Repellent potential of medicinal oils against Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) under laboratory conditions

Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine repellency of five local medicinal oils i.e., neem Azadirachta indica A. Juss., castor Ricinus communis L., rapeseed Brassica napus L., lettuce Lactuca sativa L. and chamomile Anthemis cotula L. against Tribolium castaneum Herbst, each applied at 0.1, 0.5- and 1.0-ml doses. A glass cylinder divided into A, B and C sections with one end close was used. Fifty grams of wheat flour was placed at A and C ends. Twenty freshly emerged T. castaneum was released at the center of cylinder (B). The data was recorded after one-, two- and three-days to count number of T. castaneum at A and C for calculating percentage repellency. All the oils showed repellent potential against T. castaneum as their repellency increased with dose and time exposure. After three days, 100% repellency of T. castaneum was recorded in 0.5- and 1.0-ml doses of neem oil, followed by 6.67±3.33% repellency at 0.1 ml neem oil. After three days, the maximum repellency of T. castaneum in rapeseed, castor, chamomile, and lettuce was 86.67±7.26, 76.67±6.01, 76.67±4.41, and 75.00±7.64%, respectively, all recorded at 1.0 ml dose. Overall, neem oil exhibited significantly more repellency of T. castaneum, whereas castor, lettuce, rapeseed and chamomile were found non-significant with each other. Among doses, although highest repellency was recorded at 1.0 ml dose, but not significantly different from 0.5 ml dose of the individual oil. Therefore, 0.5 ml should be applied per 50 grams of wheat flour to get effective repellency of T. castaneum

Multicentre randomised controlled trial of a group psychological intervention for postnatal depression in British mothers of South Asian origin (ROSHNI-2): study protocol

Background: In the UK, postnatal depression is more common in British SouthAsian women than White Caucasion women. Cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) is recommended as a first-line treatment, but there is little evidence for the adaptation of CBT for postnatal depression to ensure its applicability to different ethnic groups.Aims: To evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a CBT-based positive health programme group intervention in British South Asian women with postnatal depression.Method: We have designed a multicentre, two-arm, partially nested, randomised controlled trial with 4- and 12-month follow-up, comparing a 12-session group CBT-based intervention (positive health programme) plus treatment as usual with treatment as usual alone, for British South Asian women with postnatal depression. Participants will be recruited from primary care and appropriate community venues in areas of high South Asian density across the UK. It has been estimated that randomising 720 participants (360 into each group) will be sufficient to detect a clinically important difference between a 55% recovery rate in the intervention group and a 40% recovery rate in the treatmentas-usual group. An economic analysis will estimate the costeffectiveness of the positive health programme. A qualitative process evaluation will explore barriers and enablers to study participation and examine the acceptability and impact of the programme from the perspective of British South Asian women and other key stakeholders