Airway inflammation and omega 3 PUFA in mild to moderate asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterised by reversible airflow obstruction. Based on the relationship between a lack of exercise and chronic diseases, the latest guidelines from the Department of Health (DH) recommend physical activity across the whole population (DH, 2011). Exercise Induced Bronchoconstriction (EIB) is a ‘sub-type’ of asthma which affects approximately 90% of all individuals with asthma and an additional 10% of the healthy normal population (ATS/ACCP, 2003; Anderson & Kippelen, 2012); thus, EIB may be an important limiting factor for physical activity and an important ‘barrier to exercise’ for a number of individuals. Asthma is identified primarily by the occurrence of symptoms (wheezing breathlessness and dyspnoea), peak expiratory flow rates (PEF) and spirometry (Pulmonary Function tests – PFT). The current spirometry guidelines for the characterisation of asthma include a fixed criteria for the ratio between forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) (Miller et al., 2005b). This fixed criteria approach lacks specificity and is likely to misdiagnose approximately 20% of patients (Miller et al., 2011). The American Thoracic Society (ATS) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) guidelines have acknowledged these concerns and have issued position statements for the use of a different approach using a ‘lower limit of normality’ (LLN) derived from a matched healthy population (Miller et al., 2009). Based on the fixed criteria, it has been shown that there is under diagnosis of participants with mild-moderate symptoms participants in the younger age group (Cerveri et al., 2009; Hansen et al., 2007; Miller et al., 2011; Roberts et al., 2006; Swanney et al., 2008). The currently available pharmacological therapies for asthma and EIB are effective (corticosteroids and bronchodilators), however long-term usage of these medications is associated with issues of tachyphylaxis and negative side effects (Barnes, 2010; GINA, 2011). There is some evidence from observational and intervention studies to suggest a beneficial effect of fish oil (comprising of omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)) in inflammatory diseases, (specifically asthma). Marine based n-3 PUFA have therefore been proposed as a possible complimentary/alternative therapy for asthma. The proposed anti-inflammatory effects of fish oil may be linked to a change in cell membrane composition. This altered membrane composition following fish oil supplementation [continues ...]

Impact of COVID -19 on Healthy Life of People in India

The COVID-19 pandemic is not the first, and certainly not the last, to strike the world. COVID-19 has conjointly been a serious concern in higher-income countries, with several European countries and over eleven million individuals in the Republic of India had been infected with COVID-19. Though some countries and regions are seeing improvements in hospitalization and death rates, COVID-19 remains a significant concern for vulnerable and underserved populations globally. The COVID-19 pandemic is unexampled and heavy, and numerous of the policy measures taken to mitigate and contain it were necessary and comprehensible. Factors associated with difficulty in accessing medicine due to the COVID-19 situation With the diversion of human resources to COVID-19 work, active case finding for TB has been postponed by a number of states in India. Though regulative authorities in many countries have approved one or a lot of COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use, necessary challenges remain in mass manufacturing and distributing vaccines in developing countries. The national authorities need to arrange for the challenges associated with the health of their population coincidental with combating the COVID-19 pandemic. It's unclear, however, whether the twin impacts of COVID-19 and also the health care disruptions have an effect on these people within the semi-permanent

Laboratory Profile of Adult Hemoglobinopathies Picked Up During Routine Health Check in a Tertiary Care Hospital from South India

Background and aim: Hemoglobin (Hb) variants can clinically range from being completely asymptomatic to frequent requirement of transfusions. Some individuals may become aware of a variant only when a complete blood count (CBC), hemoglobin analysis or genetic testing is done for a different reason. These individuals are typically heterozygous for an autosomal recessive variant. A study was conducted to find out the different types of hemoglobinopathies in adults presenting to a tertiary care hospital for routine health check and its geographic distribution. Objective: 1) To find out the severity of anemia associated with different hemoglobinopathies. 2) To find the relevance of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in the presence of various hemoglobinopathies. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional observational study was done in 111 consecutive patients who were found to have hemoglobinopathies during routine health checks in a tertiary care hospital in South India from 2013 to 2021. Results: One hundred eleven patients were found to have abnormality in Hb electrophoresis and there was a male predominance (69 patients, 62.2%). Majority of patients with beta-thalassemia (28 patients, 63.6%) were from West Bengal. Both HbE trait (17 patients, 65.4%) and homozygous HbE (23 patients, 62.2%) were from Assam. There was statistically significant distribution (p value 0.0001). HbA1c detected Hb variant in those with HbE disease. Conclusion: Hemoglobinopathies constitute a huge hereditary burden and a serious healthcare concern in India. Hence, it is the need of the hour to pick up such asymptomatic cases and provide appropriate premarital and prenatal counseling. Also, it is essential to devise strategies other than routine HbA1c testing to guide blood sugar control

