Web-based intervention to increase uptake of prevention of parent-to-child transmission (PPTCT) service - An experience from the state of West Bengal, India

Background: To track human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected pregnant women in every step of prevention of parent-to-child transmission (PPTCT) needs a line listing approach and a software-based line listing approach seems to be the best possible way to successful follow-up and linking the HIV-positive pregnant women with care, support, treatment, and other services. Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the utility of web-based PPTCT line list software and to increase the uptake of PPTCT services by HIV-infected pregnant women. Methodology: The “web-based PPTCT line list software” was designed as a tool for monitoring uptake of PPTCT services by each HIV-positive pregnant woman detected in West Bengal in every step of PPTCT program. In collaboration with state IT cell, a software was developed where information of all positive pregnant women could be computed and based on the computed information, it could generate automatic SMS alerts regarding upcoming events to the counselor of the respective Integrated Counseling and Testing Center, the counselor of antiretroviral treatment (ART) center, outreach workers, and HIV-infected pregnant women. Simultaneously, entire state database can be viewed by program supervisor to monitor the program and to devise new strategies as per need. Results: Before the introduction of this software in August 2015, 92.8% (181/195) of the HIV-infected pregnant women could be linked to ART center during April 2015-August 2016. However, after its introduction, 98.8% (250/253) of them could be linked to ART center during September 2015-March 2016. This increase was statistically significant. Conclusion: The replicable software-based initiative would help in strengthening PPTCT linkages which could ultimately reduce the chance of HIV transmission through vertical route and to decrease the morbidity and mortality of HIV-exposed children

Salivary Metabolomics for Oral Precancerous Lesions: A Comprehensive Narrative Review

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a chronic, potentially malignant disorder of the oral cavity, primarily associated with the consumption of areca nut products and other risk factors. Early and accurate diagnosis of OSMF is crucial to prevent its progression to oral cancer. In recent years, the field of metabolomics has gained momentum as a promising approach for disease detection and monitoring. Salivary metabolomics, a non-invasive and easily accessible diagnostic tool, has shown potential in identifying biomarkers associated with various oral diseases, including OSMF. This review synthesizes current literature on the application of salivary metabolomics in the context of OSMF detection. The review encompasses a comprehensive analysis of studies conducted over the past decade, highlighting advancements in analytical techniques, metabolomic profiling, and identified biomarkers linked to OSMF progression. The primary objective of this review is to provide a critical assessment of the feasibility and reliability of salivary metabolomics as a diagnostic tool for OSMF, along with its potential to differentiate OSMF from other oral disorders. In conclusion, salivary metabolomics holds great promise in revolutionizing OSMF detection through the identification of reliable biomarkers and the development of robust diagnostic models. However, challenges such as sample variability, validation of biomarkers, and standardization need to be addressed before its widespread clinical implementation. This review contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the current status, challenges, and future directions of salivary metabolomics in the realm of OSMF detection, emphasizing its potential impact on early intervention and improved patient outcomes

HIV/AIDS epidemic in West Bengal: An overview

Background: West Bengal is a low-prevalent state with high vulnerability for HIV. The state bears around 6% of HIV burden of India. With consistent effort on preventive, diagnostic, and curative services under National AIDS Control Program, HIV prevalence is gradually coming down. Our study objective is to determine the trend of HIV positivity among different groups/population attending Integrated Counseling and Testing Centres (ICTCs) over a period of 8 years and identify the group of population needing special attention. Methods: The study was conducted with available program data year-wise from 2008–2009 to 2014–2015 among different groups of population who attended ICTCs for HIV testing. Year-wise positivity was calculated and trend analysis was performed by linear regression method keeping year as regressor. Similar methodology was applied for different typologies among the high-risk groups (HRGs) and trend analysis was done using linear regression for the study period from 2012–2013 to 2014–2015. Results: HIV positivity among general male and non-pregnant individuals, HRG population, transgender (TG) population, and pregnant women showed a significant declining trend over the past 8 financial years, but the discordance rate remained almost the same. Regarding HIV positivity trend among different typologies of HRGs, trucker group showed a significant increase in HIV positivity over the past 3 years, whereas HIV positivity among other groups like female sex workers, men having sex with men, injecting drug users, and migrant labors did not undergo significant changes over the past 3 years. Conclusion: HIV-preventive services among truckers need to be emphasized. HIV screening services among the TG population should be further scaled up through more number of targeted interventions

Does fish price depend solely on weight? A market survey analysis from four districts of West Bengal, India

Fish is an important food item that contains perfect combination of essential nutrients. The main consumable fishes in West Bengal, India are various carps and other small indigenous fishes. The objective of the study was to find out whether fish weight was a crucial factor to decide pricing and what kind of fish was beneficial for consumer from economic perspective. Thirteen markets in four districts (Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah) of West Bengal were surveyed to collect information about price, weight and number of vendors selling a particular fish considering 22 fish species. Subsequent statistical analyses were performed to conclude about the relationship between fish weight and price. The study indicates that pricing of every fish species does not depend solely on their weight. Weight plays important role to determine the price of few fish species such as Liza persia, Lates calcarifer, Wallago attu, Ompok pabo and Mystus tengara. But, the price of small indigenous fishes like Chanda nama, Colisa fasciata, Harpadon nehereus, Monopterus cuchia, Rhingomugil corsula, Sperata aor and Puntius puntio does not depend on the weight of individual fish. Seasonal availability, taste, consumer’s personal preference have important role to determine fish price

