A questionnaire survey for improving awareness of rheumatic heart disease among school-aged children in India

OBJECTIVES: We examined the level of awareness about Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) among school-aged children in a rural district of India and evaluated the effects of a questionnaire-based survey in improving the level of awareness. METHODS: The study involved 8,646 students aged 10-16 years from 20 schools in West Midnapore, India which was conducted in August 2017. We examined changes in the level of awareness of RHD using a 29-point scoring system in seven domains. The baseline questionnaire survey assessed students\u27 knowledge and was followed by a multimedia presentation about RHD and a post-intervention survey using the same questionnaire. The questionnaire included 9 questions on different aspects of RHD including prevalence, nature of disease, symptoms, determinants, treatment options, impact of the disease and diagnosis. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 13 years and 46% were boys. At baseline, the mean level of knowledge about RHD was 42% (12.2 out of 29 points). After the school-based presentation, the score improved to a mean of 55% (15.9 points on the 29-point scale), a 31% relative improvement. Improvement in students\u27 knowledge was noted across all seven domains, individually and combined (p \u3c 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Awareness among children in rural India about RHD is modest. A school-based intervention could help in improving awareness about this chronic condition and may promote secondary prophylaxis to reduce the morbidity and mortality from RHD

An explorative study comparing the knowledge of tobacco use and tobacco cessation program among school going boys and girls : a study in Ahmedabad district in Western India

Abstract: Introduction: Dermatoglyphics is the study of finger prints from toes, fingers palms, and soles of animals and humans. Dermatoglyphic examination is opening up as an exceptionally tool for initial investigations into circumstances with an alleged genetic basis. The current study was conducted to determine worthiness of dermatoglyphics in prophesying genetic vulnerability of children to dental caries via cost-effective means. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study was undertaken on 100 children of age group between 4–14 years divided equally into two groups namely: Caries-free group (def/DMF score “0”) and Caries group (def/DMF score more than or equal to “5”). Both were subdivided into 25 males and 25 females. Each child’s handprints were taken and observed for dermatoglyphic pattern; total finger ridge count TFRc and atd angle. Results: Whorls were found more in caries group whereas ulnar loops were more common in caries free group. Total finger ridge count was significantly higher in caries group. The atd angles did not show any significant differences among caries and caries free group. Conclusion: Dermatoglyphic pattern variation may be an impor-tant tool in identification of people at risk of developing dental caries, which will enable an early detection and prevention of the disease

An explorative study comparing the knowledge of tobacco use and tobacco cessation program among school going boys and girls : a study in Ahmedabad district in Western India

Abstract: Introduction: Dermatoglyphics is the study of finger prints from toes, fingers palms, and soles of animals and humans. Dermatoglyphic examination is opening up as an exceptionally tool for initial investigations into circumstances with an alleged genetic basis. The current study was conducted to determine worthiness of dermatoglyphics in prophesying genetic vulnerability of children to dental caries via cost-effective means. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study was undertaken on 100 children of age group between 4–14 years divided equally into two groups namely: Caries-free group (def/DMF score “0”) and Caries group (def/DMF score more than or equal to “5”). Both were subdivided into 25 males and 25 females. Each child’s handprints were taken and observed for dermatoglyphic pattern; total finger ridge count TFRc and atd angle. Results: Whorls were found more in caries group whereas ulnar loops were more common in caries free group. Total finger ridge count was significantly higher in caries group. The atd angles did not show any significant differences among caries and caries free group. Conclusion: Dermatoglyphic pattern variation may be an impor-tant tool in identification of people at risk of developing dental caries, which will enable an early detection and prevention of the disease