SUNSCREENS: DEVELOPMENTS AND CHALLENGES

One of the major concerns affecting the human skin is the exposure to ultra-violet radiations (UVR) causing photo-damage and skin cancers. In order to provide preventive measures against such incidences, there is an increased demand for sun-protectants. Sun screening agents have shown beneficiary effects on the skin by reducing the exposure of UVR and its associated symptoms. Although various constituents have been recognized to have sun protecting activity, their safety and efficacy is still a concern. The United States Food and Drugs Administration (USFDA) and European Guidelines (EU) guidelines have made the sun protecting factor (SPF) and other such indices compulsory on the labels of such formulas to guide the consumers for better selection. The various ranges of radiations and skin types influence the mechanism of photoreaction and subsequent choice of the formulation. Apart from existing agents, certain novel sun-screening agents and technologies are now available to provide better protection to human populations

A STUDY ON ATTRITION AND RETENTION STRATEGIES OF MICROFINANCE SECTOR IN BANGALORE

This article explores the critical issues of attrition and retention strategies within the context of Microfinance Sector, Title: A Study on Attrition and Retention Strategies in the Microfinance Sector.The microfinance sector plays a pivotal role in extending financial services to the underserved and economically vulnerable populations.This study aims to investigate the factors contributing to attrition and the strategies employed for retaining talent in the microfinance sector. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, which includes both quantitative and qualitative data gathering methodologies. Primary data is gathered through surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions with microfinance employees and managers from a diverse range of organizations across various geographies. Secondary data is also analysed from industry reports and existing literature. The findings reveal that attrition in the microfinance sector is affected by a complex interplay of factors, including low remuneration, limited career growth opportunities, job stress, and work-life balance issues. Furthermore, the study identifies several successful retention strategies implemented by microfinance institutions, such as training and development programs, performance incentives, employee engagement initiatives, and effective leadership. This study adds to the current body of information by offering insights into the unique issues that microfinance organisations encounterin retaining their workforce and the innovative strategies they have adopted to address these challenges. The outcomes of this study can be used by microfinance organizations, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to develop and implement more effective retention strategies, ultimately improving the sustainability and social impact of microfinance operations. In conclusion, understanding attrition and retention dynamics in the microfinance sector is crucial for fostering a stable and motivated workforce, which in turn can enhance the sector's capacity to serve its target clientele and drive financial inclusion

A broad survey of spectro-temporal properties from FRB 20121102A

We survey the spectro-temporal properties of fast radio bursts from FRB 20121102A observed by earlier studies across a wide range of frequencies. We investigate 167 bursts from FRB 20121102A spanning frequencies 1--7.5GHz, durations of less than 1 ms to approximately 10 ms, with low and high energies, and with different wait-times. We find from this sample of bursts a strong agreement with the inverse relationship between sub-burst slope and duration and with other predictions made by the triggered relativistic dynamical model (TRDM). Earlier results found agreement with those predictions across three different repeating FRB sources. For this sample of bursts, we find that the sub-burst slope as well as the 'sad trombone' drift rate are consistent with being in a quadratic relationship with frequency and that both these quantities are inversely proportional to the duration. We also find that the duration decreases with increasing frequency as well as a statistically significant correlation between the sub-burst duration and bandwidth (proportional to $t^{-1/2}$) that is unexpected. No distinct group of bursts in this sample deviated from these relationships, however significant scatter can be seen in measurements. This study demonstrates the consistent existence of relationships between the spectro-temporal properties of bursts from a repeating FRB source. A simple explanation for the inverse relation between the sub-burst slope and duration is an inherently narrowband emission process. We make all measurements available as well as a graphical user interface called Frbgui developed and used to perform measurements of burst waterfalls.Comment: Accepted at MNRAS. 13 pages, 7 figure