Melatonin ameliorates H2O2-induced oxidative stress through modulation of Erk/Akt/NFkB pathway

Abstract Background Improper control on reactive oxygen species (ROS) elimination process and formation of free radicals causes tissue dysfunction. Pineal hormone melatonin is considered a potent regulator of such oxidative damage in different vertebrates. Aim of the current communication is to evaluate the levels of oxidative stress and ROS induced damage, and amelioration of oxidative status through melatonin induced activation of signaling pathways. Hepatocytes were isolated from adult Labeo rohita and exposed to H2O2 at three different doses (12.5, 25 and 50 µM) to observe peroxide induced damage in fish hepatocytes. Melatonin (25, 50 and 100 μg/ml) was administered against the highest dose of H2O2. Enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants such as malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) was measured spectrophotometrically. Expression level of heat shock proteins (HSP70 and HSP90), HSPs-associated signaling molecules (Akt, ERK, cytosolic and nuclear NFkB), and melatonin receptor was also measured by western blotting analysis. Results H2O2 induced oxidative stress significantly altered (P < 0.05) MDA and GSH level, SOD and CAT activity, and up regulated HSP70 and HSP90 expression in carp hepatocytes. Signaling proteins exhibited differential modulation as revealed from their expression patterns in H2O2-exposed fish hepatocytes, in comparison with control hepatocytes. Melatonin treatment of H2O2-stressed fish hepatocytes restored basal cellular oxidative status in a dose dependent manner. Melatonin was observed to be inducer of signaling process by modulation of signaling molecules and melatonin receptor. Conclusions The results suggest that exogenous melatonin at the concentration of 100 µg/ml is required to improve oxidative status of the H2O2-stressed fish hepatocytes. In H2O2 exposed hepatocytes, melatonin modulates expression of HSP70 and HSP90 that enable the hepatocytes to become stress tolerant and survive by altering the actions of ERK, Akt, cytosolic and nuclear NFkB in the signal transduction pathways. Study also confirms that melatonin could act through melatonin receptor coupled to ERK/Akt signaling pathways. This understanding of the mechanism by which melatonin regulates oxidative status in the stressed hepatocytes may initiate the development of novel strategies for hepatic disease therapy in future

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health-care delivery system for other diseases and antimicrobial resistance threat in India

India's health-care delivery is challenged with different inequalities and theelivery is challenged with different inequalities and the dual burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases. Lockdown posed negative effects on the growth and economy of the country; simultaneously, some positive effects, like increased health consciousness and adoption of hygienic practices, were also there. Health-care delivery system faced tremendous challenges in diagnostics, therapeutics, infrastructure for inpatient care, and protection of health-care manpower. During this period, people chose to self medicate which in turn increased the threat of emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Due to shifting priority to COVID from other diseases, resources were shifted to COVID, affecting the management of other acute and chronic diseases. The launching of COVID-19 vaccination campaign showed some hope. However, despite the vaccination drive, strengthening infrastructure, and surveillance system, the devastating second wave could not be avoided due to the conglomeration of the crowd for pilgrimage, election campaign, and tourism in an unrestricted manner. It may be concluded that the fourth wave may be short lasting due to increased herd immunity

Inoculation with Glomus mosseae: An Efficient Biological Management Strategy for Arsenic Mitigation in Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) Under Arsenic-Contaminated Soil

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on mitigation of arsenic (As) in As-contaminated soils with wheat (variety – HD 2967) as the test crop. Soil inbulk was collected from Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bihar,India farm with physicochemicalproperties to conduct a pot experiment using three doses of As (5, 10, 20 mg L−1) and application of Glomus mossaea inoculation (no inoculated, 5 g/pot, and 10 g/pot). Result indicated that the treatment spiked with As 5 ppm and Glomus mossaea @1 g kg−1 showedthe lowest available As (21.80 µg kg−1 soil) and lowest total As (2.533 mg kg−1soil) as compared to all othertreatments. The As content in different parts of plants are found in the orderof roots > shoots> leaves > grain parts in wheat crop. As uptake in grain was found to be positively correlated with available (r = 0.883, p < .001) and total As content in soil (r = 0.869, p < .001) as well. The application of AM fungi @10.0 g kg−1 soil significantly (p < .005) reduced the As content in grain under all the applied treatments. As content ingrain was found to be negatively correlated with total glomalin content of soil(r = –0.430, p < .005), colonization by AM fungi (r = –0.261) and available phosphorus (P) content of soil (r = –0.864, p < .001). The study noticeably indicated that the mycorrhizal inoculation can reduce the As content in the various parts of the wheat in As-contaminated soils