Impact of trade in services on gender employment in India

Trade in services has played a pivotal role in boosting economic growth of India. However, very few studies exist that trace its gender differential impacts. This study makes a pioneering attempt to estimate the impact of exports of services on gender employment in 46 sectors, which include 15 services sectors. Social Accounting Matrix has been used to generate gender employment multipliers and identify sectors where higher exports of services may lead to greater gender employment equality. Further, a primary survey is undertaken to capture the gender differential impact of trade in Information and Technology Enabled Services. Policy implications to gender sensitise trade policy are derived from the results.Gender and trade in services, Gender employment, SAM, Gender impact of trade in ITES; Gender and trade in services in India

Prevalence of Pediculus humanus capitis in a school of low socio-economy area in Rampur (U.P), India

The prevalence of head louse Pediculus humanus capitis on the school children of a low socio-economy area of Rampur, India was found to be 56% (n=300). Female children appeared lousier. However, the hygienic condition and their density appeared to have negligible effect on head louse

Impact of trade in services on gender employment in India

Trade in services has played a pivotal role in boosting economic growth of India. However, very few studies exist that trace its gender differential impacts. This study makes a pioneering attempt to estimate the impact of exports of services on gender employment in 46 sectors, which include 15 services sectors. Social Accounting Matrix has been used to generate gender employment multipliers and identify sectors where higher exports of services may lead to greater gender employment equality. Further, a primary survey is undertaken to capture the gender differential impact of trade in Information and Technology Enabled Services. Policy implications to gender sensitise trade policy are derived from the results

SELF-REPORTED HEALTH, ILLNESS AND SELF-CARE AMONG DOCTORS OF MEERUT

Abstract: This document provides insight on lifestyle and healthcare status of doctors based on key findings from a survey conducted in Meerut City, (U.P.) India. Objectives: 1.To study the lifestyle pattern among the doctors of Allopathy and Ayurveda & teachers of local private Medical college, local private Dental college. 2. To study the (self-reported) prevalence of common non-communicable diseases in the same. 3. To know the pattern of healthy lifestyle practices adopted by the doctors. Material & Methods: The Cross-sectional study was conducted with the help of a pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire which was filled by the faculty of local private Medical College, Dental college, Ayurvedic doctors and local practicing doctors of allopathy and Ayurveda. Verbal consent was implied. A purposive sample of 240 doctors [60 each from Medical and Dental colleges and 60 each from allopathy private practitioners (p.p.allo.) and ayurvedic private practitioners (p.p.ayur.)] were given the questionnaire-and response rate was 84%. The data was entered in Microsoft excel 2007 to know the frequency of the various lifestyle pattern. Results: 47.5% of the doctors had raised B.M.I. (Body Mass Index- more than 25); 21% of the doctors were smokers, 10% were current drinkers and 32% were hypertensive. Only 2.5% were found to be diabetic in our study. About 52% of the doctors exercised regularly. 32.5% were trained for yoga. Conclusion:This study implies that a large proportion of doctors themselves do not follow the healthy lifestyle and are having lifestyle diseases like obesity, hypertension etc. Interestingly, there was not much difference between doctors doing private practice or teaching in Medical/Dental College

Disseminated Histoplasmosis in an Immunocompetent Host presenting as Pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO)

Histoplasmosis is a progressive granulomatous disease caused by intracellular dimorphic  fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. The fungus present in the soil infects through inhalational route and can manifest as any of the three main types – Acute primary pulmonary type, chronic cavitatory or progressive  disseminated. In Disseminated histopasmosis (DH) the fungus is detected from more than one location in the body. This is the rarest form of all three types and is usually present in immunocompromised individuals. We report the case of a 27-year-old immunocompetent patient who presented with prolonged fever, weight loss, pain abdomen and skin lesions. She was found to have hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia. Biopsy from skin lesions and bone marrow stained positive for Histoplasma capsulatum sp. She was treated with amphotericin B for 28 days, followed by oral itraconazole for 6 months, leading to complete resolution of the disease. This case is interesting due to the presence of disseminated histoplasmosis in an immunocompetent host with prominent skin lesions

Population characteristics of Brueelia sp. on certain Indian Finches

Five kinds of finches were examined during 2004-06. Two kinds of finches were found infested with ischnoceran lice, Brueelia sp. (Prevalence-20.5%, mean intensity of infestation-4.7 and range of infestation, 1-23). The frequency distribution pattern of Brueelia sp. on Indian finches conformed to the negative binomial model. Sex ratio was skewed in favour of females and adults outnumbered the nymphs in natural population

A prospective, multi center, single blind, randomized controlled study evaluating “AyurCoro3” as an adjuvant in the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 patients