Examining the factors influencing fintech adoption behaviour of gen Y in India

AbstractThe main impetus of the research is to inquire into the fintech adoption behaviour of India’s GenY population. The focus of this research paper is to enlarge the scope of the planned behaviour theory by including other exogenous variables, information quality (IQ), and readiness to pay for privileges. Responses from the 349 selected higher education students based on judgmental sampling were collected from various institutes of repute in India. The suggested framework was evaluated using the Smart PLS 4 software bootstrapping method. It was found that multiple hypotheses framed in the study exert notable impact besides the belief that there is a direct linkage between observed behavioural control (OBC) and actual intention (AI). The paper confirms the application of the theory of planned behaviour for the effective implementation of fintech in India. It was observed that information quality is one of the crucial elements which influences the fintech adoption behaviour. The research enriches past studies by expanding the blueprint of a theory of planned behaviour by identifying the information quality factor as the influencing intent and behaviour. The reliability and validity of the suggested framework were analyzed after keeping in mind the impact of a business environment’s constantly changing dynamic forces. The study identified the primary constructs affecting the fintech adoption behaviour with a particular focus on the GEN Y population of India. It will also help the financial technocrats to optimally utilize the immense underlying capabilities of the fintech users and strategically launch more user-friendly products and services

A POLYCOMB group gene of rice (Oryza sativa L. subspecies indica), OsiEZ1, codes for a nuclear-localized protein expressed preferentially in young seedlings and during reproductive development

The SET domains are conserved amino acid sequences present in chromosomal proteins that contribute to the epigenetic control of gene expression by altering regional organization of the chromatin structure. The SET domain proteins are divided into four subgroups as categorized by their Drosophila members; enhancer of zeste (E(Z)), trithorax (TRX), absent small or homeotic 1 (ASH1) and supressor of variegation (SU(VAR)3-9). Homologs of all four classes have been characterized in yeast, mammals and plants. We report here the isolation and characterization of rice (Oryza sativa L. subspecies indica) cDNA, OsiEZ1, as a monocot member of this family. The OsiEZ1 cDNA is 3133 bp long with an ORF of 2799 bp, and the predicted amino acid sequence (895 residues) corresponds to a protein of ca. 98 kDa. All the characteristic domains known to be conserved in E(Z) homologs (subgroup I) of SET domain containing proteins are present in OsiEZ1. In the rice genome, a 7499 bp long OsiEZ1 sequence is split into 17 exons interrupted by 16 introns. Southern analysis indicates that OsiEZ1 is represented as single copy in the rice genome. Expression studies revealed that the OsiEZ1 transcript level was highest in rice flowers, almost undetectable in developing seeds of 1-2 days post-fertilization but increased significantly in young seeds of 3-5 days post-fertilization. The OsiEZ1 transcript was barely detectable in mature zygotic embryos, but its levels were significantly higher in callus derived from rice scutellum, somatic embryos and young seedlings. The OsiEZ1/GUS recombinant protein was confined to the nucleus in living cells of particle-bombarded onion peels. The expression of OsiEZ1 complemented a set1Δ Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant that is impaired in telomeric silencing. We suggest that the nuclear-localized OsiEZ1 has a role in regulating various aspects of plant development, and this control is most likely brought about by repressing the activity of downstream regulatory genes

Cardiovascular health awareness and the effect of an educational intervention on school-aged children in a rural district of India

Background and objectives: India is the second most populous country in the world and two-thirds of its population is less than 35 years old. This survey was conducted to assess the level of health awareness of cardiovascular disease in adolescent school-aged children 14–16 years old, with the goal of establishing school-based health education and development of heart-healthy lifestyle practices. Methods: A school-based survey was conducted in the rural district of West Midnapore, India between June and July of 2014. This involved a pre-evaluation of cardiovascular disease (CVD) health awareness, a short presentation on CVD, and a post-evaluation of CVD health awareness. Results: A total of 2995 students (48% response rate) from 20 schools participated in the survey. The mean age of the students in the study sample was 14.7 years, 46% were male, 53% were in the 9th grade, and the rest were in the 10th grade. After assessing students’ awareness in six domains with 20 multiple-choice questions with a maximum score of 100, the mean pre-test score was 41.1 (SD ± 10.5) and the mean post-test score was 48.1 (SD ± 16.9) (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Awareness of CVD and its risk factors was far from optimal among the adolescent school-aged children in this study. A school-based educational program may help improve awareness of CVD and reduce the future disease burden in the community. The results of this study may be useful in formulating a nationwide school health program to deal with the emerging epidemic of CVD in countries such as India

Fun30 and Rtt109 Mediate Epigenetic Regulation of the DNA Damage Response Pathway in C. albicans

