives: The main objective of the study is to evaluate the pharmaceutical waste and wastewater management practices in health facilities in Blantyre. The specific objectives are to: i) determine the existing pharmaceutical waste methods and practices used in the selected health facilities, ii) assess the application and compliance of policies and guidelines on pharmaceutical waste and wastewater by health workers, and iii) identify resources used in pharmaceutical waste management. Methodology: The study will be conducted in six health facilities in Blantyre, three in rural health facilities and three in urban health facilities. Health workers in the selected health facilities will be identified by a purposive sampling method and interviewed. The survey will seek to identify the resources used for waste management, health workers’ knowledge of pharmaceutical waste methods and practices and bottlenecks for waste handling in the facilities. Data Management and Dissemination: The quantitative data will be entered into Microsoft excel, this data will be processed into graphs, tables and charts. The research results will be disseminated through oral presentation to the Pharmacy Department College of Medicine and the final project report will be submitted to COMREC, Pharmacy department, College of Medicine library and academic staff. Expected Findings: It is hypothesized that the majority of the selected health facilities will have poor pharmaceutical waste and waste water management practices because of inadequate human resources, finances, inadequate infrastructure like incinerators and lack of knowledge of the personnel on proper handling of these wastes.
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    An Investigation into the distribution and environmental niches of pathogenic Salmonellae in Blantyre
    (Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, 2020-10-16) Feasey, Nicholas
    Type of Study: Observational cohort study of all cases of Typhoid Fever presenting to Queen’s Hospital The problem: Invasive Salmonellae are amongst the most important bloodstream pathogens in Africa. There have previously been two confirmed epidemics of Nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) bloodstream infection in Malawi and Multidrug Resistant Typhoid Fever became prominent from 2011, thus invasive Salmonella disease (iSD) remains the most important cause of bacterial bloodstream infection in the city. Our data demonstrate that Typhoid is not evenly distributed across Blantyre and that there are specific risk factors, including age (most common aged 5-15), use of river water for cooking and cleaning and one’s social networks, for example attendance at child day care. Following the identification of these risk factors by statistical association in a case-control study, the next step is to confirm the environmental niches of these pathogens by microbiological surveillance in order to inform public health policy and reduce transmission. Objectives and Methodology: We propose to undertake an observational cohort study of all cases of Typhoid Fever presenting to Queen’s Hospital from patients within Blantyre. Having previously conducted a case control study that has identified risk factors for Typhoid, we plan to extend this classical outbreak investigation by looking for the causative pathogen in the community as requested by the district health officer, by undertaking a detailed microbiological survey of the households and the broader environment of cases to identify environmental niches of Salmonellae. Lastly, we plan to describe the geographical distribution of Typhoid within Blantyre to continue our surveillance of hotspots within the city and to use Whole Genome Sequence data from isolates of Salmonella Typhi to model the transmission of the pathogen in Blantyre. Expected outcomes and dissemination: We will describe “hotspots” of iSD in Blantyre, observing both Typhoid and NTS as there are important differences between households affected by NTS compared to those affected by S. Typhi, particularly that NTS may show a higher rate of carriage of Salmonella in the stool of household animals. Lastly, we hope to produce a model of Typhoid transmission in Blantyre. More detailed information about risk factors and environmental niches of S. Typhi and NTS will help to inform public health strategy to control Salmonella infections in Blantyre. Indeed, this study was specifically requested by the District Health Officer of Blantyre when I presented the results of the case control study (then Medson Machaya). This information will be distributed to the College of Medicine, COMREC, the Malawi Ministry of Health and submitted for peer-reviewed publication.