Water, sanitation, and hygiene practices of caregivers of under-five children in a coastal area of South India

Background: Improving child survival still remains challenging for most of the developing countries like India. Leading causes of under-five mortality such as pneumonia and diarrhea can be prevented by ensuring good water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices. This study aimed to assess the WASH practices of caregivers of under-five children in a coastal area of Tamil Nadu in South India. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted as a community-based cross-sectional study among primary caregivers of under-five children in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu. Caregivers accompanying under-five children in Threspuram and Mullakadu Primary Health Centers were interviewed. A semi-structured interview-based questionnaire was used to assess their WASH practices. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: The median WASH score was found to be 16 with an interquartile range of 6.5. Nearly 35% of the caregivers did not do anything to purify drinking water. Only less than three-fourths of the study population followed proper water storage practices. Only 7.2% of caregivers always washed their hands after defecation. The WASH score increased significantly with the education of the caregiver (P < 0.001). Conclusion: WASH practices were mostly poor for under-five children with male caregivers and caregivers with higher age and lower educational status

Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Larvicidal and Anticancer Activities of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Extracts from Fruits of Lagerstroemia speciose and Flowers of Couroupita guianensis

The present study aimed to analyze the in vitro antibacterial, antioxidant, larvicidal and cytotoxicity properties of green synthesized silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using aqueous extracts from fruits of Lagerstroemia speciosa and flowers of Couropita guinensis. Synthesized Ag NPs were characterized using UV-DRS, FTIR, XRD, DLS, and High-Resolution SEM and TEM analyses. Absorption wavelength was observed at 386 nm by UV-DRS analysis and energy band gap was calculated as 3.24 eV. FTIR analysis showed the existence of various functional groups in the aqueous extract and in the NPs. DLS analysis showed the stability and particle size of the synthesized Ag NPs. SEM analysis revealed that Ag NPs are in a face centered cubic symmetry and spherical shape with a size of 23.9 nm. TEM analysis showed particle size as 29.90 nm. Ag NPs showed antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. DPPH scavenging trait of Ag NPs was ranging from 20.0 &plusmn; 0.2% to 62.4 &plusmn; 0.3% and observed significant larvicidal activity (LC50 at 0.742 ppm and LC90 at 6.061 ppm) against Culex quinquefasciatus. In vitro cytotoxicity activity of Ag NPs was also tested against human breast cancer (MCF-7) and fibroblast cells (L-929) and found that cells viabilities are ranging (500 to 25 &micro;g/mL) from 52.5 &plusmn; 0.4 to 94.0 &plusmn; 0.7% and 53.6 &plusmn; 0.5 to 90.1 &plusmn; 0.8%, respectively. The synthesized Ag NPs have the potential to be used in the various biomedical applications

Prevalence of hypothyroidism in pregnancy: An epidemiological study from 11 cities in 9 states of India

Background: A previous hospital based study from Delhi revealed a high prevalence of hypothyroidism in pregnant women. Several other studies with small sample size also indicate a rising trend of prevalence of hypothyroidism during pregnancy in India. Objective: To assess prevalence of hypothyroidism in pregnant women from various states/cities across India. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional multicenter study conducted at Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh), Bengaluru (Karnataka), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Kolkata (West Bengal), Hyderabad (Telangana), Nasik (Maharashtra), Rohtak (Haryana), Pune (Maharashtra), New Delhi (Delhi), Srinagar (Kashmir), and Vizag (Andhra Pradesh) enrolling 2599 pregnant women. Estimation of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free T4, and antithyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies was carried out using Roche modular kit using ECLIA technology in a central laboratory. Results: We found in our study population that 13.13% of pregnant women have hypothyroidism (n = 388), using a cutoff TSH level of 4.5 μIU/ml. This prevalence was much higher using the American Thyroid Association criteria. Anti-TPO antibodies were positive in 20.74% of all pregnant women (n = 613), whereas 40% (n = 155) of hypothyroid pregnant women were positive for anti-TPO antibodies. Conclusion: This study concludes that there is a high prevalence of hypothyroidism (13.13%), majority being subclinical in pregnant women during the first trimester from India and universal screening of hypothyroidism may be desirable in our country