Fun30, an ATP-dependent chromatin remodeler from S. cerevisiae, is known to mediate both regulation of gene expression as well as DNA damage response/repair. The Fun30 from C. albicans has not yet been elucidated. We show that C. albicans Fun30 is functionally homologous to both S. cerevisiae Fun30 and human SMARCAD1. Further, C. albicans Fun30 can mediate double-strand break end resection as well as regulate gene expression. This protein regulates transcription of RTT109, TEL1, MEC1, and SNF2-genes that encode for proteins involved in DNA damage response and repair pathways. The regulation mediated by C. albicans Fun30 is dependent on its ATPase activity. The expression of FUN30, in turn, is regulated by histone H3K56 acetylation catalyzed by Rtt109 and encoded by RTT109. The RTT109Hz/FUN30Hz mutant strain shows sensitivity to oxidative stress and resistance to MMS as compared to the wild-type strain. Quantitative PCR showed that the sensitivity to oxidative stress results from downregulation of MEC1, RAD9, MRC1, and RAD5 expression; ChIP experiments showed that Fun30 but not H3K56ac regulates the expression of these genes in response to oxidative stress. In contrast, upon treatment with MMS, the expression of RAD9 is upregulated, which is modulated by both Fun30 and H3K56 acetylation. Thus, Fun30 and H3K56 acetylation mediate the response to genotoxic agents in C. albicans by regulating the expression of DNA damage response and repair pathway genes

Development and validation of a predictive model for the diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease in low-income countries based on two cross-sectional studies

Objectives: We developed a questionnaire-based risk-scoring system to identify children at risk for rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in rural India. The resulting predictive model was validated in Nepal, in a population with a similar demographic profile to rural India. Methods: The study involved 8646 students (mean age 13.0 years, 46% boys) from 20 middle and high schools in the West Midnapore district of India. The survey asked questions about the presence of different signs and symptoms of RHD. Students with possible RHD who experienced sore throat and joint pain were offered an echocardiogram to screen for RHD. Their findings were compared with randomly selected students without these symptoms. The data were analyzed to develop a predictive model for identifying RHD. Results: Based on our univariate analyses, seven variables were used for building a predictive model. A four-variable model (joint pain plus sore throat, female sex, shortness of breath, and palpitations) best predicted the risk of RHD with a C-statistic of 0.854. A six-point scoring system developed from the model was validated among similarly aged children in Nepal. Conclusions: A simple questionnaire-based predictive instrument could identify children at higher risk for this disease in low-income countries where RHD remains prevalent. Echocardiography could then be used in these high-risk children to detect RHD in its early stages. This may support a strategy for more effective secondary prophylaxis of RHD

Molecular survey of basidiomycetes and divergence time estimation: An Indian perspective

<div><p>This study outlines the biodiversity of mushrooms of India. It reveals the molecular biodiversity and divergence time estimation of basidiomycetes from Gujarat, India. A total of 267 mushrooms were collected from 10 locations across the state. 225 ITS sequences were generated belonging to 105 species, 59 genera and 29 families. Phylogenetic analysis of Agaricaceae reveals monophyletic clade of <i>Podaxis</i> differentiating it from <i>Coprinus</i>. Further, the ancient nature of <i>Podaxis</i> supports the hypothesis that gasteroid forms evolved from secotioid forms. Members of Polyporaceae appeared polyphyletic. Further, our results of a close phylogenetic relationship between <i>Trametes</i> and <i>Lenzites</i>lead us to propose that the genera <i>Trametes</i> may by enlarged to include <i>Lenzites</i>. The tricholomatoid clade shows a clear demarcation for Entolomataceae. However, Lyophyllaceae and Tricholomataceae could not be distinguished clearly. Distribution studies of the mushrooms showed omnipresence of <i>Ganoderma</i> and <i>Schizophyllum</i>. Further, divergence time estimation shows that Dacrymycetes evolved in the Neoproterozoic Era and Hymenochaetales diverged from Agaricomycetes during the Silurian period.</p></div

Molecular survey of basidiomycetes and divergence time estimation: An Indian perspective - Fig 5

<p><b>Phylogenetic trees generated by UPGMA analysis from the ITS barcode sequences for (a) Xylariaceae and (b) Psathyrellaceae</b>.</p