Background: There is so far no proven treatment for the unprecedented COVID-19 infections. Ayurveda holds promise in the treatment of this viral infection. We carried out a randomized controlled trial of ‘AyurCoro-3’, a combination of Gomutra (Bos indicus urine), hot water, turmeric, Turati Churna (potassium Alum), candy sugar (Khadisakhar), Bos indicus milk with two teaspoons of Go Ghrut (Ghee) as an adjuvant to standard care, in comparison to standard care alone in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infections. Methods: A randomized, blinded, controlled trial was carried out in adult patients diagnosed with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infections confirmed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. Interventional group was administered single dose of ‘AyurCoro-3’ as an adjuvant with standard care, and the control group received only standard of care. Validated clinical improvement scale was used for evaluating the clinical improvement, time of resolution of presenting symptoms, duration of hospitalization, proportion of patients requiring mechanical ventilation, and functional status scale were the key outcomes. Results: One-hundred and seventy-four patients were recruited. Significantly more proportions of patients had resolution of all symptoms (cough, fever, breathlessness, weakness, and tastelessness) in the interventional group compared to control. Similarly, the interventional group also had shorter time for clinical improvement as well as shorter time of resolution for cough, breathlessness, and weakness. No significant differences were observed in the duration of hospitalization, proportion of patients requiring mechanical ventilation, functional status scale, and adverse events between the groups. Conclusion: The Ayurvedic medicine ‘AyurCoro-3’ was observed to significantly shorten the duration of COVID-19 infections and was well tolerated

The antiaging protein Klotho enhances oligodendrocyte maturation and myelination of the CNS

We have previously shown that myelin abnormalities characterize the normal aging process of the brain and that an age-associated reduction in Klotho is conserved across species. Predominantly generated in brain and kidney, Klotho overexpression extends life span, whereas loss of Klotho accelerates the development of aging-like phenotypes. Although the function of Klotho in brain is unknown, loss of Klotho expression leads to cognitive deficits. We found significant effects of Klotho on oligodendrocyte functions, including induced maturation of rat primary oligodendrocytic progenitor cells (OPCs) in vitro and myelination. Phosphoprotein analysis indicated that Klotho\u27s downstream effects involve Akt and ERK signal pathways. Klotho increased OPC maturation, and inhibition of Akt or ERK function blocked this effect on OPCs. In vivo studies of Klotho knock-out mice and control littermates revealed that knock-out mice have a significant reduction in major myelin protein and gene expression. By immunohistochemistry, the number of total and mature oligodendrocytes was significantly lower in Klotho knock-out mice. Strikingly, at the ultrastructural level, Klotho knock-out mice exhibited significantly impaired myelination of the optic nerve and corpus callosum. These mice also displayed severe abnormalities at the nodes of Ranvier. To decipher the mechanisms by which Klotho affects oligodendrocytes, we used luciferase pathway reporters to identify the transcription factors involved. Together, these studies provide novel evidence for Klotho as a key player in myelin biology, which may thus be a useful therapeutic target in efforts to protect brain myelin against age-dependent changes and promote repair in multiple sclerosis

Bone Morphogenetic Protein Inhibition Promotes Neurological Recovery after Intraventricular Hemorrhage

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) results in neural cell death and white matter injury in premature infants. No therapeutic strategy is currently available against this disorder. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling suppresses oligodendrocyte development through basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors and promotes astrocytosis. Therefore, we hypothesized that IVH in premature newborns initiates degeneration and maturation arrest of oligodendrocyte lineage and that BMP inhibition alleviates hypomyelination, gliosis, and motor impairment in the survivors of IVH. To test the hypotheses, a rabbit model of IVH was used in which premature rabbit pups (E29) are treated with intraperitoneal glycerol at 2 hours of age to induce IVH; and the pups with IVH exhibit hypomyelination and gliosis at 2 weeks of postnatal age. Maturation of oligodendrocyte lineage was evaluated by specific markers, and the expression of bHLH transcription factors was assessed. BMP levels were measured in both premature rabbit pups and autopsy materials from premature infants. Recombinant human noggin was used to suppress BMP action; and neurobehavioral performance, myelination and gliosis were assessed in noggin-treated pups compared with untreated controls. We found that IVH resulted in apoptosis and reduced proliferation of oligodendrocyte progenitors, as well as arrested maturation of preoligodendrocytes in rabbits. BMP4 levels were significantly elevated in both rabbit pups and human premature infants with IVH compared with controls. Importantly, BMP inhibition by recombinant human noggin restored the levels of phospho-Smad1/5/8, Olig2 transcription factor, oligodendrocyte maturation, myelination, astrocyte morphology, and motor function in premature pups with IVH. Hence, BMP inhibition might enhance neurological recovery in premature infants with IVH

Bio-Ecology of the Louse, Upupicola upupae, Infesting the Common Hoopoe, Upupa epops

The population characteristics of the louse, Upupicola upupae (Shrank) (Mallophaga: Philopteridae: Ishnocera), infesting the Common Hoopae, Upupa epops L. (Aves: Upupiformes), were recorded during 2007–08 in District Rampur, Uttar Pradesh India. The pattern of frequency distribution of the louse conformed to the negative binomial model. The lice and its nits were reared in vitro at 35 ± 1° C, 75–82 % RH, on a feather diet. The data obtained was used to construct the life table and to determine the intrinsic rate of natural increase (0.035 female/day), the net reproductive rate was 3.67 female eggs/female, the generation time was 37 days, and the doubling time of the population was 19 days. The chaetotaxy of the three nymphal instars has also been noted to record their diagnostic characteristics. Information on egg morphology and antennal sensilla is also presented